Saturday, November 28, 2009

Decorating the House



First , we saw the first sighting of Santa, or GF, whoever it was, Then, we decorated the tree.


The next step is really important, for it can change the whole look of your house, and make your home the envy of all of your neighbours. I am a very dedicated decorator, and I am inviting you to enjoy my efforts. Please enjoy our home as you see and explore what our mobile home looked like AFTER, I spent hours decorating.l
And, here is the final product. Our mobile home, both outside and inside.
Amzing what a few lights will do,,




Trimming the Tree


Ah yes, it begins with the annual tree trimming. Before I remarried, my trees made Charlie Brown's tree look like the one in Rockefeller Plaza. I mean they were bad. My kids would come over and tease me unmercifully. However, I am glad to report that my trees are now perfect. Look at this perfection, and let your envy grow, for I did this tree in only seven hours and 45 minutes.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Who Is that man?




Yes, it is that time of the year again. Here is the first Santa sighting of the year. However, I have been told by unreliable sources that it is really GF after too many Thanksgiving Day brews. You decide.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Best Investment

Being thankful and saying thank you does not cost even one penny, but the dividends are returned millions of times over. It will be the best investment that you ever made.
Be thankful, and be sure to say thank you today to someone.


Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Mr. and Mrs. Cedar Street Kid

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Take A Chance

Well, I did live in Las Vegas for awhile, so yes, I like to gamble . You never win if you don't gamble. I do try to keep it under control, though. Sometimes, we do get a little bit crazy. I think that we spent $5.00 on scratch tickets on this day. Twice a week we spend $2.00 on Wild Card.
Hey, we are the last of the big time gamblers. Who knows, we might even win someday, but if not, it is the thrill of scratching off those cards, and the thought that maybe, just maybe, we might win. And sometime, we really live it up and drink mochas while we scratch.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Annual Tofurkey Hunt-Revisted-2009

Thanksgiving was just a few days away, and it was time to do the annual hunt.I would be going deep this year into uncharted regions to put the annual feast on the table this year.It was a dangerous hunt, but I carefully prepared all of my gear for the adventure. The danger of the hunt was a large part of the tradition, and although many a hunter had met with tragedy, I scorned the danger, for I am a man that would have made the pioneers of this great nation proud. This country was built on those who dared to defy the odds, and against all barriers, guided the building of what we are today.

Yes, it was uncharted hunting for me, for I had never gone Tofurkey hunting before, but being the careful planner that I am, I had read everything that I could find about this wild beast of prey. I googled, and googled and googled to make sure that I had digested every bit of input that I could lay my hands and eyes on, for I wanted to be ready. Nervous? You bet your sweet candy yams that I was. But afraid?You can bet your pumpkin pie that I would never show it. Fear has no place in the hunt, and if you show fear, the great Tofurkey would know it, and they would devour you right in the middle of your cranberry sauce.

So, just three days before Thanksgiving, I decided that this was the day, and no matter what happened to me, I would know that I was a man of the woods, a man who had faced the odds, a man who dared fate to make me mincemeat pie. I would not be made into a pile of mashed potatoes, nor I would I be reduced to a quivering bowl of jello salad. No, I would get my Tofurkey, or I would die trying.Either I would bag the great beast  or the beast would devour me.

The time had come, and I got in my car. I was dressed in my best hunting clothes, and I had my weapon oiled, loaded, and ready for the hunt. Now, as everyone knows the Silver Valley has many great game animals. We have elk, deer, moose, bear, and even cougars, but there are simply no Tofurkey in the wilds of Wallace or Kellogg. I was not even sure CDA had any, but I figured it was my best chance, so off to CDA I went. I had not seen a great Tofurkey since I had moved from Seattle. The hills in Seattle, especially Capital Hill, were loaded with the great beast.


So, my wife and I left the friendly confines of home, not knowing what awaited us in the big city of CDA, but we are ready, excited, and determined that we would be victorious, and would safely get back home with our prize. We had a great trip, as we always do, laughing, and bantering back and forth as the car made it's way over the mountain to Tofurkey country. And suddenly, we were there. Now, I have to admit, we began to feel a little fear. The cold sweat began to trickle down my back as we neared the sacred hunting grounds. We would have to be guided by fate because we knew not which spot in the sacred hunting grounds would be the place where we would spot our first Tofurkey.

Up Hwy 95 we went. Ah, yes, the most dangerous highway, but if we were going to have any luck in the hunt, this was the way that would offer the most likely chance of getting our game. Our senses were fully alert as we made our way past the great Appleway intersection. We were getting deeper and deeper into the jungles. To our right, we saw what we were looking for. Super One. If there were any Tofurkey in CDA, this would be as good a place as any to find them.

We hugged each other as we got out of the car, knowing that we were about to be entering the most dangerous zone known to man. Quickly, we entered the sacred hunting grounds of Super One, and began to scout the terrain. Hm, the area was full of hunters that day. There must have been hundreds and hundreds of them. We would not only be lucky to find our prey, we would be lucky if they were not all gone by the time that we did find them.

Slowly, we began to make our way around the grounds. We went past the part where we saw many hunters who had already bagged their prey for the day. Their hunting carts were full of a funny looking bird they were calling a turkey. Oh well, each to their own I guess. Anyone could hunt and get a turkey, but few in North Idaho could bag a Tofurkey. I vowed that we would not leave the sacred hunting grounds without one.

I could sense that we were near one, and the hair on my head began to stand on end. Careful, careful, I told myself. We must not let them know we were there. And then, I spotted the frozen tundra ahead, and I knew we were close, The hunt was on, and I threw all caution to the wind as I drew my weapon, and guided my hunting cart with neck breaking speed towards the frozen area. "Careful", my lovely wife shouted out, but the blood was racing through my veins, and my ears were pounding, my heart beating faster than a light, but I now no longer cared. And all of a sudden, there it was, right in front of me. The GREAT TOFURKEY, the greatest beast to ever roam the earth. My moves were swift and precise, and the poor beast never knew what hit him. In one full swoosh, I had bagged it and had it in my hunting cart.

My wife and I danced on the sacred hunting ground as we gave praise for our good fortune. Afraid that this might be only a dream, I ran toward the other throngs of hunters to make the final offering for our game. With the skill of an expert hunter, I whipped out my MC gold weapon and finished the deal. It was over. We had our Tofurkey, and we were speeding home with our prize. Another great hunt, another great day to give thanks.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Pumpkin shortage could mean empty shelves after Thanksgiving -- latimes.com

Pumpkin shortage could mean empty shelves after Thanksgiving -- latimes.com:
FOOD
Pumpkin shortage could mean empty shelves after Thanksgiving
Heavy rains have pretty much destroyed this year's small harvest, says food giant Nestle, which controls about 85% of the crop for canning. Supermarkets say supplies are tight.

My oh my, the world is getting worse. What could be more traumatic than the Holidays without pumpkin pie? I ask you, what could be worse?

Thursday, November 12, 2009

How We Live Forever

I have always believed in the eternal existence of the soul, and that we all will live forever. This body is but a temporary vehicle to transport us through a tiny portion of our never ending journey. Yesterday was not only Veterans Day, it was also my mother's birthday and my parent's anniversary. My mother was born on Armistice Day, as it was called then, the day that WW1 ended.

Since my Dad graduated into the next realm in October, three hours after my birthday ended,my wife and I have spent countless hours going though the thousand of things that they had, and which represented their interests and expressions of their souls. Some of the things brought tears to my eyes, and some of the things brought a smile and laughter. For instance, we found my my first bow tie from when I was about three. Who would save such a thing? Only a mother. My mother saved everything, and I mean everything. So, as we went through things, we separated out numerous objects that would be shipped out to my brother and sisters in Texas, Seattle, and Oklahoma. Some things went to my son, and when my daughter was here, she selected things that represented her grandparents to her.

Other things were donated, sold, and discarded. Each time, we kept in mind that these things, although only material things, represented the souls and passions of two people who lived very long, loving giving, lives, and we wanted these items to be used in a manner that would bring honor to my parents. We still have many things to take care of, including selling their mobile home, before we can move on.

Each item, every hand made craft that my mother made, each page that my dad faithfully recorded in his diary, and on an on, are alive with memories, love, devotion, and they all remind me of two very wonderful people who shaped my life. No, Idon't need "things" to make my parents live in me, They are only symbols. My parents live in my heart, but these things, that we have sold, given away, and shipped away, I hope will be alive for those who have them, and the cycle of life, their lives, will plant the seed for new life, and the cycle goes on, and never dies.For you see, we are all one.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Caterpillar to Butterfly.

Ah, there is nothing like when your daughter comes home for a visit. This is not an ideal visit. She came because of her grandfather's passing, but that aside it is great to see her. She has turned into such a beautiful woman.

We have been so very close over the years, but the past five years she has been so consumed with the demands of her job in San Diego that she can't get away anymore. This month alone she has 7 trials that she must prepare for. For you see, child abuse never takes a vacation. Oh yes, I worry about her safety and sanity, but I am so proud of her. She has always wanted to make a difference, and she does. She has put many families back together, and helped many tiny victims find a safe environment.

Very few people say thank you for the job that she does. She called me several weeks ago and said "Dad. everyone hates me. The parents hate me for taking their kid, the kid hates me for taking them from the abusive parents." The parent's lawyers hate her and attack her credibility and question her veracity.

She has had death threats. She has nightmares about the horrific burned, beaten and malnourished tots that she has first response to . And yet, on she marches.,doing a thankless job.

Of course, there are many delightful moments like when a troubled teen gets their life straightened out because my daughter has found a warm, safe environment for them.She lives for those moments. Last y, she received recognition from the county for her work. It was nice, but that is not why she does what she does. She is a rare breed that actually believes in justice, in liberty, in fighting, like GF does, for the ones who cannot fight for themselves.

And yes, I love her for being and doing all that she does, but mostly, I just love her for being my daughter and that is enough for me.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Got to Share This


My grandson is part Japanese, and he is a huge Seattle Mariner fan. He loves Ichiro. Here is a picture of him this Halloween dressed up like Ichiro. And no, he does not have sideburns in real life. He is only eight. Hope you all know who Ichiro is.

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