When puppies go bad

We've been trying to leave the girls out in the kitchen while we're at work, rather than in their kennels all day. So I came home for lunch today to let them out.

Apparently they got a little bored today and started doing some remodeling in the kitchen:



That would be a wall, with about 6 inches gouged out of it by puppy teeth. Needless to say, I had a few words with them...

Here's a closeup:

Defeat

You know, there's nothing like starting out a Friday by having a PowerPoint deck that you've been working on all week completely dismantled by your Director and Vice President.




Have a great weekend!

Image courtesy of the wonderful folks at Despair.com

Young@Heart

We went to go see this movie last night. It's been on my list since for awhile now, and I was eager to find out more about this group of senior rockers.

They did not disappoint.

If you haven't heard of it, this movie is a documentary about a chorus of elderly singers that take on songs ranging from Sonic Youth to James Brown to Coldplay to the Rolling Stones. And they do it in style. The group is all 70 and over, with the oldest almost in their 90s.

Through this movie, you follow the group as they prepare some new music for an upcoming show. You get to know several of the members in detail, and they are just adorable. I won't lie to you, there are some very poignant moments, and I did cry a bit. You just can't help it. You see in the folks a love of life. They openly discuss their last days, but they don't shrink from the idea of their own mortality. They go on with the show, and it's just touching.

Anyhow, I liked it. And if you have 2 hours to spare, you should check it out. Good stuff.

More info:
IMDB Movie info
Offical Young@Heart Group site

Memorial Day Weekend: A Recap

We had no agenda. We had very few plans. It was great.

On one hand, we did a lot. On the other hand, we kept it low key. For some reason, the weight of a 3 day weekend hung heavy on me. It's like I had to fill it. I had an obligation to use this bonus time for something meaningful. But for us, the meaning came in the downtime.

The TV remained off for most of the time, which is a huge accomplishment for me. So instead, this is what we did:

• Dog Sitting
For a stinking huge black lab. Sweet lab, but huge lab. Wallace, I love you, but you made me thankful that my dogs have mouths that are about 1/4 the size of yours and do not slobber. Hang in there, big guy.




• Movies
We found ourselves among the throng of Americans who gave money to Harrison Ford. Entertaining? A bit. And I will admit that you just have to dig Indiana Jones on some level. But the aliens? Not so much...




• Books
As some of you long-time readers may know, I'm trying to read more. Not because I'm attempting to overcome decades of illiteracy, but because I'm trying to overcome decades of a TV addiction. Anyhow, I picked up a Jodi Picoult book from our shelves, Plain Truth, and devoured it in three days time. I find that once I get into a book I enjoy, I have a hard time putting it down. I almost become hostile when interrupted, which I know, I need to work on...but it's got to be better than wasting hours watching E! or TLC.




• Hung Out
We had some folks over last night for what was intended to be a game night, but instead was just a hang out and talk night. I baked cookies, made hummus and we straightened up the house. All in all, just fun to catch up with some friends we hadn't seen in a bit.


• Sunday School
We have been teaching 1st grade Sunday school at church lately. This past Sunday, we had some good one-liners from the kids, the most notable coming during the teaching time when we were discussing the disciples.

Teacher: "Kids, do you know who Peter is?"

Kid: Excitedly raising his hand, "Yeah! He's a Cub Scout!"

Teacher: "Oh, ok. Yes, and he was also a disciple."

I love the way their minds work sometimes...

Hope you enjoyed the weekend as well!

My suggestion for weary travelers

Last night at a dinner group with friends, the topic of the recent airline fee war came up. Now, I had heard about this on my way into work that day and was quite appalled, specifically at American, for what I consider the straw that is breaking this camel's back.

A $15 fee for the first checked bag.

The Wall Street Journal is also covering this story in their "Middle Seat" blog, which is worth a read to get a bigger picture of the problem at hand. What irritates me the most is that they are not allowing the market to decide. Instead, they are restricting fee information to lure you into a reasonably priced fare, only to double the price of your trip at the gate.

Anyhow, at dinner last night, the thought occurred to me: I know how we can fight back!

The answer? Become Joey from Friends.

Here's what I'm talking about, for you Friends fans out there:



"Could I BE wearing any more clothes?"

Rather than get nickeled and dimed on checking what most would consider a normal amount of luggage, just wear it all. Heck, I'm always cold on airplanes anyways, so this would actually kill two birds with one stone. And you could always manage your layers if you are on a long trip, right?

Airlines: this is what you are pushing us to.

You've got to be freaking kidding me, Japan!

I just read that you, Japan, recently appointed Hello Kitty as your tourist ambassador.

Wow. I hope you're happy with yourself.

God of creation

Sometimes I forget how evident God's power is in creation.

For instance, I love trees, but overlook how intricately complex each single leaf is, and the fact that they were designed for a specific purpose...and how much care and thought went into creating each one.

And on a larger scale, sometimes God's power is frightening. At the same time that I'm fascinated by cumulonimbus clouds, they can pack a mean punch which starts my heart racing with each crack of lightning.

A volcano erupted last week, down in Chile. Here's what it looked like from space:



In reading various reports about it, scientists think that it last erupted about 9,000 years ago. I didn't know this, but apparently volcanic eruptions can spark thunderstorms with some intense lightning. It looked like this in Chile:



Can you even fathom the power and force trapped in this cloud of ash? All of that energy, created by nothing but natural forces. No generators. No plugs. No scientists. Just the pure, raw display of nature. God's creation.



Beautiful and terrible all at once.