The Happy Easter Post

Going a little random here, as I am wont to do!!!

To start off with, a couple of whiteboard artworks!!! The first is by my firstborn, the ancient enigma!!!

The second is my own creation. The text is from the examine of the mysterious statues in Runescape, "it's eyes stare off into the distance..."

I liked the mysterious statues better before the graphical update.

Not a lot new in the old cup art department, but I did do up this design for my 512 on my current one. I liked the way it came out. I was aiming for a bit of a Southwest look, but it missed by a bit, I think. Still like it.

The next shot is related to the boy's Birthday post. With his birthday money he bought himself a skateboard that he'd really wanted. He used it quite a bit at first, but has tapered off a lot. Seems like the wheel bearings are shot on it already, I'll see about some replacements if he promises to practice on it some more.

Finally onto the Easter festivities, here's a couple of shots of the egg hunt!!! In a move reminiscent of one seven years ago, I hid one in plain sight. It took quite a bit of hot and cold before he found it.

You can see the enlightenment on his face as he spots it!!! One of those classic perfect timing shots!!!

Good times!!!

In other not so good times news, poor Janices' transmission seems to be on it's last legs. I'm no expert, but I think it's lost the high gear band or bands, as the case may be. Naturally, right after I replace the battery again!!! Once again, I'm no expert, but I'm thinking around $1500 to have the trans done, and it's just not worth it to me. I'd totally get another one (being as I've got a good running engine in her, lifetime starter albeit not that great at staying working, and lifetime motor mounts albeit in need of being replaced already, and good tires and fresh rear axle shafts and good brakes and a new radio... all things I'd at least consider swapping over) AND there's a guy selling the rarer and more coveted 2-door coupe version in great condition (with the exception of a blown engine) with a fresh rebuilt trans for $1000... I really didn't want to get into another project like that!!! ANyway, my wife drives her more than I do (somehow that became her car) and since diesel fuel has been consistently higher than gasoline for the past few years... she's up for something else. She'd like a small, fuel efficient 4-door with decent hauling room, and even seems to more inclined towards a wagon of some kind. Ideally, I think (and she likes the idea, too) a low miles Saturn SW wagon of around the vintage of Baby would be awesome. We are quite pleased with the reliability, performance and mileage of our current Saturn, and I've got a couple of lifetime parts on her already. Alternatively, I've always liked the Subaru Legacy wagons and have heard good of their reliability. VW Passat, Escort (or better yet Mercury Tracer), or perhaps even Focus or Accord wagons might be acceptable, if we were to find nice condition, fairly low mile, and well optioned models in our price range. So far I've attempted to get in touch with four. One kept bouncing my E-mails back and undeliverable, another I left a message and never heard back, another was actually a stone's throw from our home and I cruised by and saw the guy getting out of it. Rolled down the window and asked if he wanted to sell it, and he said he'd changed his mind!!! The fourth was already sold. Sigh, car shopping.

Car in the Canyon

My firstborn bought himself a slightly used Ipod touch recently. This is a good thing, because now he's got a device with him at most times with which he can get photo or video of things of interest. This is just such a case in point!!!

It's a little surprising that we don't see more of this sort of thing, considering where we live. Somehow someone managed to get their car down in the canyon!!! Apparently there was no broken guard rail anywhere nearby, so how exactly it ended up in there is still a bit of a mystery. As they were passing by, there were already two police cars there, and a third came up as they were further down. Looked like there was no one who had been in it, so I was thinking it might have been stolen and ditched there. Perhaps this weekend I'll investigate further.

Ice Cream Overload

More from the boy's birthday!!! He wanted to go to Farrell's to celebrate there.

Last time we went, the older boy had the Mount St. Helen's, which he finished for the award ribbon and announcement. This time he tried the Pig's Trough, basically a double banana split (I had two ribbons from finishing them back when I was around his age...) and the following Rage Comic is pretty much how things went!!! Reminds one a bit of the gallon of milk challenge!!!

One saving grace was that, as we were walking up, we'd noticed there was an open table on the patio area by the sidewalk. That saved us much waiting time (it's always very busy) and made for a nice clear spot for the ejection. Prior to the main event, he'd stood up, did a little bit in his mouth then swallowed it down. He said, "hmmm, that didn't taste bad at all..." to himself.

I KNEW I should have brought my camera!!!

I made this on Cheezeburger's site. Vote it up here!!! Also, maybe it's a bit larger & more easily read there!!!

Brony Birthday

Another year older!!! Where does the time go??? Last weekend was the observation of the younger's birth!!!

For his cake, he wanted his OC pony, CounterDash. A take off of Rainbow Dash. With the hat, his brother called it Scumbag Rainbow Dash. I did an image search, and all of them came up with Scumbag Steve hats.

On a mildly tangential topic, my wife was solicited for a donation to D.A.R.E., who used to be anti drug and gang, but they told her that their new hot topics are anti bullying and cyber bullying. She was a little puzzled by the cyber bullying thing, thought you could just ignore or disconnect from any potential bullies. My older overhears, and says he's gotta show us his favorite site, Ask Cyberbully Fluttershy. I was amused.

So, in addition to the traditions of cake, presents, and pinata, the boy wanted to get several cans and have an epic silly string war!!!

And that pinata??? We went shopping, and the one he selected had nut crackers on it!!! "So we can crack 'em in the nuts!!!"

It didn't last long. Two hits. Him hitting the pinata.

The pinata hitting the ground.

The older boy, going all Gordon Freeman on it...

Happy birthday, boy!!!