Wii for Christmas

We pooled our money and got a Wii for Christmas. Cheeky little box tells me my age is 63. Pbbbt!

I got a fun game, Pass the Popcorn. It helps to know a lot about movies when you play this game.

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A Visit From Lean Cuisine

Lean Cuisine stopped by recently with her three boys. We had a fun visit. I let the boys play with my banjo, then we went outside and threw the frisbee around. We also shared a snack.

Quarter Turn to the Right

Most mornings I get up around 6:30 and walk for half an hour. I usually walk back and forth in my living room. It gives me a chance to wake up and think about things while the rest of the house is sleeping. This morning I tried something different. I decided to warm up by walking in place. I was there with the curtains closed but the windows open, a cool breeze floating in under the curtains to my right. There was some light streaming in through the kitchen on my left. I closed my eyes and started walking, focussing mostly on my posture as I walked. When I opened my eyes about a minute later I was facing the window. I hadn't turned intentionally, it just happened. So I tried it again. I stood in front of the couch with the window on my right. I figured this time around I would be more aware of my position instead of my posture but I tried to block that. Sure enough, when I opened my eyes I was again facing the window. I tried it again, this time facing the kitchen, with the window behind me. I wondered if I was subconsciously turning towards the light. I focussed again on my posture and when I opened my eyes I had done the same quarter turn to the right.

Not sure what it all means, but exercising in the morning helps me have a better day.

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

Cindy and I went to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival last night. Hard to believe this is their 19th year. Anyway, we had a great time. It was hot when we got there, but it cooled off after a while. The show started with the Stormy Mountain Boys. They were good, but the sound system wasn't working for them. For most of their set you just couldn't hear the banjo. Since I play the banjo this was really disappointing. The guy on the dobro was awesome, as was the bass fiddle player. One of the last songs they played was a bluegrass adaptation of a Mongolian folk song. They said it was in G minor, a hard key for the mandolin. It sounded great, but again the banjo wasn't coming through.

After a (long) intermission they started with the storytellers. Victoria Burnett had us up on our feet singing for the BBC. Kevin Kling taught us to speak Minnesotan. Motoko told the story of a bride in Japan with strange powers. Bill Harley wrapped it all up with a song about saying goodbye when your children leave home. By this time the wind was picking up, so we left just in time. We had a great evening; I hope we can go again next year.

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

Victoria Burnett

Kevin Kling

Motoko

Bill Harley

Lasertag Event

Played Laser Tag at Laser Assault last night. It was so much fun. I had to defend our base and keep the green team at bay. My accuracy was about 5%, not too bad. Scoutmaster Shumway had the best score for the evening. I'm glad the young men and there leaders came along, it made it that much more fun.

William hurt his ankle, so I gave him crutches this morning. He was trying to use them as he went down the stairs and wound up getting hurt again. Poor William!

Last Day of Summer Vacation

The kids head back to school on Monday, so today we had our end-of-summer picnic up Provo Canyon. We were going to stop at Vivian Park, but there were cars all over the place. The parking lot was full and people were parked along the main highway. It was too crazy, so we continued up the road to South Fork park. We had a nice time and we got to eat right next to the river. William threw rocks into the river. We ate sandwiches and chips and some grapes that grew in our yard.

After the picnic I took Sarah to the movies. We saw Prince Caspian at the dollar movies. It was a fun movie, with plenty of action. I'm always afraid when I go into the subways that the walls might suddenly disappear and I'll be there on the beach. Hasn't happened yet, but who knows?

TeamChiari 2008

Cindy suffers from Chiari I Malformation. She is in constant pain from this condition. She had an MRI scan (see the photo) to determine how bad it was. It looks like she will need surgery to correct it.

We're selling tee shirts to help cover the expenses related to her surgery and post-operative care. Please visit the TeamChiari shirt shop at CafePress and buy one of our shirts. Every little bit helps. We also ask that you send your prayers and good wishes Cindy's way as she goes through this.

July 4 at the Bohn's

We had a fun holiday, even with some illness in the family. Sarah woke up with a nasty head cold, and Ellen's voice was raw all day long. I drove out to Albertsons to buy some cold medicine, but the pharmacy was closed. Sarah had to tough it out, but she did get a little better as the day wore on. I think I managed to catch her cold somehow during the day.

We had Cindy's family over for lunch. I moved the charcoal grill into the front yard. That's where all the shade is in the morning. I cooked hamburgers for the girls, a hot dog for William, and pork chops for Cindy and myself. The chops turned out great! I also cooked some food for Cindy's parents. We rounded out the meal with potato chips, baked beans, and lemon bars.

Ellen and Sarah were in the flag ceremony at Stadium of Fire. I told them some people would be impressed that they shared a stage with Hannah Montana. They didn't think it was such a big deal. When I went to drop them off we went down the wrong road and got shouted at by one of Provo's Finest. We managed to find the back lane that led to the proper parking lot. Dropping them off was a breeze, no problem at all. When I went to pick them up things were much more interesting, in a boring sort of way. I was driving there as the fireworks were going off, and I pulled into the lane just after they ended. There were all kinds of cars trying to leave the stadium, and the road was quite narrow. Add in the pedestrian traffic, and motorcycles and scooters trying to go the wrong way: it wasn't pretty. I finally pulled over about a block and a half short of the parking lot and just waited. Eventually the girls showed up and we tried to turn around and leave. Took more than an hour just to get on the main road, and that was going slowly in parts. We made it home after midnight, everyone tired and getting a little silly.  We started making up our own lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody. 

They didn't think much of the headliner, but both girls enjoyed Blue Man Group. I'd kind of like to see them perform someday. We all enjoyed our holiday, and I wish my dad could have been here.

Orem Owlz over Chukars 4-2

The Orem Owlz played the Idaho Falls Chukars last night. The weather was great for a ball game, and the Owlz' pitchers did a great job. My nephew got his picture made with Hootz.

The Owlz (12-4) now lead the Pioneer League Southern Division. Go Owlz!

I Can't Believe I Won!

In today's email:


This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of Nine Hundred and Fifty thousand, Great Britain Pound Starlings (Ј950.000.00) for the month of July 2008.

What!? But I don't even like starlings. Guess they'll have to give them to someone else.

Field Day 2008

Field Day 2008
Originally uploaded by rsbohn.

UCARES set up a field day station in the park in downtown Orem. I worked the 40 meters station and logged seven contacts over the course of two hours. We were working QRP (low power, 5 watts). Most of the stations I talked with were in California. I was just thrilled that they could hear me. It made me wish I had a working HF station.

Bindweed

Also known as Morning Glory.

“After two or three years of spraying, mulching, pulling and cursing, field bindweed will weaken and become less of a problem,” Goodspeed says. “After that, only occasional weeding and control will be needed over the next 45 years.” -- USU Extension Office

We didn't have any until we got a load of topsoil delivered. It was full of the nasty stuff.

Famous Artists

Here are two artists whose work I value:

Edgar Allen Poe wrote stories that are still entertaining and relevant. He deals with dark themes, including murder, revenge, death, and loss. His writings really draw you in to the story. I especially like 'The Cask of Amontillado' (obviously) and 'Fall of the House of Usher'. The circumstances of his death in October 1849 are still unclear.

Douglas Adams is best known for the Hitchhiker's Guide series. He also was a scriptwriter for Dr. Who. I really like his detective stories with Dirk Gently. These are a long way from your standard 'whodunit' style mysteries. Dirk believes in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things, and refuses to eliminate the impossible as Sherlock Holmes would do. Adams died a tragic death back in 2001.

Well, that's quite depressing so I'll stop here. Look for more posts like this in the coming weeks.

Released: Spore Creature Creator

The Spore Creature Creator is now available for download. I've been looking forward to this all year! The full Spore game won't be out until fall.

http://www.spore.com/

Cub Scout Day Camp

I had a good time at Camp Jeremiah Johnson, but it sure was cold. We arrived at the camp about 7:10 am, before the sun was good and up. There were some menacing clouds off to the west, but the sky above us was blue. Lucky that we all wore coats. We had a good pack cheer:

Bow and Arrow, B-B Gun!
We are Thirteen Thirty One!

(Pack 1331 that is).

Our first activity was B-B Guns! It made me think perhaps I should own one...

We did more fun stuff, including sling shots and rain gutter regatta. Then lunch time arrived and it was even colder. Christian Fairbanks was sitting there shivering as he ate his sandwich, so I gave him an extra coat that I'd brought along. It was so cold!

After lunch the cubs made swords out of fun-noodles and pvc pipe. A round of swashbuckling warmed everyone up. Then it was off to the archery range. By the time we had finished and loaded up to go home the sun was shining and it was warming up.

I'm glad I went, I think everyone had a good time and they brought home some cool stuff.

(I wrote this back in 1999)

% Bad bugs bad bugs whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
% Carps - See real space travelers in action!
[Narrator] Today we take in the scene with Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged. Join us for a half hour of excitement with this oh-so-interesting being!
[Inside Wowbagger's ship] Hey, we're headed for Omnithrush Gamma. An eight-legged megamonkey named Danielwooz. I think I was going to call it a "Tofu swilling nunkifrump". That should do the turlingdrome.
You see, I'm on a quest.
Insult the universe.
It keeps me busy.

[a bell sounds] We've arrived. Should take the computer just a few...there he is, in that forest. We'll just set down in that clearing. I see him now, in that tree.
[camera follows W down the landing ramp] You! Hey, You! Danielwooz!
[megamonkey awakes, looks startled]
You tofu swilling nunkifrump!

[monkey is shocked, starts to growl]

[W makes a check mark on his computer]
Yeah, never made it out of the trees, did you?

[W re-enters the ship as the monkey roars] You know, I think I've been here before. Something to do with an eel or something. I've been to most planets in the galaxy many times over.
Let's see, next on the list is Daniel W. Oozer. Hmm...He'll be at the Big Bang Burger Bar. That will do nicely. Deflate him in front of his friends. May as well catch a snack while I'm there.

Fab410 Blog

I've created a new blog: Fab410 a Fab Lab for Orem, Utah. Just getting started, but it will take the place of fundamental.antville.org.

The Cask of Amontillado

THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.

read more

Services for model railroad people

outhouse2
Originally uploaded by rsbohn.

Even tiny plastic people need a place to think...why not put it in the middle of a field of poppies?

This is my first attempt at fake tilt-shift photography. You can start with about any photo, and by applying a few modifications it looks like a miniature model. I looked at several photos to try, and this one by Doc Searls did the trick.

It might help to look at the large size (just click to follow the link to flickr) and compare it with the original.

William - Hot Dog King

William - Hot Dog King
Originally uploaded by rsbohn.

William and I have one place we would eat every Saturday if we could...Hot Dog King! I think William is trying to decide what to get.

Flipping Burgers

We weren't sure if we would do a cookout for Memorial Day, but when the skies cleared and dinnertime approached I decided to go ahead. I started a fire in our small barbecue and let it smolder for a while. Eventually all the briquettes turned white and it was ready to go. I started by searing an apple. Grilled apples are good if you just get them warm. Leave them on the fire too long and they turn to mush (yuck). They give me something to snack on while I'm cooking the rest of the food.

I cooked a bunch of hamburger patties, one veggie-chicken (Mandee likes them crispy), and two black bean patties. Then I put the hot dogs on for Xander and William. After we started eating I found that Bob also wanted hot dogs, so I cooked a few more, and then the girls wanted another burger each, so I cooked a few more. I enjoy cooking on the grill.

After dinner it started raining again, but the sun was still out and produced a beautiful rainbow.

Mud Pits

William isn't supposed to use the water without asking, but sometimes he forgets. He also likes to start fires. But this past Saturday he mowed the lawn for the first time. Will is awesome!

Pigs In Poke. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

House with no Windows(tm)

"It's always amusing to see how these folks respond to a house without windows. They are drilled in the art of telling windows users to reboot to make things work. I said, this is a Mac, you don't need to reboot."

from marxy's musing on technology

Left it to the Cubmaster

Our cub scout theme this month is "Leaf it to the Cubs". I was all ready to run the pack meeting, but I came down with some kind of stomach bug. I left work early and drove home through the pouring rain. I enjoy our pack meetings, but there was no way I could make it this time. So it was all up to Spencer, our cubmaster. I'm sure he did a great job, he always does.

Fox Hunt Weekend

OK, not real foxes--hidden transmitters. From WA7BZO:

Once again the annual National Fox Hunt Weekend will be coming to Utah this coming
Saturday. There will be a hidden transmitter activated Friday afternoon on the frequency of
146.56 with a second "Mini-Fox" on 146.50. These will be active through the weekend for
your radio direction finding pleasure. A log book will be on site for your comments.

Last year this was in Salt Lake valley, probably the same this time around.

Cinco de Mayo

mariachi band
Originally uploaded by buckaroo kid.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Go out and have a big fiesta today.

Heat Wave

We're having a heat wave here in Orem. I'm not sure how hot it got yesterday, but we had all the windows open and even the sliding glass door for a while. Today (Tuesday) the forecast is 86 F. Hot! Tomorrow it only makes it to 59.

Our plum trees are in full bloom today. They look nice. Maybe we'll get some apricots and plums later this year.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Blue Hat

My Crafty Notebook on Evernote. I made the hat for William during General Conference.

Mayfield Utah

Drove my Dad down to Mayfield Tuesday. We went to the funeral of my Dad's cousin, Bud. It was a windy day all over, and there was a lot of dust or something in the air in Provo. After we passed Nephi the air started to clear. In Mayfield the sun was out making a beautiful but still windy day.

I didn't really know Bud or his family. He was my grandmother's sister's son. He was buried with military honors. Three active duty soldiers were at the gravesite. They played taps and then folded the flag and presented it Bud's wife Maryanna, then the American Legion did a three gun salute. I was impressed, this was a very moving ceremony.

The drive home was quiet, and the air just got murkier and murkier the farther north we drove. After I got back home it was cold and snowed a little.

A Busy Saturday

Spent most of the day cleaning out the garage. Threw out a bunch of useless junk, don't know what I was saving it for. I also put a kickstand that I found on Ellen's bike, which needed it. Moved a bunch of boxes into the shed.

My dad just gave me an old drill press and a rock/tile saw. I've wanted a drill press for awhile, this one looks very powerful, and has a way long power cord. I'm not sure where I'll put the rock saw, but William will want to cut some rocks I'm sure of that.

My neighbor came over and helped me remove the old faucet in the bathroom. I bought a replacement back in January and just haven't been motivated to install it yet. We had to fight to get the old one off, then buy some more hardware to adapt the old plumbing to the new fixture. Still, it looks smart (nicer than the old one) and I think we did a good job on it. It's been a full day.

When Bears Attack

I visited our cub scout Bear Den yesterday. We learned some rope tricks, then played several rounds of charades. Our theme this month is Abracadabra, so we started of miming different magic tricks. Then we let the boys chose their own subjects. Never seen so many knife fights, or people chucking televisions out the window.

Oh, I took the geek test at Innergeek.us and am proud to report that I am a Supergeek (50.29%). That's all I want to say at the moment.

periscope554

periscope554
Originally uploaded by xporttester.

Gotta hate it when this happens. See you on the other side!

Incident at Rottingdean

2004_MAY_Rottingdean_Mill_004.JPG
Originally uploaded by Justin Brice.

Does a strange creature live in the English Channel near Rottingdean?

Incident at Rottingdean

Embedded Blogging

Think about this:

Your Next Keyboard

WOSP input device
Originally uploaded by rsbohn.

Flip the switches, set the scan code, then press the fire button. What could be easier? (now to find a USB keyboard I can remake...)