My Archives: November 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Seeing the new Harry Potter movie was part of the Thanksgiving festivities down on the Oregon coast (Jack's parents live there). At least we found the theater and didn't go zooming by it and on to the next town this time, which we have done in previous years! I did enjoy the movie, but also got a big kick out of this condensed version by Mistful on LJ:
HERMIONE: What were you dreaming about, Harry?
HARRY: Uh... dark, intense, leather-clad men.
HERMIONE: Just the usual, then. Wake up, Ronald!
RON: Ahhh! Madam, you have intruded upon me at a moment when I am unclothed!
HERMIONE: Take out the trash! Wash the dishes! Go out and make me and the children some money, you layabout!
RON: Being married at fourteen sucks.
Posted by Anita @ 04:23 AM PST [Link] [Add a Comment]
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Since our grandson R---- likes small cars on about an equal basis with the toy trains, I was interested in the webzine Tales of Toy Cars. (Where did I see this linked?) Tons of pictures, informative articles, and personal opinions about this hobby! Author/editor Doug Breithaupt has a real fannish flavor to what he does. "When you think of toy Jeeps, does the name Matchbox spring to mind? It should. Over the past 40 years, Matchbox has produced more Jeep vehicles than any other toy car maker. The Jeep castings have seen many variations, with new wheels and accessories. Since the late 1990's, a new Jeep casting has appeared almost every year. The year indicated here is the casting date and not the release date as many of these models have had long production histories. I remember driving the original Matchbox Jeep CJ-5 through Jungle adventures in my parent's garden. My seven-year old daughter, Amelia, does the same with her Matchbox CJ-5. I guess it's a family tradition."
(tags: Mattel, HotWheels, Matchbox, diecast, DougBreithaupt)
Posted by Anita @ 10:59 PM PST [Link] [Add a Comment]
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Elaine of Five Acres with a View says farewell to her horse Smoke with a heartfelt tribute. "During my early years of struggling with Hap, Smoke was my confidence builder: a horse I could saddle and ride by myself and remember why riding was supposed to be fun. I think Smoke spooked with me once: he stopped moving, and lifted his head higher about a foot to stare at the offending object. I never came off of him, though I came close once when we failed to make up our minds about which way we were going around a yucca plant at a gallop. After that, I let him decide."
Posted by Anita @ 03:55 AM PST [Link] [Add a Comment]
Monday, November 21, 2005
I found out from the MAKE zine that Walter Wick, creator and photographer of the I SPY books (and much more), has an extensive web site! Our grandson really likes the board book format I SPY books. I didn't know that Wick has gone on to a new series called Can You See What I See. I surmise that a series where he owns all the rights might be the cause of the new project.
There are a lot of sample pages with behind-the-scenes info on the site, conveniently listed here. Includes quicktime movies on some pages!
(tags: WalterWick, ISpy, books, illusions, photography)
Posted by Anita @ 04:19 AM PST [Link] [Add a Comment]
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Since Jack was feeling poorly last night, I left him and grandson R---- at home and drove myself to Ralph's Grocery and Deli for the meetup. I had no problem parking because I'd previously decided to use the Warwick garage right across the street, which is only 5 bucks for an evening rate. I did need to dig in my purse for the cash, though, which surprised me. Things seemed quiet at Ralph's Grocery, but I was bummed to find out that the food specials now end at 6 pm. No more two slices of pizza and a drink unless you pay full fare!
New member Don Shepherdson was already there; he's learning about blogging for his business but I don't think the actual weblog has begun. Also new were Jason Truesdell (he said that we overlapped on the IE team for a six-month period back in the day; he's ex-msft now), and Peter Leonard (also of Seattle Metroblog).
Regulars present were Josh of Science vs Romance and Seattle Metroblog, Clark Humphrey of MISC, Jeff Sharman of Using Books, Samantha of Seattle Metroblog, Dave Campbell, and Eric and Ben.
Tom Masters of Orion Wellspring Publishing was looking for folks to participate on a panel about blogging at a conference for small publishers. Are you game?
When things broke up I hornswoggled Jeff into helping carry my heavy laptop up to the parking garage. I could handle the steps, but not while toting that thing!
Posted by Anita @ 02:25 PM PST [Link] [2 comments]
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
I enjoy this short daily radio program, Day by Day with Lewis and Clark. My local NPR station plays it right before 5 am. It's an almost-daily bulletin on what the explorers were doing two hundred years ago. At this time they were around the end of the Columbia River, looking for a spot to spend the winter. Jack and I have traveled in that area, discouragingly named Cape Disappointment.
There's an archive of recent episodes on the website. Too bad it's not available as a podcast!
Posted by Anita @ 04:31 AM PST [Link] [Add a Comment]
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
This link to the Boing Boing item and this to Manuel's post are safe for work, I'd say, but if you click through, beware! These advances in men's underwear technology are very funny so you decide. Congratulations, Buffoonery! Jack was rather astounded by how much traffic and secondary, tertiary links, came to him about his Operation Costume.
Posted by Anita @ 04:11 AM PST [Link] [Add a Comment]
Monday, November 14, 2005
John Moe often writes of odd little conversations he has with his young son. But what if other family members want their share in the bloglight? Would they start making up bits of weirdness?
Posted by Anita @ 05:44 AM PST [Link]
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Wednesday, November 16, it's the Seattle Weblog Meetup! Start time is 7 pm, but we usually go until 9 or so, so come by even if you are late. Location is Ralph's Grocery and Deli, 2035 4th Ave in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, across the street from the Cinerama theater (map). Free WiFi, and food and drink are available. In fact, you can buy anything in the store and consume it in the deli area. Local and visiting webloggers talk about blog topics and lots else. I hope to see you there! Parking can be tight in the neighborhood but I usually find a space on Sixth.
(tags: blog, blogs, weblog, weblogs, meetup, seattlemeetup)
Posted by Anita @ 04:38 AM PST [Link]
Thursday, November 3, 2005
Even though there wasn't anyone RSVP'd for the East Side Weblog Meetup, Jack, grandson R---- and I went over to Crossroads for dinner. So I was pleased when three folks did turn up! Tara of burning paper dropped by on her way home from work, Dan the Deliverator was there, and the owner of Rocket Fuel Marketing (he's got a brand-new blog) visited after reading my post on the Seattlist list. We talked about knitting, Mind Camp, and the latest Blog Business Summit seminar.
(tags: blog, blogs, weblog, weblogs, meetup, SeattleMeetup)
Posted by Anita @ 03:31 AM PST [Link]
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Jack has posted details and pictures on how he made his Operation game Halloween costume. It looks good, and it works! I especially liked his acting job when the buzzer wasn't working when we were at a Halloween party Saturday night; he'd look down to see the LEDs light up when someone attempted to remove one of the organs, and scream and yelp when they lit up.