New Post on Politics and Society Blog

Just a heads up on a new post over on my Politics and Society blog - The Pickens Plan. Yes, finally. Now, I just need to get some posting done here.

Whitney Pockets

For Memorial Day weekend we went on a little excursion to Whitney Pockets in Nevada (near Mesquite). We were originally going to go to Pine Valley but the snow on the ground deterred us.

View Larger Map

We set up camp right next to that big rock center left (west) on the map. The first day it rained most of the time and the second day off and on but we got some good hiking in as well as some ATVing.

The sandstone rock formations were very interesting, almost other worldly. The flora included the barrel cactus and Joshua trees. The fauna was the usual desert fair - lizards, chipmunks, a Desert Kangaroo Mouse visited us during the night and a quail passed by on one ATV run.

Mortality

It was interesting week that just passed. I returned from seeing my grand uncle in the hospital after a major heart attack. It was nice to live closer to where I could go down and visit him after a few hours drive rather than multiple hours. He was communicating good by writing on a clipboard when I got there, which I am grateful for. A doctor initially made it sound like he had little chance of making it but as of today he is breathing on his own but is quite weak with his heart functioning on a limited basis, a fact that will not change with a valve not working properly.
After returning to visit my uncle, my wife got a call from her sister. Her husband was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer his father died from after it came back from remission. The symptoms seem to indicate that it is a more severe type (don't ask me the name of it) but the tests have not come back to indicate which one he has.

Then, as the week ended I was reading the blog of Nathan Shumate (Tachyon City) and found out he had a stroke. Nathan is my age.

All this has made me think about my mortality a bit. I would think that would be a natural thing considering the week's events. I have thought about it before due to my family history. My father had what I believe was a minor heart attack a couple of years ago while still in his 50s. My grandfather died from a hunting accident before I was born at the age of 44. His father died at the age of 45 from a heart attack. My 2nd great grandfather died at the age of 42 (a brain aneurysm, if I recall correct). My 3rd great grandfather died at 58, and his father at 47. You have to go back to my 5th Great Grandfather (direct paternal line) to find an ancestor who lived into his 60s.

The uncle I went to see is one of two brothers of my grandfather's who are still alive (of 7). One died at the age of 9 and was my grandfather's twin - illness weakened his heart. Two died in their 50s. My two grand uncles that are still alive, namely the one that had the heart attack, are probably the more healthy of the group, exercising on a regular basis and have eaten healthy. I really can't compare myself to them (unless we're looking at opposites) as I am overweight and not in shape. I can try to blame some of that on asthma but not all of it. I really need to take a look at what I can do to better my health so I can stick around for a good long time.

Even if I get myself in shape it is no guarantee I'll be around as long as I want though that is not an excuse not to try. There's other things that can sneak up on you like cancer. My sister has MS which I hope can be kept under control - that is something that can't be avoided as it just happens.

We're mere mortals with a limited time here. Or are we really eternal beings with limited mortal existence? Well, the latter is true so our mortality, while limited, is not the sum of our existence but a small portion of it. A guess that limits the sting of death a little. However, when we leave spouses with children still at home behind there is much more of an impact. There's a responsibility for us to do what we can to be there for our families as long as possible. That's fine and dandy for those who have some control over that but for those who don't, fate is in charge.

The Trek West

Well, we're now in St. George, Utah. It definitely doesn't feel like the Wasatch Front here but it is definitely Utah. I don't mean that in a negative way but when you have LDS churches around every corner, you're probably in Utah. So, another chapter in our family begins. Where we go from here is still open.

E-bay and The Last Mimzy

Our daughter really likes the movie The Last Mimzy. Of course, it is because of Mimzy. In the move, Mimzy is what appears to be a stuffed rabbit but turns out to be more than that. The Tonner Doll Company came out with a replica of Mimzy earlier this year and it was so popular it sold out (I think the Mimzy frenzie really hit when the DVD came out). You can buy them at e-bay, of course, but you'll have to bid a chunk of money to get it ($100 plus) when the ones available were originally $24.95 (there was a more deluxe version available for $59.95 or so).

New Line, the company that distributed the movie, made available a new talking Mimzy in a limited quantity of 2,000 just yesterday for the price of $29.95 (originally - they increased the price to $36.95 today). Despite there still being some available, these talking Mimzys are already showing up at e-bay for as much as $229.00 (Buy-it-Now price). If anyone bids on one of these Mimzys before the retail supply of 2000 is exhausted, they're nuts! If you want one go to New Line Shop before they run out but don't go to e-bay and pay a ridiculous price.

With e-bay there seems to be a trend. I think professional e-bayers are buying certain popular products to a point they are almost not available at your standard retail outlet (either brick and mortar or online). Our oldest son wanted a Bumblebee transformer based on the one recently seen on the Transformer movie. You couldn't find them anywhere except on e-bay. After some diligent effort on our part we located both versions (the older camaro model and the new one) at local stores right after being stocked. In both cases we got the last of each and ran into others trying to get the same ones.

I have purchased one toy on e-bay for more than standard retail once. It was a Jessie doll from Toy Story 2. We never saw them in stores and we really wanted to get it for our daughter because she was always playing with her brother's Woody doll. I did not, however, pay an exorbitant amount for it nor would I for any toy.

I will be watching this gift giving season to see what happens with these short supply high demand toys to see what prices are paid. I wonder if supplies will kick up for the transformers but thus far most retail outlets have had few of them (Wal-mart has been the worse) though Target and Toys 'R Us have had more in stock (though Toys 'R Us had been without them here locally for two weeks after they ran an ad advertising them - at least the $9.99 versions). Most likely procrastinators will pay - either in price or in a disappointed child.

Oh, and for those shopping on e-bay, check around before bidding.

Eric D. Snider

I added some Sniderite links today. In other words, I've added a link to, first of all, Eric D. Snider's website who is a movie critic and funny guy (seriously). Included in the links is the message board/forum that used to be part of his site but now resides at his brother's site (Snider Board). There are a few blog links to some of those who participate on the board/forum.

I visit Eric's site on occasion to read his Snide Remarks, blog and movie reviews. I don't post often at the board/forum but do visit at least once a week.

Halloween Hangman

How about a little Halloween Hangman to bone up on your Halloween vocabulary.

Getting Under the Skin of 'Toons & Knitwit

Have you ever wondered what the skeleton of Charlie Brown would look like? No matter, it is below whether you ever wondered or not:

This is the work of Michael Paulus. You can enjoy more of his work at his website.

Lauren Porter, an art graduate at Bath Spa University (UK), knitted a Ferrari sportscar for her honors degree.


She didn't do it alone, however, with 20 of her family and friends helping out making the 250 squares that make up the Ferrari. The article notes that she also welded the steel frame herself. Quite a unique project . . . if only it were real.

St. George Pics

Yes, this is going back a bit but I've meant to post some since March when we were there for Spring Break.

We did some ATVing. Everyone enjoyed it. On the way back at the end of our riding around, Amy had to stop because Deveny started to fall asleep. Cyrus rode with me. We got some good speed going in places. Near the main road there were some good hills to get some air on.

There were some petroglyphs where we ATVed to. This is one of them. You can see a few more pictures of our ATVing time here.

Flowers

Okay, I do like flowers and thought I would share pictures of a couple I recently (this summer) took pictures of.

This flower is from our front flower bed. No, I don't know what it is and neither does Amy. I know it is from some bulbs I bought her but I can't remember the name of the flower.

The above picture was taken at Palo Duro Canyon. Again, we haven't been able to identify yet (though we have tried). I thought it might be a thistle of some kind but reference material at the visitor's center at Palo Duro Canyon did not have it listed and the personnel there could not identify it either. They were in abundance in June, a product of the wet weather this year.

New Star Wars Race

Well, since I'm entertaining myself here I'll post an amusing image that I can look at when visiting my blog. This is from Hawk who takes part in the Avalanche Software blog. I don't know who Hawk is (of all the creatives listed) but if I find out I'll let you know. Take a look at the blog - lots of creative contributions to enjoy (but, of course, I'm "talking" to myself so I will continue to take my own advice and visit on a regular basis).

This is a Test

Okay, I do exist and I have not been posting on a regular basis. The test part of this is . . . has anyone even noticed?

The Lost Prince of Darkleaf

Bean Leaf Press has their next book out - The Lost Prince of Darkleaf, the second book in a series that started with Bean's Song. I read the first book with my oldest son and have the second on the way. The authors are Aimee Duncan and Travis Hanson with Travis doing the illustrations. We enjoyed the first book and are looking forward to this one.

ST Lewis - Hot Dog on a Stick

Okay, you need to go check out S. T. Lewis' Hot Dog on a Stick. Another hilarious piece and accompanying blog entry. Be sure to click on the pic for a bigger view. There's a flag in it so it goes with today being Flag Day. Hey, it's my birthday, I can stretch the topic a little!

Potpourri of Information

As I mentioned previously, I planned to be diligent in my posting. I try to make my posts worthwhile so sometimes I don't post because I don't have much to share. This post is sort of a mixture of information that alone would not be posted.

Summer activities have begun. Cyrus experienced a school "camp" last week that occurred for a couple of hours each morning. He seemed to have a good time with the activities which were centered on a pirate theme. He was invited to attend due to his good behavior and grades. Now he is involved in scout camp which he was originally not going to attend as there was one kid last year that made it miserable and he didn't think there would be anything new to do. A kid dropped out due to a schedule conflict so Cyrus was invited to take the open spot which he decided to do. He enjoyed the first day. By the way, the scout camp's theme is pirates.

Swimming lessons will be coming up for Alonzo and Cyrus. Alonzo is excited. He likes the water and really enjoyed swimming at an indoor activity center in St. George during spring break. He was so excited he want down a water slide without any flotation device before we knew he was gone. Not knowing how to swim, he was somewhat surprised when he got to the bottom and had to make his way to the side! Thankfully, he made it and if he had had problems there are lifeguards posted in several places.

Amy's birthday has passed and mine approaches. We're getting old...er. We don't feel it yet and hopefully won't for a while but to me time is passing too fast. We went to Chilis to celebrate our birthdays and had a good meal. Cyrus and Alonzo had the ribs (kids meal version) which they really liked (they have always bugged me for some of mine when I order it). Deveny got the pizza but wanted everyone else's food (as usual). She seems to like ribs though she is normally not a big meat fan.

We still have to determine when and where we will vacation this summer. With gas prices we will probably not go far. Amy and the kids will probably go to Utah in our fuel efficient Geo (which can't hold the whole family but can hold all of us save one).