tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136011362024-02-03T12:28:28.963-05:00Orange Shirt GuyLife, the Universe, and Family and Photography and Everything [and doing all of it efficiently].Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-53991950739119209742010-07-02T17:32:00.001-04:002010-07-02T17:34:45.464-04:00Test PostJust curious to see how the dominos fall.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/07/02/1758.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/07/02/s_1758.jpg' border='0' width='223' height='281' align='left' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br />....<br /><br />Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-11904504584583707792010-06-25T06:03:00.001-04:002010-06-25T06:03:44.646-04:00<br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/06/25/266.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/06/25/s_266.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />......<br />Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-48248560919306846252008-10-03T17:04:00.002-04:002008-12-12T19:32:29.973-05:00New Posts are. . .<span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.orangeshirtguy.com/">Over Here</a>.<br /><br /><br /></span>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-78684976564080408262008-02-22T23:57:00.002-05:002008-02-23T00:05:44.942-05:00Snow Chores<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5yPMSJQPFMmggM42iHx6_u2u_pDWE6nXb0wyAJe-zhrE7LrOQ2i6RISJYtc1XU_Cs9ZBNzgg1S7zAJd3mN36x2jAsJFXiwTBeID_-7bJa0vUZX-I2CoJ9u3HfQpPNzzxT688gA/s1600-h/20080222-21946.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5yPMSJQPFMmggM42iHx6_u2u_pDWE6nXb0wyAJe-zhrE7LrOQ2i6RISJYtc1XU_Cs9ZBNzgg1S7zAJd3mN36x2jAsJFXiwTBeID_-7bJa0vUZX-I2CoJ9u3HfQpPNzzxT688gA/s400/20080222-21946.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Monday was a scheduled no-school day.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Tuesday - everyone went to school normally.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Wednesday - Snow Day<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Thursday - 2 hour delay (no school for 2 of the 4)<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Friday - Snow Day.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-10006455204091892572008-02-17T14:15:00.002-05:002008-02-17T14:33:49.272-05:00M's Tooth<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXGsQN2pH57o6wOYg2znquJAF_jtNUxHyDMD5V57f42yjAUyqQ3kCki2OSUrsbxOqSEtRjcSCHUB4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />A video log of M's Tooth.Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-48140363555433361962008-02-17T13:29:00.002-05:002008-02-17T13:30:23.947-05:00Gloves that Don't Fit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChIL7bhNJjNGcTzhQzxf3SJLsZS8TvLYgBHym6vcvWzXT9VjzgGrTk0HWg_FHk_RmAINaYfzusYAafwDMIdfqBTAfBV1jjgrQstamn8An9d_svkiekt63_IBxXVSuVPUx9td7fA/s1600-h/20080102-17404.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChIL7bhNJjNGcTzhQzxf3SJLsZS8TvLYgBHym6vcvWzXT9VjzgGrTk0HWg_FHk_RmAINaYfzusYAafwDMIdfqBTAfBV1jjgrQstamn8An9d_svkiekt63_IBxXVSuVPUx9td7fA/s400/20080102-17404.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168018186246949074" border="0" /></a>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-91862714494354640092008-02-15T11:47:00.000-05:002008-02-15T11:47:29.159-05:00Cul-de-Sac RulesLiving on a cul-de-sac rules. It is an extesion of the yard and an informal summer gathering place.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1UU54ST1ILCygkvlwo_o4jsCMHXRk2YdDzTO9VjR-Y-ZPJc30o8Tqga6VFTQhRz1mkg2sPJNzrcP9fNMPzwhmnWaG-O3bqtmSzMmb2yKI2qAWfOceWsHcmwGlA4K0nCQ5uQwLg/s1600-h/2006.12.27_348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1UU54ST1ILCygkvlwo_o4jsCMHXRk2YdDzTO9VjR-Y-ZPJc30o8Tqga6VFTQhRz1mkg2sPJNzrcP9fNMPzwhmnWaG-O3bqtmSzMmb2yKI2qAWfOceWsHcmwGlA4K0nCQ5uQwLg/s320/2006.12.27_348.JPG" border="0" /></a><div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-46163378765261330062008-02-14T12:30:00.000-05:002008-02-14T12:30:35.280-05:00Get Ooouuuuttt of the Pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcLJMHUVsO1KdINXCTIoIbQwg15XS4aULveK2FE9G65OKIaIUbk3wkuQ8srpsGEQBx5a6xVaLRbpQqieIv8U4KWgkG_88GPCSa4V1oykplOTkYxqbjn07TD5sQUHe6x9rmWh76Q/s1600-h/SANY0014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcLJMHUVsO1KdINXCTIoIbQwg15XS4aULveK2FE9G65OKIaIUbk3wkuQ8srpsGEQBx5a6xVaLRbpQqieIv8U4KWgkG_88GPCSa4V1oykplOTkYxqbjn07TD5sQUHe6x9rmWh76Q/s320/SANY0014.JPG" border="0" /></a>Not that I'm trying to wish winter away or to support teasing by face-placement. But I do love playing on the cul-de-sac, listening the all of the neighborhood come to life, and (given the opportunity) being able to read while next to the street.<div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-19925336563506486292008-01-19T16:19:00.000-05:002008-01-20T09:49:36.248-05:00Lessons and the Greatest GenerationI had a thought the other day regarding learning lessons through difficult or trying times. The "Greatest Generation" (you know, the generation that was born in the depression and had then fought in World War II).<br /><br />Anyway, perhaps one of the reasons that they have been labeled the Greatest Generation was that they got many difficult lessons in a relatively short time span -- lessons from the depression in four years and then lessons from World War II in four years.<br /><br />All of us probably learned or will learn the same lessons, but it will take a lifetime (or at least the adult portion of a lifetime) to learn what they learned in eight years.<br /><br />Just a thought that I had.Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-47307065174862182452007-08-28T22:11:00.000-04:002007-08-28T22:27:08.795-04:00Notebook Note<p class="MsoNormal">Anyone that hangs around me for any length of time knows or notices that I usually have a pocket-sized notebook and pen with me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I carry this pad of paper for the overt reason of taking notes of something that I either really want to remember or something that I need to do.<span style=""> </span>On one level, it provides people with whom I work a bit of comfort – when they utter a profound thought or state a project need – seeing the notebook come out is a non-verbal cue.<span style=""> </span>With the notebook, I am saying, “Your current discussion/statement is important enough that I’m going to try to make sure that I can remember it.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">People, being the creatures that we are, usually respond with a bit of chagrin and needling toward me.<span style=""> </span>This is analogous to people not being able to take a complement – I get the needling because somewhere in my fellow conversationalist’s psyche, he finds it difficult to believe that someone thinks enough of his/her thought to put it to paper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That is Reason #1 that I carry a pad of paper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Covertly, I carry the pad as a reminder of my dad.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Years ago, when I was just out of college, visiting back home, and running errands with Dad, he said, “Do you have a piece of paper? . . . of course you do, you’re an engineer.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Those few words, in a passing moment (probably in a hardware store) placed upon me a little bit more of my dad’s admiration and love toward me.<span style=""> </span>It felt good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>It still feels good today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That is Reason #2 that I carry my brown-covered, pocked-sized, curved-to-match-my-butt pad of paper.</p>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-82115842620846807702007-08-26T21:52:00.000-04:002007-08-27T22:21:16.033-04:00PixSun 3 - Raising Boys and GirlsFirst Day of School Picture 2007.<br /><br />The difference between raising boys and raising girls is obvious to anyone with the chance to raise boys. . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlauN0dz5G2CW_Bw4oX5xEabxWmXI7qzeAGa05ERaCokKxVakOPzigNSsJ5De6xWaJiM-KOxYjPhwRt-46BwvUxeOYmb_dN2w8QpZAfdKrycN0F20gz7vdOq8O_UoJpcIASMOw/s1600-h/20070822-8519.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlauN0dz5G2CW_Bw4oX5xEabxWmXI7qzeAGa05ERaCokKxVakOPzigNSsJ5De6xWaJiM-KOxYjPhwRt-46BwvUxeOYmb_dN2w8QpZAfdKrycN0F20gz7vdOq8O_UoJpcIASMOw/s400/20070822-8519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103192876421951202" border="0" /></a>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-78813776707716931632007-08-23T21:53:00.000-04:002007-08-23T22:02:47.152-04:00Far, Far Away<p class="MsoNormal">On radio a couple weeks ago, I heard a story about four galaxies that are "racing" toward each other and preparing to collide.<span style=""> </span>These galaxies are approximately 5 billion light years away.I have a few thoughts about this story -- or rather about the 5 billion light years:<br /></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">These galaxies have probably (almost undoubtedly) already collided and whatever happened to them after the collision probably completed itself a very long time ago.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">These galaxies are incomprehensibly far away -- the distance that light travels in a second is something like 172,000 miles; the distance that light travels in a year is 365 times 24 times 3600 times that; then, don't just multiply that by one billion, multiply that by 5 billion.<span style=""> </span>That is one heck of a long way away.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Finally, something that far in the distance it must take up an amazingly small amount of the night sky.<span style=""> </span>Jostle the telescope (or whatever they use to sense the galaxies that far away) just a smidgen, and you would complete the miss all four galaxies.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Space must be relatively haze-free for the light to be able to travel that far and not just die out.<br /></li></ul>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-88320504977200209702007-08-21T22:20:00.000-04:002007-08-27T22:22:19.247-04:00BkThtTue 3 - Thought RepetitionFrom p.39 of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Small-Step-Change-Your-Life/dp/0761129235">One Small Step Can Change Your Life</a> by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/104-0448579-4101520?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Robert%20Maurer">Robert Maurer, Ph. D</a>.:<br /><br /><ul><li>Try this experiment. Tomorrow at work or wherever you spend your time, ask one of your friends the color of the car parked next to hers. Your friend is likely to give you a funny look and then admit she has no idea. Repeat the question the next day and the day after that. By the fourth or fifth day, your friend will have not choice: As she pulls into the parking lot the next morning, her brain will remind her that that silly person (you) is going to ask that silly question, and she'll be forced to store the answer in her short-term memory bank.</li></ul>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-40184278159335175982007-08-20T01:31:00.000-04:002007-08-27T22:22:50.080-04:00PixSun 2 - Go Karts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW4YdyeM8we3ZvkWWK4AUUHRmP5qphjWGiN0ONOmfPpywjeuVtRoMRF2lZS384z8DSruBx5BgACqGxl8VL9fJDqxR_hLoHOeNJFScGbnBwGgEh2NvTGnbJwoDmMEEj0szUuaJuw/s1600-h/20070819-8134.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW4YdyeM8we3ZvkWWK4AUUHRmP5qphjWGiN0ONOmfPpywjeuVtRoMRF2lZS384z8DSruBx5BgACqGxl8VL9fJDqxR_hLoHOeNJFScGbnBwGgEh2NvTGnbJwoDmMEEj0szUuaJuw/s400/20070819-8134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100652321661988562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Go Carts in a big farm field.Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-59015309589874725162007-08-17T06:48:00.000-04:002007-08-17T06:56:37.580-04:00Faith<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaSMEKz7eb_4cOLh6SmkXXgHWJ8bASR_MHYZ6oM6pu7CUPRhqGmJMCFEes-kqDUixB-pl4TtrzzzcumTxNXBhMwubnrUYjCLc51w3_F4q6QIF6VsBUmklZqxVQpQW0HwVr1639Q/s1600-h/20070804-7802.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaSMEKz7eb_4cOLh6SmkXXgHWJ8bASR_MHYZ6oM6pu7CUPRhqGmJMCFEes-kqDUixB-pl4TtrzzzcumTxNXBhMwubnrUYjCLc51w3_F4q6QIF6VsBUmklZqxVQpQW0HwVr1639Q/s200/20070804-7802.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099621258928008898" border="0" /></a><br />Initially, this post was going to be about making assumptions. But then last night I read a paragraph about faith. Here is <a href="http://m-w.com/">Merriam-Webster's</a> definition of <a href="http://m-w.com/dictionary/faith">faith</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Main Entry: <b><sup>1</sup>faith</b><br />Pronunciation: <tt>'fAth</tt><br />Function: <i>noun</i><br />Inflected Form(s): <i>plural</i> <b>faiths</b> /<tt>'fAths, <i>sometimes</i> 'fA[<u>th</u>]z</tt>/<br />Etymology: Middle English <i>feith,</i> from Anglo-French <i>feid, fei,</i> from Latin <i>fides;</i> akin to Latin <i>fidere</i> to trust -- more at <a href="http://m-w.com/dictionary/bide">BIDE</a><br /><b>1 a</b> <b>:</b> allegiance to duty or a person <b>: <a href="http://m-w.com/dictionary/loyalty">LOYALTY</a></b> <b>b </b> (1) <b>:</b> fidelity to one's promises (2) <b>:</b> sincerity of intentions<br /><b>2 a </b> (1) <b>:</b> belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) <b>:</b> belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion <b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">b </b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> (1) </span><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> firm belief in something for which there is no proof</span> (2) <b>:</b> complete trust<br /><b>3</b> <b>:</b> something that is believed especially with strong conviction; <i>especially</i> <b>:</b> a system of religious beliefs <the protestant=""><i>faith</i>><br /><b>synonym</b> see <a href="http://m-w.com/dictionary/belief">BELIEF</a><br />- <b>on faith</b> <b>:</b> without question <took everything="" he="" said=""><i>on faith</i>></took></the></span><br /><br />In reference to Definition 2b(1), do people (me included) go to church because they have faith (i.e., is their no proof) or is there another, subconscious reason that they go?Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-13781049906521392092007-08-14T23:07:00.000-04:002007-08-27T22:23:40.153-04:00BkThtTue 2 - Inner Trust<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvo6pNTv66DirHXuqFTQbspoo0fR3WbHrgeDayd5ElpVelXbKPRDNd8MMzHlsG8Mt6M3aYw_GptKZxWrkl-spGiA2__1nBAZycFMIz7e0zm3WU2mX7GXfqul4P0dSOAZpHAkg9g/s1600-h/20070731-7728b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvo6pNTv66DirHXuqFTQbspoo0fR3WbHrgeDayd5ElpVelXbKPRDNd8MMzHlsG8Mt6M3aYw_GptKZxWrkl-spGiA2__1nBAZycFMIz7e0zm3WU2mX7GXfqul4P0dSOAZpHAkg9g/s400/20070731-7728b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098760840909510866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">From page 61 of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Young-Greatest-Lesson/dp/0385484518">Tuesdays with Morrie</a> by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s.html/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sq/102-9121717-8944146?%5Fencoding=UTF8&keywords=mitch%20albom&index=blended">Mitch Albom</a>:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">"You see," he said to the girl, "you closed your eyes.<span style=""> </span>That was the difference.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel.<span style=""> </span>And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too -- even when you're in the dark.<span style=""> </span>Even when you're falling."</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Isn't it interesting to see that when a person has to -- really has to -- trust another person, it frequently cannot be done with our cognitive processes in motion.<span style=""> </span>We cannot do it with our eyes open, we can not think it through, and we cannot make a list of pros and cons. <span style=""> </span>A part of us has to let our subconscious takeover -- it is gifted in this area.</p>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-67741198836111532562007-08-12T16:25:00.001-04:002007-08-27T22:24:07.156-04:00PixSun 1 - Barnstorming<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp84mRKaoALsBOMhyphenhyphen8eN2q-xJGR5RNk_PQ2d0NvCr9KHqsRjv1gZAX04lN425Fs04eLSMioa6SpnzAgcRSFrZ9fUYVKl2-sceYtGsnEo8D4etfE76hU55KOgl0Sbvc1lNfx6NMw/s1600-h/20070811-7910.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097973921296505010" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp84mRKaoALsBOMhyphenhyphen8eN2q-xJGR5RNk_PQ2d0NvCr9KHqsRjv1gZAX04lN425Fs04eLSMioa6SpnzAgcRSFrZ9fUYVKl2-sceYtGsnEo8D4etfE76hU55KOgl0Sbvc1lNfx6NMw/s320/20070811-7910.jpg" border="0" /></a> Barnstorming in Noblesville, Indiana - I spoke to this pilot for a few minutes, watched him take off, then watched him do a low fly-by and rock his wings goodbye.<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTn7w6-MkW7kfx1WoKlprCNaJyo_3X0dYe8-EVLlvJcy2DePIY3f0OxXKT4lBIWAOm9JIEy8UA5lM41Psc07eTiQ4MSpHRtxBvA_KfZs0Mag7K56LWVFAS_h_uQ4f0OOlFLz_ug/s1600-h/20070804-7816.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097912915581032610" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTn7w6-MkW7kfx1WoKlprCNaJyo_3X0dYe8-EVLlvJcy2DePIY3f0OxXKT4lBIWAOm9JIEy8UA5lM41Psc07eTiQ4MSpHRtxBvA_KfZs0Mag7K56LWVFAS_h_uQ4f0OOlFLz_ug/s320/20070804-7816.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><p>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The caterpillars are all in their chrysalis and will be back out in about four days. We found it interesting to watch their leaf-devouring technique.</p>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-52477243623241721772007-08-09T22:17:00.001-04:002007-08-09T22:53:45.207-04:00Space Shuttle Education<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji54aGzU890fNPytElJwTJC2V7q_lyHF7PRgrfxNjCZqklF-ROs3iNp2eld4LTrYjCBneNtxTwal-ICeul59CgC0NaGSrILkB13cEMnLtNdORcxnTD2MLaQ7wXVBgh7pF3coEU8A/s1600-h/20070809-7774.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji54aGzU890fNPytElJwTJC2V7q_lyHF7PRgrfxNjCZqklF-ROs3iNp2eld4LTrYjCBneNtxTwal-ICeul59CgC0NaGSrILkB13cEMnLtNdORcxnTD2MLaQ7wXVBgh7pF3coEU8A/s320/20070809-7774.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096896601764747410" border="0" /></a><br />The Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-118 - 119th shuttle flight) blasted off yesterday at about 6:36 p.m. local time.<br /><br />At about 6:05 p.m., the kids and I had just sat down at Goldstar for some Cincinnati chili. I mentioned to them that I'd like to be able to make it home to watch the shuttle take off in about a half-an-hour. Then, I wondered out loud if we'd be able to make it. I thought that it'd be close, but if we didn't make it, it'd be ok . . . it wasn't worth stressing about.<br /><br />But then, I had a mini-victory. My laptop was in the car. With a little luck, we'd get a wireless signal on the way home and we'd stop and be able to watch the event.<br /><br />So, a little after 6:30 found us parked on the side of the road with me holding the laptop up facing the back of the minivan with all of us watching the little screen and listening to the countdown.<br /><br />We watched it clear the tower, roll, and keep on going. I still get a proud and impressed feeling when I see it lift off.<br /><br />But that isn't really what this post is about.<br /><br />Not too many people watch the shuttle take off or land anymore which (I guess) is ok. So, sometimes not too many people have any public working knowledge about it. Here is some of the trivia that I know:<br /><ul><li> On ascent, the shuttle slows a little to go through the sound barrier. Then they "Throttle up to 106%". It was when they throttled-up that the Challenger exploded [the throttling up was unrelated to the explosion].</li><li> A little after clearing the tower, the shuttle rolls to help with telemetry and communication.</li><li> About 8 minutes into the launch, the shuttle is PNR - past the Point of No Return - they are going to space -- even if they lose all of their main engines.</li></ul>This also is not what the post is about, but the following is:<br /><br />So K. was having a discussion with one of her friends about the shuttle. K. stated that after a little while, the rockets fall away from the shuttle. Her friend disagreed in what I picture as a looking down the nose type of disagreement. K. stood her ground and reiterated that they do fall away -- and so does the large fuel tank. The friend disagreed again.<br /><br />K. brought it up during bedtime tucking-in. While talking about, I mentioned to K. that it was ok that her friend disagreed, but K knew what she knew -- she had seen it first hand -- she saw the rockets separate.<br /><br />And that is what this post is about. Because Dad likes shuttle launches and even puts lift-off into his Outlook schedule to try to see them, his enthusiasm for this has (been forced to) rubbed off on his kids a little bit.<br /><br />Nearly instant feedback on some of the parenting that is going on around the homestead! It felt good.<br /><br />Incidentally, landing is scheduled for no earlier than August 18, 2:29 p.m.<br /><br />Here are links to the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/on_demand_video.html?param=%7Chttp://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_080807_sts118_launch.ram%7Chttp://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_080807_sts118_launch.asx#">launch</a> and the rocket <a href="javascript:watchNASAOnDemandTV('','http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_080807_sts118_srbsep.ram','http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_080807_sts118_srbsep.asx')">separation</a>. Godspeed STS-118.Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-56896217530164139192007-08-07T18:29:00.001-04:002007-08-27T22:25:01.106-04:00BkThtTue 1 - Everyone Met<p>Today,I learned that a distant family member died. </p><p>Later in the day, I was reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-2446496-7051057?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Tim%20Madigan">Tim Madigan</a>'s book about Fred Rogers titled "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Im-Proud-You-Friendship-Rogers/dp/1592402275">I'm Proud of You</a>". On page 7 of this book, while talking about Fred Rogers, the author wrote:</p><ul><li><div align="left">Another time he wrote [a letter to me] that he had discovered the South African word <em>ubuntu</em>, which means: "I am because we are." "Isn't that lovely!" He said. "My identity is such that it includes you. I would be a very different person without you."</div></li></ul><p align="left">With the effort of just a little reflection, it is (hopefully usually) good to know that everyone we meet puts or adjust a little bit of clay on us.</p>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-44158607222482036262007-08-04T11:26:00.000-04:002007-08-04T11:37:11.521-04:00Caterpillars and Poop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIf2BJHMNQzNl5qRtiipD5sAePBGjGZktZgv7Le6qy1CtvQgKURvPqaUxUQ01xjLFCUZr7apLuyc5A55lbsLEPtLwWZfZUBzmF6XOj33jTuTm0V8nF90kc97MYleC-AOIPBDhSpQ/s1600-h/20070804-7773.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIf2BJHMNQzNl5qRtiipD5sAePBGjGZktZgv7Le6qy1CtvQgKURvPqaUxUQ01xjLFCUZr7apLuyc5A55lbsLEPtLwWZfZUBzmF6XOj33jTuTm0V8nF90kc97MYleC-AOIPBDhSpQ/s320/20070804-7773.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094869823877634178" border="0" /></a><br />Recently, Kim and Kira brought some wild flowers home from the farmers' market.<br /><br />A couple days after that, Kira told me about it and said something to the effect, "Won't it be cool to have a butterfly in the house?"<br /><br />Yesterday, Kim, Morgan, and Kira were looking at the flowers and at the caterpillars, were commenting on the caterpillars, and noted that there was not one of them, but (to date) four of them!<br /><br />Today after breakfast Kim asked, "Do you think that all of that stuff on the floor is from the flowers . . . or is it poop?" I said that in my mind, "it is from the flowers" - regardless of what I actually know. Kim stated, "Nope, I'm pretty sure that it is poop -- I remember commenting about all of the poop the last time."<br /><br />For more stories about caterpillar poop, look at Beehive Academy <a href="http://beehiveacademy.blogspot.com/2007/07/mourning-cloak-2.html">here </a>and <a href="http://beehiveacademy.blogspot.com/2007/07/mourning-cloak-3.html">here</a>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-73988927185860665172007-08-04T11:14:00.001-04:002007-08-04T11:26:42.213-04:00RetributionWhile vacuuming today I "accidently" vacuumed up a small, sharp lego block that in the past either it or one of its gang has caused severe pain to my foot while walking through the house at 3 a.m.<br /><br />I don't feel bad about it at all -- there are plenty, plenty more legos and it provided me a bit of happiness and joy.Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-78906185401750607752007-07-22T22:35:00.000-04:002007-07-22T22:39:47.510-04:00Day 11 - Reacclimation<span style="font-family:arial;">Kim's body clock is getting re-acclimated to Eastern Daylight Time, but her body clock is still probably set to somewhere over the mid-Atlantic.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are a few of the lessons that I've learned while staying at home during the past week:<br /><br />No. 1: I now understand how damn frustrating it is to be getting out the door on time with all four kids fed, clothed, teeth brushed, hair brushed, no food on front of shirt, no food on sleeves of shirts from using them as a napkin, in their seats without bickering . . . only to learn that one of them has neglected to bring something of paramount importance to our destination.<br /><br />Right now, I can't remember what the specific item was that was left behind. But, boy oh boy do I remember walking around the house, feeling the stress rise, and thinking, "all of this preparation, all of this coordination, all of the reminders, and it is unraveling because No. X forgot to get ________! Arghh.<br /><br />No. 2: The Arghh is a good segue. Earlier in the week, the kids talked me into taking them to Scallywags Laser Tag. I agreed to take them, but knew that I wasn't going to play as No. 4 was a bit too small.<br /><br />Then a friend suggested that I should go play tag with them. You'll have fun and you can make sure that G and G are getting along ok.<br /><br />Well, I did go in and I had a blast. So, even though it wasn't fun that I had picked, as I got my mind in the right arena, I found that it was darn fun. Glad that I did it.<br /><br />No. 3: Just like at work, I have to be responsive to my kids needs and requests. Bear in mind, I don't always have to do what they ask, suggest, or say; but I do have to respond to their requests - they deserve an answer -- even a "no" if that is the answer.<br /><br />But, if the answer is a "Yes, I'll be there in a minute." I also owe them that follow-up visit to take care of the item.<br /><br />No. 4: There is only one time that I have a struggle with having my kids sitting in my lap.<br /><br />Normally, our kids will use both of us (the 'rents) as bases or safe locations or resting pods. Usually, I am happy (and honored) to have them sit in my lap. It says something about our relationship that they'd like to spend time near me, they trust me, they know that they'll be comfortable, and they know that they'll usually get some quality dad-time.<br /><br />Except when I am trying to take pictures of something. During those times, I can feel the frustration rise.<br /><br />No. 5: It takes a </span><a href="http://orangeshirtguy.blogspot.com/2007/07/day-7-us-wed-whooped-or-men-and-women.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;">mom and dad to raise kids</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. </span><a href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Dave/Application%20Data/Windows%20Live%20Writer/PostSupportingFiles/e5c9afda-358f-4bfc-84d1-25ca196cb879/2007.01.21_0206.jpg" atomicselection="true"></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">There are others. I'll write them down later.<br /><br /><br /></span>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-39288568713802664532007-07-14T22:34:00.000-04:002007-07-14T22:55:19.739-04:00Day 10 - Back in the US<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cpQlS4qd2H-SFHB356EK5v0qtTDTOGaec94badvDcbFq8qU89bP28N7n0c8iNyrGdg6kHCvJ-MZyw759HLjL6YAmEMrjRpm_DXJGzsUzndwDLl7Jm1ju0vPsYbHR4EltrsQtWA/s1600-h/20070713-6513.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087251764973813490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cpQlS4qd2H-SFHB356EK5v0qtTDTOGaec94badvDcbFq8qU89bP28N7n0c8iNyrGdg6kHCvJ-MZyw759HLjL6YAmEMrjRpm_DXJGzsUzndwDLl7Jm1ju0vPsYbHR4EltrsQtWA/s320/20070713-6513.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Kim and her sister arrived back in the US/Cincinnati today around 3:30pm.<br /><br />More to follow. . .</div>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-83342274454337893002007-07-14T00:50:00.000-04:002007-07-14T01:03:42.138-04:00Day 9 (US Friday) - Windfield Farm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27MhPnaSpAZFPDCYooUko9Oc3Ow_DhdHtF_s3v3lXvnm7QjSpF6CeSE8Ix4KOQP31AKZidm4OPDlymuOBaJ5UsE1P_UIetS-h0yD_oja3GA5-5uVY5xcn7ixSzDwqDj6TzpdkFA/s1600-h/20070712-6358.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27MhPnaSpAZFPDCYooUko9Oc3Ow_DhdHtF_s3v3lXvnm7QjSpF6CeSE8Ix4KOQP31AKZidm4OPDlymuOBaJ5UsE1P_UIetS-h0yD_oja3GA5-5uVY5xcn7ixSzDwqDj6TzpdkFA/s320/20070712-6358.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086910873419529954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixl-bkJCoEtICT8CIvo9l4-fHCJQqK_6hCB3rVROFkvkIj5AsPNUbgukRk31lgc1XBAZctEjBLB3A5zU7Uwcm02C9fSoyMNknCgelFlYPPJVn8XVVzcTxLnBE366Se0UBN2eNCqQ/s1600-h/20070712-6404.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixl-bkJCoEtICT8CIvo9l4-fHCJQqK_6hCB3rVROFkvkIj5AsPNUbgukRk31lgc1XBAZctEjBLB3A5zU7Uwcm02C9fSoyMNknCgelFlYPPJVn8XVVzcTxLnBE366Se0UBN2eNCqQ/s320/20070712-6404.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086910783225216722" border="0" /></a><br />This morning at about 11:55, the kids, some friends, and I talked about how Kim and the other travelers should now be wheels-up and bound for home! [and a little later, I received a phone call from Kim's mom that they were leaving a little late, but would probably be able to arrive back in the US on time.]<br /><br />So as Kim was traveling today, we decided that we should also travel (ok, that wasnt the reason, but it makes a good segue). So we loaded up and went to my parents' farm.<br /><br />At the farm, our kids were able to meet their second cousins (is that was cousins' kids are to each other?) And while my cousin and I were able to reconnect without missing a beat, our kids connected with no prior beat. Just great that the prior happens and amazing that the latter happens.<br /><br />My best idea of the day (and possibly the week): the kids eat the pizza outside. The several spills were just asides, not the events they would have been in the dining room.<br /><br /><br />Kim will land back on US soil in about five hours, then a meandering path via Chicago to Cincinnati.Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13601136.post-51922875184621730142007-07-13T00:31:00.001-04:002007-07-13T00:38:26.211-04:00Day 8 (US Thursday) - Geocaching<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwMJLiSjnqQ7eMFNfd4r_bm3nrQK_bRlGSCxh4Fz1h9ZlOjkWR-8O0rj_1VWvGH7HDpQqNmioy5DqVKX57iXxW2Paq8PCxxtwJRsDPWl2j3pGEa9Sw3R5HtzVBem8ESasM-RcFw/s1600-h/20070711-6254.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwMJLiSjnqQ7eMFNfd4r_bm3nrQK_bRlGSCxh4Fz1h9ZlOjkWR-8O0rj_1VWvGH7HDpQqNmioy5DqVKX57iXxW2Paq8PCxxtwJRsDPWl2j3pGEa9Sw3R5HtzVBem8ESasM-RcFw/s400/20070711-6254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086535076666031810" border="0" /></a>The Geocache Titled "Kids' Rule" has been placed. No. 1 found the geocache on her own with the use of Mom's GPS.<br /><br />She read on the GPS that she was within 5 feet and after a couple of minutes and one hint ("This area may flood."), she found it.<br /><br />[For info on what in the heck Geocaching is, click on <a href="http://geocaching.com/">Geocaching.com]<br /></a>Dave Thurstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251017895446360863noreply@blogger.com2