ODDS AND ENDS

Yahoo!!  The rain stopped.  At least for a while.
Saturday we were invited to Grimes Iowa, a short jaunt from home, to 'Governor Days', formerly called 'Funtastic Days'.  It is an annual celebration in the city of Grimes.  They have things going on all weekend like a carnival, parades, concerts and fireworks.  We went to see an outdoor concert in the park, right next to the carnival.  Our friend Joleen is a former resident of Grimes and was thoughtful enough to ask us to join her.
As we walked past the carnival on our way to set up our chairs for the concert we noticed a small booth selling funnel cake...yummm... we love funnel cake.  We made a plan to stop back by there later.   Here is a picture of Joleen and us in the perfect spot we picked out.

You can tell how old I am by counting the wrinkles on my neck

OK.  Be honest.  Raise your hand if you counted the wrinkles.   Ok.  You can put your hand down, nobody can see you.  

The concert was good.  It was a local favorite, The Nadas.  Some other friends from church, Mark and Sara, showed up and we chatted for a while.  Mark and I somehow got on the subject of Jackson Browne.  (I hear you asking and I don't know how we got there)  Here is some trivia for you.  What other hits are on the Lawyers in Lover album (for you youngsters thats like a big cd) besides Lawyers in Love?   Anyway, Joleen went over to see Mark and Sara's grandchild who was sitting somewhere else in the Governor's Days record breaking crowd so Robyn and I took the oppertunity to head to the funnel cake stand.  Just as we got our treat the fireworks started, so we sat at a nearby picnic table and enjoyed our dinner and a show.  

 

Saddly, funnel cake clouds my usually quick thinking process and I took the video a little late in the fireworks display.  Afterwards we packed up our chairs and called it a night.

Sunday we worked in the cafe at Point of Grace.  I want to make a confession here, I had two donuts.
There, I feel better, glad to have that off my chest.  The service was pretty good.  It is a six week series about how God is being taken out of our country.  For instance, do you know our national motto?  It was  signed into law in the fifties by the president.  If you don't know, I'm not surprised.  Very few people do know.  It is actually 'In God We Trust'.  Every empire, nation or civilization that has taken God out of their laws or rules has fallen and disappeared.  Unfortunately, we are headed in that direction at break- neck speed.  This is the greatest country that has ever been, I only hope it is a great nation for my grandkids.  I'll be praying, you should too.

On the way home I spotted this peculiar vehical in the gas station parking lot.  I had to stop and get a pic.

one fast clown car

I walked up to a guy standing beside it and said "What is it?"  He told me it was an Austin.  I got closer and took a peek inside.  I saw a giant leg and realized that someone was in there.  There is only one seat and it was all the way to the back.  The man sitting in the seat was HUGE.  I said "Are you stuck?" because I couldn't see how he could possibly get out.  He chuckled and I asked how he got in there.  He said "Shoehorn."  I believed him.

I had told Canyon that I wanted the lawn mowed.  He has a way of becoming invisible when the grass gets long.  I sent him a video.

I haven't decided how he can repay me yet, but it will be good.

I was reading some past blogs and I came across one that said I would post part of my second installment of 'Brink'.  In case you don't know what 'Brink' is, it is a screen play I wrote that I am trying to get into some form of production.  Here is a file if you would like to read it.  Just copy and paste in your browser. I am always looking for feedback.

file:///Users/dan/Documents/transfer%20screenplay%20BRINK.pdf

Here is a short exerpt from part two...

     Something in his periphial vision moved!  Blyth quickly turned to see what it was.  He thought he could see a pair of glowing eyes in the bushes.  Blyth blinked to make sure he wasn't seeing things.  The glowing eyes, though dimmer, were still watching him.  A chill ran down his back.  He took a step toward the eyes.  As he did so, the eyes seemed to fade backwards into the bushes.  With a jolt of adrenilan, Blyth lurched at the eyes! They suddenly disappeared.  The eyes didn't fade away, they closed and vanished.  The air in the bushes was freezing cold, Blyth could see his breath.  He noticed a faint odor of rotten eggs, then it too was gone.

Tuesday night we decided it was time for a home cooked meal.  Here is a quick video of us cooking.

I'm not sure how much help I really was, but it is the time we spend together that really matters.

Wednesday morning the strangest thing happened.  On my way to work I saw a strange creature by the side of the road.  I quickly made a u-turn and went back to get a picture.

It's not big foot

It was quite elusive.  But I followed it around through a residential neighborhood.  I wanted to get a good photo.  I was surprised by it's oddly comfortable attitude.  It walked right up to front doors and sat down.  I thought maybe somebody had it as an unusual pet.  I shot another picture.

Dang it.  He's quick

I was beginning to understand why all those pictures of the Loch Ness monster and Yeti are never very clear.  In the excitement of the moment it is hard to keep the camera still.  I couldn't understand why this critter would be out in the light of day.  Maybe rabbies?  I suddenly figured out a way to get it to sit still long enough to get a pic.  

I howled, it listened

You don't see coyotes roaming the city streets during the morning comute everyday.  He must have been after a road runner.  (ha ha.  I crack me up)

So at work I spent the day as a steel worker.  I had to pick up twelve half inch thick steel brackets for a couple of bars we are going to install tomorrow.  Then I had to drill four holes in each one so I could install them.  Next I had to go to the house where the bars will be installed and dado the wall to accept the brackets.  It was a lot of work for something that will never be seen, but it had to be done.

I even cleaned up my mess

They will put stone on the wall.  It will be nice.  I will post pics after the install.  

Well, it's after midnight so I will blog again real soon.  But before I go, the answer to the Jackson Browne trivia question.  Tender is the Night, and For a Rocker.  Ain't google awesome?

Peace

Dan