The Old Ditch on Atherton

They have been doing a lot of work on the open ditch across the street from our Church building. Several months ago they anounced that it would be covered up. I was reasonably pleased because it is an eyesore and can smell. However, we don't live all that close to it so I wasn't terribly concerned one way or another. Besides it would take a way a place for skaters to hang out. (OK, I'm of mixed feelings about that one.)





Here's what it used to look like. (Sorry I didn't figure out how to download just the picture.)

Old View

Then for several months the street was half blocked off so they could come in with the giant earth movers and pipes 3 feet in diameter to place the drainage safely underground. I wish I had a picture of that, but I never bothered.

Once the large work was done I expected them to quickly put up a drab barrier and be done with it. Instead the work dragged on and some stonework seemed to go in slowly. Then today they transformed it to a beautiful display of what look to be native (or at least climate appropriate) plants. I think it is beautiful and I am thoroughly impressed.



















Good work Long Beach on a job well done.

On the Nature of Punishment

Several weeks ago, before the UCLA / USC rivalry game, I learned that both teams would be wearing their home colors which was against the rules.

Now at this point the rule seems iron clad, perhaps just because I generally believe in following rules at least unless some compelling higher obligation prevents it.

What struck me as odd was when I learned what the penalty was. USC (the visiting team) would lose a time out. Some how I found this hillariously funny. Delineating a punishment seemed to lessen the impact and meaning of the rule. If the punishment were forfeiture of the game, then there is no way that USC would have even considered it. As long as the punishment was unstated it could be that severe, but once the punishment was stated the rule became almost pointless. This is especially true given that UCLA purposefully blew a timeout because they were in on the decision.

I guess somehow delineating the results always changes something from an iron clad rule to a choice where you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a decision. As Garrison Keeler once said, there is no rule that you can't fight in hockey. There is just a rule that if you do you have to sit in a box for a little while.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an odd movie at best, but certainly very interesting and very well acted. It tells the story of a man born with the infirmities of an 85 year old man who then proceeds to age backwards. It is largely a study on death starting with his childhood (in a retirement home) and ending with his own death as he regresses toward infancy. It is also an exploration of how we build a life, and how the flow of time is a uniform reference that we depend on. Growing younger instead of older he has certain experiences at abnormal times in his life and others such as establishing a long term relationship are nearly impossible.

The movie is very long but never really drags. Excellent acting from an impressive cast Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt center the cast, but the supporting cast is equally important and impressive. It is very emotional and generally poignant. So yes it is likely to win some oscars and I would recommend it.

Google Maps Street View

Well I must say that I am thoroughly impressed with google maps street view. I first ran across it while exploring the neighborhood around my new job, but have since used it to explore my own neighborhood and even my mom's home town of Taylor Arizona. It is sometimes rather odd the things they do and don't have. For example, I was unable to get a full view of my own house as the truck didn't seem to have gone down that street, but I found my Uncle Norris's house in a much smaller city clear as day. I could tell you the color of the paint and what cars were parked out front. Small world.

Lee's Clothing Guide for Work and Church

I've noticed friends and cousins talk about redressing their husbands so I thought I'd write about what my wife did for me. A few months ago, I came home from work and Staci informed me that there was a note for me on the bed. I'm always skeptical when someone wants to tell me something indirectly. It is rarely good, but this time was not too bad.

Lee's Clothing Guide for Work and Church
Pants: Brown, Black, Green, Tan, Blue
Socks: Black, Tan, Blue (Forget about WHITE)



Black belt and black shoes are always worn with black pants (NOT Brown). Black belt and black shoes may be worn with tan and green, NOT Brown or Blue. Brown shoes and brown belt may be worn with green, blue, brown, and tan pants.

Suggestions for making your clothes last longer:
Don't sleep in your work clothes.
If soiled, soak in cold water as soon as possible.
Change into weekend clothes (shorts, jeans) when not working.
When working in the yard, wear weekend shoes.

• Assignments: Try on the new clothes today or tomorrow to show great appreciation to your wife. Let her be the judge (along with you) of what fits. Sew some colored thread on the tip of the blue socks so they can easily be identified by you in your drawer. GO shopping with Staci to buy some new church shoes.

Dress for Success!

Now of course, a lot of that I knew and a fair bit of it I didn't. A lot of what I knew I had been ignoring both because I still think our society is horrendously over occupied with clothing and appearance and because I am lazy. I was a little anoyed (hence posting this to mock the both of us) but also appreciative that she cares enough to do something like this. And yes, I did my assignments. (Well, I didn't sew the colored thread in the blue socks and they are still hard to tell from the black socks in the morning.) I can't tell much difference, but she can so again thank you sweetheart. :)

Magic Mountain

Southern California is the land of theme parks. With Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and Universal Studios they are just all over the place. But for all out thrills, the hands down tops is Magic Mountain. So today, Perry and I headed up to enjoy the thrills.

I'm sorry to say this was my first time in about 25 years. The last time I went I was 52 inches tall (I know because I could ride on both the kid coasters and the adult ones) and the only roller coasters they had were Gold Rusher, Revolution, and Colossus. (I think they had Freefall too, but that wasn't exactly a roller coaster.) Since then many more have been added and some have both come and gone, but those three were still there and we went on all of them.

We also went on Viper, Ninja, Goliath, and Batman the Ride. We ducked out on Superman (another not quite a roller coaster), Scream, X2, Riddler's Revenge, and Tatsu because the lines looked longer than the value of the thrill. Of course our longest two waits (Goliath and Batman) were also our favorites, so the other long rides might have been worth it.

We had a thoroughly good time, though if I were to do it again I would run for one of the big rides while opening the park. (We started with Revolution and Viper which we got on almost immediately, but it meant that by the time we hit the big rides they already had waits of over an hour. We were there early enough that we probably could have made a break for X2 and been on within 1/2 an hour. Oh well.) I would also try to be in one of the big lines when the park closed, but Perry didn't really want to stay an hour after closing to wait out a line. Still, I think it was a good vacation activity.

WTH???

Occasionally I like to surf over to Craigslist and look at the various boat listings in the area. No I don't need a boat. I have a very nice one that fills my needs nicely. On the other hand there are times it would be nice to have a little rowboat or kayak to cruise up and down the chanel. I would also like a sabot to teach Libby how to sail. My boat is a bit big for her, but a sabot would be great. Besides, if she takes a class through the city next year it would cost $50 extra dollars to rent the boat, so if I saw one for $50 it would be worth it (of course I haven't seen any for under $150 and that was a super good deal).

But that is not the point of this posting. This posting is about the oddest add I have seen yet.

bulldog 4 boat - pic

Yes, you read that right, someone wants to trade their Bulldog for a boat.

As you can see he is a pretty cute dog, but who tries to trade their pet for a boat. I could see someone who had a boat and a dog they couldn't keep looking to give the dog to a good owner and throw in a boat for good measure, but this has me baffled. But I guess somewhere out there may be someone who's fishing days are over but could really use a sweet dog. Still I can't help but think the man would be better off trying to make this as two separate transactions. First sell the dog, then buy the boat.