Enter Daily in the Salute Beauty Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Trip for two to Hawaii, brought to you by Mary Kay and Lifetime!
One grand prize winner will win a trip for two to Hawaii, $5,000, plus fabulous Mary Kay products and Lifetime merchandise.
A six-night/seven-day Hawaii vacation for two. Prize includes:
$5,000 cash
Round-trip coach airfare for two to Oahu, Hawaii
Ground transportation
A Naupaka junior suite at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
Arrival dinner for two at the Naupaka Terrace
Daily meals at the resort
Final night dinner at the award-winning Azul restaurant
One Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage each for winner and guest
One Pineapple Body Scrub treatment each for winner and guest
One sea-water Thalasso treatment each for winner and guest
A Pearl Harbor day tour for two to see the USS Missouri and USS Arizona
A Grand Prize Beauty Prize Pack of Mary Kay® products
Daily winners will also receive Mary Kay products valued at more than $200.
A Mary Kay® Beauty Prize Pack, including:
One Vacation Getaway Set
One TimeWise® Microdermabrasion Set
One Satin Hands® Pampering Set
One Mary Kay® Compact
One Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color Palette
One package of Eye Applicators
One Mary Kay® Eyeliner
One Mary Kay® Ultimate MascaraTM
One Mary Kay® Nourishine® Lip Gloss
Two Mary Kay® Tinted Lip Balms Sunscreen SPF 15*
One "Army Wives" Season 2 DVD
Sweepstakes ends July 5.
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to permanent legal residents of the 50 states of the U.S. and D.C., 18 or older as of the date of entry. Instant Win Game ends and Grand Prize entries must be received by 11:59:59 pm (ET) on July 5, 2009. Prize restrictions apply.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Review: "Evil at heart" by Chelsea Cain
I didn't find the dramatic tension to be as high in this book (Evil at heart) as in the previous two (Heartsick
and Sweetheart
)... Archie doesn't seem that desparate to find serial-killer Gretchen Lowell and put her in jail again. Susan Ward seems to be more the focus of this book..Archie is just too out of it to really engage. Which is kinda weird since he's off drugs now. We meet a few new characters that I would expect we'll be seeing again, such as Leo the drug lawyer... it is pretty obvious that Ms Cain will be writing another book in this series. I don't feel compelled to read it when it comes out...I'm not a serial-killer groupie that is waiting for Cain's every pen stroke. What I found most interesting were the trivia that reporter Susan Ward interjected about how many people die each year in various ways like choking on pens and on escalators, etc. The mystery of who is doing the killings (is it Gretchen, or is it her fan club?) is not actually solved, of course, because Gretchen is a master manipulator. And in the end, I just don't really care who did the killings.
and Sweetheart)... Archie doesn't seem that desparate to find serial-killer Gretchen Lowell and put her in jail again. Susan Ward seems to be more the focus of this book..Archie is just too out of it to really engage. Which is kinda weird since he's off drugs now. We meet a few new characters that I would expect we'll be seeing again, such as Leo the drug lawyer... it is pretty obvious that Ms Cain will be writing another book in this series. I don't feel compelled to read it when it comes out...I'm not a serial-killer groupie that is waiting for Cain's every pen stroke. What I found most interesting were the trivia that reporter Susan Ward interjected about how many people die each year in various ways like choking on pens and on escalators, etc. The mystery of who is doing the killings (is it Gretchen, or is it her fan club?) is not actually solved, of course, because Gretchen is a master manipulator. And in the end, I just don't really care who did the killings.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Grenades
Joke passed to me by a friend:
Q:What do you do if a blond throws a grenade at you?
A: Pull the pin and throw it back.
Q: What do you do if a red head throws a grenade at you?
A: Jump on it and hope it's the worst thing she ever does to you.
Yes, yes, we have tempers. Don't forget it.
Q:What do you do if a blond throws a grenade at you?
A: Pull the pin and throw it back.
Q: What do you do if a red head throws a grenade at you?
A: Jump on it and hope it's the worst thing she ever does to you.
Yes, yes, we have tempers. Don't forget it.
Review: Marked ( House of night book 1)
"Marked" is the first book of the "House of night" vampire series for young adults.
Not to be punny, but it sucks. I wont be reading any more of them, and since i bought the first four at the same time at costco, i have to decide how to get rid of them.
I would compare this first book to the Harry Potter series.... The main charcter is a teen girl who is "marked" to become a vampyre. She must move to the "house of night" boarding high school for vampyres or she will die. Her family is upset, like Harry's family... They dont want a vampyre as a daughter; the rigid Christianesque stepdad in particular. We quickly learn how special she is (a la Harry; while all vampyres have a blue tattoo-like cresent moon on their forehead, hers is special too) ... her powers develop too rapidly, etc. She is taken under the wing of the schoolmistress because she's so special ( a la Dumbledorf). Her roomate is a weirdo ( a la Ron Weasley), and before you know it a cat familiar has chosen her. Vampyres in this world are a publically-known species that excell in the arts...most actors and musicians are vampyres, like Shania Twain and Brad Pitt. And then we meet the villan of the series, Aphrodite (a la the Draco kid, but here Aphrodite is a much larger character). Rounding out the friend-gang are a gay guy vampyre and two girls that act like they are twins. While the plot isnt that stellar and the writing is vapid (the adult author says that she had her teen daughter co-author so that the speaking would be realistically teen-enough), my main objection is how native american and wiccan rituals are described in detail and lifted up as wonderful while Christian-esque religion is ridiculed at every turn. While Harry Potter is explicitly about witchcraft, at least it is vague or even just fantasy wand waving and latinized words. I'm not interested in reading about wicca under the name of vampyres.
Not to be punny, but it sucks. I wont be reading any more of them, and since i bought the first four at the same time at costco, i have to decide how to get rid of them.
I would compare this first book to the Harry Potter series.... The main charcter is a teen girl who is "marked" to become a vampyre. She must move to the "house of night" boarding high school for vampyres or she will die. Her family is upset, like Harry's family... They dont want a vampyre as a daughter; the rigid Christianesque stepdad in particular. We quickly learn how special she is (a la Harry; while all vampyres have a blue tattoo-like cresent moon on their forehead, hers is special too) ... her powers develop too rapidly, etc. She is taken under the wing of the schoolmistress because she's so special ( a la Dumbledorf). Her roomate is a weirdo ( a la Ron Weasley), and before you know it a cat familiar has chosen her. Vampyres in this world are a publically-known species that excell in the arts...most actors and musicians are vampyres, like Shania Twain and Brad Pitt. And then we meet the villan of the series, Aphrodite (a la the Draco kid, but here Aphrodite is a much larger character). Rounding out the friend-gang are a gay guy vampyre and two girls that act like they are twins. While the plot isnt that stellar and the writing is vapid (the adult author says that she had her teen daughter co-author so that the speaking would be realistically teen-enough), my main objection is how native american and wiccan rituals are described in detail and lifted up as wonderful while Christian-esque religion is ridiculed at every turn. While Harry Potter is explicitly about witchcraft, at least it is vague or even just fantasy wand waving and latinized words. I'm not interested in reading about wicca under the name of vampyres.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Review: "The Mutant Chronicles"
We watched this on the SciFi channel because we like some of the actors in it. This is a rather typical post-apocalyptic 'save the world' storyline. The movie starts with steam-punk trench warfare a la World War One; and then the mutants are unleashed. Of course some nice monks have been saving the knowledge of how to defeat evil (think 5th Element) and they gather a band of unlikely heros to destroy the machine that is making the evil mutants. Meanwhile a small portion of the Earth's population flees to colonies on Mars. Lots of predictable fighting transpires as the hero team gets killed off one by one. Then the main hero plugs in what is supposed to be a bomb and activates it, and we discover that the evil mutant machine is actually a spaceship that launches instead of being destroyed. The closing scene shows the ship arcing towards Mars. Poetic justice and all that. A solid B-level movie, very dark, very violent, and pretty boring.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
America is a Judeo-Christian Nation
Eisenhower and Ford: "Without God there can be no American form of government nor an American way of life. Recognition of a supreme being is the first impression of Americansim. Thus the founding fathers saw it, and thus, with God's help, it will continue to be."
Monday, June 22, 2009
Review: "The Vanishing Sculptor"
My review of "The Vanishing Sculptor" is over at sleepybeth's today.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Cullens need to move away from Forks, WA
A recent news article says that the bear population has grown too big in 18 eastern US states. So the Cullen family needs to move out east and eat some of those bears. Emmett will be especially happy.
Review: "Oh Snap" by Philmont
My favorite song on this album is "The Difference". This is another Christian band with a fantastic heavy pop-rock sound. I really enjoyed it. The sound reminds me somewhat of "Jimmy Eat World".
Review: "Abandon" premier album
I am very impressed with this small album. Some of the best music I've heard recently, whether secular or Christian. I agree with other reviewers that the sound is similar to The Killers, but the words are much better. This will definitely make it to my iPod playlists. Well worth a listen if you like alternative rock.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Review: "Let Go" by Sheila Walsh
The focus of this book is on the various things that we need deliverance from.
Each chapter starts with Scripture and also relevant quotes, followed by a (often corny) story that is supposed to illustrate the point. Then the meat of the chapter begins. The chapters end with a summary, some discussion questions, and a prayer.
Chapters and topics include: "Fresh-baked grace for the spiritually hungry" (on legalism), "This dead religion is past its sell-by date" (on judging), "Living in the past", "Look at the view ahead!", "The trap of unforgiveness", "Don't play fair - it will set you free" (about how life isn't fair), "The trouble with temptation is that it's just so tempting", "Let go and live in Christ's victory", "Shame on you!", "Shame on Him", "You are you for a reason", "I was made for this" (about purpose), "Sometimes my life feels like a cliffhanger" (about fear and trust), "God will prove it's a love story" (you are loved and you are never alone), "We are what we believe we are?" (about self-hatred), "Table for two, please", "No light at the end of my tunnel" (about depression), "The million-watt megabulb of God's hope", and "A long-awaited deliverance."
Some quotes that were meaningful to me:
Why is forgiveness hard?
"Fear: 'What if I forgive and they do it again?'
Mistrust: 'I've heard it all before, and I don't believe they're really sorry.'
Pain: 'How can saying 'I forgive you' take away the deep wound inside?'
Bitterness: 'Nothing can change what happened to me.'"
"Forgiveness means we surrender our right to know the outcome. That is hard. We want to know that if we forgive, then the person will be sorry and never hurt us again. When we forgive someone and he turns right around and does the same thing again, not only are we wounded afresh, but we feel so foolish."
"Another reason we struggle with forgiveness is because we have cheapened what forgiveness really is. There is an element of sentimentality among many in the evangelical church who would suggest forgiveness is easy and quick. People apply forgiveness like a Band-Aid over a wound, without recognizing the wound has to be addressed, acknowledged, grieved over, and owned before forgiveness can ever be real and lasting."
"We can only really forgive when we acknowledge the depth to which we have been wounded and allow ourselves to 'own' the pain. By 'own' the pain, I mean face the truth that we are wounded. It is tempting to slough pain away, denying we are hurt. It can be embarrassing to be wounded. We feel weak or out of control. So we ignore it."
"One of the greatest issues I see is self-hatred ... Many prefer to call it low self-esteem. But, really, what those feelings are is a rejection of who we are; we believe that at least part of us is unacceptable. What else can it be called but self-hatred? The fallout of self-hatred is isolation."
"When we allow our brokenness to make our choices, we withhold who we are and what we have to give to one another. One of Satan's tricks is to keep us so obsessed with what we USED to believe or what USED to be true that we don't live in God's grace RIGHT NOW. ... It keeps us wallowing in the past, alone and defeated."
She talks about Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost." and how 'lost' means 'broken beyond repair'. She says, "There have been moments in my life when I've thought, 'I'm not going to make it, Lord; I'm too broken, too despairing, too far gone.' I love this verse because it says to you and to me that if we feel that way we can take heart, because that's why Jesus came!"
"I was not put onto this earth to make myself happy. I was put here to learn to love and trust God and to let his love flow through me until we make it safely home."
Each chapter starts with Scripture and also relevant quotes, followed by a (often corny) story that is supposed to illustrate the point. Then the meat of the chapter begins. The chapters end with a summary, some discussion questions, and a prayer.
Chapters and topics include: "Fresh-baked grace for the spiritually hungry" (on legalism), "This dead religion is past its sell-by date" (on judging), "Living in the past", "Look at the view ahead!", "The trap of unforgiveness", "Don't play fair - it will set you free" (about how life isn't fair), "The trouble with temptation is that it's just so tempting", "Let go and live in Christ's victory", "Shame on you!", "Shame on Him", "You are you for a reason", "I was made for this" (about purpose), "Sometimes my life feels like a cliffhanger" (about fear and trust), "God will prove it's a love story" (you are loved and you are never alone), "We are what we believe we are?" (about self-hatred), "Table for two, please", "No light at the end of my tunnel" (about depression), "The million-watt megabulb of God's hope", and "A long-awaited deliverance."
Some quotes that were meaningful to me:
Why is forgiveness hard?
"Fear: 'What if I forgive and they do it again?'
Mistrust: 'I've heard it all before, and I don't believe they're really sorry.'
Pain: 'How can saying 'I forgive you' take away the deep wound inside?'
Bitterness: 'Nothing can change what happened to me.'"
"Forgiveness means we surrender our right to know the outcome. That is hard. We want to know that if we forgive, then the person will be sorry and never hurt us again. When we forgive someone and he turns right around and does the same thing again, not only are we wounded afresh, but we feel so foolish."
"Another reason we struggle with forgiveness is because we have cheapened what forgiveness really is. There is an element of sentimentality among many in the evangelical church who would suggest forgiveness is easy and quick. People apply forgiveness like a Band-Aid over a wound, without recognizing the wound has to be addressed, acknowledged, grieved over, and owned before forgiveness can ever be real and lasting."
"We can only really forgive when we acknowledge the depth to which we have been wounded and allow ourselves to 'own' the pain. By 'own' the pain, I mean face the truth that we are wounded. It is tempting to slough pain away, denying we are hurt. It can be embarrassing to be wounded. We feel weak or out of control. So we ignore it."
"One of the greatest issues I see is self-hatred ... Many prefer to call it low self-esteem. But, really, what those feelings are is a rejection of who we are; we believe that at least part of us is unacceptable. What else can it be called but self-hatred? The fallout of self-hatred is isolation."
"When we allow our brokenness to make our choices, we withhold who we are and what we have to give to one another. One of Satan's tricks is to keep us so obsessed with what we USED to believe or what USED to be true that we don't live in God's grace RIGHT NOW. ... It keeps us wallowing in the past, alone and defeated."
She talks about Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost." and how 'lost' means 'broken beyond repair'. She says, "There have been moments in my life when I've thought, 'I'm not going to make it, Lord; I'm too broken, too despairing, too far gone.' I love this verse because it says to you and to me that if we feel that way we can take heart, because that's why Jesus came!"
"I was not put onto this earth to make myself happy. I was put here to learn to love and trust God and to let his love flow through me until we make it safely home."
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Iphone blogging
Saturday we got iPhones. This is my second attempt at blogging using the iPhone. It's obviously is slower to type with one finger, but it will be nice to blog when away from a computer at times. Since the new iPhone will be coming out shortly, we will use te 30 day trial period to upgrade to the new one.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
National Aquarium at Baltimore Inner Harbor
Beth posted when we went to the Baltimore aquarium. She still hasn't posted any pictures from that trip. Here are mine.
These are Tetra...we had several tanks full of these when I was young.
In the lower left corner is the fish that "Dory" was in "Finding Nemo"
AMAZING purple on these. And in the upper right corner is a black fish with glowing blue dots, but you can't see him well in this photo.
These beauties dig themselves into the sand when they are frightened.... See the green snout in the lower left corner?
Anem-monem-anemones. Don't hurt yourself, kid.
Large stingray on left, small stingray on right.
Giant turtle on top (who is missing his entire left front limb), large stingray on bottom.
Me, the packmule, beside these neat bubble towers that remind me of Ancient technology from Atlantis.
The new dolphin show arena. It was a cute little show.
Beth has all the dolphin show photos and movies, cuz her camera can do 10x digital zoom while mine only does 3x optical so you cant really see anything.
These are Tetra...we had several tanks full of these when I was young.
In the lower left corner is the fish that "Dory" was in "Finding Nemo"
AMAZING purple on these. And in the upper right corner is a black fish with glowing blue dots, but you can't see him well in this photo.
These beauties dig themselves into the sand when they are frightened.... See the green snout in the lower left corner?
Anem-monem-anemones. Don't hurt yourself, kid.
Large stingray on left, small stingray on right.
Giant turtle on top (who is missing his entire left front limb), large stingray on bottom.
Me, the packmule, beside these neat bubble towers that remind me of Ancient technology from Atlantis.
The new dolphin show arena. It was a cute little show.
Beth has all the dolphin show photos and movies, cuz her camera can do 10x digital zoom while mine only does 3x optical so you cant really see anything.Thursday, May 28, 2009
Marriage and childbearing
A recent BreakPoint commentary looked at the recent statistics that 40% of American babies born in 2007 were born to unmarried women.
"But while our ideas about marriage have changed, our natures haven’t. One thing that Christians and dyed-in-the-wool Darwinists can agree on is that we are driven to reproduce ourselves. With a few exceptions, no matter how successful we might be, many feel that if we leave no descendants behind, all the striving is beside the point."
The bold is mine. And it's something I've been thinking about a LOT lately. Mike and I were cleaning up some in my "junk"/storage room over the Memorial Day weekend. I've saved doll clothes and Transformers toys for years for my then-future children to play with. But since they're all in heaven with heavenly adult bodies, they just won't need them. I haven't yet gotten rid of the doll clothes box, but eventually it will go...b/c what's the point of keeping it?... there is no future heritage to pass along. And it makes me cry every single time I think about it. And you know how much I hate crying.
"But while our ideas about marriage have changed, our natures haven’t. One thing that Christians and dyed-in-the-wool Darwinists can agree on is that we are driven to reproduce ourselves. With a few exceptions, no matter how successful we might be, many feel that if we leave no descendants behind, all the striving is beside the point."
The bold is mine. And it's something I've been thinking about a LOT lately. Mike and I were cleaning up some in my "junk"/storage room over the Memorial Day weekend. I've saved doll clothes and Transformers toys for years for my then-future children to play with. But since they're all in heaven with heavenly adult bodies, they just won't need them. I haven't yet gotten rid of the doll clothes box, but eventually it will go...b/c what's the point of keeping it?... there is no future heritage to pass along. And it makes me cry every single time I think about it. And you know how much I hate crying.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 13
When we got up today, we packed in preparation to fly home. Our plane was early afternoon, so we went for a scenic drive into the mountains.
On our way to the airport we stopped and had lunch at a park.
Waiting at the airplane gate for our plane to arrive, the clouds look ominous out the window.
But we get airborn on time, and here we're flying over Mt. Ranier. (or maybe Mt St Helens??)
After a lot of drama at the Long Beach airport, which involved waiting in an overcrowded lounge with a zillion teens that were going on spring break tour trips and then boarding a plane, deplaning because the door alarm wouldn't arm, boarding another plane, etc.... our red-eye finally arrives home at Dulles.
Dad picked us up, and we went straight home to get some sleep. I tried napping on the plane, but Mike didn't sleep at all. The graduation celebration trip is finally over and we're glad to be home. Once more Mike swears it will be a cold day in hell before he flies anywhere ever again. We'll see about that :)
On our way to the airport we stopped and had lunch at a park.
Waiting at the airplane gate for our plane to arrive, the clouds look ominous out the window.
But we get airborn on time, and here we're flying over Mt. Ranier. (or maybe Mt St Helens??)
After a lot of drama at the Long Beach airport, which involved waiting in an overcrowded lounge with a zillion teens that were going on spring break tour trips and then boarding a plane, deplaning because the door alarm wouldn't arm, boarding another plane, etc.... our red-eye finally arrives home at Dulles.
Dad picked us up, and we went straight home to get some sleep. I tried napping on the plane, but Mike didn't sleep at all. The graduation celebration trip is finally over and we're glad to be home. Once more Mike swears it will be a cold day in hell before he flies anywhere ever again. We'll see about that :)Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 12
Wednesday, April 8.
Mike gave me a tour of Oak Harbor, showing me the places he lived and what he did for fun there. We went on the open part of the base to the base exchange to search for P3 tshirts. Didn't find any, but got a few other P3 items like a shot glass and Christmas ornament. This stuff is disappearing just like the squadrons are.
Then we headed south on Whidbey Island. In Coupeville we drove out to the west coast of the island to find the house that my whole family helped build. We all loaned my dad money so that we could have this really nice house built on the ocean-front property that they had owned for more than 30 years. Finally admitting that they weren't going to retire to Whidbey Island. It's a beautiful house on a cliff over an agate beach:
Mike & I parked at the state park at the end of the road and I went for a walk on the beach back up to the property.
So many beautiful colors of rocks.
The cliff face is partly clay. Here an animal has taken advantage of a little cave to break open and eat a whole bunch of clams..the shells are all the white debris at the cave mouth.
As every other beach in the area, there was a ton of driftwood. Entire massive trees.
The white in the middle there is flesh of some ocean creature or maybe seaweed.
More driftwood.
Closeup of the beautiful texture of the above log.
This tree had somehow gotten a huge rock tangled in its roots.
Another closeup.
The cliff face had a lot of next textures. At the top of the photo is turf that is sticking out about 6-9 inches into thin air above where the cliff used to be.
We left Coupeville and drove the rest of the way to the ferry at the south end of the island. Shortly after reaching the main land, we stopped at the Boeing Future of Flight museum. It is pretty expensive entry fee, and the exhibits weren't really that great. I'd recommend skipping it.
From the parking lot we got a good view of the bizarre DreamLifter.
For an extra $8 per person, this was by far the best part of the museum. It is a 3-d flight simulator...it is not just a movie that jerks you around... YOU are in control and you can do as many barrel rolls as you want. The person who gets into the left side of the cockpit is the pilot and is totally in control of moving the pod around. The person on the right is the gunner. You are in a dogfight situation. I was gunner. I think I got 2 planes. Maybe 3.
A neat plane hanging from the ceiling: has double delta wings, and the propellers are in the BACk there.
We continued heading south, driving through downtown Seattle.
This is the closest we got to the Space Needle.
Our hotel for the night was in Auburn, across the freeway from a huge mall. It was in a really bad part of town. We were very tired, and I was getting sick, and traffic had been horrible. We decided to change our airline tickets and go home the next day, 2 days early.
Mike gave me a tour of Oak Harbor, showing me the places he lived and what he did for fun there. We went on the open part of the base to the base exchange to search for P3 tshirts. Didn't find any, but got a few other P3 items like a shot glass and Christmas ornament. This stuff is disappearing just like the squadrons are.
Then we headed south on Whidbey Island. In Coupeville we drove out to the west coast of the island to find the house that my whole family helped build. We all loaned my dad money so that we could have this really nice house built on the ocean-front property that they had owned for more than 30 years. Finally admitting that they weren't going to retire to Whidbey Island. It's a beautiful house on a cliff over an agate beach:
Mike & I parked at the state park at the end of the road and I went for a walk on the beach back up to the property.
So many beautiful colors of rocks.
The cliff face is partly clay. Here an animal has taken advantage of a little cave to break open and eat a whole bunch of clams..the shells are all the white debris at the cave mouth.
As every other beach in the area, there was a ton of driftwood. Entire massive trees.
The white in the middle there is flesh of some ocean creature or maybe seaweed.
More driftwood.
Closeup of the beautiful texture of the above log.
This tree had somehow gotten a huge rock tangled in its roots.
Another closeup.
The cliff face had a lot of next textures. At the top of the photo is turf that is sticking out about 6-9 inches into thin air above where the cliff used to be.
We left Coupeville and drove the rest of the way to the ferry at the south end of the island. Shortly after reaching the main land, we stopped at the Boeing Future of Flight museum. It is pretty expensive entry fee, and the exhibits weren't really that great. I'd recommend skipping it.
From the parking lot we got a good view of the bizarre DreamLifter.
For an extra $8 per person, this was by far the best part of the museum. It is a 3-d flight simulator...it is not just a movie that jerks you around... YOU are in control and you can do as many barrel rolls as you want. The person who gets into the left side of the cockpit is the pilot and is totally in control of moving the pod around. The person on the right is the gunner. You are in a dogfight situation. I was gunner. I think I got 2 planes. Maybe 3.
A neat plane hanging from the ceiling: has double delta wings, and the propellers are in the BACk there. 
We continued heading south, driving through downtown Seattle.
This is the closest we got to the Space Needle.
Our hotel for the night was in Auburn, across the freeway from a huge mall. It was in a really bad part of town. We were very tired, and I was getting sick, and traffic had been horrible. We decided to change our airline tickets and go home the next day, 2 days early.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 11
This was Tuesday, April 7. We got up super early so we could haul ourselves from Bellingham over the the Ferry terminal at Anacortes. Here's the sun coming up over the mountains to the the west as we drove south.
The Ferry harbor at Anacortes.
We got there in plenty of time, and were first in line for the ferry to Orcas Island. The incredible red trees here are Pacific Madrona...they're so beautiful. I also love the three color bands of rock near the water level.
Once on Orcas Island, we drove up Mount Constitution in the Moran State Park. The views were incredible. But the observation tower is not a place for those that have agraphobia.
Mt Baker again, with no telephone poles at all this time :) I love the various blues of the foothills as they receed in the distance.
Back down at sea level again:
Again, houses clinging to the cliffs in order to have a view:
This is the marina at the Rosario resort. I love how quickly the water gets deep enough to change colors, and yet that it is still clear enough to see the rocks:
This is a park on the north side of Orcas Island, where once again I waded into the frigid water up to my ankles. I picked up a few very pretty rocks here, and watched a giant log float along the current just off shore.
Looking off at the mountains in the distance.
Waiting for the Ferry again at the Orcas Island terminal.
The Deception Pass bridge comes into view as we prepare to drive onto Whidbey Island.
Crossing the Deception Pass bridge:
The sun is getting low in the sky to the west.
I asked Mike if we were likely to see any P-3 Orion aircraft. He said absolutely not. But as we approach the north side of Oak Harbor, low and behold we see at least one P-3 that is practicing its takeoffs and landings (bouncing). We take an abrupt right turn in order to follow it to the beach.
At the beach we find we are just a few hundred feet from the north side of Ault field. Those are aircraft hangers and whatnot there beyond the huge amount of driftwood.
We wait a few minutes and there goes the P3 again.
The sun is truly setting so we go check into the hotel. I mention that to the desk clerk that I was surprised at how loud the airfield was. She smiles and says, "That's the sound of freedom." I love it.
The Ferry harbor at Anacortes.
We got there in plenty of time, and were first in line for the ferry to Orcas Island. The incredible red trees here are Pacific Madrona...they're so beautiful. I also love the three color bands of rock near the water level.
Once on Orcas Island, we drove up Mount Constitution in the Moran State Park. The views were incredible. But the observation tower is not a place for those that have agraphobia.
Mt Baker again, with no telephone poles at all this time :) I love the various blues of the foothills as they receed in the distance.
Back down at sea level again:
Again, houses clinging to the cliffs in order to have a view:
This is the marina at the Rosario resort. I love how quickly the water gets deep enough to change colors, and yet that it is still clear enough to see the rocks:
This is a park on the north side of Orcas Island, where once again I waded into the frigid water up to my ankles. I picked up a few very pretty rocks here, and watched a giant log float along the current just off shore.
Looking off at the mountains in the distance.
Waiting for the Ferry again at the Orcas Island terminal.
The Deception Pass bridge comes into view as we prepare to drive onto Whidbey Island.
Crossing the Deception Pass bridge:
The sun is getting low in the sky to the west.
I asked Mike if we were likely to see any P-3 Orion aircraft. He said absolutely not. But as we approach the north side of Oak Harbor, low and behold we see at least one P-3 that is practicing its takeoffs and landings (bouncing). We take an abrupt right turn in order to follow it to the beach.
At the beach we find we are just a few hundred feet from the north side of Ault field. Those are aircraft hangers and whatnot there beyond the huge amount of driftwood.
We wait a few minutes and there goes the P3 again.
The sun is truly setting so we go check into the hotel. I mention that to the desk clerk that I was surprised at how loud the airfield was. She smiles and says, "That's the sound of freedom." I love it.
Night!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 10
This was Monday, April 6. The Stargate Convention was over, so we wanted to see a few more things around Vancouver and then get back into the United States... we had reservations at Bellingham for the night.
Leaving the hotel parking garage is this funny sign that says to keep right to exit, but the arrow points left. Well, which is it?
A view of downtown Vancouver, with those pretty blue-green glass buildings on the left and a sports dome on the right.
This is the Plaza of Nations, 750 Pacific Boulevard, where SG-1 episode "Bane" was filmed in part.
We headed to the center of downtown, to the Vancouver Art Museum, 750 Hornby Street, which was used in SG-1 as the "Air Force Administration Building" in several episodes such as "Secrets".
These pictures are of the Law Courts Building, 800 Hornby Street, of which the exterior was filmed as "Washington DC" in SG-1 episode "Foothold".
Leaving the hotel parking garage is this funny sign that says to keep right to exit, but the arrow points left. Well, which is it?
A view of downtown Vancouver, with those pretty blue-green glass buildings on the left and a sports dome on the right.
This is the Plaza of Nations, 750 Pacific Boulevard, where SG-1 episode "Bane" was filmed in part.
The Plaza of Nations is across the stree from the sports dome, BC Place:
We headed to the center of downtown, to the Vancouver Art Museum, 750 Hornby Street, which was used in SG-1 as the "Air Force Administration Building" in several episodes such as "Secrets".
Right there in Robson Square by the Art Gallery was supposed to be The Old Bailiff, 800 Robson Street, which was also filmed in the episode "Secrets". But we couldn't find it despite circling several times. I think it is supposed to be where the below plastic construction tent is currently living:
Nearby is St Anthony's Wesley Church, which I snapped a picture of because it is surrounded by modern skyscrapers, has GORGEOUS stained glass windows, and is just about the only church we drove past in all of Vancouver.
These pictures are of the Law Courts Building, 800 Hornby Street, of which the exterior was filmed as "Washington DC" in SG-1 episode "Foothold".
Then we pointed the car south and soon we were waiting 35 minutes at the border back into the U.S. The agent asked us why we had been in Canada, and when we told him that we returning from a Stargate SG-1 convention, he said "Oh, a lot of people have come through today from that."
We got to Bellingham without incident, checked in to the hotel and then went back out to see some local sights and get dinner. The tourguide book said that the Chuckanut Drive was very scenic, and indeed it was spectacular. You've got beautiful views of the Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympic Mountains. There are houses clinging to the steep cliffs on each side of the road. Here's one house with a great view...yes, that's the house's roof even with the roadway there.
These houses are on the steep hill on the upside of the road at least.
We stopped at a state park along the drive. Here's the boat ramp.
At the bottom of the boat ramp, look to the right (North): I loved how clear the water was. Stuck my toe in...it was VERY cold.
Look straight out (West):
Look left (South): Love the green colors of the water.
Another peek of water between the trees on the Chuckanut Drive.
At the south end of the scenic drive, we headed north again, to Lynden. Passed beautiful Mt Baker again... it took us like 10 snaps to get this one with no telephone pole bisecting the view.
These are raspberry vines/whatever twisted into neat arches in the foreground. Most of America's red raspberries come from this small area of Washington state near Lynden.
We took the usual tourist snaps in Lynden:
We got to Bellingham without incident, checked in to the hotel and then went back out to see some local sights and get dinner. The tourguide book said that the Chuckanut Drive was very scenic, and indeed it was spectacular. You've got beautiful views of the Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympic Mountains. There are houses clinging to the steep cliffs on each side of the road. Here's one house with a great view...yes, that's the house's roof even with the roadway there.
These houses are on the steep hill on the upside of the road at least.
We stopped at a state park along the drive. Here's the boat ramp.
At the bottom of the boat ramp, look to the right (North): I loved how clear the water was. Stuck my toe in...it was VERY cold.
Look straight out (West):
Look left (South): Love the green colors of the water.
Another peek of water between the trees on the Chuckanut Drive.
At the south end of the scenic drive, we headed north again, to Lynden. Passed beautiful Mt Baker again... it took us like 10 snaps to get this one with no telephone pole bisecting the view.
These are raspberry vines/whatever twisted into neat arches in the foreground. Most of America's red raspberries come from this small area of Washington state near Lynden.
We took the usual tourist snaps in Lynden:
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Graduation Celebration: Day 9
This was Sunday, April 5. The Gateworld.net writeup and photo album of the day.
Schedule for this last day of the convention:
Morning: "Behind the Scenes Tours" of Stargate Satellite Production Facilities (off the Bridge lot)... a visit to the craft shops where props, costumes, etc are creted. We didn't go on this ($299 extra ticket).
Noon: Stargate SG-1 episode screening
12-1 lunch with Michael Shanks..extra ticket fee.
12:50 Music video salute
12:55 - N. John Smith, Executive Producer of SG1 and Atlantis.
1:15-2:15 Special ticket event: 9 fans get to talk with Amanda Tapping privately.
1:30 Photo op with Michael Shanks (separate fee)
1:50 Music video
2:15 - Brad Wright & Rob Cooper: Executive Producers & Writers for SG1, Atlantis, and Universe.
3:05 Music video
3:10 - Michael Shanks
4:10 Stargate SG1 episode screening
4:20 Photo ops with Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, and You. Both Mike and I paid extra for this ($109 each, which gave us the digital copy of the shot and thus the copyright for it... I'll have to find that and post it)
5:20 - SciFi item auction
6:00 Music video
6:05 - Amanda Tapping
This is one of the museum pieces, lit up.
Since there wasn't anything to do in the morning, we took the car out for a tour of some sites where SG1 episodes had done some filming.
First, this is the skyline as you cross from Granville Island into downtown Vancouver. I loved how all the buildings used the same shade of blue-green glass. The picture here doesn't really do it justice. It was very pretty.
In downtown Vancouver, we found Hamburger Mary's Diner at 1202 Davie Street. This is where the SG-1 episode "Holiday" was filmed in part. I had wanted to eat a meal there, but it was packed, there was only meter parking and we didn't have any Canadian money at all. (Pretty neat to spend about a week w/o exchanging any cash.)
We drove to Bloedel Conservatory in the Queen Elizabeth Park on Cambie Street. Part of the grounds near the conversatory had this gorgeous fountain. When the jets calmed down, there was a wedding party on the other side doing photography, but you can't even see them through the fountain at full strength.
Inside the conservatory and a zillion tropical trees and birds. Here are a few.
This pretty blue and yellow parrot liked to say "Hello" frequently.
Koi in a stream/pond inside the dome.
A pretty waterfall.
The geodesic dome and the outdoor gardens were filmed as part of SG-1 episode "The Gamekeeper". The park sits on a high spot in town, so it has good views.
It is pretty clear from the flowers and trees that Spring is only just beginning here, while at home the peak of the Cherry trees was happening.
Schedule for this last day of the convention:
Morning: "Behind the Scenes Tours" of Stargate Satellite Production Facilities (off the Bridge lot)... a visit to the craft shops where props, costumes, etc are creted. We didn't go on this ($299 extra ticket).
Noon: Stargate SG-1 episode screening
12-1 lunch with Michael Shanks..extra ticket fee.
12:50 Music video salute
12:55 - N. John Smith, Executive Producer of SG1 and Atlantis.
1:15-2:15 Special ticket event: 9 fans get to talk with Amanda Tapping privately.
1:30 Photo op with Michael Shanks (separate fee)
1:50 Music video
2:15 - Brad Wright & Rob Cooper: Executive Producers & Writers for SG1, Atlantis, and Universe.
3:05 Music video
3:10 - Michael Shanks
4:10 Stargate SG1 episode screening
4:20 Photo ops with Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, and You. Both Mike and I paid extra for this ($109 each, which gave us the digital copy of the shot and thus the copyright for it... I'll have to find that and post it)
5:20 - SciFi item auction
6:00 Music video
6:05 - Amanda Tapping
This is one of the museum pieces, lit up.
Since there wasn't anything to do in the morning, we took the car out for a tour of some sites where SG1 episodes had done some filming.First, this is the skyline as you cross from Granville Island into downtown Vancouver. I loved how all the buildings used the same shade of blue-green glass. The picture here doesn't really do it justice. It was very pretty.
In downtown Vancouver, we found Hamburger Mary's Diner at 1202 Davie Street. This is where the SG-1 episode "Holiday" was filmed in part. I had wanted to eat a meal there, but it was packed, there was only meter parking and we didn't have any Canadian money at all. (Pretty neat to spend about a week w/o exchanging any cash.)
We drove to Bloedel Conservatory in the Queen Elizabeth Park on Cambie Street. Part of the grounds near the conversatory had this gorgeous fountain. When the jets calmed down, there was a wedding party on the other side doing photography, but you can't even see them through the fountain at full strength.
Inside the conservatory and a zillion tropical trees and birds. Here are a few.
This pretty blue and yellow parrot liked to say "Hello" frequently.
Koi in a stream/pond inside the dome.
A pretty waterfall.
The geodesic dome and the outdoor gardens were filmed as part of SG-1 episode "The Gamekeeper". The park sits on a high spot in town, so it has good views.
It is pretty clear from the flowers and trees that Spring is only just beginning here, while at home the peak of the Cherry trees was happening.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 8, Part B
After the set tours, here was the schedule for the day. You can see photos of the speakers at the GateWorld.net album, and their writeup of the day is here.
2pm - Music video open
2:05 - Stargate Trivia Contest
2:35 - Music video salute
2:40 - Paul McGillion: Stargate Atlantis' Dr Carson Beckett
3:20 - Robert Picardo: Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis' Richard Woolsey (also Star Trek Voyager's The Doctor)
4:00 - Joe Flanigan: Stargate Atlantis' Lt Colonel John Sheppard
4:50 - Music video
4:55 - Classic episode screening
5:00 Photo ops with Joe Flanigan (separate fee)
5:45 Dinner break
5:50 Atlantis group photo op (separate fee)
6:20 Photo op with Paul McGillion (separate fee)
6:35 Cocktails with Joe Flanigan (sold at ebay auction)
6:50 Stargate & Sci-Fi item auction
Here's more of the vinyl banners they auctioned off for a couple hundred bucks each.
7:00 Robert Picardo photo op (separate fee)
7:35 - Music video
7:45 - Autographs with Paul McGillion, Joe Flanigan & Robert Picardo. We got these as part of our Gold Weekend ticket. Since I was in costume, Joe asked me what/who I was, and I answered, "I'm the lotar of Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess" (a System Lord goa'uld character in SG-1). He replied, "Who?" ... When I got to Paul McGillion, I held out my hand for a handshake and said, "Hello, fellow Scottsman." He replied, "Hello, lovely lady!" So he wrote "To the lovely Lynellen, Love Paul McGillion, XXOO" as an autograph for me.
9:15 - Stargate Costume Competition. Mike and I participated in this. We didn't win, but it was fun. The kid who won first place was a disabled late-teen guy who was dressed as Sgt. Harriman, with a blue flight suit and the tray of his wheelchair had a carboard monitor with the stargate schematic on it like you see on the show. The second and third places are also pictured here. One of them is a toddler wearing only a miniature SGC flag...it is a copy of an episode of SG-1 where Daniel returns to human form after being Ascended and he's naked in General O'Neil's office so O'Neil rips the SGC flag off the pole and hands it to Daniel to wear. The other winner is a guy who handmade an entire suit of Ori armor and an Ori plasma weapon...lots of time went into that.
11:30 - Celebrity Dessert Party for Gold Weekend patrons. The hotel had a buffet line of rather nice desserts including an Ice Cream Sundae bar. This is also when the Table Centerpiece contest was.
During the dessert party, the three Atlantis guys came around to each table to sit and answer questions for about 90 seconds per table. Late night..off to bed!
2pm - Music video open
2:05 - Stargate Trivia Contest
2:35 - Music video salute
2:40 - Paul McGillion: Stargate Atlantis' Dr Carson Beckett
3:20 - Robert Picardo: Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis' Richard Woolsey (also Star Trek Voyager's The Doctor)
4:00 - Joe Flanigan: Stargate Atlantis' Lt Colonel John Sheppard
4:50 - Music video
4:55 - Classic episode screening
5:00 Photo ops with Joe Flanigan (separate fee)
5:45 Dinner break
5:50 Atlantis group photo op (separate fee)
6:20 Photo op with Paul McGillion (separate fee)
6:35 Cocktails with Joe Flanigan (sold at ebay auction)
6:50 Stargate & Sci-Fi item auction
Here's more of the vinyl banners they auctioned off for a couple hundred bucks each.
7:00 Robert Picardo photo op (separate fee)
7:35 - Music video
7:45 - Autographs with Paul McGillion, Joe Flanigan & Robert Picardo. We got these as part of our Gold Weekend ticket. Since I was in costume, Joe asked me what/who I was, and I answered, "I'm the lotar of Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess" (a System Lord goa'uld character in SG-1). He replied, "Who?" ... When I got to Paul McGillion, I held out my hand for a handshake and said, "Hello, fellow Scottsman." He replied, "Hello, lovely lady!" So he wrote "To the lovely Lynellen, Love Paul McGillion, XXOO" as an autograph for me.
9:15 - Stargate Costume Competition. Mike and I participated in this. We didn't win, but it was fun. The kid who won first place was a disabled late-teen guy who was dressed as Sgt. Harriman, with a blue flight suit and the tray of his wheelchair had a carboard monitor with the stargate schematic on it like you see on the show. The second and third places are also pictured here. One of them is a toddler wearing only a miniature SGC flag...it is a copy of an episode of SG-1 where Daniel returns to human form after being Ascended and he's naked in General O'Neil's office so O'Neil rips the SGC flag off the pole and hands it to Daniel to wear. The other winner is a guy who handmade an entire suit of Ori armor and an Ori plasma weapon...lots of time went into that.
11:30 - Celebrity Dessert Party for Gold Weekend patrons. The hotel had a buffet line of rather nice desserts including an Ice Cream Sundae bar. This is also when the Table Centerpiece contest was.
These are peeps (those sugar marshmallow candies) that have been dressed up as various Stargate characters.
These dolls were pretty darn cute.
These dolls were pretty darn cute.
During the dessert party, the three Atlantis guys came around to each table to sit and answer questions for about 90 seconds per table. Late night..off to bed!
Makeup shelflife
The news article linked in the title of this post has a few tips about how long you can keep an open cosmetics item before you should toss it. So, once you open an item:
- Liquid foundation: 3-6 months. (If bottle has wide mouth, toss sooner)
- Cream foundation: 4-6 months. "You'll know it's time to purchase a new bottle when the ingredients begin to settle or separate, the texture thickens or thins, or the smell changes."
- Concealer: 6-8 months.
- Powders, pressed powder, eye shadow, blush: 12 months.
- Mascara: 3 months. "Never keep it longer than that (air pushes bacteria back into the tube). Never "pump" your mascara."
- Lip gloss and lipstick: 12 months.
- Eye pencils, brow pencils and lip pencils: 12 months or more, "but you should sharpen pencils at least once a week to prevent bacteria from being transferred to your eye area. If the material dries or crumbles, replace it."
- Facial cleansers and moisturizers: 6 months
- Facial toners: 12 months.
- Natural cosmetics, 6 months ("all-natural body washes," etc.). "Among other cosmetics that are likely to have an unusually short shelf life are "all-natural" products that contain plant-derived ingredients (which are conducive to bacterial growth) or products with no preservatives."
Monday, May 11, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 8, part A
This was Saturday, April 4. We were part of the 9:45am Stargate Set Tour group at Bridge Studios. You can see the photos that Gateworld.net took of their tour here. Since we were going to be getting photos of us on the sets, we wore our costumes.
The tour buses pull into the Bridge Studio's lot:
And they drive around the building, so we see a lot of the parking lot which has the catering trucks and the actor's trailers.
We wait under the studio sign for our tour guides, one of which is N. John Smith (an executive producer, shown with the microphone,...he's husband to Lynn Smith who directed our off-site location tour on Wednesday).
But Mike & I were not in the group lead by N. John Smith. Our group fast-walks to the far end of the studio area. We pass signs along the way that list the other shows this studio has been involved in. This list says: Now in Production: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Farewell Atlantis, Defying Gravity, Frankie & Alice; Major Projects: Night at the Museum, Hot Rod, Dungeon Seige.
We passed the door that goes into the Costume area:
The tour buses pull into the Bridge Studio's lot:
And they drive around the building, so we see a lot of the parking lot which has the catering trucks and the actor's trailers.
We wait under the studio sign for our tour guides, one of which is N. John Smith (an executive producer, shown with the microphone,...he's husband to Lynn Smith who directed our off-site location tour on Wednesday).
But Mike & I were not in the group lead by N. John Smith. Our group fast-walks to the far end of the studio area. We pass signs along the way that list the other shows this studio has been involved in. This list says: Now in Production: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Farewell Atlantis, Defying Gravity, Frankie & Alice; Major Projects: Night at the Museum, Hot Rod, Dungeon Seige.
We passed the door that goes into the Costume area:
And arrived at the parking spots that are reserved for the actors of the new show Stargate Universe:
Neat warning sign next to the door that leads into one of the major studio areas:
I'm not allowed to show you the pictures we took on the sets. The first set inside that we got to walk through was the Apollo/Prometheus spaceships. We saw the outside of the set, with the doorway into the hall of the ship. I thought it was so interesting how these look like metal on film, but in person they are very obviously painted wood.
The hallways had various neat detailing on them: one said "Power Matrix" and "Flux Secondary". We also saw the inter-deck ladder. In order to be able to film people climbing all the way between levels, the ladder extends above the set, and green screen is used as needed.
Neat warning sign next to the door that leads into one of the major studio areas:
I'm not allowed to show you the pictures we took on the sets. The first set inside that we got to walk through was the Apollo/Prometheus spaceships. We saw the outside of the set, with the doorway into the hall of the ship. I thought it was so interesting how these look like metal on film, but in person they are very obviously painted wood.
The hallways had various neat detailing on them: one said "Power Matrix" and "Flux Secondary". We also saw the inter-deck ladder. In order to be able to film people climbing all the way between levels, the ladder extends above the set, and green screen is used as needed.
There was a lovely tribute to Don S. Davis, who played General George Hammond.
The Bridge of the ship!! Mike sat in the command chair and pulled his best "Captain Kirk" pose.
We also saw one of the labs/auxilliary control areas, and a "crew quarters" room. Just when you get used to the idea that you're in a room, you catch a glimpse of the open ceiling where the lights and cameras are!
You can see Gateworld.net's photo album of the set tours since I'm not allowed to post my pictures.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Allure's "Bronze Goddess" look
The May "Allure" look focuses on cheeks, and keeps lips and eyes minimal.
Apply Cinnabar all over your lids, blending up to the brow. Also apply under the lower lashes (as a lash liner), and skip mascara.
Dust a bronzer over your forehead, cheeks and chin. Apply a rosy-pink blush like Pink Petals on the apples of your cheeks. (Bold Berry blush for African American model)
Finish with a lipstick that is one shade darker than your natural lip color (Shell shown here on all models).
Apply Cinnabar all over your lids, blending up to the brow. Also apply under the lower lashes (as a lash liner), and skip mascara.
Dust a bronzer over your forehead, cheeks and chin. Apply a rosy-pink blush like Pink Petals on the apples of your cheeks. (Bold Berry blush for African American model)
Finish with a lipstick that is one shade darker than your natural lip color (Shell shown here on all models).
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Ten questions to ask your mother now
1. What's the one thing you would have done differently as a mom?
Nothing. I think you guys are wonderful.
2. Why did you choose to be with my father?
He asked. At an appropriate time, when I was ready to get married. He met all my important criteria.
3. In what ways do you think I'm like you?
Too many to name.
4. Which one of us kids did you like the best?
I plead the fifth. A true mother doesnt like either of her children better than the other.
5. Is there anything you have always wanted to tell me but never have?
Yeah, I love you. I don't think you understand how much.
6. Do you think it's easier or harder to be a mother now than when you were raising our family?
Harder now. The culture has gone to hell in a hand basket.
7. Is there anything you regret not having asked your parents?
10,000 genealogy questions: details. What was this person like? What do you remember about this person? Some people I know my mother told me stories about, but I've forgotten them and I wish I had written them down.
8. What's the best thing I can do for you right now?
Always love me.
9. Is there anything that you wish had been different between us -- or that you would still like to change?
I wish you hadn't had your hard years.
10. When did you realize you were no longer a child?
I still haven't realized it. :) In some ways, I wasn't a child anymore when my father died 2 days after my 9th birthday. I had to grow up and take a lot of responsibility.
Nothing. I think you guys are wonderful.
2. Why did you choose to be with my father?
He asked. At an appropriate time, when I was ready to get married. He met all my important criteria.
3. In what ways do you think I'm like you?
Too many to name.
4. Which one of us kids did you like the best?
I plead the fifth. A true mother doesnt like either of her children better than the other.
5. Is there anything you have always wanted to tell me but never have?
Yeah, I love you. I don't think you understand how much.
6. Do you think it's easier or harder to be a mother now than when you were raising our family?
Harder now. The culture has gone to hell in a hand basket.
7. Is there anything you regret not having asked your parents?
10,000 genealogy questions: details. What was this person like? What do you remember about this person? Some people I know my mother told me stories about, but I've forgotten them and I wish I had written them down.
8. What's the best thing I can do for you right now?
Always love me.
9. Is there anything that you wish had been different between us -- or that you would still like to change?
I wish you hadn't had your hard years.
10. When did you realize you were no longer a child?
I still haven't realized it. :) In some ways, I wasn't a child anymore when my father died 2 days after my 9th birthday. I had to grow up and take a lot of responsibility.
Monday, May 04, 2009
"One Tree Hill" character-inspired looks
You'll want to be sure to tune in to The CW's "One Tree Hill" on Monday, May 4, May 11 and May 18 at 9/8 c, when key makeup artist, Tym Buacharern, shows you how to get primetime perfect with the Mary Kay® products he used to create each character-inspired look.
Urban Chic
Inspired by Brooke's uptown girl character with a high sense of fashion. See how to get the dramatic effect of a smokey eye look with liquid eyeliner and rich purple colors:
Mineral Eye Colors in Crystalline, Iris and Sweet Plum
Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Ultimate Mascara in Black
Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush
Lip Liner in Neutral
NouriShine Lip Gloss in Melon Sorbet
Bohemian Chic
Mix Peyton's rocker attitude with her free-spirit style. Check out how to get this version of a modern natural look with wow-worthy lash-lengthening mascara and a simple but not-so-subtle trick with Plum lip liner:
Mineral Eye Colors in Sweet Cream, Sienna, Raisin and Coal
Eyeliner in Black
Lash Lengthening Mascara in Black
Mineral Bronzing Powder in Bronze Diva
Lip Liner in Plum
Satin Lips Lip Balm
Trendy Mom
Showcase Haley's natural glow with a hint of glam, using Mary Kay beautifiers like the facial highlighting pen and mineral bronzing powder:
Facial Highlighting Pen #1
Eyesicles in Island Bronze
Mineral Eye Colors in Honey Spice and Chocolate Kiss
Eyeliner in Deep Brown
Ultimate Mascara in Black
Mineral Bronzing Powder in Desert Sun
Lip Liner in Chocolate
Creme Lipstick in Dusty Rose
NouriShine Lip Gloss in Pink Diamonds
Urban Chic
Inspired by Brooke's uptown girl character with a high sense of fashion. See how to get the dramatic effect of a smokey eye look with liquid eyeliner and rich purple colors:
Mineral Eye Colors in Crystalline, Iris and Sweet Plum
Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Ultimate Mascara in Black
Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush
Lip Liner in Neutral
NouriShine Lip Gloss in Melon Sorbet
Bohemian Chic
Mix Peyton's rocker attitude with her free-spirit style. Check out how to get this version of a modern natural look with wow-worthy lash-lengthening mascara and a simple but not-so-subtle trick with Plum lip liner:
Mineral Eye Colors in Sweet Cream, Sienna, Raisin and Coal
Eyeliner in Black
Lash Lengthening Mascara in Black
Mineral Bronzing Powder in Bronze Diva
Lip Liner in Plum
Satin Lips Lip Balm
Trendy Mom
Showcase Haley's natural glow with a hint of glam, using Mary Kay beautifiers like the facial highlighting pen and mineral bronzing powder:
Facial Highlighting Pen #1
Eyesicles in Island Bronze
Mineral Eye Colors in Honey Spice and Chocolate Kiss
Eyeliner in Deep Brown
Ultimate Mascara in Black
Mineral Bronzing Powder in Desert Sun
Lip Liner in Chocolate
Creme Lipstick in Dusty Rose
NouriShine Lip Gloss in Pink Diamonds
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Review: When God Winks on New Beginnings, by SQuire Rushnell
This book (When God Winks on New Beginnings by SQuire Rushnell) is formatted as a inspirational gift book aimed at new graduates, people getting married, and newly empty nesters. The book could have used one more pass through the editing stage, as there are misplaced commas (in the middle of words!), quotations that never have their closing quote marks, and the title of chapter 7 is printed wrong in the table of contents!
What is a Godwink? Rushnell defines it several places in the book. 1) uplifting messages of reassurance to let us know that God is watching over us. 2) "A personal signal or message directly from God, sometimes as an answer to prayer, and often mislabeled as coincidence." 3) God's "way of reminding you that you're never alone in the tasks you've been handed or the missions He's led you to choose."
My biggest problem with the book is that Rushnell tries to make this a Christian book but at best it is cultural Christianesque. For example, he repeatedly says that YOU determine where you want your life to go and what will make you happy. He completely leaves God out of the equation. Rushnell defines "trust in God" (p.31) as those "who make it a practice to ask for His blessings and who truly expect to receive them". He also says, "you can absolutely EXPECT that He will answer your requests of today." Sorry, God is not a magic vending machine in the sky that you make demands of. It's actually the other way around..God wants us to obey HIM, not us telling Him what He should be doing in our lives.
Finally, Rushnell spouts an emotionally charged and VERY negative view of adoption when retelling Steve Jobs' story. While the Bible is very clear that us Gentiles are adopted into God's family and that this is a very good thing, Rushnell chooses to reword Steve's story (go read the original transcript online for yourself!!) to say that Steve's adoption was a twice-rejection. This is not at all how Steve phrases it! Steve points out that his adopting parents wanted him so badly that they pursued him for months to convince his birthmother that they were the right couple to raise him. His adopting parents saved every penny for years to fulfill their promise that Steve would go to college. I find Rushnell's twisted negative version to be a slap in the face and completely contradictory to his message of positivism in this book.
You'll also get to read a promotional ad for his book and website about the Couples Who Pray: The Most Intimate Act Between a Man and a Woman
, not just once but twice.
I found his summary of What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
to be incredibly helpful, and all of the personal stories are fun to read just like an issue of Guideposts
. I liked his reminder from Zig Ziglar that (in sales), the word 'no' is not a personal rejection..."The prospects really had no interest in the offer itself and would have said no to anyone."
I love Rushnell's acronym GPS - "God's Positioning System". This acronym fits really well into Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe
where Osbourne is talking about how 'faith' really means obedience: do you have enough faith in your GPS unit to obey it's seemingly wacky directions? Does your faith in God cause you to OBEY Him? Do you seek God's input not only in prayer but also in the Bible and the counsel of wise believers, or do you let license plates tell you that whatever you're doing must surely be endorsed by God?
(PS - anyone know what's up with "SQuire" ...is that a play on "Esquire"??)
What is a Godwink? Rushnell defines it several places in the book. 1) uplifting messages of reassurance to let us know that God is watching over us. 2) "A personal signal or message directly from God, sometimes as an answer to prayer, and often mislabeled as coincidence." 3) God's "way of reminding you that you're never alone in the tasks you've been handed or the missions He's led you to choose."
My biggest problem with the book is that Rushnell tries to make this a Christian book but at best it is cultural Christianesque. For example, he repeatedly says that YOU determine where you want your life to go and what will make you happy. He completely leaves God out of the equation. Rushnell defines "trust in God" (p.31) as those "who make it a practice to ask for His blessings and who truly expect to receive them". He also says, "you can absolutely EXPECT that He will answer your requests of today." Sorry, God is not a magic vending machine in the sky that you make demands of. It's actually the other way around..God wants us to obey HIM, not us telling Him what He should be doing in our lives.
Finally, Rushnell spouts an emotionally charged and VERY negative view of adoption when retelling Steve Jobs' story. While the Bible is very clear that us Gentiles are adopted into God's family and that this is a very good thing, Rushnell chooses to reword Steve's story (go read the original transcript online for yourself!!) to say that Steve's adoption was a twice-rejection. This is not at all how Steve phrases it! Steve points out that his adopting parents wanted him so badly that they pursued him for months to convince his birthmother that they were the right couple to raise him. His adopting parents saved every penny for years to fulfill their promise that Steve would go to college. I find Rushnell's twisted negative version to be a slap in the face and completely contradictory to his message of positivism in this book.
You'll also get to read a promotional ad for his book and website about the Couples Who Pray: The Most Intimate Act Between a Man and a Woman
, not just once but twice.I found his summary of What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
to be incredibly helpful, and all of the personal stories are fun to read just like an issue of Guideposts. I liked his reminder from Zig Ziglar that (in sales), the word 'no' is not a personal rejection..."The prospects really had no interest in the offer itself and would have said no to anyone."I love Rushnell's acronym GPS - "God's Positioning System". This acronym fits really well into Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe
where Osbourne is talking about how 'faith' really means obedience: do you have enough faith in your GPS unit to obey it's seemingly wacky directions? Does your faith in God cause you to OBEY Him? Do you seek God's input not only in prayer but also in the Bible and the counsel of wise believers, or do you let license plates tell you that whatever you're doing must surely be endorsed by God?(PS - anyone know what's up with "SQuire" ...is that a play on "Esquire"??)
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 7
This was the second day of the Stargate convention, Friday April 3. See GateWorld's summary and photos.
The schedule for today was:
11:15am Music Video Open
11:20 David Nykl: Stargate Atlantis' Dr. Radek Zalenka
12:00-12:50 Dan Shea: Sgt. Siler, Stunt coordinator for Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis
2:05 Music Video Salute
2:10 Connor Trinneer: Stargate Atlantis' Michael Kenmore; Star Trek Enterprise's Commander Charles Tucker
3:00 Classic Stargate SG-1 episode screening
3:50 Music Video Salute
3:55 Teryl Rothery: Stargate SG-1's Dr. Janet Fraiser and also Heimdall's voice
4:50 Music Video
5:00 Dinner break
5:50 Autographs from Teryl Rothery and Connor Trinneer. We got these as part of our convention ticket package.
9:15 Creation-Stargate Celebrity Cabaret starring Robert Picardo, Connor Trinneer and Dan Shea. Mike went to this and said it was ok. I was too tired and went to sleep.
These photos are from the Museum of props and costumes that the studio brought over.
These are the Ancient communication devices (one in good shape, the other has been partially melted by weapons fire).
Close-up of the "Furling" animated puppet:
Full-length "Furling" puppet:
SGC wall art, with memorial photo of General Hammond (Don S. Davis):
Heavily carved chair used as a throne in some Atlantis episode:
A ZPM and a Ancient weapons drone:
The schedule for today was:
11:15am Music Video Open
11:20 David Nykl: Stargate Atlantis' Dr. Radek Zalenka
12:00-12:50 Dan Shea: Sgt. Siler, Stunt coordinator for Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis
2:05 Music Video Salute
2:10 Connor Trinneer: Stargate Atlantis' Michael Kenmore; Star Trek Enterprise's Commander Charles Tucker
3:00 Classic Stargate SG-1 episode screening
3:50 Music Video Salute
3:55 Teryl Rothery: Stargate SG-1's Dr. Janet Fraiser and also Heimdall's voice
4:50 Music Video
5:00 Dinner break
5:50 Autographs from Teryl Rothery and Connor Trinneer. We got these as part of our convention ticket package.
9:15 Creation-Stargate Celebrity Cabaret starring Robert Picardo, Connor Trinneer and Dan Shea. Mike went to this and said it was ok. I was too tired and went to sleep.
These photos are from the Museum of props and costumes that the studio brought over.
These are the Ancient communication devices (one in good shape, the other has been partially melted by weapons fire).
Close-up of the "Furling" animated puppet:
Full-length "Furling" puppet:
SGC wall art, with memorial photo of General Hammond (Don S. Davis):
Heavily carved chair used as a throne in some Atlantis episode:
A ZPM and a Ancient weapons drone:
"Framistat" engine equipment from SG-1 episode "Space Race":
Several of Teyla's costumes:
Serpent Guard headdress:
Mike in his SG-1 costume, pretending he is a museum display too:
Friday, May 01, 2009
Review: Deadlock by Robert Liparulo
This book is a sequel, so it frequently mentions events from the previous book; however, most of the time these references are not confusing and the overall story can stand alone. The technology employed in the storyline was very interesting and near-future realistic. Most of the time the pace is pretty good, but some of the complicated firefights are described in such detail that 15 pages is 3 minutes of elapsed time.
I can see a trained expert (like character Jason Bourne) being the hero, but I just cannot see a middle-aged newpaper journalist having the skills displayed as action hero here. Likewise, the young children in traumatic events hold together emotionally much better than I would expect realistically. While this book is allegedly Christian fiction, it is not obviously religious. I'm not even sure which characters are supposed to be Christians. There is no sex, and no language. Just gory violence.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 6
Sorry it has taken so long to get back to our vacation photos!
On this first day of the Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis convention in Vancouver (Burnaby), BC, the events didn't get started until the afternoon.
So we had the GPS guide us over to Mount Burnaby. At the park near the top, we parked and all of a sudden see this coyote wander the length of the park. It was 11am.
This park also has several locations that were used in filming SG-1 episodes. For example, the Kamui Mintara Totems were used in "Upgrades". Here you see a great view of downtown Vancouver in the distance, just before the blue harbor. In the foreground is one of the totems with a Orca whale on it, that points due west.
Here you see most of the art installation. One totem has a standing bear (on the left) and one has an owl (on the right).
The river valley to the north of the park was VERY foggy. Can you see the huge container ship down there in the fog?
Another piece of art in the park was this living scupture from one of Vancouver's sister cities in Japan. These are dancing cranes. The feathers are grass that grows on fabric.
On this first day of the Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis convention in Vancouver (Burnaby), BC, the events didn't get started until the afternoon.
So we had the GPS guide us over to Mount Burnaby. At the park near the top, we parked and all of a sudden see this coyote wander the length of the park. It was 11am.
This park also has several locations that were used in filming SG-1 episodes. For example, the Kamui Mintara Totems were used in "Upgrades". Here you see a great view of downtown Vancouver in the distance, just before the blue harbor. In the foreground is one of the totems with a Orca whale on it, that points due west.
Here you see most of the art installation. One totem has a standing bear (on the left) and one has an owl (on the right).
The river valley to the north of the park was VERY foggy. Can you see the huge container ship down there in the fog?
Another piece of art in the park was this living scupture from one of Vancouver's sister cities in Japan. These are dancing cranes. The feathers are grass that grows on fabric.But the highlight of visiting this park area was to see/eat at Horizons Restaurant, which was also used in filming the episode "Upgrades" mentioned above.
We had a very nice (and expensive) lunch at Horizons. On a clear day (or night) they have incredible views of the city and the mountains. Here, Mike is contemplating the schedule for the convention.
This is a view toward the bar and front door. I had the menu's lovely "Wild BC Salmon", Mike had a nice "New York Steak", and we had the "Dessert Sampler for Two" which was wonderful. Our waiter was a cute guy who was born in Minnesota, but had lived in Canada long enough to pick up some of their accent.
After lunch we drove across the river and up the mountain to Simon Fraser University, Burnaby Campus.
The courtyard at SFU was used in filming SG-1 everytime there was an episode about Narim's planet Tollana (such as "Between Two Fires"). That courtyard was also filmed extensively as the River Walk area of Caprica City on Battlestar Galactica.
As we were looking at a campus map, a student comes up and asks us if we need help finding anything. I tell her that we're just looking for the buildings that were used in filming SG-1 and Battlestar Galactica, and she gives me a face like she has no idea what I'm talking about. Apparently SG-1 is hardly watched at all in Canada BECAUSE it is considered an American show and thus unworthy of Canadian eyeballs. Their loss.
These photos pan down the "River Walk" from north (i think) to south (i think).
Just west of the courtyard is the long set of stairs that lead down to another courtyard area. This area was also filmed in "Between Two Fires" as SG-1 and Narim run from the explosions of the goa'uld invading the planet, and Narim stays behind to fight with his people.
Given that this is a college, there was a beautiful four-tier fountain that morons had put a bunch of detergent into so that it was covered in foam:
Now it was time to return to the hotel for the convention to start!
Here are a couple of banners they had hanging as decoration in the ballroom. These were auctioned off for about $350 each, although Samantha Carter's did go for north of $500.
I am not able to show you photos of the actors who were guests at the convention...we are prohibited from public display of those photos. However, you can see a lot of actor photos at Gateworld.
Here's the schedule for the day, which was April 2, 2009. You can read Gateworld's summary of the day here.
3pm: Music Video Open
3:05 - Valerie Halverson, costume designer for Stargate Atlantis & SG-1 and well as Andromeda.
3:45 - Music Video (these were all entries by attendees, who all got $100 gift certificates)
3:50 - Working Actors of Vancouver Panel: A presentation featuring some dynamite actors that have appeared in Stargate and many other shows shot in Vancouver.
Participating are:
- Fulvio Cecere: SG-1's "Colonel Davidson"; Battlestar Galactica: Razor's "Lt Alastair Thorne"; Dark Angel's Richard Sandoval
- Kirby Morrow: Atlantis' "Captain Dave Kleinman"; XMen Evolution's "Cyclops/Scott Summers"; Dragon Ball Z's "Goku"
- Heather Doerkson: Atlantis' "Bridge Pilot/Apollo Technician/Meyers"; Smallville's "Isis"; BSG's "Sgt Brandy Harder"
- Jody Racicot: SG-1's "Vernon Sharpe"; Flash Gordon's "Dr Hans Zarkov"
- Michael Kopsa: SG-1's "General Kerrigan"; Dead Zone's "Jake Traux"
- Patrick Currie: SG-1's "Fifth/Chaka/Eamon"; BSG's "Enzo"
4:30 Autographs with panel members (additional fee)
5:10 Stargate Trivia Yes/No Contest
5:20 - 5:45 Photo Ops with panel members (additional additional fee)
5:30 Music Video Salute
5:35 Gary Jones, "Chief Master Sargent Walter Harriman"
6:15 was supposed to be Christopher Heyerdahl, but he cancelled (had to work). Instead we got to meet the actress who played each and every one of the Atlantis Wraith Queens.
7:50 Autographs with Gary Jone and wraith queen (additional fee)
9:30 Special Event (additional fee) "Star Hole SG-1.5 starring Gary Jones and Dean Haglund". Dean was a Lone Gunman on X-Files. Description: Get ready for the biggest shocker in Stargate history. Gary Jones, aka Sgt Walter Harriman, is finally going through the gate! After being told repeatedly by producers for 10 years that it was too expensive to send him through the computer-generated "puddle," Gary is finally taking matters into his own hands, always to hilariously disastrous results, joined by his comedy partner, Dean Haglund of "X-Files" Lone Gunman fame. Gary will reprise his role as Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman, to the delight of the fans, and Dean will play ALL the secondary characters like, say, Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, and Sam Carter. Other guest star spots will be filled by audience members!
We attended the above comedy, and later bought the DVD of it that they filmed. It was a pseudo-improv episode of SG-1 and Mike says it was the most he's heard me laugh in over 10 years of marriage. Your milage may vary.
Yes, the rest of this trip was packed like this, so you can see why it is taking me a while to blog about it...this post alone took me about 3 hours to create.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Book Reviews on Amazon
I posted reviews for these two books on Amazon, but don't feel like posting them here too.
"Lessons in Heartbreak" by Cathy Kelly.
"The Vision Board" by Joyce Schwarz.
"Lessons in Heartbreak" by Cathy Kelly.
"The Vision Board" by Joyce Schwarz.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Review: The Twelfth Card; and The Cold Moon.
I've read quite a few books over the last weeks, but haven't taken the time to write up my reviews. Some of them aren't memorable enough to take more than a sentence or two.
The Twelfth Card, by Jeffrey Deaver. This is a Lincoln Rhyme novel from 2006. I didn't find it to be all that suspensful. Certainly not as creepy as The Bone Collector. This story is about figuring out who is trying to kill a teenage girl from Harlem, and why. The story takes you through some interesting tidbits of civil war era New York civil rights and the attitudes towards non-white people. In the end, it's all about money. Eh.
Next is another Jeffrey Deaver novel (from 2007) featuring Lincoln Rhyme: The Cold Moon. This one was more interesting, and more complex. The villan creates multiple layers of misdirection. In the end, it comes down to money again. Along the way you learn about the history of clocks, which was amusing.
The Twelfth Card, by Jeffrey Deaver. This is a Lincoln Rhyme novel from 2006. I didn't find it to be all that suspensful. Certainly not as creepy as The Bone Collector. This story is about figuring out who is trying to kill a teenage girl from Harlem, and why. The story takes you through some interesting tidbits of civil war era New York civil rights and the attitudes towards non-white people. In the end, it's all about money. Eh.
Next is another Jeffrey Deaver novel (from 2007) featuring Lincoln Rhyme: The Cold Moon. This one was more interesting, and more complex. The villan creates multiple layers of misdirection. In the end, it comes down to money again. Along the way you learn about the history of clocks, which was amusing.
Excuses, excuses
Sorry for the interruption in the travel log. I was sick in bed for more than a week with bronchitis. I'm doing better now, and as soon as I catch up on all the chores that must be done RIGHT NOW, I'll continue with our trip.
The above sky picture was taken on 2/14/09. I love the blue sky with the white AND black clouds.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 5
Today was relatively error-free, aside from the fact that it snowed and rained all day! Which is ironic considering that it was April 1.
We were in the lobby waiting for our off-site location tour in plenty of time. Here is Mike with Lynn Smith who was location manager for Stargate SG-1 Seasons 2-6, the longest period of time with one location manager. She is married to executive producer N. (Norman) John Smith. She has a lovely voice that blends Canadian and Irish accents together. We found some of the speech phrases interesting: "side by each" instead of "side by side" for example.
This cemetary was also used for filming. I think for "Moebius Part 1" but my notes don't say.
We were in the lobby waiting for our off-site location tour in plenty of time. Here is Mike with Lynn Smith who was location manager for Stargate SG-1 Seasons 2-6, the longest period of time with one location manager. She is married to executive producer N. (Norman) John Smith. She has a lovely voice that blends Canadian and Irish accents together. We found some of the speech phrases interesting: "side by each" instead of "side by side" for example.
This was the first year that the location tour went to farther-out locations instead of staying in the city. The tour bus had video monitors hanging from the overhead bins (yes, it was like an airplane) so that we could watch SG-1 episode segments of the sites we were about to see. Very cool to help you get oriented. Here's a little map of where we went. The farthest point (D) is about 30ish miles outside of Burnaby. Point A is our hotel, where the tour started.
We headed out of town and crossed the Pitt River on Lougheet Hwy, where they are building a new bridge:
Point B was the first stop: the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. This is where they filmed parts of "Tangent"
Above: The tower crew were probably wondering why a tour bus cared to visit them. Below: the intersection of the runway where they did most of their filming for this episode.
Next we went to Bordertown (Point C on the map), which was used to film a western tv show for a few years. But it was also used to film a few episodes of Stargate SG-1: "A Hundred Days" and "Beast of Burden". This barn, below, was used in Beast of Burden.
Inside the barn, where Chaka was kept:
Not the exact area where O'Neill is canoeing on the river in "A Hundred Days", but nearby:
Next we went to (Point D) Jackson Pit and Municipal Pit. Jackson Pit looks exactly like it did during filming of "A Hundred Days" and "Orpheus":
However, Municipal Pit (location for filming "Lost City (Part One and Two)" and "Heros (Part One and Two)" has since been filled with new houses:
Next we went to the location (Point E) where "Seth" was filmed. We couldn't go inside because the building was being used for a wedding that day. Minnekhada Lodge is apparently a relatively popular place for weddings.
There's a lot of moisture around there. The trees are covered in moss:
Next we drove all the way back to North Vancouver to visit part of the GVRD that isn't open to the public (Point F). Stargate SG1 and Atlantis filmed in there very frequently, as have a number of other shows and films. The area is part of the Mt Seymour Watershed, so there's a lot of water facility construction going on. But we were able to visit the "Kilometer 4 Gravel Pit" which served as the planet Chulak in "Family", also was seen in "Maternal Instinct", was the planet Latona in "The Sentinel", was seen in "Alliegance" and "Death Knell" and probably other episodes too:
Also in the GVRD we saw the "Mid Valley" area which was used as a command post in "Matter of Time", also seen in "Demons", "Paradise Lost", and "Evolution". I guess I didn't take any pictures there. More trees, a valley, rocks, etc.
We also saw the "red rock quarry" that was seen in "New Ground". However, they have since excavated out all of the red rock:
This cemetary was also used for filming. I think for "Moebius Part 1" but my notes don't say.
Since there was still a little more time left for touring, we drove past a few locations on Boundary Road. This is the Accent Inn, directly across the street from the Bridge Studios where the show was filmed. Accent Inn appeared in "Avenger 2.0".
When the tour was over, we stood in line to pre-register for the convention. At least half of the 538 attendees were in line to pre-register. We saw this guy, and worried that maybe we weren't big-enough fans to be there:
Yes, he has a gate address tattooed on one arm, and the Ori symbol on the other. He wore that outfit the entire conference. But it turned out that very few people wore costumes the entire time. So while we weren't anywhere as geeky as some folks, we were more geeky than a lot of the audience. This is us in front of the convention banner.
Stay tuned for details about our adventures at the Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis convention in Vancouver.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Graduation Celebration Trip: Day 4
How wonderful to wake up and be able to put on clean clothes!
We check out and take the shuttle to the Hertz counter at SeaTac. The agent pulls up our reservation and then walks us over to the Self-Check In Terminal and uses it to process our reservation... weird. And then at the end it says that there are no cars available to assign to us. So he starts the process over and upgrades us (for same price) to a Ford Escape, which is the same model as the Mercury Mariner that we rented at SLC. This one has power seats, but it still feels narrow to us.
Since the clouds were thick with sporadic heavy rain, our GPS took a while to find the satelites. But finally we make our way to Walmart to buy soda and a kleenex box. We grab lunch at Arby's and head for Vancouver.
Pretty drive! Hills, trees, valleys, lakes.
As we approach the border, the electronic signs say there is a 5 minute wait for the border crossing. Great!
But when we get there, we actually wait in line about 25 minutes. Never trust electronic road signs..they're always wrong.
Despite not having any firearms or excessive cash with us and whatnot, "Mike's Travel Curse" is in effect and we are selected for further scrutiny. Some evil Mike must live out there, because our luggage is always screened extra by TSA, and now the border patrol sends us to park and go inside the building for an interview and background check! Reason for scrutiny is the infamous "07" and we are to wait for an agent in line A. He asks us where we're going; what hotel we're staying at; do we know anyone in Canada; describe the convention we're going to; have we ever been arrested; list every state we've lived in. Go sit and wait. The background check takes about 20 minutes. When we are cleared, the agent almost sounds disappointed. We drive off and comment that that felt icky.
Here's the bridge into Vancouver/Burnaby just before the GPS misled us a bit.
We check out and take the shuttle to the Hertz counter at SeaTac. The agent pulls up our reservation and then walks us over to the Self-Check In Terminal and uses it to process our reservation... weird. And then at the end it says that there are no cars available to assign to us. So he starts the process over and upgrades us (for same price) to a Ford Escape, which is the same model as the Mercury Mariner that we rented at SLC. This one has power seats, but it still feels narrow to us.
Since the clouds were thick with sporadic heavy rain, our GPS took a while to find the satelites. But finally we make our way to Walmart to buy soda and a kleenex box. We grab lunch at Arby's and head for Vancouver.
Pretty drive! Hills, trees, valleys, lakes.
As we approach the border, the electronic signs say there is a 5 minute wait for the border crossing. Great!
But when we get there, we actually wait in line about 25 minutes. Never trust electronic road signs..they're always wrong.
Despite not having any firearms or excessive cash with us and whatnot, "Mike's Travel Curse" is in effect and we are selected for further scrutiny. Some evil Mike must live out there, because our luggage is always screened extra by TSA, and now the border patrol sends us to park and go inside the building for an interview and background check! Reason for scrutiny is the infamous "07" and we are to wait for an agent in line A. He asks us where we're going; what hotel we're staying at; do we know anyone in Canada; describe the convention we're going to; have we ever been arrested; list every state we've lived in. Go sit and wait. The background check takes about 20 minutes. When we are cleared, the agent almost sounds disappointed. We drive off and comment that that felt icky.
Here's the bridge into Vancouver/Burnaby just before the GPS misled us a bit.
But we finally arrived at the Hilton Metrotown. Here's the view from our room.
We settled in, ate dinner at Thai House across the street, bought a bit of breakfast food at a grocery store behind that, and prepared for the start of the convention.
Stay Tuned for more adventure!
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