Pasture Pool

There is a form of torture here in Arizona that forces one to spend about 6 hours during the heat of the day, with the temperature hovering around 115 degrees engaged in an activity frought with frustration.

Golf.

Yes, that's my brother playing his lie in what is called an "Arizona Desert Course".

It was brutal out there. I almost died.

I know there is no sympathy for us, since we were participating in a voluntary recreational activity reserved mostly for the upper class. Well, there's the rub. It is now very evident why the cheapest place to play golf in the world is an "Arizona Desert Course" in the middle of Summer in the middle of the day.

And Then There Were None

Click on the arrow in the lower left hand corner to play this dramatic video.

Shave and a Haircut Two Bits

I guess once it hit 118 degrees out here, it was time to take a little off the top.

Dylan opted for the traditional military 1/4" buzz cut. Good choice.

It looks like he has an awesome barber. But what I really want to know is, "Who is the barber's barber?" That guy must be really awesome.

Progress Report

Well, it's looking a lot more like the picture on the cover of the box all the time.

I'm pretty sure today is the day.

The final pieces are falling into place awfully fast now.

New Kickers

Friday the 13th was a good day for me.

A package was delivered to me from the North Face store in Minneapolis MN.

Inside, I found (to my delight) a pair of North Face Mountain Sneakers. A Father's Day gift from my ever thoughtful children.

Not only are these sneakers totally awesome looking...but they are bound to make me the envy of every tree-hugging, ped watching, fashion jealous Arizonian.

Why? You ask.

These are Eco-Sneakers.

They are a green shoe (even though they're brown)

Allow me to explain ---

The Upper:

A combination of metal-free suede and spun bamboo textile with a plant cellulose fiber foam sockliner

The Bottom:

40% recycled rubber outsole; Cork EVA midsole with plant cellulose fiber heel cushioning and a bamboo shank midsole support.

I am sooooo cool.

Paper or Plastic?

Today I stopped in the grocery store on my way home from work to pick up some hot dogs and tuna.

As the checker is scanning my groceries, she asks in a fairly cheerful tone," Would you like to donate a dollar to prostate cancer research?"

Prostate cancer was not the topic I expected my grocery checker to bring up to me while she was bagging my tuna and hot dogs.

As I walked out to the parking lot, I began to wonder if the female customers were being asked to donate to breast cancer research.

Hmmm?

I Just Saw That Piece

Dylan enjoying his time in the "Man Cave"

A pretty awesome puzzle he received in a package the other day from someone named "Lauren"?

Or should I say,

An awesome puzzle he received in a package the other day from someone pretty named Lauren?

Thems Good Eatin'

OK, I can't vouch for that personally. But according to everything I've seen from Les Stroud and Bear Grylls, cut off that stinger on the tail and chow down.

no scorpions were harmed in the posting of this blog.

The Hunt

Late at night on mountain trails in Arizona... if you're lucky... and persistent... and very cautious, you might come across these elusive, and sometimes violent, nocturnal creatures.

I call them scorpion poachers.

I made sure to keep my distance from these two.

My New T Shirt

I received this shirt as a gift from my wife in the mail today.

Of course, not everyone will understand it... unless you are familiar with the comment by New Mexico Senator Albert Fall speaking before Congress during the 1920s "Teapot Dome" scandal.

I guess it was also used in that current popular movie, There Will Be Blood.

Graduation Fever

This is not a halloween costume.

This is the real deal.

This is a genuine graduate.

Holding a genuine degree.

Now Dylan will be chasing another degree and another graduation (PHD) at Clemson University in South Carolina

Take That You Whippersnappers

Have some kids, raise a family, have a couple of different careers, have a grandson...

and then...

get a college degree!

That's what I'm talkin' about!