Tag: photos

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Notes From Rural America

Friends,

Normally I would’ve asked for some help understanding this. I have to say though, that I get it now. It’s not too different from my own situation, actually. Here’s the deal…

My vivacious writing partner and her husband got the hell out of the bustle and nonsense of Southern California and moved to East Texas. Why? The “git while the gittin’s good” excuse was employed. Plummeting housing prices, new high density and low income housing projects in their quaint little park-like neighborhood, gas prices higher than elsewhere in the nation, and a lack of jobs for an independent electrical contractor sealed the deal. Time to go.

What recommended East Texas I don’t really know for sure. They scored a huge plot of land with a nice house for cheap. The neighbors sound friendly and there are other benefits…

Sid and Nancy!
When she told me that their new house came with cattle, I was dubious. They’re city kids. What would they know? What they know is that Texas gives them an agricultural exemption on their property taxes if they keep critters, so meet Sid and Nancy. They’re both cows, but apparently my naming suggestion had enough appeal to stick. Jah knows Sid was a likable enough fellow…


So, what, the cows are shooting up? No wonder folks in Middle America hate the blue states.

– bob

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Do You Snore? – UPDATED

Imagine a campfire without a forest...
Friends,

Above is a NASA photo from yesterday (click to go to NASA’s site) showing the plumes of smoke from the fires. If you look at the little red dot indicating Lake Arrowhead, I think that was the smoke I saw tumbling into the Hemet valley last evening. If you look at the other dot depicting Fallbrook, that would be the glow I saw over the hill during my drive to work this morning.

My house in the heart of Fire Danger Central has been offered up to San Diegans as an evacuation center (!). A move which is sure to peg the Irony Meter. No?

– bob

UPDATE: This is an updated picture from NASA showing how the smoke has really started to swirl since the winds have died down. Folks down in the Festival of Dirt are starting to get a sampling of what everyone in San Diego and Los Angeles have had to breathe since Monday. Maybe the snowbirds will toss a couple more Loonies towards the Red Cross now that it’s affecting them too…

Imagine a campfire without a forest...

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Photos Broken, Unrelated To Destruction Of Southern California

Dearest Peepers,

You may have noticed that the photos embedded here aren’t loading and that the entire bobtherieau.com site is down. My web host is subjecting the gerbils to “scheduled maintenance” which I presume means a colonic, a melon smoothie, and viewing a PowerPoint presentation on using teamwork to spin the wheels a little faster. My only advice to the technicians is to be careful. Those little bastards bite.

Your pal,

bob

UPDATE: The pictures and bobtherieau.com are back up. You gotta love those rested and relaxed gerbils…

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A Jaunty Little Webcam!

Friends,

refresh this page for updated image
I’ve been working on this for what seems like minutes and now it’s finally here. There’s a little videocamera aimed out the back of my Secret Alpine Laboratory so that I can keep an eye on doings around there. Of course I also thought that it’d be a neat idea to know when there’s snow on the ground or if certain puppies are mauling the meter reader. The latter requiring the carnage to last more than twenty minutes (the refresh rate) and towards the East side of the house. It’s near total information awareness, people!

I love this stuff.

– bob

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Verizon Guileless

Friends,

Verizon Wireless has a real neat deal. It’s called “New Every Two” and the idea is that after 20 months or so, you’ll find that your current cell phone is broken or just sucks. No worries! Just wait a few more months and we’ll give you a credit on a new one. Neat. I picked up a new Motorola MOTOSRSLY bR549 (or whatever) camera phone over the web for free (some restrictions apply, buh).

Speaking of restrictions, even Motorola acknowledges that Verizon imposes a ton of restrictions on “multimedia and data transfers” from the phone. So much so that without special hackerific software, the only way to get pictures and video off the thing without emailing the files to yourself (certain extra charges may apply), you have to buy a memory card and move the files there.

Ever seen a MicroSD card? It’s just a little smaller than your pinkie fingernail. How hard is it to keep track of? Don’t exhale, it’ll fly behind the furniture. Don’t ask how I know.

By the way, it’s been stormy in my little burg. I got the clue this afternoon by looking up…

…and when I got home, I was greeted by this very unhappy pup…

Seriously, it’s not my fault.

– bob

UPDATE: This is weird. Any thoughts on why I have to refresh this page to see the video? Please feel free to drop suggestions in the comments section.

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Giant Baby!

Friends,

adorableThis is the post that will make you want to up the speed of your broadband internet connection. If you click the thumbnail to the left, you’ll see a giant version that is so, well, adorable, that you’ll get all mushy inside. Be warned, you’ll be highly suggestible at that point. Kids want a pony? Let ’em! Nigerians need a little help straightening out a financial mess? You’ll be all ears! Time-Warner is on the phone asking you to reconsider cancelling your cable? Eh, I wouldn’t go that far.

Still, this picture is 99.99% cute. I think you’ll agree.

– bob

(via The Proud Parents!)

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It’s Hot, But Not Montana Hot

Dear Sweaty People,

I know you’re suffering, who isn’t? Your electric bills are astronomical, your car overheats on the drive in to work, tempers are flaring. What you need is a nice relaxing dip in the pool. Here’s a demonstration…



Taken in Lincoln, Montana and forwarded from Aunt Anita by the always delightful Auntie KC

Thanks! I feel much better now.

– bob

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It Really Does Take Two

Little Dudes,

I’ve been a little quiet lately, not posting much of anything (here, anyway). Too much frustration. The phone lines had been dead last week and you know what that means—no DSL. It’s enough to give you the shakes.

The local Verizon tech finally showed up on Friday afternoon, right as I returned from The Festival Of Dirt™. My office is in the residential section of the building and Friday was “Bug Day.” Yep, they were spraying for bed bugs and everyone had to clear out. They could have told me about the fumigation at any time before 30 minutes ahead of the event, but where’s the fun in that? Clearly they didn’t want to deprive me the joy of driving down there to turn around and drive back.

The Verizon guy found that his recently replaced line between the Lodge and the pole had a break and needed to be replaced again. I helped feed the new wire over the new 114-foot run, naturally. Friendliness? (that’s rich. -ed) I was certainly anxious to get a dial tone (and to start clogging the ‘tubes again and get back to work). The dial tone came back, but I wasn’t too interested in getting to work just then. The day was by far the most lovely in months. If it makes you feel better, I’m working right now. Whee!

These demands on my time are mostly of my making though. For instance, I realize the you clearly need to see real photos of young baby Inez (confirmed, it’s an “I”).

I was drawn to this picture for the sly sideways, halfway cranky glance. Watch out for this one, world.

And while I get that this one is about singing, why is the hospital staff person holding her head down on? It’s clearly attached.

More in a little bit…

Your pal,

bob

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Easter Weekend Pictures Of Things

Friends,

Mister and Missus puppy dog started the weekend staring. Staring at flowers…

…staring at your humble photographer…

So when we trundled down to the desert, they were locked in the backyard at the parents’ house and I took my Dad down to the car show (on his suggestion). Here are some pictures of that…

For instance, here’s a picture of Dad not even remotely considering getting himself a motorcycle.

And here’s a shot of a Jowett Jupiter in a state where you can observe where motor oil is likely to puke out (read: everywhere. It’s British.)

How about the nicest flame paint ever? Can anyone say “Jeepster?”


By the way. Exactly one black man showed up and he brought the stereotypical Cadillac low rider, replete with trunk-filling battery pack, hydraulics, and fake convertible vinyl top. Does anyone even do this anymore?

Neat pinstripes. Um, Jeepster?

Other neat stuff…


The owner of this Corvette has his (her?) priorities. The car was falling apart in front of us, but the elaborate eagle mural on the hood, the tape stripes on the engine accessories (!), and the general yellow spray paint theme should look nice on the back of the tow truck.


Here though is the shamble-rific rat rod. Plywood floor AND firewall! The owner is still alive, so make your own judgements.

Your pal,

bob

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Psst, What Month Is It?

Dear Refrigerator Salesmen,

Don’t waste your breath. Here’s a shot from my back door yesterday:


…and a shot that is actually in color:


April’s not that far away. Maybe I should make way for glaciers.

Your pal,

bob

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An Open Letter

Mister and Missus Dog have been returned to warmer climes to celebrate the new year. Once again I’d become used to them greeting me in the afternoon, tromping about with them, irrational exuberance, so dropping them off was no fun. I miss them already.

The girlie dog left me a little note regarding the picture post from the other day. I guess she’s feeling a little left out.

DEAR BIG MONKEY,
UR KIND OF MEEN. YOO PUT PITURS OF DUM DOG ON INNERNET – A BUNCH OF THEM! NO PIKTURS UV ME THO. THATS NOT KOOL. UR A JERK. IM BETER LOOKING THAN DUM DOG AND HES DUM ANYWAY PECUZ HE RUNZ IN THE FROZ RAIN BUT IM NEAR THE FIRES AND WAHRM. HES DUM. THANX FOR CHIKEN TREETS. NOW PUT MY PTURS ON THE INNERNET.
– WAY KYOOTER DOG


Sure, no problem. My pleasure.

Happy New Year!

Your pal,

bob

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Mr. Dog

Hey Holiday-Makers!

Here’s the promised context-free picture post, and guess which pictures turned out the best? Those with Mister Dog in them. Here’s my end of year adventure summed up with (mostly) puppy photos:






So there you go. Where’s 2007?

Your pal,

bob