Ending A Wee Holiday Break

Is any holiday break long enough? Probably not for those of us in the work force. So, after a nice Thanksgiving break, here we are back at work. And as some of our teacher family noted, this week, we have to work all five days. Still, having a job in today's economy is a reason to give thanks.

We had a good visit with family, including Moorings from Tempe, AZ, and Queen Creek, AZ, and Walkers from Tempe, AZ, Chandler, AZ, Queen Creek, AZ, Pahrump, NV, Redding, CA and Riverside, CA. We played games, ate, and even did some programming so that Preacher Bro can handle his prayer requests. And we fit in a little Christmas decorating. We did not, however, have time for any LOST. With the delay in LOST premieres from January to February, we still have to watch 5 episodes a week. We should be able to restart that this week.

We played Beatles Rock Band Saturday night at the annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Get-Together and Game Night. It was so much fun that our granddaughters said "Whee." Hmm. Playing Wii and saying whee. Maybe that could lead to a cute Clarity of Vision, right?
OK, maybe not cute, but I had to get those words out of my head. There, now they are in yours, too.

A Cartoon-Free Day - So Give Thanks

We have reached the beginning of the holiday season, at least here in the US. What better way to start than by giving thanks for everything we have. In fact, in some cases, we can give thanks for things we do not have, also. No one in our family has cancer, and that is a blessing. Dad is back to his usual jovial self. I have been cleared from being checked again for a whole year (I have been going in every six months).

So, I saw on Facebook that some family has arrived from NV. Lunch is planned for 12:30-1pm, somewhere in that range. Then, America's Team plays football at 2pm. Family, food, football - is there anything else needed? If so, it had better begin with the letter F to fit our theme.

I took a civics quiz. Have you tried it?
http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx.
I answered 29 out of 33 correctly — 87.88 %. I missed #8, 12, 27, and 31.

Kathie is cooking away behind me and I am writing this silly blog. I definitely got the better deal.

Here is a view we do not have out our back window. It is Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray, CO. It will probably not reach 82F there today, either.

Here is a view we will almost certainly see this afternoon. Kendall is into Pops right now.

Here is another sight we might see today, if Kyle's sweet tooth kicks in.

And we will certainly see this sight if Mom brews some coffee after lunch.

Current photos counts of granddaughters - Bella has 2936 and Kendall has 1656.

I Really Did Try

Yes, I did try to make this CoV a bit more serious, but it didn't flow. So, instead, here is what you get.
I sent it out at work with the warning that Oakland Raiders fans send it to the Recycle Bin without opening it. After all, my true colors showed up today.

I hope Katie gets better and Keith and crew make it down to the Valley for tomorrow. If not, we'll eat turkey and ham and sweet potato casserole and mashed potatoes and salad and Lyndsay's homemade desserts without them. Oh sure, we will mention them in the prayer, but then we will settle in for eating and the Cowboys and leave them to their healing up in Pahrump.

I do not know what I did to the director of Chorale, but I seem to be permanently on the back row now. Sure, I usually end up beside Dad and that's good, but I used to be on the third row near a tenor buddy and now I am stuck between basses.

I think the girls are planning some Black Friday shopping. great. More power to them, especially if they start closer to midnight when some of the local malls will open. I think last year, they were out from like 3:30am until 6:30am. Hey, that reminds me, I read that, if you buy TVs and such on their deals, be sure you are not getting lower quality model of their normal product. I cannot remember the word I read and I just tried to Google it. Anyway, caveat emptor.

Two Tomorrows Till Thanksgiving

Let's keep yesterday's nonsense going by expanding the scope of non-specific words. I'm sure this could apply to your work environment, too.
It is almost Thanksgiving. It became a national holiday on Dec 26, 1941. Since then, it has become more of a secular celebration than a religious one. That does not give us an excuse to leave God out of our remembrances. As our pastor said Sunday.... Well, I don't remember exactly, but something about the blessings God gave us and how we should keep those in mind. Take that thought, remember the sermon you heard, and combine them, and that's what I am implying.

I have a lunchtime meeting today, but I have two chocolate chip loaves that Lyndsay made to share with the team. Nice. Now I just need to make sure I do not open them early.

Do you have to work tomorrow? I do. Oh well, I do have a job, so that is good in today's economy. What it means to you is that there will be no Clarity of Vision on Thursday or Friday. I know that may throw some of you into withdrawal, but it cannot be helped. even creative minds need some recharging. No, I should not say that, because then you will expect new levels of humorness next week and I don't have anything planned yet. Let's just say that I only publish so many per year and I am nearing my limit, so like TV shows, there will be a hiatus, OK?

The Dryer From H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks?

Now see, all of us thought that the dryer saga was finished when we replaced the motor last week. No! It worked for three loads and then.... It looks like that new motor was broken, so Dad and I went and traded it out Saturday. So far, it is now working, but I guess I will keep my fingers peeled and my eyes crossed. I was going to call it the dryer from... well, you know, but I think that would be inappropriate. After all, if the dryer did come from there, it would work really well, right?

As you will discern from today's CoV, we rate projects by stoplight colors. So Green is good and Red is bad. That is what drives the central idea of easily recognizing the status of a project by its color.

We are almost to Thanksgiving, a day when we should all reflect on the blessings in our lives. It brings to mind a Carpenters song that Craig Hughes and his sister used to sing in choir concerts. It might be called Sometimes. Anyway, it goes

Sometimes, not often enough, we reflect upon the good things,
And those thoughts always center around those we love.
And I think about those people who mean so much to me,
And for so many years have made me so very happy.
And I count the times I have forgotten to say "Thank you"
And just how much I love them.

And last night at Chorale concert, the director told a story about a man who ate at an all-you-can-eat BBQ. When he went to leave, he found he had thrown his keys into the bin with all the trash and thrown-away food and used napkins. He ended up digging through it to find them and came away dirty and disgusted, but he had saved what he went in there for. The director compared this to Jesus, who left the beauty and glory of Heaven and came to a dirty earth for each of us.

The Lord has given me so much and I want to say thank you to Him and to all my loved ones. But not today. Oh no, then what would I do on Thanksgiving?

Extra Parts When Reassembling

A friend suggested that, when I put the dryer back together, I would probably end up with extra screws. It's true. How does that happen. Where did I pull one from that I forgot to reinsert? How long before that bites me? Anyway, Dad found a new motor for the dryer and we put it back together last night. It worked! Yeah, that probably is because he helped. Still, let's go for another 20 years with it.

Today is the end of the 'where do famous quotes come from' series. I think I chased down that rabbit hole long enough. Here, go ahead and read it.

SPOILER ALERT for Survivor if you TiVo'd it.
Did you see Survivor last night? Can you believe Russell has found his third immunity idol? And how about that tall bearded guy's expression each week when one of his team gets blindsided? Yeah, this is a good season. Speaking of good, we picked up wings from The Vine and a flat crust pizza from a new place called Chicago Pizza that just opened Sunday. Both were good.

I Lint Dad the Motor

No, you are wrong. I did not misspell anything in the title of today's blog. Well, I should say I did misspell something, but it was on purpose. The dryer motor died a couple of days ago, so Dad and I disassembled the dryer last night and confirmed the motor was bad. Whew! You should have seen how much lint was down inside the bottom of the dryer, and all over the motor. So, the appliance parts place is only open until 5:00 or 5:30. So, Dad took the motor and is going to get a new one during regular hours. Then, we get to figure out how to put all those pieces back together.

CoV time. You need to read this with a Scottish accent, OK?

I must admit that some of the musical arrangement on the FOX series Glee are really clever, even if I don't know the originals. Last night, I did and the way they move back and forth between songs is quite creative.

We now have 42 episodes left of LOST. 13 more in Season 3. 13 in Season 4. 22 in Season 5. I am sure we will be ready for Season 6 now.

Taking a Shot

OK, so we had time for one episode of LOST last night. Now I can overlook so many inconsistencies in TV shows and movies. It is OK when a kung fu fighter hangs in the air for six seconds. Still, in this episode, Kate is standing on the beach holding a walkie talkie. Suddenly, it is shot out of her hand. So they were able to hit a 5-6 inch target from 50 feet away. Now, she and Sawyer are startled and begin to run up the beach. The bad guys chase them, but now, they cannot hit within 20 yards of them. Why did that catch my attention? I don't know. It just seemed too incongruous (whatever that means).

Fine. Let's take some CoV, shall we?

Hey, have any of you seen the new Prisoner on AMC? I watched the first one (of three), but I have not made up my mind yet. Certainly, Caviziel is no McGoohan.

Looks like our clothes dryer needs some surgery. I am certain the belt must be replaced (it is the original belt, well over 25 years old). Now, the drum won't even spin, and when I press the start button, I get a noise but nothing is spinning, not even the motor. I'll bust it open tonight, clean it up, and see what I find. Yeah, I am excited, too.

Today's Is Ready

Sure, I did have an idea for today's CoV. It is tomorrow's that I am struggling with. I have all the panels ready except the final comment in the final panel. So, if you have any clever ideas to end it with, let me know. What? You need to know who it is about before you can help? No, that would spoil the surprise.
Somehow, I did not record the password for my electric company online payment. So, I told it to send it to me. Nothing. I suppose I also have the wrong email address in there. The mind is a terrible thing to waste, isn't it?

I am recording the new AMC remake of The Prisoner. I have not real expectations on it, so that may help make it good. I certainly enjoyed the original (no, I only saw it in reruns).

Did anybody see 2012? It made big box office over the weekend, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is worth my time. What about the new 3D Christmas Carol? We saw the preview during the nationwide train tour, but that was mainly a 3D teaser. Some critics are saying Jim Carrey was too much as the ghosts.

Five. Five Epi. Five Episodes of LOST

Did you read the title of today's post the way I wrote it? You should have heard the current advertising jingle for Subway when you read it. You know, "Five. Five dollar. Five dollar footlongs." Anyway, we caught up some by watching five episodes of Season 3 this weekend. Yes, we will have to make up the other two sometime this week.

We also did see the girls this weekend, but I forgot to take my camera, so no photos. Speaking of photos, though, I am almost finished with a new photo book. It is a departure from my usual, day-to-day photo journaling. You'll have to come here and see it. Sorry. Well, first, I've got to complete it and get it printed. Then you can come and see it.

Speaking of the weekend, the Boys went down, the Cards came back, and the Suns held on. Two out of three is not too bad.

How Does He Find Those Idols?

I know we are not supposed to have anything to do with idols, but how does Russell keep finding the immunity idols on Survivor? Last night's episode had a great blindside at Tribal Council when he played it. Let's see if he can find a third one.

They are playing for $1,000,000. That is a lot of scratch, a lot of cash, a lot of simolians. Speaking of money, please read today's CoV.

When I research these strips, I look for quotes by the actor, his or her filmography, anything they may be famous for. I could not find much on Cuba Gooding, Jr., so I had to play off the single line. Yeah, a bit of a stretch, but certainly challenging.

Kathie cruised out to Lyndsay's last night for dinner and to pick up some cakes for school today. She came back with three bundt cakes that are so big, they cover almost our entire kitchen table. I don't know how Lyndsay baked them. Maybe they are really just jello molds covered in frosting?

IT'S FRIDAY! Yeah, baby. No, nothing really planned. Maybe we can knock out a few LOST episodes. The days are inexorably counting down. (Is there anything that counts down exorably?)

Marlon

Marlon is an unusual name, to be sure. When I hear it, I think of my trips to Scotland back in the 80s. One of the things I remember was how they enjoyed teasing me about my accent (because, of course, they don't have one). Anyway, one of their pet US peeves was that the name Marilyn and the state Maryland are pronounced pretty much the same over here. They pointed out that they would pronounce them Mahr'-lin and Merry-land. Fine, enough personal junk (you can't really say that, though, because it is my blog.
Alright. We are almost caught up on TV again, so we can get some serious LOST going this weekend. And we will have to if we are to keep up with our goal of being ready for the final season early 2010.

We have reached another Thursday, with the family Survivor get-together. Will Russell make it through another week? As obnoxious as he would really be in life, he does make for good TV and is great to hurl insults at during the program.

Holidays (Yours and Mine)

As almost always, we will get CoV out of the way for today. However, I am interrupting our regularly scheduled comic strip series for a rare detour into seriousity and appreciatingness for Veteran's Day (this is a holiday for our nation)and those in our family who have served in any branch of the military. Thanks.
Here is a sample page from the photo book I am working on from our recent foray into SW Colorado (this is a holiday for our family). Most of my past books have moved sequentially through our vacation. On this one, I am moving through the photos by theme. So here, we have tall tree shots with a road or path and minimal people, so I grouped them into Roads Less Traveled.

While I am not a veteran, even for those that are, today is a normal workday at our company. I will return tomorrow with more brainless, time-wasting fun.

As you may have noticed, the folks threw down a gauntlet yesterday on your favorite Clarity of Vision author. He picked up that metal glove and promptly dropped it on his foot. I have several actors queued up for skewering, but I am not sure how they will measure up against Arnold. I chose to release that one first because I had shared the upcoming series idea with several at work and wanted to go ahead with it. In retrospect, maybe that should have waited. No matter, though. There are some other clever ones coming. (Note to self: write some clever ones)
Work is crazy. The other person on my team is out until after Thanksgiving on FMLA. I hope nothing too bad is going on, but it does raise my stress level handling all the responsibilities. Still, tonight is Chorale night, and that always helps.

It has been a year since I created a photo book. I am trying to make one now, but it must fit into my TV/LOST schedule. We have not yet started Season 3 because all the regular TV shows have started up again following the World Series (which only includes US baseball teams. What is up with that? I mean, with football, they call it the Super Bowl, which may or may not imply we are the best in the world. And in hockey, they have the Stanley Cup. Again, no international implications). Sorry. I am back now. I am trying our Booksmart from Blurb. It lets me alter the layout templates so I can arrange photos and text however I want (well, as long as the shapes are rectangular. No round shapes are possible). I will see about exporting a page to show you.

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. I need to get in a Thanksgiving mood. Isn't it sad how easily we can slip into day-to-day mode and not really recognize the blessings and gifts our Heavenly father provides. It seems so easy to thank Him for things in daily prayers, but not reflect on Him and how thankful we should be.

New Week. New Series.

Today begins Lots of New Things. The only one that most of you will see is the new Clarity of Vision series on origins of movie quotes. Most of you do not realize that scripts come from real life. Let's take a look at where a couple of famous quotes actually began.
Since I called it a series, you can imagine there will be more. Which ones, and who, do you think I will cover?

Another new things we can start today is Season 3 of LOST. We finally finished Season 2 this weekend. Many of you did not think 3 was a very good season, Regardless, I need to watch it for the snippets of details that may be important in subsequent seasons.

Now that I think about it, maybe that is all of the new things. Can two things be called lots? It is enough for me. I can only handle so much new at a time.

Admit It! It Was Sweet!

This week has been a series based on Halloween candy. Yes, it was sa-weet. Yes, you even chuckled at a few of them. Yes, you did. Admit it. Anyway, today is the final installment for this year.

Where will CoV go next week? I have an idea, but no decisions have been made.

It has been a crazy, busy week at work. The weekend cannot come soon enough. Where will the weekend go? I have an idea, but no decisions have been made. No, that is a lie. I have no idea, but I thought it would be funny to echo the same line in the following paragraph. Was it funny? No, I did not think so either.

I have been enjoying Mom's homemade cocoa mix this week. It somehow seems smoother and richer than the mix packages. Looking at the bag, I would guess I have at least one month's worth still sitting here. People notice the bag of powder on my desk and more than a few have challenged me as to what I am using. Ha ha. You are all so funny. If you are that funny, why don't you write your own comic and share it with everyone?

Well, I am burning daylight, so I'd better get going. You can check over the weekend, but I don't know if I will post or not. Yes, I will try so you can have your funny bone tickled over the weekend. Oh, the pressure to succeed.

You Did It, Too

Please. Doesn't every parent do some of this at some point during their child's trick-or-treating years? If not, you are missing prime candy-consuming time.
Somehow, I never got to get on the computer last night. So, once again, no photos for Isabella or Kendall. Sorry. If you came just for that, I know you are disappointed. However, I shall make no promises on when they will reappear.

The economy has now affected us in a personal way. It appears that, for maybe the first time since Bella was born, we will not have our trip to Christmas Disneyland. Our annual tradition is just a little too expensive for our salary this year. Still, compared to the every-two-years trips we made when our kids were young, this is minor. But Dis at Christmas is really nice, and the weather is pleasant. Maybe we can do it around Bella's birthday on St. Patrick's Day.

Another LOST episode down. A seed of doubt was planted that could mean the entire series is simply a delusion of one of the characters. Really? Is that all you've got? That was worked into the end of Newhart. Can you really top that? Or what about how they ended the American version of Life on Mars? Are we going there? I hope not. Maybe it will be like The Prisoner series in the 60s and this is a government secret place. Well, I don't know yet. I am ready for some of the alleged time travel to begin.

A Nugget of Humor

Well, we are back to just a Clarity of Vision comic today. I was not home to get any family photos uploaded. I think you'll be OK with today's sweet nugget of levity. And if you are not, maybe just go read Justin's Baylor Tweets or some other family frivolity.
Dad came back to Chorale last night. Somehow, that sounds like a Roman triumphal entry type statement. Anyway, that certainly a positive sign. And yesterday, I saw a name in our company phone book that looked like someone from the Chorale. I asked her last night and, yes, she started with IT about 4-5 weeks ago. She works in a different location, but it was surprising.

So, since we had Chorale practice last night, we did not get a chance to watch any LOST. Maybe this weekend, I can double-check my timing to be sure we are going to reach our goal of being 100% caught up when the final season starts next year.

Tricks or Treats

Let's shake things up a bit today. We will start with something other than Clarity of Vision. I uploaded my Halloween photos and decided to share a couple with you. We will start with Kendall as a pirate.
And then, we follow up with Isabella as Batgirl (in pink, of course). The mask did not stay on very long.
There are many other photos (96 in all) from the haircut in the afternoon to the post-Halloween posing at Connie and Brent's place. I will probably let Lyndsay post whichever ones she wants.

Mmm. I love Whoppers. I even like malts from Dairy Queen. So, I decided to carry the Halloween theme for at least one more day. This one is admittedly a bit less political than yesterday.

What Would Pat Benatar Do?

Perhaps that is an obscure reference for many of you? I don't know, is she even still recording? Anyway, she recorded that famous song, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." Yeah, that's what I did with a cartoon referencing Obama today. I had to send a pre-publishing warning to one of my liberal friends at work. She said she deleted it when it came though the email without even reading it. As for you, well, no warning here. I'm just going to hit you with my best shot.
I heard that. Some of you said,"That was your best shot?" Well, yes, it was. You can create your own comic strip if you want something else.

We are just over halfway through the Second Season of LOST. We got caught up on regular TV and were able to watch several episodes this weekend. I think we are still on track to be ready for Season Six next year.

We went trick-or-treating with Kendall and Isabella this weekend. I have not loaded my photos yet, so none today.

Yeah, Boo for football this weekend. Yeah, the Cowboys won. Boo, the Cardinals lost.

Yeah for hot chocolate today. I had some of Mom's homemade recipe, and it was goooood. I got it last night. So, as it says in the Good Book, "And the evening and the morning were the first day." I don't know where that came from. Oh yeah, I remember. When I wrote "and it was goooood" up above, I thought of the Genesis passage where God said it was good and the evening and the morning.... I truly wish I understood what makes those synapses fire in my brain. If I could harness that, I could probably be rich. Of course, I cannot love God and mammon. That's enough. I'll sign off now.