Bannisters and Boneless Bananas and Bad Bathrooms

I do not consider myself a designer, but I would definitely know this pattern is a bad choice for a bathroom vanity.

You do NOT want to know how much more expensive the bone-in bananas are.

Remember those clever alterations to US paper money to make them look like art. Well, here is the other extreme.

During our last trip, I liked the way this stair bannister had a curl at the bottom at just the right height for posing. Several of us took our turns. First is MBH's brother and S-I-L.

Next up is MBH's niece and her Anchorman Husband.

And of course, we had to take our turn.

How about another Photoshop request? She wants to turn into a cat, huh? The Photoshop expert can help with that.

I don't remember ever trying to recreate a scene from a movie (well, except for imagining my car was the Millennium Falcon back when the first Star Wars movie was released), but I have never recreated a scene for a photo. These people decided to try a scene from another of the Star Wars movies. How did they do?

How would you summarize Friends? Here's is how a Twitter user decided to explain the plot badly.

How many idioms can you think of that have the words 'foot' or 'feet' in them. I could think of at least three for today's CoV.

With the family reunion coming up, I have to make a decision about a nice drone for filming family activities, hiking, the beautiful mountains, I need to order it soon so I can practice with it before the trip. I'll let you know if I decide to get one. And once I have some videos, I will post them on youtube or vimeo and share them with you.

Well, my time is up for today. Let's all go make it a great one.

Mannequins and Aliens and Ben Affleck

Well, I actually remembered to grab a couple of photos last night. My process is usually to grab the next 2-3 photos from my last shoot and share them. And I was starting to do that. I grabbed this first photo of the graduating nephew and his family.

And then, as I was looking for the next shot and I realized that there is something common among the photos. Let's look at them as a group. Here he is with his uncle.

And with his brother.

And here he is posing with his mother and brother while his father takes a photo.

And finally, he struck up a pose while his parents stole a kiss.

Did you find the commonality among the various photos? Look again at Mr. Graduate. I strongly suspect we were simply using a cardboard cutout instead of my great-nephew. Maybe he's really a mannequin? I see the exact same smile, hairdo, body position. And in those shots that include his younger brother, it looks like he is learning the same posing lessons.

Today's shower song was 'In God We Still Trust'. We sang it last night at Chorale practice, so I am confident that is why it was still in my mind this morning. You can hear a version (by Diamond Rio) of it here.

Another music-related nugget I saw today notes that Paul Simon is considering retiring. After all, he is 74. I suppose he deserves the rest. Certainly, it's not like he needs the money. For now, though, he does have a new album. One thing is certain. His legacy is secure.

Someone else whose legacy is secure is Ben Affleck. OK, that may be a stretch, but he is famous enough that the Photoshop guy used him to complete someone's wish.

Would you trust a professional makeup artist to guide you to the best products you should use? They would certainly use expensive makeup stuff, wouldn't they? Well, that's not entirely true. This lady shares her favorite lip products from Walgreens. I see that she has related videos for other products such as base makeup and eye makeup, too.

Remember when I shared photos of our trip to NYC, staying just around the corner from Times Square. I do not recall thinking of it at the time, but what if I came across a Kellogg's Cereal cafe there? Would it have tempted me to go there for breakfast each day? I don't know, but if we return, I'll now have to make that call.

Can an inanimate object remind you of another inanimate object? Sure, why not? Here is a frozen lake that reminds me of a mask from a certain horror movie franchise.

Let's talk about aliens. That's what is happening in today's Clarity of Vision comic.

Now, let's talk about the rest of today, because it is time to wrap this up and start the day while we are fresh. While we are rested. While we still have the joie de vivre. Make it a Wondrous Wednesday.

Eggs and Burritos and Foot. What Are 'Things in Your Mouth', Alex?

Alright, people. I am writing this first thing in the morning, so it is time for breakfast. How about some semi-runny scrambled eggs? If that makes you uneasy, it might make a difference if I said this is Gordon Ramsay's recipe. Will I try it? Probably not, but the reason isn't because of the runniness.

Alright, people, I am writing this last night. I came across some artists who recreate famous paintings (some of which no longer exist) using stock photos blended together using Photoshop. There are four pretty cool examples in the article.

Here's an inanimate hotel air conditioner showing surprise.

Now THIS is a meaningful desk decoration for anyone's office.

And one more of these inanimate faces.

One thing I totally forgot to do last night was load up some personal photos from our graduation trip last month. I would describe some and ask you to imagine seeing them, but I can't even think of any right now.

I do have this from a 'Nailed It' internet meme.

And from the Photoshop Request file, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Taylor Swift.'

150-ish years ago, Carleton Watkins took some photos of an area in North Central California that later became Yosemite National Park. One of these was of the Vernal and Nevada Falls. I noted last time I shared one of his photos that these stereoscopic images have areas that are lighter and darker. I notice that difference in this photo along the left side of the left image where the shading is lighter. I am certain now that is part of the illusion to make it appear 3D.

Anyway, I have also previously posted a photo of my own that contains those falls. It is this one of my Preacher Bro taking a photo of his camera taking a photo of Half Dome.

Today's CoV, s'il vous plait.

I did have a song in mind during today's shower. It is an anti-war song from Loggins and Messina called 'Golden Ribbons'. As I seem to usually say, "No, I don't know what made me think of that song." I did listen to the LP during my shower Saturday morning, so I guess it stuck around for a few days.

Laddies and Lassies, our time is up for today. Let's make it a Tremendous Tuesday and get back together soon.

Blurry Painting, Blurry Photos, and Blurry Meanings

As seems to be usual recently, I am finding little to share via my blog. However, I did come across this disturbing story about Converse trademarking a man's soul. I know companies own much of our lives, but isn't this going a bit too far? Oh, wait. It is about them trademarking a 'sole', not a 'soul'. Sorry for the confusion.

Last summer, I shared an article about semi-trailers painted in surprising ways. Now, I want to share the photos themselves. Here's one that looks like a giant candy bar. Sweet paint job, isn't it?

Hey, check out this art photograph. How did the photographer accomplish this? The lower part of the image is clear, and the upper part is blurry. Did they do something in post-image processing? Or did he actually do something cool in the camera? I don't know.

One of the jokes that our chorale director tells often is one about a cowboy who drinks three beers simultaneously in a bar. Have you heard it?
A man walks into a bar and orders three beers. The bartender brings him the three beers, and the man proceeds to alternately sip one, then the other, then the third, until they're gone. He then orders three more and the bartender says, "Sir, I know you like them cold, so you can start with one, and I'll bring you a fresh one as soon as you're low." The man says, "You don't understand. I have two brothers, one in Australia and one in the Ireland. We made a vow to each other that every Saturday night, we'd still drink together. So right now, my brothers have three beers, too, and we're drinking together."

The bartender thinks it's a wonderful tradition, and every week he sets up the guy's three beers. Then one week, the man comes in and orders only two. He drinks them and then orders two more. The bartender says sadly, "Knowing your tradition, I'd just like to just say that I'm sorry you've lost a brother." The man replies, "Oh, my brothers are fine -- I became a Baptist recently, so obviously, I had quit drinking."

Another he told in yesterday's concert was about an insulting parrot.
A lady is walking down the street to work and sees a parrot in a pet store. She stops to admire the bird. The parrot says to her, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." Well, the lady is furious! She storms past the store to her work. On the way home she saw the same parrot in the window and the parrot upon seeing her says, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." She was incredibly ticked now. The next day on the way to work, she saw the same parrot and once again it said, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." The lady was so furious that she stormed into the store and threatened to sue the store and have the bird killed. The store manager apologized profusely and promised the bird wouldn't say it again. The next day, when the lady walked past the store after work the parrot said to her, "Hey lady." She paused, scowled with an icy and deadly stare, and said with a hoarse voice, "Yes?" The bird, strutting back and forth on its perch in a cocky manner, said, "You know."

Remember when we went to CA for a great-nephew's graduation? Well, here he is. See that icon in the lower part of the photo? It was actually a physical item in the yard, and not a digital addition like it appears.

Here he is with his maternal grandparents.

And with his paternal grandmother and step-grandfather.

I did find one other fascinating article this morning. A company offers a way for any car company to shoot a commercial without the car. Yes, you read that correctly. It has no body, just the frame and wheels that can be adjusted to fit the sizing required. Go read the story yourself.

I don't pay much attention to the advertising hype that says you should replace your mattress every eight years. Our current mattress has been giving us a comfortable sleep for 20 years. Whoops. That is, it was fine until recently, when MBH starting experiencing some back pain. Could it be the bed? We tested that theory by having her sleep on the couch. Please, no insinuation about my snoring or tossing and turning being the problem. Anyway, when she slept on the couch, her back did not hurt. So, we decided to bite the bullet and purchase a new mattress. Off to The Dump. No, that's a store, not the actual dump. Anyway, we found one we liked and it is coming later this week. It is a wrapped inner-spring mattress with a pillow top. Stay tuned.

Here's a clever Clarity of Vision comic about mishearing someone's comments and playing them against our internal biases.

I get up waaaay too early. As a result, I don't want to get up even earlier for exercise. What about you? Are you a morning exerciser or an afternoon/evening worker-outer? Well, it may work any time of day, but this lady has a routine to give you a full-body workout in 15 minutes. Try it if you dare.

Subtraction, it's not just for math class. Clever, right? Anyway, it seems that is the type of budgeting that I use to run our household. However, as you can see in this article, there are other, equally effective ways to get your spending and saving under control. Go check it out when you are ready to put some controls in place.

Time's up. I heard my blogging alarm go off, so I need to put this post away. I hope you enjoyed it. I would not be surprised if, one day, when you least expect, I come back for a new post. Until then, let's make it through Monday.

Over Seventy-Eight Thousand Reasons to Read Today's Post

Breaking news: In an unprecedented vote, I decided to share photos from our CA trip for TWO DAYS IN A ROW! I caught you off guard with this intro paragraph, didn't I? You thought I was going to mention the Brexit vote yesterday when the UK decided to leave the European Union. I will say that the results surprised me. I would have voted to stay in the EU. Let's see how things change now.

During our CA trip, we had some down time and decided to play some cards. No, this is not Texas Hold-'Em Poker, although the serious expression on my nephew's face at the end of the table could fool you. We were playing Crazy Eights. Have you ever played that using a regular deck of cards? OK, here's the question that befuddled us. Well, most of us were befuddled. If you do not have a card that can be played, what do you do? For our game, we drew one card, placed it in our hand, and our turn was over. You could not play it, even if it could be used. From the Crazy Eight rules that I remembered, that person would draw and keep drawing until they pulled a card that could be played. It was craziness, people.

And here's a shot of the group from behind. I was secretly trying to see Mr. News Anchor's cards (he's in the blue shirt), but it didn't work out. He's too smart to be fooled by a photographer. After all, he deals with them all day, every day. He also writes and reviews the copy they all read. I wonder how he would rate mine?

One of the perquisites of living in the CA climate is that you can grow more things than in the desert. These roses are growing all around their house, and you can see them on the counter in the previous shot. Here is a close-up.

For some reason, MBH and I got the giggles last night looking at some autocorrect fails. Here's an example.

Or maybe this one is funny for you.

Maybe you would prefer a cake fail instead of an autocorrect fail? Still, congratulations, Laura.

Check out this next photo of lunch bags that a mom has been doing for her boys. I think of two things when I see this. One is that she is both extraordinarily creative and talented, and two is that she named one of her kids Kale. Does she have a daughter named Kali Flower?

We made it through the week, compadres. Let's celebrate with a cold one. Come on. You know what I mean.

For some of you, that is probably what you thought I meant. Since I don't drink, I would prefer to celebrate with maybe a draught A&W Root Beer. Mmm. Well, have a great weekend. See you next week.

A Gripping Tale of TV and Brexit and The End of Fireworks and Breaking Legs

You are not going to believe this. I finally got around to loading up the photos from our recent foray into the Golden State. Today, we'll start with some photos of the house itself. Here is the lovely house of our niece and her husband. Thanks to both of them for hosting everything during our trip for their son's graduation. I don't really want a second story because of the cooling expense, but I like the photos posted along the staircase. It does make for dramatic shots, though.

Here is their den. It is empty here, mostly because everyone else was crowded into the kitchen eating.

Did you notice that TV over the fireplace? It is a really nice Samsung. Does that mean they watch a lot of TV? I cannot be sure. Do you watch much TV? Maybe too much? What if you could get through it 60% faster. One man makes that case, and the article even includes example clips from Modern Family and Game of Thrones. Does watching it faster make it OK to keep watching ... somehow?

And their formal dining room, taken over with the trappings of the celebration for a new high school graduate.

Today's devotional is from Mark 7:8, "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." So, the devotional makes the case that both Easter and Christmas are traditions of men and should not be celebrated by Christians. According to the author, blending the lies of this world with the truth of God "produces a foul mixture called syncretism." You can find more on this here. I understand what they are saying, but I am not ready to end this tradition.

In reading about a study to measure grip strength of millennials, and wondering why someone would even decide to do such a study, I also came across an article listing all the possible names as other countries consider leaving the European Union. You already know that Britain is voting on the measure today (Brexit). The article also suggests Outstria for Austria, Beljump for Belgium, Noatia for Croatia, Czech-out for Czech Republic, Fraurevoir for France. There are many others. Go 'Czech' them out.

Is Disneyland doing away with its nightly fireworks show? That would be sad. I don't need to see it every night, but I would certainly miss it if they decide to only hold it seasonally.

What if you came across a crashed car while you were out driving? Would you be willing to stop and help? Would it make a difference if kids were still stuck in the car? One man in Sacramento came across this exact scenario and stopped to help. He did get a small cut, but EMTs checked him out when they arrived and gave him water. Oh, and then they billed him $150. Well, you can read the whole story here. Would that dissuade you from helping if you knew you might be charged a fee by first responders?

There are still a couple of Photoshop requests that I have not yet shared. Here's one of them.

I also have at least one more inanimate object that looks like a face. I think this is something computer related since I see a USB port and a headphone plug.

I just came back from getting pulled into a work thing, so my time is just about up for blogging. Let me first share today's Clarity of Vision. This one was inspired be a previous one where I use a common phrase and interpret it more literally. However, it is not uncommon for the girls to perform shows for us up on the hearth. They point a lamp at themselves for a spotlight and turn on their MP3 player and sing along. The singing is accompanied by various dance movements or musical interpretations. Of course, appropriate applause is necessary at the end of each song.

And with that, I need to get my Thundering Thursday underway. No, Thundering doesn't really work, does it? I was trying to use something other than my usual Thrilling Thursday. In any case, let's get 'er done. people.