He is Risen!

It is Good Friday. That seems like a misstatement, huh, since it is the day Jesus was crucified? It is good, though, since that was the day he paid the price for our sin, and it leads to Resurrection Sunday. So, we can all say, "He Is Risen!".


Yup, the grandkids are coming over tonight. No, I don't know what we have planned, but we always find something to do.

Sometimes, the Preacher's head gets too big, but that's not always true. It has been too small in the past. Check it out below. And you can see why I got braces a few years ago.


We are watching Smash as I write this. We are sad it is canceled, but we'll catch the last few episodes until it leaves us. Have any of y'all been watching it?

Would you give your kid a middle name of Mungo? Someone did. Can you guess who? Read this and see if you were right. I had no clue. There are some other different middle names mentioned in the video.

At work, I read about a photo arrangement, but the photo was blocked. Still, the name sounded interesting, so I saved the link. Now, as I look at the actual design, it seems a bit too 'out there' for me. What do you think? Would you do something like this? What about you, Lynds? Brenda?

[Friday update] Oh yeah, boyz. (You read that with the appropriate inflections in your voice, right?) Today's commute was practically perfect. The problem with light traffic days is that, usually, you are not part of them because you are enjoying the same day off as everyone else. So, you don't get to drive all the way to work without even tapping the brakes because you are sleeping in. I have to work 1/2 day, so I came in at my normal time and lurved the drive time.

Jeoparty Is Behind Me

That's a strange title today, right? I had to teach the Project Manager training group yesterday, and I used the Joeparty game to do so. Isn't that called Jeopardy, you ask? Well, I wanted to avoid any copyright issues, so I called mine Jeoparty. We did not have time to play the full game. My chapter involved some math and a few of the attendees really struggled with the algebra involved. Is it algebra? If you have a formula A = B / C and you know A and B, you need to determine the value of C. Algebra, right?

Have any of you ever been challenged to create a joke. Let me tell you. It is not easy. It's probably not successful, either, but here is my response to Preacher Bro.
A Preacher and an Architect walk into a bar.
The Preacher says, "I can't go in there. Proverbs 23 says 'Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine....'"
The Architect responded, "I have to go in. 1 Corinthians 3 says 'According to the grace of God which has been given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it. But let each see how he builds upon it.'"
"How are we going to solve this?" asked the Preacher.
"Well, Proverbs talked about people lingering over wine. It doesn't mention beer." said the Architect. "Plus, when I drink it, I often say, 'Jesus, that tastes good.'"
Nonplussed, the Preacher replied, "Now, I for sure can't go in. You shouldn't talk like that."
"What if I could get everyone inside to praise the Lord?" queried the Architect.
"That would help" said the Preacher.
The Architect yelled to the bar, "I'm buying the next round."
"Whoo hoo!" "Praise the Lord!" "Thank you, Jesus!"

I hope this cartoon doesn't crash. It uses a project management term called crashing, which involves adding additional people to a project to finish it early.


I heard that Preacher Bro's family enjoyed seeing childhood photos of him, so here's another. You can see that Aunt Bernice and Julier (as my grandmother used to pronounce it) are up there with the family. I guess Dad took this shot using a telephoto lens since Preacher Bro is looking for him using binoculars.


Need some bacon news? This is for anyone not living in NZ, of course, because I do not even think of anyone there when I think of bacon. For the rest of you, though, there's donuts, onion rings, nuts, brownies, and cinnamon rolls.

Teacher Daughter guessed that Philip would say that he is a federal agent three times on tonight's Survivor episode. In previous shows, he has said that numerous times per night. Tonight, though, she missed. He only said it once. Otherwise, a non-surprising episode.

[Thursday update] We are keeping the GRANDS on Friday night and then some game time at JV+KLIK on Saturday afternoon. Sounds nice, huh? So, to get ready, and since I only have to work 1/2 day on Friday (Alright! It really is a Good Friday),  we are going to mount the shower doors. It will be finished! We should be done before the kiddos arrive.

I'd Like a Coke, but not actually a Coke.

Those of you who did not grow up in the South may not have grown up calling all soft drinks "Coke". So, you are in a restaurant and you say, "I'd like a Coke, please," and they ask, "OK. What kind," and you say "Dr. Pepper." Nobody would think twice about such a conversation. Out in AZ, though, the generic term is soda. Check this graphic to see what different regions call them.

Do you want to see the Lower Yellowstone Falls? So did the family in 1972 or so. You can see that IT Sis fell asleep against Mom, and Preacher Bro must have sat underneath an eagle.


It's almost Easter. Will you participate in any Easter Egg hunts? I think we will not since the GRANDS will be going to D-I-L's family celebration. That doesn't stop me from have an egg-themed granddaughter-inclusive CoV.



My son has a history of photo-bombing. Look at this photo of him crashing a shot of the folks. You can see the intended original shot on the left. I saw this dog photo-bomb story today and thought you would find it funny.

Do y'all ever watch any TED videos? Some of them are really interesting. This one is good, talking about why optical illusions actually work. It makes sense.

[Wednesday update] I forgot to mention that one of our guilty pleasures is back with the new season on TV. Hell's Kitchen. Yup, Gordon Ramsey returns with his "Oh my gawwwd" and other more colorful phrases. We should go find that place next time we are in L.A.

[Wednesday update] Today, my commute was more like Dad's comment yesterday than my post yesterday. That's good. I don't think I had to get below 70 the whole way. Yeah, baby. I just want to get to work. I like it that much. Well, it's more of a case of disliking stop-and-go traffic.

Tuesday Tidbits

I was checking out Pinterest and came across this sculpture in Las Colinas, TX. It is a fountain. Check out the way the water splashes. That is too cool.

Hey, NZ Nephew. I found a T-shirt that has your name on it. Well, not actually your name, but something is written on it that made me think of you.

I am watching The Walking Dead as I write this. Can you tell?


I think you need to have a geyser fix. Check out this shot of Old Faithful, back when it actually was faithful. It now ranges from 60-100 minutes between eruptions. It got worse after an earthquake in 1998. It looks like this is The Preacher and The Architect. OK, so a Preacher and an Architect walk into a bar. No, that can't be right.


[Tuesday update] Man, was your commute crazy busy today? Yes, mine, too. I wonder what was going on? At least we both got to work. Hmm, I say that like it's a good thing.

It's Called Semana Santa in Mexico

Since Easter is this coming Sunday, this is Semana Santa in Mexico. It includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Maundy refers to the washing of the feet. Gross, huh? That would be moan-day for me. Anyway, it is a special time for Catholics in MX.

The other day, I was talking to someone who had never heard of 3d sidewalk art. I put a link in an earlier blog post to see some examples, but it did not include a photo of how weird those things look when you see it from a wrong angle. Here is a site that shows you.

While it is nice that we can watch recorded programs from any room, it is not nice that we keep losing set recordings. The dumb system doesn't really tell us when it skips recording. We may have to call our provider sometime. Until then, I am well versed in snide remarks.



When we went to the place in the next photo, we posed on these rocks and then afterward, noticed that there were small snakes all around in them. In mu mind, it seems like when then started saying, "Dad, they're looking at us" about almost everything. I think this is the Rio Grande Gorge just outside of Taos.


We are watching Amazing Race as I type this. We liked the look of the Ford SUVs they are driving in Botswana and looked at Ford's website to see if that is how the new Explorers or Expeditions look. Nope. No model looks like what we are seeing. OK, maybe it is a model not available in the USA. Sure enough, it is a Ford Everest, which is not offered here in the USA.

I added the final tiles to the shower stall so we can install the shower doors. I grouted it today, so we should be ready to finish in a couple of days. Whoo hoo.

This is getting too long. I'll tell you about more stuff in my next entry. [Monday update] Except that now, I have forgotten what things I was going to publish tomorrow. Oh well, I'll probably come up with new stuff by then.

I Made It to First Base

Well, I actually sat behind third base at the Spring Training game. We went as a team for our monthly team event (last month was the go-karts, remember?). We had a good time and the seats were in the shade (which helped us enjoy it more). I bought a bottled water there and it cost $4. Nice markup, huh? Here is the view from our seats.



I did see a nice fielding of a ground ball and you can read the phrase I yelled out in today's CoV.



How about another question that no one cares about? What would happen if everyone on earth stood as close to each other as possible as they could and jumped, everyone landing on the ground at the same instant? You can find out here.

There was a time when Preacher Bro made his own pistol for black powder shooting. Can you believe it? Maybe it was this experience that planted the seed? I think this is in NM somewhere. He's the dude in the brown shirt.



We just watched a Shark Tank episode where these dudes pitched a sushi concept, and there is already a franchise of theirs in town. I may have to go check it out sometime.

[Friday update] I got nothing new. Have a great weekend.

Can You Read?

First, let's take a look at the ponchos we saw yesterday. Here the guys are at the town square in Santa Fe. I am guessing this is from 1970 or so.



Then, we can check out a conversation between a granddaughter and her father.



Have you ever wondered if you somehow managed to make a stereo travel at twice the speed of sound, would it sound backwards to someone who was just casually sitting somewhere as it flies by? Someone did, and here is what he found. He does real research into the question and includes findings on a sonic boom, a disintegrating stereo and how much backward music you would actually hear.

Check out these Russian dancers and the weird illusion their outfits cause. I like it.

I will be spending tomorrow afternoon with my team at a Spring Training game, sitting out in the nice warm sunshine. I will certainly be taking my cap and maybe an umbrella.

NZ, PF, and JR

OK, NZ Niece, it seems you are challenging me to find some photos of a place y'all have never been? Sure, you are in some foreign country now with tons of photos I cannot match while all I have is the grandeur of Amarillo, TX. Anyway, that is cool that you went to the Tower in San Antone. I have not been to the city itself in almost 8 years, and some 45 years since I saw the tower. Thanks for sharing.

OK, let's go to the Petrified Forest. Let's see your picture from there. Well? Anyway, this one is from around 1970, so another oldie but goodie. Nice of those two people in ponchos to come help us, huh? Oh wait. That's Architect Bro (AB) and me. I suspect you will see those ponchos again soon. [Wednesday update] No, I do not have that poncho anymore. I cannot say if AB has his or not.


Another thing you will see soon is another Clarity of Vision comic. For now, though, here is today's. Yes, we are going to a Spring training game on Thursday. No, I don't know which teams.


Did anyone watch Bates Motel yet? It is a modern re-imagining of Psycho. I am not sure of it yet.

I just got back from a Chorale concert. It went fairly well. I don't know when the next one is. I know it is not this weekend (because we sang last Sunday and today) and not next weekend (because it is Easter).

Sometime in the last few days (I don't remember when), we watched J.R.'s funeral on Dallas. Wow, even the credits made you nostalgic. It played the old theme music and had several scenes with J.R. walking away from the camera while putting his cowboy hat on. The episode was good, too. It had Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban on it.

[Wednesday update] Well, Spring officially arrived this morning. You can tell since we are dropping our temps all the way down to 86F. Of course, in the upper Midwest, they are waking up to -5F, so I guess I'll take mid-80s.

Following, Fairs and Funny Links

Are y'all watching The Following on Fox? It is one weird program. Now, all the stars on it are only one degree away from Kevin Bacon. We watched three episodes in two days, so we are creeped out (by the way, autocorrect tried to change this to crapped out. Sorry, Microsoft. That is not what I am trying to say)..

We are also caught up on The Walking Dead. Another creepy show. This one is about zombies, which seem to be a current fad. In fact, I also just read Zomblog on my Kindle about a person who kept a diary during his zombie-apocalypse.



Let's keep going with these old memories. Did you know there was a World's Far in San Antonio back in the 60s? Yup. It was called the HemisFair, and we went there during its run. Don't we look like we are having fun? Actually, it was fun, but you know how it is when parents keep taking photos.


Check out this link that I sent to my dentist. I think these would be hilarious.

It's Heating Up Already

It is already getting too hot here. Well, too hot for this early in the year. Luckily, it is backing off a bit now. It did not even reach 90 yesterday, even though it reached 95 earlier in the week.
[Monday update] I heard on the radio that there is a big winter storm warning for the middle and northeast portions of the country. It obviously bypassed the southwest region.

I am writing this while waiting to dress for tonight's East Valley Chorale concert. We leave in about 1-1/2 hrs, so that's plenty of time. We also have a concert on Tuesday night (instead of practice). I hope that my allergies allow me to sing. I can at least stand up there and smile.
[Monday update] I was able to sing and it was a really good concert. And we sounded really good in this auditorium. Dad had to bail out midway through due to a recent scorpido sting on his foot. He was fine once he got the weight off that foot.

We had a great time at Bella's birthday party Saturday. We ended up being the only party at a local farm and played a lot. You can check the photos on Facebook.

As I was deciding what links/photos/etc to put in this post, something made me think of our family's time in Guadalajara, MX. And that made me remember one of my favorite Mexican photographers, Ricardo Alarcon. Here is a shot he took in downtown GDL, a place we visited numerous times.


Speaking of family, a family friend recently misspoke and said TMJ instead of TMZ. You can imagine that I wanted to remember that for a CoV topic.


Look at this furniture. Doesn't it make you feel like the photo is messed up? Nope. He made it that way.

[Monday update] Listen, I've got a lot to do, so we can't just sit around talking like we normally do. Maybe we will have more time tomorrow. No promises, though.