Tim & Amy Photo Blog

Lost Glacier Photos- Found!

2007-09-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Glacier photos are found! Amy and I went up to Glacier in June...and I actually got around to downloading the photos.
Element shot in the woods....

Me...
Fuzzy picture of Amy
Gorge
Rocks.

Yellowstone

2007-09-28T13:02:00.001-07:00

drove up from L.A. to Montana a few weeks back now, and we stopped at many a place (Zion, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone). By the time we got to Yellowstone we were both tuckered out, and I was getting ill from eating a cinnamon bun that had probably stayed under a hot-light too long at a hotel breakfast buffet. But we still managed to have a good time tromping around. Here area few pictures of Yellowstone.

Castle Geyser always erupts when we show up... (n=2). Doesn't Amy look cute?

Here she is being cute again.

Castle Geyser - with orange pools in front.

Old faithful- always a fun one.

Elk- we heard the elk bugle, it is an eerie high pitch call- very spooky unreal sounding.

The buffalo were pretty much just sitting around munching...

Bubble Bubble
Amy - walking along the path with her purse...in case a buffalo charges...get it...
Yellowstone river.
The forest around Yellowstone

Extremeophiles living in the hot mineral rich water flowing out of geysers had great colors. Orange

Brown and little purple bean shaped guys.

This one reminded me of orange and vanilla ice cream cups. Remember those?

Very Large Camp Fires in Montana

2007-08-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

(Not Tim or Amy Pictured)
Every few days here in Helena, I get a campfire smell blowing through my window. It reminds me of the summer trips the McGee clan would make out to Yellowstone. So, it is with fond memories that I drift off to sleep- smoke and ash blowing through my apartment- and I realize I'm enjoying the burning landscape. I realize not everyone can be so romantic about the forest fires...but for the most part they are a part of the summer landscape here in the Rocky Mountains. The most local fire to Helena is the Meriwether fire- From our newspaper this morning.

"The lightning-caused Meriwether fire began July 21 and has burned nearly 43,000 acres in the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area and remains 75 percent contained."

Early forecasts said the fire would likely burn until September- part and parcel of mountain living.

Mushrooms

2007-08-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

Mushrooms are fun. Walking through the woods, the little buggers blend in- but with a big camera they take on a whole new life.

Trains to Great Places

2007-08-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

My little sister has a good grasp of "the funny" (see her blog here). My older sister has a good grasp of the absurdity of babies (see her blog here)...together I think we have some good old sibling blog rivalry showing up. Which reminds me- check out www.brotherhood2.com. I see Evan waiting to enter the fray of the vlog war.

Ok-back to me- I have been trying to get out hiking a few times a week. I figure along with my yoga, and walking to work- the exercise would be a good balance for my newfound snickerdoodle obsession. The bakery here in Helena, Park Ave Bakery, is probably the best thing in town...a very close second (maybe first) is the Black Foot Brewery. You can have delicious baked goods and beer at my place anytime.

Today's picture is from a hike I took a few months back- in Glacier National Park...This train travels from the Puget Sound where I grew up, to the National Park...where I was hiking. A few weeks before this I met a man who spent his youth on this very train, traveling through the rockies and cascades as a guide to train passengers.

Where in the world is Tim&Amy?

2007-07-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

We are all over the place- this is from San Jacinto- Amy is still in School, and I'm in Montana these days. We try and meet up as much as possible.

Robo

2006-09-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Robo passed away last night. He will be missed.

Alpaca Fever

2006-06-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

Haha- We caught Alpaca fever a while back. A very nice (will remain anon) Alpaca farm asked us if we wanted to volunteer. (they must have seen the big 'suckers' stickers we put on our foreheads). We readily agreed to running around a dirty barn wrangling Alpaca's- it was fun.

2006-06-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

Big Eye Alpaca

2006-06-09T18:20:00.001-07:00

Obilan

2006-06-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

Amy

2006-06-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

More flowers

Tulips for your Pond

2006-05-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

Yes it is spring, and I have been as busy as a bee. But, lucky for everyone who checks this (you know who you are...) not much has actually happened in the past month. As usual spring is a time of renewal, taking stock of the past winter, and doing a lot of work. I haven't had the time to stop and smell the roses, or in this case the tulips. Alana planted all of these tulips last year, and I wish I had a chance to go see them, but this picture from my dad will have to do for now. Summer is just around the corner, and that means it is finals for Amy- who is diligently studying as I type. I'm hoping to get her attention after next week, and maybe we can plan a trip up North to see the tulips- oh and family and friends too.

Giants of the Pacific

2006-04-09T15:24:00.000-07:00

It is hard to grasp the sheer size and scale of this picture, but imagine the tree trunks diameter is around 8 feet. Back in 2003, some friends and I went to the Ventana Wilderness along the Pacific Coast in California. The drive is amazing, our destination was directly inland from the one of the most spectacular coastline I have ever seen -Big Sur. (Kaui's Na'pali wins for most dramatic in a tropical setting).

At the trailhead, we decided to hike down into the valley, instead of hike up the valley trail- mostly because we are lazy. The hike in to the canyon was long and hot. I brought my trusty sherpa from previous ventures, and we managed to sweet talk a few of our friends into hiking with us on the condition that we carry most of the gear. As an aside here, I don't think I had walked more then 3 miles for two years at this point, so stumbling down steep paths with 50 pounds was brutal. I was excited to exhaustion when we reached a good spot to set up camp for the night. Basically the first flat ground where we could pitch a tent. But, sleeping under Redwoods is one of my favorite things to do.

My new tent (purchased 2002-REI half dome- highly recommended), has a moon roof. I'm not sure what you actually call it, but the vent on top is great. As I sat by a mountain creek, listening to silence, I sleepily gazed up through the tent, and saw redwoods towering above me like sentinels. Then, across the open sky between the branches I saw one of the brightest shooting stars of my life. As I closed my eyes I knew every aching muscle was worth it.

2006-04-09T15:23:00.001-07:00

Coast Route To Wilderness

2006-04-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

Ventana Wilderness

San Diego Full of Surprises

2006-03-27T21:08:00.000-08:00

A stick insect may not be what you expect when you pull into the mobile station- but when the opportunity presents itself, it sure is fun to have a camera handy. Obilan, Amy, and Myself found our way to San Diego this past weekend with the help of our new friend TomTom. On the way down, we stopped in Temecula for a few wine tastings. While Napa and Sonoma get all the credit, Southern California can be home to some fine wines. I find that Syrah's from Southern California tend to be very tasty, if a bit spicy (which I like).

We met up with the Rambler and Handsom Hubby (more on that tommorow), and had a fantastic dinner and drinks out in the Gas Lamp, Gas Light, Gas Lantern -whatever-district. So, in Honor of the Rambler- here are a few things I learned:

Lesson 1- Just because they let you throw toilet paper at other patrons doesn't mean they don't have bathroom attendents.

Lesson 2- You can dodge pushy bathroom attendents by washing your hands until the next guy is finished with his business, then slip out while the bathroom attended is busy with the other customer.

Lesson 3- Toilet paper, when thrown, travels much further when wet.

Lesson 4- You get in trouble for dipping your toilet paper in the ice bucket.

Lesson 5- When you order a 40oz. beer, it comes in an ice bucket.

Lesson 6- Only order 1 40oz beer- two is too many.

Lesson 7- Meeting up with old friends and throwing around toilet paper is a surprisingly good way of catching up.

Lesson 8- Don't try this at home.

And, below this post you may notice I took some more pictures- Enjoy!

2006-03-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

Orange

2006-03-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

Sunshine Flower

2006-03-27T21:02:00.001-08:00

No Clue

2006-03-27T21:02:00.000-08:00

Winery Flower

2006-03-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

Cool Kids

2006-03-27T21:00:00.001-08:00

Red Rose

2006-03-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

Pink Rose

2006-03-27T20:59:00.001-08:00

Spiky

2006-03-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

Prickly Pear

2006-03-27T20:58:00.000-08:00

Cacti Flower (Prickly Pear)

2006-03-27T20:57:00.001-08:00

Cacti

2006-03-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

Purple Flowers - by the Zoo

Antarctica is a nice change of pace

2006-03-23T21:48:00.000-08:00

I'm getting a little jaded of flowery pictures from Hawaii; posts strewn with glib-pointless grammatically incorrect text. Well, for a little more excitement check out what's happening on the other side of the world. Phil Jacobsen's blog is something to behold- telling the story of the dark days of April, as an 'overnighter' on the lost continent.
Or check out our friends Kim and Tom who just welcomed Brayden to their family! I'm hoping to catch up with the 'Rambler' and her Handsome Hubby this weekend. And Obilan is in town to find a job- All in all a rather fun time for us bloggers!

2006-03-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

yellow

EP's Quest

2006-03-18T16:32:00.000-08:00

Once again we find Evan on the edge of a cliff. Ever since childhood he has been the bane of trail guides, parents, or anyone who has any common sense that standing on the edge of cliffs is not a good idea. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the part of the brain that says.. "Whoa, if I fall..." His brain says "Cool...can I get closer?"

Prime Odd Flowers

2006-03-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

I thought this was interesting- the flower has 5 outer leaves, and 7 inner stamens. Of course this is just a happy curiosity, because I took the picture thinking "Dis heer flowar sur is purty" (apparently, while on vacation, my brain decides to think in country bumpkin)- nothing against country bumpkins, bless their hearts.

Smack Down Thursdays

2006-03-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

I've had a beach of a day today, so I'll just post some nice pictures I took last week when I was having a good day.

2006-03-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

Beach Walker

2006-03-16T16:07:00.000-08:00

Wake up early and find a beach of your own.

2006-03-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

Lone Tree

Water Wednesday

2006-03-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

I like the way water just sheds off leaves in the tropics, natures teflon.

2006-03-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

Water Lilly

Color Fast Gecko?

2006-03-14T21:04:00.000-08:00

When you stop and look, you notice amazing things. This Gecko (I think), turned from a bright green, to a dark brown, then back to a bright green, depending on where he was sitting. I noticed him scamper across the pavement when he was bright green, and sit on a tree that was brown. I kept eating my breakfast, looked up, and he was brown. I went a found my camera, and waited until he jumped onto a green leaf- and took the following sequence over a 1-2 min time period.

2006-03-14T21:03:00.001-08:00

Brownish-Green

2006-03-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

Greener

2006-03-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

Bright Green

2006-03-14T20:59:00.000-08:00

Gecko?

Kaholawe & Molikini from Wailea

2006-03-13T22:48:00.000-08:00

So, I guess if you spend a week in Maui you end up with a few good photos. I'm getting the hang of my new camera. 8 days in Maui is pretty much what you would expect- heavenly. It is so difficult to leave, I think I need a vacation after being ripped away from a place so beautiful- the photo's below are a few, I will keep posting for probably the rest of the month- but the initial onslaught is over- enjoy!

2006-03-13T22:46:00.000-08:00

Buddha - looking away from the ocean, the buddha watches over one of the best condos.

2006-03-13T22:45:00.000-08:00

Fat Birds- very cute suckers, they pop up around breakfast and see if you have anything worth hanging around for.

2006-03-13T22:44:00.001-08:00

Plumeria - The best part is they smell better then they look- wish I had a smell-o-blog

2006-03-13T22:44:00.000-08:00

Orchids

2006-03-13T22:43:00.000-08:00

Water Drops

2006-03-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

Maui Mushroom - the only room I can afford on Maui

2006-03-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Honey Bee Butt

2006-03-13T22:40:00.000-08:00

Flowers by the Pool - this photo was the toughest one for me to capture the whole trip- I made 3 trips out to the pool to get bright enough lighting, and the right position- I think I'm most proud of this photo- even if it is probably not the best one.

2006-03-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

Whale - wish I had a zoom lens when we saw the whales- the best part was listening to them under water.

2006-03-13T22:36:00.000-08:00

Bird1 - with a bug in the beak!

2006-03-13T22:35:00.001-08:00

Amy- enjoying the lobby at an expensive hotel (where we are not staying)

2006-03-13T22:35:00.000-08:00

Maui4

2006-03-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Piper- on the green, I just liked the logo quality of the moment.

2006-03-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

Everyone wonders- no this is not photo-hacked. The flower just looks like this- it is not even a cropped photo.

2006-03-13T22:27:00.000-08:00

Maui No Ka Oi

Focus!

2006-03-02T22:43:00.000-08:00

The ability to focus has not been something I could handle this week. Even my new Camera/lens combo (Cannon Rebel XT, Macro 100mm) couldn't focus...but Robo here was sleepy- maybe if I get him in a better mood.

Nice Folks

2006-02-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

This photo quality pretty much says it all (and it was the best one of the bunch!). I have to recommend Javiers, the Chimichanga was about a 1/2 pound of crispy goodness. The bar we went to had fantastic music, and was packed by 10 or 11. Can't remember the name- didn't pay too much attention to the details. I remember feeling bad for the guy who was hit by a brick (nobody I knew)- about 5 cop cars came out of nowhere, I think the fire truck even stopped by- In Laguna, a brick fight gets the whole police corps out in force. Where I live you could shoot mortar fire at someone and nobody would budge.

Cuteness Sells

2006-02-23T21:16:00.000-08:00

This is the cuteness I have to put up with all the time. This little fella is up for adoption, and I get an e-mail from Amy today- "isn't he cute?". How could anyone refuse? Usually when she says that about some critter- I cave instantly, and plead with Amy to adopt the little guy. I don't know how but we didn't end up with him... Don't worry, there will be a next time.

California Driving

2006-02-21T19:17:00.000-08:00

OK- I like the composition of this photo: it makes me sick in a dizzy way, and gives the effect that I'm driving while I take this photo (I am).

This is getting better- I have figured out how to drive with my knee- keep the camera straight, and talk to Amy on the Cell phone all at the same time.

Ok this is worse- not sure what happened here- I think the window started to close or something, or a good song on the radio came on....I should video tape this next time.

Ok so the best way to take a photo in the car is to use the windshield to block the wind so you can hold the camera steady, taking the picture in front of you as you drive instead of hanging your camera out the window.

Cascade of Wild Animals

2006-02-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

Fluffy here - a Cascade Wolverine, was recently captured, tagged and measured in the Mountains just outside where I grew up (ok , within a 4-5 hour drive). I had no idea there were wolverines in the Cascades. For some reason, it makes the Cascades better then they were yesterday. Combine this nifty find, with the search for Malaysian 'Snaggle Tooth Ghost' in and I think Sasquatch is still out there somewhere, watching us, waiting for us to leave the picnic table, and steal our socks with holes in the toes.

A Brilltastic Idea?

2006-02-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

There is a company out there called Aeros Corp that is leading the charge in the next wave in Blimp technology. I have met people who are fascinated by blimps. I think blimps are mildly entertaining, kinda like penguins - it's cute to see them try and move around. But, Areos is creating a luxury liner for the skies, that can go from San Francisco to Boston in 18 hours, or it can be converted into an adventure travelers dream boat- where you can go where no road or boat can take you. With no runway or road needed, the next generation of blimps may be the perfect thing for our crowded cities. This gave me an idea- a brilliant and fantastic idea!

The above picture is my proto-type model for the PBD (Personal Blimp Device) I whipped up again from TimAmy Designs. About the size of a large SUV the PBD is a vertical take off and landing device. Using fly by wire, electric motors, GPS, Autopilot, Radar, Video Camera, and solar/hydrogen power- this is the commuting vehicle of the future. Simply hop in- use the google interface (google Earth) to show where you want to go- and sit back and enjoy the ride.

My initial estimates based on no research again, show that this device could be mass produced for around $60,000 a pop, and have a top speed of 130 mph. On a windy day you could probably get this baby up to 180!

As always- we are accepting donations for development of this project: Email us. We hope to have a working prototype up and running by 2008. Happy Travels!

**Update*** Apparently the challenge here is to create a light enough structure, that you can reduce the engine size, and also provide enough lift (with forward propulsion)- this works in scale- which is why large blimps make sense but small ones have a tough go of it. But don't worry- again based on no research- I think a carbon nanotube/crosslinked structure should provide the light/weight and ridgidity I'm looking for. Heck- expect a production model by 2009.

Care of Magical Creatures

2006-02-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

Ok- so check out the site- Care of Magical Creatures -really I'm just happy that I figured out how to make this kind of a map.

Tulips

2006-02-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

I love spring in the Northwest; the long rains of winter give way to the short rains of spring. And at this time of year, the wisdom of the locals can be heard several times a day-
"Did ya know that colors are actually more vibrant under a cloudy sky?"

Well, it must be true because in the spring I always loved visiting the Tulip fields in Skagit Valley- not to see the tulips, but because I thought it was funny people would drive 1 hour into the country to stand in the rain and take photographs like the one above. Just kidding, I take those photographs every chance I get.

This year, my parents sent us some Tulips for valentines day-I love it! It reminds me of when I lived in a place that didn't have bleached out colors, 90 degree February weather, and brown skies. I guess the grass is always greener under a cloudy sky!

Approach to Field

2006-02-13T21:09:00.000-08:00

Every Tuesday and Thursday I play Ultimate Frisbee with co-workers. One of the best things about California is you can actually plan things like this and have it be a standing arrangement -because the weather will always be pretty good. I took this photo last week, and just missed taking a picture of a ground squirrel and a bunny that were in the field. I'll be quicker next time.

The Older I Get

2006-02-08T21:54:00.000-08:00

The older I get the more lotions, pills, and health foods find their way into my daily life. Getting old sucks- I'll have to look into fixing that. (Noxzema and Aveeno are not sponsors of this blog- but if they want to throw some cash my way....)

Day II- So-Cal on Fire

2006-02-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

I braved walking to the edge of the parking lot where I work to catch this gripping image of Anaheim Hills on fire. I made it out ok.

So-Cal on Fire

2006-02-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

Southern California has four distinct seasons; Fire Season, Smoggy Season, Rainy Day, Dry Season.

You can see the progression. It rains one day in June, the plants grow. The plants dye in the dry season (June- May), then it all catches on fire, and everything becomes smoggy until one day it rains in June. The circle of life.

I've got to start taking my camera places. I walked outside of my cube to catch a few rays at lunchtime and found that it was snowing- ash. Literally, it looked like I was walking through snow. Apparently, Anaheim is on fire (the hills around Anaheim to be specific). Nobody much seemed to care - even my co-workers who live there– I'm told it happens all the time.

Bribers

2006-02-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

Referendum Against Dirty Referees

RADR's mission is to stop events similar to those that took place this Sunday: 2/06. I'm not saying the referees were making bad calls, I'm saying they were payed off. Not only was every questionable call in the Steelers favor, they blatantly missed calls throughout the game against the Steelers.

There have been rumors that someone saw an exchange of envelopes after the game. I'm wathcing, and I will find out where the money came from... Steelers should change their name to Bribers. (Yeah I photo-hacked it)

Bath time for Cosmo

2006-02-03T06:19:00.000-08:00

Every week we give Cosmo and Hailey baths- they squeak a little about it, but in general Cosmo puts up with it pretty well. Hailey will flip out on occasion, and start squealing bloody murder.

You can see why Cosmo hates bath time, he looks like a wet rat. He usually looks much more fluffy. It is a slow week for news and events.

Blog Issues

2006-02-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

This is where I wish I was now- from our trip to the BVI, I think this is somewhere around the 'baths'.

I had a very cool flickr slideshow thing going- but turns out I can't figure out how to expand my comments section to more then the 460 pixles it is right now and still have it look decent. Not your problem I know...but still. Maybe a re-design...

Stargate for Rocks

2006-01-30T21:54:00.000-08:00

On Monday nights there is 5 hours of Stargate re-runs on Sci-Fi. It is on in the background right now as TiVo thinks we will watch every Stargate SG1 episode ever made (already have...). The reason for this sad little fact is that when I looked at this picture - it looks like these rocks (hills) are in the process of running for the Stargate. I've named the one on the far right ONeil.

This is actually a decent picture I took when we were moving out to California from Maryland.

Stunning Updates

2006-01-28T23:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't explore every link on TimAmy, the Astronomy Picture of the day is usually worth a glance. This is a picture of Hekla (a volcano) and the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland. Good Stuff.

In other news, if you have an aggregator (Fireant is popular I hear) or the very easy to use google reader - you can automatically aggregate TimAmy photoblog! This means you don't have to go visit all of you favorite sites every day, they can come to you. Take a look at the right side of this blog, and under 'Bloggy Tricks' you will find the two most popular 'feed' types. Basically, just feed these feeds into the aggregator of choice (fireant or google reader) and they should bring you my blog, with your morning slippers, coffee, and other news worthy items. Enjoy!

'Tis The Season of Citrus

2006-01-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

Right around my Dad's birthday every year, I receive a gift in the mail. It is a box of Citrus. Specifically, Honeybell Tangelo's. The sweet juicy oranges are always a welcome gift to the new year. This years batch was quite good; very sweet, and nicely flavored. Walking through my kitchen I noticed that not only did I have a plethora of oranges, but quite a few lemons and limes (I was a little overzealous in purchasing citrus for the Tiki Bar drinks this past weekend). One of the great things about California is all of the citrus you find everywhere- even in my house!

www.TimAmy.com

2006-01-25T07:22:00.000-08:00

My little spoof of google a few years back. The website was only up for around 3 months, but I also hacked all of googles tasty 'olympic' pictures and turned them into TimAmy graphics. I'll have to find those and post 'em. Stay tooned.

**update**
The other pictures are on my other computer- I'm too lazy to actually get a flash drive out of my pocket, and transfer the files- it's not on my network, so maybe by tomorrow I'll have them up.

Giant Petrified Cats of China Town

2006-01-24T20:05:00.000-08:00

So, I was up in Reno a few weeks back- gambling away my buckets of cash. I must have been up a million if I was up a buck. I kept ordering Mai Tai's from the waitress, and betting it all on black. Later on I learned Amy found my trying to bet 'black' at the 'black jack' table. Outraged that I couldn't bet 'black' at a game that had the word 'black' in the title, I threw my chips at the dealer, and found myself out on the curb. Lucky for me, none of that story is true. Instead I was hanging out at the Starbucks cafe in Reno waiting for Amy's conference to get out. Afterwards we sailed on down to the Foggy City by the Cold Cold Sea (San Francisco) where it was unseasonably hot (summertime). It was there that I found a group of vet students examining the worlds largest petrified kittens.

Apparently, this Chinese breed of cat has lived in the area of China Town since it's founding in the 1800's. Over time the locals bred their cats to be ever larger. Some say this was done as a crazy scheme to make cats a viable source of food. Others have speculated these cats were used to guard treasure from thieves. Whatever the reason, the cats became so large they couldn't move. Over time the combination of wind blown beach sand, cold cold fog, acid rain, and the cloud of marijuana hanging over the place turned the cats to stone. Now, veterinary students from around the world come to study the giant petrified cats of China Town.

Where in the World?

2006-01-23T19:55:00.000-08:00

I have been daydreaming a lot recently, mostly about vacation. I took this picture last year, and hope to take more this year. Who knows where this is- exactly. And for extra points what is in the picture.

A good Sherpa is hard to find

2006-01-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

This photo is from a recent expedition into the Mountains behind Santa Barbara. I imported the best Sherpa I could find (Ian from Eastern Washington) to carry my equipment. We braved torrential downpours, and discovered that hiking in a ravine isn't the best idea during a Southern California rainstorm.

Ian: "My sherpa sense tells me we should walk in the stream up the mountainside"
Me: "ummm...go for it sherpa, I'm going to stick with walking on the trail."
Ian: "I do this in the backcountry all the time, it is the best way to the top."
Me: "It looks wet."

Right then a rock the size of a Volvo crashed through the underbrush down the hillside into the stream about 50 feet in front of us-where the sherpa would be standing, had he not had to lug me up the hill. The loud crack of rock on rock echoed down the canyon, hushing all wildlife to silence.

Ian: "My sherpa sense tells me not to walk in the stream...."

I quickly realized I hadn't paid enough for my sherpa (promise of a ham sandwich), so we took a quick photo, and escaped from the crumbling canyon. I guess you get what you pay for.

Rare Sighting

2006-01-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

It was tricky - but I was able to capture an image 'LA Snowflake' outside of Jamba Juice in Pasadena. Rumor has it the LA snowflake has been shooting a new WB picture, since it was let go late last week from Disneyland's Main Street holiday effects show. While in Pasadena, I ran into noted Caltech Professor 'Krazy Flake Kenny'. Kenny has been hunting the elusive snowflake for years, and has quite a collection of rare photos I was dyeing to get my hands on. He gave me a few pointers of how to capture the elusive LA snowflake; so I should be able to keep you up to date on any future snowflake news items.

Cute Overlord: Part Deux

2006-01-18T21:30:00.000-08:00

This is one of Amy's favorites from the website. I laugh when I see it because I know exactly what each one is thinking:

Dog: "WTF mate?"
Rabbit: "uhhhh...huh?"
Cat: "Vell...wat hav vee heeer?" (all cats have a German accent)
Hamster: "Holy Shit, I'm Screwed." (all hamsters have potty mouths)

Cute Overlord Says: go to cuteoverload.com

2006-01-18T20:28:00.000-08:00

Cute Overlord - bring thy wisdom. I know, I know...you've seen the website on every blog. But I had to join in with today's post- basically because this is my pet 'Robo'. Well, not really, but it's the same species of hamster, and to be honest- they all look the same. I just don't have a picture as overwhelmingly cute as this. And for all of you sharp spellers out there- yes the website is actually www.cuteoverload.com, and has nothing to do with an overlord, I just thought the idea of a very cute all seeing all knowing overlord who looked like this fluffy guy was funny.

Tiki Madness

2006-01-17T20:56:00.000-08:00

From the 'Just In Case You Missed It' files (or JICYMI), I love Tiki. The link to my new favorite podcast is over to the right, but if you can't find that, you can click here. While Tiki Bar TV amuses me on a monthly basis - It's just not enough Tiki. So, I started to look for all things tiki, and while I will not simply list them- but slowly post them over the rest of this year, I have found some fascinating stuff on Curacao.

1. It's a country - not just a drink!
2. All Curacao does not taste the same
3. All Curacao tastes pretty much like a less sweet version triple sec (some bitterness)
4. Curacao is actually Clear -the blue, green, orange, etc... are food dye.
5. For a Mai Tai you are suppose to use Orange Curacao, but nobody would notice Blue Curacao after a few. (or triple sec with some bitters)
6. There is only one true Curacao - from the island itself!

Tiki God says Curacao Good!

GO HAWKS

2006-01-15T12:27:00.000-08:00

Ok, So I'm more of a fairweather fan - but I think I have put in enough time rooting for the hawks over the past 27 years, without much in return, to just toon in when they are going to win the Super Bowl. Hey I remember the BOZ...you remember the BOZ? I still think of Steve Largent as the best receiver ever! -GO HAWKS!

Death, Taxes, and Traffic in the (not so) Frozen North

2006-01-12T18:38:00.000-08:00

On a recent business trip to Palmer Alaska I came face to face with Chinook Winds, Freezing Rain, and Icicles the size of a Buick. Without a doubt the further from 'civilization' I get the more I like the people I find. The alarmed town folk couldn't stop discussing the 'tropical' weather, and were convinced global warming was the culprit. Without exception everyone I met told me the past decade has seen less snow and warmer weather. I told them not to worry - I had spent the last two years in the deserts of Los Angeles, and while it does get quite hot, there is always another air conditioned mall to slip into. I'm still not sure why everybody found this funny.

One of the best things about business traveling is the places you get to go- places you would otherwise never go, or find. In preparation for my outings I use google maps to chart my destination. But, while in Alaska I noticed they take perverse pleasure in torturing travelers. All of the street signs were sprayed with snow (couldn't see any signs), and once you are out of a 'cosmopolitan' area there simply are no signs. Upon calling my clients for directions I ran into another interesting local phenomenon - how people name their roads.

-Phone Call-

after normal phone pleasantries....

me: "I'm on the 1 heading east, then I think I should get on the 3, is that right"

Client: "The one, what's that?"

me: "uh... the highway"

Client: "Glenn Highway?"

me: "I guess- there is only one highway in Alaska right?"

Client: "well.. there are 3- and you want to take the Glenn Highway, or you can take the old Glenn Highway -they go to the same place. Just don't go to Fairbanks."

me: "OK, how do I know if I'm on the Glenn highway?"

Client:"are you heading towards Fairbanks?"

me: "not sure, I don't know what road I'm on- I was trying to get on the 1"

Client: "Not sure I've ever heard of the 1, maybe it is a new road."

me:" OK, I'm sure I'll find it."

Client: "OK, good luck - if you go to Fairbanks, you've gone too far."

me: "OK thanks.."

Amazed that my cell phone was still working, I ended up calling home and getting Amy to read off the side streets in hopes that I would see one I recognized- it worked, and I figured out I was indeed on the Glenn Highway, not yet heading towards Fairbanks. Whew.

All of this however, led to a new idea: I propose a method for judging the 'Culture Scale' of an area based on the number (lower is better) and the creativity of nomenclature for their highways.

My examples:

-Plentiful Freeways- (culture scale =0)

Los Angeles: The 210, The 101, The 57 etc,405, I5.....all numbers. And there are so many to get someplace you almost always have to take 3 freeways- even if it is only 3 miles- The exception to this rule is if you are talking about an intersection of 2 or more major freeways like the one in orange county where the 5, the 57, the 55, and the others meet up is called the "Orange Crush" -clever, but not part of the system- thus with plentiful freeways (never a good thing) and no creativity- they get a score of 0.

-Handfuls of Freeways- (culture scale =60)

Seattle has: I5, I90, 405 "the S-curves", "ship canal bridge", "the cut"... areas of the freeway have names, usually related to the shape of the land or local culture- adds a touch of class to the commute. There are freeways, but you can also find 'back-roads' without crossing over a million freeway on-ramps. Thus, in Seattle they have creatively named sections of their sparse freeways. - they get a score of 60.

-Three freeways- (culture scale =90)

Alaska has the Glenn Highway, the Old Glenn Highway, and the Parks Highway. Also, a local told me that there is a 5 mile stretch of road named 'moose kill' highway- they keep a running count from June to June of each year of how many moose get hit by cars. 2004-2005 was a good year with only around 300 hit by cars. (that's a lot of moose). To sum it up, Alaska has only a few freeways to get to major sections of the state, and they apparently have colorful names like 'moose kill'. -they get a score of 90.

I have to mention a few East Coast things here while I'm at it... I loved the street names in Maryland- "Lost Knife", "Muddy Branch", -they evoke such great images, tell a little story.

But this is for 'Freeways' how come everything on the east coast is a Toll road? I mean really. How long do they expect people to keep paying for a road that I'm sure has already paid for itself 50 times over. Not to mention Toll booths are an instant traffic jam. Which brings me back to Alaska-

I was mildly upset when I ran into a traffic jam outside of Anchorage- seems there are three things you can't avoid - Death, Taxes and Traffic.

Hamster Track 4000

2006-01-11T21:35:00.000-08:00

Tonight I give you - The HamTrack 4000 -

Created by TimAmy designs, this 3D mock-up of the HamTrack 4000 is based on no actual research. However, after years of watching dwarf hamsters race away on their 'wheels' we noticed that most of them enjoyed using their forelimbs for their 'forward' propulsion. We also noticed that several of our hamsters actually enjoy trying to run 'on top' of a wheel. This design mimics the top of a wheel, but decreases the long drop to the floor. The design enables a hamster to better 'climb the ladder' - where they place their butt on the ground and spin the 'wheel' with the forelimbs.

The HamTrack4000 was first designed last year- but sadly is not yet available for purchase - and a working prototype is awaiting funding (if anyone is interested in funding the hamtrack feel free to leave a note to tips [at] timamy [dot] com)

p.s. Sorry about last night everyone - Cosmo kept bugging me that he wanted to type- even though he doesn't know how to spell Hay correctly, and his paws kept messing up the type setting. After all the commotion I had to promised Hailey and Robo spots next week- oh well.

Correspondent Cosmo

2006-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Tim asked me to take a few moments out of my busy schedule and write tonight's entry. He mumbled something about a full hour of scrubs, but then some fresh hey caught my eye and I just agreed. Soooo, here it goes.

I had a great time meeting Amy's family last week, even though I tend to be shy at first, I warmed up to them. It was nice to have people around all the time- they feed me treats when I put my paws up on the cage and give a little squeek. I'm not as loud as my girlfriend Hailey and no we don't have any babies, and frankly I don't want to discuss- but I think my fluffy good looks go a long way with the ladies in getting some between meal hand outs.

On another note- what is with the weekly baths! I mean come on - what is that for anyway! My coat is suppose to be water resistant, the water should just bead up and roll off- but the clever jerks use some sort of soap. I'm not a fan of the towel process either, and I'm putting in for food compensation for time lost, and emotional distress. All in all though, it has been a fun week. I found a new hobby; Pigloo tipping. I just put my nose under the Pigloo and it flips right over- Hailey thinks it is best thing since I was neutered. Alas, it looks like my time is up, I hear Tim getting out of the lazy chair. Maybe I'll get a treat!

Sea World -a whale of good time

2006-01-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

We had a great time at Sea World, and my favorite part is always the whales. But this time, I think I left with a few more questions then answers.

1) Have you ever noticed that they call all the whales Shamu?
2) At the beginning of the show they point out that some dorsal fins are bent, and ask the audience what they think - some cute kid thought this ones dorsal fin was bent because the tip was too heavy. But they never answer the question- so why is it bent, huh?
3) The whales can jump out of the water, and splash people -do they ever jump between their pools (they have multiple pools- check out the one behind this guy jumping)?
4) Why don't they have the whales jump through that giant wreath?
5) Why are all the trainers named becky, becki, or some other derivation?
6) During the performance we saw, one of the whales seemed grumpy - do they have bad days, and if so, shouldn't the trainers be scared? (sorry beckie to give you nightmares)
7) Do the whales get vacations?
8) How strong is their union?

Well, that's about it. We really did enjoy the show. The whales have their own website - check it out, and they also have a newsletter (PDF) - but I wish it was written from the standpoint of the whales.

Sci-Fi Friday

2006-01-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

In the grand scheme of things, I think the fact that both Amy and I love this show is proof that our love was destined. For those of you not familiar with the best show on TV... all I can say is - what the frack are you thinking? I love Sci-Fi Season.

Toon Town Strikes Back

2006-01-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

Amy's brother found out the hard way that you do not want to piss off Mickey Mouse. Apparently Mickey contracts the goons from toon town to do his 'dirty' business.

In-Vince- Able

2006-01-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

Vince Young was amazing tonight. I was rooting for USC to the bitter end, because well... I live in Trojan Country -but I take my hat off to the long-horns. It was the best football game I can remember, and the So Cal boys did a good job. There was nothing they could do against this guy. In recognition of his great achievements tonight, he will be the first in my hopefully long and successful list of Haiku Wednesday offerings:

Vince gazes downfield
Agile motions emanate
Trojans standing still

Snack Attack @ Disney

2006-01-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

Now, I don't know when Dill Pickles became the rage snack food at Disney. What ever happened to the delicious Elephant Ear- all that butter and cinnamon -mmmmmm butter. But, the Dill Pickle was refreshing, and paired well with the granola, fruit cups, and pineapple wedge I forced down for a total of around $100. Also, please ignore the booty in the picture on the right- I tried to tell her I was taking a picture of the pickle, but she thought I was making a joke... oh well - I guess there are worse things then being chased off by an irate women holding a frozen pickle.

LaLa Land Star -Trek

2006-01-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

Good old Bill Shatner was the highlight of my walk on the walk of fame (Boston Legal is pure genius). On the first full day in LA LA land we visited Mann's Chinese Theater (not Chinese Man's Theater). In front of the theater is where you will find all the famous footprints and handprints -often thanking Sid Grauman himself. There are many more pictures of our trip to LA, and I will see what I can do to set up a photo album on-line somewhere for those of you interested in seeing what didn't make the blog cut. (my Paul Anka 'star' photo is better - but really I just took the picture because of Gilmore Girls.)

New Year 2006- blog away -one a day

2006-01-01T20:13:00.000-08:00

Hello 2006 - Yes you heard right - a blog entry every day. (New Years resolutions and all that.) This week I will be posting pictures from Amy's family trip out to L.A.! We certainly enjoyed having them out here, and can't wait for the next trip. This picture is Amy's Mom considering a dip in the Pacific.

On another note - I learned a new trick for planning a 'city tour'. The nifty combo of google maps, and wcities can get you where you want to be. You can even download the tour to the new iPod and take it with you on your adventures.

2005-09-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Robo!

2005-09-10T18:12:00.001-07:00

Cosmo

2005-09-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hailey