hello
Topic: random
Hey, haven't blogged in a while. Thanks for reading!
Can't Sleep
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It's almost 1:30 and I'm still awake so I decided to blog. Haven't done it in about a year. I wonder if I'm still good at it. Not that anyone will read it.
10 Years of Website!
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You may or may not know, but I've had my website for 10 years now. That makes it the longest-running thing I've ever done. I used to have a weekly feature- the Five Worst List. So to celebrate the website's 10 year anniversary I'm offering...
The Five Best of the Five Worst:
Viagara Falls, from Five Worst Honeymoon Spots
Waking up in a cornfield in Iowa, from Five Worst Reasons I Don't Drink
Saturday the 14th, from Five Worst Movies Ever
Anything by Brittney Spears, from Five Worst Songs Ever
Grand Canyon National Park, Sponsored by Doug'd Excavating, from Five Worst Naming Rights
Here's to another 10 years!
Spring Might Be Around The Corner
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Yesterday we had highs in the 50s with sun! To celebrate I got my head shaved and we hit the beach at Dash Point. Alicia was brave enough to put her feet in the water and spent most of her time throwing sticks in the Sound. We also visited the little 2-story lighthouse at Browns Point. It's a 1933 classic, meaning it's nowhere near as pleasing to the eye as, say, an 1857 lighthouse. It's a short, white box with a light on top. But still, it was a good day. On another note, Happy Birthday to George Washington wo turns 277 today. I'm sure he's rolling over in his grave.
My Amazing Life
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In 30 years I've seen quite a few things. I've never seen a triple play or a leprechaun, but I've seen the sun rising over the Grand Canyon. I've seen endless prairies and mountains. I've stood in places previously occupied by Washington, Franklin, Lincoln, and other American heroes. I've seen eagles, bears, belugas, and dolphins all in THEIR territory. I've seen a seagull fly under me at a beach. I've been to the top of the Statue of Liberty and saw a view that our ancestors could only imagine as they steamed into New York. I've seen the room where America was born, and I've seen the killing fields at Gettysburg where tens of thousands of Americans died for what they believed in. I've stood where Spanish explorers came ashore on a mission of conquest and exploitation, and I've stood where we were told of one man's dream that exploitation would come to an end. I've seen the unexplainable in my home and in the sky, and I've seen mundane things we all take for granted. Thanks to everyone who showed me these things.
just a boring Saturday
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I'm blogging but I have nothing to blog about. It's raining and the few brave souls here at the camp are.... nowhere to be found. I'm the only one working, and I'm just sitting here in the office, waiting for folks to come in for a coffee or ho cho while I listen to my Civil War CD's and blog about how I'm blogging but I have nothing to blog about. It's raining and the few brave souls here at the camp are.... nowhere to be found. I'm the only one working, and I'm just sitting here in the office, waiting for folks to come in for a coffee or ho cho while I listen to my Civil War CD's and blog about how I'm blogging but I have nothing to blog about. It's raining and the few brave souls here at the camp are.... nowhere to be found. I'm the only one working, and I'm just sitting here in the office, waiting for folks to come in for a coffee or ho cho while I listen to my Civil War CD's and blog about how I'm blogging but I have nothing to blog about. It's raining and the few brave souls here at the camp are.... nowhere to be found. I'm the only one working, and I'm just sitting here in the office, waiting for folks to come in for a coffee or ho cho while I listen to my Civil War CD's and blog about how I'm blogging but I have nothing to blog about. It's raining and the few brave souls here at the camp are.... nowhere to be found. I'm the only one working, and I'm just sitting here in the office, waiting for folks to come in for a coffee or ho cho while I listen to my Civil War CD's and blog about how............
7 Years
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Today is 7 years since the last day we were free. On September 11, 2001 our freedom came under direct assault. They attacked us because they hate our freedom. They attacked us so they could push through the (un)PATRIOT Act. The traitors responsible MUST be brought to justice.
Silver Bonanza
Topic: random
Last week I had the opportunity to look at someone else's coin collection. I've been hearing about this collection (I'll call it the Martin Load) since getting married. No one knew what the coins were or even where they were stashed. Finally, they surfaced a few weeks ago. I was invited in to have a look.
I saw many things I've never seen before. There were 4 Confederate $10 and 2 $5's. There was a 10 cent note drawn on the Bank of South Carolina (1862), a silver 3 cent coin (1850's), and a nickel 3 cent coin- 1868 I think. There was a gold $50 Bahamas coin. My favorites were the 1878 Carson City mint Morgan dollar (rare-ish) and the sparkling roll of 1904 New Orleans mint Morgans.
There were tons of silver Franklin and Liberty Walking ("Walkers") half dollars. Quite a few Peace and Morgan dollars. There were even some silver Ikes. There was a silver Bicentenial set and 1950's and 60's mint and proof sets. There were a lot of silver quarters from the 60's and handfuls of silver Mercury and Roosevelt dimes from the 20's to 60's.
There was a box full of miscellaneous stuff, mostly pennies. There were some old Canadian coins and even some Japanese coins with the holes in the center. The newest coin I saw in the entire box was a Canadian penny, dated 1984. Most likely the last thing dropped in there before the Martin Load was stored away and forgotten.
When you look at an old coin, try to imagine who may have spent that money. It's possible Lincoln spent that 1850's 3 cent coin. That Carson City Morgan dollar may have been plunked down on the bar at some saloon in Tombstone. Maybe those Confederate $10's were meant for some private in Robert E. Lee's army.
Waterfalls
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Yesterday Shaun led us on a hike to a waterfall outside Eatonville, just past Boxcar Canyon. My first thought was it would be a cool place to take Alicia. Once I got there I could see that would be a bad idea. It's all downhill. First, a steep decent to the railroad tracks just to get to the trail to the falls. Then, another steep decent down that trail. Kayla, who turns 3 this month, seemed to enjoy the hike but Alicia would get stuck at the top. I didn't take my camera with me because I didn't know I'd be going anywhere cool so there are no pictures. Next time I go I'll make sure I get off some good shots. NOTE: Don't ever go to this place alone. If you fall and you're alone you're screwed.
Vacation Update 2
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The visitors are gone. Alicia returned to the place of her birth with my mom and sister on Friday. While they were here we did some stuff. On Tuesday last, we hiked the Comet Falls trail at Mount Rainier. We scavenged for sand dollars at Dash Point. No, we didn't find any real dollars, just sand ones. On Wednesday we started going to "Tacoma" but really went to Seattle. Once there we parked the car at a lot that closes at 6 and trekked to Pike Place Market, home of the fish throwers. After we watched them throw some fish and crabs we moved on. Someone bought some stuff but I don't remember who bought what. But I did see a fighter jet fly over the Sound when we got outside. Next we took a street hike to Seattle Center. My mom and sister went to the top f the Space Needle while Alicia and Heather rode the rides at the amusement park. I went on the ferris wheel with them but otherwise took pictures of my kid having fun. Then the monorail (yes, Seattle has a monorail dating back to a time when they were cool) to lunch downtown. A short walk back to the car (I didn't know if we'd be back by 6) and then a drive that took us around the same block too many times had us at Pioneer Square. My mom is from Philly and she's afraid of Seattle, a city that lets tons of Red Sox fans run around unmolested. Anyway, we took Alicia to Klondike Gold Rush National Park. Seattle was where most of the miners headed north loaded up on provisions. It was big business in 1898. Alicia got another Junior Range badge there, She now has 7, all in less than a year and a half. By 5 PM, itwas time to go home. In the middle of rush hour. So it took forever. But we made it and everyone survived the trip.
