Yet Another RSS

Thoughts from Seat 7C

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-25T13:44:04-07:00

I just finished my "snack pack" that included 6 pretzels, 5 mini, spicy cheese covered "toasts," and 4 surprise-seasoned, crunchy worms and I'm regretting my decision to read some blogs instead of grab lunch before boarding the plane.... I appreciate that my Mom, like all good moms, attempted to install that good sense in my little brain, but I'm afraid her efforts have not been 100% successful. ...I'm sitting 2 rows back from the iron curtain that separates the uppity ups from us regular folk and I watched with a little smirk on my face as the flight attendant snapped it shut. The only problem with this particular iron curtain is that it is not iron at all It is, in fact, made from fish net...... The problem with seeing through it is that I just watched the butler flight attendant serve what looked like Thai chicken satay on a bed of safron infused wild rice with steamed asparagus and fresh picked Washington berries. ...Meanwhile my neighbor is engaging in some sort of airborne yoga and drinking tomato juice (I cannot stand tomato juice) and I just popped in another piece of gum and tried to pretend it's a delicious Washington berry.

Thoughts from the terminal

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-25T10:25:09-07:00

So, why did I drive an hour into the heart of LA to fly out of the worst airport known to man? ...This time it made sense for me to fly out of LAX and I'm flying for a very good reason. J just happened to be attending an orchestration seminar near the airport and there just happened to be a perfectly timed flight for which I could use my miles. ...I don't see my Grandma nearly as often as I'd like so I am very excited to be going to her birthday party. I plan to get lots of pictures and write a post about my wonderful Grandma after tomorrow night. ...Well, this time I moved because I was sitting on my suitcase at one of the "power poles" (I don't think that's what they're called, but they are poles with several outlets on them for charging computers, cell phones, ipods, etc.) continuing to write this post while charging my lappy, when I felt someone staring.

The Pumpkin Artist 2

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-23T19:41:58-07:00

Some of you may remember last year's pumpkin creation post. You may also remember The Pumpkin Artist's 2007 pumpkin creation: "Matt's Molar" And now.... (drumroll please) ...I present the 2008 Pumpkin Creation from The Pumpkin Artist: ...The Artist, himself.

Well Watered

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-23T00:43:25-07:00

I had just posted my Wednesday post and started getting ready to go to bed when I walked into the kitchen and caught a glimpse of the front yard.... The sprinklers that I had turned on at about 10 o'clock were still on at about 12:40 o'clock. For you musicians out there, that's 2 hours 40 minutes....about 2 hours too long. We'll see if this slight over-watering seals my lawn's fate or helps insulate it from those dang'd Santa Anas that blew the ...This is not the first time I have left the sprinklers on for a silly amount of time. In fact, the shock of an unbelievably large water bill nearly knocked the memory of the time I left the sprinklers on ALL night right out of my head. ...You'd think I would have learned my lesson....

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-22T22:50:24-07:00

Paul has found a real wacky web gem (when I try to say that too quickly it comes out as weal wacky web gem or real racky reb gem) in a fantastic blog called Cake Wrecks. Jen, the blogger, has a gift. She is talented and hilarious. There is no possible way for me to improve on her posts, so I'm just going to link to several of them and let you read for yourself. You won't regret it. The Painted Cake Cometh Any Occasion Will Do Mixed Signals Marcus and the New Job Like THIS, Not Like THAT

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-15T17:00:24-07:00

Yes, he stands with great artists of our time like Wing, Michelle Higgs, Steve "The Whistler" Herbst, and THIS lady. ...Mr. Papp (whose name makes me uncomfortable, by the way) has provided Demos that capture his abilities. I highly recommend that you listen to them, especially "Let It Be." If the demos aren't enough to satisfy your inevitable appetite for Mr. Papp's original cover music, then I suggest you take the multi-sensory experience that is the... (translated - "Drunken green screen video that stops in the middle and I'm calling it a video but it's not, it's just a link") Thank you Holger for adding your brand of talent to the world wide wacky web.

God's Prescription for Worship

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-14T11:15:06-07:00

John's sermon in Crossroads on 10.12.08

Malachi is gonna kick my spiritual rear...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-11T21:17:41-07:00

Our fellowship group pastor, Rick Holland, is out of town this weekend, so he asked J to fill the pulpit.... He just did a practice run for me and I'm already convicted. He's chosen Malachi 1 as his text and his title is: ...If you think of it, will you pray for him? - that God would use him to clearly communicate His Word, that he would be humble, that he would be transparent, and that hearts will be moved to repent of apathetic worship. By the end of the week, you should be able to download the audio HERE.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-10T22:22:36-07:00

He can be very mischievous, destructive, embarrassing and clever but he's also a really great family dog. ...We brought Fritz home when he was just 10 weeks old, not long after our first anniversary and just a few weeks after we moved into our house with a yard.... It seemed pretty unlikely at first because Boxer puppies were so popular (which in puppy world = expensive). Then J's mom came through with a breeder in Riverside who had 1 pure bred, non-AKC registered puppy left. We drove out to meet him and knew right away that he was our puppy. ......he's 80% calm, but is pretty excitable, he knows the phrase "that's enough" and usually responds to it at home...

Engrish

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-09T21:41:14-07:00

We met our Bible Study at The Burrito Factory in Santa Clarita last night. ...It's not nearly as appetizing as the Spaghetti or Cheesecake Factory.... I know it's a little hard to read, so I'll type it for you: ...6 ft-3 ft burritos OR 2.... After reading the sign, I immediately understood why it was placed over the bathrooms. Anyone who consumes more than a foot of burrito is gonna need a bathroom in the very near future.

I saw this truck the other day....

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-09T18:03:51-07:00

...and I thought, "Well, sometimes that extra line at the bottom of the letter 'I' is just way too much....especially if it's icy."

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-08T09:37:26-07:00

Some churches try to draw people in by putting clever, fortune cookie sayings (or One-liners for Evangelism) on their marquees. Do you know anyone who would say that they visited a church because the sign said: ...It's time for a faith lift"(1) or "When God saw you - it was love at first sight"(1) I'm all for evangelism at every opportunity, but this is just a little ridiculous and I would venture to guess, ineffective. Doesn't it seem that the title and text of the sermon are more likely to peak a passer-by's interest in a church than a cheesy saying on a "street pulpit" like ...I have to agree with the sender that the Catholic church seems to have a much better sense of humor about it....

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-01T17:50:48-07:00

Ok. Just found this video that my friend Rachel posted to Facebook. HAHAHA!!!

www.Wednesday.sigh...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-01T17:30:41-07:00

Ok all you faithful readers, I need some ideas for my www.Wednesday.what? theme. Have you seen anything online that makes you go, "WHAT?" If so, send me a link, and if I use it I'll credit you for the find. I'll take as many as you got.

So sad...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-10-01T17:09:25-07:00

You all already know that I'm not good at spelling under pressure. Well, I have a very sad example for you. A couple weekends ago at Bible Study Retreat, I thought it would be cool to write our study's website address (firesidestudy.com) in the sand and take a picture of it.... .....so sad.

Hollywoof

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-27T22:11:02-07:00

Fritz and Tilly looked and looked, but alas, they didn't find Lassie or the Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

Never put 2 cans of Coke Zero in....

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-26T21:02:35-07:00

...the freezer and then forget about them.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-26T18:51:02-07:00

Bible Study retreat, so she gets to come hang with us. Fritz is LOVING having another dog in the house, although he does look a little offended when she barks at him... ...wouldn't you bark if this was your view? They've gotten their awkward sniffing out of the way and are becoming fast friends. They even eat from each other's bowls. I wouldn't be surprised if they got all cuddly by tomorrow night. Tilly is going to be a fun pup to have around for a few days.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-25T09:14:26-07:00

Did he REALLY think that looked good or did he think it would get him more publicity? ...*BORK* It looks like he laid down in a cow field and took a souvenir with him. ...I CANNOT understand why someone of his stature has such a bad do. Granted, this picture shows it on a particularly bad day....but it doesn't really get much better than that. ...Bad hair was apparently a problem in my family (that's me on the far right). ...This poor guy needs a friend to tell him about the bad hair on his head and above his lip.

Falling over for Mom

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-22T09:24:10-07:00

Autumn is officially here and so is my Autumn theme! More importantly, today is my Mom's birthday! I respect and admire my mom for so many reasons. She is a godly, kind, generous, thoughtful, and deep woman of integrity. Happy Birthday, Mom, I love you!

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-18T11:10:45-07:00

Before the wedding party gets here, line up behind those tables so I can take your picture..." ...First of all, there is nothing about this album cover that makes me think mariachi, except that the word mariachi is on it. ...All I know is Mariachi dude is about to get whipped in the face by vaquero dude. ...Jose first took a picture of that globe, then the next shot in the roll was of Walt Disney with his guitar, harp, and other guitar neck. ...Looks like he's trying to keep his hat strap on with his lower lip. ...This is what the band looks like after a little too much mariachi partying...

Happy Birthday Kellie!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-12T23:44:00-07:00

Tonight was my friend, Kellie's birthday party. It was so fun! Thanks for throwing a great party, Diedra! (I didn't get very many good pictures of the guests, but I'm hoping my friend Michelle will post some of hers.)

I Can't Look Away

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-11T19:59:02-07:00

I was going to write something witty and sarcastic about these videos, but they really speak for themselves. My only advice is to hang in there until the "breakdown dance" in the middle.....you'll know it when you see it. Amazing - in so many ways.

Yet Another Poll

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-11T12:54:43-07:00

What do you think - is it time to give yetanotherblog a facelift? ...I can't get enough of Fall and your myriad of Fall-themed posts. ...Please....green is an all season color, don't waste your time. ...Wait, you think I actually care? You could use Crayola Mac n' Cheese for all I care. Are you A, B, or C?

Fall is the time for...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-11T00:11:14-07:00

Pumpkin Candle Holder ...Cut out the top of a small (about a 5" diameter) pumpkin. Determine the diameter of the cut by the size of the candle. ...Clean out the inside of the pumpkin. ...Insert a pumpkin scented candle (I used the Pumpkin Gingersnap Soy Harvest votive from Target) ...Light and enjoy!

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-10T23:37:45-07:00

Beside that, are they saying that if you use their razor you'll look like an egg? ... The first time I saw this, I got dumb chills. Are there people out there that actually think this is good comedy? I don't know anyone who wouldn't roll their eyes at this ad. I've never tried Zyrtec and I'm not any closer to trying it from this ad. ...Besides, I don't usually associate kids misbehaving and a mom overreacting with caffeine....

Seriously.

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-09T21:20:17-07:00

Besides, I had scheduled the appointment way back in March at my last cleaning. ...I'd rather have regular cleaning than a root canal, but I'd prefer it if my regular cleaning were as pleasant as it sounds. ...Part way through my "cleaning" the hygienist noticed that I was feeling a bit "uncomfortable" so she asked me if my gums were a bit tender.... Call me crazy, but maybe the tenderness of my gums has less to do with my brushing habits and more to do with that sharp metal hook your raking across my gums. I mean, seriously, is it really necessary to use a sharp metal hook? ...I'm a fan of plaque-free-teeth as much as the next gal, but I'd also like my gums to stay intact.Is that too much to ask?

Can I get an amen?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-05T21:00:11-07:00

I'm a fan of... ...Soft Frozen Lemonade (I realize this would normally be associated with summer...but I love this treat year round!) Pupmkin Spice Latte AND new this year at certain locations Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Snickerdoodles (yes, partly because I like saying the name) Fall colored flowers... Watch full episodes online HERE

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-05T09:15:20-07:00

"Why am I sitting with flowers? I'm SO not into this..." This picture is blurry, but it perfectly sums up what he was thinking. Love the big ol' jowel

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-03T10:33:31-07:00

J and I were watching TV the other day when a commercial for HD Vision Wrap Arounds came on. Have you seen these babies? ... ...Did you notice that they claimed a patent on the visor clip? Is it just me or can you get a visor clip like that in any convenience store in the country? I always wonder when I see these kinds of commercials if the actors are embarrassed.

Labor Day

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-09-01T23:16:10-07:00

We had a full Labor Day weekend! Last night we got to go to the University of Tennessee football team's chapel with Rick Holland and John MacArthur. After the chapel we drove out to J's parent's house and had a nice evening with them. Then first thing this morning we got to go to our nephew Danny's 2nd birthday party! Then we headed on to the UCLA/Tennessee game and ran over a nail on the way... ...It was a great game!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-30T21:36:28-07:00

My wonderful sister was born today x years ago. I admire her for SO many reasons. She loves and lives for her Savior She is an awesome wife and mom She is a killer cook She's a mad quilter She's all around cool. She is someone I want to be like. I LOVE YOU AMY!!!!!

The Palins

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-30T12:14:42-07:00

I don't know much about Gov Sarah Palin of Alaska yet, but what I do know, I like. I think that was a pretty smart move for the less conservative McCain to bring in a conservative like Palin as a running mate. Maybe now we'll finally be able to start the much needed drilling in Alaska....but I'm not going to talk politics on yetanotherblog. The reason I bring this up is that Albert Mohler posted an article about the Palin's and their youngest son and I thought you should read it. (You may have noticed the link to Abort 73 at the top of yetanotherblog....you might take some time to get familiar with who they are and what they do. None of us should be complacent about abortion.)

Is it just me...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-29T23:49:38-07:00

...or does anyone else think it's a little odd that McDonalds is an official partner of the Olympics?

New Listening & Reading

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-29T22:15:26-07:00

By the way...

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-29T21:41:49-07:00

I'm happy to report that Fritz had opportunities to escape the yard twice this week and he didn't take them! He's growing up so fast...

Sigh...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-27T18:05:59-07:00

If there was ever a case for a name change...

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-27T17:18:33-07:00

Did the people who came up with this name really not see the problem? ...There's nothing wrong with the name on this one.....just the picture.... Are they trying to say that if you use Fresh n Easy kitty litter that you're cat's "area" will smell like flowers? ...When I was growing up, "ralph" was one of the words we used for throwing up. It took me a while to get used to the idea of shopping for food in a store called Ralphs. ...Does the blue one taste like snips and snails and puppy-dogs' tails and the pink like sugar, spice and everything nice?

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-22T00:26:26-07:00

We've figured out that he knows about 25 phrases and probably closer to 40 individual words (granted the 40 words are in the 25 phrases) He regularly chooses whether or not he will act on the phrases he knows, but he knows them none the less. ...For example, if we happen to mention the word "walk", or especially the phrase "go for a walk," within floppy earshot he will whine and sneeze at us until we either banish him to the backyard or take him for a walk.... " He doesn't get quite as worked up as he does with the walk idea, but he stares at you with his ears perked up trying to figure out if you're talking about walking or treating. ...He has figured out that J puts on his running shoes when it's time for a walk.... (I'm not sure how he associated sneezing with excitement/getting attention, but I think I prefer it over barking as long as he's at least 4 feet away.) ...We got him to calm down so we could watch Allison Felix in the women's 200m, but anytime either of us would move more than 2 inches he would jump to his feet and look at us like, "Now?"

Coming Soon to a Gordo's Taco Stand Near You

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-21T10:11:21-07:00

Ok so I've got several posts I'd like to write over the next several weeks. Here are some previews- IT'S MY FAULT: THE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN APPLE AND THEIR CUSTOMERS ADVERTISEMENT IDEAS THAT SHOULD HAVE DIED IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM THE BEST MARIACHI ALBUM COVERS Stay tuned...

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-20T17:06:49-07:00

... ... The best description I read about this video was, "Have you ever had an unexplainable desire to look like a freshly caught catfish struggling for life on a dock?... ...

This is why...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-18T15:09:11-07:00

...I've never attempted to be an Olympic athlete....or a regular athlete. I'm pretty sure I'd be included in this video.

shudder

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-17T00:31:13-07:00

You might want to set down anything you're holding....especially if you're holding a hot beverage.

We're back

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-08-11T20:37:27-07:00

We had a great time being refreshed by the Word, encouraged in our ministry, connecting with old friends and making new ones. ...Here's the list (bearing in mind that there was a LOT of walking/sightseeing between each major stop):... Tuesday - The Ford Theater, The Peterson House, The International Spy Museum, The National Archives, dinner at the Washington Harbor, and the Iwo Jima Memorial Wednesday - The Holocost Museum, The Library of Congress, taxi ride with an 81 yr old driver (eek), dinner and evening monuments stroll with Kim... Friday - Room service breakfast and check-out, Capitol tour, Capitol Baptist Church, National Cathedral, Alexandria, dinner at Gadsby's As you can see, our vacation wasn't exactly restful, but it was very relaxing....and educational.

This is not helping...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-29T13:33:43-07:00

You know all about our dog, Fritz (a.k.a. Fritzstoferson, Fritzgerald, Fritzmas, Brutus or Bubba) from reading yetanotherblog...I really should get back to my TGIFritz theme. ...I've been resisting making mention of it on my blog out of a fear that you all would realize how much of a dog nerd (derd?) ...She has a cute house and style, she lives in my home state, she has an AWESOME Great Dane (I've been nagging J for a Great Dane for going on 3 years now. The man has super-human resistance.....mostly to Great Dane sized yard ornaments in a LA sized yard), AND she is a FANTASTIC photographer. ...Some of you may be wondering if I would pay to have pictures taken of The Fritz. You mean, would I pay a session fee starting at $250 for pictures of this dog?

IT'S SHARK WEEK!!!!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-27T21:30:46-07:00

Set your Tivos, DVRs and VCRs (if you're still back in the 90s). ...Those of you who are not familiar with the superior programming that is Shark Week may be wondering why a seemingly normal person like me would be so excited about a week that features shows about one of the scariest predators on earth. You have obviously never had the pleasure of watching Shark Week and your shark knowledge probably includes trivia you've picked up from Jaws and possibly Deep Blue Sea.... Granted, there are some pretty aggressive sharks out there, but if you'd like to know the truth about the hundreds of varieties of this amazing creature.... ...This year's Shark Week began with the MythBuster's Shark Special.... Even now, I've already learned that the myth of using magnets to repel sharks is in fact false, unless the shark you're trying to repel is a 5lb baby shark.

Wordle...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-27T01:03:59-07:00

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" ...It's pretty cool....and revealing. My most common word is "something" - nice. I think I need some quality time on thesaurus.com. (I can't figure out how to get it to show up bigger, so you'll have to click on it.)

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-26T23:58:25-07:00

We've been working hard on a new budget all day and decided we needed a reward.... Tonight's movie was Kung Fu Panda and let me just say...... I don't think I've laughed out loud in a theater that much since, ummm, Nacho Libre. ...I'm not sure how much longer it's going to be in theaters, but if you're looking for a reward after a hard day's work or if you're wanting to celebrate summer, go see this movie. If you're going to go see the movie, let me know 'cause I might join you. ...At any rate, it's definitely going to be a part of our DVD library as soon as it's released.

Star Sighting

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-24T01:00:10-07:00

We went to the Arclight in Sherman Oaks and if you've been to the Arclight before you know that when you buy a ticket, you're actually buying an assigned seat.... There are ushers all around who insist on showing you to your seat even if you already know where it is.... The reason I noticed him was that I was getting annoyed at his group for making so much noise. As they walked toward me, I looked at them to see what in the world could be so difficult. He stopped right in front of me to talk with his lady-friend (yes, in front of me, blocking the screen....nice. Good thing it was only the previews) as I looked up with a look on my face that said "Hey Buddy, the seats are numbered.

You've GOT to be kidding me...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-19T00:26:30-07:00

I had to post right away because I'm absolutely in awe of the current program (program...isn't that what my Grandma called TV shows?). ..."For me, it seemed like as my children got older, grew up and got out that I replaced them with ferrets." ...

So this is what Fritz has been saying....

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-16T22:59:17-07:00

(null)

Time for Tea

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-14T22:40:12-07:00

I also love coffee, hot chocolate and apple cider. But there's something special about tea.... Some of my favorite tea makers include Republic of Tea, Tazo, Lupicia, and Brodies. Two of my recent favorites include: ...Presentation is a big selling point for me. Not that I buy everything that looks good, but I'm more likely to buy something that is presented well than something that may taste as good but doesn't look it.

I Heart Novacaine

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-14T14:54:50-07:00

So after the left side wisdom tooth fiasco, I scheduled an appointment to have the right side done....both the upper and lower....in the same appointment...both teeth out at once....both.... While sitting in the chair, waiting for the novacaine to kick in, it became clear that the receptionist did not schedule enough time to take care of both teeth and I was going to have to come back yet again for #32. ...I was very relieved to be at this stage, not that I enjoy have a hygienist floss my teeth so hard can feel it on my brain, but I was glad to be done with "extractions." ...The hygienist trots out of the room pushes the "x-ray go" button and talks to another hygienist about the latest Brangelina gossip while the steel punctures the roof of your mouth and your eyes tear up. After this lovely experience, the dentist came in to tell me my teeth were in perfect condition and needed no further work besides regular cleaning were the healthy equivalent to a 90 year old who hadn't brushed since her 20s. ...Eight years later this crown was causing me pain and my current dentist determined that it had a "spur" and would need to be replaced.

Bring on the Fixodent

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-10T13:10:28-07:00

Granted, once I got married, it took me a while to figure out how to find my own dentist and then remember to make appointments, but I faithfully brushed and not quite as faithfully flossed. ...I knew that my wisdom teeth were going to need to be removed, what I didn't know was that my chin stuck out funny and every tooth in my mouth needed work that was going to cost me a million dollars and my right arm. What I also didn't know was that my husband, who had not been to the dentist since the late 90s had teeth in such nice condition that the same doctor that insulted my protruding chin threw a little party for him and his pearly whites.... ...Anyway, some time elapsed.....and by some I mean a lot....before I got up the courage (a.k.a. got new insurance and found myself in dental pain) to find a new dentist. ...After a phone call with my brother-in-law, who happens to be a dentist in Texas, it became apparent that this was not normal pain and that I needed to call my dentist right away.... I have never been so relieved to have a tooth yanked out of my mouth and I sent Dr. Jennie flowers for saving me from death by tooth-ache.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-09T11:48:38-07:00

According to her website, --- "the singer popularly known as Wing, has in a few short years achieved world-wide fame and a cult following that transcends borders and languages. ...Wing's website regularly features a different set of CD samples so if the song you'd like to hear isn't currently featured, good news - you can hear it on iTunes!! Trust me, it will be worth your time (while you're there, take a quick listen to Florence Foster Jenkins, you won't regret it....well maybe you will, but you'll get a good laugh anyway). I was delighted to find on my most recent visit to Wing's website that I could hire Wing to "sing just for me, or for a friend on a birthday."... So to any of my friends out there with birthdays coming up - if you get a call from a New Zealand number, pick up. If after you pick up, you hear a strange sounding, must-be-joking singer, don't hang up - it's Wing wishing you a happy birthday from me.

Am I Crazy?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-05T01:20:21-07:00

I'm in the midst of figuring out a a new way to store/display my teapots and the vases I have no room for. I thought about putting in some sort of book shelf or buffet, but the room is too small.... ...and I do like that look, but the walls in this house don't like to hang on to heavy objects and I'm afraid this would happen: After a good amount of time on Google looking for innovative and unique ideas for storage, I stumbled on this beauty: So, because I'm a glutton for punishment, I decided to take it on as a new project. I'm anticipating that it will be pretty simple to put together, but I thought the same thing about the curtains.

We're back

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-07-02T22:27:09-07:00

We made it home safe and sound, a day late, but safe and sound. We had all kinds of fun with cancelled and delayed flights and an extra night in Vancouver. Those of you who followed johnandlis.com know that we had a fabulous time on the cruise! You'll also be happy to know that our 5th anniversary was wonderful - I didn't fall overboard or break out into hives (...yes, I broke out into hives on our 3rd anniversary thanks to some unknown food allergy.) Apparently, we did a little too much relaxing because we're having trouble getting back into the swing of things.... Here's a little goodie for you in the meantime

Ahoy!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-06-20T06:24:49-07:00

Just on the heels of Resolved, J and I get to go on the annual Grace to You cruise to Alaska! We're both exhausted from our VERY full schedule over the last couple months and are looking forward a relaxing time aboard ms Statendam. We were invited to be a part of the music team and are thrilled to do so! The timing of the cruise is great since it's our 5th anniversary this Wednesday....I'll let you know if we have yet another crazy anniversary story, like me falling overboard or being eaten by a rogue and athletic orca whale. (I just realized I never published the posts I wrote on our 3rd and 4th anniversaries. They were actually quite smooth compared to the first 2.

RESOLVED

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-06-13T01:21:47-07:00

It's finally here!! We're in Palm Springs and the conference starts tonight. Read conference updates at www.johnandlis.com and www.resolved.org

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-06-11T11:46:17-07:00

Of all the candidates for the shirtless overall look (are those overalls?... I wouldn't think these guys would at the top of the list....or even on the list. At least 2 of them could use the ol' Mangroomer. Here is an outstanding example of why it's better to have art on your CD cover than a photo of yourself So do I, Little David, so do I. ...You can't just have one stuffparty in those wigs.

Ummmm....Excuse me?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-06-08T15:45:27-07:00

J and I were in Target yesterday buying some shampoo and what not when we walked by a display for this bad boy... Yes, folks, that DOES say "Mangroomer" and yes it does have it's own website www.mangroomer.com ...I appreciate that it took 2 pictures of a man shaving his back to get the point across. ..."Summer Essentials – When your shirt is off this summer – a must is NO back hair at anytime…… ...Beach – It can be embarrassing to be in public space with strangers and have a hairy back. ...Pool parties – Don’t be the joke /‘hairy guy’ of the party – not a good image to portray."

Celebrity Sighting Pt 4

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-06-04T18:14:48-07:00

Can you tell who this is? J and I had lunch at the wonderful Aroma Cafe last week and happened to sit 2 tables away from Newman! He's a very distinct guy with a unique voice and....laugh- I was surprised that the wheezy Newman laugh is actually his real laugh.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-06-04T17:44:34-07:00

This is a great idea....except the pitcher looks a little too "scientific" to use it for drinks. ...So let me get this straight....you use this mic sponge to wash yourself and then you put it up against your lips and sing into it? ...I often forget to take out the tea bag and then it's WAY too strong to drink. ...What if you're having a dream that you just won the HGTV dream home and do the arm pump in your sleep? ...I'm trying to find something funny about this, but it just looks like a super streamline and easy to use ladder....am I missing something? ...It would be nice to really be able to hang on to the tray, but where do you put the dishes?

Did we just buy a car?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-06-02T15:21:57-07:00

I don't know about you, but I always feel awkward about gyms because I feel very conspicuous working out with all those other people. There's something uncomfortable about doing an ab crunch machine while Joe-Giant-Muscles is standing there waiting to use the machine after you. At least with this gym there aren't any windows to the outside world so any passerby can see you sweaty and WAY too out of breath for 3 minutes on the treadmill. Anyway, we walk in, probably way too tired to be working out, and expect to sign in and head to the locker room. Next thing we know, we're sitting at a desk with a guy wearing a tie asking us about our work-out goals and measuring our body fat percentage.... Some more questions, a tour of the gym, and an hour later we were offered an incentive for signing up today.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-14T21:16:31-07:00

I wish someone would have sabotaged this artwork....or the factory that produced those enormously ugly boots....or the superhero that donated his tights to the Rockers 'R' Us 2nd Hand Store. ...Somebody off-camera just told them that they were going to an 80s exercise video taping after the photoshoot, and fancy boots said, "In these radical outfits? ...If there were a thought bubble next to the guy kneeling on the right, it would say, "MY idea was much better. ...They're called "The Peacemakers" and they're dressed in cops and dressy robber outfits, but the album title is "My Faith Still Holds" in Army font. ...♫ The mailman sports Funny-looking shorts House to house a path he's beating With his bag and friendly greeting It's a lot like trick-or-treating ♫ ...You know when you go on vacation to a real touristy area and they have $5 photo booths where you can have your picture taken in front of a "local scene"?

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-09T11:39:39-07:00

Fritz discovered bubble wrap...

What happens to lost baggage...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-08T23:45:24-07:00

...it ends up in the Sacramento airport.

Fun with the kiddos

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-08T18:47:03-07:00

We got to spend Saturday afternoon/evening over at my Sister's house while my Parents were in town for baby Abby. Here are a few shots from the day...

How to...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-08T16:52:13-07:00

May Dad came through once again with a great find. Some of you may be a little freaked out by a huge mastif hugging a tiny baby. I think it's super cute and so does the baby...although, I think Cesar Milan would say that the dog is trying to dominate the baby and that the parents should teach the dog that the baby is actually a pack leader too. (I know, I'm a dog nerd...a derd?) How to properly hug a baby

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-07T18:08:01-07:00

The Front Fell Off Great find, Dad!

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-02T00:01:28-07:00

Last May, J took Fritz to In-N-Out for the first time. A couple weeks ago we were headed to In-N-Out for dinner and decided it would be entertaining to get him another burger. This time we documented it.

Decorative Arch

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-05-01T22:13:48-07:00

You may remember THIS post about the "decorative arch" project. Now, nearly 6 months later, the city has finished (I think) the arch. Nice work, pals. It's not a great picture, but you can see the idea.

Vox @ The Stickhouse

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-30T16:21:36-07:00

J and I are up in Meadow Vista, CA doing the vocals for the Resolved CD.

Hi, My name is...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-30T14:12:30-07:00

I don't know about you, but I can't remember the long URL of this blog - homepage.mac.johnandblah blah blah. So, we've created a new one. If any of you have the old name in your rss reader, don't worry, the homepage.mac.yadayadayada URL will still work.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-30T13:39:06-07:00

No, that's not her prize winning discovery, but have you ever seen such a nicely groomed alpaca?) ...That's right, no need to rub your eyes, you're seeing it right. Someone out there decided that cats need wigs and Vogue-style photoshoots. ...Our model, Chicken, looks like her mind is elsewhere when she wears this wig -- somewhere in a land of cotton candy and pinwheels where the air smells like sugar kisses. ...Now, I'm no cat person, so this is just plain disturbing to me. Any cat lovers out there that care to take a stab at defending this waste of cyberspace?

Engrish

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-29T14:19:04-07:00

I suppose a more technical title would be "Spanglish", but I didn't want anyone to be confused with my blog post and that movie. This display was found downtown at the LA Flower Market on one of my many trips for the Dixon wedding. Thanks to Michelle and her good eye for catching this fun little nugget. Michelle and I have officially nicknamed the market "Flowers 'n' Plus" (that's for all you Master's peeps :) ) Look at all those DUCKS FIGURE, what a steal - 50% off on a SET/ 12!

More Dixon Wedding Pics

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-24T14:33:33-07:00

Lukas did a fantastic job photographing Matt & Sarah's wedding! You can see some of HIS PICS HERE Below are the ones from my camera ... thanks Mom!

Yet Another Anniversary...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-24T09:08:03-07:00

Today marks 1 year since the first post here on Yet Another Blog... In honor of the anniversary, I've recorded some sounds of our neighborhood - one block from Gordo's taco stand. Hope you enjoy... Click Link for audio →

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-23T09:41:37-07:00

Those of you who missed last week's part 1 may want to go back and get up to speed on the first 14 flashcards. The baby doesn't like the cage because there is no room for the toy. In general, babies like to see what's happening. ...An eye cover followed by a high 10 is a much more fun game than chess - besides the baby can't reach the timer. Again, babies like to see what's around them when they're riding in a car ...It's important for your baby to be able to join in the shopping process.

Wedding Flowers

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-20T21:18:54-07:00

Matt & Sarah's wedding was just beautiful! It was such a privilege to be a part of it. Arranging the flowers was an exhausting, but really fun experience. I couldn't have done it without the help of some sweet friends - Michelle, Tricia, Rachel, Diane, Stephanie, Kathleen and my wonderful Mother! THANK YOU all so much! "Thank you" also to Jessica, photographer par excellence, for the lovely pictures....

Trying to Stay Alive...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-20T21:00:37-07:00

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www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-16T09:02:58-07:00

Are you thinking about starting a family or starting a baby-sitting business but really have no idea how to take care of a baby?... You will be happy to know that the internet is chock full of instructions on how to properly care for any baby! ...Many suggest you introduce turkey leg at the child's first birthday...he doesn't really appreciate cake yet anyway. I would venture to guess that neither of these options are good ones, though both are better than the traditional hold the child's rear up to your nose and sniff vigorously. ...Even if the baby prefers shoes, it's still not a good idea ...he may choke on the laces. ...The problem with the TV set up is that the baby really doesn't want to be reminded of his time in the hospital.

More Abby Pics

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-15T22:45:19-07:00

Mom and Baby get to come home today!

Get Out of the Way, Stupid!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-15T10:20:03-07:00

I love the commentator on this clip...

Welcome Baby Abigail

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-13T20:33:29-07:00

Meet my new little niece!! Abigail Ruth 8 lbs 12 oz 21 3/4 in long Welcome, little girly! I love you already!

A Dose of Reagan

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-11T14:18:47-07:00

It seems to me that in the midst of the current presidential race it would do us good to hear from one of our greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan. In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else?... The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price. ...Click Here for an interesting article about the current global warming threat to our individual freedom.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-11T11:08:34-07:00

I gave him another piece to see if it was just a fluke, and he ate that one too! ...While prepping this post, I searched "dog eating broccoli" in google and the first result that came up was "Veterinary Information: Toxins that Affect Dogs"....OH GREAT!! Apparently broccoli has been known to have a "toxic ingredient" known as "isothiocyanate and it is reported to be a pretty potent gastrointestinal irritant." ...I've always said that if I could bottle and sell his emissions to the military, they could win wars with it.... Apparently, elevated gassiness is a Boxer trait and I've tried numerous things to lessen it....plain yogurt in his food, easily digestible food, never changing his food brand, anti-gas tablets, etc., etc. I imagine, the only thing worse than dog gas, ...I was relieved when I continued reading and found - "But I did find several references suggesting that broccoli should be fed to pets because of the bioflavinoids in it and their cancer fighting capabilities."

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-09T10:25:33-07:00

What do you think of when you see these pictures? Costumes from a movie set in the "Old West" ? ..."She has desired for awhile to design a line that is a little more of a treat for the moms." ...Dresses on girls are girly, but not always modest without bloomers.... April has been sewing bloomers for her younger sisters for years and is now taking orders for your family! Place an order and within two to four weeks you'll be in style!"

Still here....

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-09T09:44:23-07:00

Apparently, he still hasn't figured out that it's a window, not a tree or another bird. There is quite a bit of evidence that lets me know he's been here even when I'm not....he's left some gifts, if you know what I mean.... There are little peck marks all across the window right at his beak level. This is not good, but no one here is sure what to do about it. Aside from putting up barbed wired along the window sill, which would really add to the curb appeal of the building, we don't have any ideas.... 100 points to the commenter who comes up with a viable option.

Parking Rage?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-08T13:10:30-07:00

This morning when I returned from my daily-coffee-for-the-boss run there was a man repeatedly driving his mini-van around the block trying to find parking for the Post Office across the street.... I must have watched him drive around the block about 10 times and every time he would drive in front of the PO with no empty spaces he would yell, very loudly, about his frustration that no had left yet. His windows were wide open and every time he would yell, anyone on the street would look over at him, startled and disgusted at his obscenity laced anger. This didn't seem to phase him...he kept driving around the block, yelling. I couldn't figure out why he would angrily drive around in circles instead of parking in one of the several spaces open on my side of the street...unless he had specific directions from Jack Bauer that he must park on the south side of the street and he only had 20 minutes to send the parcel by global priority mail at that specific Post Office or else Nina would come back and take over CTU. The ironic thing is that in the amount of time he spent driving around and yelling, he could have been to the other Post Office just up the street, parked, mailed his package and headed on to his next destination.

April Shower

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-07T13:51:17-07:00

Michelle and I had fun throwing a shower for our friend, Sarah, on Saturday. ...Sarah's is going to use classy greens and whites in her wedding, so we decided to use the same colors.... MENU Chicken Salad with Curry Open-Face Cucumber Sandwiches Cream-Filled Strawberries Raspberry Scones Lemon Mascarpone Ebleskiver Shortbread Strawberries & Cream and Jasmine Green Flowering Tea Coffee Virgin Mojito with fresh mint and lime ...Now I don't know about you people, but I'm really not a fan of shower games.... I played this game at Audra's shower back in the Fall and thought it was actually pretty fun. We gave each table a stack of white tissue paper, a bag of silly decorations, pipe cleaners, scissors, glitter glue and tape.

Little Singer

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-04T18:03:36-07:00

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Wise Words

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-03T23:44:10-07:00

Your dry cleaner deep thought for the day...

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-04-02T10:44:02-07:00

According to the World Elephant Polo Association - Elephant Polo, the world's unique sport, which has been there for twenty-five years yet remains so novel and still like a big tale to many as it remains yet to be discovered. ... According to The Agile Rat - Fancy Rat Agility is gaining popularity as it is fun to participate in as well as to watch the Fancy Rats maneuver the agility equipment. ... ...Ah yes, nothing I love to see more than two HUGE camels, issuing viscous milky saliva from their mouths and nostrils heading full boar toward a crowd of onlookers....

Viva Italia

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-31T14:19:50-07:00

Went to Monte Carlo Deli today in Burbank. It was really fun and I thought pretty yummy. My Italian co-worker, Diego, said the grocery section is very good and authentic but the deli is not....oh well. The gelato was DUHlicious! I mean look at that gelato! ...This was a little disturbing...does anybody know what you would use clam juice for?

Flowers

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-30T22:57:47-07:00

1 trip to the market....3 green and white arrangements! The one to the right is the practice arrangement for the upcoming wedding. I'll be adding Sahara Roses for a little subtle pink contrast.

Flower Market!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-29T23:06:03-07:00

Today my wonderful friend, Michelle, accompanied me to the market downtown for a wedding flowers prep day. ...The day started altogether too early for a Saturday morning, so our first stop was Starbucks for caffeine and scones.... This is a great time of year to go see all the early spring blooms like lilacs and lilies. Both the main market halls were filled to the brim with beautiful blooms even mid-morning after the retail florists had come through. ...I got a good idea for prices and vendors and came home with some great "practice" flowers and supplies. ...Michelle is also really good at putting photo collages together from events...so instead of trying to make my own, I thought I'd just borrow hers (thanks, Michelle!)

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-28T23:26:50-07:00

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Hello, Birdie

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-26T13:05:42-07:00

I've had a little friend at the window by my desk all day. ...At any rate, he and a few of his friends have been around for a couple weeks bothering a guy in the office directly above me. I know he's been there because every once in a while for about 2 weeks now, the aforementioned guy in the office upstairs starts yelling and pounding on the window. At first I thought he was crazy or really stressed out, but now I see that this little windowpecker has been bothering him to the point of explosion. Come to think of it, maybe it's not the window that the windowpecker is pecking at. Since our windows are mirrored on the outside maybe this little meanie thinks he's pecking at another bird...?

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-26T01:03:45-07:00

Has it been so long since he's seen his "mum" that she won't recognize him? Or is it that she's so embarrassed that she's pretending she doesn't know him? ...I just have no idea what to say about this one....it's just plain disturbing. But it does look like he's doing the dance from THIS VIDEO "My Goals, Beyond getting the ransom money for Mahabala (pictured to my left), include getting my original compositions for guitar on every radio station within one year. This is how I intend to eventually take over the world!

The Nightmare is Over....almost

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-24T19:16:45-07:00

You see, back in March of 2005 we bought our second car. This was a long-anticipated, much-needed purchase and we were very excited to make it.... We found a 1998 model at a local used car dealership and began the process of testing it for purchase. We looked up reviews online, we had our mechanic inspect it, we drove it on surface streets and highways, we looked up the Carfax report. ...For nearly 1 1/2 years it's been sitting in our driveway as a giant leaf collector and expensive security system. ...The guy came by around 6 this evening and inspected the car. He had a really cool tool that we wished we had back before we bought the Passpoop.... Long story short, we signed some papers, he gave us some cash and like that the nightmare was over....well, almost...the dang thing is still sitting in our driveway.

Silky-T Action Figure

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-24T12:58:49-07:00

You may remember when I posted this back in January. Again...my co-workers apparently have WAY too much time on their hands.

Prayer Need

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-23T16:28:39-07:00

Will you please pray with us for our dear friends, the Weinbergs? I am so thankful for their testimony of trust in our Great God.

Happy Easter

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-23T15:51:13-07:00

See, what a morning, gloriously bright, With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem; Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light, As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!" See God's salvation plan, Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice, Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! ...As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb; Hears a voice speaking, calling her name; It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again! The voice that spans the years, Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, Will sound till He appears, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! ...Honor and blessing, glory and praise To the King crowned with pow'r and authority! And we are raised with Him, Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered; And we shall reign with Him, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

Kitchen Curtains

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-21T22:55:33-07:00

They're done!! The kitchen curtains are sewn and hung....sewed and hanged? Don't look too close, they're definitely "home-made," but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. They are drape shades made with Manzantia Linen Damask from Dakota Cabin Quilts and white ribbon.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-21T22:32:08-07:00

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www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-19T12:40:30-07:00

"You see Julie, when you were born your parents promised that you would marry me on your 16th birthday. I know I don't have much now, but with your dowry and this CD we'll be able to buy that beet farm down the street!" "Cloud Nine" as in- NINEties hair NINEties sunglasses NINEties outfit NINEties green screen Wait a second....is that cousin Larry? If there was a thought bubble for the tall guy on the left it would say - ...I heard about that accident with the weed-wacker ....at least they could cover up the forehead scar with makeup. ...This Heino CD was the special give away at the German Star Trek Convention - HUGE hit.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-17T13:55:45-07:00

Be Thou my vision, O, Lord of my heart Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art Thou my best thought, by day or by night Both waking and sleeping Thy presence my light Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord Thou my great Father, I Thy true son Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one Be Thou my battle shield, sword for the fight Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight Thou my soul's shelter and Thou my high tower Raise Thou me heavenward, O, Power of my power Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise Thou mine in heritance, now and always Thou and Thou only be first in my heart High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art High King of Heaven, my victory won May I reach heaven's joys, O, Bright Heaven's Son Heart of my own heart whatever befall Still be my vision, O, Ruler of all. ...The translation from Old Irish to English is attributed to Mary E Byrne in 1905 and the text was first versified by Eleanor H.

Birthday Cake?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-17T11:37:16-07:00

For many reasons, which you don't care about, we didn't get to have a propper celebration of the day J was born.... Well, we decided that yesterday was as good a day as any for birthday cake...so thanks to my friend, Betty Crocker, I whipped up J's favorite cake - lemon cake with lemon frosting. We invited our dear friends, the Anthony's, to come over after church last night and enjoy some In 'n' Out (or Inside Out, as my nephew called it) and lemon cake. I had baked the cake before we left for church and planned to frost it when we got home. ...So I layered on some frosting and grabbed the top cake layer which essentially crumbled as it came out of the pan. ...The cake actually tasted really good and we had a great time with the Anthonys, laughing at the pictures in the post below.

Heppy Berfday

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-15T23:13:55-07:00

Today is my husband's birthday. There is so much I could say about my wonderful man - he is truly a gift from the Lord to measly ol' me. I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to bring us together. I love him so! Happy Birthday Johnny!

Finland Strikes Again

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-15T11:39:47-07:00

And I quote - Oh you're absolutely fine, your lips are taste of wine, I'd like to think you're mine. And if I could touch your hand this rock would turn to sand, so this is where we stand. I hope those dancers were volunteers.

Clean Sweep pt 4

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-14T23:57:09-07:00

Ok, ok...for those of you who are itching to know what's happening with the curtains, here's a quick update. What I didn't tell you in part 3 was that the brackets for the new curtain rod I bought held the rod only about 1 1/2 inches away from the wall. ...Grommet top curtains need more room at the top in order for the pleats to hang correctly. ...I guess I'm a glutton for punishment because I decided it was a good idea to make new drape shades for my kitchen windows. The good news is that these were actually pretty simple and are very close to finished. I would have finished them today if I had bought enough ribbon....again with the math problems.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-14T13:02:43-07:00

I went outside to check on Frtiz this morning and found him thoroughly enjoying an avocado. I have no idea where he got the avocado. We don't have an avocado tree. None of our neighbors have an avocado tree...that I know of. I don't think he could have opened the fridge, the vegetable drawer and the bag my avocados are in, although I haven't checked to see if one was missing.... I wish I would have thought to take a picture of it because I'm pretty sure he was smiling.

Spring Garden

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-13T18:58:50-07:00

I love when the weather warms up enough for the flowers to start blooming. I suppose if I were a real gardener I would have planted seeds and bulbs for these beautiful blooms back in the fall, but I didn't. I simply went down to the Home Depot, chose the prettiest blooms and brought them back home to my flowerbed. I love when the front bed is full of colorful flowers - it makes the house look inviting and warm. Michelle - Do you see the ranunculus? ...Purple Kale, African Daisy, Indigo Pansy, Purple Stock

Face Lift

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-13T00:11:26-07:00

Yes the blog has a new look. I realize that much of the good ol' U.S. of A. is still in the dead of Winter, but here in So.... I thought it was appropriate to give the blog a fresh Springy look. After all, it has been adding to the plethora of non-sense on the world wide web for almost an entire year. ...Hope you enjoy the new look!

Clean Sweep pt 3

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-11T15:41:16-07:00

I've gotten 2 panels "done" and the hemming actually turned out pretty good...as long as you're standing at least 4 feet away. It was very time consuming since the fabric was so long and heavy, but it wasn't as difficult as I expected it to be. ...I had to buy the fabric from 2 different Joann's stores and when I went to buy fabric for panels 2 and 3, I had a pretty frustrating experience with the fabric cutter manager and got kinda flustered. I thought that I had gotten just enough fabric to do 2 panels including the seam allowances, but I ended up being about 7 inches short. Which means I had PLENTY of "extra" fabric and could have made the 2nd panel more than 5 inches longer. ...Stay tuned for the next riveting chapter in: "Lisa's Ridiculous Attempt to Re-Decorate The Studio."

Heppy Valemtimes!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-11T11:00:34-07:00

I realize this post is nearly 30 days overdue, but I recently cooked the squash recipe (below) again and was reminded of how much I liked it, so I thought, "now is as good a time as any to share these recipes!" ...Before you prepare your filet steaks for baking you should add any seasonings that you like and gently rub them into the meat. This will help to keep the flavor in. If you prefer to use a marinade and soak your steak overnight that is also great...  First, you will need to have a large skillet and one tablespoon of vegetable oil.... For a rare steak you will want to bake for 4 to 6 minutes, for medium 6 to 8 minutes, and for well done you will want to bake for 8 to 10 minutes. I used a simple combination of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper as the rub and let it sit on the meat for about 10 minutes before placing the meant in the skillet. ...Pair the steak and squash with a nice cool glass of Sparkling Red Grape Juice from Whole Foods and some fresh fruit and you've got yourself a delightful meal!

Resolved 2008

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-03-06T14:02:03-08:00

Can I take a minute to brag on my husband? He produced this promo (and the previous 2 as well).... Every time he does a new project I'm so impressed! You'd think I'd start getting used to it after 5 years, but every time I'm amazed at the massive talent and genuine humility my precious husband has. ... Video - Adam Hildebrand, Brian Touhy, John Martin Music - John Martin Mix Engineer - Darius Fong Resolved Trailer 2007

ADHD....an epidemic

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-28T09:29:01-08:00

Dr. Mohler posted this short but great article on this all too familiar topic yesterday.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-28T00:32:56-08:00

Ok, so the following is not from an online source which means that technically, it doesn't fit into the "www.Wednesday.what?"... But it made me laugh so hard that I decided to stretch the rules a bit. J stopped by our local Starbucks on his way home tonight and as he was walking into the store, he noticed a group of gang banger looking hispanic guys sitting out front. Since this is not an unusual site in our town, J didn't think twice about it until he got close enough to overhear the following, and I quote: "No, Jorge, X is equal to 0." It's good to know that gang bangers in San Fernando are working hard at Algebra.

Can we take a moment...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-26T19:54:54-08:00

Maybe I'm a coffee snob, or maybe it's because I'm from Seattle, but I've got to take a moment to point out a couple things. In all this talk about Starbucks closing for a few hours today, I've been reminded that some people know neither how to pronounce espresso nor what it actually is. ...es·pres·so (ĭ-sprěs'ō, ě-sprěs'ō) noun pl. es·pres·sos A strong coffee brewed by forcing steam under pressure through darkly roasted, powdered coffee beans. ...-Fine ground, darkly roasted coffee beans brewed by steam to create a strong, shot of coffee called espresso -When you order an "espresso", you will get a small cup with 1 or 2 shots of espresso brewed coffee ...Latte - Espresso with steamed milk and a small amount of foam

FABULOUS!!!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-25T15:06:05-08:00

Last weekend we drove up to Three Rivers, CA for our Third Annual Fab Friends Frenzy in February (yeah, I know...the name's gotta change, even though our friends are fabulous and so was the weekend). Many things have happened in our lives since our college years -- we've gotten married, had kids, moved to different cities and different states (we miss you Fritzs!!!) and changed jobs -- yet this weekend, we enjoyed sweet time together, cherishing the memories from the good ol' days and encouraging each other in our current challenges. What a joy it is to have friends who love Jesus and who love each other. I'm thankful for you, Fab Friends! Fab Friends 2008, Three Rivers, CA

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-20T22:22:28-08:00

Parting your hair on the side of your head and a perv stache. ...Drop it like it's hot or drop it in the microwave till it's hot? ...The only thing worse than cool beans is juicy beans....*shudder*..... ...Apparently, the code requires that he wears really bad sweaters that are about 10 years too young for him. The only thing that kills a conversation faster than garlic are mom jeans on a kid. Girls, girls....should have used some of those wipes on that fabric paint.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-15T13:35:14-08:00

Now, it is clearly posted in the rules of the park that the owner is responsible to dispose of land mines in the provided containers and we are usually very good about complying with said rule. So of course, J jumped into action and thanked the "lady" for pointing it out to us. This was not satisfactory to her because, apparently J scooped the wrong poop. ...She decided the best course of action would be to grab the scooper, scoop up the poop and show it to us explaining that this was the intended poop.... She thrust the scooper at him, he, in turn, pulled his leg back, so she thrust it again until she actually got poop on his pant leg and his shoe and finished off the attack by yelling "Grow up!" ...What is going on in your life when you think the more "grown up" thing to do is smear poo on a person because they scooped up another dog's dooty? ...I'm pretty sure he was either running around like a dope, completely unaware of the altercation his business just caused OR he was hiding behind a tree watching and laughing while the whole thing went down.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-13T10:40:19-08:00

Remember when you were in kindergarten and you got to curl up on a blanket and take a nap during the school day?... I think workers and students alike would be much more productive if they were able to take a cat nap in the afternoon. Take this cat for example, 10 minutes in that bus and he is up and ready to go again. ...Now I've heard that yawning is your body's way of bringing in extra oxygen to help give you more energy. ... I think I'll take this lady's cue and go take a rest on the bench down the street.

Clean Sweep pt 2

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-12T12:13:06-08:00

I do love the black and white damask and am starting on new ideas of where to use it, but with the help of my designer extraordinaire friend, Shannon, we chose the paisley fabric. Shannon came over to look at the room and the fabrics in context with the wall color, furniture, and art ideas and helped us realize that the paisley would offer the most interest and give it a real designer look. ...The fabric happens to be a decorator fabric, which means that it is extra wide - nice feature for making curtains, but it is also extra heavy and thick - not so nice feature for an amateur sewer (I can't even call myself an amateur seamstress). ...The combo of the fabric and liner is just too thick for my machine....or my brain - not sure which one.... But, like a fool, I also decided to do a grommet top instead of a rod pocket, because apparently, the project wasn't hard enough for me yet. I'm intent on the grommet top because I love how it looks, but we'll see if I can accomplish it or not.

Set your TIVOs Everybody

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-10T00:25:51-08:00

Sunday, February 10, is officially Shark Sunday on the Discovery Channel!! From noon to midnight is nothing but Shark programming. Even Mythbusters is getting in on the action. Oh. Boy.

Ebelskiver is heerlijk!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-09T23:13:54-08:00

Today I got to host a brunch for the ladies in our Bible Study.... We enjoyed lots of food and had a great time hangin' out. I couldn't have done it without my wonderful friend and culinary partner, Michelle. ...Acai Green Tea Blooming Jasmine Green Tea Orange Juice Lots of Fruit Skillet Fried Canadian Bacon Frazzled Eggs (fried in oil) Apple Spice Filled Pancakes with Maple Whipped Cream (Click HERE for the recipe) ...The most time-consuming part is making the batter from scratch...but it is well worth it. ...I also had fun doing a flower arrangement in my new vase from Mom and Dad W.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-08T11:03:43-08:00

The picture is lovely...it's a warm summer day, families playing catch with their dogs named scruffy and fido on the beach, splashing in the water, running in slow motion along the surf...simply serene.... Blowing around like the Tasmanian devil after a sugar binge interrupting every game of catch and knocking women and children on their behinds. ...We've only let him off his leash a couple times because as you know from here and here, he does not respond well to the "come" command, especially when there are other dogs and miles of beach involved. One time when we did let him off leash he made the strategical error of running full boar up to a gang of rottweiler mafia assassins who immediately had him pinned on his back in the water. ...Anyway, apparently because the castle was the tallest thing on the beach outside of people, Fritz decided it was a great place to mark. ...I've been wanting to get a 2nd dog and I think a Great Dane is a perfect counterpart to Fritz - half the energy, twice the size.

HAHAHA

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-06T13:34:46-08:00

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-06T11:08:52-08:00

Ever since the advent of America's Funniest Home Videos (was there a show previous to that?)... There's something sick about enjoying other people's pain, but man, is it funny! ...I'm not sure if he was trying to break dance or if the floor was recently waxed, but his fall is actually quite graceful. ... ...It is certainly not good to be the one falling, but it's hilarious to be the one watching.... This is just Mean

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-01T12:14:55-08:00

Last weekend we took Fritz up to the snow for the first time.... There were so many cars parked along the road and so many people playing in the snow that the police blocked the main exit from the 5. We drove a little farther and found that they had even closed the exit for the rest area. After a little searching and wandering we found a little road that looked like a service road of some type and turned onto it. It took us up to this cute little hidden neighborhood where there was a ton of fresh snow and very few visitors!... We parked the Jeep, put on Fritz's new coat he got for Christmas from J's parents (that's right...a new coat, complete with a Whistler resort ski patch), and started the video camera.....

Hooked on Phonics did NOT work for you Round 2

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-02-01T08:43:22-08:00

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while might remember when I posted THIS about mispronunciation. Here's round 2. Correct: Spectrasonics [spek-truh-son-iks] Atmosphere [at-muhs-feer] Stylus RMX [stahy-luhs R M X] Trilogy [tril-uh-jee] Incorrect: Spectrumsonics Assmosphere Stylux Stylus RMS, MRX, DMX, GMX Cyclist Trilgy Trilogu Come on people....

Celebrity Sighting Pt 3

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-31T10:23:06-08:00

Yes in the greater Burbank area a restaurant like this attracts celebrities too and if you're lucky, you'll be there when one shows up.... I must admit, I didn't know his name yesterday and I'm sure most of you don't recognize it now.... Even now that nostalgic theme song is running through my head ("Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down....") ...But for those of you who aren't up that late in the evening, here is a special compilation of what really endeared us to Carlton Banks. (Those of you who are angry with me for getting the theme song stuck in your head may not want to watch the following video - this song sticks much worse)

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-30T10:42:41-08:00

One of my sisters had a red heart pattern that went nicely with her NKOTB posters and the other sister had black bars that were intended to look like piano keys.... I don't feel too embarrassed about it since we were kids at the time, but some of you are still hangin' in there with your stenciled borders. I'm of the persuasion that in general, stenciling is better left in embarrassing pictures of decor from the 80s and 90s.... I suppose it's not fair to lump all types of stenciling into one group, but for my purposes consider the following examples. ...Watch the sky for the watering can stenciled spotlight....that will be our cue to plant in empty flowerbeds everywhere! ...Finish this look off with a bowl of collected sand-dollars on your coffee table and your oceanside cottage look will be complete!

Clean Sweep

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-28T22:35:28-08:00

A couple weekends ago we decided to do some long needed re-organizing, re-thinking and re-decorating of John's home studio. ...We've dubbed the look "Modern Deco" because we've combined the clean simple lines of 50s/60s modern with a few bold touches of 20s/30s art deco. ...This is a crucial turning point because the fabric will dictate the art for the wall and the rug for the floor. ...Here's where you come in. The swatches below are very different patterns, though both art deco bold looks, and they take the room in varying directions. Even though you haven't seen the wall color or the furniture or the ideas for the artwork, I'm curious which one YOU like. If you don't like either one, don't tell me because it took too long to narrow it down to just these two!

American Idol Theme Song

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-24T13:07:13-08:00

Nice work R & L

Celebrity Sightings

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-20T20:40:04-08:00

On Wednesday J and I saw Jay Leno driving one of his old Model T's in Burbank. Then of course, NAMM has been filled with celebrities. The list is pretty long, but the highlights have been Bill Murray (random!), Mark Isham, Slash, Chris Sligh, Vernon Reed, Terry Lawless, Morris Hayes, George Shaw and Herbie Hancock!! J and I were assigned the job of show paparazzis, I mean photographers for Spectrasonics so we got to get up close to these people. I'm not a TMZ kinda gal, but it was pretty cool to be within 4 feet of guys like Herbie Hancock AND watch him get excited about our new instrument. Check out the pics from the show HERE.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-16T13:46:19-08:00

"It's called a leisure suit, ladies and germs, and if you didn't have one in the early 70s, you were a big fat loser.... I wore it with a silk floral shirt and a long necklace with a football player pendant that we all got at that year's team banquet. ...What better way to capture the charm and innocence of a child than to plunk him down amid the coarse trappings of a life lived in pursuit of wealth -- oversized bills, an adding machine and the Wall Street Journal -- and make him sit inside a briefcase?... The finishing touch is the globe, which completes the portrait of the young Antichrist in Chess King vest and Red Goose loafers, plotting his takeover of the world (insert maniacal laugh). ..."Bobbi isn't the first waitress to fall for her manager, but she and Dale both got fired from Shoney's." ..."Olan Mills Backdrop #11: The Library, one of their most popular themes, as seen in this photo of the young Unabomber and his wife."

Everybody needs a little Silky-T

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-16T13:28:43-08:00

The company with which I am employed exhibits at the show and it's always really fun. Of course, it's loud and chaotic and gives you a headache in about 10 minutes flat, but it is fun. We've seen all kinds of famous people there including, but not limited to - Steven Seagal, Gene Simmons, Stevie Wonder, Hanz Zimmer, Earth, Wind and Fire and Sinbad. ...Music merchants from software companies to instrument makers to music publisher to gear makers exhibit at the show. Roland always has a large portion of one of the halls where they exhibit and demo their instruments.... Where the entertainment is more in watching the demo-er than in being impressed by the product.

What a hoot!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-10T11:15:28-08:00

Nice work Bill Gates....Your talent is inexhaustible. I bet they put the video together on a Mac.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-09T23:57:30-08:00

I've been thinking about food quite a bit since I'm on a post Christmas-gorge diet. ...A website named www.mixedup.com boasts an impressive list of 500 songs about food and a very odd and disturbing picture in which apparently Satan has eaten someone's lunch. "Maximum Consumpion" by The Kinks  "Goober Peas" by Kingston Trio "Happy Meal" by The Cardigans "Junkfood Junkie" by Larry Groce "He Ate Too Many Jelly Donuts" by Rick Dees and of course “Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerks” by Squonk   ...1 Wine With Dinner Loudon Wainwright  2 Roast Fish and Cornbread Lee Perry  3 Pass the Peas The JBs  4 She Cooks Me Cabbage Champion Jack Dupree  5 Rock Lobster The B-52s   6 Fish, Chips and Sweat Funkadelic  7 Eli's Pork Chop Little Sonny  8 Chitlin con Carne Junior Wells  9 Forget About Dre Dr Dre  10 Ice Cream for Crow Captain Beefheart   ...Now here's a little song where I can take the lead I wanna eat the right kind of foods that I need I'm countin' all my servings in a real cool way I'm talkin' fruits and vegetables, 5 A Day! 1 -2 -3 -4 - 5 A Day That's the fruit and vegetable way Eat 5 servings every day Sing 5 A Day!

Thanks Kate

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-08T11:09:01-08:00

I have alot of excuses for not making the appointment sooner- mainly I couldn't find a good time to be out of commission for several days....like planning when to get the flu. See, there is quite a bit that needs to be done - remove the last wisdom tooth, put in a couple fillings, touch up a couple fillings, adjust the crown, then go back for a good cleaning, probably a deep and painful cleaning. ...One evening, while we were at my sister's in San Antonio, my nieces were getting ready for bed. They had brushed their teeth and had come over to show me how clean they were.... They both began rubbing their teeth with their index fingers until they each got a faint little squeak. ...So, I'm going to the dentist before my mouth looks like this.

And I Quote

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-05T22:23:55-08:00

"Live every week like it's shark week." I can't wait for the next one!

Whistle for your work

johnandlis@mac.com — 2008-01-04T13:56:58-08:00

Now, I love the whistling section of Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" as much as the next gal, but I had no idea that in the year 2008 there are people who proudly whistle for a living. ...Of course, I couldn't leave out Steve "The Whistler" Herbst the 2002 International Grand Champion, Recipient of the 2003, 2004, 2005 International Whistling Entertainer of the Year Award and inducted in 2007 into the Whistler Hall of Fame. ... From Hand Whistlers To whistlers of old

Stink-Free

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-12-21T12:44:59-08:00

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions! We did find the stench after all and I'm really embarrassed to say that it was a wet towel that was in the washing machine.... I thought the washer was empty since I had done laundry the day before. ...And he knew I knew he knew, and he knew you knew he knew. I kept asking him to use his superior doggie sniffer to find it, but he refused. I think he found the search entertaining.....or maybe he liked the smell.

It STINKS!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-12-16T23:14:57-08:00

I have been trying to track down this smell for 4 days now and for the life of me, I CANNOT find the source of the funk.... For example, I have had my nose about a centimeter away from the couch, the rug, the dirt in the plant pots, the Christmas tree water and Christmas tree skirt, the blankets, pillows, curtains, the cupboards, the pantry, the laundry, and the dog bed! I have cleaned the house from top to bottom, emptied all the trash cans, searched between the cushions and under the furniture. ...We had a Christmas party at our house on Wednesday, the stink showed up on Thursday...maybe somebody spilled something or a kid hid something in the house.... Maybe something under the house got stirred up when John had to move some cables around the other day. All of the above options have been explored (save going under the house again) and still no stench source.

Christmas Traditions

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-12-16T14:20:23-08:00

John and I each had favorites from our childhood weve carried over and we've established some of our own. Here is one of my favorites that we carried over from my childhood. After getting our tree (sometimes fresh-cut from the mountains!) ...Once the decorating was finished we would sing carols and drink eggnog. We've kept up this tradition in our house (ironically without the carol sing) and this year my husband stepped up the eggnog to a whole new level. ...Here are a few shots of our decorations.

www.(Thursday).what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-12-13T17:15:06-08:00

Have you ever noticed that the festivities of the Christmas season give some people carte blanche to show off bad taste? This is one of those "had to be there" cards...except I think if you were there, you might still be confused. ...Is liking and wearing tacky Christmas sweaters a part of getting older or is it just that you lose your oh-so-healthy style inhibitions? After receiving this card, my Christmas is sure to be incredible ....I think we're all incredibly thankful for the gift of spandex! ...If I was walking down the street and a snowman with that face was looking at me, I'd run...hard...the other direction. Vice versa if I was walking down the street and a dog with that body was walking, er rolling toward me, I think I'd either laugh or cry hysterically.

Merry Elfmas

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-12-11T23:46:34-08:00

Last Christmas we discovered elfyourself.com and we took the opportunity to elf my entire family. Oh. Yeah.

Where have you been?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-12-10T14:15:28-08:00

The short answer is "out."

Shameless Plug

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-29T22:00:32-08:00

I've been into this little hobby since I was a kid and over the last couple years have had many opportunities to practice my skills. Every Monday I arrange flowers for the reception area and the bathroom for my work and every once in a while I get to do flowers for a friend's special event. Some of you have probably seen the photos on my blog under Fleur de Lis (clever name, eh?). I've recently added pictures from the arrangements I got to do for our family Thanksgiving celebration. (< shameless plug >) I'm hoping to turn my hobby into something a little more serious that might even earn some extra income. So if you need flowers for any occasion feel free to give me a call or send me an email and I'd love to design an arrangement for you.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-28T14:01:54-08:00

Today's post is a tribute to the people who think it's cool to post videos of themselves lip-syncing to a song. ...In his defense, I don't know that he thought it was "cool" to post this video, I think he thought it was "funny" or "entertaining" and I have to agree on both. ... ... ...

Never Fight a Land War in Asia...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-28T11:21:06-08:00

Narrow the road from 4 lanes to 2 then back to 4 then back to 2 so that it's as confusing as possible 2.... Rip out the old mature trees, leave the street treeless for about 4 months and then add new young trees and plants, 5. ...It sat like this for quite a while and J and I began discussing whether or not the arch was finished.... Obviously the only way to handle the situation was to make a bet with the following terms: the city would do more work before Thanksgiving indicating that the arch was not complete and the loser will buy the winner a delicious treat from Cold Stone Creamery. ...Then wouldn't you guess this last Monday, the first normal weekday after Thanksgiving, the crew was out there again working on the arch! ...It just goes to show you, never bank a Cold Stone treat on the project schedule of a city!

www.Wednesday.what?/thanksgiving.crafts

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-21T12:57:10-08:00

That took WAY too much planning and effort. This may look like a little kid drew it, but I'm guessing it's from an adult with poor mouse skills. Honestly, I'm not sure I could do much better. Ah yes...the "I am thankful for cornucopia." ...Also the neon marshmallows make my stomach hurt. ...And I quote, "For today's cool craft..."

Confessions of a Starbucks Holliday Drink Drinker

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-20T10:41:49-08:00

There's nothing like the Thanksgiving / Christmas season for so many reasons - reflecting on our Great Savior, time with family, foggy mornings, cool days (I wish that included snow too), shopping for the perfect gifts, Christmas music, Christmas movies (especially White Christmas), roasted turkey, pumpkin pie (Culinary Kyle's special recipe), apple cider, and Starbucks Holiday Drinks ...It was our family tradition to drink the first eggnog of the season after we finished decorating the Christmas Tree. ...I've never been a big fan of shortbread itself, but the latte is deliciously mild and not too sweet and tastes like waffles.... (If you are in the test area, you must try this treat and then let me know what you think of it) ...I'm not usually a big fan of mocha or peppermint, but the combination is particularly delightful this morning. ...It tends to be on the spicier and richer side and I think would be perfect in a short instead of a tall.

If only it had helped me learn to love reading....

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-20T10:02:22-08:00

... ...Just in case you don't remember the classic character Geordi, according to startrek.com, he was the Chief Engineer on the U.S.S. ...The outstanding characteristic La Forge shows is his longtime adaptability to and satisfaction with life, symbolized by the fact that his birth-blindness until recently was overcome not by direct surgery but by the unique VISOR instrument — which, though painful allowed him to "see" throughout the electromagnetic spectrum, from heat and infrared through visible light to radio waves. It attached at the temples via implants which connected directly to the brain and provided such a complex and broad-based input that the user had to concentrate to focus on one area. It was perhaps this intense focusing ability that has enabled him to master the complexities of warp engineering and other starship systems.

Here's to YOU Gus...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-19T18:42:37-08:00

Our friend Gus recently posted this and I thought it'd be fun to see how prevalent this actually is online. ...group hug - "the idea is for anyone to anonymously confess to anything. it actually feels kind of good to know that someone will read it." Confessions of a Pioneer Woman - "I’m a thirty-something ranch wife, mother of four, and moderately-agoraphobic middle child who grew up on a golf course in the city."... Confessions of a Turtle Wife - "A website for turtle wives and their significant others" ...Confessions of a Blogger - "Confessions of a blogger is a blog novel (blovel or blogel) of my adventures.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-16T11:10:37-08:00

If ever John has to be up and about before me (which is pretty often these days) Fritz will get up with him, take his morning "relief" outside and get up to speed on what's happening in the house. ...If John has to leave for an early Tuesday morning meeting, Fritz will come into the bedroom and instead of lying on his nice fluffy dog bed on the floor, will jump up and lay in John's spot next to me. Alright, I know some of you are gagging right now, but I think it's sweet that he assumes the role of "man of the house" and puts himself between me and any danger that could come through the door. Alright, I realize that most likely he was just waiting for John to get out of the way so he could spraul out on the much more comfortable people bed. There have been a few times when he's done this and I slept through the whole thing so that I went to sleep with my husband's lovely face there and I woke up to my dogs big, stinky-breath face. ...**(Alright, for those of you who are in shock about a dog's head being on my husband's pillow, no matter which end is on the pillow it goes in the laundry.

Rhett and Link

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-15T16:06:11-08:00

Ghost Riding

www.Thursday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-15T10:26:25-08:00

Have you ever noticed that Pigs and Monkeys are some of the most unfortunate looking creatures? It's pretty unusual to find a Wilbur or a George. ...This is where the phrase "fat and happy" comes from. ...I'm pretty sure he was a character in Lord of the Rings. He also played one of the R.O.U.S.'s in Princess Bride. ...I know she's not a pig or a monkey....but dang, she's ugly.

It's ALIVE

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-13T10:57:34-08:00

Speedy Gonzales, a.k.a. my Husband, got our new site up and running! Check it out! www.johnandlis.com

Verse of the Week

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-13T10:19:17-08:00

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.

Web Hosting Musical Chairs

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-13T09:51:28-08:00

Hey Friends and Family - We're switching web/email hosting which means that for the next 2 days or so, our johnandlis email will be unreliable. If you need to get through to me, you have my number or my other email addresses...which are all working fine. : ) In other news, we're working on a new johnandlis.com site. Stay tuned over the next couple weeks!

Veterans Day

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-12T12:36:01-08:00

He was in the Navy, stationed on Guam when the Japanese invaded and he was taken captive. He remained a prisoner of war for 3 1/2 years before he was released and brought back to the States. ...He was so eager to fight for our country that he lied about his age and joined the Navy when he was only 17. ...They were men who put their lives on the line so that we wouldn't have to. ...Grandma - Thank you for faithfully serving your husband during those many years and enabling his service to our country. You are a godly example of a wife, mother and grandmother and I am so grateful for your impact on my life.

Caramel Corn

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-10T22:42:45-08:00

This snack has been so popular I thought it deserved a spot on the blog. I remember my mom making this snack on many an occasion and it was always DU-licious!... 3 bags microwave popcorn (or equivalent of stove-top) 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine 1/4 cup light corn syrup (or whichever corn syrup you have) 1/2 tsp baking soda ...Pour this over the popcorn in the bag and shake well.... Shake well and pour out onto a cookie sheet to cool for a few minutes. Once cool to the touch break up with your hands and put it in a large bowl.

LUKAS ROCKS

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-10T22:06:34-08:00

Thanks for the great shots! www.lukasvandyke.com/blog/ Notice the one of Fritz running....collarless.

New Resolved Site is LIVE!!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-09T14:06:22-08:00

Check it out! www.resolved.org New 2008 Promo Video Coming Soon!

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-09T11:02:19-08:00

J and I were both wearing Jeans and a black top so I thought it was a good idea to put Fritz in his black collar and leash. ...I happened to have been wearing shoes with little heels that kept getting stuck in the grass, so I tossed them off and began working on a scheme to catch the little monster.... Instead he ran about 10 laps around us stopping only briefly when a smell would catch his nose, but not long enough for us to catch him. Then he decided it would be fun to run up the road that goes uphill behind the park where there just happened to be a cranky man with a little cranky dog. J was up the hill before me and my bare feet, and got within 20 feet of the cranky man who yelled back at him "HEY, get your dog on a leash, mutter, mutter, mutter." ...Since we didn't want to go through that again, we fashioned a noose, I mean collar, out of his leash and made sure it was mighty snug.

Have you ever noticed...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-08T13:58:18-08:00

I mean the names that are given to criminals before they had been identified. I'd like to know who comes up with these names and why. Some of them, of course, are down right chilling, while some are much more comedic than threatening.... "Big Eared Du" or "Big Ears Du" — Du Yuesheng, Chinese gang leader... "The Boozing Barber" — Gilbert Paul Jordan, Canadian serial killer... "The Kissing Bandit" — Edna Murray (d.1966), U.S. outlaw

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-07T11:59:41-08:00

Do you remember when Beauty and The Beast was a TV show? ...This is a classic white-trash mix of 70s and 80s styles. ...The hairspray industry owes this lady half of their 80s profits. The poodle hair is pretty bad in this one, but what I really want you to notice is the shorts. Whoever thought it was flattering to wear shorts at the waist COULD NOT have owned a mirror. These girls may have had nice figures, but we'll never know thanks to those high set, loose fitting, wide legged, elastic waisted shorts.

Verse of the Week

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-07T11:53:49-08:00

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.

Quotable

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-05T23:04:46-08:00

J found a great quote from John Calvin in book four of The Institutes. We were especially encouraged as it relates to church music. "[The Master] did not will in outward discipline and ceremonies to prescribe in detail what we ought to do (because he foresaw that this depended upon the state of the times, and he did not deem one form suitable for all ages), here we must take refuge in those general rules which he has given, that whatever the necessity of the church will require for order and decorum should be tested against these. Lastly, because he has taught nothing specifically, and because these things are not necessary to salvation, and for the upbuilding of the church ought to be variously accommodated to the customs of each nation and age, it will be fitting (as the advantage of the church will require) to change and abrogate traditional practices and to establish new ones. Indeed, I admit that we ought not to charge into innovation rashly, suddenly, for insufficient cause. But love will best judge what may hurt or edify; and if we let love be our guide, all will be safe."

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-02T11:13:01-07:00

So much so that he tends to pounce on them and knock them over, not injuring them but definitely giving them a dog complex.... He's the only dog I've had that will look you right in the eye and listen to what you're saying as if he understands. ...I used to be convinced that if a burglar ever tried to break in to our house, Fritz would give him the grand tour, pointing out our most valuable items, "Here's the studio and over there is my people's most expensive gear.... Fritz did NOT bark at him or try to defend our home, nor did he welcome him and show him where to break in, but rather he ran. He ran all the way to the very back corner of the yard as far from the "intruder" as possible and was about to jump the fence into the neighbor's yard when J took off the disguise and Fritz realized who it was. ...I guess I need to give him a little credit though, since on Halloween this year he barked at every masked kid who came up to our door, which is really something since he really does not bark very often.

The Pumpkin Artist

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-11-01T10:01:21-07:00

My brother-in-law, the Airforce dentist, is also an artist on the side. He makes beautiful paintings, drawings and sketches and as you can see below...wicked awesome pumpkin sculptures. Matt's Pumpkin Creation 2007... Matt's Pumpkin Creations Past... "THE JOYFUL BUCKTOOTHED ESKIMO" "THE SKULL"

Pumpkin Carving with the Busenitz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-31T20:32:14-07:00

Every year around Halloween we go up to my sister's house and carve pumpkins with the kids. This year we added carmel apples too. Here's some pics from this year's pumpkin party.

www.Wednesday.what?/halloween

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-31T14:27:30-07:00

I can think of one thing that's missing from the picture - a newspaper with today's date. Pat's parents had been waiting and waiting for this proof of life photo from the kidnappers. ...The saddest part of this photo is that the kid seems to really like his costume. ...A classic - although I don't recall Darth Vader wearing a shirt that had a bad drawing of him with a totally wrong helmet and the movie logo on it. ...It almost looks like her right side does not belong to her left side...a little photoshop action maybe? ...Everyone knows that Spider Man DOES NOT have a doggie side-kick or a shower-cap-eye-mask combo.

Rhett & Link

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-30T10:44:53-07:00

Hang in there for the ghost riding part...it's worth it.

Sorry kids...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-29T18:53:01-07:00

SUPERYARD - Do these parents actually think that little pen is big enough for those two kids? Or is big enough to be called a "Superyard"? It's not even big enough for my dog. BUMPER BONNETS - Anybody have a prediction on how this kid is gonna turn out? YETI-BOOTS - That's just gross.

Abort73

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-29T12:50:26-07:00

The widespread existence of fetal homicide laws, when considered next to current abortion law, creates for the U.S. a form of legal schizophrenia that is both tragic and bizarre.... Either unborn children are people before they're born (in which case fetal homicide laws are just and abortion laws are not), or unborn children are not people before they're born (in which case abortion laws are just and fetal homicide laws are not). ...More than anything, this strange legal partnership makes it clear that, for all the arguments that are made about why unborn children should not be given rights of personhood, this isn't the issue at all....

Start spreading the word: Abort73 Graphics / Abort73 Shirts

...When a woman becomes pregnant and decides she'd rather not be, it is a difficult, yet acceptable decision to have an abortion, after all it is her right. ...I'm disgusted that so many women are deceived on this issue, yet I'm reminded that but for the grace of God, there go I.

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-26T10:56:57-07:00

Not long after I took this earlier picture Fritz decided he needed to finish the job. (Maybe he heard me say something about needing blog material.) In the picture below, the white part to the left is the lining of the dead doggie bed. I don't know how he managed to pull it out still mostly intact since he doesn't have opposable thumbs. I'm thinking about installing one of those security cameras just so I can see how he's able to do the crazy things he does.

So Embarrasing

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-25T11:49:35-07:00

I just got an email from my Dad with the subject "Some Photos for Your Memoirs" ...Did I wake up late that morning and have to throw on the first thing I found or did I actually think that looked good? ...The excuse for the hair-do has to be the rain, or rather, the mist that constantly blessed us Washingtonians and ruined even the nicest hair-dos. Actually, I'm not sure that style looked any better before I went outside that morning. ...Theresa, I know we haven't seen each other since HS graduation, but if you happen upon my blog and see this photo - I'm sorry, so so sorry. ...The others aren't quite as painful or humiliating as the first, but I'll include them just for memories sake.

Alas...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-25T11:26:52-07:00

The show I told you about a while back hosted by the great comedy duo Rhett & Link has been cancelled. (cue sad trombone "Wa wa wa waaa") The show was actually a bit of a disappointment and I think they saw its doom coming, but it is a little sad nonetheless.

www.Wednesday.what?/ninja.edition/2

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-24T14:00:13-07:00

Earlier that day, a well-intentioned stranger passes by and says, "Here's a peach dude.... Black Shadow Biscuit vs. Nunchuku Chipmunk Master ...You're a teenager at the Great Wall of China and you ask your mom to take a shot of you in your sweet karate outfit doing that? ... "They're the world's most fearsome fighting team (We're really hip) They're heroes in a half-shell and they're green (Hey - get a grip!)" Is he getting kicked in the face or is this some sort of self-discipline exorcize where he has to keep Stinky Stanley's stink foot in his face for 30 seconds? In either case it looks like Stinky Stanley is about go down.

Fire+Wind = Crazy Smoke Photos

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-23T16:43:58-07:00

I'm sure you have heard all about the fires here in So.... and I don't have any new information, except that today was the first day the winds started to slow and the smoke has settled in the Valley. It's quite erie - the sky is brown and thick and the sun is orange and dark. I found these satellite photos online and I think they give a good idea of how widespread and fast growing these fires have been. ...Fires (Santa Clarita, Lake Arrowhead, Malibu, Orange County, San Diego) The stream at the bottom right of the photo is actually dust from the deserts in Mexico. That's how strong these Santa Ana winds are!

A Worthy Cause

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-22T13:32:13-07:00

(null)

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-19T13:59:21-07:00

If I've learned one thing about Fritz it's that he cannot resist any visible items in the trash bins. Even if the only thing that is visible is the little red tie from the trash bag sticking out 1/100th of an inch, he will manage to get the entire trash bag with most of it's contents out onto the driveway.... He managed to pull the entire piece out of the bin and spend the day playing with it and chewing it up.... You see, this styrofoam snow was about the same weight as a snowflake and would blow around if you blinked near it and Fritz had been chewing on and playing in it for several hours. He had gotten quite a bit of it stuck up his nose and every time he snorted it moved farther up into his sinuses and closer to his brain.... It took a few days of snorting, but finally the styrofoam came loose and made one more polka-dotted deposit in the back yard, and now I always make sure the trash bin lid is completely closed.

Here's what I think....

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-18T10:35:51-07:00

My blog is intended to be a site you can visit to add a little humor to your day and maybe check in on what's happening in the Martin house.... However, I'm going to detour from the main road a bit today and write some thoughts on the Separation of Church and State. ...Most of the time the answer is something like how his religion is very important to him personally, but is a political non-issue apart from helping the needy and feeding the hungry. It seems that any individual is welcome to be religious and even Christian as long as that religion does not creep out of his private life and into his public. ...A faith that can be separated from oneself in particular circumstances is not true faith, it is merely a convenient value system that inevitably paves the road for hypocrisy. ...The power over the church should not be in the hands of the government and the power over the government should not rest in the hands of the church.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-17T14:08:23-07:00

I'll list them for you - a) the special matching orange tie and suit pants b) the special hairdo c) the special signature - Jeff "Ziff" d) the special hand-hook I'll let you come up with your own comments for this one. Let's just say the word I'm thinking of rhymes with Day, Say & Hey... ...I'm not sure what's more disturbing - the title, the outfit or the permed mullet. Self-titled debut featuring her own arrangements of minstrel and folk songs. No record collection would be complete without the vocal/keyboard stylings of Joyce.

Autumn in....

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-16T11:06:17-07:00

See, my favorite seasons in this part of the country are Fall and Spring. There is nothing like the freshness of Spring and the cool of Fall. Sure, I like Summer and Winter enough, but for my taste, Summer is too hot and Winter is not cold enough. I like to be able to go outside in the Summer without dying of heat stroke and I like to go out in the Winter knowing that hypothermia could be just a few hours away. Of course, I only like it that cold if the pay-off is snow.... There's nothing like a Washington afternoon just after a storm when the sky is still charcoal gray and the sun peaks through the clouds onto the hills and lights up the turned trees.

www.Wednesday.what?/ninja.edition

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-10T12:22:11-07:00

80's Ninja... Wanna-be-ninjas Ron Lee, Corporate Ninja Urban Ninja Black Shadow Biscuit, the ninja cat Las Tortugas Ninja Mutantes Adolescentes

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-10T11:50:14-07:00

(null)

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-05T20:44:09-07:00

Here's what we came home to yesterday...

ENGRISH Signs

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-04T12:13:10-07:00

www.engrish.com

Global Warming Quotes of the Day

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-03T14:09:16-07:00

As a side note, it seems obvious to me that the threat of global warming is already motivating a push for increased taxes and eventually increased governmental power over our daily lives (regulating what type of cars we drive or what type of lightbulbs we use, for example). ...When the authority of the Bible is undermined and confidence that we can know the Creator is compromised, the creation itself looms larger and larger as a central passion." ..."If you don't believe in God, you have no meaning in your life, and you will thus search for meaning, and you will find it anywhere.... So you can set the stage for more people, if the atheists were to ever get their way, of establishing global warming as an unofficial religion that does force people to behave in religious ways just to a false god: the earth, a tangible god. By the way, there's another thing, another character that all major religions require, and the same thing can be said of manmade global warming, and that characteristic that both require is "faith."... That's why there is faith, and that's why faithful people frighten those who have no faith, because faithful people realize there's something larger than themselves.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-03T12:06:01-07:00

I ABSOLUTELY HATE it when people scare me....but I love watching other people get scared. PS - I DO NOT recommend following the advice of the 2nd video and going to devilthreads.com.

You Know You Grew Up In the 80's if 

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-02T18:52:24-07:00

You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton   ...You wore a ponytail on the side of your head. ...You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side. ...You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that. ...You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"   ...You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

Goodbye Pool, Goodbye Summer

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-02T18:00:20-07:00

It's been just over a week of slow draining and the pool is finely cleaned and put away until next summer. I'm not really sad to see it go. It's been well over a month since we swam and I've been ready for Fall since that day it hit 113°. I'm looking forward to some crisp Fall evenings around the backyard fire pit roasting mallows. ...You were a great Summertime friend providing cool refreshment and aquatic fun. See you next year.

Wicked Awesome

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-10-01T13:12:00-07:00

Before the show we headed up to the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and had a delicious dinner at The Grill. Our waitress was great and even gave us 2 complimentary tickets for the shuttle to the theater so we could stay parked there. ...After the show we went out to the curb to catch the shuttle back to our car and stood in line with about 60 other people. We watched as the first bus came and picked up all but 15 of us. Then we watched as all the cast came out of the theater, signed a few autographs and headed home.... After about 40 minutes of standing and waiting for the bus, the group of us that continued to wait realized that it wasn't coming back and we would have to walk the couple miles down Hollywood Blvd.... We all managed to stay together as a group, clutching our souvenir programs and avoiding eye contact as we tried to blend in with the crazies and scaries.

Happy Birthday

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-28T13:27:35-07:00

This is for all of my friends and family who had birthdays this month: Happy Birthday Danny, Audra, Ashley, Michelle, Chad, Mom W, Ethan, Darius & Ryan!!

TGIFritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-28T10:05:53-07:00

Unlike golden retrievers, who would happily do anything you ask just for a "good dog" pat on the head, boxers will weigh the options and choose the one that best fits their schedule. ...For example, when he escapes our yard into the greener pastures of the neighborhood and harasses all the neighbor dogs within 30 seconds flat, I'll call out to him, "Fritz, COME!" He stops, looks at me and thinks "If I go to her, I'll get water and I am really thirsty from running so fast. ...I'm going to have to catch him which means sneaking up on him ninja style while he's in a neighbor's yard and sealing off all the possible exits so that he has no option but be caught and drug back home. One time we had some friends over at our house and Lightning McFritz took a 3 second window of opportunity to escape through the open screen door.... Our friend Paul Hoover was hot on his tail through the door and stayed with him until he made the costly error of going into a fenced yard with easily sealed exits.

Svenska dansband

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-27T10:28:01-07:00

This was the picture they sent in for their ELF audition...only the "guy" seated in the center got a call-back. ...The members of the Frittes gang are only slightly better known for their roles as the Knights of the Round Table in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. ...After several arrests they decided to abandon that line of work and try their luck at barber shop music. Garvis made the mistake of taking their Christmas album cover photo in their new polyester suits during the record heat wave of August, 1972. Ivan Henrys can now be seen opening for Flickorna Fem on their 5th tour of Scandinavian nursing homes. ...Henrik, Lars, Klas and Ingvar thought the sound effect was hilarious, while poor Hans received the brunt of it.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-26T09:48:49-07:00

You may have seen these guys before but it's worth another watch

The Fritz

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-21T10:25:05-07:00

Post about the random things that happen in our life for our friends and family 2.... I guess our little puppy has finally turned into an adult, he is 3 after all. Now don't get me wrong, he's still full of energy and can be quite crazy, just not crazy enough to make a good blog post. Since I'm in need of another weekly theme I'm going to dub Friday, Fritz Friday, which will now be dedicated to Fritzgerald stories from the last 3 years and I'll sprinkle in some current stories should he do something blog worthy. I'd like to take a poll from all of you faithful readers (that's you Mom) which title has your vote? (this is when you use that feature about a couple inches down called "Comments")

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-19T10:55:40-07:00

ENGRISH I think this picture was taken in my neighborhood....

Is the Bible True?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-19T10:45:25-07:00

If any of you or anyone you know doubt the historical veracity of the Bible, you've got to read this. NT Christology (i.e. Jesus): mythical? ...It is well worth your time to read this post and even to read each linked article.... Phillips is a skilled apologist and a godly man. I particularly love the article he wrote called, Why I Am (Still) a Christian. Team Pyro strikes again!

Dunder Mifflin, Scranton

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-17T14:15:29-07:00

Do you remember when I saw Cedric the Entertainer? Well, one of the great things about living in L.A. is not only do you see a celebrity from time to time, but if you keep your eyes peeled you might just stumble upon a random studio in the middle of Sun Valley where the hit NBC show, THE OFFICE is filmed. There's definitely going to be some lunch break studio steak outs this season. I'll let you know if I actually see any of the stars.

Really?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-16T23:24:40-07:00

In her 3rd grade music class she has a little guy who cannot use his right arm or leg. My friend, in an effort to include him in the class' daily activities, asked this little guy to help her pass out the new books. As soon as she made the request and he began making his way to the front she realized she had made a big mistake that she could not back out of. Is she supposed to say "Never-mind, let's have someone who can use both his arms help"?... Instead, she asked another student to help the poor guy take one book at a time to the kids. As if that wasn't enough of a snafu, she then tried to recover by asking him to help with "something he COULD do"...

My Neice's Birthday

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-16T14:17:57-07:00

Happy 5th Birthday Ashley girly!! You're growing into a beautiful young lady!

Manny

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-14T18:23:16-07:00

He showed up on our screen door a few days ago and stayed for 2 whole days. I'm afraid Fritz may have eaten him, but I don't think so because when he was sitting here in the doorway and I pointed him out, Fritz didn't seem to even notice. I'm not sure if he's good at blending in or Fritz is bad at seeing. Meeting Manny inspired me to write a little story that I'm hoping turns into a kids book. I come up with ideas like this sometimes that I hope will make alot of money without my having to put in too much effort. Any illustrators out there who want to get in on a potential book deal?

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-12T23:21:58-07:00

This is why I love Manatees

Ce-web-rity* Sighting

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-11T17:58:28-07:00

Those of you who have followed my blog over the last couple months may remember when I discovered rhettandlink.com (Thank you Rick Holland). ...So today was my opportunity to meet a couple of real life ce-web-rities*.... I know it's only a matter of time until they are big-time celebrities on TV and so I just had to get my picture with them. ...Apparently, I was the first person in the LA area to "spot" them and I think it took them by surprise.... I was just a step or two short of being just like an awkward junior higher who just met the bass player for her favorite band and the only thing she could think to say was, "I'm in a band." ...The guy in the background is involved with their new TV show on The CW called Online Nation, premiering Sunday, Sept 23 at 7:30/6:30c pm.

Chocolate Pain...hhhhhhh

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-11T16:01:25-07:00

If you don't know what song I'm talking about, count yourself blessed. I refuse to link to it on my blog, but if you must put yourself through the torture of having a song in your head that sticks worse than "It's a Small World" just go to YouTube and search for Chocolate Rain. From there you can enjoy many different video versions of the song including the parody - Vanilla Snow. This song has been passed around via email among our friends for about a week now and I can't stand to hear it anymore. John came up with his own parody which captures my feelings exactly: ...A splinter in my mind, that's CHOC'LATE RAIN!

Curried Chicken Salad w/ Apples and Raisins

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-08T14:04:53-07:00

Cooking Light Magazine About 2 servings (double for 4 and so on) 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 1 tsp curry powder 2 tsp water 1 cup chopped skinless, boneless, grilled chicken OR 1 - 5 oz can chicken breast in water 1/4 cup red apple (about 1 small) 1/3 cup diced celery 3 Tbsp raisins 1/8 tsp salt Combine Mayo, curry and water in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well to combine. Cover and chill. Serve with whole grain crackers, or spread on whole wheat bread with a romaine lettuce leaf for a sandwich.

Williams' Style Teriyaki

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-08T13:47:54-07:00

This is a family recipe that my Grandma still makes.... Marinade Equal parts Kikkoman Soy Sauce and Dark Brown Sugar* For each cup of soy sauce in the proportion add:... *I add 2-3 Tbsp dry white wine to the sauce/sugar mixture (1 cup equal parts soy sauce and sugar for 1 chicken or 2 lbs other meat) Directions: Marinate chicken/meat for a minimum of 30 minutes and maximum of 8 hours. (For advance preparation, meat may be marinated and then removed from the marinade and frozen until needed.)

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-05T21:32:05-07:00

I don't think I'll go so far as to say that I actually "hate" them, but I don't see myself ever owning one. I read a great post over on Team Pyro by someone who actually does hate cats, nay, loathe cats. If you are in any way a fan of cats, I don't suggest reading this. For those of you who don't wish to read a post demeaning cats, here are the results of an image search in google for "ugly cats." ...I don't know which is more disturbing, the cat or the lady's fingernails. I don't want to talk about this one

Now I Know...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-09-02T15:49:03-07:00

Did I mention that we were in driving in our lame car that has an "air conditioning" system that works sporadically and only at top freeway speeds? (No, that's not our car. Yes, I am seriously considering copying the idea) Anyway, I don't do well in the heat.... John seems to think this kind of heat intolerance runs in my family and apparently this is a conclusion he arrived at with my two brothers-in-law. They seem to think that my sisters and I have a 2 degree variation in temperature tolerance between too hot and too cold.... Here's a tip for any of you who may someday want to torture information out of me...just turn up the heat and I'll break. ...We talked about going to the beach for labor day, but I don't think we want to brave that drive or the crowds and besides, I heard that it doesn't feel much cooler at the beach because it's so humid.

My Kind of 911

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-30T11:02:02-07:00

The best part about this is that the operator actually stays on the line and helps the kid. I'm gonna call 911 next time I can't figure out a tip!

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-29T13:18:02-07:00

10 OF THE WORST ALBUM COVERS EVER

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-29T12:50:28-07:00

Pour two cups Cheerios in a blender and blend into a fine powder on medium-high speed. Put the powdered Cheerios into a warm bath and soak in the oats for thirty minutes. ...Pour one cup of Cheerios in a blender and blend into a very fine powder. ...Line a jelly-roll pan (15.5 inches by 10.5 inches by 1 inch) with aluminum foil. Mix two cups finely crushed Cheerios (from the yellow box), one-quarter teaspoon pepper, one teaspoon parsley flakes, one-quarter teaspoon garlic powder, one-quarter teaspoon dried oregano leaves, and one-half teaspoon salt. Dip four chicken-breast halves (skinned and boned) into one-quarter cup milk, then roll in cereal mix until well coated.

Contagious Laugh

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-28T10:50:27-07:00

This baby's laugh is as contagious as a yawn. By the end of it, you'll either be laughing or....well..yawning I guess.

Perfect!

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-24T11:45:05-07:00

If any of you out there love me, you'll want to know that I just found a great gift for me. Next time you feel like buying me something...here's what you can get

YMCA

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-23T19:56:28-07:00

WARNING - Don't watch this if you are about to eat or have recently eaten a meal.

Favorite Foods

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-23T17:58:31-07:00

Anyway, there are a lot of odd things about these events and I usually end up fast-forwarding past most of the show, stopping to see the boxer, great dane and bull dog, maybe the mastiffs too. Ron Reagan (I heard him interviewed once and was very specific that he was not Ron Reagan Jr) was one of the hosts.... I would be happy if I never heard the phrase "what a glorious specimen he is," ever again...in my entire life. ...There was one thing in particular that struck me as odd last night and I don't recall noticing this on any of the other shows I've seen. As a dog would come up to be judged, the hosts would give information about him/her including name, breed facts, show history and favorite foods. ...I'm pretty sure Fritz's favorite foods all fall in the category of non-vegetable, which includes meat, fruit, dairy, carbs, kibble, bugs and pool water.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-22T10:35:45-07:00

Do you use lip balm in your car, at work, in the bathroom, on airplanes, or other public places? ...When using with others, do you try to have a few extra coats when they won't know it? ...Have you ever been to a hospital or institution on account of lip balm? ...Are you afraid that if you stop using lip balm your work will suffer or you will lose your energy, motivation, or confidence? ...Do you spend time with people or in places you otherwise would not be around but for the availability of lip balm? ...If you have answered Yes to any of these questions, you may have a lip balm dependency problem.

Kindergarten

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-20T11:49:43-07:00

The girls are starting kindergarten in 2 different states, 1000's of miles apart, but I love that they get to share a common experience. I can just picture them now, taking the phone from their moms and talking all about their teachers, the books they get to read, the kids in the class, and the pictures they colored. I love that they're so excited to go to school but they've both told their moms how much they will miss them during the day.... I can't relate to what my sisters are going through this week , but I'm sure it's an odd combination of joy and terror, of excitement and sadness. I'm sure they're wishing they could make time stand still for a while and hold off that high school graduation that is beginning to loom over the horizon, while at the same time enjoying all the ways in which their little girls are growing up.... I can't wait to see what the future holds for my girlies and I'm so proud of my sisters.

Gourmet Burgers with Cranberry Mayo

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-18T22:40:46-07:00

Yeah....I know, it sounds weird, but trust me, it's AWESOME Burgers Ground Beef Sausage 1 Green Apple (chopped finely) 1/4 Onion (chopped finely) Garlic Powder Worcestershire Sauce Kosher Salt Fresh Ground Pepper Cran-Mayo Cranberry Sauce (may substitute with any tart fruit sauce) Mayonnaise I usually use a raw breakfast sausage, but whatever kind of sausage you like is fine. Using your hands, mix all the burger ingredients together so that they are equally dispersed.... Mix 1 part cranberry sauce to 2 parts mayonnaise together.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-15T12:19:15-07:00

So, I'm a dog lover.... This is going way too far. Who, I ask WHO paints their dogs claws? Are the dogs walking around with bare nails jealous of their fashion forward counterparts? Do they feel less loved by their owners? I think if I tried to paint Fritz's nails, he'd escape from the yard at the first opportunity and never come back...ever and I wouldn't blame him.

Rhett & Link

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-15T10:53:31-07:00

Rhett & Link www.rhettandlink.com They're like a cross between You Tube + Homestar Runner + Jack Black and that = entertainment. Here's just a sampling. Grammys '07

Hooked on Phonics did not work for you

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-09T12:49:33-07:00

The name of my employer is not a word that the average American encounters on a daily basis but the calls I receive are from customers.... Of all people, I would expect them to be able to pronounce the name of our company and the names of our products. ...Anyone who has lived since the advent of the Palm Pilot should know the word stylus. Anyone who has ever taken a science class in their life should know the word atmosphere. Anyone who has ever heard any of the following film trilogies; Star Wars, The Godfather, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings, The Santa Clause, Shrek, Spider Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, or The Bourne Trilogy, (just to name a few) or is acquainted with the number 3 should understand the word trilogy. ...The thing that really makes me laugh is that even if I correct them, they still say it wrong.

www.Wednesday.what?

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-08T10:32:44-07:00

I'm officially making Wednesday the day for wacky online findings. The world wide web is chuck full of ridiculousness and I need a new weekly theme. ...To kick off wacky Wednesdays I'd like to point you to the wackiest blog I have had the fun of reading. This blog is authored by a guy from my church who also happens to be a policeman. I'm not sure what his name is but I am sure that he is hilarious. Trust me it's well worth your time to go back into the archives and catch up on all his posts, that is, if you have the stomach for it.

Shark Week

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-08-07T14:31:00-07:00

But it turns out that I, along with the rest of you who revel in such quality programming, don't have to worry because there is a host of shark delights on discovery.com!... I suppose there are other animals in our world with those same characteristics like say lions, tigers and bears (go ahead...you know you want to say it). ...The way I see it, all 269 of those attacks were on people who never expected to be part of that statistic, and I see no reason that would keep me from being a part of the same statistic.... I know that the chances of being involved in a horrible accident like this one in Kentucky are so slim that I actually have a better chance of swallowing a spider in my sleep this year. ...I always learn something new about sharks during this great Discovery channel 'Shark Week' and end up with a bunch of trivia that I get teased in merciless fashion for sharing. I'm convinced that sharks are not as freaky as Spielberg would have me believe, but I think I'll still stay out of the water just the same.

The Boat

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-31T14:38:45-07:00

Mom and Dad came through with a great shot of the boat in all its glory Did I mention that the horn was a complete chord? Oh yeah.... THANKS M & D!

Resolved MySpace

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-28T21:48:56-07:00

Hey all you MySpacers - The Resolved Conference now has a MySpace! Add it to your friends list. http://www.myspace.com/resolvedconference

ENGRISH

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-28T13:03:27-07:00

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The Drying Brook Continued...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-27T10:19:35-07:00

Back in the beginning of July, I posted a link to one of the blogs I frequent, Pyromaniacs. This blog is always a great read, but on that particular day I was super encouraged by Phil Johnson's post called the Drying Brook. Since then Phil has continued posting on the lessons we learn from Elijah's experience.... Part 3 The Sufficiency of God's Grace Part 4 Why Did God Let that Brook go Dry? ...In fact, just bookmark the page and check it every day!

Anniversary II: Curse of The Village People

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-25T19:54:00-07:00

I ran home and found a great little hotel on one of those cheap hotel sites with a description that said it was "European Style" city accommodations which I knew would mean small in size and amenities, but the pictures looked great and it was only a few blocks from the water. ...The lobby was nice enough and the workers were helpful so we checked in and rode up to our floor in the 2nd scariest elevator I've ever been in (1st scariest was in Russia). ...After a lovely walk on the water front we made our way over to a great restaurant right on the water and sat down for what we had heard would be a great dinner.... The next stop was a handsome cab ride and on the way John just happened to call up the bank and discover that the waitress had given herself a $20 tip!!... We called up the restaurant manager and explained that the "waitress" had not served us at all and we were pretty disappointed with the experience and then that there was and extra $20 charge on our card. ...After a very uncomfortable night's sleep on the tiny bed we spent a redeeming day at Sea World which is one of my favorite places (I love manatees), and were very thankful to get back home.

Hume Lake

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-23T12:24:07-07:00

For those of you who have been following my blog (all 2 of you, including my Mom) You'll remember that I wrote a bunch of posts about my camping memories in anticipation of the first JLM camping trip this summer.... So we packed up all our gear including our brand new 2 mantle propane lantern (I love the sound of propane lanterns), threw Fritz in the car and headed up the 4 hour drive to the sequoias. Since we were going to be sitting in on indoor camp sessions we knew we couldn't take Fritz with us, so we dropped him off at doggie heaven in Reedley. ...I was expecting that there would be alot of funny stories to tell of the ridiculous things that happened, but nothing really ridiculous happened, probably because we didn't bring Fritz. ...After we set up the site, we walked over to the Christian Camp and sneaked in the back of the big rock concert for the Jr Highers. ...Not long after this picture we paddled to shore and as John got out of the canoe it tipped, filling up with water and soaking us up to our waists!

ENGRISH

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-16T15:53:42-07:00

Global Warming Strikes Again. This weeks victim?... pet-bottle-yarn.jpg WARNING - The operators of Engrish.com decided to do an "adult english" week. Now is not a good time to poke around the site. I did appreciate that the home page gave fair warning so I didn't have to see anything.

Anniversary I: Bubbles at the Bowl with Groban

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-15T10:22:04-07:00

45 minutes later, 15 minutes after the concert started, we finally arrived at the Bowl, only to discover that there was no parking for miles around.... We had to drive another 15 minutes up Cahuenga Blvd to some forsaken parking lot where there was a shuttle that would take us back down to the Bowl.... We could hear the sweet but distant sound of Monica Mancini singing "Moon River" which is one of John's favorite songs.... The 2nd half started and we discovered that our great seats were not that great after all thanks to the one we now affectionately call “the bubble lady” seated in the handicap section above and behind us. She had a bubble gun that she thought would just absolutely delight the crowd and would hold it over our row, actually over our heads, and pull the trigger.... We looked up at her and she simply smiled back at us, as if to say "Aren't bubbles great?"... She looked so shocked that we didn’t see the joy of those little bubbles floating out over the crowd.

New Pool for the Fourth

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-11T11:58:57-07:00

When your source of air conditioning is a window unit and some fans and it's 103 degrees at 5 pm you gotta do something. So we did. We had been eyeing those inflatable pools online and had decided after the next payday we'd go for it. But then we just happened to be in Walmart and found a great pool that is bigger and less expensive than what we had been looking at. The Fourth of July being upon us, we sprung for it.... I'm so glad we did!

Side Note

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-10T16:50:54-07:00

FYI - I added a LINKS page to the right column where I have a list of the blogs I like to visit.

Confessions of a Blerd

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-10T09:49:50-07:00

I'm a blerd.... I have indeed become a blog nerd. Probably because I have the type of job where I have to keep myself busy while sitting at my desk answering phone calls and I can only check for new items at Pottery Barn so many times a day. Of course, I love to check out friend's blogs and blogs from people I haven't seen in a while, but there are also a few discussion blogs that have made it to my bookmarks page. This week, I was super encouraged by Phil Johnson's post on Pyromaniacs called the Drying Brook. Since I cannot possibly improve on this post, I'll let you read it for yourself HERE.

Star Sighting

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-05T20:13:24-07:00

Anytime I was down in the ritzy parts of town, I'd keep my eyes peeled for a recognizable face, but I soon realized that most of the faces were tourists keeping their eyes peeled for faces they recognized.... Actually, most of the brushes I've had were with character actor types that I see and think, "Hey!... I'm sure actors like that get tired of people looking at them trying to decide if they knew them from high school or have seen them on some TV show. ...Today I was at the local bakery/cafe (on my list, of course) doing the daily lunch run when I noticed a couple in line waiting to order.... At first I thought he was just a guy who looked like someone famous which happens quite often.... The funniest thing was that the woman who took their food order obviously had no clue who he was and interrupted his order several times.

Clam Diggin'

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-07-03T10:44:30-07:00

You see, clams tend to stay pretty shallow in the sand until they sense trouble, and as soon as they do they spit sand and water either as a defense mechanism or as some sort of a propulsion, I'm not sure which (at least, I always preferred to think of it as spit and not something else). As soon as you see that gleaming stream of clamminess you’ve gotta dig like mad after it because those clams are nothing if not professional tunnel diggers.... I'm pretty sure my little kid brain was so disgusted by those slimy, rubbery blobs that I blocked the rest of my memories permanently. ...The cornmeal was to be consumed by the live clams in the hopes it would force out all the sand from their tiny little digestive tracts.... They were so delicious dipped in a little butter but we also saved lots for the clam chowder cook-off, which became a chili cook-off when we could no longer get clams. One of the great family camp mysteries is what happened to the steamer basket from my clam pot--it just vanished into thin air one year at Camano."....

Engrish

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-27T11:10:33-07:00

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John Martin

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-25T13:53:42-07:00

It's been almost 8 years since we met at the TMC Chorale retreat in August of 1999 and 7 1/2 since our first date in February of 2000. It's been almost 5 years since the day he proposed in September of 2002 and 4 years today from when we took our vows, June 25, 2003. ...He never considers a service opportunity to be below him and he submits to what the leadership has asked of him, regardless of style or preference.... When criticized, he does not respond in self-pity or anger, but rather listens, applies any truth and moves on without holding a grudge. ...He is a good steward of our finances and our home, but he is not cheap or stingy always willing to give to others. On many occasions he has gone without so that he could supply the need of a friend.

Youth Site

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-23T19:05:30-07:00

.....As we got older and less inclined to hang out with our parents we loved to designate an empty site as the "youth site." We wouldn't set up any tents or anything like that, we would just make sure it was supplied with firewood. Every evening we'd bring over snacks, sodas and a boom box and hang out for hours talking, laughing, telling stories and singing our favorite worship songs.... We'd pretty much stay out of trouble except for the occasional noise warning, but there was one year we decided to go to the beach after hours. We all piled in the back of Larry Roe's truck and drove down the hill to the beach to play capture the flag. To my recollection, we had played only 15 minutes when Ranger Roy drove up to scold us for breaking the rules.

Tarp City

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-22T11:44:38-07:00

.....For many years Family Camp was around the first week of July. In the green state of Washington, the 4th of July weekend is statistically the rainiest weekend of the year.... The dads (I'm sure led by my Dad and Jim Martin) would rig up tarps all over the camp ground so that you could walk from site to site and never be in the rain.... The whole group campground had an odd blue glow and the rain sounded about 20x louder than normal....but it was super cool. If Google earth had a feature where you could see satellite photos from the past, I'd look up Camano Island State Park Campground in July of 1990. I wonder if we threw off any overhead flights or attracted NASA's attention.....

Chicken Fingers with Apricot Sauce

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-21T23:18:12-07:00

Sauce 2/3 cup apricot preserves 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons ketchup 6 slices unpeeled fresh ginger Freshly squeezed juice from 1/2 a lemon ...Combine the preserves, soy sauce, ketchup, and ginger in a small microwave-safe bowl.... Chicken 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders (or just breasts cut into 3rds) 2 cups panko (Japanese coarse bread crumbs) 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning 3 large eggs Vegetable oil for frying Freshly ground black pepper 1 lemon, cut into wedges ...Set a rack on a baking sheet, put it in the oven and preheat to 200 F. Toss the panko, lemon zest and 2 teaspoons salt in a shallow bowl or pie plate. ...Season the chicken with the salt and pepper to taste, dip in the eggs, and then press into the bread crumb mixture to coat evenly, shaking off any excess.

FRITZ-TV02

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-20T22:45:33-07:00

Mountain View Pictures Presents: Fritz Vs. The Sprinkler

Flaming Marshmallows and The Curse of the Big Toe

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-20T00:05:52-07:00

Sometime around the very first family camp we were sitting around the fire roasting marshmallows and no doubt singing silly songs when Beth's marshmallow caught fire. She swung her roasting stick up fast to blow out the fire before it turned a perfectly roasted mallow into a charred smokey mess.... In fact, I don't remember the actual event at all, but every time I roast marshmallows I think to myself, "beware the flying flaming mallow." ...Kaleo and I were planning to ride on the cliff trail through the forest and as we rode out of her site, her mom yelled after us, "don't ride your bike in flip-flops!"... "What could happ...AHHHH" About 25 feet up the loop the gear slipped and my foot slid right off the pedal and into the front wheel wedging my big toe between the bar and spokes.... It started as a pretty weird looking dent then quickly swelled up to look like a sausage that had been microwaved too long. And so began the curse of the big toe.

Crabs Walk Sideways and Maltida Jean

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-19T22:40:35-07:00

In the group campground the church reserved every summer there were about 12 big sites on a loop road with a parking area in the middle, an amphitheater on one side and the stinkiest outhouses in the world on the other. ...It was at a camping/outdoors store in Everett and Dad got one that was so durable, I think they still have it some 20 years later. ...Every evening we would all gather in different sites and play cards or tell stories or just watch the fire, but inevitably our site would gather the largest crowd as Dad broke out the guitar.... "Crabs walk sideways and lobsters walk straight so we won't let you taker her for your mate" , "I knows it, knows it, indeed I knows it broder, I knows it, WEE, dem bones gonna rise again" , "Sweet Violet, sweeter than all the roses, covered all over from head to toe, covered all over with sweet violets" and many more.... I think we would have read more, but it took so long to get through that much for all the laughter that we couldn't take any more.... I can just picture it now, about 20 of us all gathered around one small fire howling as Dad squeezed out as much sentence as he could, becoming each character, before bursting into laughter, his deep voice reaching new tenor heights as he attempted to read on. I've listened to some of the stories on tape recently and I'm pretty sure I didn't get alot of the humor, but I loved when Dad read them.......

The Boat Ride to Camano Island

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-18T13:05:54-07:00

Every summer, when I was a kid in WA, my family would pack up the car and homemade trailer and head out for the annual church family camp on Camano Island.... For many years we had a "very comfortable" car we affectionately referred to as The Boat, not only because it was ginormous and blue, but also because every one of us was confident that if we were to ever have an accident where we ended up in a body of water - we'd float.... Now, the boat was already exactly 1 inch longer than the 17 passenger vans my school used to bus around the basketball team and with the trailer....I'm sure we would have qualified as a semi in some states. If we had to stop at a store on the way to pick up last minute items, we'd have to look for 2 parking spots back to back or a bus parking spot at the far end of the lot. To add to the humor of our already odd transportation, we would load up our 3 ten-speeds and Dad would somehow manage to wedge the mattress from the hide-a-bed, all rolled up like a burrito, in between the bikes so that it sat awkwardly protruding out past all 6 wheels.... I don't remember much about backing the boat/trailer into the campsite, but until we got the trailer unhitched, the trunk unpacked, and the boat moved to the parking lot (in the longest spot, mind you) I'm pretty sure we blocked the group-site-loop from any other normal sized cars trying to get through.

Engrish

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-06T22:17:46-07:00

um.....

Disneyland

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-06T12:27:11-07:00

Nothing like going to Disneyland with 6 kids between the ages of 8 months and 5 years. I've never spent so much time in Fantasyland.... It's a totally different experience with little kids. John and I had annual passes for 3 years and would go at least once a month....but we never had to consider naps, height limits, scare levels, or where the characters were at any given time. I've never left Disneyland so tired, but it was so worth it. To see the kids' faces light up as they discovered each new magical facet of the happiest place on earth was, well, magical!

Gardening

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-06-01T15:11:41-07:00

I've always enjoyed it...but never had much time for it. I would spend an entire weekend working on the yard about twice a year and always end up with little to show for it. But NOW that I'm home in the afternoons I get to really garden! I love it! Below are some pics from this Spring's garden.... May 30, 2007

In-N-Out

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-05-14T17:22:43-07:00

Fritz had his first In-N-Out burger over the weekend. By first, I don't intend to imply that there will be a second or third....I'm pretty sure there won't be, but you never know what'll happen when it's just John and Fritz for the weekend.

Engrish

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-05-14T17:14:05-07:00

It actually IS the shoes...

Healthy Hawaiian Stir Fry

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-05-08T18:07:17-07:00

2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar 1 Tbsp Raw Sugar 5 Tbsp Soy Sauce (or lite soy sauce) 1/2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce 1/4 Tsp Ground Black Pepper 7 oz Round Steak, cut into strips 1/2 C Bean Sprouts 1/2 C Green or Red Pepper, sliced into strips 1 C Green (Napa) Cabbage, sliced into strips 1 C Fresh Pineapple, cubed In a small bowl, mix the vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce and pepper together. Spray the skillet with a small amount of cooking spray (if desired). Turn on medium heat and add the sauce mixture and the meat, cook over medium heat about 5 minutes (add water if needed). Add the bean sprouts, bell pepper and cabbage and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the pineapple, stir and cook until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are crisp-tender.

Beth's Birthday

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-05-04T10:27:32-07:00

She is a true FRIEND, never afraid to tell me what I need to hear, whether I like it or not : ), always willing to listen and someone I can really count on to be there for the long haul. ...You can often tell the caliber of parenting in a home by the way the children interact with others.... They are respectful and obedient, they play hard and love to have fun, they love each other and are excited to be with others. ...She has an eye for design and is not afraid to put in the work to keep it fresh and interesting.... She lets them feel comfortable at home playing with their toys and teaches them how to clean up after themselves.... Always welcoming people into their home, whether they were invited or not, and always ready to share a meal.

New Smoothie Recipe

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-05-01T11:41:53-07:00

Tea-licious 1 cup strongly brewed peppermint tea, cooled 1/2 cup lemon sorbet 1 1/2 cups frozen orange segments 1/2 cup frozen grapefruit segments Combine the tea and sorbet in a blender. Add the orange and grapefruit segments. Blend until smooth. Garnish with a fresh orange or lemon wedge.

Engrish

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-05-01T10:26:42-07:00

Starbucks' Stinky Competitor

Kid Drummer

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-04-30T10:00:53-07:00

Check out this drummer! He's only 2 and he's got rhythm!

Batterista a 2 anni
Uploaded by cybermac

Engrish

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-04-26T13:28:55-07:00

My friend Holly introduced me to this gem of a site. www.engrish.com Here's a taste FRY me to the moon? er...

The Vet

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-04-26T12:44:42-07:00

Fritz has been to the vet more times than any other dog we've had and is thereby the most expensive dog either of us have ever had. We did buy him as a puppy so we had the normal puppy vet expenses with shots and de-wormings and check-ups, but Fritz has also had -1 emergency vet visit for a bad allergic reaction to something (still don't know what) that caused massive quilty, body-covering hives and severe face swelling...this was pretty funny looking (see photo #18). ...-then there was the time he chased a cat from a cold start and ripped up his toe nails so bad I couldn't get them to stop bleeding. -and finally, he went because he got a cold that turned into bronchitis, which could have turned into pneumonia.... Look...I'm not one of those dog people who buys clothes for their pet...I just don't want to see a vet bill that size ever again.

"Parent Protection"

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-04-26T10:21:59-07:00

Those of you out there who have had baby boys will probably see the practicality of this particular item. I see the humor. I do appreciate the protection from untimely squirts and of course the modesty...but c'mon....WEEBLOCK?

Fritz Martin

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-04-25T00:00:32-07:00

Fritz is our 3 year old, 70lb Boxer. He's our kid and we love him. He is FULL of personality and loves meeting new people. ...-Guest Mode- Overly excited and jumpy, can't sit or stand still. -Home Mode- Quiet, cuddly, and generally sleepy, although he does have sporadic bursts of rough housing. ...Sneaking up on the couch- which is not allowed.

if you can't beat em...

johnandlis@mac.com — 2007-04-24T15:34:58-07:00

So....John and I have been in the website world for quite a while, but we haven't been good at keeping it up. Here is my attempt to re-join the webolution. Hope you enjoy!