"Ted", WE just call him "Ted"

Ted was in Jim's Boy Scout Troop, (Troop 10, Newport Beach California, he was "Teddy" back then).

He attended Newport Harbor High School with Jim and yours truely. His sister was a cheerleader.

He was gorgeous, a perfect example of the insanely, jaw dropping, excuse me while I wipe the drool from my chin, specimens at my High School. And... he was a drama geek. I mean GEEK! They would patrol the halls, always in packs of 8 or more, too loud, too in your face.

I despised them. AND I WAS A BAND GEEK.

For me to judge the beautiful people, seems almost criminal, but you really had to experience this band of thespians invading your personal space and you'd be right there with me, bandy geeky and all, wanting them hurt.

Here's some Ted Trivia:

Ted was the captain of the water-polo team in college.

Member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Took a 16-year-old Brooke Shields to her Dwight Englewood senior prom in 1982.

He was in Love Boat and Happy Days.

(I LOVE this one!) "Patron saint" of the website "Jump the Shark" (a phrase describing an event in a TV show that marks the start of the show's decline) because of his frequent roles as a fresh or a replacement character shortly before the termination of many shows.

Before taking the role of Jefferson D'Arcy on "Married with Children" (1987), he played Peggy's husband in a Christmas fantasy episode in which Al wonders what life would have been like if he had never been born.

Ted McGinley, but we just called him "Ted"

Trains

My husband is downstairs right now, ripping apart his train set. You read that right. He is 50+ and he has a train set. I might add, it's a kick-ass train set.

Over the years, he's employed the family to contribute. Sarah and Josh installed a lovely

white-trash trailer. It has a car on blocks and is on the "wrong side of the tracks". (Duh)

Scott constructed a warehouse that is so detailed it deserves a good inspection.

There is a baseball field, a cemetary with mourners and an open grave. There are cars and trucks, some in the aftermath of a crash.

A haunted house sits on the hill and there is even a hobo's cave near the train tunnel.

All in all, it's pretty cool.

But read the beginning of this post again and you'll see, HE IS RIPPING IT APART!

Cause, you see folks, he is his father... His dad always had to have a project and Jim is just following his genes.

It's time for a new train layout. The kids and grandkids can't wait to get down and dirty composing the new and improved one. Trust me, it's a good thing!

(Good grief, I hear wood splintering, that can't be good...)

Crocs for the Cure

Could this be the #1 "Crap for the Cure"? Me thinks it could be...

Josh, my son-in-law. And Hayden...

It's as though he is being doused by an unknown.

Joshie, honey, that's you squirting you...

I titled this, "Josh sissy". Enough said.

Note the similarities...

A blogging slacker, but not a complete slacker...

I am a blogging slacker. I know I'm not the only one, but hell's bells, it's been ages!

This here is a pic of Jim singing in a quartet at our Tualitin Valley Harmony Master's picnic held at your's truly's. He and my dad sing together in a chorus. A SWELL time was had by all at the annual picnic.

There were about 45-50 attendees, much good munchies and lots of really good music. If you've never heard Barbershop 4-part harmony then, well I'm sorry for you. I was raised with it, (as were my own kids) and I can tell you it's mighty fine stuff. My sister Sarah, my Dad, Doug and I also performed with an old Hillbilly song my parents uesd to sing, called "Way Back in the Hills". I can still hear my mom's voice when I sing it. Kind of a good heartbreak.

Anywho, I just wanted you to know I was still kicking, even if it is in 4 part harmony.

I stole the idea for this post, so nah, nah, nah

Rob wrote on his blog about the Police concert he and Sarah just attended and he asked a stellar question...

"Ever think of how many concerts you've been to in your life?

For me -Sugarcubes, Public Image Limited, Living Colour, Depeche Mode, OMD, Sinead O'Connor, Billy Idol, the Cure, Book of Love, The The, Peter Gabriel, Police, Nine inch Nails, David Bowie, Violent Femmes, Afro Celt Sound System, New Order, Fishbone, Janes Addiction... to name a few, Rob"

So here goes my list:

KISS, Alice Cooper, Dan Fogelberg, Genesis, Kenny Logans, John Denver, Julio Englasis, (with Jim's mom!) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Air Supply, The Little River Band, Beach Boys, Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, The Supremes (without Diana Ross, lame), Allison Krauss w/ Union Station, America, and of course The Days the Nights, Tibanna, Red Shelter, and the one that started with an "F", Can't remember for the life of me.

Speaking of The Days the Nights, they are playing on July 25th at Mt Tabor. I shall be there...

What's your list like?

Floating home, a dream that will remain a dream, for now...

Isn't this amazing? Cute as a button, would be so much fun for the family to share?

Yeah that's what we thought too, so Haley Jim and I headed out on a "what the heck" tour of some floating homes Monday afternoon. It all began with this one, cause damn, it only costs $94,000 and the moorage is low, ($350 a month). It has a swim float and you can tie up 2 small boats. The only hiccup was the location, looked a tad industrial. Gawd, if that was the extent of it, but nooooorrrr.

Let's see, Jim said he wouldn't feel safe parking the CAR there. It was right off the freeway and tucked right by the overpass. Still, look at the views...

But it was the walk to the house that did us in. The steps were, um, iffy. There is NO WAY a child could safely make it down them and an adult carrying said child would be terrified! The ramp was three boards laid on a deteriorating excuse for a gangplank. But the worst part of the experience was the DECAY all around! It was so saaaad! Beautiful old tugboats, fishing boats, other floating homes just rotting! No people working on them, heck no people at all. This cute little house just sitting there, (floating there) looking adorable but there's just no way! No Way!

Oh well, it's still fun to look.