Gary
6/30/08
New photo today, from Sean. Thanks, Sean!

You are welcome, Livy! About the contest, the details are here. You have to make a movie of your creature, then upload it to YouTube (you have to register with YouTube first). I don't have any other advice because I haven't done it. Good luck if you do! Winner gets a trip to Washington DC and the Smithsonian Institute. --Gary

I can come over for lunch. See you then! --Gary

I've gotten more fun out of the free Creature Creator than I have out of some whole games I've bought. Way to go on the iPod Touch! I'm jealous! --Gary

That purchase is already budgeted. :-) And speaking of storms, one just now passed through here (11-11:30 am) that was a real monsoon. Sky was dark as night, almost, and the storm drains couldn't keep up so the streets were full of water. --Gary

The Spore "Creature Creator" is already out, released for free so the eager fans could get their hands on it. The free download is a stripped-down version; the full version costs ten bucks, but that price is deducted from the actual game when you buy it a few months from now. You can download it here, and also see lots of Spore gameplay videos. (The Creature Creator is already installed on Grandma's computer -- just ask Tristen and Teghan!)

Everybody will be talking about this game in a few months, so now you're ahead of the game. :-)

Also, if you go to our You Tube Page you can view the 6 videos from the recital. Also still on there are the rehearsal vidoes we shot from the audience. The recital videos are nicer, but don't focus on the T's....

No cell phone (yes, I live in the dark ages), so I went to the police station to use their phone. And learned that the police station closes at 4 pm... As Donna later said, good thing there's no crime after 4. So I tried the pay phone across the street: out of order. And then to the Vietnamese nail salon on the corner. Hoping the powerful chemical smells there weren't causing permanent brain damage, I asked to use the phone behind the counter. She said no, but did offer me her cell phone -- after first instructing me, "No long distance!" I couldn't get it to work, so one of the patrons said I could use hers -- "Just reach in my purse...it's on the side...no, further over...etc." This one paid off, so I called Paul.

He arrived in a few minutes. I was hoping he would just give us a ride to Grandma's, and I would have the car towed to my shop for new tires. But like a NASCAR pit crew, he got out his tools and changed the tire. The spare was a little low, but driveable enough to go a few blocks down the street where we pumped some air into it.

So we were back on the road only 45 minutes after the blowout. Monday: New tires! Thanks again, Paul, for the rescue. Thanks to you, I didn't have to send Grandma home with a complete stranger, like on June 20, 2005!

We have a name for that where I work. (Or a phrase, actually.) When somebody's writing assignment is very overdue, we often hear a variation of this: "My paper is two months overdue because I was sick yesterday." :-) --Gary

Well, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure any day now Bush will fly over the area in his plane, and everything will be ok... --Gary

We got our rebate check, as scheduled on May 16th. I have heard that Sean is still waiting... Are you all getting it by mail? We got direct deposit and I know my mom & my friend Amber got theirs too and via direct deposit.

Erika's driving abilities are improving! However, the other driver in car is pretty bad. She told me today that this kid took a turn at 50 mph and jumped the median. Poor Erika bumped her head on the way up and her elbow on the way down. I'm not sure how much the teacher is getting paid for this job, but she deserves a raise :)

Anna -- thank you for the note and gift card -- Emily and I went shopping this morning. I got myself some treats -- Donna, I also used the Barnes and Noble card today. So lots of shopping and not spending much -- thanks to you both!!

Oh, one more question for all you tax payers -- Has anyone gotten their stimulus check yet? We were scheduled to get ours on May 23 (according to the IRS payment schedule). But are still waiting. Brent even went to our local State Rep office for an answer (since the web site did not list a phone number). We got a letter back from the Reps office today saying it "should" be here by July 20th.

Re: stimulus check: Haven't even gotten the "here it comes" letter yet... --Gary

What made Burma Shave famous was their clever advertising: Instead of a single billboard they placed a series of six small signs spaced out over half a mile or so, each sign bearing one line of a four or five-line "poem" and the final sign always read "Burma Shave." As you drove along, the poem unfolded itself line by line. The poems were an odd mixture of pushing their product and encouraging highway safety. Anyone who drove or rode on the highways in those days remembers Burma Shave. Hope you enjoy Burma Shave Week!

Amanda sent in this photo from the MSNBC site: "Buildings and debris are seen floating in the Cedar River against a railroad bridge Saturday, June 14, 2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Days after it rose out of its banks on its way to record flooding in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar River has forced at least 24,000 people from their homes, emergency officials said Saturday."

Been there! :-) Good place. No sit-down at all -- you order through a walk-up window. Wide variety of excellent dogs, though. And it's cash only -- no cards. --Gary

Total shock and surprise. It's a real shame. I know he was having the time of his life during this amazing campaign season; in fact, I wonder if covering it 24 hours a day, seven days a week didn't push him too far.... --Gary

Ouch! I will try to come over for lunch -- see you then! --Gary

Oh Gary I forgot to tell you when the crossword was up, but I finished it the word is Mojo.

You got it! (Game is over, so the word is revealed....) The speed limit in Iowa is 70, Erika, so if your teacher tries to trick you into going 80, don't fall for it! :-) --Gary

I hear Lori did get back, though delayed. Not sure on the specifics though.

Erika. For once, I am glad you guys DON'T live in Lincoln. Every other opportunity I think we would all agree we wish everyone lived here. However, I am glad you are two hours away & driving there & not here!

P.S. Erika, Where are your glasses? Semi's are bigger than you, they can run over you! Did you have a substitute teacher today?

Just dropped Erika off at drivers ed class. Yesterday when I picked her up, I asked how class went. She grinned and said the teacher gave her a "special honor." I was very excited for her and asked what it was for -- "scaring the teacher the worst for the week." I asked Erika what happened, she answered "I didn't see the semi." Yikes!! Good news is, the truck was turning....... Let's see she still has about 3 more weeks of class -- I think this is a good thing :)

P.S.: Is the crossword puzzle really that hard, that only two people have finished it...? :-)

You got the secret word! Thanks for playing it. These puzzles are not that hard to do, so I'll try to make them a frequent feature. --Gary

Emily is the first in with the right answer -- which I masked out above. Glad you enjoyed it, Emily! --Gary

And I just noticed on their site if you go to Try Recipes you can drop down menu the product you have & search for recipes using that product, how cool!

I became addicted to this garlic dip last night, and asked Amanda to reveal the source. Thanks, Amanda! --Gary

Erika, GREAT smile. ;-)

There was only one other girl in Erika's group this year, and they did a tap dance with hula hoops to "The Hippy Hippy Shake". Mom and I both agreed that it was one of the top performances.

At the end of the recital all of the girls from the studio did a big finale dance. Erika even got to lead her own group of little girls through it. The little mermaid girl in the pictures espcially liked Erika :)

It was a fun afternoon, I'd never watched a recital live before!

Photos here. Thanks, Emily -- and good show, Erika! --Gary