So Much Stuff I Can't Recall

• The Lost Treasure
  Fly through a small tunnel, blow up a munitions truck on a suspension bridge, then nix a zepplin and a bunch of enemy fighter planes
  
  
• The Bomber Heist
  Shoot down a mess of fighter planes, including an ace pilot and two bombers. Then sneak up on a third bomber so your pilot can jump out of his plane, land on the bomber's wing and kick out the enemy pilots (this last part is done in an animated cut-scene)
  
  
• The Secret Invasion
  Blow up a British base, including point-defense air balloons.
  
  Phil skipped the part where you blow up a forced-labor camp because it's really easy to crash your plane while strafing the guardtowers, barracks and pillboxes.

Fun. Fun. Fun.

Last month's was 20% of a book.

So this would be different.

Coupon expires 10/4 (good buddy).

• Phil and his fishing rod
  
  
• Fishing at Triangle Lake
  
  
• Phil discovered a better use for the bait:  1   2
  
  
• Phil and the catch-of-the-day*

Phil sat in his seat until the final dance number when he ran up to the front of the theater to boogie down. We'll have to wait until the DVD comes out to find out what happens to Donkey and Dragon, since we didn't stay through the credits (shouldn't of bought the big soda to share).

Good movie. Good times.

I've moved on to a novel by James Patterson, When the Wind Blows; I'm kinda hoping the book's a stinker (the other books of his I've read have been mixed bags) so I can title the review "It blows all right" and the blog entry "Thar she blows: Another book review." I don't think I can use a "blows" pun if it's good.

Why you should read my review of The Fly on the Wall: If you've been following the CBS memo flap - and who hasn't - you know all about what technology was or wasn't extant in the early 70s. While avoiding the political angle, I look at what else passed for high tech way back when. It isn't pretty (the tech; you can decide for yourself if the review's pretty after you read it).

Why you should read my review of 20-Q: In the event you aren't blessed with one of these this Christmas, I include a URL where you can play it online (but that's no reason to stop behaving).

Phil and I stopped in at the Eugene store (I'd say "the local store," but it's really not) this afternoon. He wanted Nuclear Physics: A Preschool Primer, but I reminded him that Christmas is coming and to put it on his Santa List. I was stymied as to what to get until I saw Baudolino, by Umberto Eco, which has been on my Santa List for the past two years. It was marked down to $5.99, so even if they hadn't accepted the coupon I wouldn't be out a whole lot. But they did take the coupon and I saved $1.20 and got it for $4.79 (original retail was $27). What a deal for me.

Don't miss out on your chance to steal a deal - the coupon expires tomorrow.

As the photos (and blog entry title) show, there was a baseball theme:

• Phil's 100 mph Fastball
  
  
• Phil & Lauren
  
  
• At the Party Table #1
  
  
• At the Party Table #2
  
  
• At the Party Table #3
  
  
• Zack and Daisy (another of Phil's friends)
  
  
• Self Portrait
  
  

Why you should read my review of I Spy Ultimate Challenger: I go into detail about the book's shortcomings, as well as exploring what exactly "ultimate" means. Plus, with the help of Mssrs. Strunk & White I deftly avoid the hideous less/fewer trap. That's worth the price of admission right there.

After 2 weeks with the Google ads, I've already earned my first dollar (actually, I'm up to a buck-ninety-six).

Hopefully you've found some good info, those of you who've clicked on the ads. I've actually had some come up that I've been tempted to click on; but, alas, that violates the rules of the game. So, thank you for your support.

Sure beats selling seeds.

Right now we have his Thomas the Tank Engine set built around part of it, making an extremely small (both in size and scope) amusement park (the amusement is also limited). Here are some pix:

• Overview 1
  
  
• Overview 2
  (note second rollercoaster loop goes under train bridge)
  
  
• Action 1
  (Batmobile enters second rollercoaster loop)
  
  
• Action 2*
  (Batmobile about to enter train tunnel)
  
  
• The Big Leap
  (Batmobile jumps over train shed, see arrow)

If you haven't voted on a review lately (or ever), please check them out. Links are over to the right as well as in blog entries with reasons why you might want to read the review.

The first review is for John Sandford's stand-alone novel, The Night Crew.

Why you should read my review of The Night Crew: I use the phrase "manly-men." Unless you are a "girly-man" you will read my review right now.

The second review is for Dorothy L. Sayers' first novel, Whose Body?. Although I read this book before The Night Crew, I submitted the review for TNC first. Must be the jet lag. In other news, I've only got 4 more Sayers novels/collections to go before I've read them all. I believe they give golden monocles to people who finish the series.

Why you should read my review of Whose Body?: I confess to being a "backwards individual" - read the review and find out why.

Then, on the plane from LAX to SFO Phil got his hands on the camera and took these pictures:

• Phil says this is a picture of his eye
  (since he hasn't been walking into walls it doesn't seem to have caused optic nerve damage)
  
  
• Philip seems to have considerably more leg room than Mom
  
  
• A Phil's-eye view of California mountains
  
  
• A Phil's-eye view of California coastline
  
  
• A Phil's-eye view of an airplane wing
  
  
• Lovely airline upholstery
  
  
• Phil's sippycup and tray table
  
  
• Plane mates
  
  
• Mom is holding up well
  
  
• Photo of the artist as a young man

• Grammy & Poppa's Car
  (that's Mom peeking out the window)
  
  
• The Shredder
  
  
• Poppa's Wireless Headphones
  
  
• The Remote Controller
  
  
• The Handle on Poppa's Recliner

This afternoon I made it back to three of them. I went to:

• Wienerschnitzel
  Chili Cheese Dog
  BBQ Bacon Dog
  Corn Dog
  
  
• In-N-Out Burger
  Grilled Cheese with Mustard & Tomato
  Well-Done French Fries
  
  
• Hot Dog on a Stick
  Hot Dog on a Stick
  Lemonade

Fortunately, there's no Erik's Deli Cafe in the neighborhood or I'd have made it a "fourfecta" with a Marrakech Express and bypass surgery.

Meet the family:

• Mama
  
  
• Dad
  
  
• Poppa
  
  
• Grammy
  
  
• Uncle Bob
  
  
• Aunt Cleo
  
  
• Cousin Steve
  
  
• Cousin Laura
  
  
• Cousin Keira
  
  
• Cousin Scott
  
  
• Scott's Girlfriend, Cindy

• Barstool
  
  
• Phil's Feet
  
  
• Still Life: Potted Plant and Sippy Cup

• Phil & Mama in the Comfy Chair
  
  
• Cousin Keira Tries to Get Some Rest
  
  
• The Boy with Some Toys
  
  
• Phil in the Garden

• Playing the arcade version of "the airplane game" -  1   2   3
  
  
• Driving a Monster Truck -  1   2
  
  
• Shooting Some Hoop -  1   2   3
  
  
• Playing in the Giant HabiTrail -  1   2
  
  
• At the Prize Wall -  1

Why you should read my review of The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing: I use the phrase "deal-a-mealy." I like that phrase. Plus, if you don't know what to do with yourself with too much time on your hands (welcome to my life), head on over to Amazon and kill some time checking out the review.

In other news, their back yard has been designated a SuperFund clean-up site due to hazardous toxins in the soil and water table.

Oh well, it looks like it was worth the damage to the ecosystem.

1   2   3   

• Profile in Philage
  
  
• Cousin Nick Attacks the Philster
  
  
• Cousins Will, [Phil,] Jack & Nick
  
  
• Chowing down with Jack and Will
  
  
• Being Cool with Jack
  
  
• Faces Only Their Mothers Could and/or Would Love
  
  
• Pitching a (well-mannered) Fit
  
  
• Before Saying Goodbye to Uncle Bill, Aunt Brenda & the Boys

And here's a shot I neglected to post yesterday of Phil with his 3-Wheel Motorcycle.

• Phil and Thomas
  
  
• Playing with Toy Trains
  
  
• When Trains Collide
  
  
• The Puzzlemeistress
  
  
• Like Christmas in September
  
  
• Phil and His Manly Tattoo
  
  
• Phil, Grammy and Dina on Parade
  
  
• Riding on Thomas
  
  
• View from the Train
  
  
• Phil & Dina #1
  
  
• Phil & Dina #2
  
  
• Thomas the Tank Engine Gets 2 Thumbs Up
  
  
• Been There, Done That, Got the T-Shirt
  
  

Ansel Adams or Allen Funt? You be the judge:

• Nice Pants
  
  
• Fixing the Bubble Gun
  
  
• Snazzy Sneakers
  
  

We're down in Ventura with her folks (Grammy and Poppa) for a few days. This afternoon we're doing a Thomas the Tank Engine thing in Fillmore (shhhh ... Phil doesn't know about it yet). Tomorrow we're getting together with my brother and his family for some exciting Labor Day shopping opportunities in Oxnard.

I'll try and post pictures of the goings-on while we're down here, but things may have to wait 'til we get home.