An "Ugly Win"

Wow, check out this WILD celebration after squeaking by San Diego State. You'll be pleased to know that I didn't break anything at the house whilst watching this exemplary exhibition of football prowess. I sure hope things get a lot better by next Saturday or it will be one long day at the house that Rockne built. Heading off to Chicago on business Wednesday-Friday and then to South Bend for the weekend and the scUM game. Mom got Camie back t0 Rexburg for the start of her Junior year at BYU-Idaho and will be visiting Kristie the week after I get back.

Ole Rocky Top

We had a fun time going to Tennessee this past weekend for the races at Bristol and to visit Grandma & Grandpa Porter. After arriving in ATL we headed straight to Frontera where we met Josh & Sterling for dinner. Later that evening it was off to Waffle House before retiring. Grandma & Grandpa met us Friday afternoon at Wal-Mart where we dropped off JoAnn and did our shopping for the races. The races were a blast and mom had fun visiting everyone and quilt shopping in old town Murfeesboro.

Next week mom goes with Camie up to Rexburg dropping her off at BYU-Idaho to start her junior year (how fast it's going)!

I'm in Chicago in business the week of September 8 and plan on going to South Bend for the ND-Michigan football game that weekend.

JoAnn is back on the road the following week heading to Birmingham for Kristie & Chris's sealing and to see the grandkids.

Busy, busy, busy...love you all!

-Dad

Think Fast....It's Steely Dan

So much to say, where to start. I've been a fan of Steely Dan since the 70's and they are one of the few bands that I've never been able to see in concert. Mom & I caught their show last night at Honda Center and I will remember it for a number of positive reasons (complete horn section, backing vocalists, best live drumming I've seen in years and finally seeing them LIVE); I will also remember it for a number of less than positive reasons (large number of instrumentals and not touching ANYTHING off of the "Can't Buy a Thrill" album). I think I can speak for Jo as well in that as we get older our tolerance for those folks who should know better in terms of their actions isn't very great...(we saw a lot of "older folks" acting like idiots)! Anyway, I guess I can now cross Steely Dan off my "bucket list" and for those of you who enjoy the finer details here is the set-list.

Orchestra intro:
Everyone's Gone to the Movies
Fez (instrumental)

Royal Scam

I Got the News

Show Biz Kids

Bodhisattva

Two Against Nature

Hey Nineteen

Godwhacker

Home at Last
New Frontier

Gaucho

Babylon Sisters

Parker's Band

Josie

Aja

Love is Like an Itching in My Heart (Supremes cover + band intro)

Peg

My Old School

Encore:

Don't Take me Alive

Kid Charlemagne

Orchestra outro:

Last Tango In Paris (instrumental)

Chapter 12: Dover to LA (July 25):

Those British have perfected the art of queuing. One line to print boarding passes, another to check luggage, another to check for liquids, another to check passports, another to X-ray carry-on luggage and yet another one to scan footwear. Then you wait in one huge common area until about 45 minutes before your flight when your gate is assigned and a massive throng makes out at once for it like the wildebeest migration across the Serengeti. Then as you queue to board they pick out “random” passengers for additional screening (of course your mom was selected). Anyway, we made it and 25 hours since we awoke in Dover, England 4360 Edenwild Lane is a welcome ending place for our journey after 15 days, 5000 miles in the air and 2000 nautical miles by sea. Photos are of our dining room servers and JoAnn’s soon to be popular “Pigeon Toe Tap” dance which will be featured on this years “Dancing with the Stars”!

Musical vibe for the Chapter: CSN: “Just a Song Before I Go”
Smashing Pumpkins: “Farewell and Goodnight”
Towel Fun: Our own Bed!!!

Chapter 11: Amsterdam (July 24):

We entered Amsterdam through a lock system before docking in downtown across from the main train station. The city reminds me of Venice as it is a series of canals instead of streets in the older part of town. For the most part people get around on bicycles and use the ferries and water taxis.

Mom & I had the opted for a tour of the Anne Frank House in lieu of walking the Red Light District or visiting the Coffee Shops (lol). Pictures weren’t allowed inside the house itself but they had a statue of Anne outside. Inside the house the original diary is on display as well as the preserved secret rooms where the family lived in seclusion until being discovered and deported to concentration camps. Amsterdam had a Van Gogh Museum but we were only in port for about six hours and couldn’t fit it in, maybe next time. This is another place we’d like to visit with more time to see it all. The tour bus dropped us off downtown and a three block walk through the Red Light District was about enough for mom. I got some good photos of “Coffee” Shops for the Blog though!

Musical vibe for the Chapter: Peter Gabriel: “Secret World”
Towel Fun: None to be had, the room stewards were paid out their tips this morning so I guess no incentive for them?

Chapter 10: Fun Days at Sea (July 22-23):

After four straight port days the back to back “Fun Days at Sea” were a welcome respite. We did spa treatments both days, a massage with private hot tub the first day and a Lime & Ginger exfoliation with full body massage the second day.

We did Supper Club again on Tuesday as we had that booked from the beginning of the cruise and we ate the same thing as the previous evening (it was that good)!

I treated mom to her 30th Anniversary present during our two days at sea as well. I got her a Tag Heuer watch with a blue mother of pearl face embedded with diamonds, figured that anybody that can put up with me for that long deserves something nice!

They did the Grand Gala Buffet during our two days at sea. The ice sculptures were excellent but the food presentations weren’t as nice as other cruises we’ve been on. I took pictures for you to enjoy though, after which we went off to bed and didn’t stick around to partake.

Nothing else to report other than it was a restful two days free from the cares of the world which unfortunately doesn’t happen often enough in our lives.

Musical vibe for the Chapter: Morrissey: “Lazy Sunbathers”
Todd Rundgren: “A Dream Goes On Forever”
Towel Fun: Stingray & Frog

Chapter 9: Tallin (July 21):

We got one of our three hours back overnight which was nice! The ship docked at 8:00 and we took a walking tour of the old medieval town of Tallin, Estonia. If the city skyline and central square look familiar it’s because the city was used as a mock-up for the palace city in the Shrek movies. Jo & I took in several sites as photo stops, although none are world renowned this is a place we’d both like to see again when we have more time to enjoy it. The old town is surrounded by a brick wall and is a maze of corridors and cobblestone streets leading to a wide open city centre. Throughout its history Tallin has been under German, Finnish & Russian rule gaining it’s independence in 1991 and was a catalyst for the fall of the old Soviet Union. You’ll see photos from inside the “domed church” where families Coats of Arms are displayed. These where carved from wood, adorned with jewels and hung in the church when the last of each family was killed off by the Russians. As much as 40% of the population was deported to Siberia during Soviet rule. It’s nice to see the city thriving (as a modern city surrounds old town Tallin) while it honors its roots and history. As we walked out of town back to the ship we passed a section of handicrafts (amazing hand sewn clothing goods). We left town by the round gate called “Stout Margaret” where we saw a lady walking a long haired dachshund so of course I approached her and got a picture! We discovered a treat while walking around Tallin, cinnamon and sugar coated almonds, cooked right before your eyes. Luckily for us they had a stand set-up on the pier and we got another bag before boarding, the seal on the bag said “In Almonds We Trust”, how can you argue with that logic?

Once we got on board we went to the dining room to check out the menu and well, YUCK! We were lucky enough to get one of the last two reservations to the “Supper Club” where five course gourmet meals are served. While it does cost $30 a plate the quality of food would cost you five times that in LaLa land. Check out the pictures, awesome presentation and tastes as good as it looks. We had filet with lobster tail as main courses. The appetizers were incredible as well, jumbo shrimp cocktails topped with avocado, French onion soup, lobster bisque and beautiful salads. Desserts were as tasty as they looked as well…yum yum, anyway after two days of “dog food” in Russia it sure was nice to eat a meal of this caliber.

Musical vibe for the Chapter: Counting Crows: “Perfect Blue Buildings”
Towel Fun: Rabbit