The Amazin' Bowfin

Dear Boys:

I hope that you all have checked out Matt & Megan's blog - specifically the Day 2 Hawaii pics. Notice the picture of the U.S.S. Bowfin. I am very glad that someone wanted to go see the amazing Bowfin.

Love,

Dad

Reading is a Good Thing

Notice the new listing on the sidebar of my recent reads. I am looking for a service tool for book reviews I can add there, so the format might change soon. Please be an active and varied reader....the world needs more informed and inquisitive people. Yes, you can read Clive Cussler and still be informed.

Emmett's Birthday

We stopped in Cashmere on our way home from Pendleton on Saturday morning to attend Emmett's 4th birthday party at the "Cashmere Bowl" (4 lanes). Emmett bowled with some of his friends, and then we had pizza and cake. Jon came over from Seattle with Ella, Will, and Noah. They stayed the weekend and attended Stake Conference with us. A great time! Having them close is starting to pay dividends. (September 15-16)

Pendleton Roundup Fun

Mark, Laurel, and Emmett arrived on Wednesday the 12th, and we enjoyed a few days of absolute relaxation away from the phones and business of life at home. The BBQ dinner on Wednesday was tasty; afterwards, we enjoyed walking around and taking in some carnival rides. On Thursday, we visited the nearby Union Pacific locomotive repair yard (great trains) and the McNary Dam (outstanding salmon exhibits). As the freeway to Wenatchee goes north right by this facility, make a mental note to check this out - especially during the actual salmon runs. They collect all the salmon smolt (as well as many other types of minnows) at McNary to transport them in barges around the large downstream dams (The Dalles, Bonneville, etc.) and the way they collect and tag them here is fascinating. We had a very friendly worker that gave us a "hands on" tour and showed how the various types of fish (sculpin, pike, trout, crayfish, bass, etc. in the aquarium went after the shad minnows (as he dumped a bucket of them in the tank). Friday was spent watching the western-style parade (no motorized vehicles allowed) and then the Roundup Rodeo in the afternoon. It was HOT in those grandstands. One almost was induced to go out and buy some cowboy boots. Almost. We returned home on Saturday morning.
(September 12-15)

PBR Bull Riding

KR and I drove down to Pendleton to spend a few days at the Roundup. We checked into our hotel about 6:00pm, headed into town for a bite, and then entered the Happy Valley arena for our first PBR Bull Riding event. Here is the smiling duo as they sit amongst all the cowboys and cowgirls drinking beer. Just the atmosphere we are used to!

Some short video footage. It was kind of like a mix of the WWF, a rodeo, the circus, and a rock concert. Very interesting!

I asked KR to take a picture of the bulls after the event and she got a real nice one.

Showing Laurel That I Can....(Smiling)

4 Jobs I've had:
1. Night janitor at University Towers Hotel, Seattle
2. Aluminum extruder helper, Colotrym Company, Seattle
3. Pin machine maintenance, BYU Bowling Center
4. Scout camp counselor, Camp Omache, Seattle

4 Movies I Could Watch Over and Over (and over):*
1. The Great Escape (secret yen to dig a tunnel)
2. Lawrence of Arabia (always wanted to ride a camel, and will someday)
3. Take the Money and Run (edited)
4. The Bridge Over the River Kwai (I like whistling)

4 of My Favorite Movies: *
1. Any of the Lord of the Rings installments (extended, please)
2. Any John Wayne movie
3. Last of the Mohicans (edited, perhaps my absolute favorite)
4. Braveheart (edited)
* Want KR to know I only like the edited ones....

4 Places I Have Lived:
1. West Jordan, Utah
2. Tegucigalpa, Honduras
3. Punta Arenas, Chile
4. Seattle, Washington (West Seattle)

4 Favorite TV Shows:
1. Home Improvement (I have a thing for tools)
2. Law & Order (the original version)
3. King of Queens
4. The Tonight Show (Johnny Carson, please)

4 Favorite Reality TV Shows:
* Sorry, they have never held my interest - I can't answer this question....

4 of My Favorite Places I Have Been:
1. China (we went in the mid 90's before tourists were really going there)
2. Istanbul, Turkey (most interesting city on earth)
3. Ireland (all of it was spectacular)
4. Cusco, Peru\Machu Picchu (totally unique)

4 Foods I Really Like:
1. Grape Nuts cereal (with peaches or pears on top)
2. Any Mexican food (the whole menu)
3. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
4. Moose Tracks ice cream (melted in the microwave for 30 seconds)

4 Websites I Check Daily:
1. Family blogs
2. ESPN (no explanation necessary)
3. MSN Money (my portfolio and the markets)
4. Ebay (especially if I have active listings)

4 Hobbies:
1. Traveling (especially by car, off-freeway)
2. Reading (non-fiction mostly)
3. Hanging with my children and grandchildren (really)
4. Family history (and I would like to get obsessed with it)

Pass the Potatoes

Jon shared this appropriate cartoon with me. Just a normal family dinner for the Anderton Clan.