Memorial Day Wine Tasting -- music

Outside on the deck at the winery

Seaside -- Memorial Day 06

It was a dark and stomy weekend at the coast as we celebrated Rick's 65 birthday

Ricky Buddha

Perched on top of the fireplace at the condo

Greg as Wile E Coyote

"hey dad look, our Estes rockets!" came my son's voice from the attic.
It had been several years since we had played with the solid fuel rockets.
I loved them.
So we hauled down the box of broken rockets and pieced together one that would work.
We wandered over the to athletic field.
"Should we go all the way over to the track?"
"Nah," I said," this is far enough away."
We put the launch pad down on the fresh cut grass. It was a little uneven -- so I grabbed a handful of grass and shoved it under one of the three legs.
Good enough I thought.
I counted down as Ricky pushed the button.
Nothing.
He pushed it again.
Nothing.
So I start walking over -- then a woooooosh.
The rocket goes up 3 feet and turns towards us.
In a flash it is heading toward me and I feel a piercing pain in my leg.
I look down and the still-accelerating rocket is trying to dug deeper into my leg.
All along the rocket route, smoke is hovering.
I am in a ball.
Ricky asks, how are you?
I say, fine fine.
A half inch gash is bleeding.
What to do?

Let's try it again.
This time we go to the solid track.
WE lay flat on the ground -- less of a target if it goes off course.
During the first flight -- one of two guides broke off the rocket.
I used a loosely tied piece of string to help guide the rocket up the launch pole.
We count down.
We push the button.
The wooosh.
Sorta goes straight.
At its peak, it turns and opens the parachute -- just like it's supposed to.
Out of fuses -- we hobble home.
Our neighbor Greg is outside.
Ricky -- the detailed story-teller explains.
Greg looks at the blood dripping down my leg.
"Awesome" says he.
"So you push the button on an explosive and when it doesn't go off you get up and walk toward it? Sounds like a Wile E. Coyote cartoon."

More race photos from Catie's First Race

Catie and her American Girl short Ricky brought from NY

Bird Flu Mania Sweeps America

Destroying nests of the vermin carrying hordes

Normally peaceful mothers 'suit up' in protective gear to rid the neighborhood of the avian evil.

Ever vigilant against bird flu carriers

Panic Sweeps small town

Townfolk hammer anti-bird devices on their houses!

Kim enjoys a post run massage

Mom and daughter @ Lake Run

Catie finishes her first race

and next time daddy will aim camera a little higher.

Is there a Tachos in Ohio?

Not everyone looks as good as Michelle in a hat

Neighbor Michelle gets help with her birthday treat

Where's the glam in movie stars these days?

Today my 11 year old son flies out for a cultural week in New York with his grandparents.
In preparing him for the trip, I told him that NY was a place where people tend to dress up more than in Oregon.
I said, you might even see a TV or movie star.
He said, "well they are always wearing jeans and t-shirts."
Gad -- am I showing my age by thinking that stars are/were well dressed?

Multimedia message