"Public Space"

Today while riding the bus on my way to take a test, there were a two young mothers with 2-3 year old kids. The kids were enjoying themselves, as 3 year old kids do.

Eventually a man about my age got on the bus. He on a ratty t-shirt, sweat pants that were riding a little low, and great big, Elton John-esque sunglasses. I remember thinking that he was probably heading to the university, because he seemed to exude the "look at me! I live an alternate lifestyle" vibe.

The kids eventually were rambunctious, laughing loudly and hitting the window while their mom's spoke to each other over the back of the seat.

Big sunglasses man says, in a loud voice, "This is a public space! Public space!" I thought to myself, "Did he just tell that young mother to get her kids to shut up? I think he did." That made me mad. Who does this guy think he is?

I don't think the mothers paid him any attention, but I started to prepare a response in case he tried it again.

He did. "Hey, you're in a public space here, you need to control your kids."

Me-"Hey buddy you're in a public space, too. She's not smoking or doing anything harmful, her kid is being a kid."

Him- "But she is in a public space, she has a responsibility as a parent to control her children."

When he responded, I learned that adrenaline dumps and the fight or flight instinct show up even in a non life-threatening situation, because my mouth got dry, my throat tightened, I felt something like cold water suddenly in the middle of my chest, and my arms and hands felt cold and slightly numb and tingly.

From here on out, I don't remember exactly what I said, neither of us were speaking very eloquently, we probably both had that confrontation response flowing through our veins.

I said something like, "There just being kids, they're too young to know any better."

He said, "They're giving me a headache, would you like it if I started screaming?"

Me-"No, but you aren't three." The noisy kid looked like he was three.

At some point I said that the mom didn't deserve to be harassed for taking the bus to save some money. He responded by pointing to the stroller she had brought on board, saying she shouldn't have it because it was made in China, it polluted carbon during the manufacture, and that it was taking up half the room on the bus.

It was in the space that was designated for wheelchair users, and there were none of those on the bus.

His comment about the stroller really took me off guard, so I said what I thought.

"Are you saying that she should have carry a forty pound kid in her arms everywhere she goes instead of using a stroller?"

He said no, but the kid was loud, he had had a seizure this morning, and that his heavyset, black-wearing, tattooed female friend could probably control the kids. At least I think that's what he said.

I wondered if he was being serious, that he was worked up enough that he would go over and try himself to quiet the kid. If he tried it, well, I wasn't going to let that happen.

But that's the kind of thing you think about when your lizard brain thinks a fight is on its way. Of course he didn't do anything like that.

During our conversation, I twice told him that if he was really that bothered, he could get off at the next stop and take another bus. He said that the mom had a responsibility to "control her kid" so that Mr. Sunglasses could ride the bus in peace.

My stop was fast approaching, the argument had run its course, and I was late for a test so I got off. It took me a really long time to fish out my electronic bus card out of my shirt pocket and untangle it from the iPod headphones that were in there.

It also took me a long time to consider, and answer the test questions when I got to class.

Guy thinks the bus is his own personal limousine, and that he has the right to impose his own will and values on other people, in the name of public space. What a self righteous, left wing jerk.

Trap shooting

So who could have known that this shotgun would not have performed as well as this one at a trap shooting competition?

And to anyone who says that you can't miss with a shotgun? Well I missed. A lot.

But it was fun.

Independence Day Weekend, So Far

The Lovely Wife, for a few years now, has spoken very highly about the City of Moroni's July 4th celebrations, how they spend most of the yearly budget on Fireworks, they do a cool little parade, etc, etc. . .

One of the coolest things about the parade is that it is kicked off by a small airplane that buzzes the parade route and drops a mass of ping pong balls on the parade route. TLW's eyes would light up as she would recall the cloud which erupted from this plane and the chaos as balls would go flying every direction and kids fighting each other to get a ball, because some contained prizes.

Imagine my anticipation as I see the plane, flying low over main street, heading right for us, and then a handful of balls start falling out of plane. It doesn't quite block out the sun like I thought it would, but maybe the ball dropping mechanism jammed. It's ok, they'll come around again.

The plane had quit dropping them before it got to us, and I watch it as it flies past, and I see someone's hands sticking out a side window, shaking the last balls from a plastic Walmart bag.

So they fly around again and come down the street again, and this time they over shoot us. And the second time around was every bit as impressive as the first one.

Lovely Wife looks at me, and says, "I promise it was way cool when they started, they're cheaping out on us." To which I replied, "I guess they couldn't afford more than 1500 ping pong balls."

Maybe the oil spill is driving up the price of oil, and therefore plastic, so ping pong balls must be like $30 a pop.

Last year the Awesome Fireworks were canceled because of gale force winds and Thunderstorm. The Lightning was very spectacular and fun to watch, as loud and bright as any fireworks display, but you don't get that distinctive sulphur smell of summer.

Tonight will tell if Moroni will live up to The Lovely Wife's childhood memories.



In other news, the City is putting on a Trap Shoot, which I will be attending. Hopefully pictures and video to follow.

Lots of moss and a Wedding

My cousin Neal got married recently, and the Lovely Wife and I were invited. Oregon is one of our favorite places. It's so pretty, green, and (when you get out of the city) wild. However, Oregon's Attorney General doesn't think that Utah's Concealed Carry Permit is up to par, so I decided to open carry the whole time. I did some research, and there are a few cities in Oregon that do not allow open carry, so I mostly avoided those cities.

First we stayed with some relatives in Hermiston, Oregon. They are cousins of my father-in-law, and very nice people. In the past, when my family would travel to Springfield, we would just push through, and it was pretty grueling. It was like a fourteen hour drive, and we usually didn't get onto the road until mid morning, like 11 a.m. So we would usually arrive in Springfield around midnight or later. We would also eat at fast food places along the way, so we would all arrive feeling pretty crappy.

After a refreshing night's sleep in a bed, and a delicious breakfast of real food from a grocery store, we took a leisurely drive along the Columbia River Gorge. We discovered that some really smart person built a whole legion of electricity generating windmills along the gorge. We got out of the car a few times and learned that the Gorge is a super-windy place.




































They could power probably half of Oregon with all those windmills, the wind farm probably goes on for forty miles.


Next stop was at some waterfalls.




Horsetail is cool, you can walk right down to the pond that the water falls into, its cold, but that can be refreshing if you've been sitting in a car seat all day.













Have you ever been on a trip, and wished you could go to the gym? Well if you go to Multnomah Falls, then you can do just that. It has a trail where you walk up to the top of the falls, it's a mile long hike, and really good for your legs and butt.








Along the way, the Little guy learned the word for moss, and then discovered that moss is EVERYWHERE in Oregon.





We continued on up the trail, took a few more pictures, then arrived at the river that fed the waterfall.












Once you get to the top you walk down some stairs and onto a platform, where you can overlook the edge of the falls.







It is a long way down to the lodge and visitor center at the bottom of the falls.

Observations

Yesterday was the last day of school, so to celebrate we went to Rubio's for some delicious Baja Mexican food. I like Rubio's for many reason's, but a major one is that they play mexican/beach/surfer music in their restaurant. You may ask, 'Who cares?' but the last time I went to Cafe Rio, a decidedly Mexican restaurant, with thatched roofs inside, etc. . . the speakers were playing frakking doo-wop music from the fifties. I'm not kidding.

We go to Costa Vida more often than Cafe Rio because its closer, and my Blushing Bride likes the food better at Costa Vida. They also played mexican music for a while, but the most recent time we went in they were playing modern teen pop music. Maybe I'm cynical, but I think the teenage manager of that place was just playing their own favorite style of music. If you work at a Mexican restaurant, serving mexican food, and most of the people making that food speak spanish, what makes you think that you can just decide to plug in your iPod to the speaker system?

Also I'm liking Costa Vida less because one time when my Bride was eating there, a higher-up in the company was reprimanding one of the employees, making her cry, telling her to suck it up, in the middle of the dining area of the restaurant. With customers sitting all around. Classy.

I also noticed, when we were walking around the 400 south shopping district, that there was a security guard walking around with a full belt of gear, including handcuffs, a baton and a large pistol. I thought it was a little odd, because the only place I've seen a uniformed security guard that was armed was in D.C. In the most gun friendly state in the nation, this guy was the first armed security guard I've seen. (Armored car guys don't count, they're couriers)

So I wondered if there had been a recent crime spree at the shopping district. Today I checked and there had been a bank robbery, in the middle of the day, a couple blocks down from the 400 south shopping district, in March. So that explains it.

I wonder how long they'll pay that tough looking 50-year-old to walk around with a gun on his hip before they decide they don't need him anymore.

It makes me feel better about having a defensive weapon with me all the time. Hopefully I'll never have to use it. Hopefully that rental cop won't ever have to use it, either. I could probably get the same amount of firearms training as the security guard, as fast as I could pay for it.

In other news, it snowed a lot today. Almost May, and we're still getting blizzards.





Also, KC likes to Hop on Pop.

A new level of communication

KC learned a new word today.

Antelope Island Buffalo Run

My beautiful wife had signed up to run a race a few months ago, and then promptly developed foot pain and was unable to continue training. It was sad.

The race was today, and we went out to Antelope Island to claim our race packet, and just do something fun outside this week.

We found a hiking trail that just happened to be the route that everyone was running.

By the time we got hiking it was just about nap time, and for whatever reason, he just didn't want to be in his external frame baby backpack.






But after thrashing around for a few minutes, I took that video. Then I showed him the video, and he thought it was funny to see a baby crying like that, and calmed down.

He ended up having fun, though he got a little toasted, because he hates wearing hats.









That place is fun. You basically go back in time to see how Utah looked when the Pioneers rolled in. It's a very pretty, rugged, desolate place, and you can visit for only 9 dollars a day. It's very pleasant in March. Go check it out sometime.

Kids do need naps sometimes

When I took this picture, KC had been frustrated with life, but was happy when I picked him up. He played for a little while after that but then everything was making him mad, or was a crushing blow to his self esteem and he would start crying. We figured it was time for a nap. The first time we put him in his bed, he was freaking out, it was like he was getting attacked by a predatory animal or something, so we brought him back out. He played for a little while longer, but was just unable to enjoy life so I put him in his bed.

I'm sure everyone in our building and in the parking lot could hear Kay as he went completely ballistic. At first he was sad, probably thinking I was punishing him, but then you could hear the rage growing in his voice just gaining in intensity. I think he actually got the clouds to start snowing. It's a wonder that he still has a voice because I think he was louder than most Utah Jazz fans.

After five minutes of COMPLETE meltdown mode, Mom went in and said the magic words, and left. Kay shrieked for a little when she left, but he was like a balloon that is left to fly around the room. It makes a lot of noise and is crazy for a few seconds, then runs out of air and plops onto the ground.

KC is asleep now.

Mormons Tend to be in shape

I'm a pretty glaring exception, of course.

But one reason why we may be slimmer is that most LDS churches have a gym inside them. So if you get bored in sunday school, you can take a few laps around the gym, which is what KC likes to do.

Fine art Photography

KC got a hold of my cell phone this morning and took some interesting abstract photos.

So if a 16 month old baby can get these kinds of images by holding down the shutter button and running around the house, what does that say about some abstract, fine-art photographers?

Bear Lake

We went camping at Bear Lake and it is a beautiful place. I can see why all my wealthy neighbors (ok some of my neighbors) had bought cabins there. Makes me want to move near there, so we could go visit whenever we wanted. I had visions of hiking through the mountains, backpacking around with Kristen, and maybe Kay when he gets big enough. It reminded me of the time when I went deer hunting with the Miller's when I was in high school. Sure I was totally clueless on how to find a deer, and I knew that even if I saw one, I'd probably miss it, and if I did kill one, I'd have to gut it, but I liked being out in Nature and I was willing to learn about what I didn't know. I really loved it when we went shooting in Wyoming after our unfruitful expedition, and I was impressed that I was able to hit a small box at a long distance. It was farther away than I thought, so far that I fired the shot and I thought I had missed. I wasn't wearing earplugs, because the noise from the rifles (two .30-.30's and a .303 Enfield) didn't hurt my ears. I had to take a knee to steady the rifle, I remember seeing the sight moving around, I finally got it settled just a smidge beneath the box. I kept it there for a second, then I raised it a hair as I pulled the trigger. I heard a boom, then as soon as that sound evaporated into the cold air, I could hear a quiet hiss as the bullet traveled through the air. There was no echo of the rifle shot, because there weren't any hills big enough for the sound to bounce off. Nothing happened for a second and I assumed that I had missed, but then I heard a distant thud and the box jumped straight up into the air, spinning backward like an empty mousetrap when it goes off. This box was bigger than a six pack of coke, but not much. Maybe an eight-pack. I was pleasantly surprised that I had hit it in one shot.

Anyway, that was the nostalgic past. This week we stayed at a KOA campground in Garden City. Kristen said it was a nice one. I liked the showers and the running water and the real toilets that flushed. I didn't like how KC decided to talk to himself and whine for a couple hours in the middle of the night, after he had done the exact same thing the night before. I didn't like how he threw a fit for the first half of our canoe ride, making it so Kristen had to hold him while he flopped around in frustration.

But once he calmed down (slept) the canoe was really fun. I learned that the paddler who weighs twice as much as the other should sit in back. I also learned that I really should lose some of my excess pounds before I become a canoe or kayak fanatic. When the fat kid sits in the front of a canoe, then any attempt to propel the vessel forward makes it twirl like a fat ballerina in slow motion.

I also learned that there is a front and a back to a canoe, and that when you sit in the front seat and face backward, it makes my legs go numb and cramp. But it was fun, and who says you should afraid of sore muscles anyway?

Now. How about some pictures.





Here is KC and Kris the lovely woman relaxing in the Garden City Park. We had dinner there when we arrived in town, before we went looking for a place to sleep for the night. KC really likes strawberries, so we let him at some.







Then we walked down a path to the lake Itself and wow, what a blue lake.










More pictures to come. . . .

Police Impostor?

This first photo was taken on my parent's street. It's the area on the Wasatch Front just north of Little Cottonwood Canyon. I liked it because it's so green, and the clouds were making such cool shadows on the mountain side. It reminded me that I want to live somewhere close to nature.




These photos were of something that I thought looked suspicious. First of all, it's an old Impala, the kind that police agencies are trading in for this year's model. The light bar on top looks old and beat up, like it's really dusty, and the plexiglass looks faded and scratched. If it was part of a real police force, they would keep it clean and professional looking. The thing that really makes me suspicious is the un-named aspect of this car. The shield on the door has a weird color to it, like its cheap and has been in the sun too long, plus its a STICKER! Or a magnet. But its just stuck onto the car! The one on the back is really obvious, and all they say is POLICE. Not Salt Lake, not West Valley. Plus its got a U.S. Government License. Local police have state plates with an EX on them, and the FBI or DHS wouldn't drive a surplus patrol car with the words POLICE stickered onto the side. If this Guy tries to pull you over, I would call the real cops, and don't cooperate with the impersonator.



Here is exclusive Blue Devils video that they are trying to keep away from prying eyes. Its an exercise so revolutionary that if anyone else tried it, they would win every time they competed.

And finally, to give the public what it wants, a video of KC and grandma.






---Update--- A police guy said that it is a real police car. There is a statewide police training seminar and that car was probably from a smaller department that doesn't have a budget to buy the newest cars. The police guy said if you aren't sure if the policeman is the real deal, you can ask to see identification, and there is a number you can call if you want verify the authenticity of a highway patrol car that's pulled you over.

some pictures

here are some pictures I've taken over the last little while with my cell phone.

cute pictures

A new gun!

Kristen got a Smith and Wesson LadySmith revolver, and we went shooting last saturday, and she had FuN! Hooray! We were originally looking for a three inch barreled revolver, but it was out of stock, everywhere in the valley. The Ladysmith was not, and Kris liked the grip so she bought it. I think its a nice looking gun, and having shot it, its pretty manageable. Her hand was a little sore after a hundred shots, but that should be fixable with a shooting glove. The only time I could see that being an issue would be at a 300 round basic pistol class but if we find a good glove for her i think it will be fine. I shot a little low and left, so I need to practice a smoother trigger pull. I had to silence myself a few times because I kept wanting to give her "tips" but i realized that I should just work on my own stuff and let her enjoy shooting hers.

By the way, Kris's gun is not a snubnose, the smaller one is a snubnose. The smaller one was designed to be small, Kris's is designed to be comfortable for people with smaller hands to shoot. And Kris thinks (and i agree) that pink grips are not our style.

Cute Baby Video

Kay has discovered the internet. Well, the modem to be specific.

Little Boys are wired to destroy.