iHair

While I was in the Mac store recently I noticed that all four sales guys had funky facial hair of some type -- a sould patch, a goatee-mustache, a goatee-sans-mustache and a skillfully shaped sideburn-little-beard combo. I came home and did a quick illustration, because pictures are louder than words (but obviously they don't say as much, as I have just illustrated).

Cleo's Birthday

Today Cleo turned 17. She had friends over at lunchtime and they had cake that Amy made last night. I was out getting birthday stuff. Cleo got a little iPod shuffle, some chocolates, a little shoulder bag, a cake-decorating kit, a gift card to Victoria's Secret, a lamp, a game (Blokus) and I don't know what else.

For dinner we decided to try a place over on Alberta called Zaytoon. Amy and I had a terrific Lebanese pizza there last summer, but since then every time I go over there the place is closed. Tonight we went in, sat down, looked at the menu, got our water... and when the waiter finally came to take our order he meekly told us there were no minors allowed. Their site says they celebrate diversity, but now we know they practice age-istism.

So we went over to Ya Hala, another Lebanese food joint on SE Stark. There was a wait for a table. The place was packed. So we went to Hoda's on SE Belmont. Also Lebanese, also packed with a wait for a table.

We ended up across the street at the Tao of Tea, which was also very busy. We had a nice dinner and got home just in time for Lyle, Andrea and Honor to arrive with a gift for Cleo.

Then we watched a chunk of RAISING ARIZONA, then it was bed time.

I got a funny comic book from the Perry Bible Fellowship today. I'll post one of his cartoons, and include another photo funny:

Sunday Photo Funnies

2008's First Bird Photos

Fun with Lights

Photographic evidence that I am, in fact, the less crazed one.

Note the Shoes

This must have been around 1994 or so.

Some Kids on a Couch

The Angry Photographer

I scanned some old photos this morning. Here's Iris Hehn, the angry young photographer.

Today's Out of Context Cartoon

Early This Morning, 26 December 2007

We messed around with Amy's new camera outside this morning. She got a camera, telephoto lens and lens filters for a Christmas present. The filter looks like it may be more useful than the telephoto lens, but who knows what Amy will want to do with the stuff... it's as if she has a mind of her own. I took this photo with my camera, without the benefit of a polarizing lens. And without shaving, looks like.

Christmas Photos 2007

Amy and the car, shopping for bird food.


Four of the Hehns.


Emily and Iris.

Christmas Photos

Honor and Guy.


Iris and Amy.


Lyle and Guy in our dining room. Patiently waiting for the oven to get hot.


Wanda and Iris.

Christmas 2007

We had Christmas Eve dinner at our house, with my mom and dad (Wanda and Guy) and my brother's family: Lyle and Carrie and their three daughters, Emily, Andrea and Honor. The next day we had dinner and then some at Lyle and Carrie's house. Here are some sample shots from both places:


Amy, Carrie and Honor.


Cleo.


Carrie.


Carrie and Honor.


Cleo and Emily.

Here's the crazy JUMBO TV remote control I picked up recently at Rite-Aid. It was just too funny to pass up.

Amy's Birthday Horse

Here's the iron horse head I got for Amy for her birthday this year.

Shim Mystery

I was replacing the old TV we use for PlayStation, but before putting the other TV (that moved from the living room when we bought the new big TV) on the table, I noticed the table wobbling to a dangerous degree. Uncharacteristically, I decided to do a little prevention before putting more weight on the table.

I noticed a shim under one leg, so got down to adjust it. Then I noticed another shim under another leg, and then another shim under a third leg.

I removed ALL the shims and the table sits balanced.

Birds

Yesterday Greg and I walked along the Columbia, searching in vain for interesting bird life. It was quiet, and a little colder than expected because of the wind.

Last weekend, on the other hand, we could look out our kitchen window and see the back yard buzzing with bird life. Junco, Hummingbird (Anna's), Jay (Scrub or Western), Downy Woodpecker (female), Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, House Finch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Bushtit, House Sparrow....

Today's Starbucks Encounter

Today I walked to the local Starbucks to get a pound of French Roast, our usual. As usual, the place was a little screwy -- they have a new ineffectual manager, and things have been off-kilter there for several weeks now.

I entered through the north door at the same time as this other fellow came in the south door -- that's why I noticed him. And I noticed that he didn't get in line, he walked across to the other side of the store and stood near where the coffee drinks come up.

Things were not going well and it was taking a long time for things to happen, so I had plenty of time to observe things as I waited for my coffee. After a few minutes, this guy -- who hadn't ordered anything -- went up to the barista and said, "say, I'm from just across the way and, well...I didn't bring any money today, so I was wondering... if you're going to throw those out, may I have one?" He pointed to a couple of drinks behind the bar that were, I guess, mistakes destined for the dumper.

The barista, already flustered from being a little behind, hurriedly grabbed one of the drinks and handed it to the guy, but the guy waved it off and said, "no... no... I'd rather have the other one, please."

Ah, I thought... that means he's been standing there this whole time watching for a mistake to come up -- and he's kind of particular. I was greatly amused by this, which is good because it took my mind away from thinking about how sadly screwed up that store is right now -- in fact, while this was transpiring I noticed the store manager scooting out the door, even though his crew was obviously in trouble. Ha!

On my way out the door (without my French Roast, I might add), I was right next to Free Coffee Guy, and I said to him, "that's quite a system you have there!"

He looked a bit startled, but said to me, "Don't tell anybody!"



I laughed and said, "are you kidding? I'm telling EVERYBODY!"

I thought it was funny. And clever, if a little cheap-o. It's not as if he "looked like" he needed free coffee, but what do I care, especially if Starbucks is throwing the stuff out anyway? He was in a suit, tie and nice overcoat. Sideburns and a ULTRA-MEGA-EXTREME-soulpatch screamed "I'm keeping Portland Weird, yes I am!"

I walked out of the store and waited at the corner for the streetlight to change. About forty seconds later he walked out of the store, approached me and said, "for the record, I feel really bad about this now, I'm going to give this drink to a homeless person."

I don't know if he was putting me on -- it didn't really sound like it -- but I told him he didn't need to explain anything to me, that's for sure.

I sure hope he didn't give it to some homeless person... I think it was an eggnog latte.