StlPromoPrint2's Xanga

Knock Knock.... anybody there ?

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:30:00 GMT

My apologies to all my faithfull readers out there there there there ..... (why is it echoing --- ?)

for not posting sooner, but I have been trying to keep up with the subscriptions. Can't go into great detail, but let's just say I've been dealing with a rather large

that could be either a

or a

I'm praying it's #2.

Hope to know in a few days.

any additional fingers' ya'll might have available to cross for me would be much appreciated.

Those Crazy Mini- Sodans are at it again !

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:06:33 GMT

and this time it's NOT ol' Stoney & the missus !

I was getting ready to make a post about Barry & Megan's Wedding when I happened upon this video.

Strange how you can stumble upon things when you're not really looking for them... But if you aren't smiling, laughing or drying a tear of joy from your eye by the time it's done, well- that shallow feeling in your chest? it is where your heart used to be.

It's 5 minutes, but worth every bit of it.

Now that's the way to start a marriage !

This was a couple from St Paul Minnesota. Hopefully, this joy and happiness takes them through many years together. Could this be the norm for Minnesota weddings??

Come to think of it, after seeing Ken & Trusty together, maybe they did start their wedding like this....

Double Inspiration...

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:29:32 GMT

Before I give an update on the wedding.... which went wonderfully by the way... I thought I would share this brief bit of xangan-inspired food preparation.

After waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waaaaaaaaaaiting for Tia to send some samples of all those delectable dishes she's always preparing, I decided to take matters in hand and get back in the kitchen myself. But what to make ?

I don't have one of the industrial strength flash-dry-a-buffalo sized dehydrator's she has.... nor do I have the voluminous yeilding gardens of hers or our French Friend Fauquet's....even mejicojohn's garden is more prolific than mine...

But a mere mention from half-a-world-away set the culinary creative juices flowing.

As a result, I ended up with what I shall call

"Venetian Manicotti"

Manicotti stuffed with a blend of ricotta, mozerella, provelone, parmesian, colby & monterey cheeses, with chopped fresh baby spinach, saute'd mushrooms and minced proscuitto covered in a red sauce with garlic and salciccia .

Was it good ?

It's Stick and Twig approved....

( I would have gotten a picture of them eating it, but they were chowin' down so fast the shutter couldn't freeze then enough for a clear picture...)

One More Day....

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:20:06 GMT

One More Day

and I will officially be a

Father-In-Law........ !!!

PKMD09's wedding day is tomorrow....

Whiteyman89's the best man....

Jstickmann's doing the readings...

it'll be a gathering of Xangans!!!

I really don't think I'm old enough for this .......

but I've got a bottle of 15 year old single malt double-wood scotch to soothe those aches away.

What's In A Name ... ?

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:16:45 GMT

well maybe some of this if you're not carefull -

I suppose an explaination is in order.....

On a day not very long ago - one with much lower temperatures than today - when cares were few and all was right with the world.... oh, wait -- you probably want the real version, not the fairy tale one...

About a week ago, I'm pulling up to the front of my favorite gas and mini-mart store "Quick Trip" when I happen to see the husband of a good friend of mine walking towards the front entrance.

As it had been sometime since I had seen him, I rather quickly stopped my vehicle, opened the door and as I was getting out of the truck, called out " Hey ______ !" and started walking towards him.

He turned about rather quickly, and didn't look too happy with me. As a matter of fact, he was now walking towards me, and I noticed a distinct scowl and clentched fists that was very uncommon for ____!.

He looked like _____!.

He was built like _____!,

maybe even bigger than the last time I saw _____! (think 6' 5" - 275lbs )

and his eyes were a heck of a alot redder than ____'s ! ever were that i could remember....

and then time seemed to stop...

In that brief and fleeting moment I realized why.

Because

WASN'T

______!.

My life began to pass before my eyes.

Instead of the wonderful memories of all the good things that have made up the storyboard of my time on this Earth that others seem to tell of getting to experience - I, on the other hand, just got fast forwarded to the last picture I would most likely know:

Now lucky for me rabbits' is quick on their thinkin' too ! So in the space of about 8 1/2 feet, I had to defuse this potential for hospitalization and do it quick.

The fact that I'm able to type this entry is testiment to my ability to have done so successfully.

I even offered to buy the guy a coffee or beverage of his choice for the misunderstanding.

But back to the title of this little narrative:

So what Is in a name ?

I've never quite understood some of the variants of the given names people have...

but then, that's not up to me to decide. I suppose anyone can call themselves whatever they may choose.

So, if you're a Christine, you can be a "Chris" or a "Chrissy" or a "Tina"

if you're a Robert, you can be a "Bob" or a "Rob" or a "Bert"

if you're a Margaret, you can be a "Marge" a "Maggie" or even a "Peggy"

if you're a Richard, you can be a "Rich" or a "Rick"

.... just please, don't be a "Dick" !

BY REQUEST..... well, sort of....

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:29:47 GMT

Our dear friend V left a pulse the other day about having drawn a blank.

I had commented that I don't recall ever having drawn a blank myself.

She in turn commented - a very kind comment I might add - that if I did in fact ever draw a blank, she was sure it would be a very good one.

So i thought I'd give it my best shot.

turned out it was alot easier than I thought.....

it only took me 3 hrs !

What's All The Hub bub... bub ?

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:59:30 GMT

So I keep hearing all this stuff about:

"It's June 12th !! if you have rabbit ears you need a converter box !!"

It's alllllll over the news.... people yakin' about it on the radio ...

so I get one.....

Frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about...

didn't seem to do me any good at all.

A Technical Clarification ---

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:51:59 GMT

or "Another post inspired by an Italian Aussie's Comment..."

In response to several of you who had messaged regarding that last post and were wondering:

"Why isn't there a picture of you & ol'Stoney together? "

While it would indeed seem a bit extreme to go all that way for such a brief post, I can assure my valued readers that it did actually take place. Despite being broadcast on the "RBS" Network, the incidents reported are factual, and the explaination for the "missing photo" is a highly technical, yet simple one.

...well two actually.

First- let's talk about how the camera itself - digital in this case- captures an image:

When you take a picture the shutter opens briefly and each pixel on the image sensor records the brightness of the light that falls on it by accumulating an electrical charge. The more light that hits a pixel, the higher the charge it records. ( key point there) Pixels capturing light from highlights in the scene will have high charges. Those capturing light from shadows will have low charges.

After the shutter closes to end the exposure, the charge from each pixel is measured and converted into a digital number. ( another important point)This series of numbers is then used to reconstruct the image by setting the color and brightness of matching pixels on the screen or printed page.

OK, got that ? great. Keep in mind now, that all that light and 'brightness' as described above is "reflected light"...

Now we know that computers can store and calculate massive amounts of data/numbers, right ? so this shouldn't be a problem.

So as long as those two parameters above do not exceed the upper limits of the Charged Coupled Device (CCD) sensor in the digital camera, you have your image.

Second- Let's talk subject matter.

Need I Say More ?

My camera is due back from the repair shop next week.

Just A Stones Throw Away....

Wed, 06 May 2009 06:26:21 GMT

Or " HOW I FOUND ELEVEN STONES BY LOOKING AT ELEVEN THOUSAND STONES"

Now 'round about the beginning of February each year, there is a business seminar and trade show held in Kansas City Missouri that I attend. This year I was unable to attend due to conflicting scheduling, and thus, in addition to missing the conference, I also missed out on 'Oklahoma Joe's' Bar-b-que ! Nuts !!

But how about that - the second conference was scheduled to be in none other than :

and being as I'd never been, it would be a good way to check off state # 46 off the list of 50.

And while I'm up there, I thought I'd do a little hunting of my own....could I find that Avid-est of Outdoorsmen ? So many treestands...soooo little time...

So after a breif visit in the Quad Cities with L2, I headed out into the night...well early early morning to be exact.....

Might I find him in the world's largest truck stop at 4:30 am ?......

last time I ask Judy Garland for directions !

How about that ! the WHOLE STATE welcomes me !! gives me warm fuzzies just thinkin' about it ...

Over the river.....

and through the woods....

this looks like the kind'a place he might hang out...

hmmm.... no one on board !

lemme see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, .... no not here....

hmmmmm... could I be on the right trail ?? maybe, but the absence of any "chewprints" leads me to speculate - "no" as he doesn't usually travel alone....... the hunt goes on....

"ARE YOU DOWN THERE THERE There there there there there ? "

"ARE YOU WAAAAAAAY UP THERE ?????"

An outstanding Stone..... I must be getting Close...

I think so...

TA DAA ! well waddya know ! He DOES exist !!

And Trusty's every bit as wonderful as he makes her out to be as well !

I couldn't have asked for more gracious hosts.

and what would they offer a tired and weary traveler ?

why a Mini - Soda of course !

and no, it's not photoshopped !

I guess that's how the state got it's name afterall......

The worst part was that I only had a few hours to spend with them before heading back south, but they were enough to ensure I'll make the trip again and bring along L2 and some extra time as well.

Many, many thanks to Ken & Trusty for welcoming me into your home.

.... and Chew, I'll promise not to fight you for the pizza next time !

I Said It Wouldn't Be Month"S" ....

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:39:21 GMT

as in plural....

man, I can't beleive it's been another month !! Ok, now I'm even more back logged.... well, lemme finish this one at least -

So here are the rest of the race pictures

My Driver & His Mom Cars on the Ramps and they're off

ready to call close finishes Terese & L2 counting ballots one fast rabbit mobile !

headed back to the pits in the winners circle 2nd place finisher !

and a good sport too !

and in the time it's taken me to post the story of LAST year's Race, it's now time to get ready for THIS years' race !

(note to self - timely entries... timely entries...)

Next Up : ROAD TRIP !