Slide Show?

Here's my attempt to paste the "slide show" version of Erica and Jeremy in Oklahoma.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78336697@N00/sets/520589/

Erica and Jeremy in Oklahoma

Erica Dining
Originally uploaded by Papa, aka Don.

I'm still experimenting with Flickr.

Erica and Jeremy at the Capitol, with a friend.

Erica and Jeremy 2
Originally uploaded by Papa, aka Don.

Visiting the Oklahoma Capitol on June 21, they made the acquaintance of a rather impressive figure.

Erica and Jeremy

Erica and Jeremy
Originally uploaded by Papa, aka Don.

Here are Erica and Jeremy, on Wednesday, June 22, outside the Sam Noble Museum in Norman. They're with an animal friend.

Happy Birthday to Andrew

Well done, little bro! 25 years... not bad. Has the quarter-life crisis begun yet???



For those that weren't at our birthday celebration, here is a picture of Andrew with my two presents. Naturally, all strategic studies students need to have a copy of On War (the classic by Strategic Studies patron saint Carl von Clausewitz), and, Andrew needed a helmet for all sorts of activities (including, but not limited to: bike rides, meeting new girls at bars, eating and playing Rupert the Monkey Boy).

It's Canada Day

And the 25th birthday of Andrew, of course! Happy birthday to him!

Roman Nose in Full

Just trying out the slideshow operation at Flickr...

Roman Nose

Last weekend the two brothers, husband and I surprised Dad by appearing in Oklahoma for a late 60th birthday celebration, as many of you know. I was kind of surprised that HE was surprised, seeing as last Tuesday's birthday passed with conspicuously modest celebration, and seeing as it was the not-insignificant 60th one. There were apparently a couple of near bean-spillages to boot, but he seemed genuinely surprised to find us on his doorstep Thursday night. Mom had booked two nights for the six of us at the Roman Nose state park lodge, about and hour-and-a-half's drive northwest from Norman, close to the bustling metropolis of Watonga, OK.

The landscape around Roman Nose looks like prairie grassland, the dry kind, from a distance. Closer up, the area is full of creeks and mini canyons, creating an interesting topography.

Here, some grassy flora along the "high mesa" trail. Early in the morning too! The mornings and evenings were surprising fresh and cool, so that's when we did our walks.





Mom, Dad, and I also canoed on Saturday. As you can see, my camera came with us in the canoe, agaist Dad's counsel to leave it in the car, the wisdom of which was demonstrated when we narrowly escaped impaling our canoe on a just-below-the-surface tree trunk.



The brothers and Jean did a round of golf on the park course, which excitingly looped across and through the canyons. This was Jean's first golf experience, by the way.

Here he is, tackling hole 13's canyon.



I'm in the process of getting set up to provide slideshow links, via Flickr, so hopefully there will be more Roman Nose visuals soon.

And June 15th, 1947

Happy Birthday to Barbara!

Oversight

Through a grievous error, we have failed to take official blogsphere notice of the birthday of Margaret, June 12. Belated birthday greetings to the lovely Margaret!

Dad's fiesta

On behalf of the United States Senate I would like to wish Dad a happy birthday (and Flag Day). In honor of him (and the flag) I am proudly flying Old Glory today at my house and I will dedicate our kickball victory this evening to him. Dad, I hope that you and mom have a fun birthday. Do you have any big plans? Well, back to work, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dad.

June 14, 1945

Happy birthday, Dad! Let the Soixant-ennial festivities begin!

The Big 60

Happy birthday to Papa!

Leslie and Ian

This weekend we're going to my friend Leslie's wedding in Austin, TX, and I thought you might like to see the very cool website they made for the event. It's Leslie and Ian.org and for some reason it seems to work best in Explorer (rather than the usually superior Firefox or Safari), so use that if you have it.

Mithras Strikes Again

I don't know if you check Mithras's activities regularly, but there's currently some good stuff there. Notably, another media coup and an interesting excerpt from a sixteenth century account of German/Spanish explorations in Argentina, where he and Ricki are spending a month.

You Put Your ________ In There!

Aunt Ruth asked me to please showcase this latest chef d'oeuvre of Elliot's. And with pleasure because this is quite a handsome media cabinet. Here are some pictures of the outside:







and have a look here and here for some views of its interior storage features.

I wonder, does Elliot take commissions?

Bubbles

If you're wondering what Jean and I are up to this weekend, have a look at the cover of this week's New Yorker.

Drive-By in Pittsburgh

Again I'm posting the artifacts of a multi-staged weekend. After Belleville, and before State College, Grandma, Jean, and I stopped for a 36-hour visit to Margie and Ned in Pittsburgh. 36 hours may not sound like a long time, but great things were accomplished, as you can see from Ned's post below. Other than our visit to Clayton, we did a walk around one edge of downtown P'burgh, guided by Margie





and shared the first patio dinner of the Pittsburgh season.

Schwitz, Part II

Since we are all intrigued by the idea of sauna... I thought you would like this little piece about a Finish sauna experience in the Post. Funny pics as well.