Here are a couple of video links,
which are certain to put smiles on your faces!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Game Over
Not many people call our house after 10 PM on a weeknight. Understandably, Rusty will sometimes get work-related calls that late. Family and friends hesitate to even call us after 9 PM. So, when Rusty and I received a phone call on Tuesday just after 10 PM, we were already wondering who it could be.
Rusty happened to be the one to answer the phone. When he told me that it was a friend's wife asking to speak with me, we knew it was bad news. Bad, bad, bad. As he handed the phone to me, I knew that this was not gonna be good.
Sure enough, Raj, a friend of mine who I had met in the mid-70s at San Diego State University, had died last Thursday of a heart attack. He would have been 53 on September 7th. He would have been. No extra innings. No overtime. Game over.
From what I could ascertain, the ER really dropped the ball. It seems that he could have been saved if the proper protocol had been followed. To make matters worse for his wife, she is having difficulty accessing personal information stored on his business computer, which is passworded. If I understood her correctly, some of the personal documents have password security as well, passwords that she doesn't know --- at least, that was my impression. She doesn't even have the access that she needs to pay their bills online. Additionally, the two of them were in the process of preparing their living trust.
So... you might say that I'm somewhat in a state of shock, limbo, whatever. I'm feeling a bit lost, a bit numb, a bit introspective.
Raj was always a kindred spirit. He always will be. It's quite likely that his smile and his laughter contributed considerably to global warming on this planet. His smile alone could have easily illuminated every black hole in the universe.
While his death certainly disturbs me, it's also a wake up call, a reminder, a prod, which proclaims in a clear voice, "Hey, everybody, pay attention to your health and get your ducks in a row, 'cuz ain't no one safe!"
Rusty happened to be the one to answer the phone. When he told me that it was a friend's wife asking to speak with me, we knew it was bad news. Bad, bad, bad. As he handed the phone to me, I knew that this was not gonna be good.
Sure enough, Raj, a friend of mine who I had met in the mid-70s at San Diego State University, had died last Thursday of a heart attack. He would have been 53 on September 7th. He would have been. No extra innings. No overtime. Game over.
From what I could ascertain, the ER really dropped the ball. It seems that he could have been saved if the proper protocol had been followed. To make matters worse for his wife, she is having difficulty accessing personal information stored on his business computer, which is passworded. If I understood her correctly, some of the personal documents have password security as well, passwords that she doesn't know --- at least, that was my impression. She doesn't even have the access that she needs to pay their bills online. Additionally, the two of them were in the process of preparing their living trust.
So... you might say that I'm somewhat in a state of shock, limbo, whatever. I'm feeling a bit lost, a bit numb, a bit introspective.
Raj was always a kindred spirit. He always will be. It's quite likely that his smile and his laughter contributed considerably to global warming on this planet. His smile alone could have easily illuminated every black hole in the universe.
While his death certainly disturbs me, it's also a wake up call, a reminder, a prod, which proclaims in a clear voice, "Hey, everybody, pay attention to your health and get your ducks in a row, 'cuz ain't no one safe!"
Friday, June 30, 2006
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
One of my favorite experiences happened years ago while my husband, Rusty, and I were scuba diving. We both spotted an octopus at about the same time. It was safely tucked into one of the cavities of a small reef outcropping.
As I approached it for a better view, I could see its smooth, velvety flesh, which was rolled loosely into a ball and had a lovely rose-colored hue to it. A few minutes later, having grown tired of me staring at it, it darted out of its cubbyhole in Rusty's direction. As I swam toward Rusty, I lost sight of it. The octopus seemed to have vanished.
I indicated to Rusty that I had no idea where our eight-armed friend had gone. Meanwhile, Rusty pointed emphatically at part of a long reef about three feet away from me. Using my impressive body language, I shrugged my shoulders and lifted my hands, which clearly translated to, "What the heck are you pointing at?"
As I approached it for a better view, I could see its smooth, velvety flesh, which was rolled loosely into a ball and had a lovely rose-colored hue to it. A few minutes later, having grown tired of me staring at it, it darted out of its cubbyhole in Rusty's direction. As I swam toward Rusty, I lost sight of it. The octopus seemed to have vanished.
I indicated to Rusty that I had no idea where our eight-armed friend had gone. Meanwhile, Rusty pointed emphatically at part of a long reef about three feet away from me. Using my impressive body language, I shrugged my shoulders and lifted my hands, which clearly translated to, "What the heck are you pointing at?"
Rusty did his best octopus impression and pointed again. There, right in front of my eyes, was our tentacled friend, but it wasn't rose-colored anymore. For that matter, only a small ripple of smooth flesh remained underneath as it stretched itself thinly over the reef and disappeared.
Poof! No bells, no whistles, no clouds of dust. Just poof. Color, shape, texture, all transformed within less than a minute. What was smooth became gritty, coarse and bumpy. What was rose-colored was now reef-colored, mostly a shade of white with flecks of gray, brown and green. Its whole body blended seamlessly into the reef and became invisible.
This video gives you the unique opportunity to observe an octopus as it completely changes its color, texture and shape. They're awesome creatures!
This video gives you the unique opportunity to observe an octopus as it completely changes its color, texture and shape. They're awesome creatures!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
On The Road Again
This is how one very tired --- but very happy --- pup dealt with Memorial Day weekend traffic. For clarification purposes, the pup is not driving the car.
Sunday, June 4, 2006
The Joy of Barking
Labradors [are] lousy watchdogs.
They usually bark when there is a stranger about,
but it is an expression of unmitigated joy
at the chance to meet somebody new, not a warning.
~Norman Strung~
They usually bark when there is a stranger about,
but it is an expression of unmitigated joy
at the chance to meet somebody new, not a warning.
~Norman Strung~
Yesterday, Tess, my 2-year-old female Labrador retriever, courageously took center stage at the Big Dog Parade & Canine Festival in Santa Barbara. After I asked her to warm up with a couple of whispers for everyone, she joyously produced three well-enunciated barks on command with her usual bright-eyed enthusiasm.
When it was announced that Tess was the winner of this year's Best Barker contest, she was invited to take center stage again and receive her award.
Not that Tess took note, but I was certainly more than a bit shocked to discover that her award was packaged in a rather large (much, much bigger than a breadbox) carton. It was definitely cumbersome and heavier than I could easily carry back to the car, especially if I had any intention of simultaneously walking Tess safely back to the car with me.
Add to the equation that I was already hauling my --- correction, make that our --- day pack, which was now overloaded with our allotted free Big Dog Parade goodies bag, my Big Dog Parade t-shirt and our other Big Dog Parade freebies along with the essential items in our pack.
Thankfully, it turned out that a very nice couple, Steve and Linda, looked kindly upon Tess and me. They helped haul Tess's prize back to my car in the bed of their pick-up truck, while Tess and I rode in the back seat in air-conditioned comfort.
In case you're wondering, there was a reason why the mystery carton weighed what it did. This is what Tess and I found inside:
- Limited Edition Big Dogs leather bomber jacket
- Limited Edition Cowboy Big Dogs plush
- 100.00 gift certificate from Big Dogs
- Custom Big Dog Parade & Canine Festival treats jar
- Dogswell Mellow Mut, Happy Heart, & Vitality Dog Treats
9 - 1 lb. bags of 100% Chicken Breast or 100% Beef Liver - One-year subscription to Wag Magazine
- One-year membership to Fido Friendly Travel Club, including a one-year subscription to Fido Friendly Magazine
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Spare Keys And Missing Socks
How many of you have a collection of spare keys, which you never use, but dare not throw away, because you have no idea what lock they might open?
Do you sometimes wonder how it is that you came to own so many of them?
Well, wonder no longer. I have the answer. Well, I, at least, have a theory.
It begins with your laundry. You carefully sort it (some of you do), put a load in the wash, then, dry it. And, at some point, you might even fold it. 'Lo and behold, as you're matching up the socks with their mates, there's at least one... maybe two or three, sometimes even four... with no mate that matches it.
What happened to those missing socks? Yes! I know it's hard to believe. They've become spare keys!
The mystery of mate-less Tupperware lids and mate-less Tupperware bottoms, however, continues to elude me.
Do you sometimes wonder how it is that you came to own so many of them?
Well, wonder no longer. I have the answer. Well, I, at least, have a theory.
It begins with your laundry. You carefully sort it (some of you do), put a load in the wash, then, dry it. And, at some point, you might even fold it. 'Lo and behold, as you're matching up the socks with their mates, there's at least one... maybe two or three, sometimes even four... with no mate that matches it.
What happened to those missing socks? Yes! I know it's hard to believe. They've become spare keys!
The mystery of mate-less Tupperware lids and mate-less Tupperware bottoms, however, continues to elude me.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Animusic®
Pipe Dream
Metal balls fly out of pipes,
land on percussion and string instruments,
and sound out an instrumental piece of music.
From the first Animusic® DVD.
Metal balls fly out of pipes,
land on percussion and string instruments,
and sound out an instrumental piece of music.
From the first Animusic® DVD.
Future Retro
The 1st piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
Drum Machine
The 4th piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
Acoustic Curves
The 6th piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
Harmonic Voltage
The 7th piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
The 1st piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
Drum Machine
The 4th piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
Acoustic Curves
The 6th piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
Harmonic Voltage
The 7th piece on the Animusic® 1 DVD.
A robot band kicks out an odd-time,
laser-infused techno-rock tune
while riding on top of their musical starship.
From the Animusic® 2 DVD.
laser-infused techno-rock tune
while riding on top of their musical starship.
From the Animusic® 2 DVD.
More Bells & Whistles
Wayne Lytle's first full music animation.
Animusic®
Wayne Lytle's first full music animation.
Animusic®
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Our Beloved Raven
Our beloved Raven passed away unexpectedly from cancer at the end of September 2005. A wonderful and unique companion, she was blessed with a loving temperament along with her remarkable spirit. She is forever imprinted on our hearts and will always be part of our fondest and happiest memories.
Our beloved Raven, may you forever play in peace.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Ice Is Nice
My dear parrot has never done this before and I've had her for over 11 years. Out of nowhere, she decided that a taste of my husband's fruit juice was not enough, so she reached into his glass and pulled out an ice cube. She licked it and played with it until it was almost completely melted. What a riot!
Saturday, July 9, 2005
Featherhead
Parrot Goddess
She's an 11 1/2 year old Meyer's parrot with the emotions of a 2 1/2 year old and the intelligence of a 4 or 5 year old. My husband sometimes refers to her tantrums as the equivalent of having a 2 1/2 year old with a can-opener. No, she doesn't talk, although she thinks that she does. She does rule the roost, so to speak.
Friday, July 1, 2005
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