Sunday, September 30, 2007

We're at Sea Life Park!

This message was sent from Rich's Treo 650.

14 Grapes!

We had a great time with all the family at Lion King yesterday! What a tremendous show!

Today we are still with the whole family and looking forward to spending the early part of our day at Sea Life Park.

This morning Bryan defended his position as oldest cousin by stuffing 14 grapes in his mouth! Far less than the world record of 69! His parents are still very proud. (!) Ha! Ha!

"Children are a gift from the LORD;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands.
How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them!"
-Psalm 127:3-5

This message was sent from Rich's Treo 650.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Gabcast: Lion King

Click PLAY to listen to audio gabcast:

Lion King

We've just been seated at Blaisdell Center with the entire Hirose Clan to enjoy a performance of Disney's "Lion King". 10 adults and 10 kids! We can't wait for it to begin in a few minutes.

This message was sent from Rich's Treo 650.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Intruders

I was surprised to discover that I had not related the disturbing events around our home on this blog yet!

About 2 weeks ago my wife and I were awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of someone crashing through the bushes behind our home, running behind our bedroom window, colliding into our 2 outdoor chairs, then running on the crunchy dried leaves up the side of the house, tripping our motion activated lights! It was shortly after midnight and this person sounded like they were running for their life! He didn't care at all about the noise he was making, he was just flat-out running!

Of course we both leaped up, I grabbed my big Mag-light and got our lights turned on. Both kids were fast asleep still and I couldn't see anything through the windows. I called 911 (got a busy message at first, for about 20 seconds) and reported what I heard, but I didn't think there was anyone still out there. They wanted to send the police over which was fine by me.

I kinda wanted to go outside and check around, but then we started thinking that the "guy" might be hiding on our property! That was a creepy thought. We decided just to wait for the cops. It took them 1 hour and 20 minutes to arrive, and at first they went to the wrong address (confusion over "place" vs. "street")!

I related my story and we walked around the messy backyard but nothing was really amiss (actually everything was amiss, but not unusually so). They said there had been a drunken fight earlier that evening, and one person had run away, but they already caught him. They think it was him.

A few days later, I got a call at work from Emily saying she heard someone walking on the side of the house! She was home alone and about to leave to pick up the kids from school. I told her to call the police and I called my buddy Gary, who lives close by and happened to be home that day and asked him to check on Emily. They both were there pretty quickly but no sign of anyone. The police asked the neighbors if they heard anything and nothing turned up. Later, our neighbors came over and said that they just discovered their son had lost something over the wall, and he had come over to get it without telling anyone! Whew!

Maybe a week after that, at 3:15 am Bradley and I are both awakened up by a loud crashing noise, like a shelf collapsing outside. Bradley and I are in different rooms and he was understandably scared. The first thing I noticed was that none of my motion lights were on, and I didn't hear any "human" sounds like voices or running. I went around the house with my flashlight, looked around inside, searched and searched, and never did find out what the source of that noise was. I didn't really sleep the rest of that night but even in the morning sunlight, I couldn't determine what, if anything, had fallen. I suspect it was something in my neighbor's home or yard.

All of this has us a little jumpy! I have installed motion lights all around the house and in the garage, and we are thinking more about security. It might be time to get that dog we've always wanted among other enhancements.

So a word to the wise, no late night surprise parties please!

Peace, Love and Security,

Rich

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

That was close.

I use my bike downtown for getting around short distances, like going to lunch. Yesterday I went to a favorite lunch wagon and had my plate lunch secured to the bike and was riding back to work. It just so happened that another cyclist rolled up and we were waiting at a light together.

The light changed, and we were off, but he chose to ride the sidewalks and I rode on the road. When I first started riding in the city, a friend reminded me that a bike is a vehicle and everyone can predict what I will do if I ride like a car, and not like a pedestrian. Besides, it's faster and it's the law.

We were travelling along pretty much side by side, with him weaving around people and bus stops and the like. I was feeling very superior on the road just pumping away at the peddles, intent on showing him how much better and faster the street is.

Suddenly, one of the parked cars doors suddenly swings wide open barely a bike length in front of me! It happened SO FAST! I know I yelled and my heart stopped. Even now I don't know how I missed the door. By the time I realized what was happening it was over. There was not even time to decide "jump, swerve or slide" (I think I swerved), it was just over. I didn't even have a chance to cuss or give "stink-eye", not that I WOULD EVER do that! 0:-)

The worst part was, as I slowed down to remove my heart from my throat, the other cyclist cruised on by on the sidewalk and I could hear him grinning all the way back to work!


This message was sent from Rich's Treo 650.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Quit Now...It Doesn't Get Any Better!

I showed up at the range early this Monday morning, as usual, to practice my archery before work. I had gone several rounds at 30 and 40 yards and was having a good time trying a few different techniques.

At about 7:30am my 4th arrow on the 30 yard target made a funny sound when it hit. Sounded like ripping paper rather than the usual thump. I couldn't see from that range what had happened, but I assumed my arrow had torn the fletching off a previously shot arrow. I fired the rest of my quiver and headed down range to retrieve my arrows!

My mouth dropped when I saw what happened! I had split my own arrow!

(Click photo to enlarge)



Cool! I looked all around hoping to see somebody to share the moment with. Nobody! I thought "Great, no one is going to believe me! Especially because I'm a visual effects artist and I have the ability to "fake" an image like this. Or they'll think I was 5 feet in front of the target, forcing this effect."

Well it doesn't matter I decided, because I knew I did it and I am going to have this arrow mounted. I removed my arrows, keeping the split one together (it is tight!) and headed back, placed the special pair down and went on shooting, as I still had time for another round.

This time I was shooting at the 40 yard target, and I swear, the 3rd arrow made that same "ripping paper" sound! My heart skipped a beat. No way! I quickly finished off the remaining arrows and rushed downrange.

Check it out!


What are the odds of that? 2 split arrows within 5 minutes! To top off my elation, the arrow that was split this second time was NEARLY a bulls-eye!

It just doesn't get any better. I don't shoot this well. I understand this was a fluke. I'll never shoot this well again. In a way it takes the pressure off of having to.

I am going to have the arrows mounted (if I can ($$$)) with the date 9/10/07 and under 1 arrow put "30 yards. 7:30am" and the other will read "40 yards. 7:35am".

I still can't believe it. And no one was there to see it.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Natalie Grant Concert

We got great seats! Can't wait for the concert to start!

This message was sent from Rich's Treo 650.

Gabcast: In Line for "Natalie Grant"

Click play to listen:

Gabcast! FuelDepot by Phone #17 - In Line for Natalie Grant concert

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Jott Blog Post

This is a test of the Jott interface to my blog fueldepot. Let's see if it works. Aloha.
Click here to listen

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