tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65054736900876166862024-02-07T15:39:06.896-08:00A photo a day...A photo a day... is a blog about my musings on life and the little things I observe on a regular basis.
I might not post every day. In fact, I'm positive I won't post every day, but I would like to post at least twice a week, if not more. Photos will accompany each new post. Please, as always, feel free to comment if you have questions or if you just want to comment. Feel free to disagree. Let's keep it civil and get along is all I ask in return.Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-41003691720798418162019-06-03T16:48:00.002-07:002019-06-03T16:48:18.653-07:00I'm moving againLast time I moved, I hadn't posted in 9 months. This time it's been 16 months. Not saying it's going to be any better this time around, but a couple of things have changed in my life and I'm going to try to be more active.<br />
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Anyway, please follow me over to <a href="https://webfootwanderings.blogspot.com/">Webfoot Wanderings</a> and we'll where that one takes us.Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-29828723113546734882018-02-21T19:21:00.000-08:002018-02-21T19:21:26.968-08:00Favorite photo of the week<span style="font-size: large;">One of the things I'm thinking about doing, starting with this post is to put up, what I think, is the best photo that I posted to Dogz on Walkz this past week. There are quite a few that I have really liked, but I just like the look of this beagle called Obi.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-64063670327598157762018-02-14T17:27:00.000-08:002018-02-14T18:10:19.592-08:00I could get used to this<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last month, <a href="http://aphotoortwoaday.blogspot.com/2018/01/explore.html">I posted about Jaxson</a>, who ended up being my third photo at Flickr to make In Explore. As of this writing, he has over 1,000 views on Flickr and 33 faves. Not bad numbers in reality, that is until today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I came home from work and started processing photos for my next two shots on Dogz on Walkz. Once I was done, I uploaded them to Flickr and discovered that my photo of Colt, the Belgian Malinois that I posted to Flickr last night had in invitation to join <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/inexplore/">In Explore</a>. Not only that, he has over 3,000 views and 69 faves as of this writing. Not bad for an iPhone shot I took as I was leaving a burger place down in Irvine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-size: large;">'m still not sure why some of my shots seem to do so well and others don't. If push came to shove, I'd say I have at least half a dozen shots that I think are technically better than this one. Still, I could get used to it. It's fun seeing your photo in that "best liked" gallery.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-91173871913136103662018-02-11T15:32:00.000-08:002018-02-11T15:32:01.311-08:00Changing equipment<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4654/39500929994_66127668e2_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4654/39500929994_66127668e2_z.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">For the past 30 years or so, I've been using either Minolta or Sony cameras. My wife bought me a Minolta Maxxum SLR just about the time we got married and I used that camera for the longest time. I liked the zoom lens on it and it focused quickly, which was very important to me. So when it started slowing down and showing wear and tear, I felt it was time to move into the digital age and get a DSLR.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went back and forth between different brands, but what ended up swaying me to Sony at the time was the mounts for the lenses were the same as with Minolta. It made sense since Sony had bought Minolta. I figured if I bought a Sony camera, I'd end up being able to use the lenses from my Minolta with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I ended up at a camera store in Pasadena where I looked at the Sony Alpha 100 and ended up purchasing that with a nice zoom lens. The guy who sold it to me said, I'd probably never use the Minolta lens, because the lens that came with my Sony was better and covered more ground, and he was absolutely right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used that camera a lot over the years, but </span><span style="font-size: large;">I've noticed, especially recently, that the lens and camera were moving much slower. Auto focusing was becoming much slower to achieve and with me recently taking a lot more shots of moving subjects (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dogzonwalkz/">Dogz on Walkz</a>), I felt it was time to start exploring the possibility of getting a new camera.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So this week, I went out and went an entirely different way this way, opting to walk away from the Sony brand and look at other models. Eventually, I settled on a Canon Eos 80D and I must say, I'm very pleased with it so far. The auto focus on the camera is incredibly responsive and so far, the only problem I actually had focusing on my subject was the photo of the pyracantha berries I posted to this entry. With so many berries in the shot, the camera had problems staying sharply in focus on any one particular berry, but eventually I was able to see what it was showing me in the viewfinder and I got the shot I wanted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm hoping to have a long and happy relationship with this camera. I expect this one will go with me on many travel adventures and family outings. So far, I've only used the wide angle lens with the camera, so I'm looking forward to getting out to use the telephoto lens. In the meantime, enjoy these two shots that were taken with the new camera.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-84826527570309596322018-02-08T21:06:00.000-08:002018-02-08T21:06:02.502-08:00Attracting crowds<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, all it takes is a dog to attract a crowd.</span></div>
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<br />Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-35211905190133529582018-02-01T19:13:00.000-08:002018-02-01T19:13:55.456-08:00It's not all dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last Sunday I wanted to do a hike up in the foothills, but the city of Claremont decided, due to the wind, to close Claremont Hills Wilderness Park (CHWP) down, because of possible fire danger. I get it, but when connecting trails, both east and west of the park are open, it kind of defeats the purpose of keeping people out because you think a fire might start. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4617/28176100819_4ebdbcaae4_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4617/28176100819_4ebdbcaae4_z.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">So instead, I just decided to walk the Thompson Creek Trail, starting at Higgenbotham Park and walking all the way up to Mills to the parking area for the CHWP and then back down again all the way to Towne and then back to the park where my Jeep was parked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a good decision, as the dogs were out in force that day and I got many good dog photos that haven't even seen the light of day on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dogzonwalkz/">Instagram Dogz on Walkz account</a> yet, but will in the near future. But I also got a pretty good shot of this acorn woodpecker on a sycamore tree just off the bike path near Mountain Ave. This one looks to be a juvenile, but the red cap is very obvious in this shot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, needless to say, this is not going to always be about dogs.</span></div>
Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-62801535466872680102018-01-28T15:50:00.001-08:002018-01-28T15:50:52.159-08:00Side effects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whenever you take a new medicine, you usually have to worry about possible side effects. This is also pretty much true when you try something new. Running? You're feet and legs are going to ache for awhile until you build up some stamina. Ice skating? You're going to fall until you become decent and then you'll still fall. Yoga? Yeah, I'm just not flexible enough to even attempt that one, but I'm sure others can tell you about some of the side effects there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So why am I writing about side effects? Well, I've encountered my own side effect from going out and deliberately talking to dogs and taking their photos. Dog slobber. Who knew that many different kinds of dogs could slobber so much? I knew some dogs slobber, case in point, this bulldog I captured a couple of years ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I ended up walking along the Thompson Creek Trail, mainly because the foothill trails had been closed down by the city due to the winds and possible fire danger. So I walked the bike trail and got lots of dog photos. And I also got lots of dog slobber too. But it's the best kind of slobber, so I guess this is just a inconvenient side effect.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-69659659908656300142018-01-26T17:05:00.000-08:002018-01-26T17:05:36.644-08:00Explore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every now and then, I'll post an image and not really think anything of it, that is until I get home the next day and I've seen all the faves the photo generates. I regularly <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62566937@N00/">post to Flickr</a> and they have a category called Explore. Basically, it's the best photos that people post over there and it's by invitation only. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The invitations are sent out to photographers after a photograph has reached either a certain threshold of faves, or comments or some such, as there seems to be no way of really knowing how many you really need, as I suspect they probably think that you might "stuff" the ballot boxes if you knew. They also block you from getting back into Explore for a certain period of time afterward so that others can be seen without you becoming a dominant factor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Up until today, I've two other photos in Explore. My Death Valley photo, that I took in the spring of 2015 was the first. I even <a href="http://aphotoortwoaday.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-photo.html">blogged about that experience here</a>. That photo has almost 8000 views and 98 faves. Interestingly, it used to have 99, but I guess someone decided they didn't like it quite as much as they previously thought. The second photo that made it to Explore was a photo I took this summer in Yellowstone National Park of the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62566937@N00/35870147166/in/pool-inexplore|62566937@N00">Grand Prismatic Spring</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now I have a third. Jaxson, the Weimaraner is now in Explore. If you <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/inexplore/pool/">click this link</a> and hurry, you might see Jaxson near the top, but as new photos get added, he'll move further down and out of site, but even if you don't find him, check out some of the spectacular photos there. You won't be disappointed.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-90321176390087650772018-01-24T17:17:00.000-08:002018-01-24T17:17:32.232-08:00Dogz and horses on walkz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every now and then when you're out geocaching, you see some pretty interesting sites. The nice thing about where I live is it's only a 30 minute drive to get to the desert, or the beach. For this shot, it was obviously, the desert. And the nice thing about the desert is the wide open spaces. Once you get out of any town, you have some pretty scenic vistas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Several years ago, I was out taking some shots of the mountains with Joshua Trees in the foreground, when I heard these two guys conversing on horseback. One of their dogs came up to greet me, giving my hand a lick. We exchanged pleasantries and then they rode off and I took some photos of them as they rode away from me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It literally wasn't until I looked at the shot on my computer screen that I realized the guy on the right was packing. The way this scene played out, I just felt this one needed a slight sepia treatment to it to give it an "Old West" feel to it. And the only thing that really gives this away is the guy on the left is wearing sneakers. Otherwise, it could be something form the 1800s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comments would be appreciated. Thanks for stopping by.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-3717626064268187592018-01-23T19:24:00.000-08:002018-01-23T19:24:38.699-08:00Dogz on Walkz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">In case you haven't noticed, I haven't posted much on here. In fact, I haven't posted anything since late June of last year. Life has happened, repeatedly in a variety of ways. But I've had many adventures since June and I could have written a lot, but I just haven't.</span><div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so I'm starting fresh again. My daughter suggested something to me last week that grabbed ahold of me and sort of kindled a spark in me. We talked and laughed about it, but then I started thinking and realized that I could really get into this. And so, Dogz on Walkz was born.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I decided that if I was going to do this up right I wanted to get a good Instagram feed going, so I went through all of my past photos and found as many Dogz on Walkz photos that I could find. Then I created the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dogz-on-Walkz-148151912570312/">Facebook page</a> and the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dogzonwalkz/">Instagram page</a> and now I'm trying to post a new photo every day of a dog I encounter on my hikes and walks. After all, the title of this blog is a Photo a day, so why not get back into it. I even decided to re-join 365 Project as Dogz on Walkz. And so it goes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also practiced first. I decided that on my walk/hike on Saturday of last weekend, I'd just greet every dog that walked by just to get a feel for it. I didn't bring my camera, although I had my phone with me, so I could have taken shots with that if need be, but I just wanted to practice that day. Sunday would be different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday, I literally picked up my camera for the first time this year. I can't even remember the last time I used it, maybe this summer when I was on vacation? It's become so easy just to pull the phone out and take a photo on that, that I'd forgotten how I used to enjoy taking photos. One of the first things I noticed was how heavy the camera is. That will take some getting used to again, but it didn't take long for me to get back into photographer mode.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first dog I met on the trail that day was Annie, pictured her. She's only 7 months old and according to her people friend, she's a Pit Bull/Boxer mix and was a rescue dog. Annie was so thrilled for pets from me that when I sat down to take photos, she jumped into my lap and schmooosed the front of my camera, a fact that I didn't even noticed until after I left her and her people friend. Then I noticed all the dog drool on the front of my lens. Nothing like dog slobber to really get a lens nice and clean right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So this is my attempt at really doing a photo a day for this blog. Sometimes, it might just be the daily dog photo, but I'm going to try this again. Wish me luck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As always, any comments, words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Please <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dogz-on-Walkz-148151912570312/">like our page on Facebook</a>. Also, please <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dogzonwalkz/">follow us in Instagram</a>. Tell all of your dog loving friends to follow us in Instagram as well.</span></div>
Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-78738191147761318972017-06-21T04:00:00.000-07:002017-06-21T04:00:18.403-07:00Can of Corn Challenge: Best Baseball Movie (June)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">There have been a lot of baseball movies made over the years and picking a best baseball movie is subjective, at best, as everyone has their favorite. Did you like <i>Sandlot</i> or <i>Pride of the Yankees</i>? <i>Bang the Drum Slowly</i> comes up a lot in discussion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my mind, I consider <i>Bull Durham</i> to be the best baseball movie. I really can't put my finger on it, but I think it comes as close as possible to revealing the inner workings of how professional baseball players actually tick. <i>Pride of the Yankees</i> was too sanitized and <i>Sandlot</i> does a good job at showing baseball from a kids point of view, but for my money, I could watch <i>Bull Durham</i> over and over again, probably because it's more than just about baseball. And because I played catcher in Little League and the star, Kevin Costner, plays the catcher in the movie didn't hurt its chances as the best baseball movie ever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's one of the few movies where I have multiple scenes etched in my brain, perhaps because I saw it twice in the theaters. Any time I see it playing, which is infrequently unless I'm traveling and staying in a motel that has cable, I'll watch it. I really just enjoy the movie. Yes, it's definitely not a kid's movie and if you have an aversion to course language, I would advise not watching it, but I really don't think you can go wrong with seeing this movie, if you are a baseball fan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep soft, wet kisses that last three days."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"You're gonna have to learn your clichés. You're going to have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: 'We gotta play it one day at a time.'"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"This son of a bitch is throwing a two-hit shutout. He's shaking me off. You believe that shit? Charlie, here comes the deuce. And when you speak of me, speak well."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far ought have a damn stewardess it, don't you think?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Yeah, I was in the show. I was in the show for 21 days once - the 21 greatest days of my life. You know, you never handle your luggage in the show, somebody else carries your bags. It was great. You hit white balls for batting practice, the ballparks are like cathedrals, the hotels all have room service, and the women all have long legs and brains."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, I'll leave you with this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The photo is from the recreation yard at Alcatraz Island which I took a couple of weeks ago.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-68519412206164409222017-05-18T17:55:00.001-07:002017-05-18T17:55:45.025-07:00Can of Corn Challenge: Swing and a miss (May)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, this month's challenge snuck up on me. I blame the end of the year for my lack of activity on all fronts. Let's face it. It just gets plain busy at the end of the school year and time is at a premium. So this post is a basic Swing and a Miss. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a shot I took in 2013 when my daughter took me to a baseball game at Anaheim Stadium to see my beloved Angels take on the Seattle Mariners. If I remember correctly, the Angels won, so I went home a happy camper.</span></div>
Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-81620814160182520012017-04-19T19:34:00.000-07:002017-04-19T19:34:42.460-07:00Can of Corn Challenge: An early baseball memory (April)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.J. has convinced me, or probably like tricked me into another writing challenge. He's done a good job, noting several times in the past that I seem to write more frequently when I have these challenges in front of me, so here goes. This is a monthly challenge, to write about baseball. Today's topic is an early baseball memory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I grew up in Orange County, a suburb of Los Angeles. Disneyland was only 6 years old when we moved to California. The Lakers hadn't hit their stride yet and baseball was all about the Dodgers. I listened to Vin Scully on the radio for Dodger baseball, but whenever we went to a game, it was always to Anaheim, to see the Angels play. The stadium was close to home and we'd always see either Cleveland Indians or the Chicago White Sox. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, we'd go to the game, pay a buck fifty to sit up in the upper deck by the left field foul pole and watch an Angel game. Always the Chicago White Sox or the Cleveland Indians. I hadn't really thought why, but I was fairly young, so as far as I knew, the only teams in the American League were the Angels, the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox. I didn't know any different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My first game that I can remember seeing, I saw catcher Tom Egan hit a two run homer for the Angels, then saw Andy Messersmith hit a solo shot. Both homers cleared the left field fence and two lucky baseball fans went home with souvenirs that day. I was shocked really. In the past, listening to the games on the radio, I always assumed that the ball had to be thrown back on to the field so the players could keep playing. Who knew?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">From then on, I always brought a glove to the game. We were always in the upper deck, so they never came up there, but I could still be an optimist.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-16712772981948847242017-03-23T09:38:00.003-07:002017-03-23T09:38:41.253-07:00Stalking Geocachers<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday, I went on a hike and found 3 geocaches. Here's a YouTube video I created for one of the caches I found yesterday. Enjoy.</span><br />
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Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-54342404343009153992017-02-27T19:52:00.002-08:002017-02-27T19:54:08.283-08:00The right way to apologize<span style="font-size: large;">Too many times, I hear about, or see famous people step up to a microphone and "apologize" for some action that they've done recently. Usually, it's because they engaged their mouths before their brains and said something incredibly stupid or insensitive. Almost always, the apology ends with "I apologize if I have offended anyone."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What? Doe that mean you don't apologize if you didn't offend someone? That's just BS in my opinion. A good apology has four steps:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step 1: Express remorse. Every apology needs to start with two magic words: "I'm sorry," or "I apologize."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step 2: Admit responsibility. Next, admit responsibility for your actions or behavior, and acknowledge what you did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step 3: Make amends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step 4: Promise that it won't happen again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">PricewaterhouseCoopers did a whopper of a mistake at last night's Oscars award ceremony when the wrong envelope was handed to Warren Beatty and the wrong winner was announced for Best Picture. This is what PricewaterhouseCoopers did almost immediately after they discovered the mistake. They issued an apology.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"We sincerely apologize to 'Moonlight,' 'La La Land,' Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway and Oscar viewers for the error that was made during the award announcement for Best Picture," read PwC's apology.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The presenters had mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope and when discovered, was immediately corrected. We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred. We appreciate the grace with which the nominees, the Academy, ABC, and Jimmy Kimmel handled the situation," added the statement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">About the only thing this didn't address was the promise that it won't happen again. But since they've been doing this for 83 years and this is really the first time this has happened due to an error on their part, I'm pretty sure that the "Promise it won't happen again" part is implied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wish more people, especially famous people who say stupid or insensitive things, would look at this real apology and actually apologize and <i><b>mean it</b></i> the next time they screw up. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Either that, or I'm going to have to stay offended all the time to make the apology real. But, I really shouldn't have to do that. If you screw up, apologize for it, admit responsibility, make amends for it and promise not to do it again. PricewaterhouseCoopers knows how to apologize. Others should follow their lead.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-12343127574985398242017-02-12T18:19:00.000-08:002017-02-12T18:19:11.724-08:00Goals for the year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">This post, as are most things in my life it seems, is just a little bit late. I got caught up in the 20 days of Chill challenge and really didn't think about posting something along this line for the month of January and here's now almost halfway through February. But as one of my students said last year, "Better late than never."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goals that I have for myself are as follows and they fall into two main categories: Hobbies and Personal. Interestingly, the main personal goal is tied up with my hobbies. If I work on that one, the others will fall into place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First off, let me talk about hobbies. I went out geocaching today. Big deal most of you will say, but what you don't realize is I've only gone out geocaching four days in the entire month of February. In other words, I've taken a step back, slightly. Many of you might not know is I just completed a 601 consecutive day streak where I either found a cache or attended an event. It stretched from June 1st, 2015 until January 21st of this year. Sunday, the 22nd felt weird not to go caching, but it rained hard all day and I was able to use the rain as justification for me not going out and finding a cache that day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2866/11746741316_96029bc41a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2866/11746741316_96029bc41a_z.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I have other geocaching goals in mind, many of them most of you will probably find quite silly, but those particular goals keep me interested in the game. My current goal is to get every date on the calendar filled in with 11 finds each. Since I've been geocaching since 2001, you would think that I'd found at least 11 caches on every day of the year. Not so. There are certain time periods, notably the months of September and December, where I am busy doing other things and geocaching takes a back seat. Since the consecutive day streak has ended however, I can now concentrate on filling in those dates. This won't happen by the end of the year, since I already have a couple of dates in January and February that still need to be filled in 2018. But, at least I can put a dent in that particular goal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since taking a step back, I've decided that I want to find more quality caches. If I have to walk or hike to a cache, then I rate that higher quality-wise than if I just walk up to something and find it there. That doesn't mean I'll change my entire caching habit, but I would like to work on that aspect. Today was a perfect example of both aspects. I went over to Whittier today to cache along a trail in the Arroyo Pescadero. No such luck since the trails were closed due to the weather we've been having. So I found some nearby caches in parks and along some streets and ended up over near another large park where the trails were open and I was able to find some good quality hiking caches. It was like the best of both worlds. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if I'd had a caching partner, but that doesn't always work out and I'd rather do a solo hike then sit at home because I don't have someone to go caching with.</span><br />
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<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8289/7633758116_f6e21e989c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8289/7633758116_f6e21e989c_z.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today also made me realize why I need to step back slightly from geocaching. On the trail today, I saw two swallowtail butterflies flitting around each other, most likely in some kind of mating or territorial ritual. And I didn't have my camera with me. Two years ago, I always took my camera with me. Now, it very rarely comes out of the camera bag. I take photos with my iPhone, but those don't compare to the ones I post here. That's also probably one of the reasons that I don't post as often here on my blog. The blog's title is "A Photo a Day." I really need to get out more and take photos again. I discovered today, that I have missed taking photos. I think the consecutive day streak had something to do with that as well. I was pretty much consumed with making sure I found at least one geocache, that I wasn't concerned about other things that I enjoyed doing and so photography fell by the wayside. That's going to change this year. I just need to strike a better balance between the two. And a better balance between the two means, more photos and thus more posts here as well. It's a win/win all the way around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And lastly, but probably most importantly, is my personal goal: Lose another 15 pounds by the end of the year. I have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. This is not a good thing and I don't want to slide down that slippery slope and so losing weight is a very good option for me to help me avoid becoming diabetic. In the past two years, I've lost 30 pounds. Another 15 to 20 pounds will put me back at my college weight, which will be much healthier for me in the long run. Hiking, and thus geocaching will help with this. But if I can't find a geocache, then I can always walk the Thompson Creek Trail or the Claremont Wilderness loop. A five mile hike is always good for the body and good for the soul.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading this. </span><span style="font-size: large;">As always, I look forward to your comments. </span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-77502623802582468242017-02-04T16:17:00.000-08:002017-02-04T16:17:39.645-08:00Dear Mr. Grossman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I met you in the summer of 1986, when my girlfriend took me to meet you and your wife. Over the course of the last 31 years, I've known you by a variety of different names. You were Mr. Grossman for about a day, possibly two, before you became Sherwin to me. Less than a year later, you were Dad. I had become part of your family by marrying your youngest daughter. Within two years you had been renamed once again, the name that you kept for the rest of your life, Grandpa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we first met, you were a heavy smoker. When your daughter became pregnant with your first grandchild, you started to cut back. We had already outlawed you from smoking inside our house, so after a dinner you'd go outside to have your smoke. Eventually, you decided that you wanted to live longer to enjoy your grandchildren down the road, so you quit. I'm very glad you made that decision, because you were able to enjoy your granddaughter for 27 years, and your two grandsons for 25 and 21 years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I chose this photo of you because it's an awesome photo of you with your grandchildren. You were one of the hardest individuals in the world to get a good smile out of. My very last roll of film I ever took, I ended up shooting an entire roll of trying to get a good shot of you and Grandma together. The first shot on the roll was the best and only one where you were really smiling. This shot of you with the kids is the best I've got, but it's a good one and that's what counts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, your daughter and I began the painful task of cleaning up a house after a loved one has left. This was not a one day job, but just the first step. However, you should know that I know, now more than ever, why your daughter is the way that she is. You taught her very well and I hope you're very proud of that. You have left a good legacy behind. You were a very good father-in-law and if I can be half the father-in-law that you were, I will have to say that I have succeeded in that part of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You leave behind two very loving daughters, three loving grandchildren, and one loving son-in-law. You will be missed Grandpa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sherwin Grossman</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">March 7, 1930 - February 3, 2017</span></div>
Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-36806997678691226102017-01-27T19:01:00.000-08:002017-01-27T19:02:12.626-08:00Sydney, Australia (Day 20) - 20 Days of Chill<span style="font-size: large;">"Go to the Uetibergbahn and get a ticket at Seinau station for the upper station. From there, walk to the summit of Uetilberg. You will know what to do once you get there." That had been the last text message I received while on the plane after it had landed in Zurich. I still had to find Herman, so I made my way to the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Uetibergbahn and bought my ticket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the while, I kept thinking, why had Herman gotten me into this? How had someone gotten into my house? How had someone dognapped Herman from my back yard. We had gotten Herman while we were on holiday in Sydney, Australia. He was just a puppy, but we found him on a street corner along with several of his littermate as we had been walking around on the waterfront at Sydney Harbor. The boy was trying to get rid of the dogs before he had to take them to a shelter. My wife fell in love with Herman almost immediately, but then again, she fell in love with Jack the same way. She saw Herman, he bounded over and put his paws on her pant legs and it was all over. We had to have Herman. And man, was that an adventure getting him home. All the paperwork, just to bring a dog stateside. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/334/32521060046_feee03c5fa_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/334/32521060046_feee03c5fa_z.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Now, however, Herman was a 130 pound German Shepherd that no one wanted to mess with if he was in his own territory. On a walk, Herman was another story, the friendliest dog known to mankind. But in the back yard, he'd rip an arm right off of someone who tried to come into the back yard without me giving an approving command to him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was startled out of my thoughts by the station conductor announcing the upper station. I got off at the end of the line and started to make the walk to the summit. You know, Herman would really like it here, I thought. And that's when I saw him. Herman was heading to me like a friend train. BAM. He hit me and knocked me over. Now I was on the ground with him licking my face. What the heck is going on here? "Herman! Good boy. How did you get here?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Those questions will be answered in short order."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I looked over to my right and saw where the voice had come from. Quickly, I was on my feet and running, with Herman beside me. Then, Herman turned around, growled and charged the man, who had pulled a gun out of his pocket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Herman! No!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was too late, the man shot and I saw Herman fall on his side. Then the man looked at me, aimed and fired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next thing I heard was, "Did you hear what I said? That's a really big tree."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep, is sure is," I said. I didn't have the heart to tell him that there is a tree in California that had a <b><i>branch</i></b> that was larger than this entire tree. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> It was at that point in time, that I realized that I needed to stop daydreaming so much and actually enjoy some of the adventures I'd been thinking about while standing on that rooftop in Philadelphia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the completion to others who took part in the 20 Days of Chill, <a href="http://hoohaa.com/?p=12218">please click here</a>.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-90538653543980494612017-01-26T21:14:00.003-08:002017-01-26T21:14:43.919-08:00Popularity (Day 19) - 20 Days of Chill<span style="font-size: large;">I got nothing here, so just take a look at this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For other stories of Popularity, <a href="http://hoohaa.com/?p=12215">click here</a>.</span><br />
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<br />Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-74739076672534675892017-01-25T18:05:00.000-08:002017-01-25T18:05:28.983-08:00White (Day 18) - 20 Days of Chill<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8116/8712415024_b959e9e581_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8116/8712415024_b959e9e581_z.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I'm dreaming of a White Christmas. No, I'm really not. Although I was born in northern Indiana, I have only one recollection of snow back from those days, of building a snowman and then watching from inside the house as my dad knocked it down later. My dad tells me of one time when I walked off the back porch and fell head first into a snow bank. He reached down and pulled me out by the ankles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So snow is white, but then again, a lot of things are, but how many of them are as cool as a beluga whale? Polar Bears maybe, but I don't have a photograph of a polar bear, so a white whale will have to do for today. But we won't call him Moby. No. Besides he has too nice of a smile to be Moby, although I can understand why Moby wasn't a happy camper. I think you'd be unhappy too if someone was always trying to spear and kill you for no reason outside of wanting some of the oil in my nose. Heck, just mine your own teenagers nose. There's enough oil there to fuel an entire house for a year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For more stories about White, <a href="http://hoohaa.com/?p=12212&cpage=1#comment-1275478">click here</a>.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-41779229863649606002017-01-24T16:35:00.000-08:002017-01-24T16:35:01.734-08:00Dreams (Day 17) - 20 Days of Chill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sweet Dreams are made of this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A dream is a wish, your heart makes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thunder only happens when it's raining.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I believe you can get me through the night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought of the theme today and four songs came into my head, in this order. Can you name them all or at least give me artist or movie they came from?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For more stories about dreams, <a href="http://hoohaa.com/?p=12206">click here</a>.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-43187498240455765152017-01-23T18:06:00.000-08:002017-01-23T18:06:49.164-08:00Cheese (Day 16) - 20 Days of Chill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/379/31679761293_d718fea2fd_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/379/31679761293_d718fea2fd_c.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Up until this past year, I'd only ever known P.J. was through the Internet. I used to write a blog entitled <a href="http://electronicbreadcrumbs.blogspot.com/">Electronic Breadcrumbs</a>, which was all about geocaching. I believe this is how we first met, and when I got tired of writing that blog, I created this one and he eventually followed me over here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last summer, he went to a lot of baseball games, 75 of them in all. I really love baseball and I think in my best year, I probably went to no more than about 20 games, so 75 is an incredible amount. Anyway, his last three games were out here in Southern California late in September. He flew in Saturday morning and attended the Dodger game that night, then he and his friend drove down to San Diego on Sunday morning and I met him down there and we met for the first time. We then to the train from Qualcom Stadium to downtown San Diego and took in a Padres game at Petco Field, the first time I'd been to Petco. Monday night he went to Anaheim to see the Angels play and then flew home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This story, however, is about where he ate. Since he's not from around here, he'd never been to <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/">In-n-Out</a>. If you live in Southern California, or have lived in Southern California, you know what In-n-Out is. Best burger place ever. Consistently good. When my son went to England to study abroad, we stopped at the In-n-Out to get his last meal before leaving the country. That's where this photo was taken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So P.J. and his friend went to In-n-Out Saturday night and ordered standard fare. I think he Tweeted about it and got a response back from one of his followers something on the order of, "Did you order off the <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/menu/not-so-secret-menu.aspx">secret menu</a>?" THERE'S A SECRET MENU???</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So needless to say, we went to In-n-Out Sunday night after the game. On the drive up there, we'd talked about the secret menu and other things related. They ended up in one queue and I ended up in the other. I did my standard order, "Cheeseburger, extra toasted bun, whole grill, fries and a medium drink." The server didn't bat an eye, although extra toasted buns and whole grill are not on the main menu. I know I've never seen whole grill on the secret menu. P.J. wanted something a little bit more "out there" so he ended up ordering fries "Animal Style." That's fries, with special sauce, grilled onions and cheese melted over the top. Delicious, but not really good for my waistline anymore, so I usually don't order it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There server was very entertained by their order. You could tell they weren't regulars, because they stumbled over their order, but it was fun to watch. Regulars rarely stumble and if you click on the secret menu link I've posted, there are plenty of things that still aren't listed there, including the two I usually order. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I think I want to go to In-n-Out and order a order of fries Animal Style and have them hold the special sauce just to see what they'd do. Cheese and grilled onions on fries sound good all by themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For more stories about Cheese, <a href="http://hoohaa.com/?p=12200">click here</a>.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-88729553142717585212017-01-20T18:21:00.000-08:002017-01-20T19:18:10.684-08:00Zurich, Switzerland (Day 15) - 20 Days of Chill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/617/32280601882_e2da13ea6d_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/617/32280601882_e2da13ea6d_z.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Your attention ladies and gentlemen. The captain has put on the seat belt light. We are beginning our descent into Zurich."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started awake and quickly looked out my window and could see the sun shining off of Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps in the distant background. Yesterday, I had been in San Francisco and now I was getting ready to land in Switzerland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started to think back over what had happened in the last 48 hours or so, but it was a blur. All that I knew is Herman was here somewhere and someone wanted me to go here as well. It was all very suspicious, but I hadn't paid for the ticket, so I figured I was getting a free vacation out of the deal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My next thought was realizing that we were taxiing to the gate. I reached in the overhead for my carry on, the only thing I had brought with me. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. A text.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Go to the Uetilbergbahn and get a ticket at Seinau station for the upper station. From there, walk to the summit of Uetilberg. You will know what to do once you get there."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be continued...</span><br />
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Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-74089619739145100562017-01-19T03:00:00.000-08:002017-01-19T03:00:02.590-08:00The Next 10 Years . . (Day 14) - 20 Days of Chill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1545/23534207173_81fd84d1bb_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1545/23534207173_81fd84d1bb_z.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the next 10 years, assuming we haven't destroyed one another, the leaves will still change in the fall. The snow will fall (hopefully), and the seasons will change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The one thing that will be different, from my perspective is, I will be retired. I've been teaching the hormonally schizophrenic (otherwise known as middle school students) for 34 years. I started out teaching in Buena Park, California. I taught there for one year, then took a teaching position at Cucamonga Junior High School, now known as Cucamonga Middle School.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not quite ready to step down yet, but I can see that opening at the end of the tunnel, and it's no longer a train barreling down the track, but an open window on a new world. I know many people who have no desire to retire for the simple reason they feel they'd be bored. Not me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I noted in another post, there's a lot of things I want to do. One of them is to experience different places in the fall. Having grown up in Southern California, we don't really have fall. Leave turn colors all through our winter as it gets colder. I want to see an actual fall sometime. I haven't been able to do that, because I'm always working in the fall. I guess my first trip when I retire will be to New Hampshire. Who knows? It could happen.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505473690087616686.post-53587520364564935762017-01-18T03:00:00.000-08:002017-01-18T19:22:59.165-08:00Fears (Day 13) - 20 Days of Chill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3694/13479065833_e0f2eb7211_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3694/13479065833_e0f2eb7211_z.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have a fear of heights. It's an irrational fear I know, yet it still bothers me when I'm really high in something and there's nothing to hold on to or something like that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On our first anniversary, my wife and I took a trip to Seattle, Washington. One of the things that we visited was the Space Needle. We bought our tickets and waited for the elevator to take us to the top. Ironically, something like this usually doesn't faze me. But when I saw the glass elevator, I panicked a little. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Going up was fine because I was rather rude and pushed my way to the front of the line and jumped in all the way to the back of the elevator. At the top, I was fine, mainly because there were so many anti-suicide devices that I knew I wasn't going to fall. Perhaps that's the fear. It's not so much the height, but the fear of falling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, going down was a different story. I had been so comfortable up there enjoying the views, that I forgot all about the elevator. I ended up being the last one on and so I was pressed up against the glass as we descended. I hyperventilated and had to turn around and stare at the floor to keep from going full panic attack mode.</span><br />
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<a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7527/15883530986_c7a7342e22_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7527/15883530986_c7a7342e22_z.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For the most part, I've overcome this fear. At least I know it's irrational. I'll readily get into planes now. Before, there needed to be a really valid reason for me to fly before I'd even consider getting into a plane. I know people will laugh at this considering it as rather silly, but how many of those same people will shudder when looking at either one of the photos I've used for this post?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fears are irrational. I think Franklin Delano Roosevelt said it best when he stated in his first inaugural speech, "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For other stories about Fears, <a href="http://hoohaa.com/?p=12176">click here</a>.</span>Paul Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02159194518854240946noreply@blogger.com7