Carl's Summer Blog

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T18:18:00.001-05:00

Here in Lords Valley the day is warm 46 and sunny.

NEIDERMIER #27 RETIRED

2011-12-28T10:22:00.001-05:00

December 16 at the ROCK

I think I can post from here.

2011-12-28T09:46:00.001-05:00

We will see what happens with a photo.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-26T15:26:00.000-05:00


Christmas eve at Gencarelli's bakery. I finally got inside with only 70 ahead of me.

Well, Christmas Eve is our nephew Brian's birthday and we wanted to get him a bakery fresh cake at the best bakery so one of my errands was to stop by Gencarelli's Bakery for a "Black and White" (chocolate and vanilla) layer cake.
The manager had thought ahead and put the "take a number" machine outside the front door but since the line to get a ticket was only three people long, I thought that's not too bad. I got number N10 looked around for the display that read "now serving 21". I gave some thought to pushing up to the front counter and claiming that they had skipped #10 but I thought that the Christmas spirit might be strained by a move so bold. I easily imagined my body discovered 45 minutes after closing time, beaten and trampled then stuffed into an extra large trash bag and rolled to the curb to await Monday's trash pickup... I awoke from my daydream to hear a voice shout, "Merry Christmas. Mr. Hazen!" A former soccer player who graduated with Chris's and now practices law asked after Coach Susan.
The atmosphere was festive, people chatted on phones, checked emails, a father tried to convince his son that tarreles are better than bagels (I suppose he was not willing to make one more stop.) Others laughed about the wait and in less than an hour I left cake box in hand.

Money Tree

2010-09-09T22:47:00.000-04:00

An artist hung money on a tree to see how people would react. She was totally surprised by the most common reactions. What do you think?

Statue of Liberty

2010-08-23T20:54:00.000-04:00

Saturday the fourteenth day of August we rose with the single minded goal of visiting the Statue of Liberty.

After some prompting we calmed down for this prompted introduction.

Paxton has quite an infatuation with the Lady of the Harbor (easily accessible from New Jersey's Liberty State Park in Jersey City.) The excitement was palpable as we saw the statue from ever closer vantage points, first from the car, then the park, then the pier, then the boat. Paxton often expressed his intentions, "I'm going to climb to the pedestal." (The crown is a 2 or 3 hour wait and a couple of hundred more steps and sold out weeks in advance.)

No one has ever been more excited about seeing the statue than Paxton. Over and over he repeated his goal "I am going to climb to the pedestal." and he did.

Finally we were right under the statue then inside. Paxton and Max excitedly examined the history of the monument in the small museum and then charged up the 192 steps without assistance.

Michelle, Will and Koren chased the boys in close formation and on the pedestal observation deck enjoyed a magnificent view of the harbor that New Jersey shares with New York (Have I complained enough about New York claiming the Statue in spite of the fact it is clearly in New Jersey waters. Who knows what wrangling went on in that deal, alas...) while Jenn, Mimi and G on the terrace and ground below.

Packy, Max, Koren, Michelle and Will are on the left, not waving.

I don't know if 3 year olds have memories, I don't remember anything before kindergarten, but I hope he does. If not, well, what better use for blogger.

Be good everyone!

Andrea Doria Bell Found by NJ Divers

2010-07-01T20:13:00.000-04:00

I had a nice lunch with Mom and Dad today. Mom was quite enthusiastic about an article in the Star-Ledger describing how " Two New Jersey divers sent waves throughout the wreck-diving community with the discovery of what is believed to the "bridge bell" from the historic shipwreck of the Andrea Doria, the luxury Italian ocean liner that sunk in 1956 off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts." (Newark Star Ledger via NJ.com) Mom is considering taking up diving again or at least buying the bell and hanging it on her patio and charging admission for viewing it. If I'm exaggerating she can correct me.

CS Monitor story including story of the wreck in 1956.

Nice black and white photo of Andrea Doria and another bw photo.

Still curious? The Andrea Doria has its own virtual museum and of course a wikipedia page.

Enjoy and be good,

Carl

Top 10 books

2010-03-27T12:15:00.001-04:00

While aimlessly pointing and clicking my way trough the NY Times Book Review I chanced upon the opinion blog of Ross Douthat (which ought to be a name for an often blamed little brother) entitled "The Influential Books Game". I guess it was a slow week in the Bolg-o-sphere because Douthat was responding to a blog by Matthew Yglesias who may have been responding to a blog by Will Wilkinson, who may have been responding to a blog by Matt Continetti who may have been responding to many more blogs. A couple of clicks and you'll get the picture...

Well, I was pleased that I had read or at least knew of 80% of Douthat's list. Encouraged, I continued to point and click recognizing many of the books, agreeing and disagreeing with the opinions. Quickly it occurred to me that since I was in the ballpark with these bloggers I ought to take my turn at the plate. Embracing their rule that the list ought to be "from the gut", fast and perhaps impermanent I began my list. Turned out to be an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours of spring break.

But before you view my 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS let me say that I have no idea who all of these bloggers are or if I care about their opinions. They seem to have some credentials as writers and academics...

But really?!?

I'd much rather read lists from the members of our google group. So have a little fun, make a list and share. If your list is a little different by Tuesday don't worry, mine will probably change too.

10 MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS

(In descending order, Letterman style, so I don't take myself too seriously)

10. "The Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan. Sagan analyzes those who believe that they have been abducted by aliens and a number of other superstitions long and hard. Not criticizing the believers so much as explaining why they believe and the historical antecedents of the beliefs. Never irreligious, Sagan tries only to hold a candle in the darkness and has inspired me to tell every 12 year old that would listen "I do believe in aliens but I don't believe that they have been here, yet."

9. "The Sibley Guide to Birds" by David Allen Sibley. I've spent more hours paging through this book and studying the beautiful watercolors than I have actually looking for birds outside and I never cease to be amazed that I recognize so many on the first try. (WOW! Studying really does work!) Unfortunately, that makes me one who spends too much time in a virtual world and not enough out exploring nature. Alas... (heavy sigh)

8. "Paper Lion" by George Plimpton. Plimpton, a great writer and professional amateur, brought the players and the game alive with his descriptions stories, anecdotes and tall tales not to mention his hapless attempt at playing the game. I felt I knew the lineman Alec Karass (remember him as the adoptive dad from "Webster") and a more outrageous QB than Joe Namath named Bobby Layne. And the defensive back Richard "Night train" Lane who got his nickname and hall of fame induction because of his hard tackles. For many years after reading "Paper Lion" I claimed to be a Detroit Lions fan without ever seeing the Lions play in person or setting foot in Detroit or even Michigan. Because of longstanding NFL tradition, once a year on Thanksgiving day, I had the opportunity to watch my team lose and lament. I may be cured at this point in my life. Time will tell.

7. "The Summer Game" by Roger Angell. I was never any good at baseball but Angell enticed me into a love affair with the American Pastime. What else can I say but "Let's Go Mets" I can't help myself it's spring time when "aging rookies and hopeful veterans begin the ritual" of training...

6. "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren. The fictionalization of Huey Long, Louisiana Governor, demigod and man of the people was my high school introduction to politics and the easy corruptibility of society and individuals. "1984" by George Orwell, "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley and "Fahrenheit 451" by Bradbury. The remainder of my high school education on the corruptibility of people in general and government in particular.

5. "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. Truth be told, I never read this one. When I received a serious eye injury at the hands of a group of of unsupervised, thoughtless High School freshman Mom read "Animal Farm" to me. She also supplied expert commentary along with historical references. As a result I knew far more about this book than any of my classmates and was the star of the classroom discussions. My teacher thought I had gotten a hold of the Cliff Notes but I explained that I had a far richer source. (Thanks, Mom.)

4. "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury. Yes, it is 2010 and by now we should have jet packs and robot maids and picture phones (ubiquitous cell phones and Skype notwithstanding we have just scratched the surface here) and holographic television but most of all we should have cities on the moon and a colony on Mars. I gave up on Bradbury's romance with space as did most of my generation and that may have been my/our greatest mistake. In a short story not included in "The Martian Chronicles" Bradbury described Martians --"dark they were and golden eyed" and it turns out that the Earthlings who had immigrated became Martians just as Europeans, Africans and Asians became Americans. Bradbury imagined the transformation as a vast improvement.

3. "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle was my first science fiction read. I imagine it was approved for a school library because of the Newbery award seal on the cover not its content. The teacher who read my book report didn't really approve of science fiction. If she meant to use reverse psychology on me to encourage me to read more SciFi she was a bigger success that she could have imagined.

2. "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov. Mary stalked Asimov (or at least hung out at his apartment house in Manhattan) to get his autograph. Found him delightful (or else he just liked flirting with a pretty young woman) and delighted to have a persistent, resourceful fan. I loved his imagination and the galaxy full of worlds he could fathom, the Galactic Encyclopedia and its hidden twin preserving knowledge from the coming dark millennia (its been a long time and I may remembering this wrong...) Hari Seldon's science of Psychohistory , mathematics that could predict and improve the future still seems like a good idea, that is if I get to be the one guiding the improvements. His world, his universe, was limitless covering hundreds of books both fiction and nonfiction.
He invented the laws of Robotics and applied them in this book as robots and human interactions with them were an integral part of his future world. As robots and AI become closer to reality the inventors, programmers and scientists consider the means for including Asimov's laws.

1. "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau. Jenn and I swam across Walden Pond and back. (It's not far from Mary's house) and somewhere between purposeful breaststrokes I commented that I could have written a few fabulous books if I had lived here. Well, I probably could have written a few books (the fabulous part would have to be decided by the authorities) as soon as word-processors and spell-checkers were invented if I had gotten to it. Perhaps I still shall, but please, dear readers, no pressure.
I wonder how much of this book I actually read. As I browse sources on the internet I'm becoming pretty sure that in 11th grade English we were assigned to read the chapters Economy and maybe Where I lived and What I Lived For and then moved on to an Emerson essay (March, children, the curriculum must be covered!) Even though I count myself a pragmatist rather than a transcendentalist and I won't be living farther away from society that Pike County, PA anytime soon, Thoreau's ideas continue to be iconic and attractive.

Now that morning has come as I reread and edit (I probably could polish a little more but C'est La Vie) I realize that I read most of these books in the years PC (before 1977) so I'll have to consider a Post Children edition. But for now I'll request lists from anyone with an hour or two and the desire. Send them to the google group for everyone to peruse. And for an added bonus, if you would like to be a guest blogger, send them to alphacorvus.alphacorvus@ blogger.com (yes, yes, the alphacorvus.alphacorvus is redundant, yes, yes) and they will be saved as a draft for future publication.

I'm going outside to look for birds.
be good,
Carl

Melted Hearts

2010-02-12T18:55:00.002-05:00

A small batch of hopeful glass looks more like discarded shards retrieved from the dustbin than holiday crafts as I close the kiln lid but I'm hoping that heat and time will transform the broken bits into ornaments, glass cabochons and bracelet beginnings.

VOILA!! A mere 12 hours later (4 of active and semi-active messing about and 8 of cooling) we have fused glass!

A Valentine's Day Ornament complete with a symbolic lines showing previous heartbreak and mending...

...a glass heart cabochon

...and a Christmas ornament

One of the bracelet blanks stuck to the shelf and shattered. (alas, one lives and one learns) the other is too short to make into a decent bracelet (it might make a good napkin ring). The other thing started as an eye but got lost along the way so now it is just whatever it is (probably the magic talisman that might keep Rinkitink safe as he traverses Oz ;-).

Hope you are enjoying this half as much as I am!
be good,
Carl

Bottles and Bracelets

2010-01-31T21:13:00.001-05:00

From Melted glass

Well, my latest avocation is melting glass in a small kiln to make, well, so far bracelets and flat beer bottles. I start with some glass parts and heat them up to 1500 degrees F. After they cool which takes about 8 hours I place them on a form and heat them up again this time to 1300 degrees F and shape them around a stainless steel bracelet mold. Another six hours of cooling and voila!

From from zx1

So far these are the only two but there will be more as time permits.

From from zx1

But really what the world needs is some flattened beer bottles that can be used for cheese and crackers or perhaps sushi! Start with an empty clean bottle (relatively easy to come by)and melt in a mold for a nice change tray.
or flatten into a plate.
Feel free to look at the rest of the album. No orders are being taken at this time...
be good,
Carl

Thank You

2009-07-31T15:40:00.001-04:00

Paxton and A say thank you to Uncle Chris for some new percussion instruments.

Enjoy!

Sharing is Best

2009-07-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

Here are two books, one for each boy! Remember that sharing is best.
I bought these books for you guys and I bought the same ones for Mimi and G here in New Jersey.
Now we can play with the truck books together. That will be FUN!

So next time we see you on the computer we can play with the books together. OK? OK!

be good,

G

Can you Moo?

2009-07-16T18:02:00.000-04:00

G reads Dr. Seuss Mr. Brown Can Moo. Can you?

Remember to make all of the noises!

be good,

G

The Tallest Building

2009-07-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

Here is another story for the boys (and anyone else who is interested).

be good,

G

BIG Truck

2009-07-13T16:51:00.000-04:00

Well, I've been a little busy to post much but I'm trying to find time...
No, it isn't with my misplaced keys but thanks for the help.
I have been thinking that I could be a YouTube star (that's self-depreciating humor for those of you who aren't paying enough attention) so I read a book for Paxton and A and it won't be too interesting to anyone who can actually read these words but hopefully the boys will enjoy it.

be good,
Carl aka G

Acting Cute

2009-04-02T20:13:00.004-04:00

Some people just can't help themselves.

They are so darn cute.

And that's incredibly difficult when your brother is that cute too...

Well, there isn't much else to say.

be good,

Carl

Yes, Snow, goshdarn it, March 31 & April 1

2009-04-02T01:32:00.012-04:00

Look at the sad, sad faces of Packy and Avalanche as they stare out on the cold, useless swing and the snow covered lawn here in the Pacific Northwest.

Ok, full disclosure, no one had to shovel the sidewalk as the snow only stuck to the grassy surfaces and the deck and yes, it melted before 3 pm... but really it snowed!!

Here in the beautiful evergreen state, March comes in like a lion and goes out like, well apparently, a lion.

I think I'll make myself a latte.

be good,

Carl

Bikers

2009-04-01T23:47:00.007-04:00

Well it isn't the Harley she has always dreamed of but Jenn

got a hand crank bike. So now the Fazer family has a new

recreation opportunity.

Here she just a commin' down the street...(singing do-wa-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy -do)

Looks like fun so we may get to try it out down at a county park-- if it ever stops snowing...

be good,

Carl

hands on children's museum, Oly, Wash

2009-04-01T16:47:00.003-04:00

Michelle and I were charged with babysitting Paxton on this snowy (yes, it snowed for the second time during my stay - I don't expect to be invited back) Wednesday. We headed off for the Hands on Children's Museum in Olympia. An old store front has been remodeled with low walls and bright colors into a bakery, a kitchen, and doctor's office and well just use your imagination.

Paxton walks in the door and looks around for about 10 seconds before dashing off... and madcap entertainment ensues for about 90 minutes... What a lot of fun!

be good,
Carl

Monday's trip to the HIGH STEEL BRIDGE

2009-03-30T23:05:00.004-04:00

I think I'll have Michelle ghost write my memoirs or at least this blog post so if this sounds familiar, well, then you actually read her post from the other day.

I've been wanting to see part of the Olympic National Forest for a couple of years and Monday I finally did

As Michelle said, I "stayed for the night in Oly, so we could get an early start to our planned hike on Monday. We got up relatively early and ate some waffles with blackberries and maple syrup. Then we headed off for adventure to the high steel bridge near the Hood River Canal. With one quick stop at the best coffee place in the NW we were on our way. (i'll be blogging about the BEST coffee I have ever tasted at a later date. italics added -ch) The directions were surprisingly simple, as we drove to this out of the way place to check out a magnificent structure in the middle of the forest."

Michelle claimed that I'd have some pictures and here is one. The Skokomish River Gorge is more than 300 feet deep in places and the bridge covers a gap about 100 yards wide. The bridge's deck is just wide enough room for a big logging truck and a raised concrete sidewalk and when the logging trucks come by fully loaded the bridge really vibrates! Really - we hung on to the railings, no kidding.

Forgoing the adventure of climbing down to the base of the bridge, (and the inevitable climb up) I did the lazy thing and found a perfect photo spot complete with chain link fence to keep the tourists from hurting themselves. As you can see some tourists found their way to the other side of the fence.

So, back to the car we headed to Belfair but went to Hoodsport instead where Michelle and Will got an excellent free map and some advice on a future trip into the Olympic National forest and a long look at a HUGE relief map of the forest including the only rain forest in North America and one of the few or maybe the only temperate rain forest in the world. Every hiking trail in the National forest was clearly marked so trips were recounted and planned in front of this beautiful resource. Eventually we made our way to the Theler Community Center and wetlands where we saw a fox sparrow, some tricolored blackbirds (seems like an oxymoron, huh), a shrike, some mundane water fowl and beach birds and breeding pairs of mergansers, teals, and wigeons, the coolest birds of the day. On the way out we passed a great blue heron who stood like as proudly as Angelina Jolie on a red carpet while I snapped her portrait.

As Michelle said "We got home, showered and did a yoga routine, then went out to a great Thai restaurant downtown. MMM the food was delicious..."

If Mondays were always like this people wouldn't complain so much...

Carl

Carl's Winter Blog III: cozy

2009-01-04T07:00:00.010-05:00

Cozys, cozies, cozzies... so exactly what is the plural of cozy? Dd someone make a cozy cozy or is a cozy cozy automatically cozy?

Although not strictly speaking a Christmas gift the cozies do merit some showing off.

The short "teal" (?) one fits perfectly on Susan's tea pot and the tall purple one keeps the coffee in my press warm on these chilly winter mornings.

I've been claiming that the coffee tastes significantly better having it's own little sweater but the cozy maker (To be clear, that is "maker of cozies" not cozy person who makes) disputes this claim saying that the cozy simple keeps the coffee warmer.
However, a survey of coffee drinkers in Lords Valley, PA on 12/25/08 resulted in unanimous agreement that the coffee did indeed taste better.

So thanks to the cozy knitter!

be good,

Carl

Carl's Winter Blog II

2009-01-03T10:15:00.012-05:00

These small creatures have once again invaded our home. They hide in obscure nooks and crannies even camouflage themselves inside of colored vases (not pictured). Once discovered they brazenly hang from the cabinet handles or lounge in glasses meant for highballs, martinis, or good red wine. They seem to have a preference for Irish crystal.

I need some help with an identification. I've checked all of my field guides and online resources and cannot identify this foreign species.

Indeed they come in several colors

BEWARE We first saw them in Lords Valley shortly after the departure of T, A, J & K last summer. They have once again appeared shortly after the departure of M & W. Is there a Pacific North West connection?? Are these creatures hiding in luggage of unwilling dupes and escaping? Or are they smuggled across the continent by co-conspirators ?

Perhaps they prefer Pennsylvania to Washington? Are they the latest vanguard of an invasive species that will choke indigenous species out of their ecological niche?

Can anyone help!?!?!?!

be good,
Carl

Carl's Winter Blog: part 1

2009-01-01T16:04:00.015-05:00

I think there was a request for a picture of Michelle and Will and a very big Christmas tree, so, here they are in the BIG city.

Not that either of them are strangers to cities in general or big cities in particular.

As you can see it was rainy but not too cold. Well, yes, they are ice skating but I believe that an extravagant amount of electricity is allowing those skaters their icy glide.

So we strolled up fifth and down seventh looking at the pretty display windows especially in An American Craftsman and eventually sought refuge from the weather in a Starbucks. (Yes, Yes, the grim irony of bringing a couple from the Pacific North West to a Starbucks in Manhattan is quite obvious, alas, as they say, any port in a storm... (By the way, have you heard that Starbuck's puts chicory in their coffee))

Our ultimate goal was the Broadway comedy, Boeing, Boeing .

(I just found out Tony Curtis made this play as a movie in the sixties.)

Well, we laughed and laughed then went to dinner at the Blue Fin in Times Square but we didn't eat turkey.

All in all a fabulous day in the city!

be good,

Carl

Furoshiki - Wrap and Carry Things With Square Cloth

2008-09-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Do Furoshiki (Wrap and Carry Things With Square Cloth) - wikiHow

How to Do Furoshiki (Wrap and Carry Things With Square Cloth)

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

With paper and plastic bags falling out of favour around the world, we are left to wonder if heavy canvas bags or bulky reusable bags are the only method left to us for carrying our groceries. One eco-friendly alternative is the ancient Japanese art of Furoshiki, which uses a simple square of silk or nylon cloth as a means of wrapping and carrying just about anything. Because Furoshiki uses silk or nylon, the knots are very durable but also very easy to untie.

Steps

Lay out your square cloth on the table or similar work surface. Choose a silk or nylon cloth of your liking and prepare a space where you can perform the wrapping techniques.
Try Yotsu Musubi. This is the simplest method; it is the hand-carried wrap. This method allows you to quickly and easily create a bag for carrying a large amount of food or other products.
- Tie two opposite corners together over the food or packages sitting in the middle. The cloth should already be covering the items.
- Pull across the other two corners to meet together and tie.
- Grab the bag in the middle to carry.
Try Katakake Fukuro. This is a variation of the first technique, known also as the shoulder carry-wrap. This technique allows you to make an ergonomic method of carrying a large amount of food.
- Place items in the middle of the cloth and tie two opposite corners across the middle.
- Take one of the remaining corners and tie a side knot in it (like a candy wrapper twist).
- Tie the other corner in a side knot.
- Pick up the bag from the middle knot.
- Sling it over your shoulder to carry the goods.
Try Suika Tsutsumi. This translates as the melon carry-wrap. It demonstrates just how strong a thin piece of cloth can be.
- Place a 16 pound bowling ball (or your groceries) in the middle of the square cloth.
- Bring up two adjacent corners and tie together in a large knot.
- Tie the other two adjacent corners together.
- Pick up one knot in each hand and feed one knot (A) through the hole formed by the other.
- Pull up on knot (A) tightening the bag around the bowling ball. Just imagine doing that with an ordinary plastic grocery bag!
Try Bin Tsutsumi. This shows that Furoshiki is not only functional but also decorative. This is a bottle carry wrap. This method will make a great impression on your friends and family, especially when bringing wine as a gift, or to a party.
- Lay two bottles base to base diagonally across the middle of the square wrap. be sure to keep them about a fist's width apart.
- Bring one side over both bottles to meet at the other side, forming a large triangle of the cloth.
- Roll the bottles in the cloth over, like a sausage.
- Roll completely until there is no wrap remaining width ways.
- Lift the bottles up by picking up the two lengths at the cork end of each bottle.
- Tie the two ends in a knot.
- Carry.
Keep wrapping. There are many more methods of Furoshiki that can show you how to wrap just about anything. Search the internet for more ideas. Feel free to share your personal Furoshiki experiences on wikiHow.

Tips

Furoshiki can be used to wrap and carry an impressive variety of things ranging from a watermelon to two bottles of wine.[1]
Throw a silk or nylon scarf in your handbag or pocket for use at any time!
The Japanese Minister of the Environment promotes furoshiki to reduce waste and as a symbol of Japanese culture.[2]

Warnings

A bowling ball is heavy! Do not allow it to fall on your foot (or someone else's) while testing the strength of your fabric or your wrapping technique.

Things You'll Need

Large silk or nylon scarf/square of fabric (the edges should be finished to prevent fraying)
Items to carry
Bowling ball for testing strength (optional)

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Original source of article, VideoJug. Shared with permission and appreciation.

↑ http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html

↑ http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/060403.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Do Furoshiki (Wrap and Carry Things With Square Cloth). All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

At the zoo

2008-08-30T06:00:00.001-04:00

Today's offering:
At the Zoo by Paul and Art along with someone else's pictures

and our slides of the Tacoma zoo.

Or if you prefer the album.

Tacoma Zoo

be good,
Carl