]> http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/ troutbend's Blog en-us © 2010 Greasy.com All rights reserved. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:44:23 GMT 30 http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/hows_going.html My vegetable seedlings are growing quickly, the zucchini squash at least an inch a day. We already had to make some bigger pots for them out of cut off milk jugs. This involved driving around looking for potting soil. First we went to the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. I don't know if you have them in your town, but they are grocery stores with a little touch of warehouse look located on smaller footprints than the usual Wal-Mart. And they apparently don't run to stocking potting soil. So n ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/hows_going.html#comments Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:55:59 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/lucy_ben_sleepy_obituary.html Here is the obituary from the Cortez Journal in Colorado that Susil referred to in her recent post. Lucy Ben Sleepy Funeral services for lifelong Hatch, Utah resident Lucy Ben Sleepy will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 8, at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Lucy was born on Oct. 10, 1927, at Navajo White Mesa, Utah and she passed away on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 82. Lucy was a member of the Native American C ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/lucy_ben_sleepy_obituary.html#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:41:55 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/showtime_tonight.html I don't subscribe to Showtime, but if you do, this might be an interesting program: Documentary bares story behind 'Naked Las Vegas' book By COREY LEVITAN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Who in their right mind would pose naked for a photo book? Photographer Greg Friedler's 2008 book "Naked Las Vegas" displayed 75 Las Vegans in their garmentless glory. But by listing only his subjects' ages and occupations -- corporate litigator, third-grade teacher, Elvis impersonator, porn star ... -- he never ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/showtime_tonight.html#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:49:45 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/irish_bet.html My great-great grandfather Heffernan came from Ireland to upstate New York before the Civil War. When the war started he enlisted with the 55th Illinois Infantry because that was a regiment of Irishmen. He fought for the Union in the battle of Shiloh near Corinth, Mississippi and marched with Sherman toward the sea. (Sorry about that, Southerners.) After the war he wanted to keep fighting somewhere, anywhere, so he and his Irish buddies in the Irish Republican Brotherhood (later the IRA) i ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/irish_bet.html#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:26:14 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/survey_2.html But I'm not going to answer ALL those questions. One of your scars, how did you get it? right hand pinkie - hand surgery when I broke it. I can barely see the scar, but know it's there. What is on the walls of your room. Antique clock. Do you snore, grind your teeth or talk in your sleep. I'm told I snore sometimes, very ladylike, though. Of course. What type of music to you listen to? Spike Jones and the City Slickers Do you get claustrophobic? Oh, yes. Just seeing a tiny dark hatch into ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/survey_2.html#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:46:41 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/edwardian_hat.html The historical society in the town where I grew up fired the long-time museum curator (man) and hired what I am guessing is a woman to run the program because the nature of the programs being offered has changed. They used to have lectures about the local cigar industry in the early 1900s, farming, and other topics relevant to the history in that area. Now the programs are more about fashion and clothing, for example next week is a workshop on how to make an Edwardian Hat. Looking at the s ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/edwardian_hat.html#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:01:49 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/movie_reviews.html Just had another movie marathon, a short one, so it was a half-marathon. Up in the Air Starring George Clooney, if you watched the Academy Awards you saw some bits of this movie. It's about a man who flies all over the country firing people on behalf of their employers. He enjoys his lifestyle and all the perks from belonging to the frequent flyer clubs for airlines and rental cars and hotel chains. It's a funny/sad movie, because for one thing, it's about people getting laid off and that' ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/movie_reviews.html#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:14:54 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/garden_dreams.html It was cold, in the 50s daytime high earlier this week, and as windy as Wyoming, where the wind blows a good bit of the time. Now we are going to warm up to 80 degrees for several days, maybe longer, so spring is here in southern Nevada. I planted some vegetables in peat pots and they are in a little greenhouse, expected to sprout in 7 to 10 days. They will get planted for the summer 800 miles east of here and 5000 feet higher above sea level. I hope some of seedlings survive the trip. Som ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/garden_dreams.html#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:20:48 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/50th_anniversary.html Here are some photos from Mr. Troutbends Uncle Randy's 50th last weekend. It was held at the local fire house in La Vale, MD (western MD, 150 miles SE of Pittsburgh.) The happy couple. They didn't have a wedding, so this made up for it. They had a nice slide show of old family photos set up. DJ and appetizers. Food was catered by a local greasy spoon, notable for the total lack of seasoning. The electric slide. Man in red doesn't know what he's doing, zigs when everyone else zags. Guests w ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/50th_anniversary.html#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:42:22 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/southwest_airlines.html This past weekend we flew Southwest Airlines for the first time, and it was quite an experience. They don't have assigned seating, but they have a way of loading the plane that makes up for it. There are three categories, A, B, and C and each boarding pass has a number from 1 - 60 within their letter group. Passengers are told to line up in numerical order when their letter is called, and there are signs there in the waiting area designating the numbers. It works very well, and I think it ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/southwest_airlines.html#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:43:52 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/looking_spring.html Where I grew up the iris and oriental poppies are in their prime around Memorial Day at the end of May, just in time to go to the cemetery in bouquets, but there are a lot of them already planted at the cemetery so they can bloom any time they want. My favorite iris color is yellow, but I like seeing all the variations and most of them have the most wonderful smell. The oriental poppies look so nice with the blues and purples of the iris. We have a good-sized bed of them at our place in th ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/looking_spring.html#comments Thu, 4 Mar 2010 18:41:16 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/1267671082.html This came in an email today. It tickled my funny bone, I was sort of crying from laughing so hard. "Never Ever Wax Your Hoo-Ha All hair removal methods have tricked women with their promises of easy, painless removal - The Epilady, scissors, razors, Nair and now...the wax. Read on......... My night began as any other normal weeknight. Come home, fix dinner and play with the kids. I then had the thought that would ring painfully in my mind for the next few hours: 'Maybe I should get the wax ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/1267671082.html#comments Thu, 4 Mar 2010 02:51:22 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/mgm_grand_lions.html The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is toward the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip. The step looking things are fancy suites, too fancy for us to be invited to stay in, and I've never stayed there, but have been to their Cirque d' Soileil show, Ka. At night the outside glows green, like the Emerald City, because it used to have a Wizard of Oz theme. There was a walk-through display with life-size figures from the movie - Dorothy, Toto, et. al. Then they took it out, put slot machines there, ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/mgm_grand_lions.html#comments Wed, 3 Mar 2010 05:16:22 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/just_back_laughlin.html We had a little two-night break in Laughlin, Nevada this weekend. Laughlin is located at the very southern tip of Nevada on the Colorado river, which forms the border between Nevada and Arizona. The town was founded by Don Laughlin, who built a casino, and the rest followed. There is a whole casino strip along the river on one side and normal life on the other side. The Colorado River is crystal-clear here, all the silt gets deposited behind the various dams upstream, including the mighty ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/just_back_laughlin.html#comments Mon, 1 Mar 2010 03:18:25 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/zippity_doo_dah.html Last night our TV weather said it was snowing at Zion Nat'l Park and I thought of our friend looserobes over in that area. Maybe he'll have some snow pictures for us. And today I see where there are wind warnings for New England and I'm thinking of Fredo and how it must be for him. Checking FlightAware, there are significant delays at NY City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. We are sunny and reasonably warm here with rain predicted for Saturday. We're going for a drive in the desert this ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/zippity_doo_dah.html#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:17:38 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/jet_lag.html It was one of those nights when I couldn't get to sleep. I'd put down my book, close my eyes, try to think neutral thoughts, but sleep would not come. So more reading. Finally about 3 a.m. I decided it was as if I was on the red-eye flight to England, flying across time zones toward the sunrise. At 4 I decided if I fell asleep then, I'd get 4 hours sleep by 8 am, but I didn't fall asleep, finally dozed off about 5, so it was a 3 hour night. Anyhow, I finished a whole thick paperback and st ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/jet_lag.html#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:09:34 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/oatmeal_crispies_recipe.html These are a very light oatmeal cookie with an excellent flavor. The technique is a little different, and I think it shows in the texture. 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup shortening 2 cups sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup seedless raisins 3/4 cup chopped nuts 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind** 1 tablespoon lemon juice** 1 1/4 cups sifted flour 3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant) ** or 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Combine the soda, salt, nutme ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/oatmeal_crispies_recipe.html#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:30:01 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/local_news.html I can't remember if I already told you about this: A couple of weeks ago we were shocked to hear about a tourist in Las Vegas who was kidnapped from the Strip, transported to an empty apartment east of there, beaten, and robbed. The perps took his hotel key and burgled his room, stealing his cell phone - this . He escaped when they were driving around trying to decide what to do with him. This 40-year old small businessman from west Texas was in town for a convention. He said a woman asked ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/local_news.html#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:07:31 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/movies_5.html The movie selection at the hotel had not grown by much since our last stay, so I consider it to still be scraping the bottom of the barrel, but there were some that were pretty good. Crazy Heart Beau Bridges plays a washed-up country western singer whose career has come down to appearances at bowling alleys around the southwest. There is some lovely scenery in this movie as he drives between gigs. Colin Farrell (who is Irish but does great American accents) plays his former protege who has ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/movies_5.html#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:44:37 GMT http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/headed_rio.html We're headed for a stay at the Rio hotel. They have a large variety of rooms, and we've stayed in some big suites, but our star in sinking in their eyes, so we'll probably be in a smaller room this time. At least I have pictures. This suite is at the end of the tower so there was a panoramic view of the Strip. The bathroom was huge, larger than my kitchen and family room together. This is what we'll probably get this time, nice enough, but not the grand experience. This window is between t ... http://my.greasy.com/troutbend/headed_rio.html#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:39:22 GMT