Snap, Crackle, Pop! (up)

We are the new owners of a pop-up tent trailer. Yep, you heard me right! A 1994 Fleetwood Destiny Royale. We bought it yesterday from a nice family (and the original owners) in Moorpark. It's in great shape after nearly 20 years -- they took good care of it. It's now in our driveway getting prepped for camping. Today we emptied it of all the goodies left behind and gave it a good cleaning. My first modification was to put some old sleeping pads under the kids bunk for insulation. I got to use the electric stapler, which really doesn't get used enough!

Our first trip will be to Red Rock Canyon State Park in a couple weeks. Bodie and I have tent camped out there before and it is great for stargazing, although the moon will be full on this trip.

Accordion Update

I’ve been playing the accordion for almost a year now and I’m enjoying it very much. In August I bought a professional accordion -- Sano Model 50c -- and it has made a world of difference in my playing.

My lessons are on Saturday and I try to get at least three hours of practice time during the week.

Here’s a weeks worth of practice:

Exercises

Chromatic Scale
Octave Scale
1234 Scale
Hanon Speed Drills (staccato and legato)
Major Scales (including 2 octave G, C, and F)
Chords (major, minor, seventh, diminished) (slide and arpeggio)
Bass (left-hand) C Major scale
Left-hand strengthening exercises

Lesson songs

I’m usually working on one song from my Palmer-Hughes course, one exercise from my bass (left-hand) book, and one or two pieces of sheet music from my teacher.

Repertoire songs

Once my teacher “passes” me on a song, I usually don’t continue to play it. The lesson songs in Palmer Hughes are generally short versions of songs designed to teach one technique or concept.

I do keep playing some of my lesson songs as well as many of my sheet music songs to build my repertoire. With these songs I work on tempo (sometimes with a metronome), dynamics, and expression.

The New Accordion Has Arrived!

Sano Model 50C

The Update

Too many weeks without a blog entry!

Kristi's due date is July 16th and she is now at the point in her pregnancy where she is uncomfortable nearly all the time. The baby's room is shaping up. I painted it last weekend, installed a new, cute ceiling fan, and put up some very pink curtains. The curtains need a bit more adjusting and that will involve some wall patching and re-painting (yuck). We have a nice crib and dresser we bought on Craigslist, but still have to find a rocker and other decor.

Matilda is leading at this point with Lara a distant second!

Bodie doesn't know what to make of it all!

I have a trip to Florida next week for a conference and then I'll be at home with car keys at hand.

The Yosemite Summit

If you’ve been to my family website lately (link on the right), you know we went to Yosemite in January. The pictures make it look like it was all fun and games, but there were also serious discussions and many serious decisions and agreements resulted.

We now refer to it as The Yosemite Summit.

Here are a few of the biggies:

ISSUE 1:

It took a total of 14 hours and a Ranger finally had to mediate, but we have reached consensus on baseball. Bodie is officially an Angels fan! Kristi, who is from San Diego, has consistently taken the position that Bodie cannot be a Dodger’s fan. Last year this was not too big a deal: we ordered MLB Season Pass and got to see all the teams play, but mostly watched and cheered for the Minnesota Twins.

This year, we don’t plan on getting MLB Season Pass. But we will, of course, still watch baseball. Only two teams are regularly broadcast in Oxnard -- Dodgers and Angels.

Ranger John, who mediated the dispute in its later stages, had us each rank all MLB teams. Bodie’s list was illegible (although I still dispute whether it was entirely illegible) so it wasn’t considered. Although this exercise proved interesting (especially rankings 13-18), it could not solve the issue -- everyone knew this was a Dodgers-Angels dispute. RJ then had us hit each other with Nerf Bats while voicing what we disliked about the other’s preferred team. Bodie was excluded from this exercise and sat watching, but unable to hear (fortunately) due to earmuffs. But, the Nerf exercise did not resolve the dispute.

When it was all said and done, RJ had to make the decision. His first thought was to let the teams decide -- whoever won the Freeway Series would be Bodie’s team. We told him we needed to know now because jerseys had to be bought and spring training had to be followed. So, he allowed us each to make our case, conducted some internet research, spoke with three other rangers and two hospitality workers, and finally said, “Bodie is an Angels fan until he makes a conscious, intelligent decision otherwise. Bodie is also a Padres fan and a Twins fan, but when the Twins play the Angels, he is an Angels fan.”

Thanks, Ranger John!

ISSUE 4:

Bodie will be allowed to play soccer until his 12th birthday. Soccer will no longer be mocked in front of Bodie. I will be allowed to coach soccer, if asked (a big if), but must do three shots of Jack Daniels in the car before each practice or game so I don’t take it too seriously. We will never have a plAYSOccer bumper sticker on any vehicle.

ISSUE 9:

If Bodie surfs, he will do so goofy-foot.

ISSUE 15:

My morning Coke will continue to not be judged.

ISSUE 23:

If I start an accordion band specializing in Norteno music, it will be called Menudo Shots.

If Bodie and I have an accordion band, it will be called Hoop-Dee-Duo

Accordion Update

So far, so good with the accordion lessons. It is challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable. I hope to play "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" by April. I've also been figuring out how to play the Minnesota Twins song. The Hoop Dee Doo Polka could happen by December.

Bodie got an accordion for Christmas, but he's still a bit small for it. It's neat though -- sometimes when I start practicing he will go get his accordion. He also claps when I finish a song.

An Unexpected Trip

Wednesday I leave for Minnesota and my grandfather's funeral. Mom and Dad are driving up from Florida and they'll pick my sister and her daughter up in Alabama.

I'm looking forward to the trip: a goodbye to grandpa and a hello to my niece whom I haven't yet met.

Rest In Peace Horace "Jeff" Sundby

My Grandpa Jeff died on Monday. He was 92 years old.

He lived a full life, served his country as a Marine, had friends who'd do anything for him, and was a great grandpa. His mind was strong all the way to the end and he lived comfortably at an assisted living facility in Edina. He will be buried with Grandma Esther ("Tiny Gram") at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

July 7, 1915 - October 29, 2007.

The Accordion

Okay, I've been taking accordion lessons. I decided to give the accordion a try for a few reasons. First, as you can see from the photo, my grandfather played the accordion so it's in my blood. Second, I LIKE polkas. Third, I want there to be some music in the house for Bodie and if he ever starts playing an instrument, I want to be able to help with the music theory. Fourth, I like the challenge of something new and difficult.



The Minneapolis Public School system gave me a very good music education. I am amazed at how much music theory I remember! I played the recorder, clarinet, saxophone, and finally the trumpet, but not the piano. So, I have much to learn and I'm enjoying it. My teacher is Janet Hane in Thousand Oaks.

I'm Ready For Some Football!

The Vikes begin their season on Sept. 9th at home against the dog-hating Atlanta Falcons. We are not going to get NFL Sunday Ticket, so I won't see many Vikings games this year, but I'll be rooting for them in my heart.

So, next sunday I'll put on my Vikings jersey and Kristi will wear her Helga Helmet. It's purple power time! Go Vikes!

An Insider's Guide To Minnesota, Part I (post script, part II)

It's not a logical or consistent position, so don't try to argue with me.

Yes, I own a St. Paul Saints baseball hat, yes, I've been to Taste Of Minnesota at the "Capital," yes, there are some beautiful neighborhoods in St. Paul, and yes, I had relatives who lived in St. Paul.

That's not the point.

An Insider's Guide To Minnesota, Part I (post script)

In Minnesota, people who do not live in Minneapolis or that city East of Minneapolis, refer to the two as "The Cities." Thus, a conversation in Duluth might be:

"Whatcha doin this weekend?"
"Oh, we're goin to The Cities to do some back-to-school shopping"
"That should be fun"
"You betcha"

I grew up hearing these conversations and accepting them because concessions have to be made for those who live in Rural Minnesota (ANY city other than Minneapolis or that city East of Minneapolis including Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester). Rural Minnesotans have enough to worry about (food, shelter, winter boots) without worrying about the significant differences between Minneapolis and that city East of Minneapolis.

But, when I was asked, "Are you from The Cities" or "Do you live in The Cities," I would always respond "I'm from Minneapolis."

An Insider's Guide To Minnesota, Part I

I was born and raised in South Minneapolis. I went to Page Elementary School, Susan B. Anthony Jr. High School, and Washburn High School. I went to the State Fair in August, the boat show in January, and I rooted for the Twins and Vikings because I, like most Minnesotans, believed in loyalty, hard work, and the ability to overcome large obstacles, including terrible seasons and better teams!

There's a good chance I'll move my family back to Minnesota. My wife mentioned moving to St. Paul and didn't realize what a nerve she had hit.

I'm from Minneapolis. I wasn't aware of the existence of St. Paul until I was in high school and by then I knew only cheeseheads would live in such a place. In my heart I knew Minneapolis was the real capital of Minnesota. I couldn't point St. Paul out on a map because it wasn't on our maps. Although the State Fair was in St. Paul, it was its own territory, much like an embassy in a foreign land. St. Paul didn't have Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Lake Nokomis, or the Minnehaha creek.

Bodie loves the Twins song. This is the version he's learned:

We're gonna win Twins
We're gonna score
We're gonna win Twins
Watch that baseball soar
Knock out a home run
JOIN THE HIT PARADE
Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today!

In St. Paul, JOIN THE HIT PARADE is replaced by SHOUT A HIP HOORAY. How can they even call themselves Minnesotans?

So, I calmly informed my wife that I COULD NOT live in St. Paul.

Archie

There was a neat article in today's Los Angeles Times about Archie, a Newfoundland-breed dog who "works" at Casa Pacifica in Camarillo. Casa Pacifica is a home for abused and neglected children and Newfoundlands are very large dogs.

After telling how Archie injured his hip, required surgery, and howled at home while recovering because he was not around the children, the article ended with this paragraph:

"Murphy decided that work was the best medicine, and so Archie limped back to the office, his leg in a cast. And children who had known great callousness in their lives treated the giant canine with exquisite tenderness."

It was the best two sentences I had read in some time.

Road To Orlando -- 1

National Scrabble Association Club 357, Carlsbad, CA -- A special day at Club 357 because it was Sue Kaye's last day. She founded Club 357 and helped me when I restarted it in 2002. Now, after 20 years in Carlsbad, she's moving to Woodland Hills. I hope to visit her once she gets settled in.

I had a good day at Club 357. I was 4-1 with a 400 average and a 2.20 bingo average. I played a double game at the end (two opponents at one time), won both games, and played three bingos on one board and four on the other. I went over on time in my first game, but not in my others (no timers in the double game), my tracking was good, and, most importantly, my word recall was good. Well, my seven-letter word recall was good. I was unsure of a few threes.

Overall a good start down the road to Orlando!

2007 Vacation Update

Grandpa Jeff aka Great Grandpa Jeff is just fine.

2007 Vacation -- Saturday

Grandma's Marathon! Unfortunately, Bodie got tired so we didn't see Kristi on the course or at the finish. It was warm and humid today. I believe Kristi's time is 4:31. We haven't seen her yet, but I followed her progress online while Bodie napped!

2007 Vacation -- Friday

2007 Vacation -- Thursday

Look out seagulls!

2007 Vacation -- Wednesday

Bodie's first baseball game! Duluth Huskies v. Brainerd Blue Thunder at Wade Stadium. The game is still being played, but Bodie is sleeping soundly knowing the Huskies had a two-run lead when he left in the bottom of the 4th.