California Explorers

As a schoolteacher, my favorite unit is definately the Exploration of California.
Most of the exploration was done by the Spanish
(actually, mostly by Portuguese working for Spain)
and though I have nothing against them as a people, they were a sad sorry lot of
mediocrity.

While not doing a super fine job of exploring California, (they didn't discover the gold, and they only discovered the gigantic bay of San Francisco at the very end, and then only by series of mistakes), their history provides some material for a few hearty laughs (if like me, you have a taste for irony).

So if I've peaked your interest, tune in soon, same bat time (ie whenever I feel like it) ,
same bat blog, when I will discourse on the tragic career of that over the hill, wanna be bad boy,
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the First European to set foot in San Diego, California.

Poppin' Altoids

If I had a band I'd name it the
Poppin' Altoids.
They'd be mostly electronica (cause you just need a keyboard and a recorder)
with depeche mode influences,
But funny. Kind of like a porche
that chews bubble gum. Pop!

And my band would be curiously strong,
with a refreshing aftertaste.
Once you listen, either you'd hate the groove,
or you would keep poppin'
that cd onto track 5 for
one more taste of
Wintergreen.

Max

So, after two -three weeks of contiual rain, I was sure
that Max the alley cat was dead.
But, this morning there he was, curled up
under the bushes in my back yard.
He didn't move at first, even when I dumped out
a can of mystery beef special, but after I walked back and
closed the gate, up he got and sniffed his way
over to the food dish. Maybe just a bit slower
than before.
But, what can you say? That's still pretty good
after 20 days out in the rain.
I wish I knew where he goes when it's
wet outside. It's got to be a great
hiding place.

Your MOM goes to College!

Current movie watching list:
Napoleon Dynamite ****
Snatch ****
Finding Neverland ****
Lemony Snicket... *** (Credits get ****)
Life Aquatic *** 1/2
Ocean's 12 *** ( I could watch these guys pick their
respective noses while waiting for new scripts and be
quite content. I guess I'm easily pleased.)

On the agenda:
King of the Hill Season 3 (I'm skipping season I and 2 because they weren't on sale at Target.)
Once upon a Time in the West
The Godfather (I'm probablly the only geek who hasn't seen this movie, yet.)
Napoleon Dynamite

Current music cue:
The Stranglers
Soundtrack to Cold Mountain
The new Elliot Smith CD
Innocence Mission
Soundtrack to Snatch
Soundtrack to Amelie
Kelly Joe Phelps
Music that Inspired the X Files

I don't like Reggae. I love it. Anyone know any good albums or artists other than the BOB? I know about
him already.

When in Blog Limbo....Quote

"I have no special talents.
I am only passionately curious."
-Albert Einstein

Tea for Two

This is from the packaging of
this morning's required stimulant:

I shall be a cloud,
you the moon,
and this our tea

Numi
Monkey King
Jasmine Tea


Despite winning today's award for
cheesiest, over the top writing,
it made a pretty fine cup.

Clint Quote

"Hell with them fellas.
Buzzards gotta eat,
same as worms."

-from The Outlaw Josey Wales