Bollywood

My Bollywood movie source, Punjab Video, closed down yesterday. I met a guy who opened up a new Bollywood store not too far away, so I'll have to go up there instead. He was surprised to know that I was a regular customer at Punjab, so that tells me there is not a lot of interest among ethnically challenged Americans. So, for the reader who may want to see what it's all about, I have compiled a short list of my favorite films.
1. Veer Zaara
2. Madhumati
3. Kal Ho Naa Ho
4. Satte Pe Satta
5. Lagaan
The music is great! The acting is good. Bollywood is where it's at. But as Lavar Burton once said, "you don't have to take my word for it."

Rocking Out

My dad and I finished excavating for the foundation. We threw down some cinderblocks and poured some gravel. So far we have a yard and a half, but after we get it all packed down, I think we'll need another half-yard. Then we will pour the concrete and start thinking about walls.
This foundation is a kind of metaphor for my life. The excavation of grass and dirt was when a girl broke my heart in 2004. It was like she tore a piece of my life away. Then I filled the void with cheap rocks but I would never be the same. I put cinderblocks around the rocks to hide my sorrows from the world. Next, I'm going to cast a 4 inch concrete slab over my broken heart, so that I will be able to move on with my life (build a shed). Poetic, isn't it?

Shed Foundation

Today my little brother (Alexander) and I dug out a ton of dirt, grass, and rocks in preparation for pouring a foundation for a shed. It's going to be 8 x 10 feet. After the hole is finished, we will lay down 4 inches of gravel, and then pour a 4 inch concrete slab. I think tomorrow we will finish digging, and maybe finish the foundation this weekend. It was great to get out in the sun after so many weeks of cold and drizzle.

Axis and Allies

With my brother "Alexander" home from school, and some free time, I have been playing Axis and Allies. It's kind of like Risk, but it takes twice as long so it's twice as fun. The first game I was the allied forces - US, UK, and USSR. This time I'm Germany and Japan. And as you can see from the picture, I'm just about to win. On the other hand, little "Alexander" almost pulled an upset last time by attacking Canada and coming down through North America, so I can't say whether he has some trick up his sleeve. He keeps me on my toes.

Bobblehead Night

Is there anything better than going to a Mariners game in June? Last night was bobblehead night (Adrian Beltre) against the Washington Nationals. What a game! Not that the Mariners won. Or even any spectacular plays. Or the bobbleheads. It just amazes me that a guy can throw a baseball-sized object at a hundred miles an hour and another guy could have the wit and power to hit it with a 4" diameter wooden cylinder so that it sails up to 400 feet away. Yes, the Mariners lost, but what a great game.

Rattlesnake Lake

The following pictures were taken on a night hike of Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend. We started hiking at about 8:45 and finished at 11. I didn't make it home until after midnight. This was out of character for me, the last time I had stayed out past midnight was New Year's Eve. The previous sentence was also out of character in that it contains a comma splice. I'm just full of surprises these days!

Volunteering Doesn't Pay

This morning I volunteered with city park maintenance for a couple hours - pulled some weeds, spread some gravel, etc. What was my motivation? No money. No expectation to ever return to enjoy the beautiful landscape. So why did I go? I guess it's hard to justify our actions sometimes.