It's getting hot this weekend

How hot will it get?

The new A/C unit is in the wall
We won't be melting as much at all

See you, folks!

--Dan L.

About a mile from the house, lies Route 66.

June, 2006, not Brighton, not Pete.

This highway is very close to our abode. I have seen it since the (gulp) '50's. It is unique.

--Dan

The Unexplainable

I was waiting for a red light while stopped in my car ...almost at my job this morning. I had just begun to think about "What would somebody think of the song Mirror Door by THE WHO if they did not read Pete's story...or his many references to mirrors down through the years".

I was trying to figure it out. Then, I suddenly saw, passing right in front of me, a truck with the words: "Mirrored Wardrobe Doors" written on the side of it. I was amused, as this sort of thing happens to me all the time.

When I got home from my job, I looked up (Googled) "Mirrored Door", just to see what I could see.

I happened upon a truly amazing, yet random photo...posted by someone...I have no idea what for or who they are...and I place it in this posting. Do you see a connection here?

If any of you out there are as amazed as I am, please let me know. This is NOT a prank. This really happened! Try it yourself. It may take a few pages deep to find, but try if you doubt.

--Dan

Simple things

What do we need, anyway? A roof. Food. Water. A place to use a bathroom for what they are for. We sure have complicated the picture a lot with so many other things. We were put here, in this world, with nothing at all. We will leave here with...nothing...but what we have done since that early moment, and it's effect on others.

I love the vision of flight. We can go so high.

--Dan

Images of War, WW II

T-12 Cloudmaker 44,000 lb bomb, developed by USA for use by the B-36 bomber, but war ended before it could be used.




Also: Manning the search lights in Britain.

Spider?

Looks like I have been fighting a nasty spider bite since about a week ago.

OUCH!

--Dan

Who is this?

Who do you think this is?
What is she doing?
Hint: WWII

You make the call. I know the answer, but you may wish to guess. I will post the answer after a couple...or a few days.



THE ANSWER IS:

QUEEN ELIZABETH II, Queen of England! She is seen here working on a truck in Britain, during the war effort. It appears to be a military truck.


--Dan L.

Sunset Peak

Another photo I did not take...though I have been there (Gotta get a scanner, I've got great photos).

This is a picture taken from somewhere on the ridgline near Sunset Peak, in the San Gabriel Mountains about 40-ish miles East of Los Angeles.

We see this kind of stuff almost every day this time of year.

Oh, it was about 100 degrees today...speaking of the sun and all!

--Dan

More Memorial Day and us

This is a flag I often fly on National holidays. It dates back to colonial times in the USA. We don't mess around here, at the house!

--Dan

Airstreams and the sands of time

Hey, look at this poor thing! Maybe some soundproofing is in order.

Maybe more...I know of a service center. Here is the place.



--Dan L.

The Big Vietnam Black Wall

This is Memorial Day weekend in the USA.

Picture (from the net):

The Vietnam Memorial Wall, for those that do not, or cannot know.

Memorial Day weekend is now upon us , as we remember those that served our country, and the countries that needed them as well.

Allow me to say this: My cousin, Arthur, should be on this wall. As I understand it, he died in the US after some period of complications from a shrapnel wound to his head. God Bless his soul. He was young, I believe soon to be married, but instead left us all.

May enternal light shine upon him, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

--Dan L.

On the Occasion of a Birthday Party...

My wife's Father had a birthday party on Saturday. On this occasion, we were able to actually get a "portrait" of us all, including the grandboy (almost). This my friends, is a our family...all who live in my house!

From left: Baby Jesse, Serena, Cruz (my wife), Dan, Michelle, Rachel and Marion. All girls, but for me and the baby!

Also, Rachel is seen with some kind of "Chocalate Fondue" device. It has liquid spinning chocolate for dipping cookies, etc. Looks crazy!

Just click on the pictures, and the view will be large for you.

--Dan L.

Happy Birthday, Pete!...and other things...

On this May 19th celebration day of Mr. Pete Townshend's birthday, as it is now that day in the UK, (though posted in the USA as the 18th)...this is absolutely one of my all time favorite pictures of Pete.

As things are, we, at home also have great neat things every night. Here is my wife, Cruz, and the grandboy Jesse. She NEVER gets tired of babysitting the boy.

--Dan L.

Rachel's Confirmation

Rachel receives the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Bishop Barnes, with my sister, Linda (top left) , and Rachel after the dust cleared. Those of you out there that are concerned about hats and robes, don't be too much so. It was a great evening, there were great people. Linda, by the way, was Rachel's "sponsor" (a lifelong chosen mentor of sorts).

--Dan

My cat...a very warm day, age, comfort

This cat is somewhere around 13, 14, 15, or more years old. She was very relaxed in the front yard as I arrived home from work on Monday. Can you see her head and half of her body is...upside-down? She did not move at all for a very long time. She is one of those strays that hooks up and decides to stay. We have had her forever. She is quite old now. Her fur is looking bad...but I will never tell her.

--Dan

Another Saturday is Here

Looking North from Allen's garage...a big Spider Man thingy in the neighbor's yard. These "jump up" devices seem to pop up all over the place on Saturdays around here. They are of course, used for things like children's birthday parties. I don't EVEN know how kids don't get hurt...as in a head kick or something...in these contraptions. They are also SO HOT in the warmer months.

I have been spending the last few days (right after work) watching re-runs of the old "Mission Impossible" TV show. I just read somewhere that that the real impossible mission is...to get that theme song to stop playing in your head!

It is very warm today, probably will hit 90 degrees or so.

--Dan

Another look

USAF Thunderbirds and their beautiful F-16's last Sunday, March Air Reserve Base, California.

Also, at the Rialto airport, an interesting white bus. This looks like a happy ride. Please "click" on the bus picture. It is not my church, but very fun to see and relate.

I know it's an odd mix of pictures...I am just sharing stuff today.

--Dan

My wife, Cruz, in the kitchen. She is toiling away for her family...the rest of us here. She is loading dishes into the dishwasher. You may also notice canisters next to her head. Those cans are powdered baby formula.

We have had our grandson living here since birth. It has been hard, but Cruz always says, "I love da boy".

Here is a recent picture of him, Baby Jesse, taken by his mom, our daughter, Serena. He does not usually look like this. Maybe it's his "Elvis lip thing" he is trying in the photo.

--Dan

A Big Air Show at March Air Reserve Base, CA

Rachel, our Rachel, at the air show in front of several F-16 fighter planes. March ARB, CA..

Other photo with small plane: the F-117 "Stealth" fighter (bomber, actually).

The "Snowie" ice treat stand, one of the vendors operating at the show...with
Allen and his wife, Jenn (Jennifer).

A B-52 intercontinental bomber visiting the air show from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.

One of the Thunderbird's F-16 aircraft, being towed after going "down"...prior to thier great demonstration. A backup plane performed instead.

Robosaurus, a giant 40 ft. tall robotic beast that breathes fire and lifts cars to eat and crush them.

These descriptions are in no particular order, but I think they are easy to follow.

--Dan

A Bunch of Fun

Some images from "In the Attic", with Rachel Fuller, "Music Mikey", and Pete Townshend...and their internet broadcast. Included was Paul B's video image, and Gary's song.


I was testing my new digital camera.














----Dan L.

A Day in the Desert, Joshua Tree National Park

Top left = Tea Time with Lipton "Brisk" Iced Tea (no ice, sugar-free).

Top right = My little car in the desert

Bottom Left = Marion (one of our daughters) and cruz (my wife), side by side

Bottom Right = Rachel (another daughter) wandering the rocks

"Click" on the whole image for a bigger and grander view!

Taken at Joshua Tree National Park, Sunday afternoon, 4/23/06

--Dan

How low can you go?

F-4 Phantom, banking and turning VERY close to the ground. I don't know who took this photo, but it sure was close! The US no longer flies the Phantom, but the memories are all around.

--Dan

U.S.S Nimitz turns during Sea Trials?

This ship, the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, appears to be undergoing sea trials some years back. This is an amazing photo, taken by somebody, that demonstrates the amazing resilience of what is supposed to be a steady, relatively level platform of force extension and sea power. Note the lack of aircraft on the deck. This is certainly a test of ability for a huge ship that is normally a floating airport.

--Dan L.

Happy Easter!

May this Sunday bring you the joy of Easter!

As you may already know, we celebrate Easter here, in our home. It is 1:25 AM, Sunday morning. We have just returned from the Easter Vigil Celebration at a local parish. We are so excited...there will be gift baskets left out during the night by my wife, Cruz, for all the kids (even though the youngest is now 15!). We will then enjoy a wonderful (I hope) spiral ham, potato salad, and more...at a great meal later in the day.

Peace to all of you, whatever your faith may be!

--Dan L.

My art hangs high for the year to come

I was asked to participate in the design of a banner for the jubilee at our local parish church. I designed a sketch of St. Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus Christ. My drawing was completed, but I was then asked to simplify the details, and convert it to a "line" image. I was not in agreement with this, as it diminished the details and accuracy of my work. In the end, I did as they wished. The final product hangs in front of the church by the street. It is my contribution, though not to my liking so much...I am proud enough, just the same.

--Dan

Our Garage band, The FonTones

The FonTones: Allen, left. Dan, on the right. Marion, the part-timer, is taking the photo. We are pictured here, in the garage. The music of the evening was an attempt to play anything. We got...halfway there.

--Dan

An amazing sight!

This beautiful picture, I believe a "photo of the year" from National Geographic, was taken not too far from my home, from Joshua Tree National Park.

I so loved that visit from the comet. It was stunning and fantastic. We sat at dinner, while that comet graced the sky just outside (and very visibly) through our dining room window. It went on for days.

--Dan

Wow!

USS Iowa, full broadside, 16 in. guns.

There is a picture (maybe by now somewhere in my blog's "archives"), that shows the USS Iowa (A WWII era battleship) in it's early youth. This is a much, much later version of that same ship, probably 1990's. Look at the movement of that ship in the water!!

--Dan L.

Who is the king of the guitar?

There was a poll of some kind that took place recently in a popular music magazine. It rated guitar players according to their skills (you'd think). Pete was ranked somewhere around number fifty or sixty. I think they made a mistake. He is much better than that. Looking at this picture, I suppose he would agree...royally!

--Dan

On the road to San Francisco, you can see the local stuff...that makes America...America.

A gas station, Thursday, 3/23/06, on the bus route to Hayward, and San Francisco. A display of great "Americana".


"The gas station"

--Dan L.

Walk across a bridge

Our recent trip to San Francisco found us on a rainy walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. There were about 50 of us, and it was very drippy on the bridge walk of 1.7 miles . My daughter's high school band was in town to perform and visit the sights. We had a great time. More to come later...

--Dan

Gonna go to San Francisco. It will be the first time since late 1970's.

I was just up in that area in the spring of last year (2005), but only near Santa Cruz/San Jose. It will great to see the big city again. Yes, we will be visiting "The Rock", Alcatraz.

Me, my daughter Marion, and her school band, all rolling north.

--Dan

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For Friday, 3/17/06:

Here is the man of the day! It is not about green beer. Oh, and You can claim to be Irish if you wish. Have a wonderful day.

--Dan

The ants are marching one by one...

Our house is under attack from 451 million ants...or maybe 452 million. This picture is from a game, but this here, in our house, is no game. It's full on war!







(Picture ref. http://www.crashonline.org.uk/ no connection to me, just credit the picture to the site that reviewed the game)

The Sr-71 Blackbird - You had to have been there, but this will help

They don't fly anymore, but oh...when they did! Even while powering up on the ground, they looked awesome!

You can still visit one of these awesome aircraft at a museum near you. Even in England, for you folks over there.

--Dan