Dave's Daily Rant & Rave!

2009-06-25T19:29:00.006-05:00

It has been a while since I posted so I thought I would just drop in and say hi. So HI!

I did get to Hawaii and it was interesting. OK, so it was more than interesting. I flew ... actually I just sat in the plane and the plane flew ... to San Diego where my sister-in-laws met me at the airport. Yvonne, wife of my brother Paul, and Janet, wife of my brother John. Both of my brothers and my wife are deceased. Yvonne lives is San Diego and Janet lives in Illinois. The next day, Janet and I drove north along the ocean for a few miles to a large cross on top of a mountain. Check my photos. .. ok ... I'll look for it and put here!

The next day my grandson, Wes and his lovely wife, Rachel, drove down from the Marine base nearby. Wes is in the Marine's and Rachel works nearby. We had a nice visit and went out for supper.

The next day my other grandson, Zach drove down from the same base. Zach is the youngest of my grand-kids. Getting hard to call these young people children! Since this all occurred, Zach decided to see the world a little and volunteer to go to Afghanistan. He has been there a couple of months now. Yvonne wanted to empty her fridge out, so we all ate in. In fact Zach took a plate home with him. Just a growing boy. We had a nice visit.

The next day my sister drove down from Victorville where she has lived for several years. She still teaches school a little. She was reluctant to retire but the school and her finally reached a deal that she liked. She and another lady share a classroom. So each only have to be in the classroom a couple days a week.

The following day which is Saturday, we boarded the plane and flew to Honolulu. Upon arriving in Honolulu we charged down to the boat and boarded the cruise ship. We had 7 days cruising between islands at night and site seeing during the day. I'll leave the cruise detail for another day.

Upon return to Honolulu the next Saturday we headed over to a hotel for three days of site seeing. Again I'll leave this details for another day except for another visitor ... my oldest grandson - Nathan. Nathan is in the Navy and stationed near Honolulu. He visited a couple of days and we were able to run around a little.

After the three days in Honolulu we flew back to San Diego, then I flew on to St Louis the next day.

If there are no photos in this note, come back in a few days and I'll have them included ... or if you are in a hurry ... check flickr
or phanfare for them.

2009-02-13T07:47:00.005-06:00

Map of the World!

visited 4 states (1.77%)
Create your own visited map of The World or try another Douwe Osinga project

Map of the United States!

visited 39 states (78%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or try another Douwe Osinga project

Now many of the places I have visited were for a short time ... like drive thru! But a few places I spent a little more time. So here is a few that I can remember:

Let's start out in Indiana ... I was born in Indiana, so it should get credit(blame) for that!

Then about 6 years old, my folks more to Illinois ... I went along! I did move around a lot in Illinois but finally moved to Missouri.

After a few years in Missouri, I moved to Florida for a while, but my wife did not really like it. So we moved back to Missouri and she said she would not move again until the kids were out of high school.

One summer my brother and family met us in Missouri and we all drove to Texas and met my parents. We traveled to Mexico City for a visit.

I also visited England for a week on business.

When the youngest was in college and I was offered an job in New York. Promised my wife we would only stay for 4 years or so ... 13 years later and she said "Let's retire!" Of course she said a lot of other stuff, too but ...

So we packed up and moved back to Missouri. Bought an RV and toured the west during the winters. Spent one winter in south Texas and several summers in Colorado.

After my wife past on, took a cruise to Alaska and looking forward to a cruise in Hawaii next month!

I have 2 travel partners if I keep to the land ... George, my shih-ztu, and Missy, my beagle-dauchsun mix.

2008-12-10T12:48:00.003-06:00

Helpful Tips!

Recently I noticed a charge on my credit card that I did not remember, so I called the credit card company. I finally got to talk to someone ... a feat unto itself ... and they could not give anymore info than was on the credit card statement. So they switched me to theft department. They also asked a few questions and then said they need to close the account ... then they said they had closed the account and a new credit card would be sent in the mail in 2 to 4 days ... of course I could pay for faster deliver.

Now I do not get paper receipts ... just on-line bills ... works fine until this happened.

I logged back in to look at some other stuff and no account was shown! Now I can't check on anything else ... like the computer I bought a couple of months ago ... did it get charged to my account. What other charges had not gotten into the account before it was closed? I feel lost! I quickly downloaded all my accounts info for the past year. They make a big deal about 6 years of history ... won't do you any good if they close the account ... no longer can you see it!

So I have decided to download all online statements each month into a folder that is backed up on another site. I think several sites provide web backup for a small amount of data at no cost. If you want to check into this provider ... drop me a line and I will send you the URL.

2008-12-02T00:21:00.003-06:00

"Soft" .... Thursday Challange!

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2008-05-11T18:31:00.003-05:00

Rant & Rave

2008-05-11T18:25:00.002-05:00

Rant & Rave

2008-05-11T16:24:00.004-05:00

Post Template

Rant & Rave

Missouri weather really sucks! It has rained every other day for the as long as I can remember! It started last night - Sat - and rained and blowed all night. About 2 am, Missy, my beagle, decided she enough of the howling wind and rattling metal patio roof! I think the door on the storage must have fallen off about that time! She came into my bedroom and stared at me! I tried to get her to come to bed, but she would not have anything to do with that bed. Finally I thought she might like the spare bedroom .... that did it! She crawlled into the bed and I heard not a beep until midmorning! Often she sleeps to noon!

Not only have we continue to have cold days and lot's of rain, we have had several earthquakes. So we are really get a double dose of bad weather.

Ok, So now that I have vented! It has been bad, I have had no damage due to the weather. I guess it just is more inconveniet vs bad! One of these days the hot weather will come and we will wish for a little cool weather. Even to make it worse ... while I was venting the sun came out!

2008-02-11T15:45:00.001-06:00

It has several months since my last Rant & Rave. Perhaps you think there has been nothing to tick me off during this period. You would be wrong! Many things tick me off in this world but i just have not taken the time to put my feelings into words on the web. Today is not that day. But maybe sometimes soon.

2007-02-10T09:07:00.000-06:00

Post Template

Rant & Rave

Today is Big Companies!

Why don't they care what you want to say! Have you ever tried to find some place to file a complaint? They don't want to listen.

Recently Microsoft provided an upgrade to Internet Explorer. They seem to always want to fix their software, so even tho I rarely use Internet Explorer, I decided after a few days of flag waving, that I would let them upgrade it. So they did ... then they decided they needed to re-boot the system ... woa ... I don't want to re-boot ... they can wait! At least they let me do that, but now they keep bugging me! Do they think I am stooopid? Cut it out ... stop bothering me! I tried to tell Microsoft I was pissed! But they did not want to know!

So I am telling noone ... I feel better now! Now where was that note from Apple about converting to ...

2006-10-06T14:42:00.000-05:00

Slide Show Blog

Check out my new 'Slide Show Blog'. Pages of Slide Shows with lot's of photos.
See the link on the left ....

If you think I have no Rant & Raves ... you should know better! I just have been too busy to write them down. One of these days, I'll get caught up and then watch me mount the soap box!

2005-11-28T13:45:00.000-06:00

Rant & Rave

How would you like to improve you chances for winning the lottery beyond calculations? This technique works on any lottery! BUY A TICKET It is a fact, if you fail to buy a ticket, you won't win! Ok, so this chance is small but it is so much more than impossible!

Should you decide to put that $1 on Powerball, you now have a chance of 1 in 146 million to win. Should you put down another $1, you improve your chance to 2 in 146 million! Now which $1 gave more value? The first $1 raised the probability from 'hell no' to 'yes I can' while the second $1 simply improve you chance. Each $1 you add, merely improves you chance slightly.

So the moral to this story, invest the first $1 ... gamble the rest!

2005-08-27T23:44:00.000-05:00

A few fotos from the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-27T23:42:00.000-05:00

Koi fish have been raised by the japanese for many years. They are often passes from generation to generation.

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-27T23:38:00.000-05:00

Pond in the Japanese Gardens.

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-27T23:34:00.000-05:00

Bridge over the water

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-27T23:32:00.000-05:00

View of the Rose Garden. We saved the rose garden for another day.

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-27T23:30:00.000-05:00

Entrance to Missouri Botanical Gardens in St Louis, Missouri

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-09T06:45:00.000-05:00

More Blooms on a stick. These beauties popup almost over night and they are over a a foot tall.

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-09T06:44:00.000-05:00

The Veggieman ... tadah!

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-09T06:43:00.000-05:00

Blooms on a stick!

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-08-09T06:42:00.000-05:00

Surprise! Where did you come from?

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-07-31T07:21:00.001-05:00

Flowers fot the day!

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-07-31T07:21:00.000-05:00

..

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-07-31T07:20:00.000-05:00

..

fotobydave - commercial use prohibited without permission

2005-07-24T22:59:00.000-05:00

These fotos of George were uploaded by 'hello' and Picasso. Not the fastest nor the slowest techniqe! Don't know where the photos are setting.

2005-07-24T22:55:00.000-05:00

George again!

2005-07-24T22:54:00.000-05:00

More george

2005-07-24T22:53:00.000-05:00

Another george in the sun

2005-07-24T22:52:00.001-05:00

George in the sunlight

2005-07-24T22:52:00.000-05:00

George

2005-07-01T04:13:00.000-05:00

Post Template

Private Accounts!

George continues to rant & rave about 'private accounts' in the social secutiy program. Here is how it works: you agree to have 2/3 of you social security weekly deduction from your paycheck transferred to a fund run by one of George's friends and George will reduce your social security check when you retire by 50% or more. I am not sure where your companies matching contribution goes, but it really does not matter cause you won't see any of that either. Now your personal account will be invested in the stock market but someone has to pay for all this personal attention ... who? you, of course! I remember paying $35 per year for 'handling' my IRA accounts until they starting losing money... then I combined all the accounts and got by the annual fee.

I sure if all of this money hits the stock market the price of the stocks will go up! With each paycheck you will buy more stock at higher prices and more fees. Don't worry, because once you retire and start selling your stock, the prices will be lower since everone else who retired is also selling their stock.

Stop George! No private accounts for SS! Stay tuned and I'll tell you more!

Rant & Rave

2005-04-25T05:50:00.000-05:00

I found out how to include a fancy link to flickr on the right. Now you can see my last five photos in flickr without going to the site. Of course one of the features of flickr is the ease of seeing many fotos on a subject quickly or joining a group and checking the group's effort from time to time. It is a fun site.

I also added more of my photo sites to my links. Check them out. I try to use each link a little different.

This link is suppose to be my soap box ... I have yet to Rave let alone Rant!

2005-04-23T07:22:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I have left this site alone for four months. The three months trip to Brownsville, TX is really not a good excuse since I did have time and computer access. Just not the inclination to think! Today, I decided to update this site without thinking ... just post something to show I am still alive.

We left the end of January for Brownsville in the RV and arrived in about a week. Lived in Texas until the end of March and migrated back via Houston and New Orleans. Houston has too many tall bridges, needed to get over the large ships that come into the harbor. New Orleans has too much swamp. Takes an hour or two over low bridges to arrive in New Orleans. Brownsville was good. Weather super and living easy. We plan to return next year.

It has taken a couple of weeks to get caught up at home, at least as much as I want to. The weather in St Louis has been great till today. Winter came back to visit us for a while. Talking about freezing tonight and snow somewhere. This is almost May!

Enough of this mindless wandering. Got to get more photos ready for the web!

2004-12-30T06:19:00.000-06:00

After many hours of piddling with the two photo sites they are finnaly shaping up. I had a lot of problems updating them. I got two sites onto two accounts, but only have 3 sites. I log in one way and can add post to both accounts, but can only update the settings on one of them. It is very confusing and I don't know how to get all sites onto one account. But this works! Enjoy.

See pretty with mid-size photos and simple with large photos

The photos are different on each site, but they cover the same subject. I may take 10 pictures and post 3 on one site, 4 on the other and ignore 3.

So take a look at both and tell me which one you like the best.

2004-12-29T16:47:00.000-06:00

I am trying to figure out which site is which! I have made three but I can't seem to upday them with ease. This little ditty is just for fun!

2004-12-21T21:50:00.000-06:00

Take a look at this story.
It is a classic story about winter in the north. >:)

2004-12-21T19:18:00.000-06:00

I've been busy trying out new web sites for blogging and photo log. My latest creation is a combination of housing my photos on my web site at powweb and showing them on
http://fotobydave.blogspot.com This seems to work pretty good. I have complete control over my image, which is good, but it does take a little while to post the images and check them out!

I still post a photo every couple days to flickr and fotopages.com. Of course fotopic.net is still the best site for lots of images ... I reserve it for foto shoots like sports events, special outings or even single subjects with lot's of fotos.

I have a copy of the "Snow Shoveler" and will post it somewhere. It is a very funny story about, yeah, you guessed it ... a snow shoveler!

2004-12-12T08:59:00.000-06:00

Ops! I forgot that I even have this blog. I have already started another one and forgot it to! Guess I like to start stop but forget that it takes work to keep it running. I'll just have to put this on my things-to-do-list! Here are some photo sites that I do update.

http://fotobydave.fotopic.net

http://fotobydave.fotopages.com

http://25257.com

2004-03-23T10:30:00.000-06:00

March 2004

Updating this log does take a lot of work... especially making one to ignore the tv and sit down and write. I decided to move the personal stuff to another site and if you wish to see it, send me a note for the url. My time has been spent on fotos. I have added several new web sites for fotos. Here is a recap of the various sites.

My main web site does not get many updates. It takes several hours to several days to add a new subject to this web site. I have been looking for a different way. Most of the techniques I've found come with the websites.

fotobydave is update several times a week with normally 3 photos. I can update this in 15-30 minutes. It should work well with only phone access.

fotopic's fotobydave is the latest and gets a lot of attention. Lot's of photos are updated and the time it takes me to update is only a few minutes. However if I've taken a lot of fotos, the time for foto editing may be several hours. A high speed line would be useful!

I bought a new camera a few months ago I have taken lots of pics. Missy and I try to visit one or two sites around St Louis each week. Hopefully, once I get the kinks worked out, I'll post reguarly.

Later ... Dave

2003-07-28T05:59:00.000-05:00

July 2003

July has been dedicated to travel, not going, just getting ready. The tow stuff for the Malibu took 30 days rather than the estimated 8. Installation was completed around 10am on Wed the 23 and we left for Meramac State park about 1pm. Jolene returned on the Thursday for a doctor's appointment and arrived back at camp on Friday. She did not feel well and by Friday evening she was having test at her favorite hospital. As of Monday morning, the diagnosis is kidney failure, but I am sure that in the next few days additional details will be determined.

So all travel plans are on hold.

I did add a new feature on my web page,"Latest Photo Blog". Take a look at it by clicking "Dave's web" link.

2003-07-07T12:03:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that all of June has past since I last posted.

More than a week was spent when we noticed a large pudle of stuff under the escort. After due deliberation I decided that poor little escort need to be given a rest ... a long one. So we searched and searched and found an ol' red chevy that adequate.... 2003 Malibou with 3 miles on it! We ordered the stuff to tow it behind the RV.

Hope to get more time for blogger next month .... that's July!

2003-05-30T12:31:00.000-05:00

This month was in interesting month! The RV was brought home and I am cleaning it. So far, I've cleaned the exterier and all the windows. It took a lot longer to do than to explain.

I've been working on some photoshop projects, trying to learn how to use it. I've been introduced to several tools. One allowed me to remove a post and Missy's lease from a photo. Then I copied Missy and the post so I had two Missy's watching the sunset. I've cleaned up dozen's of red-eye photos. Guess I'll have to reload them to the web site someday.

I took a week and participated in the America24/7 photo project. I took photos nearly everyday for a week on subjects they sugested. The first day was Monday, May 12 and I was to take photos of Home Sweet Home. I took photos of Missy. The seconday day, Tueday, theme was "Whom Do You Love?". I took photos of Missy. On Wed the theme was "Pet Nation". I took photos of Missy. On Friday, the theme was "Work Hard, Play Hard". I took photos of Missy. On Saturday, the theme was "Let Their be Art". I took photos of Missy. On Sunday, the theme was "You Gotta Have Faith" I took photos of Missy. The bonus selection for any day was "From Sea to Shining Sea" I took photos of Missy.

I was surprised that they wanted me to take so many photos of Missy!

After taking several hundred photos, I selected the best seven and submitted them. It will take a few months before they decide on what photos will be published in the 53 books.

I also submitted a photo to the www.picture.com contest. You can view it on their web site. Just look up my name and select the second dave clark. Guess who is in the photo!

We had planed to take a day or two in the RV, but my wife did not feel well. Maybe next week.

Why is a stranger perfect?

2003-05-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a joke for all you traveler's:

A customer was really hassling an airline agent at the ticket counter -- yelling and using foul language. However, the agent was polite, pleasant and smiled while the customer continued to abuse her.

When the man finally left, the next person in line said to the agent, "Does that happen often? I can't believe how nice you were to him."

The agent smiled and said, "No problem, I took care of it. He's going to Detroit. His bags are going to Bangkok."

Complement's of "Joke-of-the-day"

2003-05-01T09:53:00.000-05:00

I finally got the template to reflect all the changes cleanly, so I guess it's time to try and put some stuff up!

The rain gave up a couple of days and I was able to complete mowing and trimming the yard. I even edged all the concrete slabs, both front and back. Missy seems to enjoy the yard especially after it has been mowed. She did not want to come in last night. Sat out in the back yard and worked on her new chew bone.

Got a new book on photoshop: "The Photoshop Book for digital photographers" by Scott Kelby. I've only done a couple of things and it is really easy to follow. The examples are really super. The color photos are really great. Now never display a photo with red eye! The only problem I have had is the author does not warn us pc folks that the info is only for the mac! At least several sections simply did not work, but they looked like they were mac only. Some time his does provide pc alternatives. Even with this problem, it is still a super book.

Last week end I dropped by the arbor day fair in Chesterville Park and picked up a composter and a couple trees. Both of them were FREE!

The composter is about the size of a large garbage bin. You put the top of the garbage bin on the ground and there is a lid to add the grass, straw, garbage, etc. There is another door in the bottom to remove the composter. Suppose to work in 2 to 6 wks. It works so quickly because it maintains the moisture and allows the heat to build up inside the composter. My fenced composter will take 1 to 2 years because it drys out and stops working until it rains or I remember to add some water. It also cools off to fast.

The trees I planted in the far back of the yard. Both are native to Missouri. One was a deciduous holly and the other a flowing dogwood. My wife said I planted two sticks! I did put a stick beside each tree, but I think she was refering to the trees! They are not very large ... about 12-14 inches.

Then I spent a good part of Saturday and a little while on Sunday helping with cleaning the pool. I thought it was really nice that a lot of the neighbors came over and helped clean my pool. I took some photos and gave them to the subdivision's web guy. Graeler Park Web Page

2003-04-21T06:46:00.000-05:00

Easter has come and gone. Mark and family were here for mom's brunch. Now I can play a little. I've change the template for this blog, but it did not change? Maybe if I publish something it will show up.

No changes showed up, but I found how to change the format ... so I did!

Missy likes the rabbits! She spends most of her day in her chair looking outside for rabbits. At night, she likes to guard her yard and does not want to come in for bed.

2003-04-17T10:44:00.000-05:00

I worked into the wee hours of the morning and completed 2 more features for my web page: Boy Scout Annual Lawn Mower Checkup and Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City.

The Lawn Mower checkup event was held by my grandson's boy scout troup. While David was in camp working on his Order of the Arrow, his dad was very busy picking up and delivery lawn mower's to local resident. The boys and their dad's were busy cleaning and checking area residents lawn mowers. They had various stations set-up for cleaning the mower, checking the spark plug and oil, sharpening the blade and a final double-check to be sure every thing was done properly.

They did a really super job and I was able to capture the event with bits! I believe the event was a roaring success and the donated funds will help finance the troup's activities.

Lawn Mower Checkup link

The Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City is also known as the "Western Heritage Museum". It is quite large and very impressive. They have a very large parking large and access from the expressway is really easy. If your are traveling via RV, they can accomodate your vehicle. One long wall had photos of many of the cowboy movie and singing stars. We stopped at the visitor's center and got a special coupon for a discount. They also had a senior's discount, so it was very in-expensive. We spent about 3 hours looking at the exhibits and could have spent more. They have a food bar that looked very good, but we did not want to spend the time. Many of the exhibits could not be photographed since they were on loan. Even so, I took close to 100 photos and have many of them on the web site.

Cowboy Museum link

The main web page has to be included to show these links. Link is on the right ->

2003-04-13T00:26:00.000-05:00

Hurray! I finally finished my Katy Trail docs. It took more hours than I thought. I also thought I took a lot of photos, but when I got ready to put the pages together ... I could not find the different images that I remember. I need to just shoot more photos. Just gotta continue to practice.

This church was really pretty.

To see for you self ... Katy Trail Link

2003-04-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

My web page has lots of photos! From the many shots from my California trip last year to fooling around the house this year, you can find a lot
of photos to enjoy. Just goto this link

Missy loves to have her photo taken. Uh, maybe she just puts up with it. :)

I am working diligently on adding some more photos, but they do take time to author the html pages. Maybe tomorrow.

2003-04-10T19:06:00.000-05:00

I am still trying out different things.... just to see how it works! Can I put up an image? Here is a horse made from car bumpers.

Here is my web page link:
Home page

2003-04-10T17:17:00.000-05:00

What is the dif between post and "post & Publish' ?

2003-04-10T17:16:00.000-05:00

Now if I post another one... what happens

2003-04-10T17:15:00.000-05:00

Let's try one ... I lost the first one that took 15 min to write!