Car Windows for the Auto Swap Meet

Made a couple pictures of "CARS", thinking maybe grandparents might be interested in getting one for grandkids?? Frame sanded only - will be begin painting process tomorrow.

Began the crackle process today and it's working. Need to scrap off the glass, clean up the windows, adhere the picture to the back of the frame and add the hardware to hang it. 

Grant and Ed are making plans for the booth space at this years auto swap meet (April 11-15). Just by chance, this last year, Grant's employer was taking out old wood windows and replacing them with new ones. Grant asked if he could get some of them and Bart made him 'a heck of a deal' on ALL of them (a 100 or more). Ed had a big envelope with National Geographic car ads that Mom and George (and others?) cut out of magazines from the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Because Jan had done a wonderful 'car window' for Ed for his 50th birthday (of the convertibles he had rebuilt), the guys thought I could put together windows with the car ads, similar to Jan's, to sell at the swap meet this year. Mine are certainly not as custom as Jan's. I've gathered car and travel scrapbook materials to add to the ads. I sorted the ads by automaker, models and years. And I have yet to learn how to do the crackle paint finish.

Ed wanted to see a few photos of what I have done so far. I'm learning as I go along - some are better than others. I have sanded the windows (with a new mini electric sander) and wiped them down, but still need to paint them. I've just tacked the backs onto the windows to see how they look together. I got the background maps off CL for free and have reused a couple sheets of foamboards we had available, just to start off the project and see how they come together. Since they take a bit of time, I'll probably only have twenty or so for sale at the swap. Grant will figure out a structure to hang them on. I'm thinking they would sell for around $25-$30 per window? I guess we'll see IF they sell with the car buffs. I thought I'd also offer to do custom windows, if there's any interest.

One of twenty! Vote for Sean!

Last fall Sean entered a Seattle Space Needle contest to be sent into space. First he was selected as one of 1000 to submit a video. His video is great and you can watch it here: Sean's video. Today he was selected to be one of 20 to compete for the next stage when they will select the top 5 contestants. Now it's all up to you. He needs us to vote once a day, every day until March 18th. The top 5 contestants will come to Seattle (yay) and compete in physical tests (better workout Sean!).

Our beach buggy (and tow rig)

Since we sold our motorhome last fall and got a more comfortable 28 ft Holiday Rambler trailer, we needed something powerful enough to pull it. We were fortunate to find a diesel 4x4 suburban which gets pretty descent mileage for a big rig. Now we sound like Ed coming down the road.

OIT Family Weekend

Gordon's post from the Durand Blog:

We went to Klamath Falls to visit Charlie for the Oregon Institute of Technology Family Weekend. They had campus tours, casino games, a talent show, tailgator parties, and basketball games.

We didn't do any of that.

We spent forty-five minutes coding up Euclid's algorithm in C++, and then went for a hike. Typical geeks, I guess. Later we went to Red's BBQ for an early dinner.

Gordon forgot to say we hiked up the hill above OIT to the white rocks making up the O and T. It turns out the O and T look a lot better from the campus. The view from the hillside was great. There is a great view of Mt. Shasta but in the photo it just looks like clouds.

Charlie vs. zombies

At OIT the students can sign up to participate in a zombie game. Basically, some students are the zombies and are identified by something like a headband. Other students are the humans and are identified by a wrist band (oh yeah, and the huge Nerf guns they are packing). So the zombies try to tag the human which makes them into zombies but the humans can defend themselves by shooting the zombie with a Nerf dart. Charlie signed up to play and I think it started on Monday. He posted this description on Facebook of his adventures so far. It sounds like a lot of fun:

Day 2, 1:20 PM:
I've decide to start writing down my experiences in this journal, I know, it sounds stupid, but right now its the only thing keeping me sane. Since the outbreak the number of zombies has more than doubled. Last night I modified my gun's Three clips into one with some duct tape and a spent round. After a half hour's practice I got pretty good at swapping out the clips quickly. Today I had a very bad feeling when I was heading for math class, I ran into a zombie and although it appeared he was shot a put another round in him for good measure. I got to class alright but it still felt like it was my day to die. I somehow managed to survive math class.

As I was exiting the building I knew something was wrong. Two people walking adjacent to me were pointing at me and smiling. This particular building has external pillars that form a + shape, which makes a rather ideal place for zombies to hide. I began slowly walking along side the wall, pointing my gun at the pillar knowing something just didn't add up. I peered around the corner of the building and saw a zombie hiding behind a pillar further down the building. My mind was racing, I took step, and then another, nearing the corner pillar. Then I stopped. Something was definitely wrong here. Something just beyond my ears recognition. The shadow! The shadow that the pillar cast. it was too wide, and the lines weren't straight. Opposite my side of the pillar someone was hiding.

I began backing up slowly, checking to make sure my gun was loaded. Then it charged me. It's agility was shocking as it rounded the pillar and nearly lunged at me. A shot rang out and then zombies face turned from blood-lust to disappointment. My hands cocked the gun as I struggled to suppress the adrenalin that threatened to dull my environmental awareness. I rounded the corner again to locate the second zombie. All I saw was a blur as the second zombie ran from its hiding spot. I backed away from the building with the pillars into an open courtyard. My brain recognized that the two guys smiling at me knew I was walking into an ambush. I distanced myself from the ambush site before slowing to a walk. I warned the two resistance members of the ambush as they passed me heading that direction. As I got a lunch and walked home I saw 2 more zombies, neither of them engaged me however.

I'm alive and safe for one more day, who knows what tomorrow brings.
Good luck and stay sharp - Charlie Durand

Jonathan turns 25

I stole these photos from the Durand Blog. Elizabeth and Jonathan are pretty close with Elizabeth's cousin Rob and his wife Kelsey. On Sat. Jonathan turned 25 so Rob had them over for a birthday burger and fries.

Jonathan has a very handsome face when he's serious...
a look I don't see often!

Timmy reading the morning "paper"