Heading to Sun River for a little bit of R-N-R, snap a few pictures, explore a new place, find me some sun (and a river), chat - banter - laugh and hug my darling daughter.

Today is the Longest Day of the Year!
In Bellingham, Washington the sun rose at 5:07 a.m. and will be with us until 9:17 p.m.
That's 16:10 hours of daylight. Yipee!!!

3D is back, once more

and what's wrong with this picture? You'll notice there are no kids in the audience. 3D movies of the 50's were made to entice the movie paying audience back to the big screen. TV's were becoming popular and people were getting their visual entertainment at home on the little screen instead of shelling out a few quarters to watch a movie on the big screen. Such wonderful movies like "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" and other sci fi scripts that needed 3D to give us a thrill to watch (the scripts weren't doing it).

and now 3D is back - except for a few recent blockbusters, it's back for the kids. I saw Toy Story 3 in 3D and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. What I noticed in the theatre that night wearing my Buddy Holly 3D glasses, was that it was the adults doing the "ah- ah-ah's" and the "oh-oh-oh's" throughout the movie and the kids were just taking it in stride. Buzz and Woody in another adventure story would have been a good adventure story without 3D - it was just enhanced in 3D, fun & I actually forgot at times that I was watching it in 3D - it felt normal. And that is the difference from the 50's 3D movies to today's latest craze. Hollywood is actually using this throw-back technique to enhance the story lines instead of making the 3D technique the story line

3D movies didn't last long in the 50's -- most of the time you left the theatre with a headache and serious eye strain. But, I think 3D will be around longer this time around. We'll soon have performance movies in 3D and we can all become kids again, pop on our 3D glasses and go back to watching the movies on the big screen, instead of waiting for Netflix to deliver our small screen viewing pleasures.

When times are tough and rough - we have a tendency to grab something from our past (or any one's past) and remember how good times use to be and bring with it the feeling that things are Okay. We usually only remember the good times from the past and forget that things weren't always Okay then either. But, that's OK, too --- Mad Men gets it right, most of the time, and gives us a great example that some things are best left in the past. And that title will be used again, I'm sure, in the future when they bring back the era of the 21st century for our grand kids and great grand kids to wax nostalgic.

But, go see Toy Story 3 in 3D -- it's great!

It's June....

June is half over and that means that summer in the northwest is about 2 weeks away. Our summer doesn't start until July 5th - that's usually when the rains stop or at least slow down and the summer sun will come out to play. June for me is always a "wait and see" month. Wait and see if anyone is coming up to play with me. Wait and see how bad the moss on the driveway will get before I have to drag out the power washer and spend a few weeks getting it off. Wait and see if those deck flower pots will actually bloom. Wait and see if I will be taking a summer vacation and go exploring. Wait and see if there is anything else I can do inside before taking it outside. Wait and see when the Saturday farmer's market will be selling veggies. Wait and see I can turn off the furnace and open the windows - wide. Wait and see if I still fit into my summer clothes. Wait and see I can start ordering iced latte's. Wait and see if my July and August calendar will be filled with fun things to do. Wait and see the night sky at 9:58 instead of 10:02. June is half over, I'll just have to wait and see . . . . .

I'm stuck --- I just can't think of anything to blog about. What are you blogging about right now?

Project 12: Capturing May

I'm still participating in the scrapbooking Project 12 (doing a layout for each month of events, projects and calendar doings). Here's my May layout.

May's Book(s) Report

A Night Too Dark by Dana Stabenow

The 17th book in the Kate Shugak's series. The mine just outside the native Alaskan's park is starting up and brings murder into Kate's backyard. Another good read by Ms. Stabenow

Apple Turnover Murder by JoAnne Fluke

Hannah's at it once more in Lake Eden, MN. A full town of fundraiser has her cookie shop baking around the clock. Mixing up Murder and Mayhem. Plus, all the new cookie recipes included in each chapter. A fun, light and yummy mystery series
The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz
All you have to do is mention this author's name and I'll break out laughing. The 4th in this zany series that is a laugh a minute. Once again Ms. Lutz has us running around San Francisco following the antics of this dysfunctional family of private detectives that usually just get it right --- a must read that tickles the funny bone with each page.
Tell No One by Harlan Coben
A stand alone (Myron's not in this one). This is one of those "I could not put it down until I finished the whole book". It's a slow start - but then hang on for a good ride to the end. After 8 years since his wife's death, David gets a message that only his wife would know about.
Gone For Good by Harlan Coben
Will's brother, Ken, ran after being accused of murdering Will's previous girlfriend 11 years ago. It all comes home and Will wants answers. Fantastic story line that will have you turning the pages until you've got the answers, too.
The Woods by Harlan Coben
20 years ago 4 teens walked into the woods while away at camp - and no one came out. Paul Copeland's sister was one of them. Paul was there and is now a hot shot lawyer that has a case that brings those 20 years into present time.
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
Mike and Tye are concerned about their teenage son - they start to snoop and it's a house of cards that comes falling down. A slow read and just an Okay story - but, it's Coben, so worth a read.
Caught by Harlan Coben
Hang On! This is a page turner that is not all that it seems to be. Great, great ending. Lot's of Coben characters from Myron's stories are showcased throughout.
Just One Look by Harlan Coben
Lots of characters - lots of story line - lots of endings. Another "you just don't really know what is what until the last page".
The Innocent by Harlan Coben
One of his best stand alone mysteries. Matt Hunter has a good job, a new house in escrow, a wife he's crazy about that is expecting their first child. Matt has straighten out his life -- or -- has he? Vegas - Reno - New Jersey: you do the math.
Vanishing Act by Thomas Perry
The first in the Jane Whitefield series. And it's off to a wonderful start. American Indian guide, Jane, who has the gift to help those in need. A vanishing act, slight of hand, helping people disappear from the bad guy's is what Jane is all about. Great read with lots of twists and turns along the way.
Dance For The Dead by Thomas Perry
Jane specializes in making victims vanish. Calling on the ancient wisdom of the Seneca tripe and her own razor-sharp cunning, she conjures up new identities for the people with nowhere left to run. Jane helps an innocent 8 year old boy and then picks up another needy person in the process. Great story twists & turns - this book won lots of awards and worth every one.
Shadow Woman by Thomas Perry
Jane is a name to be whispered. A shadow woman who rescues the helpless and the hunted when their enemies leave them no place to hide. Pete is a Las Vegas gambling executive needing Jane's help - a piece of cake, but she doesn't know about Earl and Linda - professional destroyers who will cash in if Pete dies and they love what they do. From Vegas to upstate New York to Glacier N.P. --- this one is worth some awards, too. Great Read!

That's my read list for May ---
on to June and a book coming my way I've been waiting for (not so patiently, I might add) for over a year. It's murder and mayhem in the scrapbook world and Lomax & Biggs are on the case. Marshall Karp needs to write faster.