so yesterday, i had to go to the post office to mail off a couple things. one was sent to my aunt and the other to the freckles' brother in iraq.

i waited my turn, and finally got to the counter. i told the clerk that i needed some forever stamps and to mail off two letters. we don't use that many stamps (thank you internet bill pay. speaking of which, i better go pay some bills). the first cost about $1.50 and the marine's envelope cost a forever stamp. sweet! since there were pictures enclosed with his letter, i asked it it were possible to hand stamp it so that i wouldn't get bent and/or folded.

"yeah, that'll be an extra .17¢ to keep it out of the machines."

i thought he was joking. not that .17¢ was expensive, but that it cost an extra .17¢ to hand stamp something.

"sure," i replied.

"well worth the .17¢" he chimed back.

he then proceeds to take out his stamp and stamp the envelope. i guess everybody is hurting these days...

summer is...

...shorts and flip flops.
...naked feet covered in sidewalk chalk.
...ice cream dripping off of cones and onto the hot concrete.
...bbqs and picnics.
...hauling around hoses and mowing lawns.
...celebrating the fourth of july; one nation, under GOD, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
...hanging out on the patio swing whilst the kids play on the swingset.
...playing "snake in the grass".
...working on new and old bonsai.
...sitting under the growing wisteria at night with the clear lights lit in between the leaves.
...garage sales.
...doing crossfit with the big door open.
...walking around barefoot.
...warm nights.
...long days.
...cool breezes.
...freshly cut grass.
...lightning and thunder storms.
...smell of a summer rain.
...swimming and wakeboarding.
...open windows.
...air conditioning.
...iced coffee.
...hanging out in the freezer section at the store.
...going to the water's edge.
...the beach.
...sunburns and popsicles.
...angels baseball.

i love summer

angels:
32 wins
22 losses

mariners:
19 20 wins
34 losses

and they get excited about a strikeout?!?!

update
a second consecutive win? whodathunkit?

someone took (or i some how misplaced them) all of my deut masters....doh! at least they are archived and it's not taking as long as i thought it would to re-master them. sweet...

and now castro puts in his two cents...

one man's oil is another man's, er, gas...

what an absolutely beautiful morning. it's 48° outside, with a promise of 80° before the day is finished. the sun is shining and a not a cloud in the sky...

everything i've learned about the ark of the covenant, i learned from raiders of the lost ark. (ok, not really). i still think they look like shrinky dinks at the end.

we finally have a single flower bud on one of our wisteria. it normally takes around 5 to 10 seasons before a wisteria is mature enough to bloom.

death becomes you...

happy may day. go out and get a tan...