My Dad

Larry is my Dad. He is a hoot and and half! Born and raised in Hillsboro, he is part country and part 50's greaser - picture the smokes rolled up in the white t-shirt. I've been thinking about him a lot lately. We chatted on the phone the other day and he was so excited to talk to one of his kids. Dad gets in these funks where he says "you guys only call to talk to your mother". We do talk to Mom more often - but that's a whole other story. Dad would say he looks a bit scruffy in this picture, but we were in Hawaii when it was taken. You don't have to shave on vacation.

Things about my dad:

* He is the king of one sentence wisdom/advice. The most famous and useful he gave me in a huge situation: "Don't turn on a faucet that you can't turn off". It was profound I tell you, made total sense and helped me make my decision!

* He plays Texas Hold 'em Poker every Friday at Spirit Mountain. When he wins he always tells me, " You shoulda backed me!" Every time we talk, he gives me a run down of his latest poker game...in poker speak...and I don't understand a word he is saying. But, I tell him good job and listen.

* Dad bought me my first fishing rod and reel - on my 30th birthday. It was the best present ever! We haven't gone fishing in awhile, but I did kick his butt one day 2 to 0. hee hee... He names all his rods and they can't be people names. We still argue that my rod can't be named Steve, and when I tried to name it Sven instead, he still said, "NO. It has to be something like Thunder, or Zeus, or Rage".

* We owned race horses when I was young. I have several pictures of us in the winners circle at Portland Meadows - Dad looks like Elvis - the sun glasses - the mutton chops, yep he was channeling The King.

* We used to go Lewis and Clarken'. That's Dad/Tina speak for checking out nature. My Dad loves to take a drive and knows all the cool places to stop and check the river for fish, or check for deer/elk. Driving to the beach could take hours if you want it. I think we are due for a trip. And by the way, he can spot deer and elk like nobodies business. Many conversations have gone: Dad -"WOW - look at the elk." Tina - "Where?" Dad - "There." Tina - "Where?" Dad - "Right there." Tina - "Where?" Dad - "THERE!" Tina - "WHERE!" You get the picture.

* My Dad was suppose to give a speech at the rehearsal dinner before Rex and I got married. But, every time he started he got choked up. He never gave the speech, just clinked glasses and sat down. I still have no idea what he was going to say, but I don't need the words, I could see it all on his face.

* On our last family vacation (w/o my brother) we visited places that have guest books. (cheese factory, etc.) Dad signed us in as Lewis Baughman (Dad), Clark Baughman (Traci my sister), Sacajawea (Mom), and The Dog (me). Don't ask.

* Dad is very sweet. Has a great sense of humor. But - is fair, expects fairness, and don't you dare EVER lie to him.

* Dad became a Grandpa in the past year and a half. Kaylie Eileen is his world now...none of us exist - and that is completely OK with us. :-)

So there is a little tribute to my Pops. I love you Daddy-O!

Just a Thought on this Historic Day...

FOR TODAY

For today, I hope that the we can be still,
Rest, and in the peace, find our space
A space where we become as one with our creator

For today, I hope that we can stop and consider
Consider those that are sharing the same world
The same world that we are all part of

For today, I hope that we can tune into peace
Not the absence of noise, but deep, pure, innocent, bliss

For today, I hope we will change things for the better
And see a new way and start to live that way
For today, may become our dream, tomorrow

duncan wyllie

Time Lapse of Plane Recovery

I am amazed by the story of the plane that landed in the Hudson. I know its been all over the news, but as one who loves to fly - I also get a bit nervous at the take off and landing (this being after I learned the whole - we are only flying because we are moving to fast to fall - concept AND they idea that a bird can take out a plane a million times it's size.). Now authorities are focused on the recovery and in-flight recorders...thus, getting the plane off the bottom of the river.

I found this time lapse video of them lifting the plane. The thing that amazed me was the scale of the machinery involved. Look at how small some of the tugs look compared to the MASSIVE cranes lifting the plane. Even the scale of the plane compared to the size of the cranes. That crane is HUGE!

Anyway - thank goodness all of the people survived and in this day and age when everyone is a hero for everything, I think I can genuinely say that the pilot really is a hero. That was some nice flying/landing.

In Spite of Ourselves

Well, I just had to add this other John Prine song. After this I will take a break from my most recent obsession - I promise! Of course the song starts with a story - would it be any other way? Iris DeMent is featured with John on this song - she has such a quirky voice..... My first introduction to Iris was her song "Our Town" which was the song played at the end of the last Northern Exposure episode - I LOVE THAT SHOW and still miss it. (Along with Picket Fences and Thirty Something...but, I digress.....)

Once again, funny funky lyrics and yet a simple sweetness. John looks much older than his picture I posted earlier - um...because he is. :-) Happy listening!

Happy Enchilada

Here is the video clip of John Prine singing That's the Way the World Goes 'Round. The clip is named Happy Enchilada - listen and you'll know why. (THX SL for explaining how to post a video!) This was the first video my dad ever watched on YouTube - not really important to anyone else, but that makes me smile.

John Prine is a simple guy from Illinois with parents from Kentucky (spent a lot of time there), worked for the Post Office until he fell into the music world. I like this clip because he is just sitting in his kitchen, hanging with friends and picking his guitar. Very much like his concerts - sans kitchen. :-) It must be from the 70's???

I'll post his stuff every now and then - he has some great funny songs! Johns voice in his newer clips has changed a bit - a cancerous tumor was removed from his neck a few years ago and that affected his voice some. He still records and performs.

Enjoy

That's the Way that the World Goes 'Round - John Prine

Caught a clip of this song on YouTube. When I figure out how to post a video, I'll post the clip. John Prine is a great American song writer. Interesting lyrics, wonderful guitar, and a fabulous gravely voice. His music feels like home for me...my Dad listened to him all the time when we grew up. I have gone to see him in concert with my Dad twice and its magical. Between verses he'll break in with great funny stories. This week has been hard, lots going on, big decisions and plans. JP helps me calm down. I like this song because it reminds me that life is happening and probably the way it's suppose to...why fight it, just do what you can. (Obviously we all make choices etc, but sometimes when you don't know which part to fight...you just have to float on your inner tube and see where the current takes you.)

That's the Way that the World Goes 'Round© John Prine

I know a guy that's got a lot to lose.
He's a pretty nice fellow but he's kind of confused.

He's got muscles in his head that ain't never been used.

Thinks he owns half of this town.

Starts drinking heavy, gets a big red nose.

Beats his old lady with a rubber hose,then he takes her out to dinner and buys her new clothes.

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

You're up one day and the next you're down.

It's half an inch of water and you think you're gonna drown.

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

I was sitting in the bathtub counting my toes,when the radiator broke, water all froze.

I got stuck in the ice without my clothes,naked as the eyes of a clown.

I was crying ice cubes hoping I'd croak,when the sun come through the window, the ice all broke.

I stood up and laughed thought it was a joke.

That's the way that the world goes 'round.

The Bright Side of Life....

What is it your suppose to do when live throws you lemons...make lemonade? I don't like lemonade and actually would like to hurl the lemons back at life and hit life straight square in the noggin. Alas - perhaps I am misdirecting my frustration/anger/angst/fear/pissed
-off-ed-ness (I made that one up).
I am choosing to take the Monty Python route and look on the bright side of life. No matter what - things could always be worse. Lately we have been chewing on life's gristle, and the future is uncertain. But - it could be worse. We could be in the 8% of unemployed Oregonians. We could be in the huge group of people who are being foreclosed on. We could be among those I know suffering from serious illness with health insurance that refuses to cover the illness. We could be ducking and running from bombs and missiles aimed at our neighborhood.
I have a job, house, health care, and a safe place to live. I can take in the beauty of the sunrise and sunset. I find joy in the small things - my dog wagging his tail, hearing my neighbors baby crying......
Ok, after all that - the pity party is over. The road is uphill, but I know we can make it. I'm going to "give a whistle".