Another blog... train-wreck funny...

Every once in a while you trip across a little diamond-in-the-rough as you surf the Internet. Right?

Well, in this case, I didn't trip across it, it is not a diamond, and I didn't even find it. John did.

Check out the funniest online cookbook I have ever read. I just realized that I have been missing out on the whole casserole craze. And how easy they are to make.

And take a peek at the rest of her blog, if you really need some entertainment.

P Graduates!

IMG_0634.JPG
Originally uploaded by LangFamily

P made it through his first year at Daycare. This year at the Graduation party, they brought in the reptile man. And was P ever impressed!

Here he is giving a special P back rub to a tortoise.

New York to London on Google Maps

1. go to www.google.com
2. click on "maps"
3. click on "get directions"
4. type "New York" in the first box (the "from" box)
5. type "London" in the second box (the "to" box)
6. click on "get directions"
7. scroll down to step #23

Buffalo playoffs

Photo_041207_047
Originally uploaded by LangFamily

You never really appreciate how fast the game is until you are at ice level. Peter, our goalie from Wednesday nights, sold me some seats to one of the Buffalo vs. NYI playoff games last season, and we were one row up from the glass. Talk about a fast game! And we got to see it from the goalie's perspective, which was different for a change.

Rob and I went, and had a great time. We went to the local Buffalo watering hole before the game and hung out with a few hundred Sabres fans, then ran over to the arena to catch the national anthems.

Best part might have been when an errant slapshot hit the glass a few inches from our heads. Nothing wakes you up better than a puck hitting another object at a hundred miles an hour.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

...summarized from the book by Dale Carnegie (written in 1936).

Fundamental Techniques in Handling People:

* "Don't criticize, condemn or complain."
* "Give people a feeling of importance; praise the good parts of them."
* "Get the other person to want to do what you want them to by arousing their desires."


Six Ways to Make People Like You:

* "Become genuinely interested in other people."
* "Smile."
* "Remember that a man's name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language."
* "Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves."
* "Talk in the terms of the other man's interest."
* "Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely."


Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking:

* "Avoid arguments."
* "Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never tell someone they are wrong."
* "If you're wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically."
* "Begin in a friendly way."
* "Start with questions the other person will answer yes to."
* "Let the other person do the talking."
* "Let the other person feel the idea is his/hers."
* "Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view."
* "Sympathize with the other person."
* "Appeal to noble motives."
* "Dramatize your ideas."
* "Throw down a challenge."

Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment:

* "Begin with praise and honest appreciation."a
* "Call attention to other people's mistakes indirectly."
* "Talk about your own mistakes first."
* "Ask questions instead of giving direct orders."
* "Let the other person save face."
* "Praise every improvement."
* "Give them a fine reputation to live up to."
* "Encourage them by making their faults seem easy to correct."
* "Make the other person happy about doing what you suggest."

The Big Skating Show

Photo_032207_019
Originally uploaded by LangFamily

Every two years, at the end of the skating season, the Flamborough Skating Club puts on a gala event that gives all of the kids from the club a chance to skate in a show in front of their parents and invited guests.

N happened to be a member last year, and he was part of the skaters from the England team. Here they are getting dressed for the show pictures. It was quite an event, with lots of rented equipment and a production team made up of Club instructors and volunteer parents. I ran one of the spotlights for the show.

Carmel California visit

Photo_031407_030
Originally uploaded by LangFamily

For me, one of the more interesting places in California is Carmel-by-the-sea. Originally an artist colony, Carmel is a quiet town on Monterrey Bay that is a fantastic vacation destination. There are a series of ordinances that prevent extensive redevelopment, and maintain the feeling of Carmel as a reclusive retreat. That, and the rather high property values, manage to keep the town exclusive to a more refined segment of the population (politically correct?).

I had the chance to visit Penny and Allen when they rented a summer house there earlier in the year, and this is a picture of us on the beach.

Granpa's bird feeder

DSC02119.JPG
Originally uploaded by LangFamily

P and N really seem to enjoy learning about nature things, which must be something that they get from their mother. I don't remember finding nature that interesting until later in life.

Here they are learning how to fill the bird feeder at Grandpa Lang's house. I think they look at it similar to fishing - here is how to build a bait trap for the birds. At least that is how Nicholas explained it to me.

The Culture: T minus two days

John has been blogging about his upcoming trip to China. Even though it is a business trip, I bet he will have a great time. Read more about China and 'sleeve fish' at The Culture: T minus two days.

What to do in the Summer?

After a lot of conversation, introspection, inspection, etc. we as a family have decided on something. We want to enjoy our summer. And that is going to include some vacationing.

I know that sounds almost ridiculous, especially since our kids are so young, but the point is that we are ready to branch out and get adventurous. We have been to the Carribbean, been to Florida, and have even bumped around closer to home a bit. But we have not travelled in one of these:



Now I know it may sound strange, but camping is not actually off-limits for me. Sure, I get harrassed by bugs on all of these trips. And I don't get enough sleep. And I am usually more tired when we get back from a camping trip than when we left.

But it may be a different experience for us now that we have 3 small children, who are very interested in exploring the world. And, while we have tented with them, and hoteled with them, we have not "trailored" with them (shout out to Melissa).

So, here we go. We started looking at tent trailers like this:



Basically a box on wheels, with a hard top and bottom, and tent material around the outside. Inexpensive and light. Unfortunately, no bathroom or shower. Really just a place to sleep, or keep out of the rain. And of course, tent material on the outside.

So, we took a look at Hybrids, also called Expandables, that look like this:



(Trailer may not be exactly as shown, Happy Family not included.)

And this time, while there is a full bathroom in some of these, and real beds (for really short people), there is still that tent material around the bunks. In fact, they fold up for travel, and fold out for camping. So, we are still not where we want to be.

Then we found this:



Wow. Rock Star trailer. It is a 2007 Starcraft StarStream 19RB. I think we might have a winner. Loaded out, and looks good too.

To satisfy our primary requirement, I think we can take the StarStream here:



And we can take it to sporting events, too. I hope the kids learn to like tailgating.

Tell us what you think.