These three lively little ones had a great time at the Living Aquarium.

We chatted with a very nice guide who explained how the trout got its name and then asked the kids to use the same method to figure out their fish names. Here we have three very rare species, the Syracuse Freckles, the Syracuse Troublemaker, and the Syracuse Loosetooth.

Froggy-back ride anyone?

Penguins doing their penguiny things.

Up close and personal.

Out of the coral reef.

Hey, we found Nemo. He wasn't missing after all.

Then we had to cap off the evening with In n Out burgers! Great day, great night!

Little video of the penguins. No marching, but some cute swimming around.

Merci Beaucoup le Tour

An amazing tour is over. Thanks to the Schlecks, the Manx Missle, Spartacus, Thor, Tommy V, and of course Cadel. Also to the incredible superdomestiques: Big George, Marky Renshaw, TeJay Vangarderen, Jensie, oh I could go on forever. Condolences to Vino, and Capt. America. Better luck next year Dave, we will miss you Vino. Bye-Bye Bertie, may you ride off into some sunset somewhere in Spain and stay there.

Now what do I watch? Maybe I'll just turn it off until next July. :)

The Doldrums

doldrums — that band of motionless air around various equatorial regions, where sailboats caught in it may drift listlessly so long that it can take hours for spit in the water to drift away from the hull

—dol·drums   /ˈdoʊldrəmz, ˈdɒl-, ˈdɔl-/ Show Spelled [dohl-druhmz, dol-, dawl-] Show IPA

–noun ( used with a plural verb )

1. a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art: August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises.

2. the doldrums, a. a belt of calms and light baffling winds north of the equator between the northern and southern trade winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

b. the weather prevailing in this area. 3. a dull, listless mood

4. When the most productive thing you have done all afternoon is search for pictures of the torpor you are feeling.

Maybe it's the heat, or the redundancy of the day...maybe it's too much to do and lots of inertia...maybe it's indecision... whatever it is, I think it's starting to lift. Bring on the breeze, fill those sails, and let's get going.

Grady at the zoo

Grady at the zoo! My favorite is his "T-Rex face" and his tiger smile!

The baby elephant is adorable!

Thor...both of them.

Love the cyclist, love the movie, couldn't resist posting these.

The Hills Are Afire

Every few years the hill catches on fire, usually right around the 4th of July. I remember coming home one night in college and the whole thing up behind Plumb's house was blazing. Tonight it was the hill right behind the mortuary on 11th ave and across the street above it as it climbed the hill. I called 911, and they said the firefighters were on their way. As I watched, they arrived and it looked like they would knock it back pretty quickly. Naturally, I had to shoot some narrated video. Turn the volume off now if you don't want to listen to me play newscaster. :)

Some Smile-Makers

Because we are, that we might have joy...

Skatergirl and Waterslide Ruler! Ward/Neighborhood party at Classic last night. So much fun!

William's buddies and Kate's butterfly.

The peace roses in my front yard that smell amazing and managed to push through the thorny dead branches from the late freeze this freaky spring.

Lauren + carrots or sweet potatoes.

Kate, trying to get everyone's attention at once.

Wills, his tongue is a prerequisite these days.

Randy, with spandex on his head and stars in his eyes.

Kate + friends at Kelci's shower.

G-man showing off his moves and his soccer gear.

***SMILES***