The Talking Eds: May 2009

Improvements to the Movie Blog

I've made a couple of minor enhancements to my Middlebrow Movie Advisor blog. I've opened it up to comments from anyone, which only seems fair. I've also added an option through which you can suggest a movie for review. Recently I've seen and reviewed some pretty good movies--Doubt, Frost/Nixon, Last Chance Harvey, Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, and some more obscure stuff.

After After the Flood

We 're making progress on flood clean up. Shown here is the same spot you saw on the May 16 posting below. The water level is back to normal. You'll note the tree trunks and other debris are gone, pulled out with chains and a tractor, some cut up with a chain saw. What appears to be a picket fence suspended in mid-air or a large musical instrument in the foreground is actually a watergate (the real kind, not the political variety). It is comprised of pieces of PVC pipe strung on a wire so that water and hopefully tree branches will pass beneath but horses will not. Bonnie thinks it might also play "Happy Birthday" if the breeze catches it. Bonnie claims the design is hers.

Sarah Wins Oregon State Teaching Award

Sarah Eddy has won the 2009 Herbert F. Frolander Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant on the Oregon State campus. In addition to campus-wide recognition, the award includes a plaque and a check for $1000 to be presented at next fall's University Day events. We're proud that she has achieved this recognition.

Soccer update as of Sunday

Sunday evening Caleb and Michael's team won their 2nd tourney game and will play for the championship Tuesday nite. Say a prayer to the soccer gods!

After the Flood

Deputy: "It's a mess, ain't it Sheriff?"
Sheriff: "If it ain't, it'll do till a mess gets here."

from No Country for Old Men

For those of you who may think that spring is the idyllic time of year out here on the farm, I've posted a series of photos of the aftermath of some flooding we are having from a big rain last night. It's surprising how are little bucolic creek can turn into the Colorado River with about four inches of rain in a short period. Labradors being what they are (water-loving and stupid), both my dogs nearly drowned in the creek on my first inspection tour; I sneaked out the back door without them on my documenting tour.

I took these pictures to remind me, when Bonnie and I are a bit more decrepit, just why this farm life may get to be too much one day and we opt for a condo. The farm may prove to be no country for old men (or women). You can see the entire disaster tour here.

Soccer Update

I've posted some photos of today's soccer games with Ian, Caleb, and Michael (sorry, Tyler--next time). The wind was blowing at 30+ miles per hour, which made playing difficult and spectating chilly! Whenever I try to do this, my respect for real sports photographers grows. It's hard to get your camera pointed and ready to snap at the moment and place where the action is occurring. Fortunately, I'm more concerned with just getting a few good shots of our favorite players. You can see the photos here. By the way, with the win today Caleb and Michael's team continues to be undefeated.

Kokomo Bros website has Mark on banjo

If you go to the Kokomo Bros website, conveniently linked from the Talking Eds, there is a memorial statement about Mark, and two 30-second audio clips of his banjo playing. Pretty hot!