Looking at the Sky on Friday
In the meantime, enjoy the sun setting in my front yard through the fall foliage.
- For information on Looking at the Sky on Friday, including graphics click here.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
In the meantime, enjoy the sun setting in my front yard through the fall foliage.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Spam Sandwich Anyone?!?!
Unfortunately I have been bombarded with Spam as of late. Since the spammers leave their comments anonymously I cannot trace where they are coming from. I have sent e-mails to some of the companies that the spam is representing asking them for their cooperation in the matter. This leaves me no choice but to turn on comment moderation. I have chosen to do this so that only the older posts are moderated because that seemed to be where they were going. Until the spam subsides I will keep this option on. To my loyal readers and commenters, please accept my apologies for moderating your wonderful and appreciated comments. Like the old saying goes, "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch".
Fun With Balloons!
Some people might call it sappy and sweet while others could call it sappy and disgusting, but I found the latest creation from Disney Pixar, UP to be wonderfully funny. I could relate so much to the characters in the movie. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 10 years and I cannot imagine living my life without him. While watching this movie, I will be the first to admit that I did get a little misty eyed and NO, it's not the first Disney movie to make me cry. I'm a complete and total wreck when it comes to watching movies and even television shows because I tend to relate to much to the characters and put myself in their shoes. But, I digress. If you didn't get the opportunity to go watch Up on the big screen in Digital 3-D then you'll just have to settle for a regular showing of this beautifully animated masterpiece!
After a minor altercation with the construction crew who is building a strip mall where his neighborhood used to be, Carl Fredricksen is being forced into a retirement home. The 78 year old retired balloon salesmen decides to take matters into his own hands to avoid this inevitable disaster by tying thousands of balloons to his house and "floating" Up Up and away to his dream disaster in South America. Unfortunately, Carl has a stowaway who just so happens to be a very annoying 8 year old "Wilderness Scout" who is trying to get a badge for helping an old person. This movie had me crying and laughing all the way through. There are some very interesting characters in this film, including Carl's house which becomes a very "BIG" part of the movie as well as Dug, the talking..."Squirrel"...(oh sorry) dog as well as Kevin, a large flightless bird.
If you're looking for stocking stuffer ideas, this would be a great one. It's available now on Disney DVD and Blue Ray with TONS of bonus features including two shorts, Dug's Special Mission, and the Many Endings of Munz as well as Adventure is out there, a documentary telling the film makers trek to South America for film research.
Now for some Balloon Science Fun:
It’s a tricky question and an even trickier answer because there are so many variables to consider. For instance:
• How big are the balloons?
• How heavy is the object?
• How quickly to do you want the object to rise Up?
We have come Up with a general formula you can use to figure out how many balloons it would take to lift... well, just about anything!
• Helium has a lifting force of about 1 gram per liter.
• An average size party balloon is approximately 30cm (one foot) in diameter.
• It can hold approximately 14 liters.
• That’s 14 grams of lift power per balloon.
• Estimate and subtract the weight of the string and the latex balloon.
• Formula: 1 balloon = 10 grams of lift power.
How Many Balloons Would It Take To Lift:
Disney • Pixar’s Up Blu-ray™Combo Pack?
At approximately 227 grams (or 0.5 lbs) in weight, it requires approximately 22 balloons to send the movie Up, up and away!
A Blu-ray Disc™ Player?
Most models weigh just over 2 kg (4.5 lbs.) which requires 200 balloons to add a whole new meaning to Blu-ray™ “high definition.”
Your Neighbor’s Dog?
A happy Labrador Retriever dog weighs in at about 32 kg (70 lbs). It would take approximately 3200 balloons to lift this furry friend off the ground.
Fun Fact: The voice of Dug (the Dog) in the movie Up is actually the voice of Co-Director / Screenwriter, Bob Peterson.
A Bicycle?
The average bicycle weighs approximately 19 kilograms (or 42 lbs). You will need approximately 1,900 balloons
to turn a 2-wheeler into an air-bike.
Fun Fact: Before the Wright Brothers built their first flying airplane in 1903, they operated a small bicycle repair shop.
A Sumo Wrestler?
The average weight of a Sumo wrestler is approximately 148 kg (or 326 lbs). That means it would take about 148,000 balloons to send this guy Up.
Fun Fact: Sumo wrestling was established as a national sport in 1909.
A Small House?
This figure can vary in terms of quantity of balloons given the size and scale of the house. Let’s say the house in Disney/Pixar ’s movie Up weighed about 46,000 kg (that’s 101,413 lbs). That means it takes approximately 4,600,000 balloons to send Carl's home Up and away!
Fun Fact: Nearly 70 animators worked on the movie Up during peak production.
* I received a review copy of this DVD in exchange for my opinion of the movie. No other form of compensation has been received and the opinions stated above are my own. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Looking at the Sky on Friday
Fun Times!
- For information on Looking at the Sky on Friday, including graphics click here.
Thank you for the Birthday Wishes!!!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Looking at the Sky on Friday
I am so glad to see fall. Last month, here in Arkansas (USA) we experienced unseasonably cooler temperatures along with lots and lots of rain. This month, when it usually starts turning colder, we've had unseasonably warmer temperatures! The leaves have all changed and most of them are on the ground now. But, the sun is still out and it's warm and muggy here. In fact, the mosquitoes are still out and biting, one taking most of my blood and human growth hormone as I was shooting this shot! How's the weather at your place? What are the skies looking like? Thanks to everyone for playing along with LASTSOF. - For information on Looking at the Sky on Friday, including graphics click here.
Don't forget to comment after you sign McLinky!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
My New Assistant
As you can tell she is busy fielding phone calls for me as I blog. Yes, that is a computer mouse that she is using. But, please keep in mind that she is still in training. I had to go pick up baby Emily from daycare today when she began to run a 101° temperature. Monday night she fell asleep at her normal bed time but woke up as I was going to bed. I got up with her and we did not go back to sleep until around 2:30AM. She was very fussy and I was unable to console her no matter what I tried. I think she only fell asleep when she did out of sheer exhaustion! Of course I woke up late Tuesday morning. Fortunately I was able to get everyone up, dressed, and out the door in time and no one was late. Yes, I am just THAT good. ;)
She seemed to be feeling better yesterday. She did sleep a lot, but I would have too if I could have! Today when I got the phone call, I figured I might as well go ahead and take her to the doctor. When he looked in her ear he said, "YUCK". Obviously her ears are both infected. In fact the doctor said that it was quite possible that with all of the pressure that she is experiencing they may rupture. He told me, "not to freak out" if I see blood tinged puss leaking from her ear. Ummm...yeah, not gonna happen! Hopefully she won't experience this and the 10 day antibiotic will heal her quickly and completely! As it stands now we may be looking at getting tubes in her ears in the near future.
Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs Now Available on DVD
Scrat is still trying to get that nut, but this time finds a love interest along the way, or is she competition for his elusive acorn?! Ellie and Manni are expecting their first child while Sid the Sloth comes across some dinosaur eggs and decides to keep the hatchlings for himself. While trying to rescue Sid from the underworld of Dinosaurs, Manny and the gang meet new friends like Buck, the one eyed dino-hunter along the way and experience adventure like no other. This movie is a must see and I am certain that if you've not purchased it already it will be on your kids' Christmas lists this year!
* I received a review copy of this DVD in exchange for my opinion of the movie. No other form of compensation has been received and the opinions stated above are my own. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Yard Work With Style!
Yesterday was mostly a lazy day. The great white hunters came back empty handed. I can't imagine why my husband and four year old son couldn't get a deer! Actually Brien said that Tyler did pretty good in the stand. He played Shelby's Nintendo DS game which I thought was a brilliant idea but Brien realized other wise when Tyler would play and shout excitedly when he would get a blue ribbon on the game. Oooops, well it was a perfect idea in theory.
Brien came home and did some yard work blowing leaves:
and kids. :)
Emily did her part by babysitting:
Tyler and Oscar made sure the leaves stayed in one big pile:
(Yeah Right!)
Shelby added her own sense of style to the yard work:
Shelby added her own sense of style to the yard work:
Can you tell she dressed herself?
Right down to the bows she added to her boots.
All in all it was a great day and after a hard day's play work then what could be better than a cool, refreshing treat.
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