For the past few days you may have noticed that our home phone has pretty much been constantly engaged, even when it was obviously not being used.
Saying that a phone is engaged is a polite way of saying it was 'busy' and has its origin in the country where English was invented. It does not mean that our phone has met another phone, gone out for dinner a few times, met the other phone's parents, learned to love the other phones flaws, earned their trust and asked them if they want to get married. Phones don't do that.
Anyway, we got it fixed. It's no longer engaged. Feel free to call at your pleasure.
Of course, it might not have been a problem at all and we'll find out that Miko and Cornflake had been using it to call their friends while we were out. As long as they weren't long distance calls...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
P.S. I Love You
DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE
At least, don't watch this movie while really tired when you can't sleep on a flight to Tokyo when you've just had a couple of G&Ts to help you go to sleep but you still can't and you have to find something to stop you getting completely bored and you've already watched all the other movies that remotely interest you.
Why? Because it will make you cry. Over and over and over again.
I repeat - DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE
At least, don't watch this movie while really tired when you can't sleep on a flight to Tokyo when you've just had a couple of G&Ts to help you go to sleep but you still can't and you have to find something to stop you getting completely bored and you've already watched all the other movies that remotely interest you.
Why? Because it will make you cry. Over and over and over again.
I repeat - DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Izzy's and Luce
We had the good fortune of attending the Luce gig at Little Fox Theatre, Redwood City last night with Letty and Jim.
We drove up together in the afternoon yesterday, stopped for Jamba Juice in Los Banos and checked in to the Fairfield Inn in San Carlos before heading to dinner at Izzy's Steaks and Chops where we discovered that they too are proponents of the joys of Stella Artois on tap.
From there we got a ride from our new friend Steve, the father-of-four tax driver, over to the theatre for another great performance from Tom Luce and co. It is truly amazing to me that they haven't achieved wider adoration - they remain the Bay Area's best kept secret. Order a copy of their CDs from Amazon/iTunes today!
We drove up together in the afternoon yesterday, stopped for Jamba Juice in Los Banos and checked in to the Fairfield Inn in San Carlos before heading to dinner at Izzy's Steaks and Chops where we discovered that they too are proponents of the joys of Stella Artois on tap.
From there we got a ride from our new friend Steve, the father-of-four tax driver, over to the theatre for another great performance from Tom Luce and co. It is truly amazing to me that they haven't achieved wider adoration - they remain the Bay Area's best kept secret. Order a copy of their CDs from Amazon/iTunes today!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Where's the respect?
I also wanted to share this - it appears that Michelle and Hanako conspired together to ensure that they were both on the same side when it came to the inevitable snowball fight.
Fortunately, I am both light on my feet and nimble enough to evade such meager attempts. Unfortunately (for them) I rarely forget such behavior.
Fortunately, I am both light on my feet and nimble enough to evade such meager attempts. Unfortunately (for them) I rarely forget such behavior.
Hanako's Coyote
We had a great weekend hosting Hanako here in Kingsburg last weekend.
Shortly after getting back to the house on Friday afternoon we headed into town for the usual excellent dinner at Jonathan's with Letty and Jim. Saturday involved a breakfast of strawberry waffle's and some relaxation before everyone came over for barbeque, Wii and Ladies-only discussions in the living room.
On Sunday we got up, headed to Ryan's Place in Visalia for breakfast and then drove up into the mountains to the Giant Forest to some tall trees and snow. We were incredibly lucky to miss the turn for the General Sherman tree (largest living thing on the planet) and take the next turn to turn around to encounter this guy just hanging out by the road. He obliged us by wandering around the car and checking us out for a bit so we could take pictures before heading off across the snow.
All in all (as Meleena would say) we had a great time. Hanako's favorite part? Meeting Miko and Cornflake, of course!
Shortly after getting back to the house on Friday afternoon we headed into town for the usual excellent dinner at Jonathan's with Letty and Jim. Saturday involved a breakfast of strawberry waffle's and some relaxation before everyone came over for barbeque, Wii and Ladies-only discussions in the living room.
On Sunday we got up, headed to Ryan's Place in Visalia for breakfast and then drove up into the mountains to the Giant Forest to some tall trees and snow. We were incredibly lucky to miss the turn for the General Sherman tree (largest living thing on the planet) and take the next turn to turn around to encounter this guy just hanging out by the road. He obliged us by wandering around the car and checking us out for a bit so we could take pictures before heading off across the snow.
All in all (as Meleena would say) we had a great time. Hanako's favorite part? Meeting Miko and Cornflake, of course!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Front Page News!
You won't believe it unless you read it yourself.
Click the image to see the article at full size.
Click the image to see the article at full size.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Japanese Weekend
As you will by now be aware, we are honored to be hosting Hanako Murao (Japan Product Manager and Backstreet Boys fan Extroardinaire!) in Kingsburg this weekend.
We are hosting a welcome party/barbeque/Meleena Q&A session from 4pm tomorrow (Saturday) and otherwise showing her what Central Valley life is all about for the remainder of her stay. Importantly, we will also be introducing her to Cornflake and Miko and seeing if she can help with the recent discipline/hunting issues that we have been experiencing.
Sayonara for now!
We are hosting a welcome party/barbeque/Meleena Q&A session from 4pm tomorrow (Saturday) and otherwise showing her what Central Valley life is all about for the remainder of her stay. Importantly, we will also be introducing her to Cornflake and Miko and seeing if she can help with the recent discipline/hunting issues that we have been experiencing.
Sayonara for now!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
London Bumpkin
Met up with Mum and Dad for dinner tonight and went to this restaurant for good, rustic English food. Dad and I each had the Chicken Hot Pot and Mum had Lamb - all of which was yummy. Perhaps we'll take future travelling companions there for a meal if we have enough time. www.bumpkinuk.com
I took Mum her not-available-over-the-counter-in-the-UK bottle of Melatonin and Dad got his Japanese birthday-card-that-had-been-sat-in-my-travel-case-for-7-weeks-since-just-before-his-birthday. Better late than never I say.
Before dinner I had spent a long day talking about next week's product launch, headed to Moss Bros. on Regent Street to try on the suite that Neil and Maya want me to wear at their wedding and then crossed over the road to Zizzi's (used to be the Virgin Megastore) on Piccadilly to spend a fortune on only-available-in-the-UK CDs.
Off to bed now as it's an early start for me in the morning.
Btw - I apologize for the extensive use of hyphens as a technique to exaggerate my prose. I can just hear Michelle curse my bad form when she reads this post. I-am-so-very-sorry-can't-seem-to-stop-even-though-I-know-I-should...
I took Mum her not-available-over-the-counter-in-the-UK bottle of Melatonin and Dad got his Japanese birthday-card-that-had-been-sat-in-my-travel-case-for-7-weeks-since-just-before-his-birthday. Better late than never I say.
Before dinner I had spent a long day talking about next week's product launch, headed to Moss Bros. on Regent Street to try on the suite that Neil and Maya want me to wear at their wedding and then crossed over the road to Zizzi's (used to be the Virgin Megastore) on Piccadilly to spend a fortune on only-available-in-the-UK CDs.
Off to bed now as it's an early start for me in the morning.
Btw - I apologize for the extensive use of hyphens as a technique to exaggerate my prose. I can just hear Michelle curse my bad form when she reads this post. I-am-so-very-sorry-can't-seem-to-stop-even-though-I-know-I-should...
Monday, April 7, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Serial Killers
I am sad to say that in the last 24 hours there have been two more avian murders on 12th Avenue. We woke up this morning with the perpetrators snuggling warmly against our legs as usual, only to find a corpse on the carpet by the patio doors. This was in addition to the fresh kill Cornflake proudly brought to my office yesterday afternoon while I was performing a telephone interview with a potential candidate. And in addition to the several hand-sized moths that have been carried in their mouths into the house for playing with in the past week.
We will be sitting them down later today and explaining that such actions are abuses of the cat-door privileges we gave them only last year.
UPDATE: Since my initial post earlier this morning we have made yet another gruesome discovery - a deceased bird is right now laying next to my shoes in our bedroom. That brings the tally in the last 24 hours to 3. And having cleared up the blood from the floor tiles near the kitchen from the first find this morning, we have since realized that there blood splattered up the wall in our family room and on the carpet. Something will have to be done.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Happy Birthday Meleena
Meleena is 12
Meleena is 12
Meleena says I can't have Chile Verde at her party tomorrow
Meleena is 12
Many Happy Returns, Meleena. Hope you have a great Birthday.
With Love From,
Nina and Nino
Cornflake and Miko
Meleena is 12
Meleena says I can't have Chile Verde at her party tomorrow
Meleena is 12
Many Happy Returns, Meleena. Hope you have a great Birthday.
With Love From,
Nina and Nino
Cornflake and Miko
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Happy Birthday Janie
We wanted to send you some official birthday wishes from UlloaSullivan.com along with a photo that you would be only too happy for the world to see.
Clearly I have found the perfect one. Don't be shy - that's just how you roll! :)
Many Happy Returns!
Clearly I have found the perfect one. Don't be shy - that's just how you roll! :)
Many Happy Returns!
Crystal Skull
Here's one of Jim's suggestions for an anniversary gift.
Oh, and in anticipation of the flood of suggestions we may receive from nieces and nephews once they get out of school today I've created a special category on the Flickr site for any suggestions.
The gates are open. Let the flooding begin.
Oh, and in anticipation of the flood of suggestions we may receive from nieces and nephews once they get out of school today I've created a special category on the Flickr site for any suggestions.
The gates are open. Let the flooding begin.
15th Anniversary
As many of you are aware, this week Michelle and I are celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary.
According to the research Michelle did the other day, the traditional gift for reaching such a milestone is something made of Crystal. The modern alternative is a watch.
I have to admit to not really knowing what to do with that information. Do you think Michelle was dropping hints about what she might like as a reward, I mean gift?
According to the research Michelle did the other day, the traditional gift for reaching such a milestone is something made of Crystal. The modern alternative is a watch.
I have to admit to not really knowing what to do with that information. Do you think Michelle was dropping hints about what she might like as a reward, I mean gift?