Catalina Dreamin'

Some Catalina pics over the years.

The walk over to the Casino.

Indiana Will

Walk near the Docks

Avalon Bay

Center of town

Casino mural

Avalon

Via Casino

House Filk 7-23-11

Some pics from the house filk this past weekend.

Don't know the fellow on the left, then Will, Jesse, Steph, Barry.

Will and Steph.

On the couch: Barry, Lee, our host and hostess.  Will & Steph in foreground.

Bill, Jesse.

Will, Jesse, Steph.

Will, Jesse, Steph.

Upstairs Kitchen Nook - the Galley

The kitchen nook is coming together upstairs at Schuyler House.  A microwave will go on the shelf.  A fridge will go to the right of the sink under the counter.  The counter is being tiled.

Bill and Jan are working on the tiling.

Jan marks the tiles and Bill cuts them on the tile saw outside in the parking lot.

A good evening's work.  Tiles cut and placed, awaiting thin set and then grout.  But that's a task for another day.

The backsplash.

Bill admires his (and Jan's) handiwork.

 Kurt in the stairwell.  Placement of galley.  (I wanted a pic of his t-shirt.)  ;->

I wanted a pic of his t-shirt:  rock-paper-scizzors have it out.  ;->

Ta-DA!

Here's the Jeep Grand Cherokee we just bought.  It's a 2001 and it's been around the block a few times, but it's new to us.  8-]

BIL unConference on the Queen Mary

We had a great time this weekend attending the BIL unConference, held this year on the Queen Mary.  Smallish -- 300 or so uber geeks.  The brainwaves were palpable.

BIL is an unofficial conference patterned after the more famous TED Talks.  In fact they shadow the TED Talks, held nearby in time and space to take advantage of the opportunity to rub elbows with attendees.  Don't know how much of that went on this year (we didn't stay for the after-after parties), but frankly BIL was smart enough for me.  ;- j

Some sample programs:

The Upgraded Self: Why Biohacking Changes Everything
UX Rocks: How to design awesome mobile apps and rock the world
Balls Over Brains - The World Favors The Bold
Immigrant gene and its role in American Success
Technoactivism 101: Building a Biohackerspace
Uncommon Ancestors -- really funny
Where's my Robot?
Psychological Survival Strategies for the Zombie Apocalypse (that will improve your life today)

The "basement" of the Queen Mary, no doubt the original boiler room.

Lunchtime gatherings.

A kewl steampunky hat.

Looking down from the top level.

Will & Steph exploring the ship.

Bill in the shop arcade level.

Me spinning.

Souplantation supplied lunch.

Ran into Peter Voss.

Looking up at a giant wheel in the ceiling.  Perhaps it had something to do with the boilers.

Bill found a hatch.

Chit-chat between talks.

Relaxing in the Observation Lounge.

Looking down a stairwell.

First & Second Birthday

So I got a new camera for my b'day.  8-]

Took some pics at Mom Can Cook (before we found the red eye feature).

Hippo birdie 2 meme.  8-]  Some serious red eye.

Will and Julie (who isn't keen on pics).

Will and Steph.  Will has serious red eye too.  He and I have large pupils.

Bill and Steph.

Caught Julie this time.

Second b'day -- dinner, cake and story time:

Will finished reading Name of the Wind.

Bill lounging during story time.

Steph knitting.

Ellen with tea.

Freya doesn't appreciate the new camera.  It may take care of red eye now, but it doesn't do a thing for blue eye.  ;-j  Loki is around somewhere.

Steph's Cottage