Picture Update

I have added captions and some descriptions to both the Plymouth Album and Ellis' Trip Album.

Enjoy!

Ellis' in Boston 2006

Just a few pictures the Ellis' took while we were in Boston (along the Freedom Trail) this weekend . Click on the below picture to view the entire album.

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I will add captions to all the pictures sometime this week.

Plymouth, MA

Today we went to the very historic town of Plymouth, MA. We visited the Plimouth (spelled correctly) Plantation where we learned about the Wampanoag Tribe as well as the English colonist. This was a 'live action' setting. The Native Americans were actual members of the Tribe. They were farming, cooking and building huts. The Colonist were actors, but kept in character. You had to communicate with the them in Old English dialect. They too were farming, sewing, and building. You could go into their homes and look around, ask questions. I met the govenor of Plymouth Plantation. You can imagine how surprised I was when I found his grave later in the day (see below)!

From here we went to the Mayflower II (replica) and toured it (complete with more colonist). Pretty amazing how cramped the living space was. It took about 62 days to sail from England to here.

We also saw the actual Plymouth Rock, which is of course where the pilgrims landed. This was a pretty cool experience. They have it 'caged' off because many people used to chip away pieces of it. It used to be three times larger. Still, it was very cool to see.

Finally we just walked around town (old graveyard with Revolution soldiers' tombstones, shops, shoreline, and dinner at a seafood resturant on the wharf..I had the Apple Salmon).

To see the album, just click on the picture below. For futrue reference, you can get to all the pictures in my album through the 'Photo Album' link on my side bar (I finally got the new Yahoo Photo Album up and running).


Sunday we are going to Cape Cod, so check back for more pics. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Soul Patrol Baby!

....... Taylor crushes 'Kat' in American Idol finale
(as illustrated in the below picture).
.......

Thank goodness.
I was seriously beginning to wonder if the show only produced female winners.

Evolution of Dance Video

"The Evolution of Dance"
Comedian Judson Laipply
(http://www.lifeischange.com/)

This is a hilarious video! You know I've never done you wrong with videos on here before, so click on the above picture to give it a watch. NOTE: the above website does not contain the video at this time. www.lifeischange.com is just the comedian's website. I give credit where credit is due.
As always, it will be added to the video section for future use.

Props to my sister for sending the video my way. For those keeping score, Amy now has 2 "Robert's Blog Material Props" and is currently in the lead. Want to earn a R.B.M.P.? Act now and send me funny material. If I think it is Robert's Land worthy, I'll post it and you will receive a 'props'!

Only 4 days left of Summer Blitz! Thanks for everyone's patience.

"Everything and a Kite" Part 1

The following features 2 excerpts from a book I enjoy reading over and over again. It's "Everything and a Kite" by Ray Romano. I know that not everybody really loves Raymond, but this book is great. Hope you enjoy. Also, I have posted a new poll so be sure to vote!
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Chapter 5: Married Guy
As much as I'm advocating affection and attention toward women, sometimes you have to cut us a little slack, sisterhood.

I mean, there are times when you have to be reasonable. When my wife and I go to bed, she tends to fall alseep right away. She's tired. I'm tired, too, but I like to stay up and read a little.

That bugs her.

She'll wake up, roll over...

"What are you doing?"
"I'm reading."
"I thought we were going to talk to each other."
"You fell asleep."
"So right away you gotta pick up a book?"

I don't even know where to beging with that one. She gets mad that I'm not focusing on her, even while she's sleeping. I guess my wife's vision of how life should be is that I pay attention to her at every waking moment, and when she falls asleep I sketch her.
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Chapter 7: The Baby

As your child gets older, the diaper stage takes on a whole different dynamic. If you've ever seen a kid poop in his diaper standing up, you know what I am talking about. If you ask me, it's why man invented the video camera.

It's quite a funny sight. And you can always tells when it's happening.

When everything's normal, they're running around the room at a hundred miles an hour. It's when you catch that sudden slowdown in the action that you know it's time to plug in the Handicam.

Suddenly, instead of running, they're walking. Then they're pacing, and finally they come to a complete stop. Just standing in one spot. Although in some instances you might be able to direct a slight rocking.

Then they get an odd look on their face. It's sort of a slight grimace with a "why me" in their eyes. The back arches a little. And then the dead giveaway, the shuffle behind the furniture.

If you see your diaper-clad child with that face on, wedged into a little nook and cranny somewhere behind the couch, it's go-time.

In some cases you might witness what I call "the Leaner." It's everything mentioned above, with a little extra strain in his face as he bends over slightly at the waist, putting one hand on the couch arm for support.

Never make eye contact with "the Leaner." He's like a pit bull, and if he sees you looking at him, you're going to get a face full of growl.

"ARRRRRRRRGH! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Oddly enough, as an adult, things really don't change that much. Sure, you probably don't have people watching you, but there's always some idiot knocking on the bathroom door. You still growl, only now it's: "I'M IN HERE!"
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"Everything and a Kite" by Ray Romano
Bantam Books
New York, NY
1998
All Rights Reserved.

Where's Waldo...errr Robert?

Just wanted to let those wondering why I haven't been posting, emailing or appearing online know that I have begun my "Summer Blitz" (mini-mester) and it is keeping me pretty busy. So no need to think I am ignoring you or no longer like you. I am just busy and I am lucky to even be posting this. Technically, I don't have the time to post this. I am just trying to head off the "I guess you hate me since you never talk to me anymore" emails. Because then I'd have to take time to answer those, just because I care.

Summer Blitz will be finished On May 19th. IF I have time during Blitz, I might try and type up some short excerpts from a book I read every year by Ray Romano ("Everything and a Kite") - just to keep you all smiling and coming back for more blog-lovin'.

Until then, keep on doing the kung fu hustle.

Interesting News Story

Found this story in the Boston Globe (by Andrea Estes). Thought I'd share some excerpts with you all:
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"After six minutes of debate and with no roll call vote, Boston city councilors approved 16.6 percent raises yesterday for themselves and the mayor.

The raises would increase the councilors' salaries from $75,000 a year to $87,500 and the mayor's annual pay from $150,000 to $175.000. Base pay for Massachusetts legislators is $55,570, with an additional $15,000 annually for those who chair legislative committees. The Massachusetts governor's salary is $135,000 annually.

''It's striking that city councilors are paid so much more than state legislators, who have much greater authority and responsibility," said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Of the mayor's raise, Widmer said, ''There's a clear inequity when the state's constitutional officers are paid so much less than the mayor of Boston."

[from Robert - the following is my favorite part!]

Councilors defended the action, saying they have not had raises since 2002 and complaining that they are forced to perform the politically awkward task of approving their own salary increases in public.

'Every four years, the City Council is put in the unenviable position of having to vote on compensation for the executive branch, the legislative branch, and top policy makers,' said Council President Michael F. Flaherty. 'Until a new mechanism is put in place, we'll probably have this same story in four years.'
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Man. I want to be a city council member.

"She's Hot", "Look Up in the Sky" and more!

........
First order of busniess: thanks to everyone one who participated in my last blog. I called on readers to help out with a fun little question and the response was AMAZING! So to the 2 who answered the question, I thank you. Yes, yes...you will say, "But Robert! There are a total of 4 comments posted!" Ah yes. Well kudos to the new visitor. I am excited about him stopping by, but said person didn't technically answer the question. And the other comment I posted after someone read it over my shoulder at school. He doesn't know he his opinion was made public.

Now, on to the good stuff. A few new additions to this old house. First up, if you turn on your speakers, you will hear some wonderful music courtesy of http://www.ksbj.org/ a Christian radio station out of Houston that Bryan introduced me to. I may switch back and forth from the contemporary music to the praise and worship. Just to keep things fresh and you crazy loyal fans on your toes. The music can be turned off or muted the normal way. Or, if you can't figure that out, just turn off your speakers.

Secondly, you may have noticed an odd addition to my side bar. This newly added section titled "Google Help" is supposed bring up useful information/links related to the conent of my blog. Just as a disclaimer, I don't pick out what links appear in this section. Sooo the views expressed may not neccessarily be the views of Robert's (New) Land.

Speaking of Google, if you scroll all the way to the bottom of my blog you will find a blog search space. Type it whatever you are needing to search for and press enter. Google...good stuff.

Thirdly, I have added yet another new topic to my side bar titled "Celiac Disease Information". This is a illness I am affected with as are numerous people across the U.S. I just thought I'd help spread the 'knowledge' so other people can be in the know.

I am still working on "Christianity Essentials". I haven't had much time to review sites and I don't just want to add any old thing to this section. Look for more there after my summer session ends on May 19. Same for the Photo Album.

Fourthly, there are 2 new clips in the video section. One is from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this past weekend. If you haven't heard about it, President Bush was a great sport and brought along a look alike who stole the show. Follow the link titled "Will the Real President Please Stand Up" and then select 'Launch' by the picture.

The other clip is my favorite. This clip is justification for a lot of my blogs praising a certian upcoming movie. "Superman Returns" released its official trailer today and it is truely impressive and outstanding. Any doubts I had concerning the new movie were obliterated. This is not the same teaser trailer that came out a few months back. This is the one that will be playing with "Mission Impossible 3" and other movies. This trailer is around 2 mins long so be sure to give it a quick viewing, you won't be wasting your time. It is under the clips section with the obvious title "Official Superman Returns trailer".

And finally the really big news. Superman won't be the only one returning this year. We will be making our return to the Lone Star State in November! Of course, as is true with any trip, we need money to get back. So here is my proposal-if you are wanting to see us in November, send money. However much money you send, that is how much time I will spend with you. $5 gets you 5 minutes. This isn't a group deal either. You want to see both of us then that is two payments. You should probably consider that I will start the timer when I get into the car to drive to wherever. If you are 10 minutes away and payed only $5, well then I turn around halfway there.


Just kidding. Unless you would really do it... :)

Gotta get back to studying for finals. Keep it real.