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| VacaChat News | Vriends News | Zorro's Corner | Recommended Watching | Fun Stuff | Newsletter Archives |
Vaca Shopping |
May 29, 2016
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| Broadcast Schedule | Channel Links | Important News |
| Today!!! Sunday, May 29, 2016 |
| 3 PM PST/6 PM EST |
| No Story Writing! We'll write again on June 5. |
| 6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
| No VacaChat Broadcast. The chatroom will be open at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST; 8:00 PM CST) |
| Upcoming!!! Sunday, June 5, 2016 |
| 3 PM PST/6 PM EST |
| Story Writing! Join us for all the "behind-the-scenes" fun as we write the new story! |
| 6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
| VacaChat Broadcast. Time for more fun, frivolity, festivity, and fervent activity! |
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| Channel Links |
| The pop-out chat link no longer uses the old style chat.
However, it is still a nice way to save on memory and be able to refresh
without losing both chat and video. The easiest way to do this is to open the pop-out chat in a browser window. Log in. (Type a period in the chat line—hit enter. This will open the login screen.) Size this chat window to equal about 1/3 of your desktop space. Then open a new window or tab (Ctrl-T or Ctrl-N in most browsers) and use it to open the pop-out video. If you opened a new tab, you can then click on the tab and drag it to an open space on your desktop. Size it to about 2/3 of your desktop space beside the chat. Now you have both open and can refresh one without disturbing the other. You can resize either without resizing the other. I hope this helps. |
| VacaChannel |
| http://www.ustream.tv/channel/vacadude |
| Pop-Out |
| If you want to view the chat or video in pop-out screens, use the links below. Some find that this places less stress on their computer and/or its memory. |
| Video: http://www.ustream.tv/channel-popup/vacadude |
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| If you use the pop-out links, it is recommended that you open two browser windows. That way, if one needs to be refreshed, the other is not affected. |
| Our Furred, Feathered, and Scaled Babies |
| We will soon have a new feature on the VacaNews
website. Send us pictures of you and your pets. We'll have a page
featuring all our animal family members. Send them to
vacachatb@gmail.com. Make sure
you include your chat name and your pet's name. You can also include
your real name and location if you want to. I've only gotten photos from a few people. (The new page will be posted soon—just waiting on some graphics from TheDude.) Surely more chatters have pets that they'd like to show to the world! |
| It's ACTUALLY Happened |
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The 5th Anniversary International MOD Meet!!! Yes, photos have actually been posted!!! |
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Click on the title above to see the entire Laughing Outside the Box 2015 series. |
| VacaChat Broadcast Changes |
| Look here for any changes to upcoming broadcasts. |
| On Sunday evening, September 20th, Vaca hopes to broadcast either a recording of his Skype visit with the MOD meet or a brief chat about the MOD meet. |
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| A Note from the Dude | Chatter News |
Prayer Requests |
Vaca Blog |
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| Hello Vriends, | ||
|
I hope everybody is safe with all this weather--hurricanes in
the Carolinas, and flooding in the Lone Star state. Looks like
this summer is likely going to be eventful.
Things have been pretty quiet around here, though the downtown area of Vacaville is bustling. The Fiesta Days celebrations are going on right now, so Andrews Park (about a quarter of a mile from here) is full of carnival rides and junk food--I was thinking I might head over there a little later and check it out. I've never been quite sure what the Fiesta Days is supposed to signify, but they have it every year here on Memorial Weekend. SpaceX has done it again--a couple of days ago they deployed another satellite and landed the first stage of the rocket back on their drone/barge. I'm beginning to think they have really got that system figured out! I still love watching the space launches. Oh, and speaking of space--a number of people have been asking me if I have been out taking pictures of Mars--since it is currently as close to Earth as it has been in over a decade. Unfortunately I have not, as my telescope is currently a work-in-progress. Even when Mars is near, it never shows up as much more than a reddish dot in my photographs. So I have not really bothered so far. Perhaps the next time it gets this close I will have a bigger telescope and a tracking system that works. Mary and I are planning to step out in a bit and go try to pick up a couple of items for the household--to take advantage of the holiday sales. We're hoping to get a ladder and a chainsaw. We want to demolish the wooden deck in the backyard. It is barely still standing--I think the wisteria plants are the only thing holding it up at this point! Speaking of which, I think we are about to head out. I'm hoping to convince her to go with me to the Rock Shop as well--I don't know if we'll have time for that, as they close at 4pm. So I hope everybody has a good remainder to your holiday, and be sure to remember the fallen! |
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| Cheers, VacaDude | ||
| Sharoot | Sharoot's featured pictures can be found
at the end of each newsletter, under Photos of the
Week. She says that since they are located at the end, then "Sharoot's
the Caboose!" Today we have photos from Vegas. |
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| Elsalynda | Elsalynda's latest column entitled Nature in the
City: Wildlife Thrives in Chill Spring Winds, is available online here: http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/article/20160513/NEWS/160518368 |
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| Littleguys | We received this from Littleguys: For those of you that only know me via the internet, or have not seen me in years and years....I am the one in the turquoise blouse. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Residents-Donate-Artifacts-for-Cedar-Fire-Monument-314003781.html | ||
| We'd love to include more news of VacaChatters. If you have something you'd like to share (something about you or your family) or if you know of exciting news about another chatter that they're just too shy to share, please send it to us! (We won’t run it without that chatter’s permission, however.) | |||
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| Jes | Jes has requested prayers. She has lost a close friend and is also facing some rather daunting medical tests and procedures. She is, of course, worried and stressed, and in need of all our prayers and healing vibes. | ||
| KSBorn |
KSBorn has sent us an update. She writes, "I’m still in the midst of
chemo and hormone blocker every day. In 2008 I had breast cancer and it
returned July 2014 same breast cancer in my lung now and 2 lymph nodes
positive. I’m getting ready to have a surgery to get a port. I will
probably be on chemo for life. I have numerous tests monthly. Thank you so much for the prayers and please continue." |
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| Marilyn Crabb | UPDATE:
Hi! I survived six months of chemotherapy. I'll have my breast
tumor and left axillary nodes removed on Friday, Feb. 13. Radiation will
be next. Please pray that the surgeon does a good job and all my cancer
is removed! My screen name was/is MarilynLA on UStream. (Marilyn from Los Angeles) |
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| Littleguys | UPDATE: (as of
10/25/2015)
Amazing what an injection in the right place can accomplish! My back
started really hurting over two years ago, to the point I couldn't
show my horses "in hand" when I would have to walk beside them, etc,
and it was painful to lean over to harness them. I was diagnosed
with sciatica, meaning the hole in the vertebrae where the sciatic
nerve leaves the spine to go to the left leg was filling up with
arthritis.
But the doctors wouldn't fix it in 2014 because the Stage Zero
Breast Cancer was more important. In 2015, cancer free, it was
time to fix the back. I did get that injection for the sciatica
last summer, and some relief, but that doctor told me something
no other doctor had told me. Half of the pain I was experiencing
as I walked, stood, etc was due to the sacroiliac joint where
the spine meets the left side of the pelvis. Got a shot, well,
three right in that joint Thursday and cannot believe how much
better it is to walk and stand. Why couldn't they do that two
years ago??? Not a magic wand, but so much better,
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| Elsalynda | (as of 3/27) Keep Elsalynda in your prayers. Elsa was recently in Mexico and had a great time until she was hospitalized there! Keep her in your prayers for continued good health for herself and her bird Nupi. | ||
| GentleDoe | Latest update from GentleDoe (as of 1/10).
GentleDoe gives us much more information on her situation and
struggles. To read her entire post, click
here.
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| Shari in Memphis | UPDATE!!!
We heard from Shari recently. She is now on the VacaNews mailing list,
so we'll be able to keep in touch with her more easily. She tells us,
"Hi guys! Shari in Memphis is alive. I've been having tons of health
problems, so that's tons of doc appointments! I have moved to northern
Arkansas, for health reasons, and looking forward to hub moving up here
in a couple of years, when he retires. It's gorgeous in the country, and
I love that we were able to find a place on a stream. Lots of wild
animals around! I miss you all. Shari (no longer in Memphis) (Shari Sides on FB)" |
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| Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts for owl our wonderful VacaFamily members! If you have any prayer requests, updates or news of answered prayers, please let us know. Email us with the information so it can be included in the next newsletter. | |||
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Check out VacaDude's blog! Don't forget to send VacaDude your comments to let him know how much you appreciate him, his time & his talent! (No recent updates) |
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| http://vacadude.wordpress.com/ | ||
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| Vaca YouTube | ||
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Be sure to check out the Dude's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/splinesmith/videos NEW VIDEOS ADDED!!! |
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| A Message From Zorro | StoryTime News | Recipe of the Week |
| Hello there, Everbuddy! | ||
|
It's Zorro here, and I am smelling corn dogs!! No, I
don't mean I am smelling like a corn dog--I mean I can
smell them now. That is because the carnival is in
Vacaville! I am trying to convince the Dude to take me
over there. Either that, or just give me his debit card
so that I can go over there and pig-out on all the yummy
junk food.
I would like to ride some rides too, but he would have to take me on those. I just about guarantee that I am shorter than all the minimum height requirements they have on those rides. Though I don't know--we went on the Ferris Wheel at the Dixon May Fair, and that was SKEEEERY! I didn't know we were going to be going up that high. I guess I am still a little afraid of heights--it probably stems back to the time McGee picked me up and we flew waaaay up into the sky. I don't have particularly fond memories of that night... Well, I hope you have a great weekend, and get to have some yummy BBQ'd foods! See you next weekend at the StoryTime! |
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| Yours Most Whiskerly, Zorro |
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| Next StoryTime | Sunday, June 5 3:00 PM PST/6:00 PM EST |
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| Title | TBA | ||
| Invitation | We REALLY need story writers! Please consider dropping in and checking out the fun we have writing the stories. Honestly, it's not at all difficult to join in and you'll surely be glad you did. | ||
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If anyone wants to request a recipe or a recipe category, just email me.
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Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole |
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| Ingredients: | |||
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1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets 1 cup whole milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons flour 2 teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese 2 tablespoons grated parmesan 1 tablespoon minced parsley, optional
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| Directions: | |||
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Fill a large pot with water, place over heat, and
bring to a boil. Boil the cauliflower florets for 5 minutes, until they
have slightly softened. In the meantime, preheat your oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, add the milk
and the egg, and whisk. Add the flour, salt, black pepper and 1 cup of
mozzarella to the mixture and continue whisking.
Finally, stir in all the cauliflower. Pour the whole mixture into a 7x11" casserole dish
and top it off with the remaining mozzarella. Place the dish on a rack
placed in the upper half of the oven. Cook for 25 minutes, until the top
is golden brown and bubbling. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parmesan and
parsley before serving. |
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Velvet Pork Chops |
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| Ingredients: | |||
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4 boneless pork chops |
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| Directions: | |||
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Melt butter in large skillet over medium high heat. Add pork chops
and salt and pepper tops of them. Cook until browned, then flip and salt
and pepper again. Continue cooking until opposite side is brown. Pour in chicken broth, reduce heat to medium, and cook until broth is mostly evaporated, about ten minutes. Once broth has cooked down, remove chops from pan and turn off heat but leave pan on the stove eye. Have a wooden spoon handy and pour the cream into pan. Immediately start stirring and continue until the pan remnants are fully blended in with the cream and cream is warm and thick, just a few minutes. Serve chops with delicious cream sauce spooned over them. |
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| Owl Cams | Other Bird Cams | Other Nature Cams | Video Picks of the Week | Inspiration |
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| Puffins | |||||
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Shetland Islands Puffins | http://www.shetland.org/puffincam/ | |||
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Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam | |||
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Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam These pages also contain links to numerous other nature cams. |
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| Eagles | |||||
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Southwest Florida Eagles
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi6DdvVbbi8 | |||
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Black Eagle |
http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam |
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Decorah Eagles |
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles | |||
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Berry College Eagle Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/berry-eagle-cam | |||
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http://www.pixcontroller.com/eagles/index.htm | ||||
| Peregrine Falcons | |||||
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PA Falcon Cam |
http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp | |||
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Commerce Tower Peregrines |
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras/peregrine-falcon-web-camera Cam not live now but should be returning soon. |
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Pitt Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam1 | |||
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Gulf Tower Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam2 | |||
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Emily
Falcon Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emily-falcon-cam | |||
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RFalconCam |
http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/ | |||
| Talking Birds | |||||
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Watch the Birdie |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Watch-the-Birdie | |||
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Disco |
https://www.youtube.com/user/MsJumpinJude/videos | |||
| Other Birds | |||||
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Hummingbird University of Arizona |
Marmou (Marilyn) sent this from her new home town in Arizona. This
little lady built a nest on the end of a data cable for a future
wireless access point. http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/webcam/ENR2_HummingBird.aspx |
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California Condor San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego, California |
http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/cams/condor-cam | |||
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KC Zoo Penguin Cam |
http://www.kansascityzoo.org/penguincam |
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Whidbey Island Back Porch other assorted birds |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/katersch | |||
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Hellgate Ospreys |
http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/27/Hellgate_Ospreys/ | |||
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Ostrich Chicks |
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http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ostrich-egg-cam-live | ||
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Streaming Bird Cams |
http://www.beakspeak.com/ | |||
| Pandas | |||||
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San Diego Zoo Pandas |
www.sandiegozoo.org (click
on live cams)
or
http://www.ustream.tv/sandiegozoo. Zoo's
blogs: http://blognew.sandiegozoo.org/category/animals-and-plants/giant-pandas/ |
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Twin Pandas at |
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Giant Panda Cam |
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/giant-panda.cfm | |||
| Bears | |||||
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Kansas City Polar Bears |
http://www.kctv5.com/category/244581/nikita-berlin-polar-bear-cam | |||
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Brown Bears and Salmon |
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls (lots of other cams at this site, as well) |
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Black Bears |
http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/holly-bears-den-cam-live.html | |||
| Other Animal and Nature Sites | |||||
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Golden Paw-Prints Classic Golden Retrievers Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/golden-retriever-puppy-cam Eight—yes, EIGHT!!—new puppies! |
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San Diego Zoo and Safari Park |
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/ | |||
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Wild Earth Safari Cam | http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildearth-safaris | |||
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The Pet Collective |
http://www.thepetcollective.tv/livestreams/ | |||
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Critter Chat Cams |
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Friends of Felines Rescue
Center |
www.ustream.tv/ffrc | |||
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Little House |
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CC's Page of Links (scheduled for updating) |
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| Other Sites of Interest | |||||
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Fascinating Information about the Jeweled City | ||||
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John has talked about the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition
(PPIE). Tzunamie found us this link: |
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| http://home.comcast.net/~sgsanders/index.html | |||||
| Mother Owl Takes On Snake—and Wins | |||||
| Ketaki sent this in. She says, "I saw it live when it happened and it was so fast. It's too bad she didn't kill it and feed to the owlets. They could have used the food, and the snake, a rat snake, is non-venomous. But she was intent on protection. They run it in slow motion at the end so you can see her, and the inset window shows the snake coming down from the top." | |||||
| http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150514-owl-snake-video-animals-fight/ | |||||
| This Bird Song Collection Will Get You In Tune With Nature | |||||
| http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=15112 | |||||
| Help in Identifying Birds | |||||
| Try www.whatbird.com It's helps identify lots of birds. | |||||
| Meet Zeus | |||||
| http://kittensdaily.com/meet-zeus-blind-owl-gorgeous-eyes/ | |||||
| Some Interesting Information About Someone We All Know Well | |||||
| http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1511369/ | |||||
| International Space Station Links | |||||
| During a recent
broadcast the Dude talked about the websites where one can view the
spacestation and the view that the astronauts have. Here are the links: This one has the map, but no chat. http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/HDEV/ This site has a chat room. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload |
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Baby Alert!
https://rumble.com/v30llb-cute-babies-compilation.html
Can You Watch Without Grinning?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUAnLg-6QvI
Ring Bearer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhSJRGgFHY0
Dog Toy Napper
https://rumble.com/v30ffu-dachshund-pretending-to-be-asleep-to-steal-a-toy.html
Spider Web Timelapse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WBln5lD42Y
Caught Red Handed
https://rumble.com/v30bif-when-youve-been-caught-red-handed.html
A Zen Tale
https://rumble.com/v30mig-carrying-the-burden-a-zen-tale.html
Man and Grizzly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA17_TvO6vM
Saving Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiPP2VFoDJo
Rescued Horses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvH2_l7FvtA
Mind-Blowing Magic Magnets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IANBoybVApQ
Gravity Glue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHrycfR9zXA
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| Just for the Fun of It |
Fun Animations | Photo of the Week | Zorro's Word of the Week |
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Owl Krispies
http://blog.book-pal.com/education/love-owls-make-these-8-snacks-for-back-to-school
Kyle Cookies
http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/987733/3d-stacked-carrot-cookie-recipe
Tauntzlets Cookies
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/bunny-butt-cookies/ca4456e2-45c8-43c7-8d65-ebe4f12c6861
Rocky Cookies
http://heidimix.blogspot.com/2015/08/i-love-these-raccoon-cookies-they-are.html
Antique Silver Bunny
http://www.justcraftyenough.com/2014/03/project-more-tin-foil-antiquing/
Chocolate Mice
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/10753/chocolate-mice/
From the Dude
Here's a couple of photos I took this last week.
One I took as I walked around in San Francisco last week,
and another is from a news story--somebody vandalized
one of the signs to have it say "Superb Owl"
Sharoot's Caboose
Sharoot shares,
"
| Kyle's well known among his friends for his "triple
groaner" riddles and jokes. Now he shares them with VacaFamily. Enjoy! |
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How does the universe hold up its pants?
With an asteroid belt. |
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Where should a baseball player never wear red?
In the bull pen. |
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The salesman reported back to his boss after several weeks on the
road and said, "All I got was two orders." "What were they? Anything good?" "Nope," the salesman replied. "They were 'Get out!' and 'Stay out!"
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Why did the cowboy buy a dachshund? Someone told him to get a long little doggy. | |||
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Why do mermaids wear seashells? Because B-shells are too small and D-shells are too big. |
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| A freshman college student was walking
along the beach one day, and stumbled across a very old lamp. He picked it up a rubbed it, and a genie popped out. The genie told him he would grant the man three wishes. "First," the guy began, "I'd like a million dollars." POOF! A million dollars was added to his bank account balance, tweeted his bank to his iPhone. "Second," he continued, "I'd like a Mercedes-Benz convertible." POOF! A new Mercedes convertible appeared right in front of him, and the keys were in his hand. "And your final request?" asked the genie. "Third," the guy smirked, "I'd like to be irresistible to women." POOF! He turned into a box of chocolates. |
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| Upcoming Holidaze! | |||
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May 29 End Of the Middle Ages Day Learn about Composting Day John F. Kennedy’s Birthday (1917) May 30 Memorial Day My Bucket's Got a Hole in It Day Loomis Day Wear a Flower Day May 31 National Macaroon Day Speak in Complete Sentences Day World No Tobacco Day Save Your Hearing Day
June Aquarium Month |
1st Friday in June - National Doughnut
Day 1st Week in June - Fishing Week June 1 Dare Day National Go Barefoot Day Leave the Office Day Doughnut Day Flip a Coin Day June 2 National Rocky Road Day I Love My Dentist Day Cancer Survivor Day National Bubba Day June 3 Repeat Day Egg Day Chimborazo Day June 4 Old Maid's Day Frozen Yogurt Day National Cognac Day Applesauce Cake Day Hug Your Cat Day |
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KVELL
Pronunciation: \KVEL\
verb
Definition of KVELL
1. to be extraordinarily proud
2. rejoice
EXAMPLES
Critics kvelled over the violinist's triumphant return to the stage
where she had made her debut many years ago.
"My older brother, by two years and nine months, was a loving uncle who
absolutely kvelled
over his two nephews and was always asking me when I was next bringing them
to San Francisco to see him."
— Lincoln Mitchell, The New York Observer, 28 Oct. 2014
DID YOU KNOW?
We are pleased to inform you that the word kvell is derived from Yiddish kveln, meaning
"to be delighted," which, in turn, comes from the Middle High German word quellen, meaning
"to well, gush, or swell." Yiddish has been a wellspring of creativity for English, giving us such
delightful words as meister ("one who is knowledgeable about something"), maven ("expert"),
and shtick ("one's special activity"), just to name a few. The date for the appearance of kvell in the
English language is tricky to pinpoint exactly. The earliest known printed evidence for the word in
an English source is found in a 1952 handbook of Jewish words and expressions,
but actual usage evidence before that date remains unseen.
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VacaShopping for the Holidays
A NEW VacaShopping Site!!!
Vaca is now posting new items to Zazzle!
His new store is at: www.zazzle.com/Vacadude
The first item available is a note card or greeting card with an all new
Vaca drawing on the front.
Check it out at:
http://www.zazzle.com/owl_igloo_holiday_card-137686885203006237
Don't you need some new decorations for Valentine's Day?
Just think of all the VacaDude gifts!
Check them all out at VacaDude's CafePress store! Support our beloved
artist/broadcaster/friend!
http://www.cafepress.com/vacadude
MollyTheOwlBooks
Eric has discontinued the sales of all his books and merchandise.
of that and want one, let DotRot know
and she'll do what she can to make it available to you.
