If you look closely you will see two guys in there struggling (or are they having fun) with what may well be a stuck 4×4 truck. Or is it a moose with a saddle?
Golly gee, I sure do love the tropics
Posted by: nativeiowan | May 26, 2010
Why I left snow land
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: nativeiowan | May 25, 2010
Alec’s Great Escape
It is every parent’s nightmare… you’re out with your two kids. You’re having fun in a busy public place, you turn around for a moment, then your 2 year-old is gone.
Simply vanished. Missing. Gone. Done the Houdini. Vamoosed…
We’re sitting in Goofy’s house at Disneyland. A busy Sunday with big crowds. We’re winding down. It’s been a big day. I’m managing my 4 yr old Grandson, Mendoza. Andy and Angie are watching 5 yr old Ava and 2 yr old Alec.
I’m hanging in a corner with Andy. Sitting on colorful plastic blocks. The kids are sliding. Mendoza is a bit shy and is hanging pretty close. Ava is a formidable human so she is not a real big worry. I distinctly recall seeing Alec do another run toward the line for the slide… life is cool.
Angie says something. We have a short conversation of earth shattering importance. Then Andy stands up and looks around…
“Alec is gone”, he says, and heads out the gate.
So we do a quick sweep of Goofy’s house. Each of us with a kid by the hand… Be damned if we’re going to lose ANOTHER kid.
Nope, not in Goofy’s pad.
So we head out the gate.
The town square for this part of the park is right there so we cross the street… eyeing up and down for a little blond kid crying because he is lost and frightened.
I tune my ear to the plaintive lost puppy wail.
We do a few quick steps: up, down, right, left… no Alec.
Andy rings Angie from wherever he is. No kid yet.
We are all concerned. It’s been about 10 minutes and we, as responsible adults, have lost the 2 year-old. We’re getting ready to ask for help.
When Angie perks up, looks like a bird dog ready to point. I follow her gaze…
In the town square, in a throng of people moving to and fro…a small blond boy runs up and down and laughs and plays. He is completely free. Devoid of adult care or concern. He is in heaven. He is on the top of the world. He runs. He laughs.
I may be mistaken, but when he saw his mother, he actually looked like a deer ready to bolt. I know he struggled a bit when Angie went to snatch a hold of him.
It’s one of those stories that will make good retelling.
Alec will be 21, will be a big strapping guy, and the relatives will roll out the story of when he was 2, during great grandma’s 83 birthday party. When he made his daring, but brief, Great Escape.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Alec’s Great Escape
Posted by: nativeiowan | May 5, 2010
high lights from a fun trip
Posted by: nativeiowan | May 4, 2010
who says getting old aint fun
Just attended a birthday party for my mother. She turned 83 on the 1st of May.
Finding time is often hard but we managed to organise a weekend at Disneyland for her. She and Grandpa flew out to California from Iowa. Grace, Mendozza, Connie and I flew in from overseas.
My nephew, Andy, his wife, Angie and their two kids, Ava and Alec drove in from central Cal.
It was a blast. A frenetic blast. 3 little kids and two old folks plus us in-betweens. 4 generations together for a fun-filled time. We were in and out of Disneyland numerous times. We had some hilarious meals including a big birthday dinner where grandma decided to imbibe in fine, French champagne. It was a hoot.
We left LAX at 1140pm on Sunday, the 2nd. Flew for 14 hours, crossed the date-line and arrived in Brisbane at 640am the 4th. Had a lot to do yesterday in the City but flaked out at about 6am last eve and woke at about 4.
Am officially recovered. Have a few days more work here then, yippee, back to Honiara.
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Posted by: nativeiowan | April 30, 2010
moe fun
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Uncategorized
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 28, 2010
a bustling city
A bustling city. The frenetic pace of urbanized life. Eight lanes of traffic. Like schooling fish. Bright yellow taxis. Sleek, deadly limos. Darting, multicolored scooters. Flowing with the current. The current of life. The current of survival. Coral reefs of cement and steel. Footpaths filled with plankton. The skies filled with rays and jellyfish.
He walked out of place. Out of pace. Country bred and island happy. No horizons. The monoliths and herds left him cold. Froze his mind. Stifled his senses and confused his judgment. The moving shoals snarled and snapped. Threatened to harm. The language of the streets was not his. Would never/ could never, be his.
No horizons. For the millions who swam these waters. For the young family on the small scooter. For the taxi driver who reads his paper as he divines the path. For the occupants of the limo who think they are safe. No horizons. Not from the 100th floor. Not while one is encased in glass.
Encased in glass and steel. We lead our lives. Swim the currents and flow with the schools. Encased in steel and glass they are born. Encased in glass and steel they live and die. Encased in glass an steel they are buried. An unnatural blend becomes. Modern society and modern man. Have lost the plan?
Agrarian just a generation ago. After the war. Things were tough. We lived off the land. Like our forefathers before. And before. And before. But that was not enough. The open fields where we toiled and grew. Became high-rise apartments, parking lots and public parks. The horizons shrank. Shrank. And shrank. As we did as well.
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 27, 2010
more site seeing in Taipei
More sites from this lovely country…
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Uncategorized
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 25, 2010
A Great Day
Spent the day with my buddy, Bob Lin. Grace, Connie and Mendozza met Bob in the morning and went to church. I met them outside of church and we spent the day together.
Bob drove us around and showed the sites…
The traffic in Taipei is mind blowing. Common to see families all traveling on one motor-scooter. We got to watch some kite fighting. Then we went for lunch with Bob’s parents…
Mr. and Mrs. Lin are icons of a lost age. Both were born into a world when the Japanese were the colonial power of the region. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lin were educated by the japanese and at the age of 16, Mr. Lin was sent to Japan to prepare to be a Royal Japanese Aviator. If the war had not ended when it did, Mr. Lin had every chance of becoming a kamikaze.
Mrs. Lin is a famous caligraphy artist. We were honoured by being presented with three of her works. I am humbled by such an offering. Bob explains that his mother is a fifth degree (we jokingly said “black belt”) artist. She has taught caligraphy in Universities in Japan.
Mendozza was our photojournalist throughout the day. The meal was a lot of fun..
Bob then took us to his home which is his office. It was way, way coool… the narrow alleys and,
I was so stoked, we got to go on an automobile elevator…
It was, indeed, a great day…
Thanks Bob…
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Uncategorized
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 24, 2010
headlines in political times
Some interesting headlines in the Solomon Star. Worth a read.
My favorite…
Parliament dissolves today: End of Chapter
I find it interesting how the report defines this esteemed body…
AFTER four years of political drama, the 8th Parliament dissolves 12 midnight today.
Unlike the 7th Parliament which former Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza completed his four years in office, this House saw three prime ministers.
Snyder Rini was forced to resign after two weeks in office following the April riot in 2006.
Manasseh Sogavare’s Grand Coalition for Change Government (GCCG) took over but was ousted in a motion of no confidence in December 2007.
Dr Derek Sikua’s Coalition of National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA) Government carried on in January 2008 up until today.
During the course of the years, four Members of Parliament from Malaita also died while serving their country.
They were:
- MP for East Malaita, late Joses Sanga,
- MP for Aoke Langalanga, late Bartholomue Ulufalu,
- MP for Lau Baelelea, Bentley Rogosomani, and
- MP for East Are Are, Edward Huniehu.
Former Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza and MP for Savo Russels lost his seat early this year.
This was after court ruled that he was not qualified to contest the Savo/Russells by-election, which he lost last year when the court found him guilty of ordering an attack on local law firm Sol-Law in 2001.
Then three days before Parliament dissolves, Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua sacked five of his ministers, accusing them of sabotaging the Constitutional (Political Parties Amendment) Bill 2009.
They were, Environment Minister, Gordon Lilo Darcy, Finance Minister, Snyder Rini; Fisheries Minister, Nollen Leni, Agriculture Minister, Selwyn Riumana and Justice Minister, Laurie Chan.
If there was ever a representative statement of our inability to self-rule in the Solomons… well…
So the insanity of campaigning for National Office begins.
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 22, 2010
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Traveled by High Speed Train to Kaohsiung yesterday.
Had a lot of fun. Nice poeple we are dealing with…
Went to bed a bit late but woke up to this magnificnet view (from teh 67th floor) of the harbour…
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 19, 2010
from my window
Just happens to be on a twin otter… on a rainy day.
But Parara is a pretty island…
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 19, 2010
headlines from the bar-side
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 19, 2010
Zoos are fun
Going to the zoo is always fun. It’s even better though with a 4yr old. Also had my buddy, Carson’s, 2yr old grandson with us. Was exhausted by the end of the 3 hour walk but it was worth it…
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Zoos are fun
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010
the beauty of these islands
Some simple images that I feel show the beauty of these islands. I really like the little girls standing on the rock, fishing. Her mother and brother are collecting shells near by…
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010
Nature showing off
I just did a check and can count no less than 300 photos of this same scene… and they are all different.
I do love it when nature shows off…
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Nature showing off
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010
good head
I know, a terrible title. But my buddy, Shane, loves good head. Croc head that is…
I know, even more confusing…
Well, during my recent trip to Gizo I was enjoying a frosty Solbrew with David and Shane when Shane got up, ran away, and came back in a few, happy as can be… He was talking about just doing a great deal for good head… A Good Croc Head, that is.
Shane owns the Gizo hotel and, for those who have frequented these proud premises, you will remember the croc skulls that decorated the bar. Well, Shane reckons this is a good one. And the price was right.
Only in Gizo…
Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, good head
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010
catching up
Man, has been a busy, busy past month, or three…
Where did it all go?
In this time I lost a very senior manager in the company, I have subsequently hired 4 more and have a 5th on line. Have been doing a lot of work with my senior management staff and Board of Directors to prepare for the next 5 years of the company. I was trying to wriggle out of my full time position as Managing Director but failed. The compromise is another 5 years in the harness then I can cut back my time input to something sane, like only 10 hours 7 days a week.
Am in Singapore right now. Not my favorite place. Have Grace and Mendozza with me. We’re going to the zoo very soon.
But as I “relax’ for the first time in weeks I down load my camera and find some picts I failed to manage properly. These are worth a couple good posts but I’ll start with a bit of a tickler…
These are shots from a recent trip to Gizo on a very rainy day.
Enjoy…
Posted in catching up, DATED COMMENTARY
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 8, 2010
Headlines in the bad times
Posted in Headlines in the bad times
Posted by: nativeiowan | April 6, 2010
headlines from April 6
I like this… the headline almost (almost) matches the picture…
Posted by: nativeiowan | March 20, 2010
a pale sunnsett
Posted in a pale sunnsett, DATED COMMENTARY
Categories
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- owe the blog a story. About a bizzyness trip I did recently.
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