Larry & Joe's Plumbing Supply

I am a *huge* fan of weird old hardware/electronics/plumbing stores. The kind where there's probably asbestos in the flooring, the ceiling tiles are stained from leaks, there's a big ol' fan running in the corner cuz there's no A/C, and behind the counter sits a proprietor aged anywhere from 65-85, eager to help you with your household repair dilemma.

These places are few & far between, but my town has one, in the form of Larry & Joe's Plumbing Supply on Corbin Avenue in Northridge.*

If you need a plumbing part, I strongly encourage you to give these folks your business. If they don't have what you need, they will tell you how you can get it.

And, they have phone cords! And a Bag O' Nails! And a RainJet elbow assembly dated 1984!

*please note that Larry & Joe's does indeed have A/C!

Planes of Fame Museum!

After many years of not getting around to it, the fam & I finally visited the Planes of Fame Museum at Chino Airport!

This is a wonderful old place, consisting of several hangars full of old planes, mostly warbirds. Many are being worked on at any given moment; the smell of oil and/or jet fuel hangs in the air (especially on a 100-degree day, as it was during our visit). There are lots of helpful volunteer docents walking around, eager to share their knowledge of the planes with you (but not annoyingly so).

In the front of the museum (but not pictured here -- DUH, Katerz!) is an old Flying Fortress (B-17 bomber) they're working on restoring. So, so, SO awesome!

I worry what will happen to places like this when all the WWII vets have gone to that great mess hall in the sky...

Boys and their Toys!

The Ev's lucrative online video-game selling business (well, okay -- Dad helps a little!) has afforded him enough mad money to buy this little beauty:

To say that this young man is excited IS. AN. UNDERSTATEMENT.

And now... TO iTUNES!!!

I ::heart:: Sbux... AND my Sbux peeps!

I believe everyone knows by now how much I *lurrrve* my morning Starbucks. But what you may not know is that I also love having fellowship with my rad Sbux peeps every morning. Megan & crew at the store next to my campus are sooooo, so awesome, with their warmth and humor, always offering to make me a 27-shot mocha... I don't wanna start my day without them!

Sometimes they even write somethin' zany on my cup... or my husband's, when I'm buying for him...

Thank you, awesome Sbux peeps!!!

5th Grade Open House

Tonight was our last Open House at Ev's school! Next year, it's off to Middle School. ::sniff!::

As usual, it was great seeing everything they're working on in class... And, as usual, Ev's teacher could not say enough wonderful things about him. We feel so fortunate that he's been able to attend this great school for the past six years, and particularly lucky that he got such a fantastic teacher this year!

Our boy makes us so proud, every day. Thanks, Ev! And thank YOU, Ms. Salas -- BEST. TEACHER. EVAR.

Mysterious Benefactor!

My child seems to have a mysterious benefactor! Imagine his surprise when, out of the blue, he received a FEDEX box full of Cartoon Network SWAG!!! Lord have mercy, I thought the child would PLOTZ.

Thank you, mysterious stranger! Our family will think of your kindness everytime we enjoy the fine programming offered by Cartoon Network. Or, whenever Schnitzel sez, "RADDA RADDA RADDA"!

Rad Music Blog

My friend Sean has a rad music blog. And yes, I'm just saying this because he sang my praises in this post and I'm all puffed-up now. BWHAHAHAHHAHA! No, really! It is an awesome blog! Check it out.

http://unclezekesmusicemporium.blogspot.com/

Coraline

THIS. MOVIE. IS. RAD.

I wish I could be more specific than that, but that's all I've got for ya at this juncture.

Halfway thru, I thought, "This is the most amazing movie I've seen in a loooong time." And if you are remotely interested in the technicalities of how it was made... well, that just makes it MORE amazing.

Really well-done. I hope y'all see it. Whether or not you have young'uns.

Watch out, Parker & Stone.

My child is also a construction-paper stop-motion animator, and he can KICK. YOUR. SENSE-OF-HUMOR. BUTTS.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you... The 5th Grade Spelling Bee Champ!!!

The Siegels have a new minivan!

I am now the proud owner of a 2009 Toyota Sienna! (All my Facebook peeps are saying, "No kidding!" BWHAHHAHHAHAHAHA. This is all they've heard about all day.)

Can I tell you how much I love this thing?! It is freakin' awesome! So spacious, so pretty, so clean, so many bells n' whistles. I can't believe it's mine!







Thanks, Honey, for "arranging the financing" for this little baby! Thanks, Telesis, for providing a good portion of the funding (truly, banking you just can't get at your bank! LOL); and thank you Autoland for finding the car and making the whole transaction absolutely smooth and painless.

I am a happy customer.

Rock-n-Roll McDonald's

In the heart of Chicago's River North district is this super-Vegasy McDonald's known as "Rock-n-Roll McDonald's". It has 2 stories; posh seating; flat-screen TVs; an ice cream/coffee bar; and little seating areas which salute a particular decade. I've included a photo of the "'70s Room".

Pretty. Freakin'. Awesome.