travelin' america.

WOW! I have seen 13 states (about 25%) of the USA. And the cool thing is, I still have 37 states left to see. I sure hope I get to see all 50 states of America in this lifetime. (Especially Hawaii!) I'm averaging one state every two years. I better stay healthy, cause I'll have to be alive still at 100 years old, to see them all at this pace. (Like my quick math skills?!?!)



Get your own USA states visited map at world66 website.

HT: rich kirkpatrick

memorial day weekend.

It was a great Memorial Day Weekend for the Parker's!

We went to the lake, church, hung out with friends & family, and of course had a BBQ! We hope you got to do the same. What did you and your family do during the weekend?

Summer Time is offically here!!!!!



(photos taken by JMP/WRP)

fast facts: memorial day.

Here's another blue-dog fast facts.

Why do we have memorial day weekend? I asked myself that same question. So I did a llittle internet researching. Here is what I found about this great weekend.

Why we Celebrate Memorial Day:
It's a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

The History of the Memorial Day Holiday (U.S):
Originally called Decoration Day

First observed on May 30, 1868

Congress changed the observed Memorial Day date in 1968 to the last Monday in May to ensure a three day weekend. (There is a movement to change Memorial Day observances back to the official day.)

Ways we can celebrate Memorial Day:
Wear a red poppies on Memorial day to honor those who died serving the United States during war.

At 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, Americans should pause for a moment of silence or listen to "Taps"

Visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day

Attend a Memorial Day parade to honor fallen heroes

Family and friends get together for a Picnic for Memorial Day


Check the whole article here.

phriday phunny photo. (11)

Here's the eleventh blue-dog. friday funny foto!

No way! Really?!?! Is this real? How did... HA HA HA

Check out the tenth blue-dog. friday funny foto here.

our redneck suv.

The Parker's family SUV is now offically the Parker Redneck Mobile. We have a 2004 chevy tahoe that was nice.

What do you mean, you ask? Well... I'm glad you asked.

The first thing is that it's really dirty on the outside. Theres like layers and layers of dirt on it. Also theres hands & finger prints all around every door where you close it. It looks pretty funny. (It seems like everytime we have time to go to wash it, it will rain or it would be raining very soon in Fresno.) Plus a few months ago my wife had several rocks hit the front windsheild traveling down the freeway that developed into little round cracks. Recently one of the cracks has spilt from one side to the other. Another thing, earlier this week she got a flat tire so the black rimmed spare is on the back right side. And to make sure all side of the car are covered, with the redneck look, a lady hit our tahoe in the parking lot and put a dent on the left side. All we need now is a rocking chair on top and grandma along for the ride.


(photo from googleimages)

Hopefully we can get our great truck repaired soon. I totally give our tahoe five out of five stars for SUVs. I love our car. I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Even if it does have a little redneck look to it. You know what.... it fits right in with us.

chevy tahoe.

auto shop 101.

Have you ever been so angry at yourself, in a situation, that you just started saying cuss words out loud to yourself? Anymore? Anyone? Well.... I did this morning.


(photo from fotosearch.com)

Today my wife got a flat tire while driving to work. She called me and I was there quickly. I got out the jack and tire iron and went to work. On my first attempt I must have had the jack a little bit on unlevel ground so it slipped out. On the next attempt I had the flat tire off the ground, and as I was removing the tire from the truck.... the jack slipped out again! This time the car fell into the brake rotor. This is when I started to yell out those bad words. I was so mad. I hate that stupid bottle jack. But as I was checking the rotor for a huge bend or cracks, it then hit me. The Parking Brake was not on! The rocking movement of the truck was jacking around (no pun intended) with the balance of the bottle jack. After the Parking brake was set it was smooth sailing from then on.

Okay.... I did take auto shop in high school and love it! I should have rememeber the whole parking brake thing. I did some research and find some tips to refresh myself on the task for next time. (Since we have had two flats in fours months.) I need a high school auto shop review course. Plus I love working on cars! I just haven't worked on a vehicle in a year or so. Not since the big tranny change on my bronco. (Man, I miss that truck.) My current little Hyundai needs a little TLC. Maybe I can get my grease monkey fix soon.

My old-truck.

How to change a flat tire tips.

party time.

(photos taken by WRP)

"The Excitement is Building!"

My son, McKay, had his first birthday party on Saturday afternoon. I can't believe he's already one years old. It seems like yesturday we were bring him home from the hospital. (And yes.....I know..... every parent probadly says that.) The theme was Construction. My wife did a excellent job of organizing the whole event. From the sandwiches to the ballons on the tables, everything was perfect. Can't wait for the next party.

gone country.

Another gig at the Table Mountain Casino. We (Mark, the Live Light "operations guy") were there as the Lighting techs. The AJ crew had their own board ops and there own moving lights to work with. So we pretty much just hung out and ate at the buffet. The show was went well and they sure did use a lot of video media. One of the coolest parts of the show was the last song of the night, "Where I Come From." They drove all around Fresno and filmed video clips from the "All American City." Also...... I really think "Drive" could be a hot father's day song for church to use during their father's day services coming up.



(photos taken by WRP)

Table Mountain Casino

Alan Jackson

phriday phunny photo. (10)

Here's the tenth blue-dog. friday funny foto!

Now that's what I call a houseboat. Anyone up for a trip to the Lake?!?!

Check out the ninth blue-dog. friday funny foto here.

scrubs rocks.

Okay...I love the show Scrubs! I started watching it years ago, but at that time, it was just in my rotation of weekly shows to watch. Until my wife got me season one on DVD for, a stocking stuffer, this past Christmas. I now really enjoy this show.

Recently I found out that a guy I work with (Eric, the Live Light "video guy") loves this show as well. He let me borrow his season two DVDs and while we where in LA, he bought season three. Yeah Baby! We play trivia sometimes during gigs and try to see who knows more about each character. I think we might be a little carzy over this show!

If you haven't watched this show before.... You need to! I suggested you just dive in a purchase the past seasons on DVD to catch-up. I hear you can also purchase them on iTunes as well. Sweet!!!

I think you'll like. Maybe. I hope.

(photo from scrubs-tv.com)

Scrubs

i see it.

Can you see the arrow?








I wonder if they did this on purpose.
Have you known about this?
Once I saw the arrow, I couldn't stop seeing it all the time. I also made sure to point it out to everyone around me when I saw the logo. Make sure you do too! If you see it!

E3: square enix.

(photos taken by WRP)

Lighting Equitment List:
036 VL2201 Spot
048 VL2416 Wash
010 VL7 Spot
006 MAC 2K Performance
002 Whole Hog II Lighitng Consoles
040 ETC Source Four Lekos 575w
040 ETC Source Four Par Cans 575w
050 Par 46
002 ETC 48 way Sensor Racks
001 ETC 12 way Baby Sensor Rack
125 LED I-Coves
034 LED Choma Q Color Blocks
003 DF50 Hazers w/ Turbo Fans

Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)

E3 insider

square enix

E3: load in week.

Still here in LA..... we are loading in the lighting for the Square Enix booth at E3 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. The booth is 110' wide x 105' long with a second level theatre.



(photos taken by EL)

phriday phunny photo. (09)

Here's the ninth blue-dog. friday funny foto!

Mental note: Before leaving car.... make sure the Parking Brake is set!

Check out the eighth blue-dog. friday funny foto here.

think blue.

Back in LA! So.... we went to a LA Dodgers game on Wednesday, May 3rd. We ate some Dodger Dogs with all the fixings, and had some really expensive beers, as we watched the Dodgers get crushed by the SD Padres. It was a good game until the sixth inning. That's when the Paders hitters just unloaded on the Dodgers relief pitchers. I had a great time even though my team got killed. Hopefully we will get to another game while we're here.



(photos taken by MW)

trying to post.

okay... I've been trying to post for three or four days now.

I'm staying in a Hotel in LA that does have wired High speed internet acess. This really stinks. I guess blogger doesn't like 56k dail-up modeoms. I can't get to far into the create a post or edit a post section. And there's no uploading a picture.

SO..... yeah.......