So, I dropped off my Passport Book/Card application at noon on Monday, July 21st, at the City Clerk's office and received my new Passport Book via Priority Mail today.
No special rush processing or anything.
The State Department web site claims to caught up on their back log and promises Expedited processing in under two weeks and Routine processing in under four weeks.
I got mine (with just Routine processing) in 10 days. Something like 4-5 business days between receipt and shipping.
Wow.
The Passport Cards are only promised in the next two months. They just got that production line going and they still have a back log.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wow, That was quick
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Photo for New Passport
Well, my last one expired back in 1983. That picture looks like a mugshot. At least this one will be a little bit better.
Yes, there are some signs of aging.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
I'm Having A Root Canal
No actually not me. This is a song by Glenn Bulthuis which goes like this:
Ah-ah-ah I'm having a root canal, oh, oh, oh, I'm having a root canalThe dentist drill provided an odd accompaniment.
Oh you can drill in my face, any time, any place, to replace any space in my mouth
Oh, I'm having a root canal, I'm tellin' ya I'm having a root canal
I can not tell a lie, I am felling rather high, as the plaque, starts to fly in the sky
I'm having a root canal ....
My head begins to swoon, in the waiting room
The chill, the thrill as he begins to drill, drill, drill, drill
Oh I'm having a root canal, I'm telling ya I'm having a root canal
I don't mind telling you all, I'm buying my mother-in-law
A root caaaaanaaaaal .... a root .... caaaanaaaal
I't thrilling, and chilling and drilling and drilling, I'm having a root canal. Hey!
Here is a sample of this song from his Greatest Hits CD.
Glenn is now producing CD versions of his vinyl releases, so I can now buy a copy of his Misled album from 1980 as a CD and don't have to record the vinyl to MP3 myself.
A couple of the songs from Misled that are included on the Greatest Hits are LA Girls/Michigan Girls and Cruzin Down The Beltline.
Yet another update: Be sure to check out his videos and you can see many places around where I live.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Happy Anniversary, my Love
Today we celebrate the 28th anniversary of our first date and the 26th anniversary of our marriage. Here's wishing for many, many more.
Update: Well, we celebrated our anniversary with dinner (sans children) at Louis Benton's and a good time was had by all. Note that the menu listed on their web site omits prices. If you have to ask, you can not afford.
And, yes, this picture is from the copy of our engagement announcement that I carry in my wallet.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Saturday, May 03, 2008
We have another Graduate
Today our middle child, "Merry", graduated from college. She is part of the 4th generation to attend Land Grant University on her father's side and the fourth person to graduate from college on her mother's side (all from this generation). None of her maternal male cousins have gone to college.
At the end of the graduation ceremony we sang the Alma Mater.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Wally Bronner has died (1927-2008)
Wally Bronner was known as Mister Christmas and was the founder of Bronners CHRISTmas Wonderland, a three football field sized store in Frankenmuth Michigan.
More can be found at the Detroit Free Press, the Saginaw News, and Flint's WJRT ABC12.
The Bronner's web site can be found here as well as the history of Bronners.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Second Snowiest Snow Season On Record For Grand Rapids
From the desk of the National Weather Service:
Second Snowiest Snow Season On Record For Grand Rapids
With the addition of 1.7 inches of snow on March 27th, Grand Rapids has had 107.0 inches of snow for the snow season. That moves this snow season into second place for the snowiest ever for Grand Rapids. The snowiest season on record was 1951-52 with 132.0 inches of snowfall. The previous second place season was 2001-02 with 105.2 inches of snow. This also means Grand Rapids now has six seasons with over 100 inches of snow. Two of those six have happened in within the last seven years.
Below is a list the current top ten snow seasons for Grand Rapids: (note the snow season is from July 1st through June 30th on the following year)
Wow. I've been around for almost all of them.
Isn't It Lovely
Last night we attempted to fetch our middle child home from college for her elder sister's birthday.
We got to the college, but were not able to get home until this morning. We tried last night, but it was hard to see the road and slippery. Even this morning there was black ice on all the bridges and throughout much of Ionia county. Note that all of this snow came down between 7 PM and midnight. To top it off, most of the county road commissions are out of salt for the roads.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
And More Snow
Well we got another 6 and a half inches of snow overnight. Yet another daily record, previous one was 6.3 in 1963.
We now have had 105.1 inches of snow this year, extending the record. A 38.4 inch departure from normal.
Over by the lake at Muskegon, they have had 109.2 inches, but it is not a record. Their record was 140.7 inches in 1977, another year when we had a major blizzard.
Friday, March 21, 2008
A Couple Inches of Global Warming in Spring
Its Spring ... I've shaved my beard off and now its snowing outside as evidenced by the mourning dove sitting next to our pool deck.
The robins have been burrowing into the leaves under the bushes to keep warm.
We are currently under a Winter Storm Warning. We have already set a new record for total snow in winter this year (and its not done snowing) with 98 inches. A departure of 32 inches from normal and 21 inches over last year.
I can't wait to see April.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Project Valour-IT Interservice Challange
This has been described as the equivalent of 21st-Century Candy Stripers or as More Than Just A Laptop.
Project Valour-IT (Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops) provides an external connection between "our injured troops" and the outside world. These laptop computers with a voice activated interface allow the troops to communicate with friends and family.
More information can be found at About Project Valour-IT at the Soldier's Angels web site. The History of Project Valour-IT can also be found there.
Its time once again for a little "inter-service" rivalry to raise money for Valour-IT. The challenge is split into four teams:
- Army lead by Black Five,
- Navy/Coast Guard lead by Chaotic Synaptic Activity,
- Air Force lead by Mudville Gazette, and
- Marine Corps lead by Holly Aho of Soldiers Angels
Not that I would want you to contribute to them, but the other teams are:
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Here They Come Again
This year will mark the 30th year that Grand Rapids has hosted the "River Bank Run". This is the premier 25K run in the US.
Why 25K? It makes a nice out-and-back route along the Grand River.
And, yes, they are using the clock-wise route this year that puts the awful hills near the end.
This morning they hosted a Training Run that covered much of the course. Most of the runners were bundled up for the cold.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
April 12th Climate
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Wednesday, April 11, 2007
April 11th Climate
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007
It was 33 years ago today
Thirty three years ago today was my first day of employment at my current place of business.
I had dropped out of school because I needed an attitude adjustment. I got one and returned to college at the beginning of the next school year.
I worked summers "here" thereafter until I graduated and became a full-time employee.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
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