The travel day

As we speed forward and the trip gets closer...we are almost/are under 50 days...I have been trying to find ways that will entertain the children...ok maybe me as well... I have also tried to find an alternative to traditional motion sickness meds (for Amanda, Dramamine makes her sleepy). Here are some of the sites and things that I have found...

http://www.cyberparent.com/trips/games.htm
http://www.momsminivan.com/
http://www.flyingwithkids.com/
http://madallie.com/index.cfm

I think we may try these

http://www.travelingwithkids.com/product_reviews.php/products_id/107

We are also planning to bring some movies, video games (vtech is Casey's favorite, I think she learned that from cousin Ryan) and of course books, colors, paper and whatever else can fit in their backpacks.

Anymore ideas just comment...

Today's word is kûlanakauhale [KOO' lah nah kau' hah leh] - means city.

Some history in Arkansas

Granny was born in Lowell, Arkansas. Lowell is about 8 miles south of Rogers. The above picture is of an apple evaporator in Lowell circa 1925. I found a couple of pretty cool arkansas history sites, http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/ or http://www.shgresources.com/ar/timeline/ or http://www.anythingarkansas.com/society/History.html

I also found a picture from the early 1900's of the Lowell School with the children that attended there...can you pick out Granny ?

I am planning to go ahead and try and get a Tee-time in the next couple of weeks, although, I have heard through the "grapevine" that Richard is going to bail on us for golf.

Today's word in Hawaiian is Malihini (mah-lee-hee-nee) means a newcomer, visitor or guest.

Granny Years - a note from Dad

Some time back, in a discussion on aging, the concept emerged that in our family age should not be viewed in the same way that others view it. At least not on the same scale. To compare our chronological ages with those outside the family is to ignore a fundamental difference. A year to family members is less significant than to others due to the “Granny Factor”. Whether genetic or acquired through osmosis, this factor leads to longevity approximately 34% greater than for the general population. When measured in “Granny Years” ones age can then be safely and accurately compared with others. This has the added benefit of allowing age to be expressed in terms that are socially more acceptable while at the same time maintaining our integrity and avoiding any hint of deception.

As the chart below shows, each of us has attained an age, in Granny Years, that we can be comfortable with and which is more in keeping with our own perceptions.

Granny's current age 99
Life expectancy at 99: 106
Normal life expectancy: 79
Granny Year Ratio 134%

Age in
Chronological Granny
Age Years

Granny at 99 (in Granny Years) 74
Dad at 60 (GY) 45
Mom at 59 (GY) 44
Jeff at 41 (GY) 31
Dedra at 36 (GY) 27
Robert at 38 (GY) 28
Amanda at 32 (GY) 24
Jennifer at 38 (GY) 28
Richard at 39 (GY) 29
Allison at 30 (GY) 22

Whether this is fully appreciated by others is debatable, however, among ourselves it is a settled issue.


Note: Children, under the age of 21, are not listed in this presentation as they might understandably be offended by the result.

Today's word in Hawaiian is Kahiko (kah hee' koh) means old.