Flickr Update

I've recently added photos to my Flickr account. You might enjoy looking at them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rboyne/

Two in a row!

For the second year in a row, a beautiful Oklahoma girl has won the Miss America Pageant! I'm not much into beauty pageants (or scholarship contests a la Miss Congeniality), but for crying out loud; an OKIE won it again!

God Bless Oklahoma!

Watch out for the "Wintry Winds"

From the Hong Kong Observatory:



COLD WEATHER WARNING

THE COLD WEATHER WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE. THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY IS FORECASTING COLD WEATHER IN HONG KONG DURING THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD AND TOMORROW MORNING.

AS HONG KONG IS BEING AFFECTED BY A COLD WINTER MONSOON,PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO PUT ON WARM CLOTHES AND TO AVOID ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. YOU MUST ALSO ENSURE ADEQUATE INDOOR VENTILATION.

IF YOU MUST GO OUT, PLEASE AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO WINTRY WINDS.

IF YOU KNOW OF ELDERLY PERSONS OR PERSONS WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS STAYING ALONE, PLEASE CALL OR VISIT THEM OCCASIONALLY TO CHECK IF THEY NEED ANY ASSISTANCE. MAKE SURE HEATERS ARE SAFE BEFORE USE, AND PLACE THEM AWAY FROM ANY COMBUSTIBLES. DO NOT LIGHT FIRES INDOORS AS AMEANS TO KEEP WARM.

WHATEVER THE TEMPERATURE, PLEASE ENSURE THAT THERE ISPLENTY OF FRESH AIR IN YOUR ROOM WHEN YOU ARE USING ANOLD-TYPE GAS WATER HEATER.

DISPATCHED BY HONG KONG OBSERVATORY AT 16:20 HKT ON 29.01.2007

PS: The cold temperature forcast is supposed to be 53 F or 12 C.

Gettin' Ready

Yep, Hong Kong (and all of Asia) is getting ready for Chinese New Year, locally known as the Spring Festival. All kinds of decorations are being sold at staionery and junk stores all around town.

Taxi TV

OK, so this isn't the greatest picture in the world, but I was in the back seat of a taxi in Shekou, China, and the guy had a TV in the headrest! I couldn't believe that THIS PARTICULAR TECHNOLOGY has manifested itself in China (of all places!). The driver was so proud that he could provide this for his passengers. I really didn't like it, as I always prefer to look out the window. I took the picture with my camera phone.

Atkins Update #3

At the end of three weeks on the Atkins Diet, I have lost a total of 14 pounds! I will stay in "Phase 1" for at least one more week.

Thanks for all your prayers!

The Van

Our office has one vehicle that we can use from time to time. One of my colleagues goes to the same church as us and we often go to church together in the van. Here is a pic of the girls and the van this morning on the way to church.

Too Many Languages

I am not really bragging; more of complaining.

I have just taken a test in my 7th languge (and passed it, by the way). Over the course of my life, I have now studied (and been tested in): (in order)

English (well, Okie)
Spanish
French
Cantonese
Pular
Thai
Mandarin

I actually took a year of high school French before I lived in Africa, so that is why it comes in as third. I'm really only fluent in Okie and French. I could probably polish up on my Spanish and be fluent with ina few weeks, but it has been a loooong time. In fact, the last time I had a serious conversation in Spanish, the muchacho I was talking with just quit responding to me. I mentioned this to Sally and she said, "Well, you switched to French 5 minutes ago!"

Atkins Update #2

At the end of two weeks on Atkins, I have lost a total of 11 pounds and one belt notch.

It isn't as much as I'd hoped for, but 10 pounds is the average that a man loses the first two weeks so I am a pound ahead. I am going to stay on "induction" at least another week.

Funny Quote

"Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets. Imagination without skill gives us modern art."
Tom Stoppage



This is how I feel almost all the time, especially about modern art.

Emily's so cute!

(Click for a larger image.)

Jury Exciter Lamp

My teacher told me this is a word for word literal translation of the Chinese. Yikes. He should have asked someone instead of using a dictionary. I thought it was pretty funny.

Who are they kidding?

David Beckham has left Real Madrid for the LA Galaxy soccer team. First of all, let me say that I am NOT a soccer fan. I've tried. Oh how I've tried to like it. There is never a shortage of soccer on TV overseas. Anyway, CNN announced his move and that he will be making ONE MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK!!

I don't care how good he is. It is a game. No one is worth ONE MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK! I don't care what they do, no one can justify making ONE MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK!

(This rant is now over and I'll be returning to regular blogging.)

NCAAF Rankins - Final - Oklahoma #11

Well, in the final poll of the football season, Oklahoma ended up at number 11. Actually not bad, I'd say.






Boomer Sooner!

Atkin's Update

At the end of the first week on Atkins, I have lost 10 pounds. Yea for me.

Stay in the Left Lane

(Click to enlarge)

I guess I should have known that Hong Kong has EVERYTHING! I suppose I can drive to Tulsa, since this sign says "All Destinations"!

Light of the World

Jesus is the Light of the World!

(This is a test post to see if I really can upload animated .gif images, and it looks like I can! This is gonna be fun!)

New Glasses

Audrey got new glasses yesterday and I thought they look great. Here they are!

Happy Birthday, Big Daddy!

Big Daddy grillin' burgers on the pontoon boat at Ft. Gibson Lake.

Today is my dad's birthday. All the grandkids call him "Big Daddy". He likes that a lot!

My dad is special. He loves his family. He loves his wife. And he loves the Lord.

My dad likes to fish. Crappie fish. Cat fish. Bass fish. About anything that jumps on the line will do. He loves to go out on the boat. In fact, he even bought a second house just so he could have the dock. A man after my own heart!

My dad helps people. In fact, he really loves to help anyone who needs anything.

My dad likes to cook. And how! He has a smoker the size of a small house. I love to eat his BBQ ribs, chicken and brisket. He makes some mean baked beans in that smoker, too. He loves to cook breakfast on the grill on the porch. Sure does make life nice to have breakfast on their front porch. It is got to be one of the best front porches in the world. And he built it.

We get to see Big Daddy in just less than five months. We all can't wait.

We love you, Dad! Have a very Happy Birthday!

New Year - New Me (hopefully)

Well, I started the Atkins Diet about 3 days ago. Man, it sure doesn't seem like I'm on a diet! Eggs, ham, cheese, steaks - WOW!!

Hopefully, in a few months, I'll be less of a man than I have been! LOL.

Oklahoma 42 - Boise State 43

Well, I wish we would have played the whole game like we played the last 10 minutes. That would have been good.

Hats off to the Broncos.

Boomer Sooner!

Good News

Hip! Hip! Hooray!!! Hip! Hip! Hooray!!! Hong Kong outlawed smoking in restaurants and public places TODAY!!!!

No more "smoking or non-smoking" sections! No more nasty cigarette smells in malls! No more meals ruined by having to smell someone else's exhales!

Hip! Hip! Hooray!!! Hip! Hip! Hooray!!!

Bad News

I am absolutely shocked to hear the news that several bombs exploded in Bangkok last night. I am even more incredulous that the government is pointing fingers at Thai's who are upset with the current military government. I think it will end up being the result of militant Islamic separatists from the South, not supporters of the former government.