A previous blog showed our efforts at Wisteria cultivation last year. Now that we've just let it grow (without trying to train it), it's going great guns. Not yet enough to protect us with some shade from...

Riley has found a cool surf store. Massive jets of water, padded walls, boogie boards, and short boards. He got the hang of things pretty fast. Up, alone, on second trip....

We drove to San Antonio for Spring break. We went to a great Mexican restaurant called Mi Tierra Cafe and Panaderia, which NEVER closes - ever. The front counter has a bakery full of Mexican deserts and...

This easy to use pull back bow is something that will knock your socks off (and/or your sister's). With a powerful bow that can launch an arrow for up to 100 feet, depending on the user, you...

Recently, in school, I had to research a past historical figure. We had to memorize a speech and list the important accomplishments of that person. I was James Madison. Some of the things I learned about him...

We went to an aquarium in San Francisco, right on the bay, and we saw a very intelligent octopus. Here I am looking into his tank. Apparently, octopi are considered very smart. Sometimes they have managed to...

Trolleys and hills well known (although first time for me). This less well known - but very cool. A reclaimed port site with a small quirky fabulous museum about "The Long Now". Among other gems, a modern...

Cool picture by Riley. Looks like a big squid part. Any ideas of real source?...

Our school play was Willy Wonka. I got to play Willy. It was a lot of lines to remember, which Dad made me practice as he was throwing a basketball at me. Thanks a lot. It went...

We've been making fresh bread recently, using a combination of recipes. Our main advice has been from the May 2012 issue of Saveur. Some key parts of the process: Kneading, trying to work it enough to get...

I'm trying to start a cinema society at work (more later after our first test screening - if anyone comes), and was looking for some iconic images from motion picture pioneers for our publicity efforts. Muybridge has...

...Unless you want to see the type of BLISTER you can get running 10 miles in humid Houston weather without socks on. Otherwise.......

A picture from my recent trip to Thailand... Karen and I got to hang out with this elephant a while... but can you tell which one of us just got done feeding it some bananas?? (clearly...

Article in the paper about an endangered 'owlet' under Shannon's care ... http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20753129/endangered-owlet-gets-helping-hand-at-lindsay-museum/...

http://www.thethinkbox.ca/2012/05/10/easter-island-heads-have-bodies/...

Some photos from our recent trip to Ireland .. was awesome!! Ireland Photos (click on this)...

I have a Brownie recipe from Rachel Ray. It seems to work well - and makes brownies that are very chocolaty and rich. It tastes so good I try not to like the spoon too much, but...

Intern Conference remains a highlight of my work week. Interns take a recent patient, and try to challenge the rest of the group as we work to make sense of the story, ask relevant questions, and look...

We hosted our Spring Fling this year for the house officers. It was a nice time. Last year we tried Thai recipes (see the Claire blog - Napa as Big as my head). This year we tried...

There is a store in Dallas called the Guitar Center. We have been going there to take some GarageBand classes. I like that you can constantly hear hear a rhythm from a musician who is playing there....

Recently I have started drum lessons. Here is a picture of my drumming on my highly advanced pillow (to help me strengthen my wrists). To move up to work on a practice pad, I had to do...

I went sailing with dad recently - probably in waves and winds too high, considering I lost my shoe. But we almost got all the way out to the bridge on the horizon, and we had a...

A colleague and her family host a hootenanny each year that has become a social highlight for us. The food is centered on the Louisiana inspired crawfish boil, which is delicious. Follow the big silver pot -...

Our wisteria is growing, despite our attempts to groom it. Here are three recent pics. The goal is to produce a shaded area under which we can sit. We have a ways to go, but at least...

We try new things here, and take some pride in cooking in our solar oven, growing our own garden, patching fiberglass on boat hulls, sewing, etc. Here are some links, all in this vein: http://www.mckinneytree.info/riley_mckinney/2008/11/the_strange_boy_who_craves_carrots.shtml http://www.mckinneytree.info/riley_mckinney/2008/09/will_work_for_food.shtml http://www.mckinneytree.info/claire_mckinney/2012/01/sew_fun.shtml...

I saw a cool link on line about Fresnel Lenses. Now I have my own Fresnel fragments and am having a lot of fun in the Texas sun. Happy at package arrival. Here are my lens fragments....

I usually enjoy Reunion Tower from ground level, at Dallas' Union Station stop. Looking out over Dallas from the revolving restaurant at sunset was a kick. It was a nice altitude for us, looking all the way...

After running my ultramarathon race in San Franciso, Karen and I took a helicopter ride over the city... I took a video of the tour with my phone, and it actually turned out fairly clear. You should...

A photo set of Shannon saving a hawk who had a bone stuck in his throat ... View larger individual photos here (clicking on photos) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150646783427254.443253.170022307253&type=1...

Hit the mother-load today .. found 17 barrels of Napa Valley wine (several different reds) on the side of a county road. I could seriously smell the wine as I approached. 17 barrels = 935 gallons =...