Round 2......Canceled

Way to go everyone. Round 2 of our "annual" Dikathalon has been canceled due to several people being unable to commit. We had many, many verbal commitments, but no one bothered to prepay for the event, placing an undue burden on the LI, therefore forcing us to cancel.

Thanks to all that signed up early and prepaid. FU you to those who didn't.

Sincerely,

LI

ROUND 2

Round 2 of the Dikathalon is on!

November 4 GO VOTE

Go out an vote today.

The LI doesn't care who you vote for.

All we care is that you actually go out and vote.

Pumkin Carving Contest Today

Everyone is a winner!

Thanks for playing...

LI

Calling All "Artists"

I would like some of you "artists" to come on down for some sign making help.

My plan is to take 4 - 6 old wooden windows put them all together to make a new sign for the Institute.

I'd like to paint them with a scene of the Institute, or something similar. I am sure you, whoever is still out there if anyone, has seen old painted windows before, so that is basically what I am going for.
This Saturday would be great is anyone has the time.

Thanks folks.

LI

THINK

In thirty one days on November 4th 2008, America risks the frightening prospect of seeing the unqualified, academically challenged, age challenged, knowledge challenged, work ethic challenged, temperament challenged, ego inflated, disingenuous, warmongering, reckless, Republican John McCain elected as President. http://www.tellingthoughts.com/us-politics/lipstick-on-his-collar

Think Good Thoughts

Why the long face(s)?

Tropical Storm? What tropical storm?

During tropical storm Fay, we, Kevin, Jason and myself all took a much needed swim.

Good Friday To All

Guess Who

Hello folks. I know, I know, it has been quite a while, but here is today's quiz.

Guess who this is, and what is he doing.

Life at the Institute

Howdy folks, again I apologize for not having much to say. So much is going on.

We are renovating the former headquarters of Cor Pro, so that my mom can move in. It is going to be really nice, she will have a huge kitchen, living room with separate bed room and bath. Construction is going like mad. The walls are up, drywall is being finished today, ready for painting and tiling over the next few days. We are moving as fast as we can to get my mom over here, she doesn't like being alone in that big house of hers. A big thanks to my brother Chris and his awesome kids, Katie and Connor who have really stepped up in taking care of mom. They have been staying with her the last week or so, so she won't be alone.

We here at the LI cannot wait to have her move in, and neither can she. I just wish we could move her in faster.

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and thoughts they do help, please keep them coming.


When you cant find the light,
That got you through the cloudy days,
When the stars aint shinin bright,
You feel like youve lost youre way,
When those candle lights of home,
Burn so very far away,
Well you got to let your soul shine,
Just like my daddy used to say.

He used to say soulshine,
Its better than sunshine,
Its better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Hey now people dont mind,
We all get this way sometime,
Got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

I grew up thinkin that I had it made,
Gonna make it on my own.
Life can take the strongest man,
Make him feel so alone.
Now and then I feel a cold wind,
Blowin through my achin bones,
I think back to what my daddy said,
He said boy, in the darkness before the dawn:

Let your soul shine,
Its better than sunshine,
Its better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people dont mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness,
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul.
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this.
And when your world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control.

LI

Dogs Bark

Sunday July 27, 2008

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the death of my father,

Philip J. Liston

He left us from his home on Sunday morning July 27, 2008 at 6:56am.

Phil is survived by his dear wife Pat, and his five wonderful children:

Pegeen, Tim, Chris, Shawn, Colin,

and his nine grandchild:

Trevor, Toby, Lauren, Katie, Connor, Delaney, Rhys, Alish, Finn.

My father is a wonderful and caring gentle soul, he was our Lion, and he will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Democratic National Committee

My Apologies Ladies and Gentlemen

Hello folks, I know it has been quite a while since our last update, and I do apologize for being so lame.
Today finds us in the evening of Saturday July 19, 2008, hope everyone is well. Not much new to report other than alot going on that prevents the LI from posting.

The weedeater and the chain saw both have the pull start cords not retracting, so if anyone knows how to wind them back up, please leave detailed instructions in the comments section, it would be much appreciated.

It rained today.

She's still looking for a home....

An update on Dak....
We've had her for almost two weeks now. We took her to the Vet last Monday to get her spayed. As it turns out, she was so neglected, that her eyes were almost completely swollen shut due to an eye infection. Her corneas were completely covered in ulcers and the bottoms of her eyelids had begun to turn under and began to grow into her eyes (from squinting for so long). A $12 antibiotic eye cream is all it would have taken to clear the infection and to save her from what the Vet described as probably at least a year of suffering and would have ultimately resulted in total blindness. So now, she's had the antibiotics, and while she was "under" from the spay surgery, they took a small portion of her lower eyelid out. Today, two weeks later, her eyes are wide open and she's probably seeing the world for the first time in a long time.

She has an exceptional temperament and really needs an exceptional home. She mostly just wants attention and to be near people. She was carefree when it came to our cats, or the geese, or even the other dogs. We're still looking for the right place for her. Please help us pass the word.

LI

Name That Flower

Who can name that flower?

Please Welcome The Institute's Newest Guest...Dakota

That's right folks, we now have five (5) dogs. You read that right FIVE freakin' dogs!

Dakota was being abandon and was about to be taken to the pound, we couldn't let that happen, so here she is.

She is a Lab/Shar Pei mix, and she is up for adoption.

She is healthy, calm, house trained, and very sweet, and comes with all her shots.

Please inquire with the Institute's staff for further information regarding the adoption.

Number 3.....

Construction Continues

Cypress siding,deck and outside fireplace

Cypress logs around the fireplace

Shower

Our newest guest, LB.

LB has made himself right at home here at the Institute.

Happy Friday Everyone. LB has the right idea...

A little morning fishing.

Have a great day everyone.

Sincerely,

LI

Harry's Little Brother

Little Blue Heron, more info here:

Solstice Moon - Tonight June 18

Make sure you head out at about sunset tonight to see the "solstice moon".

Explaination here:

Sharks, what sharks?

These pictures were taken over the weekend at Mickler's Landing in Ponte Vedra.

Doesn't look like a shark to me.

WTF?

8 days old...Twice the size

Saturday Quiz - Name That Tune

Livin' on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and cleanAnd now you wear your skin like iron, and your breath is hard as keroseneWeren't you mamma's only boy-oy, her favourite one it seemsShe began to cry when you said, good-bye, sank to your dream
Poncho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steelHe wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feelPoncho met his match, you know, on the deserts down in MexicoNobody heard his dyin' word, but that's the way it goes
All the Federales, they sayThey could have had him any dayThey only let him slip a-awayOut of kindness I suppose
Lefty he can't sing the blues, all night long like he used to The dust that Poncho bit down south, ended up in Lefty's mouthThe day they lay poor Poncho low, Lefty split for OhioWhere he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows
All the Federales they say-ayWe could have had him any dayWe only let him slip a-awayOut of kindness I suppose
The poets tell how Poncho fe-ell, and Lefty's livin' in cheap hote-elsThe desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold, and so the story ends we're toldPoncho needs your prayers, it's true, save a few for Lefty tooHe only did what he had to do, and now he's growin' old
All the Federales, they sayWe could have had him any dayThey only let him go so-o longOut of kindness I suppose
A few grey Federales, they say-ay-ayWe could have had him any dayWe only let him go so-o longOut of kindness I suppose



Winner gets one free item from the Institute.

Habeas Corpus, Restored - June 12, 2008

From the Latin; "you have the body"

A writ of habeas corpus is a judicial mandate to a prison official ordering that an inmate be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he should be released from custody.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the court today:
“The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times,”

Amen.

About the family.....

This is dad "Gracie". When we got him, he was supposed to be a girl Toulouse, but grew up to be a boy Chinese. He's very loud - true to the breed. He guides the crew everywhere and has been known to give credit to the term "goose". I haven't seen him sleep since the babies were born. He was standing here next to the pool and his legs were wobbling as he fought off the sleep he obviously needs. This little baby seems to usually be by his side.

They're much fluffier today - almost little round balls when they float around. No problems in the water - they lob right off the side of the pool into the water, and pop up like little bobbers. We had to put a brick on the first step so that they can get out. It's got to be twice as high as they are, but no problems, they jump right up.

The older geese "roll around" in the water to get their whole bodies wet. The picture above is one of the little ones doing the same - instinct is an amazing thing.....

This is mom - Professor S. Goose. You can see in this picture that she's missing her left wing. When she was a baby, it was bitten off by an alligator. She had a rough few months at the beginning. The two other geese we have bully her because of it, so having her own babies makes the experience that much more special. They adore her which is a sweet, sweet thing.

A BIG F U Harry!

Harry took the time today to eat the ever elusive Great Siren salamander. As seen here:

We have only had a few quick glimpses of the siren and we are sad that he is gone.

Great job Harry, you pig.

Day 4 and all is well~

Day 4 and so much has changed! These little ones are everywhere; they can hop, they can swim, they can run. The parents are unbelievably diligent in their guard over them. At any given time, they have the babies sandwiched between them and one of them is always standing at full attention, looking out for any possible predators. Goose is spending less and less time on the last egg and golf ball, having to choose between the lives that are here, and the one (or two as she thinks), that remain in her nest. When she is sitting, the babies crawl all over her. I went in this morning and one of them was standing on her head. When they do get tired, they crawl up under her wing so you can barely see them - this is when she seems the happiest (she literally purrs) and can close her eyes and rest.

Sunday Morning Swim Time