Spanky and Our Gang

Back in the late 60s one of my favorite groups was Spanky and Our Gang.



This group had a few hits in 1967 and 1968. They were easy listening. A lot like the Mamas and Papas. In fact, Spanky McFarlane would actually sing with the Mamas and the Papas after Mama Cass Elliott died.



Groups like this along with Herb Alfred and the Tijuana Brass, the Fifth Dimension and lots of others were the music we played in the high school pep band. (And a lot of these same songs are still being played in high school gymnasiums!)



Just in case someone under the age of 45 is reading this, yes, we really did dress like this back then.



And records really were made out of vinyl.



This Herb Alpert album was considered obscene by some people. I thought it was rather creative especially since the title song was Whipped Cream (i.e. a song used for the Dating Game show). It has some of the Tijuana's Brass's best cuts on it.



Take a few minutes and travel back to 1968. While the Stones and Beatles and Rod Stewart and others were making hard rock, there were a lot of groups that sounded like this.

I liked both the hard rock and the easy listening from those days. I still do.

Building a Straw Bale Greenhouse: Phase 3 by Gardener Cumax

Editor’s Note: In September, 2009, Peter Bockenthien (aka Gardener Cumax) began construction of a straw bale greenhouse and shared his initial work on this blog. The next three blog postings will chronicle his successes and challenges in completing the project.

I'm happy to report that my greenhouse is 97% complete. I would be happier if we had some actual sun to warm it up but I don't control the weather. Let me explain what has transpired since November 2009.

In November I didn't get the stucco done because it was turning too cold. As a result the stucco I did complete cracked here and there. But that's normal for stucco that is drying in a freezing climate. I covered the entire greenhouse's lower straw bale walls in a large tarp I found on craigslist. Heavier snow dumped into the greenhouse interior onto the dirt. Not wanting the exposed strawbales to attract any moisture, I covered the entire wall system with black plastic. That's where I left off.

Late December into January saw serious R&R: researching and reconfiguring. My original roof was to be polycarbonate. Drawback: expensive and doesn't diffuse light the way thermal film does. Also, it would require more labor to install. I went with AC Thermal Film from http://www.green-tek.com/GT.htm in Wisconsin. Pros: it costs 1/20th of polycarbonate. it would be easier to install. It diffuses light very well. Cons: I'm going to have to watch out for hail storms. I have an extra section that can replace the roof. Another factor to consider: I don't need the roof during hail season.

So that was my roof choice. Now what would I do for roof support? How was this all going to come together? By mid-January I was freaking out how I was going to build the short roof walls just so, and how many rafters I should have spanning the 18 foot length.

Conventional construction would have it at every 2 feet. The problem with that is that would block more sun that I want. Plants are sensitive, so I don't want to make this more complicated than it has to be. I settled on 4' widths. You can buy a nice cold-frame greenhouse with 4' to 6' purlin widths. I've seen them up in Boulder County totally exposed to the elements, so 4' seems reasonable to me.

Still, I was freaking out: how would I even attach the greenhouse film to the roof and walls? My mind was stuck on how it would be done via polycarbonate systems.

While in this freak out mode, I visited a constructional professional friend of mine who was busier than busy. On my way over I passed Timberline Gardens and noticed Kelly's greenhouse out front, the one that is parallel to 58th. I did a U-turn back into Timberline and checked out house that film was attached at the bottom of the support.

Fortunately for me, Kelly was there and told me where I could get the same locally: American Clay Works. Those of you who attended or volunteered at the ProGreen Expo might have run into their booth. I had two options: Nexlok or Wiggle Wire. And both were in stock and local (from American Clay Works). I went with Wiggle Wire. The wire is far stouter than its name implies.

From Timberline Gardens I drove a short distance to my builder friend's residence. Glenn Griscom gave me a step-by-step approach on how to level the sill plates, build the walls and cut the wood according to the pitch I wanted. Excitement and relief replaced freak-out.

Here are links to Phase 1 and Phase 2.

YES, I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 10 YEARS - CONGRATULATING MYSELF

29th February 2000, the leap year. We tied the knot before the Registrar of Marriage, Mr. Lee Jin Howe that time. (Mr. Lee then became my colleague few years later, ahaha!). Dejavu or coincident? Haha. Our love story began
at university and married a year later.

Cheese cake. 1/2 kg for 5 pax? Enough. Courtesy of Taka Bakery. Marriage is very cheesy, as cheesy as a cheesecake. What we have in common binds us in every aspect. We love food, we love music. When we fight, we try the best not to exaggerate the condition for more than 30 minutes. Then, we broke the uncommon and befriend again. We're best friends, we're lovers, we're parents, we're music fans - but there are some situations, despite our sex, haha, we're uncommon like he's a hommy guy while I love outing. In certain ways, I am more brave to do something new compared to him. He's quite traditional and I'm modern. But still, I respect him as a husband and head of the family.

Our love. Miss Gabriella insisted to cut the cake with me. She was born on November 7, 2000, 9 months precisely after we've married. Bunting pelamin kata orang tua? Haha.

Celebrating together with the Kings, additional favourite cats of mine, Putin (on the left) and Baby Bujang. KLASIK SUNGGOH NAMA KUCING HAMBA. Haha.

Miss Coki is not a Miss Coki if she ain't do the cooking thingy. Pardon me, I didn't snap the pictures because everyone was like rushing to have dinner - in starvation or because I cooked Black Pepper Beef, Sweet & Sour Fish, Carrots & Cauliflower with Fried Luncheon Meat, Luncheon Meat in Sweet 'Sedaap' Soy Sauce and grilled cheese sausages. Drooling??

Hmm.. I saw this at Taka Bakery. It's their chocolate cookies name. Cool eh!

With Love,