The AllAmerican RunnerDuck Review, a newsletter for friends and family 04-25-03

April 25, 2003

WELCOME BACK: Well Marilyn silently slipped into a new decade of life this weekend. Yep, Tuesday she turned F*$ty. I can't spell it out because some spam filters might look at it as a dirty word and block our newsletter ;-) While she's not handling it very well I think she's a terrific looking F*$ty year old and has a lot of good miles left. Since I'm older (and wiser) than her I can only welcome her into the club and tell her that it ain't that bad and oh by the way, there ain't nothing you can do about it!

I was driving on my way home from work this week and noticed how beautiful all the trees and early spring flowers are. It's amazing how you can get in a rut of going and coming and not looking at all the beauty around you. This is a really pretty time of year and you should take advantage of it while you can. We'd like to suggest not just looking at everything as you make your way through the daily grind but that you take a different route than you usually do just to see all the beauty that spring has to offer. Everything looks so fresh and pretty that going a different route, with your eyes wide open, can be like a Sunday drive on your way to work. Get out there and smell the flowers!

While I was out driving around smelling the flowers I got behind a guy that wasn't smelling the flowers and didn't seem to want to leave the intersection when the light changed. After a few seconds he slowly started to pull away and then slowly sped up. All the while he was sort of weaving and basically not doing a good job of driving. At the next stop light I noticed that he was on the cell phone. I figured that that was the problem. The light changed and he sat there again, obviously preoccupied by the phone call. As he again slowly pulled away I noticed that he had a piece of paper in the other hand. As he continued to weave down the road I could see that he was reading, writing and talking on the cell phone. Oh I forgot to mention that this was a stick shift car so I don't know where he got the third hand to shift. Once I saw what all was going on I just backed down so that when he crashed into something I wouldn't be a part of it.

I guess the moral of the story is that if you have office work to do, do it in your office. The car is neither an office, library nor restaurant. Even though they now have a portable stove that plugs into your accessory outlet, http://www.nbizz.com/virtuespecialties/listings/353.html, doesn't mean that you can make lunch while you are driving. Like we said earlier, get rid of all the distractions, enjoy the scenery and drive.

We are continuing our search for crafters who would like to sell their creations through our web site. We currently only have one persons crafts on display, Ron Godin, but would love to add more. We are talking with a couple of people right now but the more the merrier. Drop us a line and some pictures of your art and we'll see if we can work together.

You are logged on to this newsletter as [[-Email-]] and receiving it because you are a friend of mine or a friend of theirs.
If you would like to be removed from receiving this newsletter just send an email to unsubscribe@runnerduck.com leaving the Subject and Body blank.

Thank you,
Ken and Marilyn

Check out our time saving QuickLinks.

(CLICK)

VISIT OUR HOME PAGE AT www.runnerduck.com

Check Out Archive Newsletters Here

Please visit our affiliate
sites listed below. Your
purchases help us keep
this newsletter going.
Thank you!

Click here for thousands of old-time goods!

Please vote for our newsletter at

Launch your
web site for
only $9.95 per
month with your
special Duck Discount at

What's New This Week? Not such good news this week. Only one day after Marilyn turned f*$ty she got laid off from her job of the past eight years. The company she worked for has had five previous layoffs in the past year and a half and she had survived all of them. I guess her number finally came up. In this layoff they let about 30% of the company go so she can't feel too bad. At least she won't have to turn the lights off on the next one. If any of you are looking for a great graphics designer with lots of experience in the medical equipment industry be sure and drop us a line. We're not going to leave the Seattle area but that's about the only stipulation. By the way, the new unemployment rate was just announced and Seattle comes in number two at 7% just behind Portland, Oregon's 7.3%, great time to be looking. I'm hoping that she can just relax and take a little time off before resuming a job search. It's spring time and there is lots of gardening to attend to.

DigiTalk

This week we border on barely digital but good for mankind. You've heard us talk in the past about Geocaching and how much fun it can be, especially as a family activity. You don't know what Geocache is? Basically it's a big game of hide and seek using a GPSr (global positioning satellite receiver). You can read all about it at www.geocaching.com.
The Geocache "society" has started their annual clean up of the earth. Now how is that for a lofty goal? They call it CITO (cache in trash out).

All sorts of Geocache groups, families and individuals are participating in fun events that clean up the earth while having a great time. There are a list of instructions and organized events on the Geocache web site, www.cacheintrashout.org.
The official day is tomorrow, April 26th, but there are other scheduled events beyond that in different parts of the world. You'll find all the information at the like above. Now get out there, have fun and do some good at the same time.

SITE OF THE WEEK

This weeks site was sent in by Ken's brother Ron. Thanks to this suggestion our newsletter is a little late this week. You can spend way too much time at this site but what a fun time it is.
What do you know about Duct Tape? No not Duck Tape, Duct Tape, although there actually is a product called Duck Tape. This weeks sight has all the latest medical break through's using Duct Tape, yes medical, believe it or not. When you get done with this page be sure to click on the link near the bottom of the page pointing to "take me back to the refrigerator". That's were we really got hung up and spent a lot of time.
The site is www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/hmo/ and really a lot of fun.
By the way, a friend of ours, Will Bullas is a wonderful artist that has made good use of "Duck Tape". You can check it and all of his fine art out at www.willbullasfunart.com.

MARILYN'S CORNER

May Baskets

Did you know that next Thursday is May Day? Do you know what happens on that day? That's the day that you are supposed to put a May basket on a close friends door or front porch, ring the doorbell and run like crazy. This weeks project is to make some natural flower baskets using some pretty basic materials.

Here is a list of the things you will need.

Some sort of container that will hold water. A small vase, canning jar or tin can.
Wire, twine and/or ribbon.
A Doily
Flowers from your yard.

The most basic May Day basket would be a tin can. Poke a couple of holes near the top edge of the can.
Run a wire through the hole to form a handle that can hang on a door know.
Add water and flowers and you are ready to go.

Next you can take a small vase. Set it on a doily and wrap the doily up around the vase. Tie it at the top by threading a ribbon through and around the doily.
Make the ribbon long enough so that it will hang on a door knob.
Add water and flowers.

Lastly use a canning jar without the center piece of the lid.
Tie some twine tightly around the top of the jar just under the lid.
Make the twine long enough to go around a door knob.
Fill it with water and pretty flowers and away to go to surprise your friend.

There are hundreds of other ways to do this but maybe these will give you some good ideas to get started.
Have fun and happy May Day!

We hope you enjoy Marilyn's Corner and look forward to all the fun things she brings you each week. If you have a fun project that would be suitable for our newsletter we'd love to share it with our readers. Just contact marilyn@runnerduck.com and we'll do the rest.

Remember we have all of our past projects archived on our web site at www.runnerduck.com. Just click on the Projects or Kids Only Eggs.

Harry Potter Is Back

This is one of the things Marilyn wanted for her birthday and of course she got it. It is really a great movie and if you haven't seen it yet you really should order it. Tons of action, special effects and a good story.

Click Here

The Tempos
News and CD of the Week

Here are a few definitions for our musician friends:

Relative minor: A guitarist's girlfriend.

Subito piano: Indicates an opportunity for some obscure orchestra player to become a soloist.

Musica ficta: When you lose your place and have to bluff until you find it again.

Vibrato: Used by singers to hide the fact that they are on the wrong pitch.

Soprano Sofege: do, re, mi, me, Me, Not You, ME!!

You can check out our summer schedule at the Tempos web site www.thetempos.com/jobs.htm. If you are making plans to visit Seattle this summer try to fit in one of our fun concerts.

Don't forget that The Tempos big swing band is available for hire. If you have a special event that could use the wonderful music of a classic big band be sure to contact thetempos@runnerduck.com.

Once again we are saddened by the passing of another great artist. Nina Simone pasted away this week and will be greatly missed. She was one of those special talents whose music and voice will live forever. We found a pretty good web site dedicated to Nina Simone, www.boscarol.com/nina/index.htm. You might want to spend some time there learning more about this wonderful person.

(Click)

Remember, we have a link on our web site, www.runnerduck.com, to our ever popular Grammy® Shopper site. If you haven't been there yet just click HERE to see all the 2003 Grammy® winners complete with links to purchase any one of them.

Questions and Answers

Welcome to our Q&A center.
Got questions? We've got answers.
Got answers? We've got questions.

Q: Theresa writes; please note that the link for the pattern for the toy sled is not working - it shows the pattern for the pull toy instead, .

A: Woops, my mistake. It has now been fixed and works as advertised. Thanks to Theresa's observation and telling us about this the web page is fixed for everyone to use. We really appreciate it when someone points out a problem with one of our web pages or newsletters. It gives us an opportunity to make it better for everyone. Please don't hesitate to drop us a line if you see something that's not right. We really do appreciate it!

JOKE OF THE WEEK

An old man lived alone in Idaho. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, Bubba, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.

Dear Bubba,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me.
Love Dad

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Dad,
For heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up that garden. That's where I buried the BODIES.
Love Bubba

At 4A.M. the next morning, F.B.I. agents and local police showed up and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant the potatoes now. It's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love Bubba

CONSERVATION TIP

One thing we should be concerned about is protecting the water supplies around our country. Chemicals you put on your lawn and garden are really hard on not only our water supplies but our streams are all the. There are lots of alternatives out there that work well and protect the environment.
Here is a local web site for King County, the Seattle, Washington area, that has some great tips, www.dnr.metrokc.gov/swd/ResRecy/
composting/naturalyardbooklet.shtml. We are celebrating Northwest Natural Yard Days the whole month of April but that doesn't mean that you can't share in the experience also.

If you have a conservation tip please send it to conservation@runnerduck.com and we'll post it in our newsletter.

The RunnerDuck web site is hosted by

If you are looking for a great hosting service at a terrific price check them out at www.fastwirenetwork.com. If you mention that you heard about them from RunnerDuck you will get a $5.00 per month "Duck Discount" for as long as you have your account.

THIS WEEK'S FREE RECIPE
Cheese Fruit Salad Here's an old recipe from Ken's mom that she use to make then he was a kid. He's still a kid just a lot older ;-)

1 Package Lime Gelatin

1 Package Cherry Gelatin

1 Cup Whipping Cream

1 Small can Crushed Pineapple

A few Maraschino Cherries

1/2 Cup shredded Almonds

1 Package Cream Cheese

Dissolve the lime and cherry gelatin as directed on the package.
Add crushed pineapple to the dissolved lime gelatin.
Mash the cheese mixed with the whipped cream and almond to the cherry gelatin.
Pour the first layer of lime gelatin and when hardened add second layer of cherry gelatin mixture.
Serves 12 to 14.

Not only does this taste great but it looks really good also. This is a great dish to take to that next big potluck.

Remember, if you have a recipe you'd like to share please send it to marilyn@runnerduck.com.

Every month we post a new recipe on our web page. Be sure and check out the April recipe at the RunnerDuck Kitchen Store.
We'd be happy to post your favorite recipe there or in our newsletter and give you credit. Just drop a line to marilyn@runnerduck.com.

A GREAT DEAL FOR RunnerDuck SUBSCRIBERS

Mother's Day is just around the corner and it's time to start ordering that special gift just for her. Tabletools.com is one of our favorite shopping places for unique kitchen tools at really great prices. If you've never been there before we'd encourage you to check them out. They just may have that perfect gift for mom.

Click Here for more information.

COOKBOOK
SUGGESTION OF THE WEEK

(click)

"JELL-O: A Biography" by Carolyn Wyman

While we're on the subject of Gelatin we thought you might get a kick out of this weeks cookbook suggestion, "JELL-O: A Biography" by Carolyn Wyman. When Jell-O turned 100 years old a couple of years ago there were a lot of books written about the jiggle food. We think this one is particularly good.
"A Biography to honor the shimmering staple now in its second century. Invented in 1897 by Pearle Wait, the processed food was ahead of its time and immediately worked its sweet way into the hearts and stomachs of America. In war and peace, sickness and health, Jell-O was there. Jack Benny and Bill Cosby were both spokesmen for the products and a cut-up Jell-O box figured in the conviction of spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Chock full of history, lore and ephemera as well as recipes for main courses and desserts, ideas for crafts, and just plain silly stuff, this one little volume delivers, just as "the dainty dessert" has always done."
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Be sure and visit the RunnerDuck Cookbook Store for other great savings on cookbooks and cooking supplies.

PROJECTS

Cupola, Step 2

Last week we made the vent section of our cupola and this week we'll make the base. If you missed last weeks step you can go to www.runnerduck.com/04-18-03.htm to check it out.

The base is fairly simple but requires some accurate cutting.

Here's a list of what you'll need for the whole project;

We used Cedar for everything but the plywood. You may want to choose other wood. We felt like Cedar would look the best and last the longest.

1/2" plywood 2' X 4', best if it's marine grade.
(2) 1" X 6" Cedar 6' long
1" X 4" Cedar 5' long
(2) 3/4" X 4" Cedar 8' long
2" X 2" Cedar 3' long
36" fine screen
Nails, screws and glue.
Stain and/or preservative.

The top of the base is made from four pieces 13" X 2 1/2" X 1" (3/4" finished thickness). Miter each corner 45 degrees, like a picture frame.
Cut a bevel along the long edge of each piece 45 degrees, 1/2" in from the edge.

Assemble the frame using glue and nails. Toenail the corners together. Clamp it if you can for more support while drying.

Next cut four pieces 11" X 4" X 1" (3/4" finished thickness). Cut the corners at 45 degrees to make a box. NOTE: Depending on the pitch of your roof you may need to make the box deeper than 4".
Measure the pitch of your roof using a couple of pieces of scrap wood and a screw or bolt.

Transfer the angle onto a base piece. Put two pieces together, back to back, with double back tape. This will hold them while you cut both pieces.
Using your band saw or hand saw, cut out the angle.

Glue and nail the box together. Clamp it like the frame above until dry.
Cut four pieces 1" X 6" X 3/4" for mounting blocks.
Glue and screw these to the frame. Use the box to center them. These will be used to attach the cupola to the base when we install it on the roof.

Well that should keep you busy for this weekend. Next week the roof.

If you have a project that you would like to share please drop us a line and we'll help get it published in the RunnerDuck review. We are looking for woodworking, gardening, crafts and kids projects so send us your thoughts at projects@runnerduck.com .

The RunnerDuck Goodies Store
Check out all the great products in the RunnerDuck Goodies Store. Show the world that you love RunnerDuck!

There is lots of other cool stuff at the RunnerDuck Goodies Store.

If you want to talk about something just drop us a line at duckmaster@runnerduck.com any time, we like to talk about most anything. We are always looking for content for our newsletter so if you have something to add we'd love to publish it. Assuming it meets our strict family oriented requirements!

If you forward these newsletters to your friends just drop us a line and we'll do it for you. Just send us their email address and we'll do the rest. Remember, we never share our email list with anyone, period! Just drop me a line or go to our registration page and sign up your friend.

If you enjoyed this newsletter please tell a friend, if you didn't please tell us but in a nice way, we're very sensitive.

To unsubscribe just click HERE. or send an email to unsubscribe@runnerduck.com.

duckmaster@runnerduck.com

Please tell a friend about RunnerDuck Review

It only takes a second and you can
use the simple little form at
www.runnerduck.com/
register_a_friend.htm.

All rights reserved, RunnerDuck Productions, 2000, 2001, 2002.
RunnerDuck and its logos are property of
RunnerDuck Productions.
All other logos are property of the individual companies.
We can be contacted at duckmaster@runnerduck.com.