After the boys take baths, they like to make their hair spikey.

Fortunately, they don't like to keep it that way and much prefer to have their hair nicely combed.

On one of our trips this summer to the clean out my grandmother's home in Goltry, we finally found my grandfather's handgun. It's a 1953 Star Second Model F Series .22 long rifle caliber.

Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A., went bankrupt in 1997. However, a terrific website about Star Firearms is maintained by an individual which is an excellent resource about Star firearms. From the website, I learned the pistol is a Second Model F Series manufactured in 1953 as indicated by the marking in the right-middle above, as well as the meaning of the other proof marks on the pistol.

I took the pistol to a trusted gunsmith who did a detailed disassembly, cleaned, lubed and test fired it. When I picked it up, he even politely offered to purchase the gun but, of course, it's not for sale at any price. I took it to a range and it shoots like a dream. My grandfather and I never got to shoot together, but holding and firing his handgun, it's almost like he's there with me.

Earlier this summer the boys got a new bike which, of course, Drew gets to ride first.

We agonized a lot over whether to get a cheapo Walmart bike or a higher quality Trek. I was originally pulling for a one size larger Trek but Drew really liked the Spiderman bike and he seemed more confident on its smaller size. Given the fact that Drew's growing like crazy and the Walmart Spiderman bike being less than a third of the price of the Trek, the purchase made since for a first bike that might not be ridden too long. It will also also allow Will to start riding earlier too.

Will on his tricycle. Both boys know they always have to wear their helmets when they ride their bikes. Knee and elbow pads are optional...Will insisted on wearing them (they came with Drew's helmet).

Drew and Daddy on Drew's first ever bike ride.

Earlier this summer I received a free Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer provided to me with the hope, but no requirement, that I review it here on my blog. I spent over a month shaving with it exclusively.

To be fair, I'm probably not the best person to give something new to review. I'm very set in my ways and once I find something I like, I'm not very open to change. I think I've primarily used two different razors my entire life, a free model given to me when I entered college, either a Gillette or a Schick twin blade and my current Gillette Mach 3 triple blade. In other words, the potential exists that the new Schick Quattro might be better than my old Gillette Mach 3, but I wouldn't notice it.

The Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer has four blades which have a titanium coating that is supposed to reduce irritation. While good in theory, I can't say I noticed a difference between it and my current razor. The razor also has a single blade on the back side for getting into tight places around your nose or...we'll that's the only place I tried it. It worked pretty good, but I didn't find it a necessary feature. Finally, the razor includes a small trimmer built into the handle powered by a AAA battery. I shaved my annual goatee just prior to getting the razor and, so, was only able to try it out on my sideburns. While a neat feature for those with more facial hair than myself, especially for people who travel or want minimum clutter, I was unimpressed by the trimmer which I didn't need. The trimmer also adds a substantial amount of bulk and weight to the razor which really annoyed me from the start. There's an ideal heft and ergonomics to a razor and the built in trimmer causes the razor to blow past any ideal proportions. Although, it's probably not so bad that you couldn't get used to it.

Now to the biggest, most annoying problem, with this razor. It's increased bladed count and cartridge design causes the razor to easily clog and be difficult to unclog. The clogged blades in the picture occurred with almost every shave with the Schick Quattro. Through some combination of increased number of blades, decreased space between the blades and a horrible design which prevents water from washing though, the blades are very clog prone.

In comparison, my old Gillette Mach 3 on the left, you can actually see light pass through between the blades which is blocked on the Schick Quattro. That means a quick swish under the faucet will clear the Gillette but not the Schick. Absent this design flaw, I'd recommend guys with mustaches or goatees to give the Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer a try. However, it's propensity for clogging requires me to rate this razor: not recommended.

We're back! It's been incredibly busy lately and there has been little time for blogging. Hopefully, this will resume normal semi-regular updates. This Labor Day weekend we all drove up to Chicago to visit Aunt Donelda. Thanks to her, we all got to enjoy a multi-million dollar pool complex all to ourselves before it opened to the masses.

Drew perfected the Tigger Stroke in the three foot portion of the pool. What's the Tigger Stroke? Bounce...bounce...bounce...

Will very much enjoyed riding on Daddy's back. Surprisingly, Will barely held on, he just semi-floated at the small of Daddy's back and steadied himself with his hands on Daddy's shoulders.

Aunt Donelda got in the action and posed under one of the many splashing apparatus. Click "Continue reading," there are a lot more pictures after the jump!

In addition to her consulting work, homeowners' board, getting ready for visitors, doing all the work ahead of Will's birthday and raising two awesome boys, Mama somehow found the time to continue the Danz tradition and make a terrific cake in the shape of the birthday year being celebrated.

First, we all (Mama, Daddy, Drew, Will, Ma, Pa, Uncle David, Aunt Catherine, Aunt Donelda and Miss Sue) feasted on Mama's world famous chicken enchiladas. And, then, it was time for cake! Unfortunately, Will didn't quite know what to make of the candles being lit.

Fortunately for Will, he has an awesome big brother. I told Drew to blow out one of Will's candles to get things started. But, Drew not wanting to take the fun away from Will just showed Will how to blow the candles without actually blowing one out. And, that was all it took to cheer Will up and save the day. Will then succeeded in blowing his two candles out all on his own.

With the candle episode behind him, Will dug into his cake. Woo-hoo!

Mama even got a thank-you-kiss for all her hard work.

Will did a terrific job of opening all his gifts.

Daddy, Aunt Donelda, Aunt Catherine, Drew, Uncle David, Will, Pa, Ma, Mama and Miss Sue (the camerawoman) all shared Will's special day.

Miss Sue reading to Will and Drew before bedtime. Sue was an incredible help the whole weekend and we were all glad she was able to come down with Aunt Donelda to see the farm and help celebrate Will's second birthday.

Today we woke up early packed everyone in a rented 12 person van and headed out to Goltry, Oklahoma.

Will and Drew on their Great-Grandma and Grandpa Buller's farm where Grandma Danz grew up. Apparently, "hold still and look at Daddy," somehow translates into 2 and 4 year-old language as "wave your arms madly about."

Daddy and Aunt Donelda behind the garage where there used to be peach trees, a scrap metal pile, and fences we would climb on and grab the irresistible overhead electrified lines for a jolt that is remembered well into middle-age.

Daddy, Drew and Will on the porch in front of Grandma Danz's childhood home.

The family renting the farm owns a horse which recently had a foal.

The foal was surprisingly friendly...a little too friendly for this city slicker. He must have thought I had food or treats because he wouldn't take no for an answer. After following me like a Pamplona bull as I backpedaled away, mama horse came and got him and led him back to the barn.

I made some panoramas of some of the farm views. This one is looking out East.

This panorama is out behind the barns looking North.

The view looking East from the house.

Aunt Donelda came to visit for Will's birthday. We tried to come up with something "Oklahoma" to do and found out that she had not been to a Bass Pro Shop...so off we went. [This is actually a post-birthday shot as evidenced by Big Bird which Drew came up with all on his own to give to Will, since there were no first day group photos.]

OK, so with stores in 27+ states, including one in Chicago, it's not technically an "Oklahoma" thing but it was fun for the boys to see the fish and stuffed animals and gave us all a chance to stretch our legs before dinner. We had dinner at the Bass Pro Shop restaurant. Everyone enjoyed their seafood while the boys and myself, Mr. Anaphylactic-Shock, partook of other fare. Our waitress will forever be remember as the least enthusiastic server ever.

Both Drew and Will really enjoyed watching the fish.

Mary and I went to see Phantom of the Opera Sunday evening at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. We saw Phantom when it first came to Tulsa in 1996 which neither us can believe was twelve years ago. It seems much more recent. As it was before, the performance was incredible. I'm by no means an "opera person" but it doesn't take the ability to tell Puccini from Spontini to appreciate Phantom.

Last time we sat much farther back, while this time we were in fourth row seats which allowed a phenomenal close up view of the performers and sets. We both tried to find things that were different between the two performances, but it was very difficult. A subsequent review of the programs showed there was very little difference to be found, but Mary believes the way the performers worked their way down to the subterranean level was different.

My only, admittedly personal and uneducated, criticism was that the actor playing the Phantom in 1996 (Thomas James O'Leary - IMDB) made the character more sympathetic and tragic than the actor playing the Phantom this time around (Richard Todd Adams). Through some combination of sitting closer, different performers and seeing it for the second time, the Phantom character seemed more angry, bitter and less sympathetic this time around. But, still, no less enjoyable. I wouldn't mind catching it again in another dozen years.

Today, Ma and Pa Youngman celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!

About once a year I grow a goatee/mustache...no particular reason. I came across a self-portrait from when I got my first digital camera in 2001. I thought recreating the pose before I shaved off this year's appurtenance would be interesting. Yikes, tell me it's the lighting, otherwise someone's getting old!