New grandbaby ... new blog!

OK, so Scott's Pot Shots has taken a several-month hiatus (about as long as since Mitch did his last post and certainly more recently than Lori's blog posting ... "I'm waiting!").

I'm in the process of re-cataloging a lot of our family's digital images. Certainly more will be coming soon.

However, in the meantime, I've started a similar "post-your-suggested-caption" blog for our new grandson, Carter. The web address is http://cartersrevenge.blogspot.com/ -- give it a try today and keep checking back for new images (Jenna and Tyrel are providing us with plenty of photos to chose from).

That's a 'Supers' pose

Breanna on her current trip to Disneyland, late April 2009.

Comments/suggested captions

• "With his marriage to Elasti-Girl on the rocks, Mr. Incredible turns to Bunker-Head Woman for possible female companionship . . . but Bunker-Head Woman looks to fight off his advances." — Scott, 04-28-2009
• "Breanna demonstrates some tai-bo workout techniques to Mr. Incredible, who is battling some weighty problems in the thigh area." — Scott, 04-28-2009
• "Holy thighmaster, Batman! Looks like Mr. Incredible as a new sidekick in desperate need of steroids! How's that skinny little thing gonna fight the bad guys?" - Julie, June 2009

'My turtle swims sideways' (ask Braden — or Cheryl — about this)

   Austin and Laura, from after the April 23 BYU commencement exercises at the Marriott Center.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Austin, the graphic design graduate, says: 'I don't think I like that photo — the composition is weak, the lines clash, the color tones are washed out and I don't like the font used on the date and time stamp.' And Laura, the marriage, family and human graduate, says: "It will look just fine in the family scrapbook.' " — Scott, 04-27-2009
• "Um, we'd better not let my dad get a hold of that photo or he'll put it on his photo blog." — Austin, 04-28-2009
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'Out goes the bad air ... in comes the good'

   When you're demonstrating mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques and need a dummy in a pinch (of the nose), who ya gonna call? That's right, a Grover who with his crossed legs looks so relaxed (or unconscious).

Comments/suggested captions

• "Some girls are willing to kiss a lot of frogs to find their Prince Charming; Breanna's willing to kiss a lot of furry monsters." — Scott, 04-27-2009
• " 'First, you clear the airway of all lint ...' " — Scott, 04-27-2009
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Look -- no hands!

Braden made two of four free throw attempts in his Jr. Jazz basketball game Saturday. Either he accomplished the feat with what seems to be a lack of arms, or his handspeed was too fast for the human eye. Either than, or maybe he's trying to take to flight.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Braden's Army was defenseless." -- Mitch, 02-24-09
• Braden, who used too much stickum, amazed everyone on the court that he could make a free throw with his hands still attached to the ball. The crowd - not so impressed." -- Mitch, 02-24-09
• "Famous basketball movies - Teen Wolf, Air Bud, My Life as a Teenage Basketball Ghost." -- Mitch, 02-24-09
• "It's like 'Back to the Future' -- Braden's disappearing in the photograph." -- Aaron, 02-24-09
• " 'Braden, where did your hands go?' 'Coach told me to put them in my opponent's face.' " -- Aaron, 02-24-09
• "That's a great 'shot!' " -- Jenna, 02-24-09

Who, me?!?!?!

Braden seems to be asking the referee if he really should be called for the foul in a recent ward deacons basketball game. Funny thing is ... the game hadn't started yet, and he's already working the refs.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Five dollar ... five dollar ... three foot long." -- Mitch, 02-24-09
• "If you think I've got bbal skills - you should see my fishing skills . . . I caught a fish this big." -- Mitch, 02-24-09
• "Mom, where's my pre-game hug?" -- Mitch, 02-24-09
• "I only missed the 3-point shot by this much!" -- Mitch, 02-24-09
• "FIGARO!" -- Aaron, 02-24-09
• "It's Braden's trademark expression." -- Jenna, 02-24-09
• FROM SCOTT: Yes, it is his "trademark" expression - you've got a similar face on one of the posts on your blog, and I've found another photo recently of him making the same face when you and Tyrel were here. Maybe I'll start collecting "mouth-wide-open expressions of Braden for a future blog. Anyone is will to submit contributions." -- Scott, 02-25-09

Separated at birth?

Left: Scut Farkus, "A Christmas Story" (1993)

Right: Austin Taylor, Provo (2004)

Comments/suggested captions

• "YES! YES! YES! This post was for me - right, Dad? That's even better than I expected! (I know I had a good eye for look-alikes. Austin is just lucky I didn't relate him to a Disney character like I do with most people.)" -- Jenna, 02-09-09
• "Does this mean if I hang out with Austin that I get to be one of his 'toadies?' " -- Aaron, 02-10-09
• "They both have sort of the same sneaky smile on their faces, too." -- Cheryl, 02-23-09
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Three hats and a 'fro?

   Some comments were made about an earlier post showing Austin coming in from a snow Ukraine winter day wearing his snow-covered Russian hat - about how other photos showed how the color of his hair closely matched the color of his hat.

   Here's a photo from June 2004, shortly after his return from his mission, that shows him and his hat as well as the hats he brought back for Jenna, Breanna and Braden.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Breanna and Braden look so young in this picture! Love the hats ... do you guys still wear them?" -- Michelle, 02-07-09
• "I really think I will be printing these out to entertain (and hopefully not offend) my 2 Ukrainian co-workers." -- Jenna, 02-09-09
• "You guys look like mushrooms." -- Aaron, 02-10-09

'What kind of kids eat ..... what kind of dogs?'

   Another image from our May 2005 trip to Ukraine and Russia - this coming from the famed Tverskaya Street in downtown Moscow, just a block or so away from the Kremlin and Red Square. It is also just outside the entrance of the apartment we rented for our stay in Moscow (talk about a PRIME location - it's like being in New York City and staying on Broadway, within sight of Time Square!).

   A quick bit of background: Tverskaya Street (also known as Gorky Street) dates back to the 12th century. It was the center of elite social life from the 17th and 18th centuries to even modern times as far as nightlife and entertainment. It is Moscow and Russia's most expensive shopping street and the world's third most expensive street as far as commercial rents.

   So, imagine our thinking when we found this hot dog stand located on Tverskaya Street - we would pass it every time we would leave and return to our apartment. It's name is "Star Dogs" - but in the Cyrillic alphabet, their "S" looks like our "C" and their "R" looks like our "P". Then, the "T" in the logo looks like a lower-case "r" ... and now you can see why we thought the stand was selling "crap dogs."

   Lori took much delight in this establishment. And, no, we never had the heart - or the stomach or the mind - to try one of Moscow's "Star Dogs."

Comments/suggested captions

• " I guess it's better than 'Dog Craps' ..." -- Aaron, 02-10-09

'The field is white already to harvest'

   A photo from Austin while serving his mission in Ukraine - likely his first winter, 2002-03. He'll have to tell us the city. I think he was trying to convey that winters in Ukraine were extreme - either that or he lost the tag-team wrestling match against a dozen powdered doughnuts.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Remember the photo of Austin wearing that hat on a warmer day ... it was sort of the color of his hair and looked like a pretty good 'fro.' If that is the case, then this photo is Austin with 'highlights' or what hairdressers used to call a 'frost' (quite literally!." -- Cheryl, 02-03-09
• "Funny because I was actually just telling my Ukrainian co-worker about Austin's hat that looked like it was his hair. Thanks for the visual. There's one picture where he really looks like the bully kid from 'A Christmas Story.' -- Jenna, 02-04-09

By a nose

   Several of you made comments about "faces" and "noses" in an early post that had a photo from Goblin Valley State Park (August 2007, stopping off after our time with the James Family reunion at Lake Powell). So I thought you'd be interested in seeing this rock formation we found hiking in the middle of the park, well into the formations.

   I'm just waiting for one of my brothers to label me as "the post-nasal drip."

Clowning around with 'you-know-who'

   You've heard of women that have a thing for "the big guy in the red suit." Well, we've found a pair who have a thing for "the guy with the big red hair" - and, no, we're not talking about Carrot Top, either.

   This is a shot from May 2005 outside the McDonald's in Yalta, Ukraine (the Crimean peninsula) on the promenade along the Black Sea. This is during our trip (Lori, Austin, Cheryl and I) to Ukraine and Russia, and Austin has enough sense to stay out of the picture - he's probably around the corner or inside cringing from embarrassment.

Comments/suggested captions

•  "I'm lovin' it! =)    " -- Jon S., 02-05-09

'Bait Lady'

   From our July 2007 trip to New England (Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire), Breanna found an interesting photo op near the fishing boat docks of Portland, Maine. This was right next to where we watched the lobster boats unload their day's catch.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Breanna tries her luck 'chumming' for boyfriends in Maine." - Scott, 01-29-09
  
• "Breanna shows off the super-size container of her new signature perfume, 'Bait Lady - Chick of the Sea'." -- Scott, 01-29-09
• "Playing a game of "hide and seek" with her brother Braden, Breanna celebrates having found Braden's secret hiding place. The real reason she's smiling: the game's been over for hours, but she hasn't bothered telling him that just quite yet." - Scott, 01-29-09
• "This is where Breanna's past boyfriends are put -- the ones that are canned." -- Mitch, 01-29-09
• "You make me laugh. Keep them coming." -- Grandma Carole, 02-03-09

Tanner Family Re-Onion

   I believe these were taken at a Tanner family reunion - up in the Cove? In 1983 or 1984? I'm not sure of the year - I don't know if I was there. I'm wondering if this reunion was in 1984, when I spent the summer in Phoenix on my internship/fellowship with the Arizona Republic. 

   Anyway, the above image is a classic Grouse Creek shot - a footrace. Aaron has crashed the "old guys" party for the chance to pick up some extra coins at the finish line (what is the line, Lori or Mitch, a nickel to run, a quarter if you win?).

   The bottom image - if I didn't know better - looks like the cattle-happy Tanners/Taylors have taken to roasting a pig. I'm sure its a good share of a side of beef. Of course, another Taylor boy ends up being the focal point of the photo - Al's shorts are so short they look like no shorts at all.

Comments/suggested captions

• TOP: "The Tanner and Taylor men hear the dinner bell." -- Scott, 01-27-09
• TOP: "One awkward glance of Alan's short shorts and skinny legs and camp members quickly excuse themselves." -- Scott, 01-27-09
• TOP: "Unable to beat other runners in his age-group race, the younger kids' dash, the babies' crawl, the girls' sprint or the women's skip-around-the-tents relay, Aaron makes his last-ditch effort against in "the geezer guys' gallop." -- Scott, 01-27-09
  
• BOTTOM: "Frightened to death when seeing his brother Alan's legs for the first time, Aaron is ceremoniously wrapped in aluminum foil and laid to rest on Tanner ranch property. His father and uncles served as pallbearers; his brother Alan as honorary pallbearer." -- Scott, 01-27-09
• "I loved seeing the pictures of the reunion before the re-onion, the original! :) " -- Megan, 01-27-09
• TOP: "Alan, after eating ALL of the baked beans, created a panic amongst all the other 'onions.' " -- Mitch, 01-28-09
• BOTTOM: "In regards to Al's shorts -- or lack thereof: Please put some pants on!" -- Aaron, 02-02-09
• TOP: "I've got some pretty good running form! ... And some really good fashion sense, too! You can never go wrong with a BYU shirt and red sweats." -- Aaron, 02-02-09
• "Pretty sure it was 1984, because I was there with a little toddler, Austin, and Scott was gone! I do not remember the aluminum foil mummy, though! Wonder who died!" -- Cheryl, 02-02-09

Historic Almo photos - with a Taylor tie-in

   Aaron found these old Almo, Idaho, photos recently while digging around some historical sites. The one above shows Grandma Etta Taylor (Scott's grandma) as part of a class photo outside "the red brick schoolhouse" - which is not the same old school now down the road from the ranch house.

   Grandma Etta is No. 25 - thank heavens for the typed key below the photo.

   Since she was born in 1906, and she looks about 5-7 in this photo, that would set the time in about 1911-1913.

  As Aaron said in his original email to the siblings, he thinks this was located up at the Cove, and I think he's right. However, when he stopped by my office this week and we took a closer look at the mountains in the background and compared them to images from Google Earth, I think I convinced him that it is not the house that was located up on the side of the hill on the south side of the Cove property (that's what I wondered initially too, but thought different after a closer look).

   I remember hearing stories from Grandpa Wally of relatives (grandparents, I think) that lived on property to the west of our Cove property, off the Big Cove Road (look at Google Maps). I think this is one of those houses.

   Aaron said in his email that the house James Thomas Taylor, Dad's great-grandpa (or Grandpa Wally's grandpa).

   P.S. - You can click on the images on the blog for a much larger, more detailed view. They're really nice, big original images.

Comments/suggested captions

• "1. What is the teacher holding? 2. 25% of the class is a Durfee." -- Jennifer S., 01-23-09
• "25% of the class is a Durfee -- Welcome to Almo!" -- Aaron, 01-23-09
• "One question concerning the class photo: Where is Wally? Playin' hooky?" -- Aaron, 01-23-09
• "Famous people who have worn #25 -- Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Jim Thome, Reggie Bush, Etta Jones?" -- Mitch, 01-28-09

Cheryl off chasing the stars?

   One of our family's long-time neighborhood friends, Stephanie Murphy Stephenson, found the above photo and forwarded it to Jenna (they're the same age and old friends), thinking the woman on the right looked a lot like Jenna's mom, Cheryl. Closer observation shows that this photo likely was taken at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City - the woman in the middle with the red hair is country music singer Wynonna Judd.

   Hmmmm, it got me to thinking (no comments). I've wondered where Cheryl might be running off to during the day when I'm up in Salt Lake City working. We've even been to a Wynonna concert before. 

   But then I really got to thinking (no comments). Cheryl's not a big country music fan. I'm the one who has three Wynonna CDs (but none purchased in the last decade-plus). And that woman on the right can't be Cheryl - not pretty enough (see for yourself below) - maybe she could stand in as a stunt double at best when we're ready to start filming "The Taylors: The Movie."

   That begs the question - have any thoughts on the actors and actresses who might play the family parts? (I'm just WAITING for the sarcastic comments from my brothers as to who to cast as me!)
Comments/suggested captions

• "At first glance, yes, I thought it was Cheryl in the picture. But I do have to admit that I also thought the center person was Scott wearing a red wig and sunglasses just to be funny!!! Sorry -- just keeping it real, Bro!! Of course, I know you are not that big, but I thought it was YOUR smile and you just being goofy!" -- Alan, 01-23-09
• "I really thought that picture was Cheryl, too. I thought Scott did some "photoshop" work and put Cheryl in that picture. Too funny!" - Michelle, 01-25-09
• "Great stand-in -- for whom was she standing. Just thought she was schmoosing the stars." -- Grandma Carole, 01-26-09
• "I totally thought that it was my dad in the middle, too." -- Braden, 01-28-09

Blasts from the past (and we're talking 'past')

   Cheryl had me scan in a few scrapbook photos of her and her friend Janette from high school and college, who is celebrating one of those "big-number" birthdays this year and her husband has put out a call for images of her past (can blackmail be far behind?).

   The top image would be from BYU Winter Semester 1978 - with Janette Merrill (now Kelly), Wayne Bulkley (one of their friends from Ames, Iowa), Cheryl James (now Taylor) and Scott Taylor (now with receding, gray hair). This is after a day skiing at Alta.

   The lower image is from from BYU Fall Semester 1977 - with Janette and Cheryl dressed up to go trick-or-treating in Provo's upper-class neighborhoods (note the need for suspenders). Cheryl claims there were several male friends who accompanied them that night, but I don't think there is any photo documentation to prove such a theory.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Suzie Chapstick and Donnie Osmond doing a charity skiing event." -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Oh dear. Did Mom really ask you to scan these pictures? Pretty silly!" -- Jenna, 01-21-09
• "Cheryl looks so much like Jenna in the last picture!" -- Megan, 01-21-09
• "Did they really have skis back then? Really? Way back then?" -- Aaron, 01-22-09
• "Dad could probably sell that ski jacket for a small fortune at a vintage clothes boutique." -- Austin, 01-23-09

Grandma 'frets' over Guitar Hero performance

   Move over, Judds. There's another mother-daughter music duo making a debut - that would be Lori Taylor and Carole Olsen, the latter a-pickin' and a-grinnin' on the XBox guitar (OK, we made up the "grinnin' " part. Actually, Lori's contribution to the performance was shouting out colors for Grandma to press on the guitar. Don't worry, kids, your high scores are still safe.

   For the record, this was taken during Thanksgiving weekend 2008 in Provo. Coming soon to a concert hall near you.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Oh how I love this moment! My grandma is the coolest!" -- Jenna, 01-21-09
• "Granma is a rockin' and Louis is doin' a jig." -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Babies don't let your grammas grow up to be rockstars." -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Grandma: 'Let me try a good Perry Como song ... What? There's no Perry Como? OK, how about Mitch Miller then? Mormon Tab?' " -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "I had heard of such an event occuring, but I now have proof! Hopefully this dynamic duo will be making an appearance in our hometown. :)" -- Megan, 01-21-09
• "Is that Hendrix in the white shirt?" -- Aaron, 01-22-09
• "I don't think I signed a release for those ugly pictures of me. You'll be hearing from my attorney." -- Grandma Carole, 01-26-09
• "What a guitar player! I've had so many offers since they saw the picture on MTV: Oldest Grandma Guitar Performer on Earth." -- Grandma Carole, 01-26-09

Rocks on!

   Summer of 2007: On our way back from the James Family reunion at Lake Powell (at first, I typed "in Lake Powell - that was appropriate for some of us at some times; same for "on Lake Powell" ... but I digress), our family stopped at Goblin Valley State Park - about the same time as the Hunters, with a brief overlap. August is a hot time to visit Goblin Valley -- and mid-day at that. We tried to find a couple of geocaches and spent a lot of time scrambling over and around the rock formations.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Scott is the one in the back with the big nose ... Oh no, that is a rock." -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Minors ... not Miners - you are our only hope! Were you able to get a 'beryllium sphere' before being attacked by the 'Gorignak'?" -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Scott -- this wasn't Goblin Valley. This is actually when you visited the World's Largest Collection of Silly Putty in Nephi." -- Aaron, 01-22-09
• "I thought this was Mount Rushmore 2072, or maybe this is Utah's version of Mount Rushmore called BushNoMore." -- Alan, 01-23-09

'I'll get you, my pretty!'

   This is from Yuexiu Park in Guangzhou, China - where Cheryl and I were trying to kill a little Sunday afternoon time between church meetings and our flight to Xi'an. Guangzhou was our first city in the People's Republic of China, after our first stop in Hong Kong, and our first experience with poorly translated English signs. We could laugh ... but only for a bit, since our Chinese was even more limited. Our vocabulary started at "hello" and ended at "thank you," with little else in between.

Go 'Fourth'

   Nothing like watching a parade with your very own "skybox" view. This would be 1988, the Freedom Festival Parade in Provo, with Austin, Jenna, Cheryl, Megan? and Aaron at the Deseret News' old Utah County Bureau offices on the second floor of the Knight Building at University and Center Street. The parade route went right outside the window - it was a location that we used for several years until the Deseret News moved its Provo offices elsewhere. Nothing like Austin's expression of exuberance - looks like maybe he's ready to break out into a rousing rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Comments/suggested captions

• "This little blog is a fantastic idea ... I believe that is me. I don't remember it, but it would make sense. I love how this photo has all of the current Taylor grandkids in it ... and now there are so many more!" -- Megan, 01-19-09
• "Austin: 'I wish I was a real boy ... I am a real boy!' " - Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Austin: 'I have no idea where Billy is. I didn't push him out the window.' - Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Austin: 'Ten dollar ... ten dollar 2 foot long.' " - Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Hmmmm - I think I'll title this one 'Aaron Babysitting The Kids -- AGAIN!' " - Aaron, 01-22-09
• "Jenna: 'I know you're only 6, Austin, but you could really use some Right Guard about now.' " - Aaron, 01-22-09

A Mickey Mouse kind of family

   May 2008, we went to Southern California for Austin's and Laura's wedding reception in Apple Valley, Jenna and Tyrel's track meet at UC Irvine and a couple of days at Disneyland (Tyrel's first-ever visit!). Lori came with us and we crammed everyone into a couple of hotel rooms.

   Jenna, Lori and Austin/Laura - if you have any digital images of this trip, we'd sure like to get copies. Our digital camera was acting up that weekend (OK, we had some bad settings that we didn't discover).

Comments/suggested captions

• "I love Breanna's pose on the flume! Very nice!" - Jon S., 01-19-09
• "Flume ride comments ... Scott: 'Got my finger out of my nose just in the nick of time.' .... Lori (whispering to Jenna): 'Scott was picking his nose, switch me places.' ... Jenna: Ewwwwwwww!' ... Cheryl: 'Now it's my time to pick a ride -- Look out, Small World, here we come!' ... Breanna: 'I wonder if Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Bear really did exist?' ... Braden: 'I want mouse ears -- NOOOOOW!' " -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Ha, ha! I like Mitch's comments :)  I couldn't believe how real that fake street looked! We had to get so close before figuring it out!" -- Jenna, 01-21-09

Shanghai-ed web cast

     This photo was taken as Cheryl and I were in Shanghai and trying our first web-conference effort with Braden, Laura and Austin back at home in Provo. Reminds me a little bit of the movie "Back to the Future" when Marty McFly's siblings start disappearing from the family photo. Goodbye, Braden. See you later, Laura. You're next, Austin.

Comments/suggested captions

• "Why so serious?" -- Mitch, 01-21-09
• "Great - we leave for a few weeks and the family goes to pieces!" -- Aaron, 01-22-09
• "Hey, Mom and Dad, I need you to buy me a Gibson electric guitar so that I can play 'Johnny B. Goode' and save the family! Hurry!" -- Austin, 01-23-09 (Austin also included a web link to a YouTube video of the "Back to the Future" clip.)