dhwe news you can use

7, 8, 9, 10, 11!

2011-11-17T18:28:00.001-05:00

Here we are at 11 months old. It's a long way from six months...Way back in July we took a road trip to Cambridge, MA, which was our first "long" car ride. We visited David and Ellen and Stella and Ben and Bob and Mary and saw Casey Afflek in a park and visited museums and ate delicious foodstuffs.

Val & Viv looking at the glass plants @ Harvard Museum of Natural History

Then in August we took a trip to Minnesota, which was Viv's first plane ride. We visited relatives and other babies and took stroller walks and ate delicious foodstuffs.

Val & Viv on Viv's first plane ride

Then, back in CT, we survived Hurricane Irene and 5 days of no electricity at our house. Not a real problem for Viv, as she is on a pretty reliable sunup to sundown schedule.

A downed tree on campus

In September, we took yet another, even longer road trip to Virginia, to visit Stef and Brad and Oliver and Burt, and to see Rebecca and Mike get married.

Another happy couple

September, which some of you already know was a crazy month for us. By this point in our summer Val had applied for, interviewed for, was offered, and accepted a new job at Duke University, and we were preparing to move back to North Carolina. Our plan was to be there by the first week in October, so Val would have some time to settle in before starting work. We did hire movers this time, to pack up our things and load the truck, then drive the truck, then unload the truck for us. Lessons were learned about this process, but it was worth it and I don't know how we would have gotten it done otherwise. Another post another time about moving.In the meantime, Viv has been eating more and more foodstuffs...

...learning to crawl and stand...

...and generally being helpful around the house.

We have had several adventures around the Triangle already, and it's great to be back around so many good friends in such a great area. Viv is getting a few more teeth, catching the cats more often, and generally in great spirits no matter what situation she finds herself in, and we are looking forward to the holidays, followed by Viv's first birthday in January.

I hope to get this blog back in order, but it seems blogger and flickr are conspiring against me to make it much more cumbersome to easily throw together text and photos to create a post. I'm not sure if I should give up on blogger for blogging, flickr for online image storing, or both. There has to be a better way. Stay tuned. Or check in every six months or so, same difference!

Six Months

2011-07-17T08:22:00.002-04:00

Viver-Liver @ six months

Viv (and the rest of us) reached her six month birthday last week, and we decided to begin some solid food feedings. So far we have done oatmeal and avocados with adorable, if not nutritive, results.

YouTube Video

She really seems to enjoy the activity of eating, and she occasionally holds the spoon and manages to not poke her eyes out with it. Next foodstuff will be banana, with, I assume, similar results.

We continue to go to work three days a week, and the car rides have been even more of a grab bag of emotions than before, which is good, actually. We were going through a stretch of always ending up upset by the end of the ride, but now she's just as likely to be asleep, upset, or awake and amused. That's progress, right?

Later this month we will be taking her on a longer car trip up to Boston, but that is a manageable 2 hours or so. The real transportation challenge will be her first airplane trip next month, going to MN to meet her cousins and all the other friends and family. I don't think it'll be too bad, but that is the attitude I have tried to apply to everything involving Viv, and so far we've been really lucky. We've had her out and about a lot more in the last month or so, and she has been great, very happy and social for the most part, even outlasting some other infant and toddler meltdowns at a picnic party that pushed her late into the evening. She is a really happy baby, and we are still shocked and grateful everyday.

So is life.

2011-07-02T10:52:00.001-04:00

So, working with baby, which I do 3 days a week, has been an interesting experience.

The commute, which is anywhere from 30-45 minutes on a good day, and over an hour on bad days due to weather and/or traffic, has helped erode any fears I had about driving with baby on board. Not a problem anymore, even when Viv is screaming and or pooping at 70 mph. There is lots of singing songs to soothe the savage beast, and even just talking to her can calm her down. My greatest fears now involve leaving the house without enough bottles or diapers in the bag.

Once we get to work, usually around 10 am, Viv is either ready for a bottle or a nap, sometimes both, which works out well for me. (She takes 30-60 minute naps throughout the day when we're not at home, and can nap for an hour or two at home in the crib.) I generally have time to get settled, check email and do some work before she wakes up from her first nap in the carseat stroller.

Post-naps, the bouncy seat is our first change of scenery, and I usually can place her on the nearest counter where I can interact with her while I work, or where coworkers walking by will automatically entertain her. She almost always has a big smile for them, and she seems to entertain them as well.

My boss even brought in a mobile to help with the entertainment. When we experience bouncy/mobile fatigue, we sometimes use the Björn frontpack, or I just carry her around the shop. Viv sits in my lap for a while pretty contentedly too.

After about four or five hours of the eat/sleep/entertain cycle, we are both tired of being at work, so we pack it up and head home. Timing of pre-commute feedings and diaper changes are crucial, especially since Viv has largely given up sleeping in the car. If all goes well, we can often stop for essential provisions on the ride home without a fuss.

I was hoping to work from home a little more and go in less and less, but three part-time days per week really isn't too bad, and I really like leaving work at work. Viv does exceptionally well most days, and I am thankful I was even able to consider rearranging my schedule to do things this way and be with her every day. We have pretty good times together.

Five Months

2011-06-13T21:59:00.001-04:00

Yesterday brought us to five months of life with Viv. The amount of things she has had to learn and figure out in that time is truly inspiring. It makes you wonder what you've done (other than try to figure out how to raise a child) with the last X months or weeks or days of your life.

The other thing she's got me wondering is what she sees when she looks at things, and how can that little brain be working that hard all the time, figuring things out, and still function? Overload would cause me to meltdown many more times a day than she ever does. I do realize that I went through a similar experience my self lo these many years ago, but I still don't get it. And to watch it happening right in front of me every day is incredible.

It's not always incredibly hard work, but it's the toughest job I've ever loved. To be this involved in the formation of not just a person in body, but a personality as well is a staggering responsibility, and I gladly play my part. I had no idea how gladly I would.

Four Months

2011-05-13T17:04:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Viv passed the four month milestone. She has been more vocal, more active, and more focused recently, and as long as she is napped and fed, she seems to be up for just about anything. She comes to work with me three days a week for between 4-5 hours each day, and she really enjoys being in the Baby Björn front pack, as long as I'm not sitting down.

She isn't sleeping in the car as much, but that doesn't make her upset, necessarily. She coos and babbles, and I sing to her or play music, and for the most part she enjoys the ride. Shopping with her hasn't been a problem, and it's honestly easier to get things done with her OUTSIDE the house than inside. Although she does like the Björn at home, or the park, or anywhere, really.

Monday is her next checkup, and another round of shots, so we'll see how big she is and how upset she gets. She is rapidly outgrowing clothes and her various seats. She is also just on the verge of rolling over. On her back she brings her legs up and tips onto one side, and on her tummy she lifts her head up and moves her legs back and forth, then usually sets her head down on the side and just sits there. A while back she was lifting her head and then kind of dropping it a little too hard back down on the floor, so it's nice to see the side head choice working for her.

Her hair is doing strange and wonderful things, as she started with brown hair which seems to be falling out on the back and sides as blond hair grows in on top. However, she does still have a fair amount of hair in the mullet region for some reason.

She giggles and "talks" quietly sometimes, and it almost feels like a conversation some days. Soon enough it will be, I'm sure.

"Why?"
"Daddy said so."
"Why?"
"Daddy said so."
"Why?"
"Daddy said so."
"Why?"

3.5 months

2011-04-30T09:05:00.001-04:00

What Viv sees.

It would seem that Viv honors a long tradition among our friends and family of favoring the kitchen as a room to hang out in. She enjoys the bouncy seat in almost any room, but she really watches and interacts with us when placed in the kitchen. I'm not sure at what age she will notice that 90% of our destinations are food related, but that will probably be ok with her as soon as she starts solid foods.

In other Viv news, she is smiling at almost everyone she meets (I won't name names), and her verbal squeals have gotten more intense. She really enjoys when we sing almost any song to her, and while she's not quite singing along just yet, she likes certain songs and will squeal, gurgle and coo.

Adventure baby has had a busy social schedule the last month or two, and has been accompanying me to work as well. As far as out of town guests, Auntie Laura and Grandma Mary Alice were here, then Kelly from NC, and then last weekend many ladies came to visit from down south, Angela, Jodi, Rebecca, and Stef. This morning we will see some local friends and this afternoon Viv will meet her as yet furthest flung relatives, my second cousin Tim and his wife Peggy from California will be stopping by. Viv has been great in the car, and has travelled quite a few miles already without leaving Connecticut.

Becoming a stay at home dad is tricky, as I am phasing myself out at work, but always on baby duty no matter where I am. So, work at home/baby at home, baby always wins, obviously, and the same when I take her into work with me. She does really well at work, and there are more people to interact with her there than just me at home, but I don't want to be at work any more than necessary, so it's not you, Viv, it's me.

Bottle feeding has gone smoothly as well, if a bit slow. I thought she wasn't interested in more than 2.5-3 oz. per feeding, but that might've been due to slow flow bottles or me giving up too soon. I've been giving her 4 oz. bottles pretty consistently the last few days, which will hopefully help her growth and sleep patterns.

Do I need to talk about her sleeping? It's hard, but then she wakes up in the morning with big smiles, and you forget how tired you are for a few minutes. Then that wears off and you consider investing in coffee beans.

More posts more often, I swear, as I dial down the worktime.

7 Weeks

2011-03-02T22:31:00.001-05:00

Thoughts...

• as challenging as the days and nights can be, I'm so glad to be figuring out our own schedule, together, at home, without medical complications for mama or baby. Good fortune.

• baby smiles fracture my heart, and then put it back together one size larger than it was

• oh, yeah, birth story "notes" — I had foolishly dropped off my Subaru the night before the blizzard labor began, so we braved the drifts in the little Corolla that could — shoveling the driveway at 4am while your wife is in labor is a great stress reliever — going from "hours of labor" to "hour of c-section" is not stress relieving as you might think — I can only imagine how it feels to have a nurse grab your breast while telling you "YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG" in broad daylight, but to be woken in the middle of the night by crying baby and suddenly experience a stranger kneading your breast, well, I just hope never to find out — I think I dug 2 cars out of 4 snowbanks that weekend...

• You can't take too many pictures. You can be this guy, and video everything for the first three years, but that makes you a cognitive scientist whether you started out as one or not

Happy Two Weeks!

2011-01-26T12:10:00.001-05:00

...to the sunshine of my life, even though all you do is summon blizzards!

A few rough nights...

2011-01-25T13:01:00.001-05:00

...makes for dizzy daddy. Between baby and perpetual snowstorms, there is no routine left. Just as things got settled in the house this morning, around 6am, a city plow went up and down our street three times, blaring it's airhorn each time it came across the one car that was not moved off-street. How is that helpful? I went to work and Val texted me later to say the plow had come by two or three more honky times until she called Public Works to complain. They said they would tell the plow driver to stop honking, but if we happen to see the neighbor with the unmoved car, could we ask them to move it? That's what tagging and towing is for, bitches! I know they get a little overzealous with it back in MN, but here it seems to be empty threats. Anyway, it only took me twice as long to get to work this morning, after saying goodbye to sleepy Val and wide awake Vivian. There was an upside down Jeep Wrangler on the first half of my commute, and two spinouts on the second half, and that's just with 2-3 inches of snow during morning rush hour.
Tomorrow is supposed to be 7-11 more inches of snow, with or without "wintry mix" included.

At least she's cute, right?

A Birth Story

2011-01-24T13:57:00.001-05:00

Here is Val's accounting, for your reading pleasure. I will post my notes soon.

http://navigatingthemothership.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-sisters-birth-story.html

Testing...

2011-01-24T12:04:00.001-05:00

Wake up, time to blog!

Can you see me now?

2011-01-02T23:01:00.001-05:00

If you see me in your feed reader, can I get a "HELLSYEAHRSSFEED" from ya?

Much appreciated.

Then I woke up

2011-01-01T23:37:00.001-05:00

1/1/11

I dreamt last night that Val and I were attending a benefit wine dinner. Sharing a table with us would be some complete strangers, Eric & Jen Maschwitz, and Stephen Colbert and most of his production crew. Entertainment was to be provided by Luther Vandross. We arrived, found our table, said hello to Jeneric (Colbert wasn't there yet, but his placecard was on the table) and I was spotted by one of the organizers, walking around with a clipboard. She approached me and said that my $50 cash that I paid for my ticket had been lost and I needed to pay again. I lost my shit and went off on her on how that was not my problem, until she dropped her clipboard and ran away. I returned to the table and enjoyed the wine and food and Vandross.

Somehow, there was a Vandross afterparty we ended up at where someone's grandma was instructing me on how to make paella (sp?) for the entire party. She was barking orders at me about what to cut up and add to the mix. I performed admirably enough apparently, grandma smiled and nodded, and we all sat down to another meal.

Then I woke up.

Best new sammich

2010-10-17T16:32:00.001-04:00

Kaiser roll with mayo, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and melted cheddar with arugula and misc. greens on top. Delicious!

September Saturday

2010-09-12T22:43:00.001-04:00

Spent Saturday sampling seafood, sand sauntering, socializing, speed spelling.

(Abbott's Lobster, Niantic beach walking, Bananagrams)

The blog is baaaaack...

2010-09-12T18:56:00.001-04:00

Composed and posted from my couch, via iPhone. Or maybe from my iPhone, via couch.

Location:Home

This blog has moved

2010-09-12T18:35:00.004-04:00

This blog is now located at doctorhectic.blogspot.com
You may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
doctorhectic.blogspot.com.

CHICKEN!

2010-06-02T22:02:00.001-04:00

CHICKEN!, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Testing...testing...is my FTP blog broken?

Hello there.

2010-03-16T22:31:00.002-04:00

Not much blogaction, but maybe you've heard the buzz about the terror to our nation's youth that is Chat Roulette?!?

Here is one mo-fo-mamma-jamma that has it all figured out. And yes, it may contain swears.

(As usual, props to swissmiss!)

Now is the winter of our discontent.

2010-02-01T22:46:00.003-05:00

Does discontent mean cold?

Two blog months on, two months off, I think I can safely recalibrate from here forward and just blog when I have something to blog about.

So, to catch up, my brother got married, our family marked the unhappy first anniversary of dad's death, we had a pleasantly snowy Xmas in Minnesota, and there were also excursions nearer our homebasebasecamp to Providence, Boston, and NYC.

I was at breakfast with family over Thanksgiving and my aunt asked if my cousin or I were interested in MorFar's (Morfar=mother's father in Swedish) trusty Voigtländer camera that she had possession of. Cousin Anne politely deferred saying I would probably use it more than she ever would, so a few weeks later I received the camera in the mail. The case was clearly well traveled.

The case had done it's job, along with a little help from a beat up skylight filter, all the moving parts seemed to be in working order and still movable.

I was thankfully able to find a manual online, as the original one that came with the camera had been misplaced and was also in German. My late eighties German skills are not up to the challenge of comprehending a late fifties instruction manual, even if said manual had been present. The camera has some very unique features, and I would have been at a loss to understand them. The film advance plunger, for one.

There is no winder, but there is that silly looking antenna thingie there up on top. I shredded some film sprockets on the initial roll I attempted to load, but eventually it made sense. Still looks funny. Next to set the film speed and interpret the meter...

Once you have those numbers, you have to set one of the many rings on the lens to the corresponding number from the meter, and the lens then allows you only certain shutter speed and aperture settings appropriate for the meter reading.

All in all, it is an incredibly well made brick of a camera, and the fact that it still functions as well as it does after 50+ years of existence (at least half of that unused, I'm guessing) is testament to that. And best of all, I got some nice photos out of the two test rolls I've run through the camera so far.

That last one is the Ether Monument in Boston. Awesome.

2009-12-01T19:37:00.001-05:00

Just overheard @ MSP "Hey man, no pain, no glory."

I guess that's true.

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NaNoWriNoMo

2009-11-30T22:59:00.000-05:00

Well, I crapped out for NaNoWriMo, but I did realize there are some books I should definitely be reading...

Shop Class As Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford

This is one I bought today, about the value of working with your hands, which fewer and fewer people do, but more and more people are needed to do. I'll report back.

There's also a history of the Replacements by Jim Walsh, and a new Nick Hornby book.

AND, if I can track a copy down, The Greatest Finnish Crime Novel of 2009!

(I'll update with links and such, but now I have to go to bed...)

Lesson learned

2009-11-29T23:59:00.001-05:00

The leftover stuffing from Thanksgiving dinner combined with leftover sausage links from Swedish pancake breakfast makes an excellent lazy Sunday lunch. That is all.

Multimedia message

2009-11-28T23:46:00.000-05:00

Somebody got married today.

I am thankful.

2009-11-27T23:38:00.000-05:00

that I didn't buy a damn thing today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T23:48:00.001-05:00

the pile up, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

From the top...
brussels sprouts
fresh cranberry sauce
mushroom stuffing
oyster stuffing
garlic ciabatta
garlic mashed potatoes
sweet potatoes
seared sea scallops
baked salmon
herby greens and cucumber on top

followed a few hours later by homemade pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream

Goodnight!

I am thankful.

2009-11-25T11:36:00.000-05:00

For The Muppets™. And The Queen®.

I wept.

Canton/Collinsville/Connecticut

2009-11-24T23:14:00.003-05:00

On Saturday we ventured northwest to the historic (everything here is historic) town of Canton, CT. Former home of the Collinsville Axe Company, among other things, this town is pretty cool based solely on the fact that they have turned most of their older downtown buildings into usable space for businesses, including the former axe factory.

We had lunch at the market/deli and then took in the Holiday Sale at the History Museum. Rhubarb bread anyone? Sorry, we ate it all already!

After the history, we wandered through the factory building that has been turned into an antique mall. Lots of fun stuff to look at, like Handy Henri, the sardine spatula!

Things were a bit overpriced, but that seems to be the way here, and that's based on my Midwestern antiques sensibilities. I did walk away with this refurbished clock that I kind of fell in love with, just for it's face.

I really love the numbers, the decoration, and the embossed weaving pattern. Someone gutted the original mechanism and replaced it with an electronic quartz movement, but it looks cool and it keeps time. What more could I ask for? Most of the intact original clocks were non-functional due to being overwound, and none of them looked this classy anyway.

More pictures of the character of Canton, as well as the clock, can be seen here.

Ahh, commiseration.

2009-11-23T11:44:00.004-05:00

My new favorite site is CLIENTS FROM HELL.

Anonymous postings from designers about designer/client discussions. I thought working in a quick print environment exposed me to the most ignorant, demanding folks, but I am now reassured that it is an industry-wide epidemic. Sigh. I guess I knew it all along.

(found via swiss miss)

Red...

2009-11-22T21:42:00.002-05:00

...cabbage is gorgeous.

Also, delicious with chopped kale, cucumbers and sesame dressing.

This combo forms a "salad" that will keep, refrigerated and dressed, for a couple of days, but remain crisp instead of becoming soggy. Quick to make, too.

There is nothing...

2009-11-21T23:06:00.002-05:00

...a falafel truck can't fix.

Especially after watching a musical.

SCORE!

2009-11-20T23:57:00.002-05:00

I stopped by the Goodwill for some project ingredients on my way home from work and found the following treasure, for 99¢, in a plastic bag.

A tattered instruction sheet...

...from a tattered box...

...that contained 10 pristine BOWLING DICE!!!

These black beauties each have one side with a gold ten-pin imprint. To play, you just roll and see how many pins you get. "Getting" a pin actually means you don't roll one of the gold pin sides up, so ten blank sides up is a strike. It took me about three rolls to get a strike. It's no Yahtzee™, but it's actually a pretty fun little idea. It could even make a comeback, it just needs a new sponsor...

Word on the street...

2009-11-19T23:30:00.002-05:00

...Elvis Costello is on the Colbert Report tonight.

Them bones

2009-11-18T22:30:00.002-05:00

My favorite piece of decor from Olivia's Friday the 13th birthday party was right outside the back door. I love the casual "just gimme a minute to get up" pose, like there is some kind of undead La-z-boy just underneath the ground.

Oh yeah, indoor Tiki Golf!

2009-11-17T22:13:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, because it was craptastic outside and because Dean was in town, we headed down to North Haven to check out Tiki Golf.

It was definitely NOT the greatest indoor mini golf experience I had ever had, but we had a pretty good time.

There were also plenty of arcade games. Y'know, for the kids...

And there were in fact a few rough-hewn tikis strewn about.

Also a sadly underwhelming volcano.

Despite the disappointments, Dean came away the under par winner, and while at it was able to get some more action shots of the proceedings.

Weekend

2009-11-16T23:55:00.004-05:00

Involved more adventures with Dean, including Tiki Golf. Indoor Tiki Golf, that is. Pictures forthcoming.

bridgexplanation

2009-11-15T21:36:00.001-05:00

From my local bridge expert...

"Hey Alex, those are concrete pier repairs. There is an expansion joint above that pier and at some point years ago it was leaking onto the concrete below. Allot of times leaking water will weather the concrete. Water will infiltrate the concrete and cause rust to form on the reinforcing steel 2-3 inches inside. The concrete will then become hollow and delaminated. Repair crews will go in and jack hammer this hollow concrete, nail plywood forms in place and pour in grout forming these patchwork patters. The surface concrete has no structural properties; it simply protects the reinforcing steel and structural concrete behind the steel."

Awesome. Much respect to Bridge Expert Josh!

Local optometrist...

2009-11-14T23:55:00.000-05:00

...squashes the competition!

Episode 666, or FRIDAY THE 13th!

2009-11-13T23:58:00.000-05:00

Muahahahaha! Post 666! on Friday the 13th! What does that mean!?

Nothing. Muahahahuh?

Seriously.

2009-11-12T23:21:00.001-05:00

Why wouldn't you want to have lunch with Tim Gunn?

A Farewell to Fang

2009-11-11T19:36:00.001-05:00

Halloween over!!!, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Decay had set in, so it was time for Fang to go to the trash. But not before a portrait on the hood of the Subaru.

Last night...

2009-11-10T22:13:00.000-05:00

...I dreamt I was accused of having flat cheekbones.

Dalmnation!

2009-11-09T22:35:00.001-05:00

Dalmnation!, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

(alternate title, "Wagon the dogs")

Wow...

2009-11-08T23:15:00.001-05:00

...this must be what it's like having a ghostwriter. I was all set to post something about the weekend, but here it is, all summed up for me already.

NaNoWriMo

2009-11-07T23:57:00.002-05:00

is hard, yo. It's hard to devote hours per day to it when I already have hours devoted to interneting, napping, and cats who demand attention.

It's all "points for effort" though, right?

I Got Religion?

2009-11-06T23:26:00.003-05:00

Well, musically that is...just returned from a show featuring Eilen Jewell and her opening act/backing band, The Sacred Shakers.

The Sacred Shakers are primarily roots Americana gospel, or something like that, ranging from covers of the more religious sounds of George Jones and Elvis to the Rev. Gary Davis and the Louvin Brothers. Great stuff if you're a fan of that gospel sound, or even the rockabilly/classic-alt-country/soul genres.

Eilen Jewell is a little more variety of covers as well as her fantastic original songs, which, to her credit, sound like they came from the same songbook as her inspirations. I picked up a CD of the Shakers and an LP of Eilen's latest work. The band even stuck around to meet'n'greet and sign merch! I had forgotten how much fun it is to meet the band and get stuff signed, especially after such a great show.

Check them out if you are a fan of, um, MUSIC.

Teddy goes home.

2009-11-05T22:43:00.002-05:00

Teddy has been staying with our friend Margery for the last few weeks, but tomorrow he is going to his new home, up in MA! Hooray! His adoptive parents will be able to give him plenty of love and attention, and he will return the favor. He is the sweetest cat we have ever had anything to do with, and he deserved so much to be rescued.

SUCCESS!

Regretsy.com

2009-11-04T22:28:00.000-05:00

It can be mean, but it sure is funny.

http://www.regretsy.com/

A pie is born.

2009-11-03T23:28:00.002-05:00

I was looking for a pumpkin pie recipe, and noticed that while they all contain pumpkin and various spices, there is quite a range of egg and dairy contents, including of course the none range. I ended up using a recently printed recipe from New York Magazine, which requests both eggs and dairy, but uses brown sugar instead of white sugar. I also threw in ginger, nutmeg and cloves instead of just cinnamon. We'll see how it turns out.

Anyone got a killer pumpkin pie recipe? Anyone substituted interesting things for eggs or dairy ingredients?

Happy Dia de los Muertos (Dos)

2009-11-02T22:09:00.002-05:00

It's day two of Dia de los Muertos celebrations, another day to remember those who have gone before us but are not forgotten, as for better or worse, one day is not enough for most people.

It is also day two of NaNoWriMo 2009. Are you writing? What's your word count? If you answered "yes" to the first question and "who cares!" to the second, then you're my kind of NoWri-er. This is my first year attempting to do anything and while I've had ideas in the past, I hope to get some stuff out of my system whether or not anyone ever reads it. It's a good routine to get into, writing everyday, as I slowly admit that I should be developing a more daily routine to my life. Makes it easier to get things done.

Gotta go write mo no.

Dia de los Muertos

2009-11-01T22:48:00.002-05:00

Whether celebrated today or everyday in some way, I think this is should be an important holiday for everyone. Personally, I remember friends and relatives that have died in little ways all the time, as I am reminded of things they enjoyed, or shared moments and events. I occasionally have dreams where I am having conversations with people I have known that have died. But to have a specific day not to just somberly remember but to fondly remember and enjoy the memories of those that have died is a great tradition that should be encouraged. It helps the living and keeps the dead alive in our hearts and minds.

Happy, and I do mean HAPPY Dia de los Muertos!

Episode 653, or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!

2009-10-31T22:53:00.004-04:00

Happy Halloween!

MUAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! What's got crazy fangs and is terrifying? Besides that pumpkin?! That's right...A SHARK!

Ok, maybe not my particular shark costume. Actually looks kind of cuddly with those cardboard fangs now that I see it from the outside, but the kids liked it, especially one chubby little Spiderman™ who came to our door and exclaimed "YOU'RE A SHARK!", all excited-style. We gave out all our candy once again, so I consider this another Halloween success. AND (!) this makes 31 daily posts in a row for one whole MO of BLOPO. Tomorrow starts NaNoWriMo, which I may or may not be taking part in, I haven't decided yet. Have to sleep on it. With an extra hour to think about it.

HAPPY FALL BACK!

P.S. If you want jack-o-lantern lighting tips involving no open flames (gale-force winds, anyone?) just let me know.

Happy All Hallows' Even Eve!

2009-10-30T22:28:00.002-04:00

I have no grand plans for Halloween, but if the weather holds we should have children in the neighborhood and the dispensing of candy is what it's all about, right? I do have a costume idea that has percolated in the last 72 hours or so, but I'm not sure I can pull it together tomorrow. We'll see, and if I do, you'll see...

Something Scarry for Halloween

2009-10-29T22:35:00.002-04:00

hangin' with Lowly, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Look, it's me and Lowly Worm hangin' in his Apple Car!

Golly I love Richard Scarry.

Reconnect

2009-10-28T23:48:00.002-04:00

Tonight I had dinner with someone I've known since I was, um, 6 years old. Since 1979. Someone I've known for 30 years. The guy pictured with me above, who is this guy, actually. I'm not a name dropper (and the chances you know his name anyway are slim, unless you are into nerdcore and/or a rabid NPR listener) I just think it's cool that we have had sporadic run-ins and infrequent emails over the past, um, 18 years or so since high school, but then ACTUALLY ended up living about 30 miles away from each other, about 1,200 miles away from where we first met. And had dinner. At this place. Names were dropped all over that place, and a fine time was had by all.

What's your Frantasy?

2009-10-27T23:36:00.001-04:00

What's your Frantasy?, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

That is a frantastic license plate.

Must be fall...

2009-10-26T23:28:00.001-04:00

The leaves in the trees are on fire...

...and the leaves on the ground are frozen.

Halloween Trial Run

2009-10-25T23:02:00.002-04:00

Had a little party to attend this evening, so I pulled together The Farmer™. I think it worked, so it'll probably work next weekend.

Val had different inspiration for her costume...

...our little friend Stella!

Soda Pop

2009-10-24T23:29:00.002-04:00

A strange institution in CT, and perhaps New England, seems to be small regional soda producers. Today we visited Avery's Beverages of New Britain.

Avery's celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2004, according to the banner outside the building, and from the looks of the operation, little has changed since their humble beginnings.

Soda flavors are available in new or old bottles, and you can purchase mix-and-match singles, six-packs, or cases. We even scored a half-case price, which was slightly cheaper than the price of two six-packs.

There are a few other Connecticut specific bottlers, but I'll have to report on them as I check them out. For now, Always Ask For Avery's.

Confession

2009-10-23T23:06:00.001-04:00

OOPS, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Forgive me Nintendo...it has been 184 days since my last Wii Fit session.

Project

2009-10-22T23:14:00.001-04:00

BUCKLES! I love watching Project Runway, but I do occasionally get distracted.

Haven't kicked the tires yet...

2009-10-21T21:18:00.001-04:00

...but here's a new "adventure" search engine to try out.

http://www.goby.com/

for finding events in an area near you!

For some reason...

2009-10-20T22:44:00.002-04:00

...on October 1, 2009, someone or someweb or somebot posted a non-referencing link to this photo of mine on flickr.

It had 95 views that day for some reason. I took the picture in April of 2007, in honor of Senator Ted Stevens and his amazing internet speech against net neutrality where he insisted that the internet is "not a big truck" but it is a "series of tubes."

There was even a techno remix of highlights from his speech. Ah, that never gets old.

Anyway, mysterious non-links to my flickr images are mysterious...

Fall in Connecticut

2009-10-19T22:10:00.001-04:00

the fallen, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

As per usual (in my 3.8 years experience), fall has involved magnificent foliage, a bit of snow and sleet, cold, cold rain, and some beautiful blue sky days. We're hitting the critical weeks where the leaves will become extra-gorgeous and then drop en masse from the trees. Today was the first day that it really smelled like fall outside, with the slightest hint of "leaf rot" in the air, as the first of the fallen start to pile up in the streets and various outdoor corners.

Grandpaws!

2009-10-18T21:42:00.002-04:00

We paid a visit to Teddy at his temporary foster home, where he has settled in nicely, and relaxed enough for a polydactyl toe count.

He's got paws like a yeti! Seven toes on each of the front paws and six on each of the rear. Thankfully he won't need them in the snow this year.

Kittens are cute. Fact.

2009-10-17T23:48:00.002-04:00

Kittens are crazy.

Kittens are sleepy.

Kittens are soft.

and sometimes a mailbox is MORE than just a mailbox.

We volunteered for a local cat shelter event today, and we didn't come home with a single kitten. Addiction is hard, but there is hope.

Upside/Downside

2009-10-16T21:52:00.002-04:00

Homeless Teddy came back! He actually was on our back porch the other morning, so I whisked him to the vet for a checkup. He wasn't thrilled to go, but he warmed right up to everyone once we got there.

The downside is that he turns out to be FIV positive, the feline equivalent of HIV, but has the potential to live out many happy healthy years as long as he is indoor-only and well cared for. Right now he is in foster care with a friend of ours, and has potential placement as a solo cat.

When life hands you Canadian cucumbers...

2009-10-15T22:58:00.001-04:00

Hendrick's w/cucumber, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

...make Hendrick's martinis!

Back from the dead!

2009-10-14T07:56:00.002-04:00

Halloween is coming right up! Spooky! Scary! And resurrected from the brink of extinct!?!? It's...it's...

POLAROID!

Muahahahahahahaha!

supersearedscallopstacker

2009-10-13T12:08:00.001-04:00

supersearedscallopstacker, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

From the bottom up...
ciabatta slice
brie slice
seared scallop
roasted garlic

Huzzah! The photos return!

2009-10-12T22:38:00.002-04:00

Figured out my lack of photos problem AND got a little film processed.

We had a great day yesterday, hitting O'Rourke's for breakfast and then heading down to NYC to visit the Brooklyn Bridge. Mom had mentioned it as a destination quite a while back and has probably watched the Ken Burns documentary a dozen times on PBS. I told her it was a two hour drive, and that was that. We drove down, drove across the bridge, then parked and walked across the bridge, had lunch, walked back across the bridge and got back in the car. It was crowded on the bridge, but a perfect fall day to be out on it.

All the pictures from Saturday and Sunday adventuring are now over on flickr, of course.

momwow

2009-10-11T23:33:00.002-04:00

We have been entertaining my mother this weekend, and I think we have her sufficiently wowed. We started off simple with Take-Out-Thai-Thursday after picking her up at the airport, followed by Fiore Friday, which was fine Italian dining. Saturday, however, was FILLED TO THE GILLS with activity. We actually put her to work, digging holes and planting bulbs over on campus for an activity Val organized. We followed that up with picking up Bethany and heading to lunch at Abbott's Lobster in the Rough, after which we sped northward to Cato Corner Farms for some delicious cheeses, THEN even further north to UConn to see an exhibit of various art created by Swedish Women, and ICE CREAM at the UConn Dairy Bar. Home again, after dropping Bethany off and a view of the sunset from the beach. Leftovers and martinis with Julia Child. End Saturday Scene.

Umm, pictures soon, as soon as I can get them outta the camera.

Hooray! More sheep!

2009-10-10T23:05:00.002-04:00

(Thanks to a new pogoplug software download, I have easy, reliable access to my external drive, and my Ireland videos, from anywhere I have internet access. Double HOORAY!!)

Fan base

2009-10-09T23:22:00.001-04:00

NYC construction, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

I have always enjoyed knowing that someone, somewhere has enjoyed seeing one of my photos, for whatever reason. I like it even better, I think, when it is a complete stranger. Someone I don't know just "favorited" this photo of mine today, and then when I clicked on the profile name, it turns out their entire photostream on flickr is construction equipment.

The first time this happened to me was way back, pre-blogger, pre-flickr, when I was keeping a simple HTML "online journal" on bitstream.net, and had posted an entry and a photo talking about how different areas of the country have different fire hydrants painted different ways, or even different names (fire plugs, anyone?) and someone contacted me via email saying something about how they enjoyed the post and the photo and were a fire plug fan in general. Somewhere I have that email (and my whole website) archived away, which I would have done anyway, but things like that from random strangers make it mean more as a shared experience, the creation and the consumption, so much more interesting to post, to blog, to share photos and ideas and even to possibly start and continue conversations and relationships that are as real as people I've known forever.

I don't care why you blog, but I know why I do.

It feels great.

Mom's in town

2009-10-08T23:43:00.003-04:00

So what do we do? The only real plans have to do with food and foliage, not necessarily together or in that order. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit drizzly, but other than that it looks like a nice weekend for her visit.

I was hoping to add another Irish video but my spare drive is not cooperating. Anyone else had issues with Western Digital drives not showing up on their Mac desktop? This seems to keep happening with this particular drive. Sigh. Sheep will have to wait.

More updates and photos as the weekend progresses.

I <3 google

2009-10-07T10:59:00.001-04:00

google celebrates barcode day!, originally uploaded by doctorhectic.

Today in 1952, Norman Woodland and Bernard Silver were granted the first patent for the invention of the original bar code.

I was attempting...

2009-10-06T23:34:00.002-04:00

...to upload a video of Val herding sheep in Ireland, but as blogger is not cooperating, or at least never completing my upload, I have to post this placeholder apology.

As the saying goes, "Math is hard."

This is a test...

2009-10-06T22:49:00.006-04:00

of the video to blog posting system. This is only a test...

(Val at the internationally less well-known "Running of the Lambs" in Ireland. Also, thanks to flickr for upload of video when blogger let me down.)

Stray Cat Strut

2009-10-05T23:04:00.002-04:00

As happens from time to time, and time again, we have taken an interest in one of the more unfortunate looking stray cats in the neighborhood. At least this one gets an "A+ for attitude", unlike the last one we took in.

I was calling him "Grandpa" because before he warmed up to us a bit he looked quite old. That was before we got anywhere near him and saw that he probably wasn't that old, just a decidedly homeless cat WITH TOO MANY TOES!!!

He has probably six or seven toes on each of his front paws, which make them look a lot like mittens. I saw him around last winter, walking across snowbanks with his giant paws, like, no problem. He is incredibly sweet and often very hungry.

Val has started calling him "Teddy", after Kennedy or Roosevelt I'm not quite sure, but I think I'll just start calling him "Grandpaws". We're going to try to get him in to see the vet one of these days, and then see if we can get him cleaned up and in to somebody's house before winter strikes again.

Good weekend

2009-10-04T21:51:00.002-04:00

Watching Julia Child talk about potatoes reallyreallyreally makes one want to eat potatoes.

Shredded potatoes mixed with 4oz. cream cheese, one egg, some diced cheese, and a splash of cream. It might not look like much, but once it finally sets up and you flip it over, like hashbrowns, it's delicious.

Our rainy Saturday evening was spent watching highlights from the first season of The French Chef with Julia Child on DVD. Fascinating, and shocking how every cooking show ever since relies so heavily on the same format. More food please!

Sunday we had a brunch date with Heather at Rose's Berry Farm, after which we stopped at The Old Cider Mill in Glastonbury. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the DONUT ROBOT (Mark II)!

They had cider, but they also had a tiny shack in the back that was busy producing apple cider donuts, pumpkin donuts, and what they called apple fritters, but what looked like this...

Delicious, but not the apple fritters I grew up with. There were also baby chicks and chickens, and goats as cute as puppies! I kid you not!

Well, maybe not as cute as puppies, but pretty cute for a goat. There was also some other equipment besides the Donut Robot (Mark II), so we had to take the tractor photo op.

Bethany was a good sport about it, but she was also holding all the bounty of the mill, which we were all pretty excited about.

We ended up with some sweet sweets and a perfect afternoon in Connecticut. Thanks Old Cider Mill!

On our way home we explored a bit and located the former brownstone quarry in Portland that has been turned into the Brownstone Water Park. This is but one small section.

According to Val the Public Historian/Librarian, this quarry was internationally "known for it's stone" back when brownstone was all the rage for building fireproof buildings. Many of the Boston and New York brownstones were sourced from here, and even the James Flood Mansion on Nob Hill in San Francisco came from right here in Portland, Connecticut. That dude was rich.

As promised...

2009-10-03T23:47:00.002-04:00

Some Harry Potter character actors in other outstanding roles!

Hagrid = Fitz in the BBC series Cracker

Moaning Myrtle = Isobel Sutherland in the BBC Scotland series Hamish Macbeth

Hagrid/Fitz is Robbie Coltrane in real life, and Myrtle/Isobel is Shirley Henderson.

More later!

Endorsement

2009-10-02T23:47:00.002-04:00

Just a quick last-minute post to share with you the brilliance that is the crime series "Wire in the Blood", available both in book and video form, and now streaming via Netflix. A bit gory at times, perhaps, but a great Brit drama with cops and criminals and profiling and the like. Check it out if you're into that kind of thing.

Coming up next, things from the UK that I've been watching that have actors from the Harry Potter franchise in them! Hagrid! Moaning Myrtle! The list goes on!

NoMoBloPoMo?

2009-10-01T22:42:00.002-04:00

I missed a day last month in my attempt to post every day, so new month, clean slate, here we go again.

Ooh, Heidi just compared an element of a design to a lobster bib.

Hard to stay focused lately. At work, at home, during blog posts...I have always had an interest but not the dedication to stick to a meditation schedule, in order to empty my mind, in order to sharpen my focus. I intend to stick to it this month, in various ways, and I will blog about it, mostly for my own recollection, which is primarily what I started this blog for, lo, these many years ago. Also to share my trials, tribulations and triumphs with friends and family far and near, but mostly to help me remember what happened, when.

Well, goodnight. Time to meditate.

The foliage is coming, the foliage is coming!

2009-09-30T21:49:00.002-04:00

I love fall, and I'm glad it is here, but I really, really, REALLY love that this map includes the word patchy, which I believe is only ever used to describe fog.

FEELIN' PATCHY!

Is it wrong...

2009-09-29T21:46:00.002-04:00

...that watching the National Parks on PBS just makes me want to buy a helicopter?

(Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching Ken Burns films, but I also like trying to identify the voice talent used. Tom Hanks, Sam Waterston, Tom Bodett, etc. in the last few evenings...)

My people are Nordic...

2009-09-28T23:10:00.002-04:00

Hmm...not a single t-shirt sale yet. Must be the lousy design. Maybe I'll just put a picture of this on a shirt with the "My people are Nordic" tagline.

SALMON, one of my favorite foodstuffs, is also one of the easiest fish to prepare, and I think we all agree, one of the most delicious. This fine specimen was seasoned ever so sparingly with salt, olive oil and dried dill, and left under the broiler for 10 minutes. It was then flipped, automagicaly removing the skin, and returned to the firey flames of the broiler for 5 more minutes. Before this all began I had been boiling baby red potatoes for 10 minutes or so. So nice. The salmon holds up well to broiling/grilling, with or without marinade/seasoning, but is also tasty baked at lower heat, and even, believe it or not, boiled, which we like to call poached. For some reason "poached" sounds better than "boiled" when you're talking about fish. To poach, which might just be the easiest technique, place fillet in a pot, add poaching liquid (I use W-A-T-E-R) just to cover, and apply high heat on the stove top. Pay attention, and when the liquid begins to boil, remove the heat and start a timer for 10 minutes or so. After ten minutes, drain the pot and you have some tasty ~~boiled~~ poached salmon. Some of the fat will boil into what looks like sea foam (or maybe worse?) but it can just be blotted away with a paper towel, or you can rinse the fillet after cooking. Serve warm, or better yet, chill and serve the next morning with bagels and cream cheese. Beware of cats.

Improv

2009-09-27T21:23:00.002-04:00

This fix does not inspire confidence in the utilities of New Haven.

The pole is attached to an adjacent pole, but then "leveled" with some additional bits of wood...

Clearly, this is a busy junction, and there are obvious signs that the work has been done recently, and perhaps as a temporary fix, but it sure looks bad.

I'll drive by again in the near future to see if anything has improved.

Today

2009-09-26T23:31:00.002-04:00

We went to Ikea. We went through Ikea. We got to the warehouey section before the checkout, and noticed the big ass fans up on the ceiling!

I stopped to take a picture while noticing what big ass fans they were!

Upon even closer inspection of the big ass fans, I noticed that they were, in fact, Big Ass Fans®

www.bigassfans.com/

Minor pallirondack chair update

2009-09-25T21:55:00.002-04:00

Just completed the primer coat for the main chair. This weekend I will figure out the arms and start the final painting phase. I hope to have this project done before it snows, but If not, I will sit in the chair in the snow, I promise.

It's time...

2009-09-24T22:06:00.003-04:00

...to revisit a specific book sale treasure!

You may recall bulletin boards from your school years, in classrooms, in hallways, and in the library. This book is specifically about library displays, both in schools and public, or even private libraries.

In addition to examples of display boards, there is information about lighting, spacing and materials and techniques. Including "LIGHT DISTRIBUTION ON A VERTICAL SURFACE."

Don't miss "SPOT vs. FLOOD - PROGRESSIVE LIGHT INTENSITY" including FOOTCANDLE values!

Also, ideas for seasonal favorites such as SEED CATALOG TIME!

And who could forget NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK? Coming right up in October!

PLAN ACCORDINGLY!

Vikings in the grocery store

2009-09-23T22:19:00.003-04:00

I stopped by the Stop and Shop on my way home for quesadilla supplies, and I ran into these two fellows.

Let's call them Dørg Hårmënskjarn and Svëntil Jørmgrüns, respectively. They come two to a package and in case you didn't recognize underneath all that regalia, they are made by the Playmobil toy company.

I grew up with Playmobil, and along with Lego sets and Fisher Price Adventure People, they were some of my favorite toys, often all at the same time, with buildings made out of Legos for the Playmobil and Fisher Price people to live in.

They are still some of the best made plastic toys in my opinion, and I just noticed that even though they all retain the same classic Playmobil faces underneath all their costuming, it does appear that Dørg could stand to lose a little weight, at least based on Svëntil's slim and trim figure...

That's right, Fatmobil. I guess in 1986 (thanks internet!) they added new molds to offer larger and smaller body types, besides the adult and child sizes of figures.

I'm glad Playmobil is still going strong, and still offering interesting sets. The little catalog that came with Misters Hårmënskjarn and Jørmgrüns shows an ancient Egypt series of playsets including an entire pyramid set. I also appreciate that they offer amazing sets that are just about modern everyday life. Like when your crazy cat lady wife complains that you didn't grill enough hot dogs to feed all the kittens...

Bridge

2009-09-22T22:03:00.002-04:00

This bridge that I drive under nearly every weekday has had some strange "repairs" done to it...

The support structures all seem to have been patched with very rectangular patches for some reason. My pictures aren't very good, but one of these jammy, trafficy, rush-hour mornings I'll roll by nice and slow and you'll see the crazy shapes. If you look at the far end of this one, you'll get the idea.

I like the way they look, but I'm not sure why they're there, or why the whole pillar structure wasn't just resurfaced entirely. Mysterious.

Another day, another hopper...

2009-09-21T22:08:00.003-04:00

This weekend was all about the backyard campfires, which I'm not sure can be called campfires. Back-fires, maybe? I was invited to a nice little gathering for Saturday night, which I believe was referred to as the burning, a much smaller gathering than the Friday night hotdogs&beer&carnivorousplants festival, but besides The Burning™ it also involved Jiffy-Pop popcorn and full-size smores, which I now believe to be essential back-fire activities.

The weather has been perfect, warm and sunny days followed by crisp and clear nights. This has meant a dramatic decrease in mosquitos, and a rise in the appearance of more interesting insects. Or maybe I'm just noticing more of them because I find them more interesting. Either way, this fine specimen of grasshopper has been on the front window at work lately, sunning in the afternoon.

The window is particularly great if, like me, you are intrigued by how these things are "put together", as you can see the critter from all sides.

Also, IT IS SITTING ON GLASS! VERTICALLY! ON GLASS!

Much respect, glasshopper.

Sunday self-portrait

2009-09-20T22:21:00.002-04:00

One from the archives, this time I even know where I was...Baltimore. After watching all of the episodes of The Wire recently, I have a renewed respect for the place, knowing that it's not all as awful as the series portrayed it. I'm sure it can be that bad, but the whole city isn't like that. It just couldn't be, right?

Right?

whoops, missed one...

2009-09-19T13:01:00.002-04:00

A busy day shouldn't keep me from posting, but social life trumps blog, I'm afraid.

OJ, (of A DONG fame) had some folks over after work yesterday for a backyard campfire. Hot dogs, snacks and beer all included. Also, X-Files style lighting effects.

It was a beautiful evening, with an interesting cross-section of personalities from OJ's social circles. Also, Olivia's carnivorous plant collection.

There was plenty of great food and drink, but I didn't quite have time to assemble the teeny-tiny ingredients I brought for teeny-tiny dessert. I did re-create the scene this morning, for your viewing pleasure.

Them there are some micro-mini smores and them there micro-mini-smores are tricky to put together, or at least I haven't figured out the best method yet. I did try a few minutes in the toaster oven, and it did add the right color and flavor to the marshmallows, but they are notoriously hard to control.

Clearly, more R & D is required.

IRELAND: Connecticut edition

2009-09-17T23:14:00.002-04:00

I do have more Ireland pictures and tales to tell, but tonight I was invited to a birthday gathering at the Old Dublin Pub, right here in Wallingford, CT. Thursday also happens to be the traditional Irish music night and is an open session for musicians.

The music was an added bonus, and they were even kind enough to play Happy Birthday when the cake came out.

The cake, by the way, was homemade by Josh's girlfriend Jenny, and was peanut butter with icing and a layer of fondant with stars. Also, it was amazing.

The session was busy, with at least a dozen different players over the course of the evening, including more than one pennywhistler.

That's Old Dublin Pub owner Paul Pender, jammin' on the whistle and running the session in that last pic. Awesome.

Still lost

2009-09-16T22:15:00.002-04:00

I ordered a GPS unit on Friday and received it today, but it doesn't seem to be able to find any satellite signals. Lame, not unlike this post complaining about it. I'll try it again tomorrow, and then probably send it back for a replacement.

Other than that, I have yet another weekend to myself as Val is off to NC and I am unable to attend. I was hoping to get lost with my new GPS, but I don't think that will work, so maybe I'll just get lost old fashioned style like I usually do.

On a vaguely related note, here is a blog about strange maps that I enjoy...

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/

tending to craze

2009-09-15T22:26:00.002-04:00

Stuck on Mad Men, Netflixing and watching online, struck by a season two line from Betsy Draper. Accused of being "profoundly sad" she replies

"No – it's just my people are Nordic."

Inspired, I turn to t-shirts. This is deserving of a finer design than I have time for this evening, but wanting to set, um, inkjet to cotton(?), I added a cafepress.com store to my roster:

http://www.cafepress.com/Nordic_People

If you're of the Nordic persuasion, and if you'd wear a shirt "explaining" your disposition, GET A SHIRT! Or wait until I have a finer design worked out. Right now it's all about the idea...

(Also, if you like cameras, or motorcycles, or maybe even d.h.w.e., I also have shirts for you. I mean, mostly for me, but also for you.)

Pallirondack update

2009-09-14T22:07:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure which Phase I'm on at this point, but progress is still being made, even though things are still a bit rough around the edges, the planning has paid off.

To see the chair, be the chair...

this project has legs,

and a backbone...

why, it's practically a chair already!

Here, I'll prove it...

Next Phase...ARMS!

Adventures in West Hartford.

2009-09-13T21:02:00.003-04:00

There was something for everyone at the book sale. Books to kill your coffee table, for example.

From the book sale, we headed to West Hartford with Jesse and Olivia, specifically to visit the largest Asian supermarket in the area, A-DONG!

We started with a late lunch at Pho Boston, which is a few doors down from A DONG, and right next to a Salvation Army Thrift store. Is it the perfect strip mall, you ask? Perhaps.

I had the chicken pho, but it was still the standard beef-based broth, and it was delicious. We went next door to the thrift store for a while, and then headed to the supermarket.

There were the usual items, but amazing quantities of them, and so much more.

Val found this gem in the kitchen items. Now I am a rich man.

If we know two things about bird mouths, we know they are clean and handy.

THANKS OJ! We'll have to go again sometime.