Hi

I haven't posted much lately. Blogger has been giving me fits with my password and I have to have it reset nearly every time I log in for some reason. I've also been using Facebook more for posting photos and little updates for what I'm doing. So if you really care you can get a facebook account and add me as a friend to see what I'm doing. With a blog it seems like I should have something substantive to say, when I don't always. I'll still update this when I have something to say that's more than a few words, but it won't be as often.

Have a Merry Fesivus all.

A Couple of Unimportant Things

I took the Cutlass to a storage facility in Fremont two weeks ago. It's about 40 miles from Omaha. It's less than half the price of any place that I could find in Omaha, though. So we're essentially back down to a two car family. The reason to store the Cutlass was so that the Benz could be in the garage during for winter. I didn't plan on doing that when I first bought the Benz, but become so smitten with the car that I really didn't' want it to expose it to the elements full time. I've given thoughts of selling the Cutlass. The Mercedes is faster, handles better, more comfortable, more economical and safer. Plus it has a back seat that is usable for the boys. The only thing that the Cutlass has over the Mercedes is swankiness. Which isn't to be sneezed at. The Mercedes does have a cool factor to it, but it isn't the same. The layman can't tell a lot of difference between an AMG Mercedes vs. an average Mercedes. But with the Cutlass you have kids giving you the thumbs up when you pass them on the interstate. And really, who doesn't want to look cool to seven year old boys? In the end, I'll probably keep. I just need a bigger garage.

Brainwashing a 3 year old is really easy. Without much effort I've convinced Corwin that the Broncos are the only good football team on the planet. Last week the Broncos were on the TV, and I told Corwin that they were on. He got so excited and came to sit down and watch the game with me. For about 10 minutes, then he had to run circles around the couch. Now every time a football game is on TV, college or pro, he'll watch the TV to determine if either team has blue helmets with a horse on the side. If not, he'll ask who is playing. I'll say, "Oh, that's the Chiefs and Chargers." He'll say something like, "They're not the Broncos. They're bad." I'm a proud father.

Halloween at the Daycare

TV

Do yourself a favor. If you watch TV, try and catch Life on Mars. ABC at 9. It's the best show on TV in my opinion. Granted I don't have cable nor watch much TV, but it's bloody good.

Specialization is for Insects

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. -Robert A. Heinlein

Is Scotty a human or an insect?

I can change a diaper. I have a lot more experience at that than I’d prefer.
I think I could plan an invasion, but I suspect I’d do better if all participants involved were fighting with swords, crossbows and catapults.
I can butcher a hog. My 1.5 years working at Excel- a hog packing plant- in college finally pays off in a philosophical way.
I had to look up what conn means. To direct the course or steering of a ship or plane. I can’t actually conn a ship, but I can launch and dock a ski boat. Learning how to sail a boat is on my to-do list.
I could perhaps design a shed.
Writing a sonnet is right out.
I can balance accounts, but I generally don’t.
I’ve never built a wall, but Anke has. Perhaps she could help me.
I don’t think I could set a bone.
I’ve thankfully never had to comfort the dying.
I take orders daily.
I give orders daily.
I can both cooperate and act alone.
I can solve simple equations.
I analyze new problems regularly. The Analyst portion of my Programmer/Analyst title.
I can pitch manure, but I’m not volunteering for that job.
I write computer programs on a daily basis. The Programmer portion of my Programmer/Analyst title.
I can definitely cook a tasty meal.
I don’t know how efficient a fighter I am.
I’m hoping to live long enough for technology to make me immortal.

Family Pictures

I'm finally getting around to uploading some photos from the past month. Here is Corwin with Sparky the fire dog at Pancake Day.

Tony is kind enough to give Corwin a better view of the Parade.

Corwin and Conrad enjoyed playing with some the toys from the youth of Maurice and myself.

The Crane that Corwin plays with was Maurices. You can tell this due to it's less battered nature as compared to the dump truck which was mine.

Last weekend we went down to the Gifford Farm Fall Festival. Conrad watches the ponies while Corwin is waiting his turn to ride.

Corwin gets his turn riding the Pony. Corwin likes Ponies.

Conrad and I watch Corwin riding. Conrad will get to ride next year.

Corwin and a bushel basket.

The boys play at a water pump.

Corwin and Anke.

Giant tree.

Conrad and Corwin play one of the Xylaphones at Acorn Acres. When I showed Corwin this picture, the first thing he says is, "Conrad's not sharing."

Broken Hearted

Love is a fickle thing.

We went to Acorn Acres at Fontenelle Forest this evening with the boys. It just opened last month and is a sort of nature playground with a tree house, outdoor xylophones, digging areas and other things. Corwin met a 7 year old named Maddy and fell for her head over Chuck Taylor All Stars. They played together for a while. She showed him a cool acorn that was connected to two other sibling acorns. She went to play with her sister at the tree house and Corwin was yelling at the top of his voice, "Maddy! Maddy where are you?! Maddy!" He went off to find her and they played some more. 1/2 an hour later her family wanted to take a walk so she went with them. Corwin really wanted to go to, but it was time for us to head home as Conrad was hungry and it was nearing his bed time. Lots of tears and crying.