Trapped in the City Life

Sneak Peek of Mini Graphic Novel

2012-02-11T17:06:00.001-06:00

Here is a sneak peek of the miniature graphic novel I'm making for my daughter's upcoming forth birthday party. It is going to take forever to finish, but if all goes as planned it will be a party gift for her little friends. Sorry about the pitiful cell phone pic. I will try to post some quality peeks as things progress.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Shovel It

2012-02-09T23:15:00.000-06:00

The current state of my garden is a dandelion coup d'etat. The garden has suffered complete and utter neglect in which my bitter yellow-flowered puff ball adversary has stepped full force into the void. Something needed to be done. Therefore yesterday I struck out on my latest gardening venture.

Around a year ago, I read a book about an MIT grad who became shamefully aware of how completely technology has somewhat enslaved us, its users, and in an attempt to prove his hypothesis that less technology would lead to more leisure time, he joined a semi-Amish community for a technology-free year. During his year, he discovered the hardest labor was the wheat threshing, which was entirely for the survival of horses. The primary function of the horses was plowing the fields prior to planting. After a grueling season of threshing with men who were in far superior physical condition, the MIT grad came up with an interesting proposal. He suggested getting rid of the horses and just turning the fields with nothing more than hands and shovels, which although the notion was rejected, the others did agree plowing the rows by hand would definitely be easier than threshing.

This gave me a wonderfully terrible idea. Since a tiller cost around sixty bucks to rent, and since I have much more energy than I do funds, I have determined to hand till my garden this year with nothing more than these two mitts typing on this keyboard and my trusty Home Depot shovel.

I started shoveling yesterday....I might be done by April....maybe.

Oh Texas!

2012-02-02T10:58:00.001-06:00

First week of February last year:

First week of February this year:

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Dear Pigs,

2012-01-31T09:55:00.001-06:00

Thank you for bacon.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Happy Rain Day

2012-01-26T16:28:00.001-06:00

We celebrated a fun day of rain yesterday as it poured for the second straight day and our house was marooned on an island of flooded yard on all sides.

Next Generation of Super Nate

2012-01-21T09:50:00.001-06:00

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.3

Izzy - 2nd Generation

2012-01-20T10:37:00.001-06:00

This is my new Izzy character for the future more advanced second generation cereal box books. Tomorrow, I will show you the all new Super Nate.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.3

Heroes

2012-01-19T14:23:00.001-06:00

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.3

Winnie the Pooh

2012-01-19T09:23:00.000-06:00

A couple of nights ago my son got to watch a Winnie the Pooh movie we checked out from the library. Later that night at bath time he natural selected his Winnie the Pooh bath toys to play with in the tub. When he was all done taking his bath, he stood up and said, "I AM Winnie the Pooh." Then, he looked down at himself, had an Ah-Ha moment and said, "I HAVE a Winnie the Pooh."

Will Some Kind Soul Buy Me This?

2012-01-18T00:20:00.001-06:00

Here is some more awesomeness!

It is the Wacom Cintiq 12WX Pen Display, and I will provide the person who buys it for me with a lifetime supply of original artwork and sloppy kisses.

Image and Video from: http://www.wacom.com

Old School Delicious

2012-01-15T20:37:00.001-06:00

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.3

Yeah Rain!

2012-01-10T08:43:00.000-06:00

Rake Fight

2012-01-09T22:33:00.002-06:00

There is no tool or toy these two clowns can't find a way in which to torture each other.

Busy, Busy!

2012-01-03T22:45:00.001-06:00

Productivity levels have been fairly high over the last week here. I am finishing up two 4'x4' book shelves (the picture doesn't do it justice) for my kids' soon to be shared room, and starting to transition both furniture and the toddlers' minds for the big move. The boy will be moving into his big sister's room and the new baby should be here in about 13 weeks to take over the boy's old space. That should give plenty of time for the little creatures to adapt to their new cohabitation...hopefully.

A Christmas Miracle?

2011-12-27T13:15:00.002-06:00

The boy is wearing undies! So far so good, only one accident.

Sugar Up Santa

2011-12-24T14:24:00.001-06:00

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

Pre-Spring Restoration

2011-12-23T08:17:00.000-06:00

I love Christmas time, but as the hype builds to the big day I tend to loose a little enthusiasm. Especially years like this one, where family celebrations are held a week early. There is still a growing excitement spurred on by my children's growing anticipation of the special morning, but usually around this time I start shifting into the winter doldrums. However, the winter seems to bring with it some kind of magical mental restorations. During the heat of summer, every year, as my garden peters out, I am always overwhelmed with the desire to never garden again. I get sick of mowing, pruning, picking, watering, weeding and most of all watching my efforts disappear under the blazing rays of the Texas summer sun. Somehow though, the winter winds restore my lost passions concerning hard work. As Christmas comes to a close, all I can think of is mowing, pruning, picking, watering, weeding, seeding, fertilizing, and tilling under that hot summer sun. So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Pre-Spring Dreaming.

Here is What I Have Been Doing

2011-12-22T18:04:00.001-06:00

Hey it's better than work!

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

Samples of Latest Masterpieces

2011-12-14T18:14:00.001-06:00

Izzy and Nathan: Christmas Time

Super Nate and the Sneaky Fox

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

Next Food Network Star

2011-12-13T20:17:00.001-06:00

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2

Sinus Infection

2011-12-11T22:18:00.001-06:00

I am sick as death.

Eggnog Waffles

2011-12-06T09:34:00.001-06:00

We added some holiday cheer to this morning's breakfast by combining two of my favorite things: eggnog and waffles. Basically, I just exchanged the milk for eggnog in our usual waffle recipe. They turned out pretty good, and the kids loved them.

Eggnog Waffles:
2 Eggs
1 3/4 Cup Eggnog
1/2 Cup Oil
2 Cups Flour
1 Tbsp Sugar
4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

Heat up your waffle iron. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs. Then, add eggnog and oil, and whisk until combined. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth. Pour it in the waffle iron and done.

A Few More

2011-12-06T07:50:00.001-06:00

More birthday photos from the spectacular Melissa Hester

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1

Optimism

2011-12-04T21:31:00.001-06:00

I was at work today and had a sudden strong wave of optimism...weird. We used to be such close friends, but somehow we have drifted apart over the last couple of years. I miss you. Please visit more often.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1

Nathan's 2nd Birthday

2011-11-30T20:58:00.001-06:00

The boy had a good birthday. We made a ton of stuff for it (which, in my opinion, was a little over the top for a clueless 2 year old's birthday, but hey, I'm just the dad...my job is to shut up and color).

Are those boobs??

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T20:42:00.001-06:00

My belly is full. My mouth is happy. My eyes are sleepy.

The Matrix

2011-11-20T07:59:00.001-06:00

I believe living in the city is like living in the Matrix. Even if at some point you were aware the Matrix existed, as the years pass you slowly forget there is a better world out there. The family and I are currently unplugged from the Matrix enjoying a week in the country. Yesterday, the toddler, the preschooler and I went walking across the pasture and during our journey back to the farm house black clouds invaded the sky above us. Strong winds began to blow and tiny sprinkles touched the tops of our heads. We all stood silently for a couple of minutes listening to the sounds of coming rain, and honestly, I felt more real and at peace in that moment than I have in over a year. The city provides a lot of fun and excitement, but the one thing the "Matrix" cannot simulate is the perfect silence and speech of nature. I could tell my kids were more in tune and enthralled with those 2 minutes of standing still and silent than with anything the toy section at Target or cartoons on TV can offer. All three of us had a wonderful reminder of life outside the walls of the city. I continue to long for the day I am free of its prison, but for now I will soak up this temporary parole, and prepare my stomach for shovel loads of Thanksgiving grub.

Estrogen Overthrow

2011-11-16T19:24:00.001-06:00

Today's ultrasound trumpeted a regime change in our little house. After two years of gender-balanced power sharing, the females now have the upper hand. It's a girl! In approximately 13-14 years, the boy and I will go into hiding.

Some Friends

2011-11-14T15:51:00.001-06:00

He Cracked the Wrong Nut

2011-11-11T20:33:00.001-06:00

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1

My People

2011-11-09T20:25:00.001-06:00

I'm excited about seeing all of these characters at Thanksgiving!

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1

Mission Successful

2011-11-01T15:30:00.001-05:00

They made an impressive haul.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0

Mission Candy

2011-10-28T10:54:00.001-05:00

The primary purpose for my ever having kids has arrived. Halloween candy. Handy Manny and Rapunzel have finally reached the age of usefulness. They have been given specific orders to hunt down as much candy as possible over the next few days, and return home for Dad to take first pickins. And, much like our government, the more they earn the greater the Dad Tax levied against them. Halloween just got sweeter.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Halloween Bracelets

2011-10-23T10:05:00.001-05:00

Made these in about 15 minutes before church.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Kryptonite for the Lactose Intolerant

2011-10-23T09:02:00.001-05:00

Yet I still can't help myself.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

As Expected

2011-10-20T19:10:00.001-05:00

Here are all my main people in the obligatory October blog post Pumpkin Patch photos:

Quality Reading

2011-10-15T13:28:00.000-05:00

Reading is kind of big deal around our house. We do not have cable TV or video game systems, and we actually care about being intelligent (unlike the surprisingly large percentage of society). We enjoy our regular trips to the book store, although we seldom buy their overpriced books. Typically, we go with library books or the local thrift store and Goodwill where the children books are 10 for $3.00. However, during our recent travels through Barnes and Noble, Nathan has started gravitating away from the overly annoying Elmo/cheesy section toward some new style books. What can I say, the boy has excellent taste in literature.

Five Guys Burger!

2011-10-11T21:23:00.001-05:00

Good luck finding one better.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Just Like Her Dad

2011-10-09T09:13:00.000-05:00

Latest Publication

2011-10-08T10:47:00.000-05:00

Well, there is still no word from the book agent concerning the future of the Cereal Box Books, but creation continues. I have been wanting to take Isabel to the movies, but given her natural aversions toward large crowds of strangers and loud noises, I figured a book about going to the theater might help break her in to the idea a little easier than the harsh five sense explosion of the modern movie experience. And, who better to teach a lesson than Zoë and Izzy.

Just About Perfect

2011-10-04T09:23:00.001-05:00

I am fairly certain that a fifty-seven degree morning filled with greasy crunchy bacon (not that weak turkey stuff but real bacon), homemade biscuits smothered in gravy and a couple of steamy aromatic mugs of coffee is as good as it gets. Especially, when both toddlers are being sweet and loving toward each other, the three month pregnant wife with pneumonia is feeling better and today is my Friday! I think Autumn is a perfect excuse to celebrate anything. I want to have a giant party. I want to go buy a zillion pumpkins. I want to hang paper bats from the ceiling with Isabel. I want to just sit on the porch and visit. I want to start making and buying Christmas presents. I want to go running. I want to drive a tractor pulling a trailer filled with laughing people sitting on quilt-covered hay bails. I want to sit around a fire pit in the back yard with friends. I want to smell a pot of chili cooking. I want to go camping. I want another cup of coffee.

Block Lamp

2011-10-01T10:19:00.001-05:00

My son decided to wreck shop on our previous lamp in a manner worthy of a wrestling ring. Therefore, I took the guts from the old lamp and built a new one. I cut a bunch of squares out of an old 2x4, drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the center of each square, sanded all of them, stained each one, and glued them all together. I attached it to a base and ran the wires up through the drilled holes. After an unsuccessful search for a good lamp shade at the thrift store, we settled on the cheapest one from Target. Taadaa new mid century-ish lamp.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Space

2011-09-28T16:17:00.001-05:00

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion."
- Henry David Thoreau

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Monster Feet

2011-09-27T13:27:00.001-05:00

Her hair is almost as monsterous as her feet.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Good Morning

2011-09-22T09:15:00.000-05:00

Revived Chest

2011-09-20T12:53:00.000-05:00

While digging through a storage barn at my parents' farm, I discovered an old rat turd and spider infested chest of drawers. The chest was chipped up dark green and had some internal and external damage. I hauled the nasty thing out of the barn and over to my dad's workshop where I originally thought I would just sand down the chipped paint areas and paint over the whole thing. However, when I started sanding, the paint came off easily to reveal a nice wood grain underneath.

The game plan then changed: Sand/scrape off all the paint to return the chest to its original wood. Initially, that seemed like an easy task, but the beveled edges required some serious work. My dad and I meticulously sanded the tiny beveled areas using a Dremel Tool, a chisel and pieces of sand paper wrapped around a specially angled piece of wood.

Next, I stained the whole thing using Minwax Early American wood stain.

Once I got the dresser home, I slathered on 2 coats of polyurethane with a light bit of sanding in between coats. Here is the finished result. Not bad for a former piece of forgotten junk... Sorry the picture kind of sucks.

No More Prune Brain

2011-09-19T22:45:00.001-05:00

I know some of you have been looking at this blog lately and been wondering, What the heck is going on here?! Where is all the cool stuff...the crafty junk...the furniture flips...the garden pictures? Settle down, despite the fact my home has been a den of sickness and despair for the last month from wince there is no escape (everyone, except me, has been on a nonstop cycle of puking, coughing, snot dripping, and general disgustingness), I actually have been working on some things. I will try to share the latest creations/recreations in the next few days. As is the case every Autumn, the cool winds begin rattling the leaves off the trees and the dust off of my stagnant Summer dried up brain. The forecast is showing a cold blast of creativity on my horizon.

P.S. The running preparation for my 25K has been steady so far...a steady beat down.

Insane

2011-09-17T09:48:00.000-05:00

In my quest to find some sort of motivation to stop, and possibly reverse, the growth of my ever increasing midsection, I, during a moment of temporary insanity, signed up to run the Rocky Raccoon 25K. Let me just say, the start of training has reminded me why fat boys prefer donuts over running. What a beat down! It is unfathomably difficult to remember that once upon a time in a galaxy far far away I used to be a skinny great runner who loved this stuff.

Attention Fiscal Liberals

2011-09-13T18:43:00.001-05:00

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

- Thomas Jefferson

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

The Latest Masterpiece

2011-09-09T13:15:00.001-05:00

Copies of almost all my little homemade books were mailed to my book agent/relative. Now I just wait and see.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Goodbye Summer

2011-09-05T09:06:00.001-05:00

You had your good moments summer, but over all I hated you. What I love is a 45 degree temperature drop in two days!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

The Prize

2011-09-01T19:56:00.001-05:00

Yeah, it's a golden donut trophy. I am in a fantasy football league with a bunch of fellow cops, and our league was self-depricatingly named "Glazed with Sprinkles." Therefore, we thought the Golden Glaze was the most appropriate trophy. Needless to say, the trophy shop had never received a donut topper request. So, I swiped one of the rings from my kids old stacking toy, spray painted it gold and glued it up top.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Mad Men

2011-08-27T16:17:00.003-05:00

How is it possible for a show to be this great?

*Image from amctv.com

...I Know.

2011-08-25T07:45:00.001-05:00

I have officially crossed over. Most commercials no longer seem aimed toward me. I perceve the majority of top 40 music as overwhelmingly juvenile. I hate the mall with a dark passion...and i own a minivan. Thomas is dead, I am every middle aged Dad.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Ms. Sugar Lips

2011-08-21T16:01:00.001-05:00

This cheesy new puppet I made, Ms. Sugar Lips, was an instant hit with the 3 and under demographic of our house...she is a very good cookie baker.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Two Sick Little People

2011-08-20T07:44:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Super Nate!

2011-08-17T15:52:00.001-05:00

This is a canvas I stretched about a year ago and had painted some birds on it to brighten up Nathan's overly brown room. I saw a painting similar to this new one online so I figured I would give it a shot. Nocona and I made Nathan a blue Super Nate cape a few weeks ago which he loves to wear all the time. So, I thought it would be a fun touch for him to wake up each morning to a giant painting of his super hero self.

In other art related news, I have a book agent! Actually, it is a relative of mine who has been in publishing/editing for years. She saw some of my "Zoe and Izzy" Cereal Box Book series, and said she thinks they have a great shot at being published! I'm not holding my breathe, but it would be awesome.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

It is Official

2011-08-14T20:04:00.001-05:00

This summer sucks.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

A Boy After My Own Heart

2011-08-10T10:32:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Close Encounters with Friendship

2011-08-08T12:15:00.005-05:00

My buddy and I were talking at work the other day about the strong possibility of both he and I relocating to a department in a new city. His purpose involving closer proximity to his children - mine involving my obviously constant need for change and inability to settle down along with the need to get my family away from this hell-hole of a city with some of the worst schools in the state (aka gang breeding grounds). In our discussion, we were both sharing our longing for quality guy friendships - a group of friends that live life together - playing fantasy football, eating dinner with each other's families, enjoying holidays, watching ball games, drinking beer, talking tons of trash, raiding each other's refrigerators, engaging in deep conversations, going to the movies and just hanging out together. You women reading this are thinking, So, just do it. But, with guys it is just not that easy. Sure, when we were young, the relationships came easy as we were packed into the same classes and suffered together through two-a-day football practices, but somewhere during adulthood we develop a kind of built in force field preventing close encounters with friendship, and for some reason my force field is a lot thicker than most. What is the matter with us guys?

Testosterone Overthrow

2011-08-03T18:06:00.002-05:00

I have been spending entirely too much time lately dancing ballerina dances, sewing and playing dolls. I consider myself a progressive man when it comes to tolerance for and acceptance of feminine interest, but today has been the day. The day when the testosterone coursing through my body has had enough! Enough sewing! Enough Swan Lake! Enough dolls and damn singing toys! Oh NFL season, hurry up! I am in serious medical need of a strong football IV drip along with a prescription-sized giant bag of fatty ass potato chips (not those crappy baked organic junk), beer, cow meat, and man time!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Stupid Hot

2011-08-02T21:51:00.001-05:00

I am not sure which is more ridiculous: 112 degrees at 4:30pm or 103 degrees at 9:15pm.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Celebration

2011-07-29T10:57:00.005-05:00

Quality Lunch

2011-07-28T11:30:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Rob Bell

2011-07-27T15:11:00.003-05:00

For those of you who know what I am talking about or care: there is a strong probability Rob Bell is right. Give him a chance. I wish people would spend less time throwing rocks, and spend more time in contemplative thought.

TV Characters

2011-07-25T10:32:00.002-05:00

I think we like TV show characters so much because they don't sit around watching TV shows.

Vegan I Am Not

2011-07-23T12:54:00.003-05:00

According to my kid's new pediatrician, my daughter has a mild milk protein allergy. So, we have been experimenting with new faux-dairy products. Let the record reflect, I would rather eat fresh turds dripping straight from a cow anus than eat raw vegan cheese ever again.

Chalk Board from Trash

2011-07-21T13:09:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Sunset Gyrations

2011-07-17T12:16:00.003-05:00

As I was driving around at work a couple of days ago, I glanced over in the direction of an old abandoned gas station, which has been a petri dish of growing trouble, but what I saw was not the ordinary riff-raff. I wasn't exactly sure what I had witnessed wizzing past at 45 mph. So, I decided to make a tight u-turn and take a closer look. What I initially assumed was an early twenties aged female having some sort of seizure or psychotic break down turned out to be dancing. As I pulled up and got out behind the young lady, I realized she was was apparently gyrating to the music coming from an abnormally large set of white earphones strapped atop her head. Although, given the dancers eclectic nature of stripped, polkadot, multi-layered and odd colored clothing, the giant headphones were somehow very fitting.

I introduced myself, and asked her what exactly she was doing cutting such a passionate rug in the middle of this abandoned parking lot next to a busy roadway. She motioned toward a large open field to the west of where we were standing. The orange and yellow Sun was hanging just above the horizon in the distance.

"I was just driving, and when I saw the Sun setting I thought it would be a good idea to stop and dance," she said without even a hint of humor or sense of abnormality concerning the deviation of the presented action from social norms.

"Okay," I responded not sure what else to add.

With unflinching eye contact and a sweaty endorphin-filled smile she asked, "Is there a problem with me being here?"

"Yes," I said, "The owner of the property does not want anyone to be here."

"Okay, I have a Plan B," she proclaimed with a overly cheerful tone, and with that she hopped in the driver's seat of her car and sped off to her next spontaneous dance date.

Oscar Winner

2011-07-15T08:11:00.001-05:00

Living Outside

2011-07-14T09:07:00.003-05:00

*Song: "Come On, Come Out," A Fine Frenzy

Strike 3

2011-07-12T11:43:00.001-05:00

I'm out. Car broke down and is currently on its way to the dealership via an $80 tow truck ride. I think I am going to go find a ditch to crawl into and let myself slip into a deep dark depression.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Shirt Done

2011-07-11T12:18:00.002-05:00

We have ten thousand buttons, but no five are the same. So, I decided, in my ongoing quest toward saving money, rather than buy new buttons I would just make my own. I used my miter box and saw to trim these little button disk off of an oak stick found in the backyard. I then used a 1/16 drill bit to make the 4 thread holes in each button. Turns out the buttons are my favorite part.

Cheap Art

2011-07-10T15:56:00.001-05:00

I am almost done with this button-down collar shirt for the boy. I have never attempted to make anything this complex before. I made a rough pattern from one of his store bought shirts and started chopping it out of some $1.25 remnant fabric. So far so good. I just have sleeves, pocket, and buttons left. I was seriously concerned about button holes but then I discovered Nocona's sewing machine has a magic button hole making setting which is easy enough for a monkey to use, and surprisingly I actually figured it out.

I used to disregard sewing as a chick hobby, and I even recall my own boisterous insults and laughter thrown at my brother when he learned to use a sewing machine several years back. However, now I see sewing as a true art. It is an exceedingly difficult expression of creativity. I value artistic ability above most other attributes , but it is the frugality of sewing that entices me learn and try more. We are talking about a tailored button-down collar shirt for under two bucks and less than a half days work.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Heavy Load

2011-07-07T17:18:00.001-05:00

Strike 1: Yesterday computer died.
Strike 2: Today washing machine bought the farm.

If there is a strike 3 I will be declaring bankruptcy and moving into a handmade stick-hut in the woods. Life hates me.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Cherries

2011-07-06T18:11:00.001-05:00

I just bought a giant 3 pound bucket of sweet cherries at my local market for $1.99! Boom!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Things

2011-07-06T16:15:00.003-05:00

It's been a while, here is the synopsis: took the family to the country for a few days, helped my mother weed eat, helped my dad build additions to his ever expanding grandkid playland (which included new A-frame for more swings, a new stairway, and a fancy mach-7 slide), put together an impossible outdoor screened living room in impossible afternoon heat, wrote/illustrated some new Zoe and Izzy "Cereal Box Books," helped set up for a giant annual 4th of July family party, drank buckets and buckets of water, watched kids swim, watched the boy entertain a bunch of people, watched the girl hide behind any available object to avoid people, had good conversations with people, spanked everybody's butt in some horseshoes (yes, Matt, forfeiting to me does count as getting spanked), took the boy on a tractor ride, watched Nocona take the boy for a tractor ride, watched my dad take the boy for a tractor ride, took the boy for another tractor ride, watched the boy beg for more tractor rides, ate a good burger, ate some good brisket, ate some good hotdogs, ate some good sausage, ate some good soup, ate too much, picked some tomatoes, relaxed, sat on the porch listening to rain, ran around in the rain, made some chocolate chip cookies, played the piano, watched kids bang on the piano, watched some Pawn Stars, said goodbyes, went home, watered pitiful petering out garden, picked tomatoes, picked cucumbers, picked peppers, tried to play on computer, realized computer is a piece of crap, backed up all my computer pictures and files, bought a refurbished Macbook, went to work, watched some Netflix, and finished typing this before this old computer blacks out again.

*Computer did end up dying before I could finish this post. I had to finish with my phone. That computer is only 2 years old! People have no pride in their creations. Patooey on Compaq!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

How's it Hangin?

2011-06-29T17:51:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Minority

2011-06-25T21:06:00.001-05:00

I wholeheartedly believe the stupid people are the overwhelming majority, and they seem to be reproducing at an alarming rate.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Mini Harvest

2011-06-22T16:31:00.001-05:00

I have been harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers by the bucket load every day for the last month, and I just pulled up about 20 pounds of white potatoes. But, oh the corn...all the tilling, planting, watering, weeding and waiting for one sad little plate of corn kernels, which I just cooked in the microwave and ate in approximately 6 bites for me and 2 for Izzy. I am pretty sure I planted more kernels than I harvested.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Crying in the Corn

2011-06-21T15:52:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T14:25:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.1

Wild Beast

2011-06-18T15:51:00.001-05:00

"Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable."
- Plato

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.1

Progress

2011-06-16T12:01:00.003-05:00

Like the early settlers, I have been slowly and methodically carving away the wilderness. My goal is to clear out all of the underbrush, which will allow us to actually utilize the area under our vast number of temperature reducing shade trees. Next up is building a picnic table, and possibly adding features to the treehouse.

Hay Ride

2011-06-13T12:46:00.004-05:00

Nocona and the kids had the unique opportunity to experience some neighborly community which has, for the most part, long since passed away from city life. Our neighborhood, which is actually a tiny city within a big city, celebrated its 75th anniversary this weekend. I applaud the small community for not allowing itself to be swallowed up in incorporation with the super giant surrounding it. Unfortunately, I had to work every night of the celebration. But, there were hay rides, face painting, live music, old fashion dances in the street, and after dark black-and-white movies in the park. The very essence of summer. The very essence of community at its best.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.1

Shorts

2011-06-09T17:31:00.003-05:00

Knocked out this pair of shorts for Nathan today to match his sister's skirt for our family's Annual Around the 4th of July Party, but they turned out to be a little tight on his fat butt. They do fit, but not well. I'm pretty sure I would be voted off Project Runway. I just picked a huge bunch of tomatoes and some onions, which are now chopped in halves and are roasting inside the oven in the first stage of some Tomato-Basil Soup. The lawn is mowed, the projects completed, the beer is drunk, the dishes done, the kids cleaned, and the weekend* almost done.

*My weekend is Wednesday/Thursday.

Testosterone Tailored

2011-06-08T15:40:00.001-05:00

I have been a sewing machine the past few days. I have made three simple skirts for the girl and a pair of shorts for the boy. As it turns out, the skirts are excellent for bug watching and monster-zombie impressions, thus revealing the hidden testosterone in the stitching.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.1

Who's the Girly Man?!

2011-06-06T10:25:00.001-05:00

I just made this for Izzy. Shut up, I know its girly to sew, but it was simple, fun and super fast (less than an hour).

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

A Summer Picnic

2011-06-03T22:56:00.000-05:00

...OK Maybe Not So Serious

2011-06-01T14:17:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Serious Superhero Face

2011-06-01T14:14:00.001-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Customized Kids and Minimalization

2011-05-29T22:52:00.006-05:00

I wish disciplining children was easier. It sucks! Why can't they just come with built in obedience and a constantly sweet-nature? I can tell you right now those are not standard features on my models. I guess we will just have to keep pushing through the pains of this early childhood consistent customization process.

In a separate, but somehow vaguely related note, I have been spending a significant amount of time wishing for a more Amish-esque lifestyle lately. The book I have reading delves deeply into the relationship of technology with human productivity and overall happiness. I am in no way an anti-technology/industrial revolution nut (which should be self evident in the fact I am typing this on a laptop computer right now), but I do believe most of us are in a state of serious techno overdose. Technology makes a significant portion of our lives better, but how much of it is making our lives worse. Are there less dishes in the sink because of my automatic dishwasher? Is the laundry pile smaller because of my washer/dryer? Do we have to work out at the gym twice as long because we ride a mower instead of push one? Do we appreciate food more because we can push a cart down an isle gathering a months worth of groceries within minutes instead of months spent in dirt by hand and sweat? Are my machines working for me to accomplish necessary menial daily tasks quicker, or are they just creating additional unnecessary menial tasks? Do I control the technology surrounding me, or is it controlling me?

I am ready to slow down and get off this bullet train. I want to raise a barn with family and friends. I want to read books under flickering lamp light after finishing my job each day with tangible results and satisfaction. I want food that traveled no more than 100 yards to my plate. I want to socialize on a front porch or just sit there listening to creatures around me. I want to milk a cow twice a day. I want to not feel the need for a vacation to get away from it all. I want to walk to the local store (without carrying a gun). I want peace and quiet, callused hands, and meaningful relationships. Can any of my technology do that?

*Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Barn_raising_in_Lansing.jpg

Gasless

2011-05-27T11:36:00.004-05:00

I once knew a guy who told everyone his Halloween costume was the scariest thing imaginable, and then he showed up to the party wearing signs front and back advertising unleaded gas at $4/gallon. He stated he was "rising gas costs." As our local fueling stations' cost per gallon nears four bucks, I say kiss my butt gasoline. I own a reel mower, a bicycle and some muscular strength. Drinking water is a heck of a lot cheaper than a fill up at the pumps.

Our Park

2011-05-25T13:18:00.001-05:00

This is part of the city park by our house where we play all the time. It was especially beautiful today. I wish I would have taken the camera instead of just cruddy phone pictures.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Anniversary

2011-05-25T07:13:00.002-05:00

Sixteen years ago I asked this girl to go to the movies with me. Nine years ago we got married. We had no money, no real jobs, and no house. We were both in school. We were moving into an apartment in the ghetto (one bullet hole through the window and one gang shooting witnessed thirty feet away would convince us to move). Our idea of a special date night was splurging on something from the Jack-in-the-Box dollar menu. We didn't have much, but we had dreams of a long future together with kids and careers. Little me and little her would have never guessed the ridiculous paths life has taken us. Things are different than we planned, but things are great. And best of all no more Jack-in-the-Box.

Surfin' USA

2011-05-22T16:42:00.001-05:00

I spent the day before yesterday making a miniature longboard for my niece's upcoming birthday (part of the decor).

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Dark Road Trip

2011-05-19T12:00:00.001-05:00

We are on the road to stay at Cedar Park Farm for a few days. I love driving to the country, but unfortunately a family funeral is our undesirable primary purpose.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Mudding for Money

2011-05-17T21:40:00.004-05:00

A portion of my days this week has been spent driving a 4-wheel drive ATV down trails, around parks and through densely wooded areas. Do you understand what I am trying to say here? I am getting paid for this people. I am getting money to drive an ATV in the woods! It feels like I am committing theft. So, unless you can find a job that pays fat dough to sit on your butt drinking a beer while watching TV at your own casa I think it is safe to say mine is the best job ever!

Summer Bliss

2011-05-13T22:59:00.003-05:00

Thanks to some pretty consistent rain the garden is getting heavy with goods. We have already enjoyed some harvested cucumbers, peppers and onions. This is shaping up to be the most successful year I have ever had growing grub. I want to grow so much that I have to give away bags filled with fresh produce to friends.

Speaking of friends...IT'S SUMMER! It is time to set up the table and chairs outside in the green grass under the giant shade tree. It is time to light the candles in mix-matched jars dangling from limbs high above, and pull a freezing cold bottled drink out of an old metal bucket filled with ice. It is time to laugh together, and play our own strange version of croquet since no one really knows the rules. It is time to eat the juiciest red watermelon and grill-scarred hotdogs. It is time to let the kids run wild through the sprinkler. It is time for wine after dark, and enjoying the stars. It is time for warm winds and warmer friendships. So, come on over friends. We miss you. You are formally invited to a summer evening on us.

Peepers

2011-05-11T21:29:00.000-05:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8