Klundi

Where's the Zipper On This Thing?

2008-11-17T21:57:00.003-07:00

The other night, Jenny explained to me that they make kids pajamas tight because there is less chance for them to catch on fire. I thought, that seems uncomfortable. I would rather take my chances with the fire. Sometimes life feels like a little kid trapped in pajamas that are just too tight.

"Quarter" Pounder with Cheese

2008-11-07T12:14:00.005-07:00

"Dad, help you make breakfast?"

"Sure."

"Make eggs?"

"Yep, spinach omelets."

"Want mix it."

"Okay, be careful." Riser mixes the eggs.

"Want put spinach in."

"Not yet, we have to cook it first."

"Put spinach in."
Grabbing for the plate of spinach.

"Hold on dude, we have to cook it first."

"Want to eat hamburger."
Riser gets down from his stool and runs into the other room.

"Okay, enjoy your hamburger." I yell as he leaves.
I continue with breakfast and then realize it's awfully quiet.
"RISER!? Get in here." Riser comes in. "Open your mouth, little man."
What plops into my hand? That's right, coins. He finds the coins, stacks them like the layers of a hamburger, and eats them. Yay for 2 year olds.

Choices: A Commentary on Cell-phone Etiquitte

2008-11-06T11:46:00.002-07:00

There have been times in my life that I have had really really important phone calls. There have been other times in my life when I have really really needed to go to the bathroom. The interesting thing, is that never have those two needs been so equally important that I couldn't put one or the other off, at least for a few moments so that they did not have to happen at the same moment. Sometimes the phone call wins, other times, nature's call.

I know, you're saying to yourself, "Well of course Karl. Why would you ever need to do both of those things at the same time? What disgusting and rude behavior." That's what I used to think as well, but my experience over the last year has shown me that at a certain, unnamed, downtown Salt Lake City location, there is a group of people who daily find the need to talk on the phone and answer to nature's call.

Disgusting.

NOTE: I started this post months ago at my former location of employment. I have been at my new job for 2 weeks now, and I am happy to report that I have not seen any phone/bathroom interaction. Congratulations.

First Day of Work

2008-10-28T20:20:00.002-06:00

"Ah, so your the new guy, I'll be working with you on an ad later this afternoon. Skip Stone."

"Hi Skip, nice to meet you. I'm Karl."

"No, I'm Kelly. The client you'll be working on is 'Skipstone.'"

Now, how's that for an awkward first day moment.

The Awkward Return

2008-10-28T13:01:00.004-06:00

So, it's been a while. I don't know why I stopped posting, it just sort of happened. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months and here I am. I feel like I have ran into an ex-girlfriend after years of avoidance. But I'm ready to admit that I was the one who screwed things up in this little online-romance and I'm ready to make things right. I don't have anything great to post right now, but I'm going to post anyway. It's time, I can't let this sit any longer.

Office Spam

2008-06-21T13:55:00.007-06:00

To: Karl, Jared, Damon 9:49 AM Subject: What a Morning! From: John
I had a lot of trouble with my truck this morning. It wouldn't start. Had a bad battery cable. Got that changed still wouldn't start. Anyway, I'm now working from home for a little while. Then I'm going with LaVerlle to his Clinic appointment. Then I'll be in. I thought the appointment was at 10 a.m. But it's actually at 11 a.m. So I will be in after lunch.
Let me know if you have any questions for me.

To: John 9:50 AM Subject: Canned Air From: Karl
Jared wants to know where the canned air is?

To: John 9:51 AM Subject: Metal Puzzle From: Karl
I figured out your metal puzzle last night. Cool Stuff.

To: John 9:51 AM Subject: Canned Air From: Damon
Karl can’t find the canned air. Do you know where it is?

To: John 9:51 AM Subject: Guides From: Jared
How are we doing on the guides?

To: John 9:51 AM Subject: Community From: Karl
Stead wants to know where we are on the community?

To: John 9:52 AM Subject: Music From: Karl
I don’t like Damons music, can we listen to your itunes?

To: John 9:52 AM Subject: Password From: Damon

What’s the password to your stereo? We need to access some files.

To: John 9:52 AM Subject: Parking From: Jared
Do you recommend that parking lot you use?

To: John 9:52 AM Subject: Cord From: Damon
Have you seen the extension cord to the stereo?

To: John 9:53 AM Subject: Office ambiance From: Jared
Do you mind if we get some plants? Are you allergic to anything?

To: John 9:53 AM Subject: Jelly From: Damon
Is that your jam in the fridge? Can I borrow some?

To: John 9:53 AM Subject: Office ambiance From: Karl
Jared wants plants. Tell him your allergic cause I don't want plants and I'm afraid of Jared

To: John 9:54 AM Subject: Free Food From: Karl
I brought some German Crackers today. Their on the table.

To: John 9:54 AM Subject: Light Bulbs From: Jared
Do you know if we have any spare light bulbs?

To: John 9:55 AM Subject: Community From: Jared
Where are we with the community?

To: John 9:55 AM Subject: Paper Trays From: Damon
Do you need all those paper trays, cuz I kinda need one and was just wondering if I could steal one of yours?

To: Karl, Jared, Damon 9:57 AM Subject: ??? From: John
What the hell is going on?

Sign of the Times

2008-05-19T22:25:00.003-06:00

I had lunch at a Chinese restaurant this afternoon.
My fortune read: Enjoyed your meal? Why not order one to go?
I had no idea the writers strike had also impacted the fortune cookie industry.

Projects

2008-04-06T12:35:00.006-06:00

"Hey, Karl"

"Hi J"

"How 'r ya doin?"

"Good. How are you?"

"I got a little project I need your help on."

Eyes roll.

"Dad, Karl is busy."

"Grandpa, Karl works every night."

"What do you need J?"

People walk away.

"There is this little girl I know...now, I want to send here a picture of a monster. I am going to write her a letter. I'll tell her, 'I haven't seen you in a while, but I drew this picture of you from memory.' She'll get a kick out of it. I just know it."

"So you need me to draw a monster."

"Yeah, just something simple...when you have time...I, I know your busy."

"No, I can do it. I like to tease little girls."

"Thanks, I jus' know she'll get a kick out of it...Oh yeah, Karl?"

"Uh-huh?"

"I need some more angel pictures too"

"Sure."

"Just when you have time, I know your busy."

...Sounds Like an Excuse to Me

2008-03-23T21:24:00.004-06:00

You may have noticed that this is the first week of the "Great Weight Loss Plan" that I have gained weight. For those of you who are a little bit slow, that is pretty much the exact opposite of what I am trying to accomplish. I know, I know, I only have myself to blame. But, don't you think it is just a little bit interesting that the week I gain weight is the same week that the Girl Scouts brought by their cookies? Coincidence? I think not.

Simple Pleasures Part I: Minty—Fresh

2008-03-17T22:10:00.001-06:00

When I brush my teeth, there is an expected smell. The smell is a mixture of my saliva and the toothpaste. Seems normal. I would suspect that is the case for 99% of you out there (other than the fact that it would smell like your bodily fluids and not mine). 1 + 1 usually equals 2. This is not the case for my wife. Jenny has super saliva. Normally her breath is that of a normal person. Not bad by any means, but I wouldn't want to just sit there all day with my nose in her mouth. However, when she brushes her teeth, 1 + 1 no longer equals 2, but something more like 7 or 8. I cannot explain it. As a recent Crest commercial put it, her breath smells like "a minty fresh snowstorm...in heaven." I use the same toothpaste and it smells, like I stated earlier, like spit and toothpaste (not the worst smell ever, but nothing to write home about either). I have on more than one occasion walked into the room while she has been brushing her teeth and asked if she had bought new toothpaste. "No, it's the same tube we've been using for weeks," she will say. I then will grab my toothbrush and brush my teeth, then proceed to smell my toothbrush. "What are you doing?" she will ask.
"The smell...why doesn't mine smell like that?...."
"Your weird," she says. I can't explain it, but I love it.

After my post last night and as I brushed my teeth this morning I started thinking, "Karl, what if Jenny's breath isn't super? You don't go around smelling people as they brush their teeth. What if your breath is just awful?" I hate it when I think.

Mooshy-Mooshy

2008-02-14T08:19:00.008-07:00

(click on the image above for a large view)

A Guilt Free Life

2008-02-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

My last year of college, our professor gave each student a Daruma Doll. Traditionally you color in one eye when you make a wish, then when the wish comes true, you color in the other. Instead of wishing, my professor made us set a goal specific to our course of study. Simple; finish the goal, color in the other eye.

I should've (could've, would've) finished the goal in school. I didn't. I should have finished the goal in the 6 months following graduation. I didn't. But I kept the doll. I always thought that I would finish the goal. Cleaning my office one day, I decided I was going to throw the doll away. I clearly was not going to finish the goal and who needs extra guilt hanging around. "Let the garbage men deal with my guilt!" is a motto I used to live by. However the doll wouldn't let me throw it out. It winked at me with it's one eye, laughed and demanded that I put it back next to the computer.

I have to keep it now. In the time that I set the original goal 3 years ago, the doll has come to represent all the things that I haven't done yet, that I said I would do. Getting Heathers photography website done, getting my portfolio website done, burning those DVD's for Grandpa J, mending our fence, finishing Les Miserables (going on 5 years now). The list goes on, but I won't continue. I already have the list. It's sitting right there every time I go to my desk. All of my good intentions staring at me with the gaze of cylops.

At first it was motivating to have the doll. Then it became a source of shame. Now, I am at peace. Whenever I have something that I don't want to do, I give it to the doll, and ignore it like I did my original goal. Sure it stares at me with that one eye, but if I ever feel guilty, I just reach over and turn the thing around and all my guilt is gone.

Uh-oh

2008-02-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

There is only one thing worse than getting a hole in your favorite pair of jeans.

And that is finding the hole at the end of the day and then trying to guess how long your rear-end has been exposed to the world.

My sincere apologies to the entire Sweet Candy Building and all pedestrians on 200 South between 2nd and 4th West.

Shoveling Snow

2008-02-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today Jen sang in the choir for stake conference. Riser and I were supposed to meet her there, but (after a series of events that will have to be another blog entry,) we missed it. Instead I put Riser down for a nap and went out to shovel the snow from the storm last night.

Outside I saw my neighbor. He is probably 80 years old and more fit than I could ever hope to be. He shovels everyones walk and drive with his 4-wheeler, but today he was out with a shovel. We both went up and down the neighborhood. Eventually he caught up with me. We both said "hello" and kept on shoveling. Then he stopped.

"I am really sorry to hear about your President Hinckley," he said. "I'm not a Mormon, but I loved that man. He was really a leader of the people. At least that is what I thought." He paused to think about it, and then kept shoveling. I have been thinking about President Hinckley all week and the effect that he has had on my life. It is amazing to think of how many people were thinking the same thoughts. What an awesome tribute to see how many people he affected, in the church and around the world.

For Every Action There Is An Equal & Opposite Reaction

2008-01-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

I am not saying that this happened to me, (I am not saying it didn't either) but just for your information: If you are decent with photoshop and think that you can mix two images together, you might want to think about not using this particular skill. If you ignore this thought, then don't start putting co-workers faces into famous movie scenes, and sending them around the office. Sure, you might get a few laughs, but trust me it's not worth it. Why? Well, the power will go to your head. Because then, you might take the face of your boss that you found on someones facebook page, then add it to a famous 80's movie characters body played my Michael J. Fox. After doing this, you just might send it throughout the company by email. Then, (and pay attention, because this is the important part) someone might just forward that email to the boss. (Proving once again, that you simply can't trust anyone.)Again, I am not saying that this happened to me, but if it did, I could imagine that your boss would not think that you were a very clever employee. I could also imagine a big speech about "not using company time and resources in this manner..." or something to that effect.

This post comes without an illustration for obvious reasons.

The Invisible Man

2008-01-19T03:31:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, one of my favorite radio shows presented an interesting question. click here to listen If you had to choose one superpower, would it be invisibility or the power to fly? For some reason, I have been thinking about this for the last few weeks. (I know what you are thinking, and yes it is true, whenever I have a spare moment, I spend my time worrying about non-existent superpowers as well as their possible uses.) One of the conclusions made on this particular radio program, was that the people who choose flight, would use the power for some greater good. People who choose invisibility, well, they would tend to do things that were a little more on the sneaky/selfish side. Now, while I would love to be able to fly, if I had to choose between the two powers, invisibility wins. This bothers me, because the radio program is right. I would do sneaky things. Bank robberies, free flights, free movies, walking into random peoples houses, important offices and many other diabolical things that I am way to embarrassed to write here. It would be great.

I have always thought of myself as a pretty decent individual, (good looking too) but now I am starting to worry. Am I really just a slime ball who wants to be able to get away with things without being caught? Would I really want to sneak into a movie for free instead of swooping down from the sky to save someone from a burning building?... Yes, yes I would.

What would you choose? Take my poll (on the left) or feel free to voice a more detailed opinion in the comments. I have a hard time believing that I am the only scum bag out there.

Great TV Moments

2008-01-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was able to witness probably the best 7 minutes to ever be broadcast on network television. I love you brother.

Useless Products

2008-01-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

Driving to work this morning, I saw an ad on the back of a truck that caught my eye. It was a beautiful ad for Coca-cola. As soon as I saw the imagery, my mouth started watering. There is just something about the red and white colors and that classic coke bottle, the unmistakable wave of the logo that is just wonderful. They have such a great brand. Recognizable anywhere. I read the headline. "Get a Grip." I repeated it in my head. Then I realize what they are advertising. A new coke bottle, with small raised dots so you can have a better grip. That was when my love for the ad turned to annoyance. A bottle with a better grip...really? Are there really people out there who are saying to themselves, "I would love to have a Coke, but the bottle just keeps slipping out of my hands." Give me a break.

Where are my feet?

2008-01-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever woke up, looked in the mirror and thought, "What in the world has happened to me?" Have you ever done that repeatedly, for let's say.... 10 years. Have you ever done that repeatedly for years and not done anything about it? I have. Introducing the shame weightloss plan. I have been playing with this idea for a while, and actually am now more nervous because I recently found that I actually have more readers than Jen and my mom.

So here is the deal. I have 28 weeks until child #2 is born. I am roughly 70-80 lbs. over my "ideal" weight. If I lose 2.5 lbs. every week (which is actually a reasonable goal, I think), I will be able to shed 70 lbs. My plan of course involves watching what I eat, exercise, total lifestyle changes, etc... but I do believe the "key" is the fear of humiliation that will be suffered by not accomplishing this task. So that is why I am posting my goal online. I am adding a side bar that I'll update my weight ~~on everyday~~ every week on Sunday morning. (thanks Nicole) until the time our new bundle of joy arrives. The idea is that, I will then be publicly shamed into losing weight. Jen is constantly amazed at how stubborn I am, so I thought to myself, "Hey, Why not use your power of stubbornness for good instead of annoying your wife?" Besides, I am sick of not being able to touch my toes.

Missionary

2008-01-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

My brother Kevin is serving a two-year mission in Argentina. He sent this email to the family yesterday, and I thought it was great.

hello. well im sorry this will once angain be a short letter. we went to do internet today and i wrote a long good letter but the internet cut off. after i was done writing it also with my companion. so i will just have to fill you on the basics. i dont know why but there is a kid with out shirt and shoes about five years old standing next to me and laughing i dont know who it is well that was random. well all is well and i love you all. my letter was really good to. well talk to you next week. bye....

6 Things

2007-12-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

Alright, here we go with 6 things that no one knows about me (and probably never will considering that Jenny and my mom are the only people who read this blog. Thanks Mom.)

I judge people by the bumper stickers that they put on their cars.
On the way home last night I saw a car with a sticker imploring people to be individuals. This same car had a sticker calling for our president's impeachment (like it was an original thought), a sticker promoting a radio station that plays "alternative" music (so that record producers can sale it to the masses), and finally the logo of a pretty popular punk band (which shows that she must purchase the same music here radio station wants her to). The individual was driving a Volks Wagon (very unique, I can't for the life of me, think of another hipster who drives a VW). Besides her "I am an Individual" sticker, I couldn't find one thing about her that made her unique, but she sure thought she was.
I am pretty much amazed that I make a living as a "designer."
For all of the times I thought I would have to get a real job making widgets or siting at desk, stamping papers with an approved stamp or something, I still am amazed that I am able to do what I enjoy.
I am afraid of fish/sharks/whales/pretty much anything that swims in the ocean.
I love the beach, boating, water skiing, swimming, etc... But, I don't want to scuba dive. Nothing scares me more than swimming in the ocean and having some creature brush up next to me. Jenny thinks I am crazy, but it gives me a sick feeling even thinking about it.
I make myself sick every time I go to a social event.
If I know you, I can talk with you for hours. If I don't know you, you make my palms sweat, (and not in a good way). Anytime I have to go to a party, I spend the day worrying about it. I get snappy and can't think straight. I worry about being judged by complete strangers who I will most likely never see again.
I stay and watch the credits at the end of movies.
I also show up 15 minutes before the trailers start. I need to experience every aspect of the show. Sure the movie itself is fine, but I get a kick out of seeing the logos for the 50 different companies involved in the production of the show. I love seeing the 2 foot tall letters scroll across the screen at the end. I enjoy reading every persons name from the director to the make-up artists. I also like to know that no animals were hurt during the production of this motion picture and that any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Jenny and I can stay up all night talking, but if we are in a restaurant we usually don't speak.
We eavesdrop.
We often wonder if other people think we are mad at each other, because of the small amount of conversation coming from our table, but we are really just listening to what you say. You could be talking about the most boring, insignificant thing in the world and we find it fascinating.

You're Different, Just Like Everybody Else

2007-12-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

The other night I came home to see my son watching one of my Christmas favorites, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I sat down to watch with him and looked on screen to see a "Jack in the box" crying because he was cursed with the name of "Charlie" and no one wants a "Charlie in the box." I have seen this movie at least a bajillion* times, but for some reason that night I saw it for the first time.

"No one wants a lame toy that cries and whines about how picked on it is!" I yelled at the screen, "It has nothing to do with your stupid name." I know Riser was thinking, "What's wrong with daddy?" The show continued on with everyone complaining about how they are so "different" and don't fit in. How many of you have ever felt like you don't fit in? How many of you feel this on a daily basis? I know I do. Hmmmm, could it be that we are all unique? Not just those of us elves who want to be dentists or reindeer with red noses, but all of the elves and reindeer that this movie simply lumps into the "other" category.

Now I know the movie ends with everyone happy. Why are they happy, because they go from misfits to heroes. Well that is good for the misfits in the movie but what about everyone else? That is why this year I will smash up my Rudolph DVD, Along with Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch who Stole Christmas, and A Christmas Story. I will take down my Christmas tree and throw all of our lights in the garbage. There will be no exchanging of gifts. No holly berries. No turkey dinners. No Christmas carols. There will be no stockings hung by the chimney with care. This year we are doing Christmas our own way. I challenge you to do the same. Fight the man, don't fall for their lies. You are an individual. You are different.

Hmmm apparently Jenny was reading over my shoulder...Please disregard that last paragraph. She informs me that this year we will be celebrating Christmas just like everybody else.

*for some reason bajillion was not in my spell checker. If anyone could help me out with the correct spelling I would appreciate it. Bajillion is a word, right?

Confessions from the Little Boy's Room

2007-11-29T22:03:00.000-07:00

Whenever I go shopping, or out to a show, and I am in the parking lot, no matter how many empty "disabled parking" stalls there are up close, I always choose to park elsewhere. I take pride in this. I see it as a matter of respect (or maybe I am simply afraid of getting a ticket, or having my car trashed ala Seinfeld). However, I have a confession. When I use the bathroom at work, that's right my friends, I head straight for the handicapped stall.

It's twice the size of the "normal" stalls. It is usually cleaner. At my current place of employment there is even someone who uses the stall before me that always leaves magazine articles from Business Week and The New York Times. Life doesn't get better then 5 minutes of peace and quiet I have every morning, reading an article on Google's latest business plans while sitting in this luxurious bathroom stall. As a friend recently referred to it, "The Executive Suite." Others enjoy this practice as well. As a matter of fact, yesterday I had to use a "normal" stall because my usual was out of T.P. Well as I was washing my hands, a fellow co-worker came in. He saw there was no T.P. and after a quick moment of thought, proceeded to take the roll from the "normal" stall into the handicapped stall with him. "Impressive," I thought, "Dude, you should have done that yourself."

Recently I have become concerned with this practice. It has become a moral question. Should I feel the same way about the men's room as I do about a parking lot? Should the same courtesy and respect apply? I don't even think there is a "disabled" individual who works in our building, let alone on my floor, but does that matter? Don't get me wrong, I will keep using the stall, the topic is just now another thing that I can add to two of my lists. The first list being, Questions About Life and the second one, Things That I Probably Shouldn't Do, But Are Simply To Wonderful To Give Up. The second list is obviously bigger.

Just Say No

2007-11-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight as I left work, I took my usual shortcut through the sushi bar's empty parking lot on the way to my car. I should have just stayed on the sidewalk, but I prefer to live on the edge. My brisk, diagonal direction through the parking lot alerted the attention of a homeless man on the other side of the asphalt. He changed his direction and headed for me with open arms. "What's going on?" I thought to myself.

"How's it goin' Man?" He asked as we got closer. In that moment, I realized what was going on. I had seen the exact scene happen to others downtown, but never to myself. A homeless man smiles, approaches another person with open arms and in the embrace the transaction was made. I had somehow given the impression to this gentleman that I had other things on my mind than getting home for scripture study with my wife. In a flash, I remembered my tax-payer supported training from the D.A.R.E. program in Jr. High School. McGruff the crime dog's voice came clearly to my mind, "Just say NO!" or is that "Take a bite out of crime?" I can't remember now.

I continued walking and as I passed the dealer, without stopping, I sent him the most powerful Nancy Reagan glare that I could muster. He raised is hands as if to say "Okay, Okay, I get it, you're one of those people who don't buy illegal narcotics on the street from strange men who smell like urine." As I waited for my car to warm up, I couldn't help but be proud of myself. At age 28, I had resisted my very first drug offer. Then I thought, "Dude, (which is how I refer to myself in my brain,) you have one sheltered little life."

Tribute

2007-11-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is my tribute to Brian. Brian is my brother-in-law. Brian is a good guy who told me that he had never had anyone "blog" about him. While this is not entirely true, (click here) I decided that tonights entry will be all about Brian.

Brian is a good brother-in-law to have. If you ask him, I might be considered his bother-in-law. I bother him at Sunday dinner, cornering him to tell him about my latest political philosophy, or all about the newest book I've read. I bother him every time that my car makes a funny noise or for some reason refuses to start. However in spite of all the bothering, Brian has this gift of making everyone feel at ease around him. He can listen for hours to you, making you feel like he is actually interested in your opinion of why Helvetica is a much better font than Arial, when other would simply walk away in disgust. That is truly a gift. He doesn't seem bothered when I call for help with my car, but a few times has actually come over to help. Late at night even. Pretty cool. As I have done research into this "article," I have found that 99% of people have the same type of things to say about Brian. (The other 1% being my dog, who has negative things to say about almost everyone, so don't take it personally Brian.) Brian is also a good uncle to my son. Riser loves to see Uncle Brian, even if it is just to get more crackers.

In closing, I must thank Brian's wife Cynthia for having such good taste in men. As a matter of fact I think I can go out on a limb here and state that all of the Sollis women have excellent taste in men. Looks, personality, personal hygiene, nice hair, etc... (Shameless plug for Brian, Larry and myself.)

Note to Brian: I will email you my bank account# and you can just deposit the bribe money directly.
Note to Others: If you would like your own tribute, you can ask Brian how much I charge.

The Day After

2007-11-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone. I now have a few minutes to sit down and be thankful. Jenny is out fighting the rest of the world for deals on socks at the local department store. Riser is down for a nap, and I don't have to go to work. So here is a list of what I am thankful for this year. (In no particular order.)

That I choose to stay home on "Black Friday"

Riser's laugh

Jenny's smile

No work today, but a job to go to on Monday

Good music

The Gospel

Dark chocolate

Family

Hi-Speed Internet

Freedom

Ideas (my own)

Ideas (of others)

That I can sit and type a list on "things I am thankful for"
instead of having to fight for my safety/food/shelter

Paper toys

A furnace

Memories

The future

Life

Books

Comic Books (Graphic Novels if you
want to sound sophisticated)

Failure

Hard Times

Choices

Learning

Healthy Family

Growth

Concerts

My beat up out of tune piano

Banging on my beat up out of tune piano
with Riser

Elmo's world with Riser

Wrestling (with Riser)

Wrestling (with Jenny)

Freelance work

Scouts

Grandparents

Noticing things

Walking alone

Letters

Movies (Really good ones and
really bad ones. None of the mediocre ones.)

Making stuff

A lawn

Stars

Cooking

Secrets

Staying up late with Jenny

Christmas lights

Funny people

Talking

Road Trips

Singing to showtunes with Jenny on roadtrips

Exploring

Swimming in lakes

My Apologies

2007-11-19T22:10:00.001-07:00

My apologies to the scooter driver that I inadvertently cut off on my way home from work. I was too busy thinking of another event in that day that I had screwed up by not paying attention.

Weirdo

2007-11-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

"Do you ever think that you married a weirdo?" I asked Jen as we got into the car. The paint on my face starting to dry.

"Sometimes," she replied. Pressing the issue further I asked, "Is now one of those times?" There was a thoughtful silence as we buckled our seat belts.

"Yes, yes it is."

I asked if Riser could be in the picture with me. Even though he was falling asleep in his car seat, I knew he would want to play as well. "Sure," she said. As we approached our destination, sitting in the dark parking lot, she was silent, but I knew what she was thinking. "Oh, I hope that no one sees us."

Momentary Peace

2007-11-16T01:33:00.000-07:00

After a day full of meetings that went nowhere, numerous jobs that weren't finished, freelance clients that wanted the logo tomorrow instead of next week, and to top it off a trip to Wal-Mart during the "Holiday Shopping Season", I thought it was time for a little Zen moment. Even if it is 1:30 in the morning and I have to be back at it in 4 hours.

Soccer Star

2007-11-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight my boy learned how to kick a ball. Before I was a dad, my reaction to the previous statement would have been, "that's nice." However, everything changes when it is your son. It is amazing to see him grow and develop. To see his body do what his mind has been trying so hard to figure out. The look of excitement on his face when it actually works. Little things like kicking a ball seem grander then men landing on the moon. We both ran around the front room kicking the little ball, screaming with delight as the ball went crashing against the walls, over the dog, and under the couch.

Now I've Done It

2007-11-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

For years, I have silently wondered about my mother-in-law. She is a smart and perfectly wonderful woman, who for some strange reason, likes to buy shoes that are uncomfortable for her. Not just uncomfortable, but absolutely painful. I remember on one vacation looking down to see the strap of her shoe actually cutting into her ankle. Crazy, I thought to myself. Why would anyone do that to themselves for an article of clothing. But now, I understand. This weekend I purchased a pair of jeans. Not just any jeans, but the super tight jeans that all of "the cool kids" are wearing. Maybe it's because I am getting close to 30 and I have a need to pretend to be youg. Maybe it's because my wife told me that they looked good, and I, believing that she had my best interest in mind, believed her. This morning I decided to wear them. After 10 minutes of pushing and pulling I finally got them onto my 280 lb. frame. I spent the day walking stiff-legged, making sure that I didn't bend over. I am a literal prisoner to fashion. I will never question my mother-in-law's sanity again. Now I just wonder, how am I'm going to get these things off?