Christmas Cards

I finished this year’s Xmas card last night and I decided to put these up here for nostalgia and posterity.

I never much appreciated the cards I got each year with friend’s kids pictured. As a rule they were either crappy snapshots or cheesey Sears photos. (Ken, your pix were always the exception to the rule.)

Once I had children I recognized the motivation to send pictures of one’s kids was awfully powerful, but I wanted to do it a bit differently. I started in 2001, when Lex was barely 8 mos old.

2001

The actual motivation behind this picture was the fact that our house was so incredibly messy, every shot we had of the kids had a background of clutter and crap. So I made a “virtual room” for them. Nothing in the shot is real, except for the kids (and the scans of photos, tho the frames are digital…. note the World Trade Towers).

Mommy would have been proud of the shine on those floors, huh?

2002

This was done by Lis on her first and only foray into the world of digital imagery. One long night on the computer, a crash course using a program called Painter, and she produced this masterpiece. A Winter Wonderland hand-drawn on a computer.



2003

A friend took this shot on a visit to Central Park just after Thanksgiving that year.

It was just too fun (and easy) to pass up.

2004

I was at a loss what to do last year and started searching the Web for a graphic to inspire me. Found an illustration of a Christmas Elf (not a fairy, mind you… an elf). I really enjoyed doing this one and it’s gotten lots of compliments, so I just had to come up with something for this year.





2005

I kinda like what I ended up with this year. Still have mixed feelings about it, tho. It’s not what I originally envisioned, but hey…. that’s the way it goes. Hopefully I got it done in time to get printed and mailed to y’all by Christmas, but if you can’t wait and want to know what it looks like CLICK HERE. If not, we hope to get it to you by Christmas (true, it does look doubtful, but you’ll get it eventually).

Happy Holidays!!

Gary & Lis

This is not my beautiful wife….


No, it’s my beautiful house under construction, circa 1908.

The woman we bought it from sent us this and a few others.

The second photo here is from 1912. Notice the little sapling tied to the stake in the front yard? It’s now the 60 foot pecan tree that shades us from the afternoon sun.

Smashmouth Redux


I know some of you have seen this picture before, but I wanted to get it on here for posterity. We had our first substantial snowstorm overnight, and Smashmouth and I were out at 6am clearing the driveway and sidewalks.

Speaking of posterity, I’m archiving the blog on a regular basis and will occasionally distribute CDs to family members. So, if you want some mundane event or milestone or whatever recorded, put it up here. Our great-grandkids will be able to check it out someday.

Remember, “We are the mundane!”

Rock On

I know this stuff isn’t new for most of you, but I get a big kick out of watching my kids do new things. This was actually Charlotte’s 2nd time on a rock wall, but this one was much more substantial.

And she rocked.

Why No PSU Update?


What’s up? What is Larry doing? Everybody is wondering…. “Where’s Larry?”

Yes, only one thing could explain this dereliction of duty. Larry’s in the hospital.

His initial diagnosis is pancreatitis caused by gallstones.

He went in Saturday afternoon, hopes to be out Tuesday.

Right now it seems that he may have surgery to remove the stones sometime in the next couple weeks. First they have to get the inflammation and/or infection reduced.

Don’t feel too bad. Larry always has a way to make the best of any situation. He tells me the hospital is staffed with babes.

UPDATE 11/29/05

Just got a text message from Larry. His gallbladder was removed today and he expects to be home tomorrow.

Thanksgiving NY Style



Santa always finishes the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

After the parade we left the building we were in (Ed Sullivan Theatre, aka Letterman Show) to head to our cars. We had a group photo taken by a passerby. Wanted a second but couldn’t get the kids’ attention as they were fascinated by the street-sweepers.

We were accompanied by an old friend and co-worker of Lis’, Doug Reuter, his wife, Susan and 2 kids. His first was born 3 mos before Charlotte. His 2nd the same day as Lex. We’ve known Doug for more than 20 yrs.

We went to the Upper West Side and Nancy’s apartment (Nana to the kids.) A little play in the local park playground and dinner.

All in all a fine day.

Thanksgiving Day

There’s lots to be thankful for this year. Tops among them the opportunity to see Ray Davies (of the KinKs) live this Monday night.

If you haven’t heard it, listen to Ray’s new song, Thanksgiving Day, practically his only original material recorded in about 10 years. It’s classic Ray, a slice-of-life within in an institutional context. BTW, listen to the words, OK?

And for forward-thinking nostalgia, there’s also Father Christmas for your listening enjoyment.

Happy Holidays

PS – See Ray on Conan Thanksgiving night.