Kenny’s right, I have been neglecting the real nieces, so I’ve been scrounging around trying to find photos. I’ve found a couple of interesting ones which I’ll post over the next few days starting with this one of Charlotte and I. I think Charlotte is just a little over two months old at the time. I was living in CT then so I just buzzed down one day to visit. Charlotte and I are obviously quite comfortable in each other’s company. 🙂
1st Grade Art
I was going to post a shot of my new coffee-maker (it grinds beans automatically on a timer and has a very fresh pot of coffee waiting for me in the morning), but Charlotte brought this home from school today and I thought you’ld be more interested in it.
Click on photo for larger image.
She calls it “Space”.
Lex’s 1st Axe
Lex got a guitar today. It’s a Squier MA-1, made by Fender. Very much a real guitar, 3/4 scale. He’s wanted one since before Xmas, and has been very patient as I researched guitars and looked into lessons.
I told him from the outset that I would get him a real guitar only if he was willing to take lessons. I have a good friend (some of you know Gerard) that used to teach young kids. He agreed to teach Lex. Even tho Lex is a bit young for guitar lessons, I think it could work well with Gerard, as we’ve discussed my approach (at this point) is mainly to maintain Lex’s interest in music, not to put him on a learning schedule. To facilitate an appreciation of music and musical instruments, to give him an enjoyable learning environment, to teach him to respect the instrument itself… he already knows quite well that this is not a toy, and he’s cherishing it. I think it’s the first thing he’s owned that he realizes can’t be easily replaced. I sure hope he keeps that attitude. (Fact is, he wants to smash it like Townsend. I think I’ll steer him towards burning it like Jimi.)
I hope I’m making the right decision, cuz he’s so young. I didn’t discourage the idea, but tried not to encourage it either. Like I said, he was patient. And he was persistent. Even Xmas didn’t distract him.
Now I want to get a piano in the house. So I can take lessons.
Look Familiar?
Got this at a flea-market years ago. Just had my 2nd toaster-oven break in less than a year so I dug it out of storage. I knew it worked, and y’know what? It makes toast better and faster than any toaster-oven I’ve ever had.
Merry Christmas To All!
And to all…. I’m going to bed…. after I wrap 2 more gifts.
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. 
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.