Category: Who?

Supercategory to consolidate the family groups

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The Seat of Government

Took a trip to our nation’s capital. We stayed with friends that recently moved there (from Paris). Real good timing for the kids, having just studied MLK and Amelia Earhardt (went to Smithsonian), and given the fact that they are aware of the current elections

On Saturday we took a short hike along the Potomac.  Sunday we went to DC

(It seems if you click on an image you get a medium sized shot, click again for full-size.  Must be a new feature of the blog.  I uploaded a “gallery” and it’s behaving a bit differently.)

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Grandpa’s Got His Hands Full!

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Reid looks more and more like Blake every day.  Blake is very tall for his age…for 17 months he towers over two year olds! But Reid is on track to surpass that! I think Dawn will have two very big boys, and very big grocery bills! 

I took Blake to a family music class at the local Gymboree yesterday. He wanted nothing to do with the class. Of the ten children (six of them were reserved oriental children), Blake was the only one who would not sit still, play the instruments nor sing the songs. He did participate in chasing bubbles around the room. I think it was even in beat to the music being played.  

So, afterwards we went to the gym class. I lost control during the “Hello” song. I guess he felt he suffered through enough music for one day. Once we had free play he went crazy…jumping on the trampoline, dunking all the balls (about 25) in the 3 ft. basketball hoop, running through tunnels and climbing up and down the slides (yes, he didn’t use the steps, he climbed back up the slide).

At the end of class the instructor came and spoke to me and suggested Blake be enrolled in a Park District sport, that he really wasn’t suited for Gymboree. Can a 17 month old really be expelled from Gymboree???  

Guess Grandpa and Grandmar both have their hands full (not to mention Mommy & Daddy)!

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GS2 has arrived!

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Reid (no middle name yet), was born about 6:30 this evening! 8lbs. 8oz., 21in. long.  Both Mom and baby are fine. Dawn says he might be a red-head…the name kinda fits. Hope Charlotte doesn’t mind sharing her birthday!

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GS2 is on his way…

Grandson #2, that is. Dawn has been in labor for 8 1/2 hours. We’re hoping Charlotte will have a cousin with whom to share her birthday (otherwise he will be a leap year baby)! I’ll keep all posted.

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My Birthday Presents

Sort of a 2-step process. First thing I decided early on to get was an AppleTV.

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I really have very little use for this, but I wanted it anyway. It allows me to rent or buy movies over the internet, including HD movies. (Only 720p, tho, and I was originally gonna wait for it to be upgraded to 1080.) Works really well, particularly since I have the bandwidth thru my FIOS service. Also holds all family photos and shows them in HD, an upgrade over the Tivo SD that I used to use for this. Plus, it holds my music. Also an upgrade, as I used to get occasional stalls when streaming music wirelessly from my computers.

Second step took some time to decide, but after getting the AppleTV, I made the decision pretty quickly. We have a Netflix account, which serves us quite well. The kids watch a lot of movies. But invariably, it seemed, any grown-up movie we’d get would be sent back unwatched. Lis and I just never seem to find the time. (Either I go to bed too early, or the kids go to bed too late.) So I tested a program called Handbrake (available on PC, too) that would rip DVDs directly for use by the AppleTV. One click, and you’re done. Only problem, on my 5 yr old laptop it took 20 hrs.

So I bought a new computer. The Mac Mini.

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My main, 8 yr old computer is dying, making horrible noises, freezing, quitting apps, etc. And I really didn’t feel like trying to fix it. Plus I had recently moved it down to the desk in my bedroom, connected to a small LCD. The Mini will fit the desk much better than the old tower does.

So thanks again guys.

AppleTV: $300

MacMini: $680

Giants winning the Super Bowl: ……..well, you know.

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For Shannon… “Yes We Can”

Actually, I’m pretty sure that she’s probably already seen this viral video for her candidate. I’m just posting it for those who may not have caught it already. It’s a pretty powerful message.

For those who might not be quite into pop culture, the video was produced by will.i.am the front man for the Black Eyed Peas. It wasn’t commissioned by Obama but once he saw it he recognized its potential impact and he’s put it up on his campaign website.

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The Gift That Keeps on Giving…

I hope. For those of you who weren’t able to make Gary’s 50th birthday party, we gave him what may turn out to be just that gift. We gave him a $25 bet that the Yankees would win the World Series (oh well), and another $25 bet that the Giants would win the Super Bowl.  What I don’t recall is the odds…I think either 30 to 1 or 40 to 1. Funny thing is, Gary isn’t sure where he put the ticket.  At this point, he has decided not to look for it so as not to jinx them. I agree, but I certainly hope he’ll have to look for it after the game.

Five years ago I was in Arizona at a business conference. Archie Manning was the motivational speaker at one of our meetings. At the question and answer session, one of my co-workers asked Archie which son was a better quarterback. Surprisingly he said Eli! He stated that Eli had better control than Peyton. He certainly seems to be showing that control in his last few games. Hopefully it will continue.

Wish Gary and the Giants luck!