So the clip below just put me in a much better mood on this very-busy, very-stressful, non-stop Monday. It's that good.
Awesome. And apparently there is a whole series of these.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Boys' Favorite New Spot
Sorry posting's been so light lately. We are a week and a half into the new semester at Shepherd and I've been going non-stop. This semester, service obligations (department and university-wide) threaten to drown me, but I have no desire to dwell on that. For now, how about a quick picture of Bing and Wes in their new favorite spot--the house's front window?
Saturday, August 15, 2009
D.C. with Erin and Kelsie
After Christian and Aidan left on Monday morning, Kelsie and I headed to DC to meet up with Erin and hit some museums.
It was Kelsie's first ever subway ride (well, Metro, technically), so we marked the occasion. Oh and that black stuff on her hands came from her sunglasses case, we think. Cute but cheap sunglasses case combined with sweaty hands (it was HOT out!) made for a mess.
On the National Mall.
Facing the Capitol. See how thick and unpleasant the air looks? That's the heat, not just usual Washington noxiousness.
Our first stop was the American History Museum. Kelsie really enjoyed this one because she's a bit of a history nerd. (I say this as a bit of a history nerd myself.) This shot is of her placing her own hand on plaster casts of Lincoln's hand. Abraham, as she calls him, is her favorite president.
This book in the bookstore made us laugh. Can you see the part Kelsie is pointing to?
Remember what I said in the previous post about my brother's kids and their silly faces? Here's Kelsie posing in front of a display on the skeletons of frogs and toads. Turns out frogs are her favorite animals, closely followed by monkeys.
That's better!
After the museums, we decided to walk over to the Lincoln Memorial, since Abraham, after all, is Kelsie's favorite. It is a bit of a walk, but Erin and I were up to the challenge. Kelsie, though, pooped out on us halfway there. "It's too hot," she said. Since Erin and I were all about the kid having fun, we didn't push her. Plus, did I mention that it was freakin' hot? So we headed back to Erin's place to cool down and wait for Eric to get home from work. Then he took us to Faccia Luna for dinner. Fortunately, they had what Kelsie said she had been craving all day...
It was Kelsie's first ever subway ride (well, Metro, technically), so we marked the occasion. Oh and that black stuff on her hands came from her sunglasses case, we think. Cute but cheap sunglasses case combined with sweaty hands (it was HOT out!) made for a mess.
Kelsie on the Metro, making a silly if cute face.
On the National Mall.
Facing the Capitol. See how thick and unpleasant the air looks? That's the heat, not just usual Washington noxiousness.
Our first stop was the American History Museum. Kelsie really enjoyed this one because she's a bit of a history nerd. (I say this as a bit of a history nerd myself.) This shot is of her placing her own hand on plaster casts of Lincoln's hand. Abraham, as she calls him, is her favorite president.
This book in the bookstore made us laugh. Can you see the part Kelsie is pointing to?
After lunch in the American History Museum's cafeteria, we headed over to the Museum of Natural History, which is right next to the History Museum.
Remember what I said in the previous post about my brother's kids and their silly faces? Here's Kelsie posing in front of a display on the skeletons of frogs and toads. Turns out frogs are her favorite animals, closely followed by monkeys.
That's better!
After the museums, we decided to walk over to the Lincoln Memorial, since Abraham, after all, is Kelsie's favorite. It is a bit of a walk, but Erin and I were up to the challenge. Kelsie, though, pooped out on us halfway there. "It's too hot," she said. Since Erin and I were all about the kid having fun, we didn't push her. Plus, did I mention that it was freakin' hot? So we headed back to Erin's place to cool down and wait for Eric to get home from work. Then he took us to Faccia Luna for dinner. Fortunately, they had what Kelsie said she had been craving all day...
...spaghetti and meatballs, which she proudly documented. The grown-ups had some delicious pizza. After dinner, it was back to Virginia for Kelsie and I. It was a good but exhausting day!
New house: visit with the family
As I mentioned below, Christian and his kids were my first houseguests and Erin and Eric visited as well on this past Sunday. Some pictures from that day, most of which I've left uncropped to give you a good view of the yard and the neighborhood.
Kelsie, complete with J-Lo glasses, at the Shepherdstown Farmers Market.
Aidan at Home Depot, where Christian helped me pick out a lawn mower. He encouraged me to pick out a self-propelled model (but not a ride-on, despite what my nephew would have wanted) and even did the lawn for the first time himself.
Erin and Eric on the back deck. Behind them, you can see the door that leads into the large living rooom/dining room (it's one long room that can serve as both).
Even though it was hotter than heck outside, we played a bit of wiffleball outside. Here's Erin at the bat.
Aidan and Kelsie. It is very hard to get my brother's kids to make normal faces in pictures, especially both of them in the same shot.
Wonder where they get it? Here's Christian at the grill. He's standing in the fenced-in patio in the backyard. You walk down the deck and onto this patio.
More wiffleball. This is the backyard sort of facing the side street.
Kelsie, complete with J-Lo glasses, at the Shepherdstown Farmers Market.
Aidan at Home Depot, where Christian helped me pick out a lawn mower. He encouraged me to pick out a self-propelled model (but not a ride-on, despite what my nephew would have wanted) and even did the lawn for the first time himself.
Erin and Eric on the back deck. Behind them, you can see the door that leads into the large living rooom/dining room (it's one long room that can serve as both).
Even though it was hotter than heck outside, we played a bit of wiffleball outside. Here's Erin at the bat.
Aidan and Kelsie. It is very hard to get my brother's kids to make normal faces in pictures, especially both of them in the same shot.
Wonder where they get it? Here's Christian at the grill. He's standing in the fenced-in patio in the backyard. You walk down the deck and onto this patio.
More wiffleball. This is the backyard sort of facing the side street.
Did I mention it was hot? Look at how red Aidan's face is!
More pictures to come later...
New house: photo shoot and a backyard visitor
It's been very busy here around here lately, with family visiting from out of town and prep work for Monday (first day of classes). But I do have some photos to share. My brother Christian, my niece Kelsie, and my nephew Aidan got here last Saturday. Then Erin and Eric came for a visit and cookout on Sunday. One of Erin's birthday gifts to me was a really pretty wooden frame that she said I should put a picture of me and the house in. That, of course, required a photo shoot. So here you go...
The classic "It's All Mine!" pose.
Okay...I was just getting silly here.
I really like this one.
So those are some views of the front yard. This evening, though, I had reason to get some film of the backyard (or at least the wooded area behind my backyard). On Sunday, we saw two deer in the trees, but I wasn't able to get my camera. Today, though, I was luckier.
The classic "It's All Mine!" pose.
Thumbs up, baby!
Okay...I was just getting silly here.
I really like this one.
So those are some views of the front yard. This evening, though, I had reason to get some film of the backyard (or at least the wooded area behind my backyard). On Sunday, we saw two deer in the trees, but I wasn't able to get my camera. Today, though, I was luckier.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
That's just about right...
With classes starting a week from Monday, it's finally time to post this recent favorite from GraphJam.
Actually, I have an awesome car and a great new house, but this made me laugh anyway.
Actually, I have an awesome car and a great new house, but this made me laugh anyway.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
First view of the new house...
...courtesy of Bing's antics in the kitchen.
So people are asking for pictures of the new house--a very sweet and understandable request. However, I don't feel like it is quite ready for a photo session yet. But I can offer the video below, which in addition to showing off Bing's crazy acrobatic feats, also gives you a first view of the kitchen.
Some background: on Saturday, I heard Bing yelling in the kitchen. He does this when he is excited and wants you to notice him, I think. So I go in there thinking he's on the fridge, but instead, I find he's someplace even higher.
I still don't know how he got up there. Did he go from the fridge to the top of the cabinets, then leap over the sink to the top of the rest of the cabinets? Also, about 40/45 seconds in, you can hear Wesley asking for some attention, too. (And yes, this video is even more evidence that he does not know his name.)
So people are asking for pictures of the new house--a very sweet and understandable request. However, I don't feel like it is quite ready for a photo session yet. But I can offer the video below, which in addition to showing off Bing's crazy acrobatic feats, also gives you a first view of the kitchen.
Some background: on Saturday, I heard Bing yelling in the kitchen. He does this when he is excited and wants you to notice him, I think. So I go in there thinking he's on the fridge, but instead, I find he's someplace even higher.
I still don't know how he got up there. Did he go from the fridge to the top of the cabinets, then leap over the sink to the top of the rest of the cabinets? Also, about 40/45 seconds in, you can hear Wesley asking for some attention, too. (And yes, this video is even more evidence that he does not know his name.)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What's new?
Well, unpacking is still going on--and going quite well. I am scheduled (because, yes, I write a daily schedule for myself) to finish up today. Well, except for hanging stuff on walls. I need some time to plan that out.
But, as noted below, I am also packing--that is, packing up my office at school. It's sort of depressing to do, but I keep reminding myself that there is a good reason: that shiny new office. One problem: said shiny new office is totally not ready and no one can tell when it will be ready. Blame the bats, who put construction about two weeks behind schedule.
Anyway, in the meantime, I am working on my fall syllabi (I can't believe they aren't done yet--I usually have them done well before now) and getting back into a somewhat normal routine. I've got tons and tons of links and things saved up to post, but can't devote time to them right now (see paragraph one, re: daily schedule). But for now, how about a cool video? (Via Andrew Sullivan.)
Does that look like fun?
But, as noted below, I am also packing--that is, packing up my office at school. It's sort of depressing to do, but I keep reminding myself that there is a good reason: that shiny new office. One problem: said shiny new office is totally not ready and no one can tell when it will be ready. Blame the bats, who put construction about two weeks behind schedule.
Anyway, in the meantime, I am working on my fall syllabi (I can't believe they aren't done yet--I usually have them done well before now) and getting back into a somewhat normal routine. I've got tons and tons of links and things saved up to post, but can't devote time to them right now (see paragraph one, re: daily schedule). But for now, how about a cool video? (Via Andrew Sullivan.)
Does that look like fun?
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