tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210533572024-03-14T07:02:47.731-04:00Wedded Bliss Expands!Images and words from our journey as a familyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-37885476904257556892011-02-21T07:33:00.002-05:002011-02-21T07:38:11.871-05:00Semi-retiredLately, I've been wrestling once again with what to do when I grow up - maybe I'll figure that out before I grow up, maybe not. One of the trends that I've taken up is that photography should play a more central role.<br /><br />And with that thought, I've launched a new blog -- http://dklotz.blogspot.com/ -- and this one will become semi-retired. At the new blog you'll find my portfolio and a few new pix every week that show my continued exploration in photography.<br /><br />It will be interesting to see where this journey ends up, or whether I will actually ever grow up...<br /><br />- DanUnknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-83633951780627352052011-01-20T06:52:00.005-05:002011-01-20T06:57:51.623-05:00More photos from the summerMeg is showing these at CJ's school today. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkoXqNe_UbXmsPxO0HtlYsw4GXnoUyms7aW3aFwH9tIcymexZ2Qp6j_VZRs26ONstjh5-AeJtfhBoimPPbyNh9RYI1OGa3t8RjF5HOqkBEq5fXatzcOVNAlqyF6vtq78n0yUyTg/s1600/blog+DSC00256.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkoXqNe_UbXmsPxO0HtlYsw4GXnoUyms7aW3aFwH9tIcymexZ2Qp6j_VZRs26ONstjh5-AeJtfhBoimPPbyNh9RYI1OGa3t8RjF5HOqkBEq5fXatzcOVNAlqyF6vtq78n0yUyTg/s400/blog+DSC00256.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235407029406962" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_9I729Vr24c_ylbjo7xbzXUUd_Yuf5n9S3zzW7ty1fg27CTUGB1F-Lju69oB3Av1UofGRp05dwiQPzkt2HzTlTn8pwgjZhvLKKAboDiLK7ixLBISPFi3hYCXdzn02pZfK9LPQg/s1600/blog+DSC00267+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_9I729Vr24c_ylbjo7xbzXUUd_Yuf5n9S3zzW7ty1fg27CTUGB1F-Lju69oB3Av1UofGRp05dwiQPzkt2HzTlTn8pwgjZhvLKKAboDiLK7ixLBISPFi3hYCXdzn02pZfK9LPQg/s400/blog+DSC00267+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235403059406130" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF9E7WHjmzJg1ORpgy7bChXblZZz0qbAMeADPu-ig7SdVBYuY6nNC-VdG1rbJAfBvM7qeGTthrP6MjdnqO8Kdb48AFJ-RQhcBnRPWgAnQkg8ol1L6QFHqekQg56xA7ulGHsqvqA/s1600/blog+P1060869+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF9E7WHjmzJg1ORpgy7bChXblZZz0qbAMeADPu-ig7SdVBYuY6nNC-VdG1rbJAfBvM7qeGTthrP6MjdnqO8Kdb48AFJ-RQhcBnRPWgAnQkg8ol1L6QFHqekQg56xA7ulGHsqvqA/s400/blog+P1060869+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235295501118482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUV2YVo8z9xwdneamJAOkmvMwgcQMc84MbmEPBIe0-uZn9nigXr2gc8WtVAhyPBBBpsTLJC_L4Pl_S9PllR8mTNdmBylqWIgQN85AkSzbcYDEJYRvyETzlcb7g_r19WbAl1Qilg/s1600/blog+P1070056+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUV2YVo8z9xwdneamJAOkmvMwgcQMc84MbmEPBIe0-uZn9nigXr2gc8WtVAhyPBBBpsTLJC_L4Pl_S9PllR8mTNdmBylqWIgQN85AkSzbcYDEJYRvyETzlcb7g_r19WbAl1Qilg/s400/blog+P1070056+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235569616841922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDl9wFPpKcOGUxGewb3n0mNNJ5N2_QBtRKDJR_kifQsN1xzQhAD-ZrXT50yAEnws7HRL1aDaYNrpaHrJcwRkFexBnCSqUQxhEr7WjHmlE2xIdN09TkeBZ9OLqyAT5MRhaHPLtMuA/s1600/blog+DSC00102+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDl9wFPpKcOGUxGewb3n0mNNJ5N2_QBtRKDJR_kifQsN1xzQhAD-ZrXT50yAEnws7HRL1aDaYNrpaHrJcwRkFexBnCSqUQxhEr7WjHmlE2xIdN09TkeBZ9OLqyAT5MRhaHPLtMuA/s400/blog+DSC00102+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235300357013618" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k2Aieh3zOaprpB5szLnxw3gEkb56dG2hWmUYxJ-gw8CtrUewlnJsvrtknykZkY3ePltsGwcMEGx4SaDvShyyGM0AGVDUXRg0i8oqIE-TMGx3svxxldoMRa7ikV_Qfw3sXKRRaw/s1600/IMG_0665%252B+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k2Aieh3zOaprpB5szLnxw3gEkb56dG2hWmUYxJ-gw8CtrUewlnJsvrtknykZkY3ePltsGwcMEGx4SaDvShyyGM0AGVDUXRg0i8oqIE-TMGx3svxxldoMRa7ikV_Qfw3sXKRRaw/s400/IMG_0665%252B+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235294797261570" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJZGvZ9WEEZCc6geUZ0SykqlhKFkwjre6wUHe_cx8G431Zro8mN3doc4JOdOvXW3As1QH39e6bRsSa7JY1lskqs_QillsXcYun2HOscPH_wcnUCUK1GDXk0jzXv_wzw8QIZ0xcw/s1600/blog+DSC00201+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJZGvZ9WEEZCc6geUZ0SykqlhKFkwjre6wUHe_cx8G431Zro8mN3doc4JOdOvXW3As1QH39e6bRsSa7JY1lskqs_QillsXcYun2HOscPH_wcnUCUK1GDXk0jzXv_wzw8QIZ0xcw/s400/blog+DSC00201+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235289206108802" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6OqfcLwXqMOsbO88YOlYO0ttmoZyIML97fnjc_Blpv44ZFw1W1L9OYc4yd8OWmkiCyonw5aaBUL06CHViT4bJkU6XANZ94thW-Aa_FT7M-pJXGpaIS74SzDj3r-uG-GwLD-9IA/s1600/blog+DSC00063+%25282%2529+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6OqfcLwXqMOsbO88YOlYO0ttmoZyIML97fnjc_Blpv44ZFw1W1L9OYc4yd8OWmkiCyonw5aaBUL06CHViT4bJkU6XANZ94thW-Aa_FT7M-pJXGpaIS74SzDj3r-uG-GwLD-9IA/s400/blog+DSC00063+%25282%2529+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564235283043987746" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-89669456376032444922011-01-09T21:02:00.003-05:002011-01-09T21:04:43.322-05:00How to use chopsticks<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VAJrFepognE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VAJrFepognE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />(apologies for not posting in ages; more to come again)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-3271640686362012592010-08-31T07:11:00.004-04:002010-08-31T07:30:08.738-04:00More vacation photosContinuing to slowly move through the photos, I have a few more from our western odyssey. These were all taken in Sequoia National Park.<br /><br />CJ among the redwooods:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBJl4C0cZmiT3cEpGUuliE2B_tydxKPQNoavj4LlDv_6k-Db6CaGc3fvgIp0B_q_zhsbdMxTS1_GIoOALNQSL3ymWObjKVjM_yDQTCnkZOJNbOB_O3qWsu7h-YgxuWCVYgSrsmA/s1600/blog+DSC00102+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBJl4C0cZmiT3cEpGUuliE2B_tydxKPQNoavj4LlDv_6k-Db6CaGc3fvgIp0B_q_zhsbdMxTS1_GIoOALNQSL3ymWObjKVjM_yDQTCnkZOJNbOB_O3qWsu7h-YgxuWCVYgSrsmA/s320/blog+DSC00102+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511530771148934098" /></a><br /><br />Taking photos on/next to a fallen giant:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS842NvbmzXYZ1EbglL9KLuTWMRdXv1LGFU3iFuMGrCoFzI9wHM6bi3gE7faID4kjOQN4KfnQDfRKyDsH5qMKz3Zu7KICPBGtGDjgtg6oQCOPc1TEWWb_kVqnxEPwbqsQtSacluw/s1600/blog+DSC00201+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS842NvbmzXYZ1EbglL9KLuTWMRdXv1LGFU3iFuMGrCoFzI9wHM6bi3gE7faID4kjOQN4KfnQDfRKyDsH5qMKz3Zu7KICPBGtGDjgtg6oQCOPc1TEWWb_kVqnxEPwbqsQtSacluw/s320/blog+DSC00201+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511530725820556754" /></a><br /><br />The rest of the redwood landed in a meadow:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_evHAA1mFJnKZh7q8hUpo4PeokfOSAiq7j0CCYfZIYDb0nVjGSVS9b28hgvB3Q9w89i94HTR3V4tdgvmJZcG66ARXOF3OjwbXg5X6pRSvIguDA8zLLZgKDU-gDAExHr27svUFg/s1600/blog+DSC00206+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_evHAA1mFJnKZh7q8hUpo4PeokfOSAiq7j0CCYfZIYDb0nVjGSVS9b28hgvB3Q9w89i94HTR3V4tdgvmJZcG66ARXOF3OjwbXg5X6pRSvIguDA8zLLZgKDU-gDAExHr27svUFg/s320/blog+DSC00206+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511530756288686610" /></a><br /><br />The girls share a giggle in front of the General Sherman tree, the largest tree on earth by volume. FWIW, I don't think you really need to clarify that kind of claim...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpgduHm9ivWf6PiVKg6KW92byQzQcnuUDU5mVEdzMmd2y_Y5GceXhgMiArrinlXW8xAFjErJRHuGGKDfbbs4WKD8vyPgdTabAoBGFAsj3RXyU1QNFWMxm9T_1bcGsl-2GrDn2Sg/s1600/blog+DSC00234+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpgduHm9ivWf6PiVKg6KW92byQzQcnuUDU5mVEdzMmd2y_Y5GceXhgMiArrinlXW8xAFjErJRHuGGKDfbbs4WKD8vyPgdTabAoBGFAsj3RXyU1QNFWMxm9T_1bcGsl-2GrDn2Sg/s320/blog+DSC00234+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511530741425104082" /></a><br /><br />The moon over the trees in our campground, first thing in the morning:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFUexIiun_U3NnndDAFZY52rsnQeNVETyqsLblW9zO3cwzvqhvZ_a4k9uZUdAHwsoH_Zyx7q_lFysvopdi8B_jnJtjafZj71-YaOvKlY3W4k0z0d2dFM82is-NM37LgGof2ryFA/s1600/blog+DSC00252+crop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFUexIiun_U3NnndDAFZY52rsnQeNVETyqsLblW9zO3cwzvqhvZ_a4k9uZUdAHwsoH_Zyx7q_lFysvopdi8B_jnJtjafZj71-YaOvKlY3W4k0z0d2dFM82is-NM37LgGof2ryFA/s320/blog+DSC00252+crop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511530732978008818" /></a><br /><br />Yes, I'm missing it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-78830265292085440292010-08-23T21:34:00.004-04:002010-08-23T21:50:29.012-04:00Vacation - Family Style!It took forever to finally arrive, but Meg, CJ and I spent almost two and a half glorious weeks on vacation in California. We did quite a bit of sightseeing: the really steep hills of San Francisco, the really big sequoia redwoods, the really big cliffs of Kings Canyon, the really interesting history of gold country, the really beautiful valley of Yosemite, and we even managed to go to a wedding at the end. (really, no fooling!)<br /><br />It will take forever to sift through all the pics, sorry, but instead of posting them all at once I thought to post a few at a time. The whole lot, once finished, will get posted to our flickr account. And at some point soon, Meg will post a longer recap of Vacation: 2010.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />The view from Morro Rock in Sequioa National Park (when focusing on the moss on a dead branch):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtT67LMMa_QIefcH9uqWDwelW8PuyLrFaX9WtGcZPGY8T5HWcKDlT_yFn35iJ8AQ2f9XqsItrXTafCWZ-TP0wgjF_h6HsHNd8KUGosrqL6s5_VWvBDyd848bkHzoGfkFAaplsxA/s1600/blog+DSC00057+(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtT67LMMa_QIefcH9uqWDwelW8PuyLrFaX9WtGcZPGY8T5HWcKDlT_yFn35iJ8AQ2f9XqsItrXTafCWZ-TP0wgjF_h6HsHNd8KUGosrqL6s5_VWvBDyd848bkHzoGfkFAaplsxA/s320/blog+DSC00057+(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508786441784710722" /></a><br /><br />The "Tunnel View" of Yosemite Valley, just before sunrise:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxem_1POf6yIWfpOqiy9oUO9d_QBn5yWl2vxzIv02zwGLfqt31VN45F5XPS3OYg_Xjxlf_UjeSYNsfXCp5tsVm6MPdaV1R5cJJbU_9pI8gdaHDONhVeKctiUed4mZ-LvBvq1K5aA/s1600/blog+DSC00021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxem_1POf6yIWfpOqiy9oUO9d_QBn5yWl2vxzIv02zwGLfqt31VN45F5XPS3OYg_Xjxlf_UjeSYNsfXCp5tsVm6MPdaV1R5cJJbU_9pI8gdaHDONhVeKctiUed4mZ-LvBvq1K5aA/s320/blog+DSC00021.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508786459532776306" /></a><br /><br />Yosemite's Half Dome, from Glacier Point, just after sunrise:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumPriXtxsi-ARwijJlOjE7bo-b-g8mL26y0iUiP2kmAOiwJHG2ppOnWoEtXmm7gdB0SLvF3b9Pw0_I-XydLZ5IRRHBrqWwUrDBixKPwQmo_hABP8Dlg8Yw0rWbS4XEMw6_tnOFA/s1600/blog+DSC00046+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumPriXtxsi-ARwijJlOjE7bo-b-g8mL26y0iUiP2kmAOiwJHG2ppOnWoEtXmm7gdB0SLvF3b9Pw0_I-XydLZ5IRRHBrqWwUrDBixKPwQmo_hABP8Dlg8Yw0rWbS4XEMw6_tnOFA/s320/blog+DSC00046+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508786479297015410" /></a><br /><br />Little tree in the middle of a big cliff, viewed from Glacier Point, just after sunrise:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQbra1dU88rOWgQcYUwG1zQWiwj1Lwkl4oXdcdASNU_1GB863hXJiwE4YIl_ypfjQFtQv11UKKO6I2p5BYDa4eQs0JDLMk9OiDDTnct45NCdVI3MXs0vV9qXzpjw4066OpFOiCg/s1600/blog+DSC00061+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQbra1dU88rOWgQcYUwG1zQWiwj1Lwkl4oXdcdASNU_1GB863hXJiwE4YIl_ypfjQFtQv11UKKO6I2p5BYDa4eQs0JDLMk9OiDDTnct45NCdVI3MXs0vV9qXzpjw4066OpFOiCg/s320/blog+DSC00061+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508786452664480562" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-52107417693137628602010-07-12T07:16:00.004-04:002010-07-12T07:31:37.241-04:00Morocco, solo again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13vwOrxb96ZX0OTjqZVMrrk8wkWcsAJcOpcEFJTCMYti5NJIAR5wS5f-179lZMemnh_1klaHVNKrC1wAN8WCmAg5bTDCOsA8ze1vcBCfBQYyCvDstw6iBFygb9B9mQnZ_eJvu_Q/s1600/M05+blog+P1060027+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13vwOrxb96ZX0OTjqZVMrrk8wkWcsAJcOpcEFJTCMYti5NJIAR5wS5f-179lZMemnh_1klaHVNKrC1wAN8WCmAg5bTDCOsA8ze1vcBCfBQYyCvDstw6iBFygb9B9mQnZ_eJvu_Q/s320/M05+blog+P1060027+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492977239389057362" /></a><br /><br />At the end of June, my job sent me to yet another corner of the globe, this time to Agadir, Morocco, for the International Whaling Commission's annual meeting. To start things off, while I was waiting to switch planes in the Casablanca airport, my wallet got picked -- on Father's Day no less. The meeting was as stressful and difficult as they all are. The World Cup provided a welcome relief, and the locals even tried to recreate a few games on the beach, but without the vuvuzelas.<br /><br />Afterwards I tried to spend a few days in a very picturesque but crushingly poor town called Essaouira. The town was overrun by a music festival that was at times quite entertaining (and free, fortunately).<br /><br />I've spent the past few weeks trying to recover, and reconnect with my family after too much travel over the past nine months. I'm going to try to post more regularly here, as it seems to be a better way of communicating than through facebook or twitter. But we'll see what the summer brings -- aside from an actual family vacation, of course.<br /><br />Photos from Morocco can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80262249@N00/sets/72157624352079323/">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-40518966723537661322010-04-17T08:24:00.003-04:002010-04-17T08:29:51.227-04:00Photos from Cairo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2602DNQ9DaBp_kbpSRfxv7fa7rq1l1yF1YJhfFSMyygAlGzTgc8Ek6R09y7WwqlREtQI2g-zSGgkQvBQ6YY_Vyexhyphenhyphens4KzDYE5ssY2dkQ0oOeODRuQbNP8VXv3KR-f3obbv2ptA/s1600/Cairo+025+blog+DSC08693+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2602DNQ9DaBp_kbpSRfxv7fa7rq1l1yF1YJhfFSMyygAlGzTgc8Ek6R09y7WwqlREtQI2g-zSGgkQvBQ6YY_Vyexhyphenhyphens4KzDYE5ssY2dkQ0oOeODRuQbNP8VXv3KR-f3obbv2ptA/s320/Cairo+025+blog+DSC08693+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461081528738095650" /></a><br /><br />As I mentioned in the last post, after spending two weeks in Doha last month I decompressed for three days in Cairo. Decompress is probably the wrong word to use; Cairo is the most frenetic town imaginable. Great fun if you like to take photos, mine can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80262249@N00/sets/72157623749950799/">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-62691122895264904392010-04-04T07:21:00.003-04:002010-04-04T07:31:31.003-04:00Name this bird? (and I'm back)After two weeks of CITES, the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (in Doha, Qatar), followed by a three-day stopover in Cairo and five days of yard work and household chores, I'm getting back into the swing of things. <br /><br />Work should be interesting -- everything has revolved around CITES for the past six months. We failed miserably, getting absolutely no protections for eight endangered sharks and Atlantic bluefin tuna. It's time to put the experience in the rear view mirror and move on now.<br /><br />I have plenty of photos from Cairo that will take a while to sort out, of course, but in the interim I thought we could play a round of "Name this bird."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU4h9gFOgdD5UvF5pI3iQXt4fMFmEZqq6OyGioGTcxXw8zym0r4fq7x52ZmKghUXz054ooJiI8qU8t49JI4EZ4pbf-E57b7brFXlVNzcjQ6yd5KyWTyn5FXiG9ALp3-ihlAFiyw/s1600/crop+P1050284+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU4h9gFOgdD5UvF5pI3iQXt4fMFmEZqq6OyGioGTcxXw8zym0r4fq7x52ZmKghUXz054ooJiI8qU8t49JI4EZ4pbf-E57b7brFXlVNzcjQ6yd5KyWTyn5FXiG9ALp3-ihlAFiyw/s320/crop+P1050284+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456242548688924050" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1TzhyXek6DEdFIE3J9oArSPb5z69uLuueWcfOulmc-j_kftKcgVRkyrUF_9w6qB_Ivd5fUccPilW5HdNFZz6RcMpUjczwZVWWp3TH05flkcN5Jz0TyXs-2r2XP9eLA3pMHpVKA/s1600/crop+P1050285.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1TzhyXek6DEdFIE3J9oArSPb5z69uLuueWcfOulmc-j_kftKcgVRkyrUF_9w6qB_Ivd5fUccPilW5HdNFZz6RcMpUjczwZVWWp3TH05flkcN5Jz0TyXs-2r2XP9eLA3pMHpVKA/s320/crop+P1050285.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456242562636843314" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXbof2BbUB2w5XmwGalbroVACWpZtkTftGFWToyNan1FnhBAtUG2n9mZBdm2woteyCFp97fEdwbfzM4dbsBubVFAJXrzuvmkNkn_uRrT9UKejzrfWpeT-2MGD9BautH0rS9CUDw/s1600/crop+P1050302+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXbof2BbUB2w5XmwGalbroVACWpZtkTftGFWToyNan1FnhBAtUG2n9mZBdm2woteyCFp97fEdwbfzM4dbsBubVFAJXrzuvmkNkn_uRrT9UKejzrfWpeT-2MGD9BautH0rS9CUDw/s320/crop+P1050302+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456242593367081698" /></a><br /><br />I also have a photo of CJ amidst the cherry blossoms for those interested...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFJjGv5gXTY1jli9QKrvymae2bKZJ6bdCgzpDquP9xOMsndVn2iKXTYHczIQCuENMyRs9pvMsxwhXybQGKOzYlVfr2TaUQ7baYlcRTjsZmaZ4lR8h1xS7tCNR0LQkMrspKNFKTg/s1600/blog+P1050266+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFJjGv5gXTY1jli9QKrvymae2bKZJ6bdCgzpDquP9xOMsndVn2iKXTYHczIQCuENMyRs9pvMsxwhXybQGKOzYlVfr2TaUQ7baYlcRTjsZmaZ4lR8h1xS7tCNR0LQkMrspKNFKTg/s320/blog+P1050266+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456242533043702690" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-11814351708334306372010-02-13T06:50:00.004-05:002010-02-14T15:37:29.677-05:00Crazy tripAt the end of January, I traveled on a crazy, four-city business trip that was probably the least stressful business trip I will ever take. The point of the trip was to meet with journalists, and everyone I work with claimed every single part of the trip. So I got to spin through Madrid, London, Doha and Dubai with nothing to do really but hold my spokesperson's coat.<br /><br />One interesting side trip we took was to Doha's wholesale fish market. I found it interesting; for all my years in NY I never poked around the fulton fish market, only sniffing at it from a few blocks away (it's just north of the South Street Seaport). <br /><br />That being said, here's the no-frills Doha fish market:<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u8vurAekfRY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u8vurAekfRY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/whsDYPl-biY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/whsDYPl-biY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />The "high" light of the trip was the Burj Khalifa, the newest tallest building in the world. To get to the observation deck on the 120th floor will run you US$130 if you just show up, but only US$30 if you book it week's in advance.<br /><br />Instead, we ate dinner across from the reflecting pool and watched the show:<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eyAr6LZCkJs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eyAr6LZCkJs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Not bad for a desert city, eh?<br /><br />My photos from the trip can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/80262249@N00/sets/72157623294959739/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-17882649546342074332010-01-02T11:03:00.002-05:002010-01-02T11:06:06.605-05:00hot cocoa greetingsFor those who haven't seen this yet, our apologies for getting it out so late!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6ds6BT3R4ErFHhKnaPJQHGXfVA4-WQjmL9yvSVd_di-xAfnWuk0wZiRV_QmG2ZZ1S5q450AVhaaz84lTM4OK8Ww0bp7oUGsdjUprBFtxd8y1KmLKvCx8GjeHHL5SIr3f1Xd7gA/s1600-h/_xmas+email+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6ds6BT3R4ErFHhKnaPJQHGXfVA4-WQjmL9yvSVd_di-xAfnWuk0wZiRV_QmG2ZZ1S5q450AVhaaz84lTM4OK8Ww0bp7oUGsdjUprBFtxd8y1KmLKvCx8GjeHHL5SIr3f1Xd7gA/s320/_xmas+email+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422174233054448466" /></a><br /><br />And here's the appropriate follow-up shot, of course.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAsyMwPNMpNL6WVyoUI8Hfij-xXCfO1h-xelRUiThXLy-Ry_2mpgyx_llnW3bCuDlfOASyZmlnlNKiDoM6zfmqzg5b9n7IXT9CvKD5p6YiQ5UhIrk1R_C6_Md9StQWnp4rymoZw/s1600-h/blog+P1030712+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAsyMwPNMpNL6WVyoUI8Hfij-xXCfO1h-xelRUiThXLy-Ry_2mpgyx_llnW3bCuDlfOASyZmlnlNKiDoM6zfmqzg5b9n7IXT9CvKD5p6YiQ5UhIrk1R_C6_Md9StQWnp4rymoZw/s320/blog+P1030712+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422174241985419474" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-61966954731044285462009-12-21T06:24:00.002-05:002009-12-21T06:35:50.124-05:00snow day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP75pyVpvGXeE2om7QD6bMX9Q7Ul3buzteoJI2-CHtjFRR8TkAnR3n3tVwnwZyGZFNGUNruO1Gi-0guAPlVqV1oKS8vABHCvzGPJgvnpA7pKgv-oobWu4wjVtGsPXvoDczZNlhQ/s1600-h/blog+P1030674+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP75pyVpvGXeE2om7QD6bMX9Q7Ul3buzteoJI2-CHtjFRR8TkAnR3n3tVwnwZyGZFNGUNruO1Gi-0guAPlVqV1oKS8vABHCvzGPJgvnpA7pKgv-oobWu4wjVtGsPXvoDczZNlhQ/s320/blog+P1030674+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417648983107736098" /></a><br /><br />I'm not quite sure what the official measurement was in our neighborhood, but I think we got about 20" of snow on Saturday. CJ had been sick all week, but needed a little motivation perhaps for getting better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtI9ROm5FscWgdAFr-CFp6bVqRLWHExThx3avOSvqGUKFTfWQHocPHFMq-johhCZgyRhkYtZ5Hye8uEbaEtaLnouOAp9x3oFtQaWmTHFYlkdChZyYdqm3YT7Ys7-Dy7WnUVKvmw/s1600-h/blog+P1030667+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtI9ROm5FscWgdAFr-CFp6bVqRLWHExThx3avOSvqGUKFTfWQHocPHFMq-johhCZgyRhkYtZ5Hye8uEbaEtaLnouOAp9x3oFtQaWmTHFYlkdChZyYdqm3YT7Ys7-Dy7WnUVKvmw/s320/blog+P1030667+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417648974051390578" /></a><br /><br />Our neighbor was quite helpful in showing CJ how to build a snow house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6funR6sgUeMrSipgPTrdaP6mnNf5VCu-fRzWUCfoqdQ10t06252FlS84yaTPXbWGDQkGa6TiZvSpB0Jl4CvKHgoLPMFHYBKAbklxlhgNN1YA6mk6pjnTJwCjOvpT1iCexOXAqQ/s1600-h/blog+P1030657+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6funR6sgUeMrSipgPTrdaP6mnNf5VCu-fRzWUCfoqdQ10t06252FlS84yaTPXbWGDQkGa6TiZvSpB0Jl4CvKHgoLPMFHYBKAbklxlhgNN1YA6mk6pjnTJwCjOvpT1iCexOXAqQ/s320/blog+P1030657+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417648979018403506" /></a><br /><br />It took a while to clear the driveway, but I managed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89arz3RPSDcfnGNDtUPCBwhvfLwbnwqM4O2-81_dlbqa9bW1gxzRKB5jGQf4QtE9dMYZvjUOs-ct06Re6Sh6gfdj3GLXCw7WmrMkkQhfqq1hwYy0jqhgofqJLA8i75CBKR_F5OQ/s1600-h/blog+P1030682+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89arz3RPSDcfnGNDtUPCBwhvfLwbnwqM4O2-81_dlbqa9bW1gxzRKB5jGQf4QtE9dMYZvjUOs-ct06Re6Sh6gfdj3GLXCw7WmrMkkQhfqq1hwYy0jqhgofqJLA8i75CBKR_F5OQ/s320/blog+P1030682+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417648964985566610" /></a><br /><br />All in all, it was a good weekend to have a home. But I'm a little sore this morning from all that shoveling...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-5949914773104027642009-12-05T18:26:00.006-05:002009-12-06T05:24:41.961-05:00BrazilThe highlight/lowlight of November was a week and a half-long business trip to Brazil. It's always interesting checking out a new place. That's why it was a highlight. But if there is an enchanting location in Brazil -- and I'm sure there is -- we were pretty far from it. You won't see the petrochemical refinery two miles up the beach from where we were (I didn't photograph it). But let's just say that the ocean looked more like it does off Jones beach than in your typical pristine tropical venue.<br /><br />We stayed at one of those all-inclusive resorts, and attended a big fisheries meeting at another. It's kind of hard to tell the resorts apart, although this one liked setting up for the day during high tide.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY269itwoD2dztsWgCBd2WGs1CbDTrgJ2XF8VwHgqW4S6sXzCgI5NldoKnmVLIA1zrW3G8mr9msGmVavlRpyNIM32viZJL_vEMs_dloNY4yMWp6vhCR0dsc5BpFDb-GVqcFF1rg/s1600-h/blog+DSC08014+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY269itwoD2dztsWgCBd2WGs1CbDTrgJ2XF8VwHgqW4S6sXzCgI5NldoKnmVLIA1zrW3G8mr9msGmVavlRpyNIM32viZJL_vEMs_dloNY4yMWp6vhCR0dsc5BpFDb-GVqcFF1rg/s320/blog+DSC08014+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411898153738812018" /></a><br /><br />A large rock shelf blocked off the surf from the sand. It made for interesting photos, but not so much for swimming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_1bPNfqY5R2aqxpmo9a5i3mbbGTrTXatQrhfQ-2L9m0sO2DD6Iv2CWeYoCI-_YsnXHBpCWo38sAuLRMe4oyNmAuUl-XmDs1NoxQARcUeAUGCkshBm6xGz-WDdrSBCM-K18vr7A/s1600-h/blog+DSC08038+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_1bPNfqY5R2aqxpmo9a5i3mbbGTrTXatQrhfQ-2L9m0sO2DD6Iv2CWeYoCI-_YsnXHBpCWo38sAuLRMe4oyNmAuUl-XmDs1NoxQARcUeAUGCkshBm6xGz-WDdrSBCM-K18vr7A/s320/blog+DSC08038+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411898146402570770" /></a><br /><br />Here's the view with my back to the refinery. Fairy nice, but that water just doesn't have the blue sheen it should.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbIpitCW2YWoMUOROl5eO6edqvRG3fLTbrhWwAmO0bfvTwOJ7DA0uBX8rFB1tYQAkjcrQ4YPHXzPpMuqlO57A3Iwy-HlLinA2YbzYUn5f4-obYB-rUIi-_Enz33iWJ7jIJfYHKg/s1600-h/blog+DSC08063+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbIpitCW2YWoMUOROl5eO6edqvRG3fLTbrhWwAmO0bfvTwOJ7DA0uBX8rFB1tYQAkjcrQ4YPHXzPpMuqlO57A3Iwy-HlLinA2YbzYUn5f4-obYB-rUIi-_Enz33iWJ7jIJfYHKg/s320/blog+DSC08063+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411897939471153458" /></a><br /><br />The egrets seemed pretty content with the place, although the tidal pools didn't hold much of anything except a bunch of sea urchins.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFcfYSrD1IeGMYR_yVN3v-nE77erCZWHBX4XFoPTNUREJv7tf-Djt35Kiy7cBCW-gnT81gI8oO-PcYZjXzIUeNbwMRV0tYYL7UeGfYHWJ1ZJ4HKg_2KluZHU26Gw93a-_lMusEw/s1600-h/blog+P1030056+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFcfYSrD1IeGMYR_yVN3v-nE77erCZWHBX4XFoPTNUREJv7tf-Djt35Kiy7cBCW-gnT81gI8oO-PcYZjXzIUeNbwMRV0tYYL7UeGfYHWJ1ZJ4HKg_2KluZHU26Gw93a-_lMusEw/s320/blog+P1030056+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411897935563662770" /></a><br /><br />A few miles south of us was the tourist village of Porto da Galinhas. In ten days, we escaped to eat here three times. At least the water was a little cleaner here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX3O3wdyjmMnHMBYVWr_XidsM-69jWnDiIZGP-SqaxV4BcV3PrgEx3wv8xuy4SlOjBS3d5Uepmlfd8Nbq500piSGLD3AsJFF8AXgTF-_rjUUENbj1ALyChmJSIZASJSTaq-P9XQ/s1600-h/blog+P1030131+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX3O3wdyjmMnHMBYVWr_XidsM-69jWnDiIZGP-SqaxV4BcV3PrgEx3wv8xuy4SlOjBS3d5Uepmlfd8Nbq500piSGLD3AsJFF8AXgTF-_rjUUENbj1ALyChmJSIZASJSTaq-P9XQ/s320/blog+P1030131+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411897928083938162" /></a><br /><br />Porto da Galinhas is an hour south of the industrial port of Recife. The name means "Chicken Port," and it was one of the main ports used in the slave trade (chickens being derogatory slang for the slaves waiting to be sold). Now, the town takes its name literally, and chicken imagery is ubiquitous.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfv0kIAovPSLz1TLNfU2MV2m-RNXvwpz2ykwz7IoO8QBFM9mJ3HBrP36UC2EYvS6ff6pTSXcE2GmUtP8w4jwt3XPon6pVnPXww2q2JODx78joZhLG21NfNW5SFmMLSU3g_kynJw/s1600-h/blog+P1030150+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfv0kIAovPSLz1TLNfU2MV2m-RNXvwpz2ykwz7IoO8QBFM9mJ3HBrP36UC2EYvS6ff6pTSXcE2GmUtP8w4jwt3XPon6pVnPXww2q2JODx78joZhLG21NfNW5SFmMLSU3g_kynJw/s320/blog+P1030150+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411897922244423154" /></a><br /><br />The town did have its unseemly parts, of course.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb4FhtpNN4t9dEBU_4fS8OHDp4XmoC7Ph6o9aJjRBye-c-CJXkhY2fbUjlUqMV6Vm02AnByi89qW2RlhaA5Eendvosyb0ymJeQA2exbVZHxfKtnB4BrXLjLf-pG2ZljpJcNUZuA/s1600-h/blog+P1030152+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb4FhtpNN4t9dEBU_4fS8OHDp4XmoC7Ph6o9aJjRBye-c-CJXkhY2fbUjlUqMV6Vm02AnByi89qW2RlhaA5Eendvosyb0ymJeQA2exbVZHxfKtnB4BrXLjLf-pG2ZljpJcNUZuA/s320/blog+P1030152+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411897918433730978" /></a><br /><br />Recife, incidentally, is the shark attack capitol of Brazil. They filled in the estuaries along the coast where the bull sharks breed and built a nice strip of hotels on the beach. The only estuary left has a slaughterhouse upstream that is known for unregulated wastewater discharges. So the tourist hotels basically sit on a beach with a lot of confused bull sharks smelling blood in the water and not sure of where they're supposed to be. Very typical of Brazil, I think.<br /><br />And for those who are curious, here's what the big meeting room looked like where I was stuck for all that time. Note that I was inadvertently filmed while taking the picture...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKukwRS-E0SL8mmLLfVtuTM6RuTK7-KzuixwdjymvJG2zOwqkvjCol7rzUVgQCca9F6hk45JqW_8qiSAhlnMiqoJl6By03jH4G50o3lrGThU8wHP7eGVoEzvFBPOVDjBndKXr6A/s1600-h/blog+P1030062+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKukwRS-E0SL8mmLLfVtuTM6RuTK7-KzuixwdjymvJG2zOwqkvjCol7rzUVgQCca9F6hk45JqW_8qiSAhlnMiqoJl6By03jH4G50o3lrGThU8wHP7eGVoEzvFBPOVDjBndKXr6A/s320/blog+P1030062+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412066162707404178" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-66453569494331650582009-11-01T16:15:00.005-05:002009-11-01T17:00:05.247-05:00Making a Jack-O-LanternStep 1: take the top off of the pumpkin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItvarT9UiCW_tddrDNSkD55r8brdr72__l7W9yUvMOFDVL5ELS4gHZEZ6qdYAfmg58qIMcr0Ex7VuWxwUrPyzf-KtpwXPpraipSEkiuf5X1nkt74cLp0gX5VC2lAXo98NEwYijw/s1600-h/blog+P1020920+mod.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItvarT9UiCW_tddrDNSkD55r8brdr72__l7W9yUvMOFDVL5ELS4gHZEZ6qdYAfmg58qIMcr0Ex7VuWxwUrPyzf-KtpwXPpraipSEkiuf5X1nkt74cLp0gX5VC2lAXo98NEwYijw/s320/blog+P1020920+mod.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247309248043250" /></a><br /><br />Step 2: take the seeds and junk out of the pumpkin (and separate the seeds for roasting).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGr235quD-wHS60DgJxfKmgi45wL_U0B91j42QBAHYLpy0QP_ME0hq3bXRkSevWFNp2nFG4Ead5k0Lsb27K5GxkOTjL2EHgtXL41rZENG-54iviSDOpi0wBf353oYM62LrSSydw/s1600-h/blog+P1020925.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGr235quD-wHS60DgJxfKmgi45wL_U0B91j42QBAHYLpy0QP_ME0hq3bXRkSevWFNp2nFG4Ead5k0Lsb27K5GxkOTjL2EHgtXL41rZENG-54iviSDOpi0wBf353oYM62LrSSydw/s320/blog+P1020925.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247305783515954" /></a><br /><br />Step 3: ask CJ to pick out a design from the jack-o-lantern design book (!) and then spend all afternoon carving out the intricate pattern that she selected.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eyMEhyphenhyphen6-RyZ-K4KEOnDkuXfboeDCwRGaPrne5OTgANVF4wrTaNaL92cTGby7yk3yfjeFhJSdm_OX5HcEKXmNuVAwky9V1uHNnMUj3AGwV1Xl72oVy_A-q-bcA91hx4M915pAFw/s1600-h/blog+P1020931+mod.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eyMEhyphenhyphen6-RyZ-K4KEOnDkuXfboeDCwRGaPrne5OTgANVF4wrTaNaL92cTGby7yk3yfjeFhJSdm_OX5HcEKXmNuVAwky9V1uHNnMUj3AGwV1Xl72oVy_A-q-bcA91hx4M915pAFw/s320/blog+P1020931+mod.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247303344901698" /></a><br /><br />Step 4: enjoy nifty jack-o-lantern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYuFpE0dpA_YgtPPvTDtoKDOMHF_meOgtxgiwVS1QrPji_R7lTk0lNYXKNYO7tlzkNqaYseU8-DHyMUgT5j7G6mXK-LgO08Fpv2JVgK7jz7o7FL-mQ7xqKDgd2mkm0cuP72bk7w/s1600-h/blog+P1020933+mod.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYuFpE0dpA_YgtPPvTDtoKDOMHF_meOgtxgiwVS1QrPji_R7lTk0lNYXKNYO7tlzkNqaYseU8-DHyMUgT5j7G6mXK-LgO08Fpv2JVgK7jz7o7FL-mQ7xqKDgd2mkm0cuP72bk7w/s320/blog+P1020933+mod.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247295297186898" /></a><br /><br />Step 5: pose in front of jack-o-lantern before going trick-or-treating.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzf3x6XGupFNlr_P5nbFg4ktOvytybeT3egW7LfTkFwrg6AGIcz3ufX2SyKqSQ5eL86-9_Jnn9TG-2qqOuCyQXaFUyqv-74TniB8JWjbprDm4IH-1g7ZVOJLnwCpcAUhSMD14mg/s1600-h/blog+CIMG4419+mod.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzf3x6XGupFNlr_P5nbFg4ktOvytybeT3egW7LfTkFwrg6AGIcz3ufX2SyKqSQ5eL86-9_Jnn9TG-2qqOuCyQXaFUyqv-74TniB8JWjbprDm4IH-1g7ZVOJLnwCpcAUhSMD14mg/s320/blog+CIMG4419+mod.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399258010706238514" /></a><br /><br />Step 6: for a nightcap, watch Charlie Brown's gang celebrate Halloween their own special way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GW-gMrY1dxUD3YO7B4Ck1qZS2J-qxHNFc8WbW2q9o94X-g0q30mF27czvifUu1D-fIXz4kkDa8cq7meTCCyA_LKXwH3tvBlt0dAwRF0jneYu9VO1wN2466h_eva4Otgws27rKQ/s1600-h/blog+P1020962+mod.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GW-gMrY1dxUD3YO7B4Ck1qZS2J-qxHNFc8WbW2q9o94X-g0q30mF27czvifUu1D-fIXz4kkDa8cq7meTCCyA_LKXwH3tvBlt0dAwRF0jneYu9VO1wN2466h_eva4Otgws27rKQ/s320/blog+P1020962+mod.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247291660976546" /></a><br /><br />Repeat as necessary.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-1833511115399760112009-10-27T13:30:00.004-04:002009-10-27T13:43:01.109-04:00Apple and Pumpkin PickingCJ and Tomoki took everyone apple picking this past weekend. The Pumpkin patch was an unexpected bonus. Everyone had a good time; it was one of those spontaneous and fun outings where nothing is really planned and not a whole heck of a lot actually happens but you have a great time doing it.<br /><br />The LA Times had an article in today's paper declaring that kids age 2-5 <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ykfxgc4">watch an average of three hours and 48 minutes of video content daily</a> (up eight minutes from last year). For what it's worth, we find the outdoors to be much more interactive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F6xqwoyPNUW459OMckQi2QTDCL3WMfZroR62g9xiAiLWqQfwv82yvL08qjF7sNMGhpqLFgPY3UUR_lKqSyE-OALxV1BtZkslXW4ESDT30vQNgZu2LfwCs-krH3eu9VWPs5eTIQ/s1600-h/blog+P1020809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F6xqwoyPNUW459OMckQi2QTDCL3WMfZroR62g9xiAiLWqQfwv82yvL08qjF7sNMGhpqLFgPY3UUR_lKqSyE-OALxV1BtZkslXW4ESDT30vQNgZu2LfwCs-krH3eu9VWPs5eTIQ/s320/blog+P1020809.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397333893594868738" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDOeHkau_-e3npse5l8g9VablMPbmTbPXwYMTRKFZwXMvyGsQk3QJDMxU2MqB0d4EBKK-6pl1Eq374YnVBRgUKxARIRLye8fEVOiQ2nnocGh1SPsKy3xwfiLCR1qbxQCAmLbfVw/s1600-h/blog+P1020859.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDOeHkau_-e3npse5l8g9VablMPbmTbPXwYMTRKFZwXMvyGsQk3QJDMxU2MqB0d4EBKK-6pl1Eq374YnVBRgUKxARIRLye8fEVOiQ2nnocGh1SPsKy3xwfiLCR1qbxQCAmLbfVw/s320/blog+P1020859.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397333896675708962" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-M-w2hpPW1a5XhhKLUsSonAUku-CybE_nGXh9ObiisFa24QPJT4jXCGp0zB20mISOPe0r_bDI8wZmITQP1nr1mynH8rCF_KPCONEaVXtOW9KNVvrum3U57nwMiMleGFQuR57LA/s1600-h/blog+P1020870.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-M-w2hpPW1a5XhhKLUsSonAUku-CybE_nGXh9ObiisFa24QPJT4jXCGp0zB20mISOPe0r_bDI8wZmITQP1nr1mynH8rCF_KPCONEaVXtOW9KNVvrum3U57nwMiMleGFQuR57LA/s320/blog+P1020870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397333901650159250" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4OIjDPI0u4UETlY667Llw5gZn2a-8uinDeXGWtuMNPMhhy-zZwQJ3BvtUDye_enIAzR9pfgQYVCupXpW6zsMVla91qcwXooJoN24qLx-XGtXhRNCVATuYqCVeiIuCS4LymjV1A/s1600-h/blog+P1020887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4OIjDPI0u4UETlY667Llw5gZn2a-8uinDeXGWtuMNPMhhy-zZwQJ3BvtUDye_enIAzR9pfgQYVCupXpW6zsMVla91qcwXooJoN24qLx-XGtXhRNCVATuYqCVeiIuCS4LymjV1A/s320/blog+P1020887.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397333905777313474" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-13087162675466683972009-10-20T05:55:00.002-04:002009-10-20T06:00:07.953-04:00The fireplace is operationalThe one good thing about a week of cold, wet and rainy weather is that it served as a great motivator. CJ enjoyed the first fire in our fireplace. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTe9c4LjBVj6h_0mVLTd_-8Epom0nmQzW-RP8I_DGL7lQuwS8ydvbwQEZZVVBuLeDcBPmYWc85hsrPFVkSIrBV8qoaKYtYiV4FmEzI466MntQDmweQjV-Q5caL9-jibRzyARzUw/s1600-h/blog+P1020765+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTe9c4LjBVj6h_0mVLTd_-8Epom0nmQzW-RP8I_DGL7lQuwS8ydvbwQEZZVVBuLeDcBPmYWc85hsrPFVkSIrBV8qoaKYtYiV4FmEzI466MntQDmweQjV-Q5caL9-jibRzyARzUw/s320/blog+P1020765+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394619511611047794" /></a><br /><br />It's hard to believe we've lived in our new house for less than five months. There is no place like home when it's your home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-22325264096623959932009-10-18T06:33:00.004-04:002009-10-18T07:04:16.489-04:00Cranes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT38-qfPTnkDtN_dtK_loHHQbFxxqjWV_MP2I0an8jWHrRkiezwafYvOq8SuM1aMhM-O6dnLZSFnJwXpsz3axxxBxYwfVLg8U4cNt1Q6Mq2ohr_v2AeGsKHihaEB2_794jBfaHQ/s1600-h/blog+dsc07510+mod2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT38-qfPTnkDtN_dtK_loHHQbFxxqjWV_MP2I0an8jWHrRkiezwafYvOq8SuM1aMhM-O6dnLZSFnJwXpsz3axxxBxYwfVLg8U4cNt1Q6Mq2ohr_v2AeGsKHihaEB2_794jBfaHQ/s320/blog+dsc07510+mod2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393893735577999490" /></a><br /><br />One of my brother's favorite excursions was to the Middle-of-Nowhere, Indiana, to watch sandhill cranes fly south for the winter. His wife's family had a bit of a crane obsession, and they found an idyllic marsh where, every October, tens of thousands of cranes stopped for the night. <br /><br />He would wax euphorically on the beauty and serenity that he found there, and one of my regrets is that I never drove 14 hours to spend a few cold and wet October days in this swamp with him.<br /><br />At the beginning of this month, I attended the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference in Madison, Wisconsin (an interesting affair on its own merits). Journalists being journalists, they spend one day of their conference checking out various environmental stories where ever they are. And for this year's meeting, one of the field trips was an exploration of the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge and efforts to reintroduce Whooping Cranes into the wild. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity. (You'll find a few photos are at our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80262249@N00/sets/72157622478548647/">Flickr page</a>)<br /><br />True to the spirit of the outing, the day was cold and wet. But I couldn't recommend it more. The <a href="http://www.savingcranes.org/">International Crane Foundation</a> is working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to repopulate the whooping crane species. At one point after world war 2, there were only 14; now there are several hundred. <br /><br />When the cranes are hatched, scientists and staff dress up in hazmat suits with a crane head puppet attached to one hand -- the mommy cranes, if you will. They train the cranes to fly south behind an "ultralight" plane cranking out crane songs while wearing the hazmat suits. And then one day in October, when the weather is as right as it can be, they head south. They fly 30-60 miles a day, land in pre-arranged backyards or parks (the whole journey is elaborately choreographed), and then in the spring the cranes magically head back north on their own.<br /><br />Climate change threatens the whole operation, of course. Rising sea levels are driving out the cranes' favorite winter food, blue crabs, from their winter wetlands. In fact, projection show that these wetlands, in Texas regrettably, will be under water by the turn of the next century.<br /><br />But despite this ominous future and tenuous present, the reintroduction program has had much success. And, for a day, I felt wonderfully close to my brother.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-17398806048223328372009-09-20T07:20:00.000-04:002009-09-20T07:22:33.321-04:00Remembering Bill BrainardThere are people you see in life whom you never quite go out of your way to connect with, whom you know would enrich your life but for whatever reason – distance, the routines of your respected lives, work, whatever – it takes far longer to make that connection than it should.<br /><br />Bill Brainard was one those people, a completely honorable man who eschewed the pursuit of money for the pursuit of helping as many people as he could. He passed away several weeks ago.<br /><br />While the loss I feel, for not connecting with him as best I could, is substantial, it pales in comparison to the loss that those in his immediate yet broad circle feel, for he helped an incredible number of people directly and substantially.<br /><br />He was an attorney who worked on housing issues. I once worked on housing issues – trying to insert plans and incentives for affordable housing to be built into the luxury housing that the Bloomberg administration propagated throughout New York, a hypothetical tilt at windmills that never quite worked out (hence our flight to DC because it was more affordable).<br /><br />The housing issues that Bill worked on were real and immediate, working to keep ordinary or hurting Americans in their homes as the inhumane banks and landlords tried to force them out when rents or mortgages went unpaid. He was a people person, and he embraced both his cases and his clients. Countless colleagues spoke at his memorial service of how special Bill made everyone feel – even as he performed the invaluable service of making sure they did not become homeless.<br /><br />There is so much to be learned from such an unselfish life. And perhaps the worst of it is that there is one less teacher in the world today.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Photos from the reception after the memorial service can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/80262249@N00/sets/72157622291173687/. <br /><br />If folks want access to other family photos, please shoot me an email.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-19680399621800636722009-09-10T06:11:00.003-04:002009-09-10T06:15:21.682-04:00Out and about......and really enjoying the Mini...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZnMHikb5yADBVuaK57JKTBndin7UMG-WmzQ2C-byOyelGEV19r_Rssr4i_r3nItwY50f5AYHUu9VTpbIgZNd5wHnOVzYdY8ArJ1oQePWugUT_RXUkRTPD1_Pn9Ion7owjB6s2A/s1600-h/blog+DSC07327.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZnMHikb5yADBVuaK57JKTBndin7UMG-WmzQ2C-byOyelGEV19r_Rssr4i_r3nItwY50f5AYHUu9VTpbIgZNd5wHnOVzYdY8ArJ1oQePWugUT_RXUkRTPD1_Pn9Ion7owjB6s2A/s320/blog+DSC07327.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379779486713138786" /></a><br /><br />Sorry for the delay in posting. FYI, I've started to upload more and more photos and video to our flickr account. If you want to see those (they're not available to the public, sorry) please join flickr (it's free, and simple if you already have email or something with yahoo) and let me know.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-46924226573143176612009-08-07T06:59:00.004-04:002009-08-07T07:09:25.940-04:00Cash for ClunkersBefore:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRK482cioZcZqiBhp4Fa_3Jq0HAaZsXpkMj9mkcEXeyEYId6kyNTT3c_XBAE_i1yrY71zT7CgKMNCihi51BXELryWltzFzKbDf26aY3w1T_9fd4VRw9JJ9U8jY1FND5rHfIeoeg/s1600-h/blog+P1010807.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRK482cioZcZqiBhp4Fa_3Jq0HAaZsXpkMj9mkcEXeyEYId6kyNTT3c_XBAE_i1yrY71zT7CgKMNCihi51BXELryWltzFzKbDf26aY3w1T_9fd4VRw9JJ9U8jY1FND5rHfIeoeg/s320/blog+P1010807.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367175490732180354" /></a><br /><br />After:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw69hPHMEBScYHgUnV74QgsSuE8P0ivgFvcu_n_d3C4B7lSIgSd03dcOXmEqtFQAMnQGjuTP4Iy4m89C39NT70GSUXtgcL9DuVb8joK3zzp6YPLO1bXs1-TrWqk3JQKZ6CnA3mg/s1600-h/blog+P1010814.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw69hPHMEBScYHgUnV74QgsSuE8P0ivgFvcu_n_d3C4B7lSIgSd03dcOXmEqtFQAMnQGjuTP4Iy4m89C39NT70GSUXtgcL9DuVb8joK3zzp6YPLO1bXs1-TrWqk3JQKZ6CnA3mg/s320/blog+P1010814.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367175512982379794" /></a><br /><br />CJ watching anxiously as the nice car salesman installs the license plates. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlppWXpQ2wPjDxekRadkUXKY8DWo8cWflNLXAWcCFBILDF4v18_kavXEHDKpOp5JFq8siNmRgmtl2X9k8AFtwrVg8ocKAp7bcuQkmqe-JYQ31z9lr4d6umERywPyK6YZ4vg93cg/s1600-h/blog+P1010809.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlppWXpQ2wPjDxekRadkUXKY8DWo8cWflNLXAWcCFBILDF4v18_kavXEHDKpOp5JFq8siNmRgmtl2X9k8AFtwrVg8ocKAp7bcuQkmqe-JYQ31z9lr4d6umERywPyK6YZ4vg93cg/s320/blog+P1010809.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367175499521857698" /></a><br /><br />CJ found the new car to be just as comfortable, maybe more so.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF0wmmw3dcOWwz9icQ0zFYTDrfQ_bz9y2DWL8WqwGqk1R2Zr6vgzThS-ZBpTstgbMd_EoqMsbXwl4NxCIHIMV_f0g5JLjTpd3FbzBwLOECEoqzLHWcYCqSUqzMH3dWAD5vyao-w/s1600-h/blog+P1010811.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF0wmmw3dcOWwz9icQ0zFYTDrfQ_bz9y2DWL8WqwGqk1R2Zr6vgzThS-ZBpTstgbMd_EoqMsbXwl4NxCIHIMV_f0g5JLjTpd3FbzBwLOECEoqzLHWcYCqSUqzMH3dWAD5vyao-w/s320/blog+P1010811.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367175507582265650" /></a><br /><br />It's been a busy summer, and I hope that our coming vacation will allow me to catch up and post more photos. The biggest development has to be the new car. It's small, with hopefully enough room so that we can go on vacation (fingers crossed). Overall, we're getting acclimated to the new house, and loving it. Life is going quite well indeed. And it's great that when we finally are ready to move forward with some major life purchases (i.e., new house, new car), the federal government provides some great incentives...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-25944864691769458502009-06-14T06:37:00.002-04:002009-06-14T06:58:33.804-04:00Summer time and the living is easy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGDVQIZsGuJB2yCQ1SXQoP_LII16GYnGqUtL-SaljcANy_kwJRh1exxJrYPRTcvBoVDS_g8tTh9Z9JXSaErUW03jrDAlJo35WjjTeuH8qcnyywq9fSibLA-svlaDufahwPdLInw/s1600-h/blog+P1000911+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGDVQIZsGuJB2yCQ1SXQoP_LII16GYnGqUtL-SaljcANy_kwJRh1exxJrYPRTcvBoVDS_g8tTh9Z9JXSaErUW03jrDAlJo35WjjTeuH8qcnyywq9fSibLA-svlaDufahwPdLInw/s320/blog+P1000911+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347130803395233698" /></a><br /><br />It's been a while since the last entry, mostly because moving is, well, not so much fun and moving into a house is, well, not as easy as it looks. But I am happy to report that we are in, the house is shaping up, and the the backyard jungle is just about tamed. Let's put it this way: the tomato plants go into the garden today. <br /><br />I have to say that living in a house you own is a completely different experience from anything else. In a month and a half, I have taken on the jobs of contractor boss, building super, tree guy, and safety expert. The amount of new knowledge crammed into my head lately has been insane; it's been one of the more enjoyable and tiring aspects of home ownership.<br /><br />The neighbors to the right of us are nothing short of amazing. Our first night after the move, when we were sweaty, dusty, and swamped in boxes, they brought us dinner. Seafood risotto with jumbo shrimp and scallops. Need I say more?<br /><br />The other neighbors have all been very nice and welcoming as well, but that seafood risotto will always be one of the tastiest meals I've ever had. Even if we ate it on the staircase (the only flat surface we could find.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosapM0MlJNL55ixwvoKu_x9DS6M0XFOBoEWwuwxUu8okS8ttdK54cehS9t3LqF40F7LI2E-MgfjU8KeolfE6vFKCi3DtrQdy1eVVD7ghhgpmBDkmA1orSC0eqagdYZYN1eVlkRw/s1600-h/blog+P1000920+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosapM0MlJNL55ixwvoKu_x9DS6M0XFOBoEWwuwxUu8okS8ttdK54cehS9t3LqF40F7LI2E-MgfjU8KeolfE6vFKCi3DtrQdy1eVVD7ghhgpmBDkmA1orSC0eqagdYZYN1eVlkRw/s320/blog+P1000920+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347130806025138130" /></a><br /><br />CJ, shown here cruising the house with her buddy Tomoki, has adapted marvelously. We were more than a little concerned how she would handle her third major move in two and a half years -- that's a lot of transition for a three and a half year old. But after maybe one rough week, she settled in nicely and is quite happy. She's been helping with the gardening and tree pruning, and even mowing the lawn.<br /><br />The best part is that yesterday was her second day at the swimming pool and after only a little hestation, she was swimming like a champ. Takes after her mom, of course.<br /><br />That's all I have for now. I'll have a more complete photo tour of the new castle, and maybe some video of the backyard at some point. Right now, I'm going to sign off, snag the sunday paper, and finish my coffee on the front porch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXoDJ_Bs969fgHFJllA5KPJLSYmtL7rQWkBBgVc9mLLVSZttagGGPc7Q6m1SmvMQ2ZLYlrSmE6lP6std2n5thuEw0PH2OM451P4dTxxfxPzRFGWSwZmfUEnTXr8fXYIFN8guyWw/s1600-h/blog+P1000893+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXoDJ_Bs969fgHFJllA5KPJLSYmtL7rQWkBBgVc9mLLVSZttagGGPc7Q6m1SmvMQ2ZLYlrSmE6lP6std2n5thuEw0PH2OM451P4dTxxfxPzRFGWSwZmfUEnTXr8fXYIFN8guyWw/s320/blog+P1000893+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347130811488987474" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-65967888525716157892009-04-30T10:06:00.003-04:002009-04-30T10:08:52.355-04:00Keeping up on current events<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNwNTKp4dJ3PldcLkWplXOoyrAF2ATknAs5vwM_TlOgq-zKqEFVJM-Sn2BNLFSHwiPRh9Q_O18wp8PvLRpw2yrJMJ_6GB5Fw1jf481-BSqs91_8bRJ71APshdsTVGen3zDx-pCA/s1600-h/blog+P1000768+mod.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNwNTKp4dJ3PldcLkWplXOoyrAF2ATknAs5vwM_TlOgq-zKqEFVJM-Sn2BNLFSHwiPRh9Q_O18wp8PvLRpw2yrJMJ_6GB5Fw1jf481-BSqs91_8bRJ71APshdsTVGen3zDx-pCA/s320/blog+P1000768+mod.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330485960290491746" /></a><br /><br />Scary headlines just can't chase away the morning appetite, apparently...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-70819053837508053722009-04-16T06:07:00.004-04:002009-04-16T06:34:37.047-04:00Life moves pretty fast sometimes...There are times when the wisdom of Ferris Bueller trumps everything. "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." And that would be one of the points of continuing this blog, an occasional glance at where things are and how they look.<br /><br />The latest "distraction" is our hopefully soon-to-be new house. We agreed to the seller's counteroffer on April Fool's Day, of course, and the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of inspections, disclosures, decision-making, happiness, and anxiety. But it is a cute house, don't you think?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ghAzNKqUrQ2I9SDtY7lDxUuiBnUgslOTO_7lcmpwSbVdjYlWBm_u8V-Si52IvvzWrWUeDdjeMAA9FfmFYuLPrHj-RyIk5p6o5cwiy5J0xp0du83BHhKFY0V9sgUgeKINiJ7kCw/s1600-h/our+new+home.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ghAzNKqUrQ2I9SDtY7lDxUuiBnUgslOTO_7lcmpwSbVdjYlWBm_u8V-Si52IvvzWrWUeDdjeMAA9FfmFYuLPrHj-RyIk5p6o5cwiy5J0xp0du83BHhKFY0V9sgUgeKINiJ7kCw/s320/our+new+home.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325232034902782946" /></a><br /><br />Yes, that screened in porch is as good as it looks.<br /><br />Built in 1927, the house is a "Sears Kit" home, meaning that the blueprints and materials were selected from a Sears catalog and then assembled by a local contractor. It is also in really good shape (for the most part) and has no additions whatsoever (many of the houses here are kinda dull with additions that are even duller).<br /><br />Aside from being exceptionally cute, the price fit nicely into our budget and we locked up the mortgage two weeks ago, when rates were at an all-time low. We're very happy.<br /><br />Jammed into all the home-buying craziness was a three-day frisbee tournament where a large number of friends from New York came down to play and visit, and then a spring break-Easter family visit/invasion. Much fun was had, and the dust just settled.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcnyVyvkQM3b6Dy1zdDINqop96uGj1xUwtsqk_NJvREmX90mJMEUhi3G699QqvqyaI4h002DLclM8MzT7diGfDmNGOcvrz04lgGmIfTv_7KjllZQqgfgE_95hkDuBZf5tARecwQ/s1600-h/blog+CIMG4088.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcnyVyvkQM3b6Dy1zdDINqop96uGj1xUwtsqk_NJvREmX90mJMEUhi3G699QqvqyaI4h002DLclM8MzT7diGfDmNGOcvrz04lgGmIfTv_7KjllZQqgfgE_95hkDuBZf5tARecwQ/s320/blog+CIMG4088.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325228944424652978" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_u_mc94RjLujTVlXIbS2ZmOUqzjb39L9QmmEnE5UN7CkavB6bthaH96mSYVoptLIrUqo1sF0r8Fn8J-FVSsnHxZ_2ToQNNoQlkvA1D9gU7bv81rGFFZMBSve_Vx8AZUPS1duWA/s1600-h/blog+CIMG4063.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_u_mc94RjLujTVlXIbS2ZmOUqzjb39L9QmmEnE5UN7CkavB6bthaH96mSYVoptLIrUqo1sF0r8Fn8J-FVSsnHxZ_2ToQNNoQlkvA1D9gU7bv81rGFFZMBSve_Vx8AZUPS1duWA/s320/blog+CIMG4063.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325228943082581698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUodM5-yn16lG3jIXm_XL_UjDmw_D6X-WR-uCrPU48hYvwQlU6-5uR-bI8TB3pKkCwFY5PbTfA5s9P2vk4j_EiqV3Xj0ewxnSbzaD9jB1rVA8fEmB-2OIWS7v8tXXptvwDY9B3ww/s1600-h/blog+CIMG4052.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUodM5-yn16lG3jIXm_XL_UjDmw_D6X-WR-uCrPU48hYvwQlU6-5uR-bI8TB3pKkCwFY5PbTfA5s9P2vk4j_EiqV3Xj0ewxnSbzaD9jB1rVA8fEmB-2OIWS7v8tXXptvwDY9B3ww/s320/blog+CIMG4052.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325228940448244850" /></a><br /><br />Meg and CJ came to watch one day of the ultimate tournament, which was very nice because, at my tender age I'm not quite sure which tournament will be my last. I am particularly fond of this shot:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtT-2ahS4cE9LOjWk9HWhG63269H0p2d2Hr1dOb2Ei1TLQKSV3ThBkBwybZX98vggVSH4ppuryGNzYmlJexjwBy4hJyJB-JkaSc-U_zHMVsEVm0OGdtNxIaWGp065G73itRzt3g/s1600-h/3429945927_d6eda86acd_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtT-2ahS4cE9LOjWk9HWhG63269H0p2d2Hr1dOb2Ei1TLQKSV3ThBkBwybZX98vggVSH4ppuryGNzYmlJexjwBy4hJyJB-JkaSc-U_zHMVsEVm0OGdtNxIaWGp065G73itRzt3g/s320/3429945927_d6eda86acd_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325228936635325922" /></a><br /><br />So now we brace ourselves for packing and moving, followed by the ups and downs of home ownership. But hopefully, we'll be settling down in our new house for a while. We've been living in transition for an eternity, it seems. It's time to lay down some roots.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-960547152112563652009-03-22T18:20:00.000-04:002009-03-22T18:21:04.409-04:00they call her......bucket head?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_TqlhJfYmoHojYrmL6VgVH_yysXCTZ7R_IEk-voLFpFlg6ZG2rAZ-YcfxrfTlQx5y_rgyKmQ4WQVq1UavgCPltf7uF4MDTWydEPf26n07OQumC_MBNnoF8Uj8y1HQxkTUcW1Qw/s1600-h/blog+CIMG3948+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_TqlhJfYmoHojYrmL6VgVH_yysXCTZ7R_IEk-voLFpFlg6ZG2rAZ-YcfxrfTlQx5y_rgyKmQ4WQVq1UavgCPltf7uF4MDTWydEPf26n07OQumC_MBNnoF8Uj8y1HQxkTUcW1Qw/s320/blog+CIMG3948+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316140638893207634" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-48591405685446498482009-03-17T23:02:00.002-04:002009-03-17T23:03:53.687-04:00Sweet dreams...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02QX8wjQpRZxDuG1IMgaZgT-O6MkcI8Bx2GS6UAIXkOcLRm6lbEEalmWT34DV2OwNZdrxj5C54wq7HdOrWFePB5Xiyt_J__oPzAzm4-6N56GtHdkoPZ7up4QJlhfTqkr__bzIbQ/s1600-h/blog+P1000154.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02QX8wjQpRZxDuG1IMgaZgT-O6MkcI8Bx2GS6UAIXkOcLRm6lbEEalmWT34DV2OwNZdrxj5C54wq7HdOrWFePB5Xiyt_J__oPzAzm4-6N56GtHdkoPZ7up4QJlhfTqkr__bzIbQ/s320/blog+P1000154.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314357929134444770" /></a><br /><br />'nuff said.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21053357.post-7737956240443051182009-03-09T04:47:00.002-04:002009-03-09T05:00:39.645-04:00Field of dreamsWe've been into milk mustaches lately.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhF7UU8cUROCpEu2T71L3LrnGPxKwSsWp04MSn3w3bXx1H1UJNWtsvfaYG5dy2Dusy1dT4mA_OCPZhccQrhFVTIBb-Z8f1eZeGfGgdfdsy9FGBJOO41WHOPdWJ-LTSgQFx9RLuw/s1600-h/blog+P1000019+mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhF7UU8cUROCpEu2T71L3LrnGPxKwSsWp04MSn3w3bXx1H1UJNWtsvfaYG5dy2Dusy1dT4mA_OCPZhccQrhFVTIBb-Z8f1eZeGfGgdfdsy9FGBJOO41WHOPdWJ-LTSgQFx9RLuw/s320/blog+P1000019+mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311108623718218498" /></a><br /><br />Enough said on that. What this post is all about is a nice diversion that our realtor, Bill, took CJ and I to after looking at yet another house on Sunday. It was so nice and warm this weekend that all the crocuses (crocii?) came out in full force, and seem to have concentrated in one vacant lot. CJ had a lot of fun, needless to say.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEWnCKiHyGeLGBCSDCKJlCIHOYJoEn3if3j-leaf8iRVTad3NDN7pye7U32o7wDUL8aSEnOHigS1jNU7Yq33hBcj9IMg665sMPb3vS3P2jIRoUNYAzrRPckZ5r5Aq-2gSjedwkg/s1600-h/blog+P1000054.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEWnCKiHyGeLGBCSDCKJlCIHOYJoEn3if3j-leaf8iRVTad3NDN7pye7U32o7wDUL8aSEnOHigS1jNU7Yq33hBcj9IMg665sMPb3vS3P2jIRoUNYAzrRPckZ5r5Aq-2gSjedwkg/s320/blog+P1000054.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311108630113082722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0Wrpa6AlinmutQSP00CKX5oaGKn68xA3bWWqoCfeF22vZxOuP8PGE20Ii6NpkLlnjcfChJuAlWElhDfsk07NsAsEfMyFyKJka7FYc78-n3ECKYu-yqtZtIhVTEivI-XaTdWzUw/s1600-h/blog+P1000061.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0Wrpa6AlinmutQSP00CKX5oaGKn68xA3bWWqoCfeF22vZxOuP8PGE20Ii6NpkLlnjcfChJuAlWElhDfsk07NsAsEfMyFyKJka7FYc78-n3ECKYu-yqtZtIhVTEivI-XaTdWzUw/s320/blog+P1000061.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311108633416798130" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-whgBdZ6aXr79lPn8_8kiNqXBDMzqWqxjK1HmlaNTQrhTZA7dbD9Sj_1AkwxdWPlbXYxsvfS21uAqvq1v_c61oi9SpRTOjy76_u_5nbb92J8E7gltXT6nfb6RWiDrhBsB88sH2g/s1600-h/blog+P1000123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-whgBdZ6aXr79lPn8_8kiNqXBDMzqWqxjK1HmlaNTQrhTZA7dbD9Sj_1AkwxdWPlbXYxsvfS21uAqvq1v_c61oi9SpRTOjy76_u_5nbb92J8E7gltXT6nfb6RWiDrhBsB88sH2g/s320/blog+P1000123.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311108640735753858" /></a><br /><br />If only we could find a house that suited us as well as this field did...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1