Gabe's Blog

Project: Name on the Wall

2011-09-05T16:39:00.001-06:00

Had some free time to relax in the garage and knocked out a fun little project. Ya know those wood letters you get at the hobby store? They're a perennial favorite in our house. We've bought sets for each kiddo at different point and invariably they get painted some color to match the decor and hung on a wall. But, it doesn't take long to exhaust all the creative ways to display them. Horizontal, vertical, random, you get it.

This project actually found some new ground for us. I mounted them to a backboard of 1/4" MDF covered with fabric. This can create a whole lot of new possibilities for size, shape, color, pattern, etc.!

Some notes on the construction.

Letters can be hard to center vertically on a board. What you need is the overall width of the name, so...

Lay out the letters along a yard stick. Pick a set space for the distance from letter to letter.
Use the yard stick markings to get the total length.
On your backboard, draw a 'baseline' for the bottoms of the letters and mark the center point
Start placing the letters 1/2 the length of the name to the right of center

Attaching the letters with short wood screws is best, but knowing where to drill the holes from the back can be tough. Here is the solution:

With the letters laying where you want them on the backboard, trace them with a pencil
Remove the letters and drill small holes from the front so that you can easily locate them in the center of the letter.
2 holes is plenty for any letter; you want more than one so the letters don't 'swivel.'
Place the letters back on the backboard (small clamps are a good idea here if possible) and pre-drill the letters through the holes in the backboard from the back - be careful of how deep you drill!

Finishing the backboard can be done in a number of ways. We used fabric glued down with Mod Podge, but contact paper, paint, wallpaper, scrapbook pages, photos ... just about anything flat can work! Obviously, you'll do this step with the letters off and reattach them afterwards. Here is the finished product in place!

The new sign installed

Born to Paddle

2011-07-04T16:28:00.001-06:00

How fun is it to share what you love with your kids?! I can tell you: VERY! I started paddling again last year and have had a blast taking the kids along in our canoe. When I saw this junior size sit-0n-top kayak at Academy, I thought, "Wow, they could actually go kayaking with me now, too!" The tame waters around here would actually be a great place for them to learn to paddle, too.

We decided that Friday would be the maiden voyage and headed out - Isaac, Julia and I. They were excited, but I didn't know how they would do when they actually got it on the water. Boy was I surprised when we got it in the river. I put both boats on the bank and clipped them into their lifevests. I zipped up my vest and turned around expecting to spend the next half-hour helping them learn the ropes - they were already 30 yards up the river and Isaac was paddling like he'd always done it! Julia was just about as natural at it, too, when it came her turn to paddle. So much for lessons!

We headed out up river - the levels were so low that there was almost no current to paddle against. We explored as far as we could before turning around and heading back to the park area. They did awesome, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time out paddling with my kiddos. I wouldn't wish away any of these precious moments with my kids, but I relish the thought of getting out with them as they get older and taking on more and more challenging waters. So much fun now and to come!

more pics...

Return Of The MoBlog

2011-06-01T21:38:00.001-06:00

What is a MoBlog? A while back ... A LONG while back ... when I got my Blackberry I was excited about all the "apps" that were available. They are laughable now (is BB still around?), but at that pre-iPhone point in history they were the stuff! I was blogging at that time and found that Blogger offered a text based service for posting a blog by mobile - a "MoBlog." I was pretty stoked. Oh if I had only known!

5 years later, I now have an Android device and have drank the koolaid of the apps market! Today he old excitement was rekindled just a bit when I found the Blogger app! I don't know if it will get my blog back up and running, but they will likely be MoBlogs if it does!

A Nack And A Narnoon

2011-02-27T14:58:00.003-06:00

There are a lot of things from the early years of my life with children that I realize now are slowly fading in my memory. So, I have decided that this would be a great place to keep those things recorded.

This afternoon, as I walked by the couch where Isaac was watching a movie with Cheryl and Julia, he asked for a snack. This reminded me of a little game we used to play. He would ask for something, and I would turn his request into a request to be tickled - a regular occurring around here.

When he was 3 or 4, he would ask, "Papa, can I have a snack and a cartoon?"

I would answer, "A Nak and a Narnoon? Sure!" I would pounce on him for a round of tickles.

His reply amidst the giggles was, "No, a SNack and a CArToon!"

I usually relented after a bit saying "OOOOh, I thought you said a Nak and a Narnoon - which means to be tickled! Sorry, I must've mis-heard you."

We had a lot of laughs this way. He was always a good sport and was today, too. This is definitely something that I do not want to forget!

New Backpacking Buddy

2010-05-16T17:55:00.000-06:00

This weekend, Isaac and I made our maiden voyage into the wilds on his first backpacking trip. What a hoot! With just the two of us and NO agenda, we were able to follow our every whim (Isaac tends to have a few more whims than I do at this point!) We headed to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Saturday with our backpacks ready. Normally a one-nighter in warm weather would not require much gear at all, but with storms threatening, and Isaac not quite up to carrying a big load, I shouldered most of our gear. The upside: it was a great chance to use my backpack, which doesn't see near enough of the trail!

For the record, we were doing real backpacking. We hiked out, set up camp and carried all we needed for the 2 days. Isaac thought it was great, but he has not ever done much car-camping to compare it to, so he just thinks this is the "norm" for camping. By the end of the trip, I was convinced that he was hooked ... and that makes me happy!

Click on the slideshow for the full set of pictures...

Boys and FIre

2010-01-07T20:13:00.000-06:00

Isaac got a magnifying glass for his birthday this year. It was part of a "bug" themed set. The intention was to use it to get a better look at bugs. Yeah. I think it was actually Cheryl that showed him how to do it, but now Isaac has found a much more exciting use for his glass - buring things! I came home to find him in the driveway with some leaves and paper trying to focus the beam enough on one spot to burn it. What fun. It brought back a few memories, too!

Homemade Hotwings

2010-01-07T18:23:00.001-06:00

I got a wild hare last Friday and decided that I wanted to try something new ... homemade hotwings. The inspiration actually struch on Thursday while shopping at Costco. You know the Samples they offer at the end of every aisle? On one, they had a sweet sauce that I wound up buying - Mango Ginger Habañero Sauce! (This sauce is really tasty but not spicey hot at all).

So, Friday I was thinking about what I could make with that sauce when it struck me - this would make for great Hot Wings! I jumped up and headed to Academy and walked out with a deep frying kit and one gallon of peanut oil.

I never realized how easy Wings are! Seriously, if you have the pans and a thermometer, there is nothing to it. Heat the oil up to 325°, drop in some flour coated wings and pull them out when they are nicely browned. Then it is off to the sauce! I took several bowls and poured some of the new Mango sauce in one. I put two types of BarBQ sauce in the others. After rolling a couple of wings around in each one, we had a feast! We definitely went with very mild flavors this time around, but now that I know how, the possibilities are endless. Maybe next time, I'll try a homemade sauce!

Go Joe!

2010-01-06T21:38:00.004-06:00

Movie Review: G.I. Joe - The Rise of Cobra

Up front - I liked this movie! No kidding. I went in thinking, "Hey, this'll be fun. They will blow some stuff up. Some meatheads will fumble around their lines and then they will blow up some more stuff." And just so you understand this reviewer - I like that from time to time. Some times I just want to get a special effects/explosions fix and don't really need a plot or great acting to do that. But GI Joe came through in a big way.

For starters the action was great! They blended the CG and live action stuff well. The sequences flowed well and even pulled off advancing the plot unlike other many other action flicks where the plot the plot is usually the first victim when the action starts. The explosions were spectacular. The hand to hand combat was solidly choreographed and believable (mostly).

Speaking of plot, GI Joe not only had one, but it had a really robust one. The main story - deadly WMD's in the hands of the bad guys - was laid out very plausibly. But, don't order yet! There were even some really compelling subplots and story lines that managed to be woven in without convuluting the overall story ... Bravo! That takes talent and the talent reached into the writing, as well.

If you spend much time at all on the Action-Adventure aisle, you're all-too-familiar with Jug-head Heroes stumbling through their 5 minutes of dialogue and over-the-top villians who never seem to rise much above school yard bully in their character development. But, GI Joe delivers way more. All the actors delivered solid performances.

Overall, The great strength of this movie was in its self-control. George Lucas modeled this in the first Star Wars Trilogy: exploiting the current state-of-the-art techniques without letting them drive the action. This was the difference in GI Joe, too. They certainly brought the CG portions in with a bang (a lot of bang!), but they did push it so far that it weaknesses could diminish the quality of the production. Self-control also greatly helped the writing. The story lines were subtle and the writers had the reserve to let the actors and audience fill in the blanks a bit.

I like this movie. I would watch it again, and I certainly want to own it when we get a big Screen to watch it on. Go Joe!

Playsets and Good Friends

2009-11-25T05:49:00.003-06:00

From Project Playset

This post is a tribute to some really great guys that really lent a hand when needed. The story starts back in September when we found an incredible deal on a playset. Big playset ... little price. We drove over to check it out that night with cash in hand and suddenly it was ours. One big problem remained though: getting it home.

This is where the guys come in. I hit the phone lines and started down my list: Wil, Kyle, Clinton, Chris... I was getting lots of yes's, too. I was clear that this was going to be a big effort since the set was in a backyard with no gate. Wil even threw in his big trailer for the hauling part. The next morning at church, we roped Mike in, too. This was easily the best staffed project we've undertaken in a while!

We descended on that little playset that afternoon and it was awesome. We could have stocked a small hardware store with the tools we collectively brought. There were guys everywhere attacking it with all manner of battery-powered wrenches and sockets. Parts were flying off - slides, ladders, the little house on top. Then just as quickly they were loaded, hauled and dropped off in my back yard. My head was spinning!

This weekend we repeated the job. It was time to re-assemble it. Again, I called a few guys and they showed with all the requisite muscle and tools! This time Wil and Clinton were back as well as Brandon and Michael. It was amazing how quickly it went back together. Especially impressive was the part where we hefted the club house up onto the legs. We got video of that knowing that we would either record greatness or win 10K on America's Funniest Videos!

The playset now sits in our backyard crawling with our kiddos on a regular basis. I hope these guys know what a blessing you've been to me in this. Thanks for your time, tools and muscle!

Dear Caffeine ...

2009-11-22T19:52:00.003-06:00

Well, old friend, it has come to this - we must part ways. I know this is going to catch you by surprise, but my mind is made up. You are just no good for me. Don't try to change my mind, either.

Sure, we had some good times. I remember when I first met you as a kid chugging a Coke. We had a blast bouncing off the walls and terrorizing pets and parents alike. And, yes, I DO remember all those all-nighters you got me through. I might not have graduated high school without you. Even as I grew up and left Mountain Dew for Coffee, we sure had a great run! You introduced me to Coffees and Cappuccinos. We've even worked together for the last few years.

But, that's gotta change.I can't explain it, but the doctor says you're no good for me. People have told me that for years, but I didn't believe them. But, now I do. So, from now on, no more coffees - there I said it. I know this is shocking but I just can't. No more regular Dr. Peppers, either. I've got to start learning to live caffeine free!

Sure, I may catch you in passing, but I just need my distance. Take care old friend. I'll miss ya, but its best this way.

Beauty on the Farm

2009-11-15T07:40:00.002-06:00

Our family farm in Arkansas has always been a favorite place to be for me. When we were little, my brothers and I appreciated the myriad places and ways to get dirty, but as we've grown up, our interests have changed. We love the hunting and fishing, riding out through the pastures, walking in the woods and enjoying the outdoors in general. It is quite a sanctuary for us.

All three of the brothers and our wives enjoy photography at some level, and I have especially enjoyed finding photographic scenery at the farm. I have created an album online at Webshots with some of the best shots. You can find that one here:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/561949800vrGhjm

Here is a slide show from our most recent trip:

First Day on the New Gun

2009-11-01T07:21:00.003-06:00

So, I got to shoot my new pistol, yesterday. And it was a blast! We're visiting my brother in the Houston area. He took us down to the local Carter Country with a public range. I bought some hearing protection and we headed down to the pistol area.

My brother and I both have the Berretta PX4 Storm. I opted for the 9mm version thinking that it would be a little feasible for Cheryl to learn to use the smaller caliber. Matt was shooting the .40 cal. We traded off and they were both great to shoot. I don't have a lot of time on pistols in general so without much to compare it to, I'll just say that it was very easy to shoot.

The target in the picture was my last one of the day. I loaded one clip and put all 17 round on a clean sheet. There were no wild shots and a couple of dead-on bullseyes. As far as home defense is concerned, if the burgler will just stand still in bright light, I'm sure I can get'em!

Armed and (Not so) Dangerous

2009-10-27T04:13:00.003-06:00

I never win anything. Ever since Ed McMahon stopped sending me huge letters about the millions I (may) have already won, I haven't even tried to win anything on a regular basis. I don't play the lottery because I have at least a high school understanding of math and statistics, so I'm definitely not going to win at that. But, otherwise, I don't win the door-prizes at benefit dinners. The prize randomly stuck to the bottom of the seat of one lucky attendee is never stuck to my seat. I don't even happen on really good deals as often as some people I know do! But that changes NOW!

About 2 weeks ago I took my kiddos to Academy to pick up a couple of things. I was approached by a guy who may have been college age. He asked me to buy a raffle ticket. I said, we'll see (which is shopper for, "No!") I did my shopping but he came back! He was friendly with the kids so I asked him what group this was for. I turns out that the organization was a Christian group that shares the gospel with youth through the venue of hunting and fishing. The gig seemed good enough and I bought a $20 ticket with a long list of prizes - all guns - fully knowing this was a donation. I expected nothing!

Cheryl calls me at work yesterday and says, "It may be raining outside but the sun is shining on you!"
"What?"
"You won!"
"What!?"
"Some guy just called and said you won some raffle. He said you won the gun everyone wanted, too!"

Yes, I am a winner. It is official as of 6pm today - when I show up to claim my prize. What is it, you ask? I won a Beretta px4 Storm. if you don't know what that is, I didn't either, but I've been assured that this is a very nice handgun.

The funniest part of the whole thing was our scramble to find the ticket yesterday! And I kid you not, I actually had to go through the trash and found it in a stack of magazines and stuff where it had likely been picked up by accident. Awesome! If they had called today - it would have been gone in the trash this morning! Whew!

Overheard at the Landes House

2009-10-11T17:22:00.003-06:00

After a particularly good s'more, my son Isaac announced, "This is GROT!" Not being up to speed on this new evaluative term.

Cheryl inquired, "What is 'grot'?"

Isaac's eyes never left the s'more, and, without missing a beat, he explained, "It's better than great. It's GROT!" He smiled. We laughed hard.

The Youngest Settlers of Catan

2009-10-09T05:01:00.001-06:00

On a recent rainy Saturday, Isaac and Julia asked if we could play "Settlers of Catan". If you have not played you won't get that this game is easily on par with Monopoly and Risk in complexity and has dozens of little pieces and rules about such. It is not what you might think would interest a 3 and 5 year old!

I agreed to play knowing with great certainty that we would likely tire of it before the first roll of the dice. That, however, did not happen. In fact, we played the game out and even finished it. I filled them in on rules as needed, and gave them advice on each turn. But other than playing with our cards down (so I could tell them what they could do), we played the full game.

The funniest part of the whole deal was that the winner was Julia. I don't know for sure but I would think that this would put her in the running for THE young settler of Catan.

By the way - if you want to get a peek at Catan ... there is a free online version now at PlayCatan.com.

Overheard at the Landes House

2009-10-05T17:34:00.002-06:00

It has been a while since I did an "Overheard..." post, but this certainly warranted it!

Mondays are grill night around here since the purchase of my new gas grill. Tonight the menu was Chicken Shishkabobs. Isaac was protesting, and, to extend him an olive branch, I suggested that we to a "kids grill night" next week. He asked what that meant. I explained, "We'll find something fun to grill that you guys will like to eat!"

His response: "How're you gonna put a cake on the grill?!"

Patio Cooler Project

2009-10-05T05:09:00.003-06:00

My latest project in the garage has been a cooler for the patio. I'd seen an item like this for $100 at HEB and decided to make my own. I used cedar fence pickets for the wood, a $.99 styrofoam cooler from CVS and some hardware from Lowes. All-together, it would have been under $50 (I think), but I already had about half the pickets.

Isaac helped me get the wood ready. We pulled out a bunch of cedar fence planks left over from a new fence almost 2 years ago! I cut the boards for the sides and kept them together so their grain pattern would run around the box. The lid was essentially a "face-frame" - 4 boards butt joined with pocket screws. I got to use my Kreg Jig for this part - Fun!

The legs actually took 2 trys - the boards were very rough and the joins would not conform to a 90 deg. angle, so I took them apart. and cleaned up the joining edge and face on the table saw. Then, I glued and nailed them. They were much more solid after that!

I glued up the side panels, lid, and bottom to make assembly easier and give the box more rigidity. Again, all joined edges were run on the table saw (in lieu of an actual joiner which would've been the better tool). I dadoed the sides to trap the bottom and dry fit these pieces to check sizes and joints. This is where I realized the bottom was a 1/4" too wide. That's better than being too narrow, though!

With the box done, I clamped on the legs and stood it up on the table saw (because it is a lot more level than my Garage floor!) and adjusted the legs so it wouldn't rock. With the legs all clamped at the right length, I attached them to the box with 1" wood screws from the inside. Knowing the box will weigh a lot with ice and drinks, I used ample screws - 8 per corner! Tim Taylor would be proud!

The last step was attaching the top. I added hinges under the front edge of the lid frame so the top could be opened in order to get at the cooler. The lid itself was hinged in the back with a handle up front. All the hardware was black, antique styled items from Lowes.

Now to fill the cooler with drinks and the house with friends! Sounds like another great reason to use the grill!

A Son! ... and the Father's Love

2009-09-10T22:08:00.007-06:00

Papa and Caleb

I am a proud Papa again. Tonight I held Caleb and looked into his eyes. Just five days old and I have yet another vein of pure love to share with another child. It is funny, now, to consider the questions that came to mind before parenthood like "How can I find enough love for each new child?" Laughable from this position.

Children teach you much about love. They teach you that love is the strongest purest of emotions. You find that love motivates all manner of action and behavior. Love reveals its nature even in the most intense of anger; love is often at the heart of it. The love of a father is like this.

As a believer and father, love teaches me even more deeply about my Heavenly Father - God the Father, the origin and sustainer of creation, the origin and sustainer of love. When I realized with the birth of my second child the boundless nature of love, I saw God. I knew the moment I held Julia, our 2nd, and now again with Caleb that I could love a hundred more children equally. Love as God authored it is not a commodity, not a volume that is ever expended. It is not even like a muscle that can be worn out. It is a position and a decision.

We can see this more easily in the love of a new-born because they offer little in return. They come to us totally dependent without even the faintest concern for what they may reciprocate with. When we choose to love them, we take our position in relationship to them. From that oint forward, we approach them from that position of love regardless of what we bring. Grace, discipline, reward - whatever it is, it comes from love.

To consider the love of God in this light is humbling. He has chosen to approach us with His love - His easily boundless love. His grace comes from his love. His discipline and reward come from His love. While we are weak and imperfect and prone to failures - even the failure to love, God is perfect. His love never fails. It rather serves to drive out fear and founds our position in him.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear...
- (1Jo 4:18a NASB)

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
- (Rom 8:15 NASB)

Great Weekends - A Perspective

2009-02-28T17:51:00.003-06:00

It has now been over 3 years since I have coached debate. I coached for 5 years at Smithson Valley HS and it was an amazing time of life in a lot of ways. I married, we had a child, I was completely new to debate and was having my first real successful go at the teaching career thing. My first 3 years of teaching were difficult to say the least. In the midst of all the change, though, coaching brought late evenings and many long weekends.

My normal routine involved staying late most days to hold practices. I came home around 6:30 or 7 on a regular basis and later when needed. At home I still had papers to grade and lessons to prepare. Weekends were the domain of debate tournaments and despite my sincere belief that this was a great activity for any student to engage in, I dreaded the time they took. Even as a nominally active team (many teams competed far more often than we did) we were still on the road 1 out of just about every 3 weekends. And that wears on you. Being gone until 2am Friday and Staturday nights was just no fun.

When I left coaching to take the job that led to what I do now, webmastering at Judson ISD. I was excited to say the least. But, I had no idea what I was really getting. In our married life, I had always been a coach. We always just dealt with the time away. Looking back I remember it felt normal at some level, but normal was tough. I frequently called Cheryl around lunch on a tournament Saturday and would long to just be at home. "I wish I could be there with you, baby."

Fast forward to today. Like most working guys I put in 40 hours a week - more if needed. But, at the end of the day, I usually turn of the office lights, pick up my car keys and walk out the door. And weekends, those are mine. All of them. We have enjoyed travel to see family, camping trips and a host of other activities that were either forgone completely or enjoyed at the cost of a precious weekend at home.

Today, I got up - took care of some home maintenance. Played legos with my son. Took a nap and am now enjoying a quiet afternoon. I do not know how much others would appreciate the pace, but I think that I will forever have a slightly different (and better) attitude given my experiences in the past! Now off to hang with the family.

Getting Our Fins On Straight

2009-02-08T14:28:00.005-06:00

From Model Rocket Fin Guide

So here is the predicament: How do you let your 5 year old be involved in the construction of their own model rocket without having it turn out unflyable? Isaac and I have had a blast with model rockets, but I am adamant that he be involved in the construction. This sometimes leads to a trade-off between his involvement and the "fly-ability " of the rocket. It is one thing if the stickers don't go on straight but quite another if the fins don't!

This got me to thinking of how I can set him up to be able to do the fins himself but still have a chance at this rocket flying in a straight line. The answer was a home-made rocket fin alignment guide. I'm pretty proud of the idea. It is limited in that it doesn't deal with the angles or spacing of the fins, but it does provide a flat surface for the fins to lie on and slide up to the rocket body. This is something more within the ability of a 5 year to do successfully.

Here is the basic idea. I cut a 45° angle bevel down the side of 2 boards. When the boards are placed facing one another, they create a "channel" in which the body of the rock can lay. This necessarily lines up the two boards with the body tube. I cut one board 4" short of the other so that its inside face makes a flat area along the side of the rocket body. Lay the fin on this surface and it is necessarily in line with the body. All that is left is to put glue on the edge of the fin, lay it down and slide it up to the rocket. Isaac can be much more involved now - we both love that!

Download a 3D model of it from the 3D Warehouse for Google SketchUp.

Here are some pics...

His Heavenly Father's Son

2009-02-07T12:35:00.004-06:00

Today - this day Isaac confessed Christ. My son professed to me his trust in Jesus. Today I am as sure as an earthly father can be that my son has come to know his Heavenly Father and placed his trust not on his own merit but on the merit of Christ who died to set us free. My son. His son.

I've played this day out in my head a thousand times. I've wondered what would bring it about. I've wondered if I would even be there to witness. And, at some level I've had a degree of discomfort about it, too. Discomfort at wondering how I would know it is real. My greatest fear, honestly, was that i would go to pick him up from sunday school or a kids camp and they would tell me he had accepted Christ.

My fear came not from selfishly wanting to be there, but more so from the frequent stories I've heard and even witnessed where well-intentioned leaders impersonally offer a "sinner's prayer" and declare whomever raises their hand a new believer. My fear was born of the numerous testimonies that I've heard from believers who have lived a life of hollow religiosity after being swept up in an emotional night at summer camp.

My fears, today though, were relieved. Isaac and I went to the garage this AM to eat peanuts and watch the sun come up (our standing Saturday AM tradition). We piddled and eventually moved to the workbench to work on his model rocket. At a quiet point, he asked me, "Papa, can we talk about God?"

I turned around casually, but he had my full attention. "Sure, so what have you learned about God lately?" Isaac answered that God can bring a dead person back to life. He also noted that Jesus had come back to life. I asked if he knew why Jesus had died, and he knew it was to save us from our sin. At this point I realized that Isaac understood the basic tenets of the gospel, but did he believe? I began to explain that Christ offered to cover our sins asking only that we trust in his sacrifice over our own good deeds, but he stopped me. In his own words, he said, "I trust in Jesus, I just haven't told anyone yet." It was at that moment that my hesitancy to urge him into anything that he wasn't sincere about disappeared. We went immediately to tell Mama about it. We all rejoiced together, and then we prayed to thank God for this wonderful gift.

Isaac will deepen his understanding of God and his faith will grow, but by the grace of God he will forever be a child of The King.

Mat 19:14 NIV - Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

We're Expecting! ... SHE is pregnant!

2009-01-04T17:18:00.003-06:00

Yeah! After a lot of prayer and waiting, we are finally expecting our third child! That is right - ready or not, the world is getting one more Landes! And right up front I want to be clear that I said "we're expecting" not "we're pregnant"! I don't know how common it is for couples to say "we're pregnant," but I have accidentally uttered that and been immediately assaulted by both women and men standing within earshot not to mention my pregnant wife.

I don't know if there is not just a little pent up bitterness here, but the general thrust of the attacks was to let me know in no uncertain terms that SHE is pregnant and I am just, well ... along for the ride, so to speak.

If you want to, pray for Cheryl and the baby's health and my careful tongue! That way we'll all get through this is good shape!

Climbing Buddy

2009-01-01T08:33:00.005-06:00

I have enjoyed rock climbing since trying it out in college. I can't say I have ever been just a real hard core climber, but it is fun and I try to get out when I can. Since having kids, the amount of opportunities has dropped a bit, but I still get out now and then. This week I got to hit the crags with a new partner... Isaac!

That is right! My 4-year-old did some climbing with me at Enchanted Rock! Cheryl and I took the kids to the Park this week for a little day trip, and we decided to take our gear and maybe do a little climbing ourselves while the kids climbed around on the rocks.

We found a spot to set up and I dropped the ropes while Isaac watched. He was enthralled. I got on the rock to climb and again he was all eyes. I thought it would be fun to teach him a little about it and let him try it a bit, so I asked him if he wanted to climb. "YEAH!" Since he doesn't have a harness (yet!), I used some extra webbing to make him a "swiss seat" and we clipped him in!

Once on belay, Cheryl and I helped him to look for footholds and handholds, and he started climbing like a champ. I didn't know if the heights would bother him, but he never complained. He let us know when He was ready to come down and we belayed him down like he'd been doing it all along (well, almost!). He even got the hang of standing out against the rock while being lowered ... maybe I'll teach him how to rappel!

Here are some photos from our trip (Isaac's climbing pics are in the middle):

Overheard at Our House

2008-12-23T06:35:00.003-06:00

At dinner Cheryl wanted to showcase some of the progress Isaac was making in his math studies. She explained to me that he was doing great and had even been solving some simple problems. At this point she turns to Isaac who is now beaming and in an increasingly silly mood.

Cheryl: Ok, what is 1 plus 3?

Isaac: (without hesitation) ... Addition!

Wish You Merry Christmas I Do

2008-12-16T23:25:00.006-06:00

So what was the coolest gift you've gotten in a White Elephant Gift Exchange? Huh? Was it the pink sweat band, the cartoon character phone, the Gone with the Wind commemorative placemats? Maybe it was the pristine copy of Ice Pirates on DVD? Whatever it is for you, let me tell you - mine... the BOBBLE-HEAD YODA SANTA! Not only is it guaranteed to get a smile from any age-group when you flick an ear and set him a-bobbin', but also a sure fire in-road with those ultra-exclusive sci-fi types! That's right baby - no more driving by yourself to the Star Wars convention! Look out trekkies! You may think this is just an over-zealous attempt at profit by marketing guys that could've say no to any single suggestion, but No! This is your ticket to the stars! (...or at least a hi-5 in the tech shop at work!)

A Pretty Good Day

2008-12-13T22:28:00.003-06:00

It is a great thing to have a good day. I must say that I've had some great days but the good days are different. To keep them separate, let me explain. A Great Day is the type of day that includes some experience that you've never had. Climbing a mountain for the first would be a great day for me. Skydiving was an especially great day! Good days are different though. Good days are the ones where the actual activities may be mundane, the events uneventful, but the whole thing just works. It's like the gears of the universe all mesh just right and life goes smoothly.

Today was a good day: We slept in a bit, got donuts together, did a little work around the house and put up some Christmas lights, napped and even wrapped presents after the kids went down.

Looking back at the day, I find that family is a part of all that made the day (and any other for that matter) a good day. And, that is what a good day does. When one of those comes along, it shows what we really value down at the practical end of life - the day in, day out values that really make up who we are. I'm pretty happy to realize how much joy my wife and kiddos bring me. This was a pretty good day

Go Fish, Isaac!

2008-11-15T10:23:00.006-06:00

Cheryl is off to see her sister Karen, and enjoy a couple of days celebrating her birthday. That leaves Isaac, Julia and I home alone for the weekend. While the cat is away...! The kids and I headed out right behind her to pick up a pizza, bring it home and have a little "Game Night". Isaac finished eating a little earlier so he and I decide to play a "grown-up" - that means one of the games from the hall closet (where we keep the games that are just a bit over their head).

Isaac is pretty solid with number recognition, so what game would be better with that skill - GO FISH! He did great - even won! we did have to work a bit on the concepts, though. He didn't get at first that when I called for a card that he had, that was not something to get excited about and cheered for me when I did! So, I returned the favor - it was an exceedingly cordial game! He also needed help fanning his cards but beyond that, he picked up the game quickly. We had a blast! Julia even had fun watching for us while she ate! What a night!

Head in the Clouds: My First Skydive

2008-11-10T21:16:00.004-06:00

Experiences, I'm convinced will define our memory of our lives. It is also particularly the new ones that will stand out! I'm convinced that this is why time seems to fly faster and faster as I age: I have fewer and fewer opportunities to do something I've never done. This weekend I made a memory that will certainly stand out! I went SKYDIVING!

The opportnity came when a friend offered to let me use one of 2 vouchers that he had gotten as a gift. Of course I accepted, and of course Cheryl and the kids wanted to be there. So, we made plans and on Saturday, we loaded up and took off.

Let me say right up front, skydiving is awesome! It was everything that I had hoped for and more. I can hardly express how great it was, but that has never stopped me from trying. So, here goes.

First, was I scared. Actually, no. I was not scared at any point (this could be a bad sign but I'm going to go with it!) Maybe the all the rationales worked on me: "The odds are far higher of [blah,blah,blah]" and "People do this all the time!" Whatever it was, I honestly didn't have any point at which I thought twice about doing it. Instead, it was a total rush from the moment I put on the harness to the moment I put my feet back on the ground.

We arrived in Beeville at around 3 and did the paperwork - scads of papers to sign. "Yes, I know I could die", "Yes, I agree not to sue if I die", "No, my family won't either." (I seriously think that a hand cramp from all the signing was about the worst injury I risked!) The training was brief - "This is a plane. You will jump out here" - and we were off to the airport.

At the field we decided I would jump first (small plane = 1 at a time). They strapped me into a harness that was tight enough to kill any hope of walking normally to the plane. Then we climbed into the plane - a Cessna. The plane likely at one point had more than one seat, but not now. I sat with my back to the pilot and 3 other guys (2 solos and my instructor) piled in around me. We looked more like a clown car than a serious skydiving operation. Once in the air, though, it was great. We circled the field gaining altitude and enjoying the view. The guys even had a little fun with me asking the instructor if he had taken his meds. He naturally replied, "No, I haven't blacked out in days!"

Then - we hit altitude. 2 miles.

When the door came open it was finally "real." I was about to jump OUT that door ... at 2 miles up! The instructor attached to my harness and we moved to the door ... awesome. I followed my training and put my right foot out on the strut ... Awesome. I grabbed tight to my chest harness and a second later felt his weight come out behind me and watched the plane fall away behind us ... AWESOME!

The freefall was intense in every way: Strange G-forces in so many directions, the wind literally screaming past, the earth in every direction with nothing between, the amazing sensations of literally flying through the sky at an incredible speed. In 45 seconds we had just enough time to look around and do a couple of 360's just to see the sights.

I was warned on the ground that the chute opening would be quite a jerk. It was not, however, as bad as what I was prepared for. In a moment we were floating serenely under the canopy and all the intensity of freefall was replaced by calm and quiet. We did a couple of sharp turns in a figure-8, and then prepared to land.

The landing was a breeze. To keep from risking a face-plant, we came in with our feet out and plopped down in the field just a few yards from where Cheryl and the kids were watching. Then it was Will's turn.

Would I do it again? HECK, yes! Unfortunantly it is a bit pricey. You could spend 3 to 4 thousand easily gettng trained and geared up. Sadly the inflight video was pretty pricey, too. But, my personal videographer/photographer was there so we go the video below.

If you ever get a chance ... GO SKYDIVE! Meanwhile, enjoy this video...

Back Home

2008-10-26T09:44:00.003-06:00

We pulled into the drive last night at midnight. We are now home and our vacation is just about over. It has been a great week, but it seems that an unexpected benefit of going away is appreciating being home again. After a week of amazing sights and experiences, after a week of new places and faces, after a week of getting up and going down at unusual times, it is nice to be back in our little house with familiar things and ... soon ... the familiar faces of our children.

Missing the kids was beginning to drive our attention from the things of vacation. All of the wonderful distractions of our adventure were loosing their hold, and at just the right time, we were wrapping up the time off. Now we are anticipating seeing them soon!

Being off will certainly have its lasting effects. I got up this morning late (unusual for me) and took the time to make myself a Carmel Machiatto - something my mornings never afford me the time to do. Maybe, along with the souvenirs, pictures and memories, I'll take home a renewed commitment to taking time to relax. Ahhh .... Vacation!

Olympic Dreams

2008-10-25T18:45:00.005-06:00

Our last full day of vacation held a real surprise – rubbing elbows with Olympic athletes at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP). If you are not familiar with it, the UOP was the site of ski jumping and sledding events in the 2002 Olympics. Thursday AM we had already found out about the events going on – bob sled and skeleton. Jake found out from a worker that not only were the ‘camps’ have more events on Friday but that in the evening they would have events starring many national level athletes and even past Olympians. We showed up and the evening was awesome on several counts.

First, the athletes were outstanding. We had already seen runs by the ‘amatuers’ that were amazing to watch, but these athletes were clearly a notch above that. Cheryl said it best, “This just doesn’t get old!” Agreed – every time a sled came by, we were awed by the speed and spectacle.

Second, we had better than front row seats - we were almost the only people there that weren't directly involved. This was apparently not a publicized event! We just showed up and walked up to the track. No one batted an eye as we walked the length of the track and stood just a couple of feet away watching them go by - WOW! We were able to hang out at the landing area (half way back up the mountain where they come to a stop and even ride up with the athletes to the starting area. Absolutely surreal! These were world class Olympians and we were just chatting with them and milling around in the crowd. Wahoo.

We watched a number of starts in men's skeleton, women's 2 person bobsled and men's 4 person bobsled. All fascinating. If you know me at all, you'll know that I watch almost no televised sports. But, after this weekend, I'm thinking about following sledding! ... and just in time for Vancouver 2010!

On Vacation

2008-10-24T08:42:00.006-06:00

Oh the joys of a vacation. It is not often that I take time for a vacation. We've really not done this type of a trip since our honeymoon, so the last week has been a real change for us. The real highlights have been the sights like the Olympic Park and Arches National Park and, especially, the time I've gotten to spend with Cheryl all to ourselves. Cheryl has done quite a few posts on the trip's goings on, but I thought that I'd add my 2 cents worth here, so here we go with the highlights...

SUNDAY - Olympic Park
We visited the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics ski jumping and sledding events (bob-sled, luge and skeleton). The big fun there was a zip line that ran the entire length of the longest jump - Weee!

MONDAY - Shopping
We spent most of the day Monday piddling around town. We saw the "Main Street" and walked most of it looking in shops and such.

TUESDAY - Hiking and a Date
Cheryl and I really wanted to get outdoors and this was our chance. We walked out of the resort and right onto a dirt service road that led up the nearest ski mountain. We followed these service roads most of the way to the top. It was a LOT of uphill hiking, but it was rewarding to say the least. Amazing views and probably the most fun part - just enjoying it with Cheryl.

WEDNESDAY - Arches National Park
Utah is an outdoor enthusiasts dream land - amazing national parks with stunning sights. Although the biggest and best parks were several hours south of us, we planned from the beginning to go see at least one of these parks. Arches seemed the mosted doable, so we got up really early (5am!) and gt on the road. The drive alone was incredible - mountain passes, high deserts, waterfalls .... WOW!

The park, though was the best part. Enter by switch-back road into an absolutely phenomenal menagerie of sandstone spires, fins and arches. Strange shapes everywhere and most of them towering over you hundreds of feet in the air. We got out and hiked a short trail to see the "Delicate Arch" and were blown away by the view and the surreal immensity of the arch. After dinner in Moab, we drove home in the dark and slept well!

THURSDAY - Back to Olympic Park
We had heard that some athletes would be practicing on the ski jump so we headed back to the park for the morning. They were practicing - it was fascinating to see them jump without snow! The jump was iced over mechanically and the landing was a synthetic material that was wet down. The jump then ran out into a grassy area, where the skiers came to a stop on green turf - crazy to watch.

The big surprise was when we walked over to look at the bob-sled track and realized it was not only up and running but they were actually running Skeleton and Bobsleds that afternoon. We got to stand right by the track as athletes rocketed past at 74mph+ speeds. It was amazing! TV does not do the sport justice! Wow! ... WOW!

FRIDAY ... hmmm, we'll see!
Today looks to be a quieter day as we get ready to head home tomorrow. Any excitement will have to come in the next post!

Ahhh .... VACATION! (more pics on Facebook!)

Back to Blogging

2008-10-23T17:13:00.003-06:00

So, its been over a month and a half since my last post. That is a long time. But, I need to get going again. Being on vacation is a great opportunity, so get ready! Here comes some posts ... tomorrow.

My Little Rocketman

2008-08-28T21:36:00.003-06:00

Isaac as you you may know has been on a bit of a "space" kick lately. He has his books about space. He's got a growing collection of space theme lego-creations. He's even got some nifty "WALL-E" sheets (by the way - great movie!). I really dug space as a kid, too, so what better hobby to introduce my son to? Model Rockets!

I dropped by WalMart and for the low, low price of $20 we got a starter kit complete with launch pad, launch controller, 3 engines and - can you believe it? - 2 Rockets! Yes. The thought "Great! One for me and one for him!" did cross my mind, but only for a moment. Of course they are both for him ... my 4 year old. um...

In all honesty I've enjoyed this a bit, but my uber-nerdiness cannot compete at all with his genuine exhuberance! He cannot put them down. He runs around the house despite my measured warnings about their fragility.

We had our first launch last Thursday, and the result: We need a bigger field! Isaac loved it - the first one went off without a hitch. It was a larger rocket with a parachute that was easy to follow down to where it landed. The second rocket was a different story. It was considerably smaller with the same size engine as the first. We pushed the button and "Whishhhhhh" - completely out of sight. Uh, houston, we have a problem. Since it went considerably higher it could fall further away ... and it did! We tromped all over the field where we launched it to no avail, until I finally left Isaac with Mama and struck out to cover more ground before the daylight waned! I did find it a good 50 yards beyond the furthest place I thought it could have fallen. Whew! Next time, I'm going to find a bigger field!

Settling Catan

2008-08-25T19:59:00.003-06:00

We are hooked! Have you ever heard of this game, "The Settlers of Catan"? If not you really need to experience it. A couple of months back some friends of ours, the Andersons, mentioned that they wanted to have us come over to play "Catan." "Sure" we said in that i've-got-no-idea-what-this-is-about-but-i'll-do-most-anything-to-humor-a-friend kind of way.

A couple of weeks passed and I finally was available on a weekend to hang out with the guys. We headed to Steve's house and started getting ready to play Catan. Now, I'll be honest - this game is a little on the complicated side at first (kind of like Katrina was a 'little' on the rainy side). They started throwing down the game board tiles, little monopoly looking game pieces, 2 decks of card, dice, a 'robber' (hard to explain) and partridge in a pear tree. ...Ok, no partridge but there really were a lot of things to keep up with.

The first game was a little like watch foreign films without subtitles: It was interesting and I knew something significant was happening at times but I was otherwise completely lost. But, that is about what it takes to get the hang of it. Game 2 made more sense and was actually really fun. So much so, in fact that I decided to blow a $25 Amazon gift card I'd been sitting on for over a year and buy it myself.

Cheryl was hooked almost immediately - of course, I 'let' her win that 2nd game, but she is actually pretty good at it. It must be genetic; her sister came down and won the first game she played! We've also played it with the singles group we work with at the church and my aunts and mom. So I'm not sure if we are settling Catan or if Catan is settling us!

Try the game - you'll love it!

Learning From the Best

2008-08-05T05:10:00.004-06:00

Recently I had a chance to do some woodworking with a friend, Ken. In fact the friend is actually a pastor at our church - the very one that conducted our ceremony when Cheryl and I married. Before that, he and his wife did our pre-marital counseling, and before that, he spent a lot of Friday mornings at the local Denny's letting me weigh my heart on the subject of this beautiful, fun, caring, godly woman I'd met 3 years into giving up on dating.

It was a real treat to tag along. The project was moderate in scope - 2 tall boxes with minimal trim to serve as offering collection places in our church. From the beginning, though, it was easy to pick up bits of wisdom in everything from how to saw the sheet goods to how to set up your shop. If we'd never said a word, I would have learned a lot.

It is interesting how that process applies in so many areas. As Cheryl and I have begun working with the college and career group at our church, many of the things that I learned from Ken early on have come back to me. I try to use them to bless the men in the group that I now get to sit with.

As the Lord would have it, one of these men, is now about to marry Ken's daughter who was in the early years of high school when I first came to our church. Drew and I have met for coffee a number of times and I can only hope that I've been half the help Ken was to me. If I've done any good at all, it is because of those like him that showed me how. Ultimately, we owe it all to our ultimate teacher, Jesus.

The boxes were completed, by the way. Ken wrapped up the project and had them in the sanctuary by Sunday. They looked great!

Our New Kazeebo!

2008-08-03T21:27:00.001-06:00

Yes. If you were wondering a "Kazeebo" is the same as a Gazeebo. Isaac wasn't real clear on the name and the fact that we enjoyed the new name so much didn't help, so it is a "Kazeebo" now! ...And a really cool one at that!

This is the next project as we move (back) into our house. We've got a lot of plans and this one involves taking down the old crazy looking gazeebo(-esque) thing in the backyard and putting up something prettier - maybe something without cheap lattice tacked to 2x4's.

Big thanks to our friends Kyle and Kelly - they had the kit in their garage and passed it along to us. They were happy to have it out of the garage and we are happy to have this step get a big boost in the budget department!

The Women in my Life

2008-08-03T05:29:00.004-06:00

I was not the guy in HS that all the girls wanted to date. In fact, I distinctly remember that my brother, Matt, had more success with the girls in my class! (Love ya brother - I'm not bitter!) When I met Cheryl and began falling in love and began realizing that she was the first one that 'got me' (and didn't run), I began the most amazing relationship of my life - the one with my wife. I never could have imagined what this would be like. I knew early on that I was a family man, and really struggled in my mid-20's giving that part of my life to God when all my friends were marrying. But he knew what he was doing and blessed me with Cheryl just as soon as he had done what he needed to get both of us ready for it.

If that blessing wasn't enough, he brought yet another beautiful lady into my life - our daughter, Julia. She is the most beautiful baby girl and as the 'baby' fade and the 'girl' shows, I'm blessed to be witness to her life.

Both of these women have shaped who I am today. They challenge me in different ways to look outside myself. They expose me to their world and invite me to learn to love another for who they are - to love like Christ loves his bride. I can only hope that they know how special they are to me.

My Review of MagLite Solitaire Key Ring Flashlight

2008-08-02T16:29:00.002-06:00

Originally submitted at REI

This compact, take-along flashlight features a high-intensity adjustable light beam (Spot to Flood).

Old Faithful

By Happy Gear Head from San Antonio, TX on 8/2/2008

Pros: Waterproof, Spare Bulb, Durable, Long battery life, Stable, Adjustable Beam

Cons: Dim

Best Uses: Hiking, Backpacking, Everyday use, Day trip, Car Camping

Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational

If Maglite would update this to LED, it would truly be the perfect light in its class. I've carried one in my pocket for years. The AAA battery means it is easy to find replacements. The adjustable beam is more than handy. It even does the 'candle' trick it's larger 2-AA model is known for (remove the lens and light still shines - handy in a tent).

I recently had a few problems and sent it in to Maglite out of curiosity. They went above and beyond - repaired it and returned it for free within a couple of weeks. Turns out the malfunction was my fault.

When it wasn't working I bought another AAA light. While brighter (it was an LED) was heavier, bulkier and has not been nearly as dependable.

Maglite! Make this an LED!!!

(legalese)

7 Years Today

2008-07-21T05:04:00.003-06:00

Today is our 7th anniversary. Wow! 2 kids, a house and a dog - we are living the dream. Having these years with my wife is more of a blessing than I can even communicate. She is more than half of who I am! The most exciting part is knowing that she is the one for the rest of this journey.

I love you (1st), Babe!

Our Adventurer Reutrns Today!

2008-07-21T05:01:00.002-06:00

Isaac and Julia will be home today! Whoopee! I can't wait to 'wrassle' with him and hear all about every tree he climbed and bug he caught - wow, I miss that kid!

Guitar (Nerd) Hero

2008-07-20T19:48:00.004-06:00

I love the latest trend in video games - games that let you really 'play' them. The "Wii" is the best example but the one that has become my come-from-behind favorite is "Guitar Hero". If you haven't seen it, it is hard to explain. It is a small plastic guitar that serves as the controller - you've got 4 buttons out on the neck for the 'frets' and a little 'bar thing' where you would strum the strings. They put up a blazing metal song and you follow images on the screen that show ou when to strum and hit the buttons. It is as close to playing a blazing, melt your face off guitar solo as many will ever get and you don't have to grow your hair out or where any black and white makeup! Admittedly, I thought it was hokey... but play it once and you'll be hooked!

Here is the super (nerdy?) funny part: now, you too can play guitar hero at home... WITHOUT BUYING THE GAME! That is right - someone out there has heard the cries of all of us 'non-console' owners - the nerdy masses who still do all ther gaming on their PC! In a feat of Flash programming and some deftly, creative use of a standard keyboard the online version of Guitar Hero has arrived! Now you, too can (swallow your pride and) have a shot at this gaming phenomenom. Check it out here!

Missing the Little Feet

2008-07-19T22:15:00.005-06:00

It has now been eleven days that Isaac has been with grandparents. It has been strangely quiet around here! Julia joined him Thursday so the last 2 days have been completely quiet. Odd memories of bachelor-hood and early marriage have floated into my head at times but mostly, I've just missed them!

There are a number of things that the absence of the kiddos permits - sleeping in on a Saturday and going shopping all day, catching a movie and going out to eat. These are all well and good, but there are also things that their absence also prevents - no screams of "Papa" when I open the door after work, no big hugs from tiny arms, noone to read to at night before bed time! (I tried with cheryl, but she didn't want to sit in my lap in the Rocking Chair!)

Don't get me wrong I like to be able to carry on a complete conversation without being interrupted ... or jumped on. But I have come to really enjoy all the things they find so important! I relish their affection and can't wait to have them back. It will be good to hear the little feet around again!

The End of an Era

2008-07-14T22:28:00.004-06:00

My Father made the comment as he passed me. "It is the end of an era." He was walking away from the site where I was headed to help my brothers dig a grave for our family dog. Bandit was our companion for 15 years and he passed away during the weekend of our family reunion. He joined us after I left for college, so I only knew him from the summers I came home, but there was everything to like about this dog and nothing to dislike! I will not try to tell the stories my brothers and parents can tell, but I really liked him.

Dad's comment was very true, too. Bandit's time with our family was an era in our family. He came in right about the time that my brothers and I were on our way out of the house. He greeted us in Rosenberg an for the last decade in Arkansas. He saw us return in a variety of vehicles. He greeted our girlfriends and welcomed them into the family when they returned as wives. He even saw us bring home our children. While we were gone, he was a constant companion to my parents and close to a legend as a working dog. Stories of Bandit were just as much a part of the Landes 'lore' from this era as those of us his keepers.

It seems like it is the 'eras' that often make a better definition of our lives than the years. We remember our lives more often in terms of these brackets that we set around time. Maybe that is part of the pain. Bandit's passing pushes us out of a great era and into the next which is unknown. Our Creator God gave us many blessings. There are an infinite number of ways that he gives us joy! I'm thankful to Him for Bandit. And now, when one blessing goes, I'm challenged to trust His providence. But, I know he is faithful! Thank you, Lord, for Bandit.

Moblog: Remember the Alamo!

2008-07-01T07:23:00.001-06:00

I'm in downtown San Antonio today for a convention and had a chance to go by the Alamo. Even though (because?) we live here I don't think about this place much. But it is still here and the area is real nice too! I need to bring the family here sometime.

Family Building

2008-06-29T19:29:00.002-06:00

I have been trying to connect with the men's ministry at our church more recently. I was able to attend the men's retreat weekend a month or so ago and this weekend was blessed to be at the men's breakfast on Saturday! Hearty food and even better teaching.

I have been really hearing it from the Lord lately on being busy. I am too busy. It is a way of life for me. But I have admitted it, confessed it and now I'm going about claiming my freedom. In light of that struggle, there was a scripture that I ran across lately that came up this weekend again. It is this:

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved {even in his} sleep. Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalms 127

I've been rolling that one around a lot lately and it hits home ... hard. I work hard. I work late. I take on extra projects and duties. I rarely stop to even consider relaxing. I am a work-a-holic in a lot of ways. It is easy to justify this - two kids, single income, etc. but the short of it is that I work so hard that it easily can sap time and energy from my family. The scriptures are clear that we should be industrious (Pr 6:6) and do good work (Col 3:23), but they are even more clear (above) that our work has to honor the Lord in every area.

My work to build a family is far more eternally consequential than any amount of stuff that I do in the workplace. In 100 years (if the Lord taries!), no one will likely remember any of the websites I've built, nor even my name. But, in Christ I can build a legacy of faith. Each generation will have it's own decision to make but the heritage is eternal.

It is the Lord that builds me and mine; it is time for me to stand back and let him.

Moblog: The Perfect Snack

2008-06-28T12:50:00.002-06:00

Cheryl and I have a funny little trick that we learned on accident. One day after leaving a Dr. Pepper inthe feezer for almost too long, we discovered that if it is rally close to freezing when you pop the lid it will feeze up instantly into wonderful, slushy goodness. We've now got this down to a science! We can generally time it just right and the result is shear tastebud delight! Warning - if you leave it in too long you get a popcicle that tastes like flat DP ... and you waste a good DP! That would be tantamount to sacrelidge!

Our Little Engineer

2008-06-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

Isaac is quite the builder these days. He has gotten very adept with blocks and train tracks. This AM he came and got me to show me his latest creation - he called it his 'playscape'. While the description involved play areas, it also included a cooking area (the stove's chimney can be seen on top of the nightstand - round, red block. He lost me a bit on a system that 'heated caulk', but it did include a pipe system that went through the whole thing, the floor and at some point ended up in the ceiling fan!

Cheryl mentioned the other day that he might be just about ready for Legos - Oh yeah!

SeaDoo Fun

2008-06-22T19:47:00.004-06:00

Wow - what a great weekend. We took the singles group out to a local lake and enjoyed the day waterskiing and riding on two jet-skis. Let me tell you - these were no ordinary jet-skis. These were the high-end kind. ...The high-end, blow your hair back kind. ... The high-end, 0-60 in close to 3 seconds, rocket across the water at 70 mph, fear for your life, "man, I wanna buy a jetski" kind. I haven't been blasted forward like that since riding the Greased Lightning at Astroworld as a kid. Wow.

Cheryl took a brief turn in the driver seat but seemed content to let me to the drive. ...So I did my best to make it fun (read "terrifying!") We did laugh a lot and it was a blast! Julia didn't take a turn but Isaac did give it a go. Sadly as choppy as the water

What is really funny is how biased I used to be about them. I used to say things like, "How fun could that be?" and "It would just be like a motorcycle stuck in a big flat parking lot!" Yeah, I was wrong. Ahhh, another expensive hobby! That will have to wait.

Here are a few more pics...

Moblog: Makin the best of it

2008-06-20T20:51:00.002-06:00

Well - we're out of the house again. Another showing. Sadly the hope and anticipation of showings has just about gone away entirely. We are still showing the house but with interest rates going up ...

But if we have to be out it can still be fun. We decided tonight to go to the mall and get an ice cream from Chick-Fil-A. The kiddos generally are taking this in stride. They found the kiddie rides in the food court and had a ball. I'm not sure if I should worry - Isaac spent the majority of his time role playing wrecks!

Moblog: Sorry, Babe

2008-06-19T14:57:00.002-06:00

I love my coffee mugs! I especially love the ones thnat have been given to me as gifts. I'm sad today because my very favorite mug broke! This was a gift from Cheryl for my last birthday. It is the one I use at work and have put a lot of miles (gallons?) on it it the months since. Man!!!

Sorry, babe, but for my next birthday you've got it easy!

Honey-do Ninja

2008-05-31T19:32:00.004-06:00

I think I beat my all time record today for honey-do execution! I gave myself a bit of a head start by starting on the garage door opener Thursday! But I still managed to finish that (and it works!) as well as install a junction box cover, put in 2 GFCI's in the Kitchen and caulk the trim around a door! Yeah - it is not all that much, but given all that is going on lately, I felt pretty good about it!

The thing about honey-do's these days is that they are not just the run of the mill stuff. These are borderline construction projects. My short list right now includes 4 screens to replace, siding to repair and some sort of valve thing on the water heater to replace (which I think is going to involve draining the whole darn thing!) And, they aren't really just coming from Cheryl either! most of what I'm doing now is to try to sell the house. AHHHHH so much to (honey) DO!

Moblog: What is keeping me so busy?

2008-05-30T13:43:00.002-06:00

I just don't have any time these days. Why? Moving! Working my job(s) and playing Mr. Fix-it all the time consume my day pretty quickly. Today I'm going to be finishing up my latest handman job - the garage door opener. If you don't recognize it, that is it in the picture! The parts arrived and I've set to replacing the drive gears. The one in the pic is the old one and the white stuff all around it is the remains of the teeth! It is a new experience, though, and that makes it a bit more fun.

Our Offical Language

2008-05-06T05:12:00.002-06:00

With all the hubbub surrounding immigration and our policies towards it, heated opinions abound. But add protest signs to the fray and things get fun. This picture is about the best summation of the whole 'language debate' that I have seen yet: The debate is one-sided - immigrants couldn't care less about changing our national language. And, the english-speakers aren't making good arguments!

It's not that I don't like english as a language. I enjoy it; probably as much as any of my contemporaries. But, the idea of declaring it the "official" language is pointless. English is not in danger. It's not even remotely threatened. In fact it has become quite the invasive species! France is actively on the defense against english words sullying their venerable language. And guess what country has the largest english-speaking population ... INDIA. The US is 3rd behind China! Can you say 'McSushi'?

So relax. English isn't going away. You can still make it our 'offical [sic]' language, but maybe we should worry about something that really does matter.

Jinxed Myself

2008-05-05T17:28:00.002-06:00

Yep just as sure as I think I'm out of the woods gonna be free to post some - WHAM! A thousand things pop up. I do still intend to keep this blog up, but right now. Every free minute is going into house prep, packing, finances, etc. I don't know when I'll have time to post anything real! 'Till then...

Taking a Break

2008-04-21T05:57:00.003-06:00

What a great weekend - so much to blog. By golly, I'm going to blog it too! We took the weekend off and went to Coleman to see Cheryl's family this weekend and celebrate Julia's Birthday a little early with them since they couldn't make it down next weekend (Julia is 2 this week!). It was a great break and we made some fun memories. I haven't put up a blog post in a while so this one is just to prime the pump. Stay tuned!

Mini Golf - Mega Fun

2008-04-06T05:43:00.002-06:00

We had a date night last night! We were joined by some friends, Will and Pat, and headed to Chipotle (or Chick-pootle as Isaac would say). We had thought about a movie after dinner, but decided against that. We wanted to be able to talk and hang-out so we found a mini-golf place. FUN!

Immediately we decided to keep no score which was good! Then off to the links. Hole one set the pace for the night - I shot an 8, just over the par of 3 for the hole but I really needed a pitching wedge for the flower bed! Will and I managed to retrieve extra balls from the water traps and played two the rest of the night. The girls joined Will and I for several "speed holes" - everyone putts at the same time and continues to putt as fast as they can in a race to the hole! Loads of Fun. That digressed a bit near the end into something that resembled hockey more than putt-putt. I was pleasantly surprised at how hard it is to sink the putt but how easy it is to have a blast while doing it!

Birds of a Mini-Van....

2008-04-06T05:18:00.002-06:00

Parents do tend to wind up with other parents a lot. Maybe it is all that we have in common. Maybe the single friends just don't want to hear the kids anymore. One thing I've noticed now that we are (proud) mini-van owners is that they are EVERYWHERE ... that parents are!

Cheryl and I have a new game even based on this new discovery - "Silver Mini-Van". The rules are taken from the games "Slug-bug" and "Red Truck". If you see a slug-bug you get to scream it out, "Slug-Bug!" and whoop the other players ... unless they see it first; then you need to duck and run! I don't actually whap Cheryl, of course, don't want to teach that to the kiddos!

Becoming a Missionary

2008-03-26T05:42:00.002-06:00

I have had this thought developing in my head over the last few days. How would their life change if someone were called to be a missionary. What if when they got there, their missions organization required them to support themselves by taking a job. As this scenario rolls around my head I can think of a few things that would change in my own thinking.

I'd get up in the morning and prepare for a day of ministry the way I've done when on a mission trip or at a retreat or camp. That extra measure of focused prep. I'd be a lot less concerned about my 'career' because it no longer defined me in the same way. I'd be a diligent worker, no doubt, but it would not be quite so the center of my life.

This weekend I've unexpectedly been called on to lead worship for a men's retreat - something that I haven't done in any real leadership capacity for a while. I go up this AM and prayed with focus on the weekend - for my heart and those of the men who'll be there. I prayed this way because my experience as a worship leader in the past has taught me it is vital. It strikes me that this new sense of mission was what the Lord has called us to every day.

As a child of God, I am the missionary from my hypothetical question at the beginning. I am called to the field right here where I am living ... at the ends of the earth. My prayer today is that I would be a faithful missionary.

Instant Replay for Parents

2008-03-24T21:36:00.002-06:00

The other day, Cheryl and I were driving along and got to talking about our sweet kiddos who have of late learned how to blame things on the other. I suggested that it would be great if we could just get one of those video monitors - Ya' know the kind they make for infants. Hook that thing up to a DVR and you've got INSTANT REPLAY!

SCENE: Momma walks into room where an argument has broken out.)
Momma: What is going on here?
Isaac: She bit me!
Momma: Julia!
(Julia cries - ENTER NFL Referee...)
Ref: Just a second ma'am; let's check the instant replay.
(a moment later ... Ref steps to center of room and looks up to camera)
Ref: (with echo from the PA...) The initial call ...all ...ll
was intentional biting ...ing ...ng
on number two ...oo ...oo Defense ...ss ...s
Upon review ...ew ...ew
the call was found to be incorrect ...ect ...ect
the call instead will be ...ee ...e
Unnecessary Instigation on number one ...un ...un
Offense ...ss ...s

(The crowd goes wild!)

Technicolor Pancakes

2008-03-24T21:18:00.002-06:00

Do NOT adjust your set! These colors are accurate! It may look like a science experiment but we decided to have BLUE pancakes last week! Monday (my first day off of Spring Break - yippee!) I got up and decided to make a special breakfast with the kiddos. Pancakes is always a treat, but these would be even better - they would be blue! ... and red ... and green ... and what ever other colors of food coloring we could find. Just 3 drops of color in a quarter cup of batter was plenty to color a single cake. Isaac thought it was pretty neato. Julia's frame of reference being somewhat shorter, she didn't seem as impressed but ate them none-the-less. The effect is pretty neat! I highly recommend it (even if they don't taste any different!)

One Hundred!

2008-03-22T06:04:00.004-06:00

Wow, this is my 100th post on Blogger! That is a lot of posts. I thought it would be a good time to stop and look back at this whole blogging thing. I put up my first blog here at Blogger in November 2004 - W0w! 4 years ago... Back then I wanted to blog about current events, get my big heady thoughts down ... that took about 3 posts. I didn't do much with that first blog. I didn't really get started blogging in earnest until August of 2006 when I started a Yahoo 360 blog. That blog was a lot of fun and quickly became the family oriented blog that I keep today. Counting my Yahoo 360 blogs, this would actually be close to 200. One of these days, I hope to retrieve those posts and move them here.

Probably the most exciting thing to happen in the last year has been to see my wife and family start keeping blogs! Cheryl's blog is awesome and often gives me a peek at what's going on while I'm at work. Cheryl has really taken off with blogging and has even racked up hits from around the world (she actually had hits from Tel Aviv and London!) I especially love that I can keep up my brothers' families via their blogs and even my Mom has taken a stab at it (if she can ever remember her password!) What a great tool.

Here are a couple of posts that I especially enjoyed from the first 100; let me know if you remember one that you liked!

Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

An Enchanted Trip

2008-03-20T21:19:00.004-06:00

Today was one of my best days. It was one of those days that when I'm old and gray, I will remember with fondness and laughter. We took the kids to Enchanted Rock and had an absolute blast! The day began not too early with driving out to the park. Despite traffic and a long line to get in, we got there in great spirits (translation: the kids weren't tired of sitting in the van to the point of screaming - a real danger with that much sitting still on the road).

Julia rode on my back up the "mountain" and Isaac hoofed it. He loved jumping from rock to rock and exploring every nook and cranny. Cheryl and I enjoyed being free to let him for the most part. At the top, Isaac marveled at being able to see for miles in all directions!

Our biggest adventure was for Isaac and I. Cheryl waited with Julia and freed me to take Isaac through the cave! If you are unfamiliar with the cave at enchanted rock, it is a 'fissure' cave - not the lighted, guided type where you walk past formations in cavernous rooms. This is a series of connected cracks in the rock and there is NO LIGHT! ... save what you bring in yourself. HE LOVED IT! We climbed around, slithered on our backs, got dirty and wet in places - all the things a kid enjoys! (...and his dad, too!). Isaac at four was boldly going where kiddos twice his age were backing out of! That is a proud papa moment, for sure!

What made the day special for me was sharing Enchanted Rock with my children. "E-Rock" holds a special place in my heart, if for no other reason than I've been to this park more times than I can count and almost every chapter of my adult life since college has included time spent there. Rock climbing and camping, singles trips (where Cheryl first did the cave!), and now as a husband and father. What a great thing to hand down!

Here is some video we took throughout the day...

M: Mud Storm

2008-03-19T14:27:00.000-06:00

Last night we had a big rain full of mud from Mexico! I walked out after dark to find this thick covering of mud/dust over both of our cars. Yuck! Actually raining mud is a new one for me.

Two Men and a Baby

2008-03-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Ok, so it was really one man, a boy and a girl but I couldn't think of a catchy title along those lines. The kids and I flew solo last weekend while Mama was enjoying girl time with her sister. The time with my children was great! What was not so great was getting ready for an Open House (we're trying to sell) at the same time as trying to spend quality time with the munchkins!

As for the kiddos, we did some really fun things. We got started Saturday with a trip to the park for a picnic lunch, climbing on the playground and kite flying! What a great day for kite flying. Our kite is shaped like a goldfish - we picked it up on a whim last year thinking we'd get a lot of use out of it, but there just aren't a lot of good kite flying days out there. After nap we made pudding, played in the yard and then grilled hot dogs for a dinner out on the patio.

Saturday night after the kiddos went down was my chance to clean up for the showing... until 2am! I had to finish some of the tasks Sunday AM and we barely made it to church. Our friends Kyle and Kelly were generous enough to host us Sunday afternoon while the house was being shown. Visiting them is always a treat for the kids which made the whole weekend a real bang for them.

I love my wife and the kiddos love their mother, so her return Sunday evening made the perfect ending to a great weekend. A little papa time is good here and there but it doesn't hold a candle to "all-together" time! Here a few photos from the big weekend:

M: Frogger Meets His Match

2008-03-13T17:32:00.002-06:00

Isaac hit the mother load of little boy discovery fun today when momma moved the toy bin in the back yard revealing a herd of frogs, lizards and the like! Let me tell you who doesn't like frogs though ... MOMMA! I came home today to find Isaac giddy and momma very on edge about the whole deal. She was a great sport about it, though. She let him put them in his "bug keeper" and he spent most of the afternoon playing with them one at a time. Julia didn't really get much out of it, but just give her time!

M: is for "Mobile Blog"

2008-03-13T08:36:00.001-06:00

If you've read much of my Blog you'll notice that it it often illustrated with pics from my phone. Now I'm taking it a step further ... The whole post can now be done on the phone. I can now Blog no matter where I am and even include a photo! I won't be doing this all the time but it is a fun alternative to "breakout" while waiting for a haircut! I'm going to put the "M" at the beginning of mobile posts so you'll know I did that one while on the run (or in the can! ... Sorry - TMI, I know).

(PHOTO: my coworkers comparing phones... but mine BLOGS!)

M: Going Nuts

2008-03-08T10:12:00.003-06:00

Julia and Isaac had a ball this AM playing with nuts. Scads of toys in their room, a dog waiting in the yard and sun shining outside and what do they get the biggest time out of? Nuts! That's it! Birthdays are a cinch from here on out! We're getting the kids PRODUCE!

Dog Park Peek-a-boo

2008-03-08T06:47:00.001-06:00

Julia is a nut! She is a ball of energy and is so much fun to be around! We took the kids (Oliver is included in that phrase now!) to the park the other day and let Oliver run around a section just for dogs. The kids had a blast and Oliver did too (despite). Julia had every bit as much fun as the dogs there climbing in and around the apparatus set up for the dogs! One item was a plastic pipe for the dogs to run through with holes on the sides for peeking in ... and out! We had a great time playing peek-a-boo with those holes! She would move from one to the other peeking out and saying "BOO, Papa!" and then giggling in that way that just melts your heart!

The Monitor Stand Project is Done!

2008-03-08T05:26:00.002-06:00

I wrapped up the monitor stand project last weekend. The finishing touches proved to be the toughest part - mainly the finishing! I was using good, furniture grade ply but not stain grade (Birch or Ash) I think. Nice and smooth but not really for a wood grain finish. So, I had planned on a black, glossy finish - somewhat like the phone holder I made a while back. I didn't want to get too involved with the painting so I set out to use black spray paint. I did get the good stuff, but even that proved a little difficult to work with.

The first coat was badly 'fisheyed' - marked up with little blemishs that look like little circles where the paint didn't go on. It's caused by surface impurities. My professional finisher friend, gave me some advice though that I'm sure that I'll use in the future! Prep normally by sanding and wiping/blowing off dust, but then wipe the surface down right before you paint with mineral spirits (paint thinner)! Then, put down a couple of light coats just a few minutes apart. 2-3 coats with cover pretty well and is all you want to do in one 'session'. Let that dry for a day, sand very lightly wth 200 grit paper (or so) and repeat it - wipe down and spray. The mineral spirits remove the impurities from the surface and help the paint droplets to flow together. This also reduces the "orange peel" effect that you can get. The pic above it the finished product in place. Here are a couple more 'almost done' pics:

After nailing the face frame on (red oak scraps, milled to 1"x3/4") the holes are puttied and later sanded.

I had to 'test' it on the table top -really, I was just dying to see it like it would on a desk. I like!

Cheryl's Big Day

2008-02-28T06:14:00.004-06:00

Cheryl did a great job describing all the details, and it really was a fun day. I thought I might add my perspective a bit though! Cheryl loves birthdays. She does. Birthdays are an important event to her and it is a level of importance that has been an area where I have been challenged to adapt to. Last year was her big Three - O! We were all a tad violently sick, but the truth is that I didn't really plan like I could have to celebrate it in a big way. I really wanted not to make that mistake this year. For comparison's sake, when I turned 30, Cheryl took me to Fiesta Texas for the day and brought me home to a big surprise party with all of our friends. It was awesome! I was pretty ashamed after last year. My wife really deserves much more. She deserves this everyday!

So this year - the party was on! I started the scheming a couple of weeks ago and got everyone lined up. The plan was simple and the execution was flawless! After the day at the park, we would get the kiddos ready for bed and kick Cheryl out of the house on a rouse Jenny and Sara and I baked up. They arrived, dropped off a cake in my "conveniently" unlocked car outside and grabbed Cheryl. As soon as she left, the guys arrived early to throw up streamers and such. Man, the guys did a great job! If I'd known how fast they'd be, I'd have gotten more decorations! When the ladies arrived, we got ready for "the call." During the pick-up, Jenny had slipped her phone out of her pocket and given it to me which gave them a great reason to drop back by the house. The big moment: Cheryl gets out to run in an grab it so as not to 'disturb the guys' - HA! We were all waiting. Even Julia was in on the surprise!!! The rest of the night was filled with fun, food, the reading of the Birthday Book and games. I love our friends in the Singles Group - they are awesome!!!

We did take some video (although we forgot to film the "surprise") so here you go! If you weren't there you were certainly missed!

Cheryls Birthday

Can I Hold Your Hand, Papa?

2008-02-23T21:52:00.004-06:00

Isaac asked me today, "Can I hold your hand, Papa?" I agreed, of course, and it got me to thinking again of something that has crossed my mind often lately. There will be a day soon when he doesn't want to hold my hand anymore. Like so many other airs of childhood, this one, too, will trail off behind him. But, for now I'm treasuring it. He is my son. My SON. I can't find a word to describe how deeply I love Isaac and Julia. At this age, his fickle attitude can shift wildly, but there is no doubt that he knows his Papa. At this age Cheryl and I are his "home."

So I do my best to remain vividly aware when Isaac or Julia want to connect. If it is to hold my hand, to be picked up ... whatever ... I'm paying attention. I'm actively trying to burn those memories in deep. He will not know what I'm thinking or how deeply it affects me until one day his child takes his hand and same part of his heart.

New Project - Monitor Stand

2008-02-13T06:32:00.002-06:00

I had a chance recently to reorganize my office. In the process I decided that I needed something to get my monitors up about 5 inches. Of course, I could have gone over to OfficeMax and picked one up, but this looked more like a great opportunity for ... "Dun, Dun, Daaaaa" ... a PROJECT!

I'm going to be using the left over ply from Julia's Toy Cabinet for the body. But I'm also going to addsome support in the center and a hardwood face frame (red-oak; also left over from previous projects).

I did have some fun on the body - I didn't want to show the plywood edges on the top or the sides and I didn't want to run trim down the side to hide it. So, the solution was to cut the pieces at a 45 degree angle and join them with glue and nails. I happened to have some nifty little 90 degree angle clamps that came in real handy for this! The body is done now and awaits paint before I do the face frame.

Nerd Quiz - I Passed

2008-02-10T21:31:00.000-06:00

Cheryl has a lot of fun with my nerd-dom. It is true. I don't deny that I'm nerdy. I like to think that I'm more of the "creative with funny musical tastes" species of nerd rather than the "I can't find my pocket protector until I get my glasses taped back together" breed. But, either way I like most things techy and list "Coldfusion" and "PHP" under foreign languages that I speak. That along with my strong tendency to choose fantasy, action and sci-fi movies over films involving sports, animal that talk and/or love stories pretty well pegs me for some level of nerd-dom. But if all that wasn't enough to prove it, my loving mate sent me a link to a quiz which apparently tests this:
http://www.toysforyourblog.com/quiz/6/How_Nerdy_Are_You.php

... and it is official...
This would be my 'results' after taking the quiz. ;-)

A Neeeewwwww Saw!

2008-02-10T20:15:00.000-06:00

It's not a new car. It's not even new. But, I'm pretty stoked about it. I've been wanting a Compound Miter Saw for a while. I've even considered settling for an "el cheapo", but a good friend hooked me up recently! He had a saw in his garage that he was willing to part with and offered it to me for a pitance! It's not an 'el cheapo' either! It is a full size DeWalt 12 inch. Joy! Oh the things I can cut with that!

I have a special place in my heart for this particular model, too. One of the first scene shops I worked in had no real tools to speak of. After getting a couple of the basics - hand tools and a circular saw, this was the tool I bought for the shop! It is great to have one at hand again.

This is Me Lonely

2008-02-09T06:07:00.000-06:00

This really is the blog that I intended to publish in the middle this last week while at convention. Just ran out of time to do it. This was a great idea though! What I wanted to do was take pictures of all the neat stuff and fun places that I saw while in Austin for the annual TCEA Convention (an edu-nerdy thing). But, I was going to make sure that I had a sad face in some of them to let my family know I wasn't having near as much fun with out them around. And that was the truth, I did get to enjoy a number of things, but I was always thinking, "Man, I wish Cheryl were here!" or "The kiddos would love this!"

All that said... here are the pics:

This is me lonely at the starbucks by the Hotel. :-(

This is me lonely on Congress Ave looking up at the State Capital.

This is the capital from the middle of congress. (Photo by Gabe - lonely and somewhat in fear for life due to crazy Austin drivers with no respect for my photographic pursuits )

This is me lonely at the Seattles Best Coffee across from REI! (no pic from REI - too busy looking at the neat things ... and being lonely)

The Adobe Booth ... ooooo... so much col stuff ( but I'm still lonely)

A Creepy Kind of Love

2008-02-06T19:58:00.000-06:00

What would you do if you came across a very realistic looking rubber cockroach? Cheryl and I were confronted with this dilemma recently when she bought the decorations for Isaac's "Bug" themed birthday party. Of course, we did what any other normal loving couple would do and showed to the other laughing about how funny it would be to mistake that for the real thing.

Really?

No. Not Really.

From the moment we realized the mayhem potential of this little guy, all bets were off on what lengths we would go to in order to scare the other. The first attempts were innocuous enough but this would turn out to be a battle of escalation! ... in love of course!

Gabe gets the game going by taping Roach to the back of a Milk Jug in the fridge.
Cheryl retaliates by putting Roach on my hairbrush in the medicine cabinet.
Gabe escalates by taping a string to the roach from the bottom of the bathroom door. When the door opens it pulls Roach out for a 'in motion' effect. This bombs, though, when Roach tumbles and looks more like one of Ollies' dookies! (Rats - foiled!)
Cheryl hides Roach behind my shave cream in the shower.
Gabe hides Roach on the spoons in the silverware draw.
The most recent attempt was the most brazen though. I'm eating dinner, going through the salad when Roach tumbles out of the lettuce! ooo ... she's good.

I'll get you, yet, Cheryl-y Anne!

Wow - Great Eats in Austin!

2008-02-06T07:06:00.000-06:00

Did I say Great Eats? What I meant was GREAT EATS! I'm in Austin for a couple of days for and Ed Tech conference. We had a lunch break yesterday and I wound up at this South American food restaurant that I've walked past dozens of times before when up here for conference - Dona Emilias. I ordered the stuffed chicken breast and didn't think any more about it. I fully expected to get the same thing you normally get at this type of place.What I got instead for my unbelievably reasonable $8 (considering the quality of the food) was a delicious and even beautiful meal!

Let me explain something at this point - my relationship with food is VERY utiliarian. I really don't dare much about eating. My style of eating could best be described as the "rushed disposal" technique. I'd take a pill instead if I could and enjoy the time I recovered. Consequently, I don't differentiate much between food quality. Chili's, Applebee's, TGI Friay's, et al mark the high end of my dining and McDonalds, etc. mark the low end and I have pretty much the same reaction to both ends - ambivalence.

For me to rave about cuisine, is not just rare, but completely out of character. I normally don't care about food, but this meal managed to break through my indifference and leave me wide-eyed. I'd love to give you a thorough break down of the flavors and textures that made it so great, but because of paragraph #2, I'm ill-equipped to discuss the topic intelligently. Let me just leave it at WOW! I mean it ... WOW!

A High Time at Lowe's

2008-02-04T06:36:00.001-06:00

Our little town is growing up! Somewhere in the last 10 years Dairy Queen lost its place as the status symbol of a real town. Now, you now it's a 'real' town if you've got a Lowe's or Home Depot. We just got a Lowe's and I love it.

Cheryl and I had opportunity to be in the Lowe's the other day when they were doing a craft project for kids and decided to jump right in. Isaac loved it. They handed out aprons, goggles, hammers and a kit for a small project. Isaac and I could find room at one of the tables so we just set up shop on the floor! The kit had pieces precut and drilled to mat a little tool box and we got started. There were almost too many nails for the patience of a 4 year old, but I fought the urge to take over and helped him hammer each one in. Cheryl took a turn at it too and Julia enjoy playing with the parts that hadn't been used yet. In the end, we had a pretty good looking toolbox and some great family time on a Saturday morning.

Caution: Nerd with Power Tools

2008-02-03T06:11:00.001-06:00

So I'll have to be honest, I do have quite the proclivity for all things techy (and big words like proclivity!). So naturally I carry a high-tech, shiney, black, does-everything-but-make-the-bed blackberry cell phone - the "Pearl", in case you wanted to know. But my gadget orientation has always included power tools as well. I really dig wood-working and most projects in general that involve tools that could remove one of your limbs if not handled properly. Blackberrys don't tend to do that.

I finally have found a project that properly unites these two domains - behold, the hand-crafted wooden cell phone cradle! This beauty is a one of a kind featuring hardwood construction using red oak and rosewood and a high gloss black lacquer finish. It is a thing of beauty that true nerds don't get ... and true woodworkers can't see the need for. Sadly, this is a one of a kind. I'll not be taking orders for more of these. You'll have to find some other techy-wood head!

Hey, That's Not Wi-fi! That's a Thermostat!

2008-02-02T13:24:00.001-06:00

Just a random bit of humor ... I ran across this picture I took while in an airport a couple of years ago. I was walking along when I saw th Wi-Fi sign. I tend to notice techy things. I'm going to assume that they were intending to mark what might be the center of this particular 'hotspot,' but the sign was placed directly above a thermostat. I was pretty amused imagining the rip-off that might have been perpetraited against the airport there. Some shady contractor talking to the airport's non-technical purchasing manager:

Shady Guy: "Aaaa, Oh Kaaaa, Vinnie and I got 'cha Wi-ah-less Network set up, boss. 'dat'll be 100 grand - cash pref'rably."
Dopey Manager: "Well OK, but I didn't see you do anything but screw that thing to the wall and slap on the sticker.
SG: You gonna tell us how to do ahhr job, or pay up? (Vinnie cracks knuckles menacingly)
DM: Yeah, here's the money, but ... that sure looks like a thermostat to me!

Weapons of Mass Instruction

2008-01-22T06:09:00.000-06:00

Ok, raise your hand if you got spanked as a child! ... Yes - my hand is up. I did get more than my fair share of "whoopin's." I know my brothers got their's too! Spankings around our house were meted out with pretty much whatever was at hand as needed but the "Red Paddle" was the official disciplinary instrument - made by my dad at some point, it was simple and effective ... and a very telling shade of red. This thing had a serious impact on us. When we wanted to argue, debate, plead or whatever, the Red Paddle was the ultimate arbitrator!

We knew what it meant and even went to great lengths to 'get rid' of it. It got hidden in progressively harder to find locations - under dressers, behind cabinets, etc. At one point, it was lost so long that we really thought it was gone for good! But, lo and behold it has returned!

This Christmas the gift that most caught me off-guard was - YEP - the RED PADDLE! I couldn't believe my eyes! It is not a fearsome thing to behold but it certainly stirred some memories. I do feel honored that I was chosen to be it's recipient, but I was a little sad that Matt and Jake wouldn't have it. Now that we all have children, this is going to become more of a practical need! But, it was more out of a (warped!?) sense of nostalgia that I decided to make them replicas of it.

The replicas are authentic in size, shape and thickness. I struggled with whether I should send them - didn't want to communicate anything negative. This was just a humorous way to share the memory. Of course, it is a "working" model, too!

Please Be Make Plaster Car Fun!

2008-01-20T06:47:00.000-06:00

Cheryl found a fun gift for Isaac for Christmas (among the many fun gifts that she is so good at finding) - a "Make a Racer" kit. It allows you to make a working race car out of plaster of paris and some plastic accessories that come in the kit. It even included paint. What it didn't include where directions written by an English speaker!

The directions read like the output of some of these automated translators (likely because it was!). Phrases like "step 2 ... Cuts open the bag of plasters and put them into the mixing bowl." and later the warning that began, "Be reminded ..." made the instructions somewhat difficult to follow!

After having a bit of a laugh at some of the directions, I grabbed Isaac and we got started making the car. The mixture instructions were vastly miscalculated, though and I wound up with far too little water in the plaster. I had put it in a zip-loc baggie thinking I cut just cut the corner off and let Isaac squeeze it in ala pastry tool ... uh no. He looked at me after a second and said it was too hard, so I tried. By brute strength and determinaton I managed to extrude something that bore little resemblance to anything I'd discuss in proper company and certainly not a race car. I then again tried to enlist Isaac in mashing the ... uh, extrusion into the race car mold.

Half an hour, Oila! later we had a very hard plaster model of a ... uh, extrusion. Isaac was non-plussed - he was ready to add wheels. I pointed out that the plaster had been too hard to put in the axles and promised that we would try again with better plaster. The failed model quietly disappeared later that night.

The happy ending is that after a trip to Hobby Lobby (a favorite store in our family) and a second attempt with more legible instructions, we did manage to produce a car worth of the roads! Isaac has yet to paint it but he did help spray it green until he can find time to 'detail' it!

Fish Food and Family

2008-01-19T06:28:00.001-06:00

Right after new year, Isaac and I had a special guys night - one we've been planning for quite a while. We went out for fish! I love fish - we grew up often eating fish that we or a friend had caught. We ate catfish, bass, perch, the occasional variety of fish that dad would catch off shore on a trip with his coaching staff.

This made it all the more interesting when I fell in love with a gal that doesn't like fish! How can it be?! Well, menu doth not a marriage make! While our marriage never suffered from this difference, it has presented some interesting situations - like when I brought Cheryl to Arkansas for the first time and my family celebrated with a fish fry! She did well though - even tried some.

Isaac, on the other hand, is quite the fish lover. He and I have been talking for weeks about our fish night. Right after New Year's we finally found the evening to do it. We headed out to Sea Island for a fish dinner. It was a blast - fun mainly for the alone time with my boy but also for a chance to have fish. Soon, we're going to have to find a place to fish. Maybe it will awaken my 'fishing' gene that has proved recessive since high school.

Holding on to Three

2008-01-15T07:06:00.000-06:00

Isaac turned 4 yesterday. It was a grand event (video and further blogs to come!) but it was a little bittersweet this year. There is something about 4 that marks a change. I think Isaac noticed it to. We were spending a little extra special time with him Sunday night - the last night of "3-dom" when Cheryl noticed his birth mark was nearly gone. Sure enough, the red blemish on his left side was all but gone. It hit Cheryl a little harder than she probably expected, but Isaac's reaction was a lot more emotional. Parents can often tell the difference between a childish fit and real emotional anguish and this was all too real. As we comforted him, Isaac began to sob. His "special spot" was gone. We had always called it that with a smile when he asked about it. We never could have guessed it meant very much to him. He was crying and began to say he didn't want to be four. He wanted to stay three forever. It might have been cute or funny at another time, but this night it was not. We didn't tussle his hair and say it's all OK. We sat there with him on the floor in the bathroom and struggled with many of the same thoughts. He hid nothing. The openness of a four year-old is complete, but behind our comforting Cheryl and I knew we each wished time could just slow down a bit, too.

Our Newest Addition - Oliver!

2008-01-13T06:35:00.001-06:00

I've completely missed the window of anouncing our new puppy, Oliver, but I still want to make my own introductions (Cheryl pre-empted me!). I did have the priviledge of going to get him the other day - a flying four hour, round trip drive to Columbus where I met the breeder for the hand off. Oliver wasn't "Oliver" at that point but, he was just as cute. He rode without a whimper all the way home.

The Introduction - The introduction was a blast, the kiddos followed clues around the house leading to the big reveal at the garage door! They were shocked, stunned, giddy, apprehensive and even concerned with where we got him (Isaac was anyway). What a great memory

The Name - My brother Matt answered our question about good names saying that dogs tend to 'name themselves' once you meet them and get to see their character. He was right. In order to avoid letting Isaac come up with one on his own - which would have inevitably led to a dog named "Dog" or "tu-tu" or "na-na" - we had some names thought up ahead of time for him to choose from. But, all the names we had prepared immediately fell by the wayside. Within a few hours, Cheryl had mentioned "Oliver" and it stuck. It fits perfectly both his regal appearance and playful attitude.

I had my reservations about a dog. But on the whole I'm really enjoying this. It is a blast to have a dog around the house - it brings back a lot of memories from my own growing up years. I'm happy that we took the time to find a good dog that will fit our lifestyle too! Low maintenance, just the right size, smart and loads of fun with kids!

BTW - if you are interested in a Boston Terrier, Pug or Chihuahua we know a good breeder!

Bloggers Block

2008-01-13T06:29:00.000-06:00

Ahhhh! What is this? I can't seem to get a blog out these days! I think that I've got "Blogger's Block!" It may come from my rising standards of what I'll post. I don't know why I'm letting the bar go up, but I find myself lately not posting stuff while I wait on the right thing. Actually, lately I've been silent on a lot of topics because I don't want to get my blogs out of order. Since we've had a monumental event in our household about a week and a half ago (see next item...), I've been trying to get that posted before I do anything else... Stupid. I know. So I'm stopping it here. Let the blog flood flow!

Christmas Pics

2008-01-02T07:51:00.000-06:00

I've posted a small collection of pictures from the holidays in Arkansas using google's web ablums through Picasa. Enjoy!

Overheard at the Landes House

2008-01-02T06:47:00.000-06:00

This is a funny one from the Christmas break. At one point, I noticed I was sitting in the kitchen with Isaac, my mother and my pappaw (mom's dad). Pappaw noticed it, too, and we commented on how neat it was to have four generations together.

I tried to explain it to Isaac: "Pappaw is Ma's father; Ma is my mother; I am your father; and you are my son."

The wheels turned for a bit and then he looked back and asked, "Can you say that in Spanish?"

A little background: we often check out books at the library that have spanish translations or words in them. I can't for the life of me tell where that connection came from, though!

The Golf Ball Game Needs a Name

2008-01-01T14:37:00.001-06:00

One of the big hits during this year's Christmas trip to Arkansas was the "Golf Ball Game". What is that? Well, that is a bit tough. It is a lot like horse-shoes with points being scored for throwing an item around a target, but the item is two golf balls connected with 14" of rope and the target is a PVC pipe contraption.

With our New Year's Eve Party in mind, I set out to make one of my own yesterday and it wasn't too bad. Isaac and I hit the Home Depot and got about 60 feet of 3/4" PVC, 12 T's and 12 elbows and the cord. Then we headed to Academy for the golf balls. I was a bit funny explaining to the eager sales person that I didn't need anything special - just 12 colored balls that could have a hole drilled through them.

The game took about an hour to make. I cut the PVC into it's pieces with my table saw and connected them to make the 'targets'. Then came the fun part - drilling holes in golf balls. I had a couple of slip ups which meant some scuffed up balls and one clamp with burned out pads where the ball got loose and spun on the bit. Isaac helped with every step, though and we finally got it all done!

I did meet someone else who has played it and they added some interesting rules, like the one where if you get all 3 throws on the same 'rung' you get to TRIPLE your score for that round!

If anyone out there knows of an official name or rules - I want to know!

The Family Farm

2007-12-31T07:09:00.000-06:00

Our family farm is one of the most beautiful, peaceful places I have ever been. I remember with great affection the times that I spent there growing up and look forward to the times we can return. This Christmas was spent there in my parents' new home on the 'bee ridge' - where the bee hives used to be. Cheryl and I took a morning to go and photograph some of it and later that day, I caught an amazing sunset (although, amazing sunsets are somewhat the norm there). I've posted the photos with comments at Webshots. Below is a slideshow, but they really look better over at the album. Click here to go there now.

The Farm

The Fun of Family Photos

2007-12-16T14:27:00.000-06:00

Cheryl and I do fancy ourselves quite the photographers. Our children lead a HIGHLY documented life. We have pictures of them doing just about everything and sometimes it is just too much for them. Today we set out to get some pics in their somewhat holiday attire. We trotted them out in our somewhat scene backyard and took no less than 83 shots of them ... including the one below. I think Julia had had enough! We did get a few good ones, though.

Overheard at the Landes House...

2007-12-11T19:19:00.000-06:00

Tonight during dinner, we were enjoying each other, laughing, having a very enjoyable meal. Julia, being the little lady in training that she is, began to toot. This did stop the conversation a bit as she puttered along. Cheryl and I, always on the look out for a teachable moment, tried not to giggle. Cheryl prompted Julia, "What do we say?"

Julia, remembered her training and replied, "AMEN!"

Julia Time by the Tree

2007-12-09T23:14:00.000-06:00

I've blogged in the past about my times with Julia on Wednesday nights when Cheryl and Isaac are away. This past Wednesday was special. After our normal play and mischief we spent some time in the chair by the Christmas Tree. She was enthralled by the lights and kept going back to the chair next to the tree. She wanted to play with the ornaments and touch the lights. Her curiosity was as apparent as her awe at the spectacle of the whole thing. I tried to get some pictures, but the lighting wasn't good enough and she certainly wasn't going to suffer any long exposures. I did manage to get these two, though. They're good enough! What a great girl.

Have You Been "Elfed"

2007-12-06T21:26:00.000-06:00

We did! We have had so much fun over the last couple of days. Cheryl came home from her Bible Study Tuesday night giggling about a video she had seen and said something about being elfed. Elfed? I wasn't sure if she had gotten into some bad hot chocolate, but she dragged me in to the computer and had me look at this website.

OK. This is funny. It is funny enough watching anyone in an elf costume do a funny dance to peppy Christmas music. But it is REALLY fun to watch yourself! This website allows you to upload a picture of yourself, position your face in a little oval and click GO! Next thing you know, YOU are the star of this little video! Here is our little chorus line:
If you get a chance go to http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1175562436 and see the full video! ... Then, ELF Yourself!

The Cat is Out of Santa's Bag

2007-12-06T06:47:00.001-06:00

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later! The names we drew for our gift giving this year got all mixed up and Mom had to bring it all out in the open to get everything cleared up before somebody got left out. The list hit the digital air yesterday, revealing all the givers and who their 'givee' would be.

Betty Landes to Billie, Tarah, Phyllis, Matt, Jake, Gabe, Don, Cheryl, April
Hey Dears,
Since there are two family members who do not remember whose name they drew for Christmas, I checked around and this is my best guess.

Drawor - Drawee
Don - Tarah
Betty - Phyl
Phyl - Betty
Billie - Don
Gabe - Jake
Cheryl - Matt
Matt - Gabe
April - Cheryl
Jake - Billie
Tarah - April

I am happy to report, though, that our good intentions are still intact as evidenced by this loving exchange of email that only serendipitously coincided with the list's publication:

Dear Matt,
Have I ever told you how much I appreciate you as a brother. Of all my family members I have always thought especially highly of you. Your generosity and the liberal way that you love those around you is wonderful. I just felt moved today to express this to you in a completely unmotivated way. You're swell!

Love, your brother that doesn't own a 40" flatscreen TV,
Gabe

... and a quick response ...

Dear Gabe,
As I sit here trying my best to choke back the tears welling up in my eyes, I can't help but be amazed by the irony of this situation. I myself was ,just this second, contemplating how your lovely wife exemplifies these same characteristics. Her generosity is surpassed only by her beauty! Let's face it, big brother, you married WAAAYYYY up! You should consider a career in sales. I digress... Anyway, as I was saying, I was just about to email this heartfelt, sincere, and, also, unmotivated ,byselfish motives sentiment to your wife, however, since I felt it polite to respond to you and say thank you for the compliment, I will simply ask that you pass my feelings on to your, again BEAUTIFUL, wife.

Love, your brother (and brother-in-law) that does not have a Browning 7mm A-Bolt Rifle,
Matt

Ah, the love in this family just... well, ya know... it just does!

Isaac's Advent Letter

2007-12-05T21:04:00.000-06:00

Cheryl has been doing a daily activity with Isaac that follows advent. Each day they open a tiny envelope and find a small card inside. The card each day has an activity that is intended to give Isaac real opportunities to give an love. Today the card asked him to write a letter to me about what he loves about me.

I came home as I normally do. Isaac from his place at the table where they were eating early called to me. "Papa!" And, without much concern for the apparent surprise that it was supposed to be, followed that with, "Go look at your bathroom!" I did and found his letter taped where I would see it over the sink. It said

"1. He wrestles with me
2. Snuggling with him
3. Hugging him
4. He plays with me"

I love my son. He will likely never really understand how much I love him until he has a little blond guy running around his house to wrestle with. But I do know that I'm going to give it my best, anyway.

A Gift and Secret

2007-11-25T19:45:00.000-06:00

Cheryl and I had a special date the other night and for the occasion, I got her a gift. Yes, the dog-bone was the gift. No, Cheryl has not been craving rawhide or had any trouble lately chewing on my shoes (not lately anyway...hehe). Actually the bone was a sign of more than my total ineptitude at gift-giving! Cheryl knew immediately that it as my way of saying I'm ready to get a dog! Cheryl was absolutely giddy when she saw the bone. She jumped up and down and squealed like a little girl!

We've talked about getting a dog before but have never acted on it. Between babies and space issues there have been certain reasons not to get a dog. Then, there is my own personal feelings about owning a dog in the suburbs: In a nutshell - man was not made to walk behind dogs picking up their poo! All that being said, I've given in to the real need that a certain little boy and little girl have for a puppy.

Now, you are all, hereby, swore to secrecy! The Kids won't know about this until Christmas! Many pictures will be taken and we'll have some good video, too! So until then .... Shhhhhh!!!

My New Car

2007-11-25T19:13:00.000-06:00

...probably won't be one of these! Yeah, the Mustang in the picture is kinda pretty, but it is not mine. So, what is the story here? A few weeks ago, we brought in a trainer from a software vendor that we use and he had this as a rental for the week. He didn't want to bother with learning the roads, so he handed me the keys! Weeee!

Yes, it was fun. On the other hand, though, I don't think I want one. This was the LX model with an automatic transmission, so the driving experience was less than exhilarating. But, hey, there is something cool about driving one. Now I can say I've done that.

I Said 'Pouty', not 'Dumbfounded'

2007-11-20T22:41:00.000-06:00

Let me try to make a long story a bit shorter...I was evaluating a piece of software for a project and found a list of websites that use the software. The list included a women's fashion site based in the UK.

So, I bring up their site and before I can begin my technical evaluation, I'm struck by the expression of the cover model...
I mean, we're all used to the type of expressions and such that 'high fashion' models find, but this one was just a bit off. She seems to have been caught off-guard, but not in that "I'm cool, spontaneous and candid" way. It's more of a "That guy with the clicky, confuses me" kind of look. I was mildly amused until I realized that this is her ONLY LOOK! I poked around the sight and found several other pics and sure enough, the look is stuck.

Here are 2 more shots as proof:Comments Contest: give these shots a caption! The title of this entry is my suggestion.

Cheers!

2007-11-19T21:02:00.000-06:00

Isaac and I enjoyed the first eggnog of the season this weekend. I was in HEB for some quick groceries and, what do you know?! The eggnog was in stock. Not that canned stuff, either. The good stuff. I jumped back in the van with my find and waited for the right moment to reveal it. That time was, of course, almost immediately.

Cheryl was just as excited as I thought she'd be - not at all. But, while she was busy rolling her eyes, Isaac and I made plans to have a glass together right after dinner! I'm proud to report that he likes it! Cheers, Isaac!