Lego Exchange – Ways to Recycle, Reuse and Recreate

Posted by on May 17, 2013 No comments

Re. Create.

So LEGOs are expensive – yup. They also don’t go in for much recycling at all of plastic, paper or anything. Which is surprising really, if true.

But that article links to and talks about PleyGo, a Play-As-You-Go monthly service that allows kids and parents to trade and rent out LEGOs. That’s pretty cool. PLEYGO.com

A second link at the same site talks about ReBrickable, a service doing much the same thing, though down to the single LEGO, if I’m reading it right.  REBRICKABLE.com There’s also LEGOexchange, which isn’t a live site yet but I have to imagine is going to do something similar.

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This is the last thing Eddie created out of LEGOS earlier this week.                                                               He called it the R-17 Scorpion “because of its sting.”

 

 

The Starfruits Are Aligned

Posted by on May 9, 2013 No comments

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The breakfast of … astronauts. They’re still better in fruit salads but they may be the most beautiful.

Helping Friends Move – Etiquette

Posted by on May 5, 2013 No comments

I’ve moved a few times in my life – it’s usually the books and papers that make it really hard. I’ve had some help in Arizona. Down to Arizona; a van company that bilked us out of a few $1,000 before they would unload all my stuff. That was to Safford from Kent, Washington. I got there May 11th. All our stuff came later and they dumped it in the house. Then just four months later to Casa Grande. In October, when it was just as hot. Then to Eloy in ?? 2007?? To a house rented from Joe Meacham, fellow reporter. Then to 21st Avenue and Camelback. Then in 2010 to Scottsdale, 83rd Street & Chaparral. Then to our current location.

Mike Hamilton has helped with the chaos the last two times. So, he asked me – through Word With Friends chat – whether I could help him and his family move. I instantly said yes because of the help, before. the two flights of stairs almost made me regret the decision, but luckily we were NOT moving everything – just boxes. I got hot; the boxes were not heavy or huge as I have a tendency to make them. We cleared out the garage, as well. And unloading was much much easier and largely in the shade.

As always, the etiquette is to give back. To be there for friends. To pay back debts. It felt good to be able to give back.

Early on a Sunday

Posted by on May 5, 2013 No comments

I’m awake. It’s 6:15. On a Sunday. This is slightly unprecedented. And by slightly I mean completely, when not involving an airplane. For Jack it’s a regular but I got up before him today. It wasn’t long before I heard something. It sounded like one of the cats was shutting the open dryer door. Instead, I walked around and saw Jack sitting cross-legged on two plastic storage boxes, Iron Man sunglasses and red Cars walkie talkie in hand. I so wanted a photo – but decided that would be one of those pictures that just stays inside.

“Good morning daddy.”  He thought I might be upset that he was on there. “Good morning, Jack. How are you?” “Great.” Kisses. “Keep going.”

My first instinct was to work a little, low-brain, time-intensive stuff. But then I realized I’ve been trying to write a few blog posts all week. It’s now 7:08 and Jackie has been in and out talking and playing. Jasper started wailing though I left the room with both mom and Jasper sleeping. I went in and saw the second sweet boy smile of the day. I’m still waiting for the third, but he’s not up, yet.

“Daddy … What?” (Sounding more gentle then it looks on the screen.) … I love you 61 times. Noo, 31 times. 61 has become his favorite number, he walks around telling people he will give them. 61 bucks. Yesterday he started correcting it to 31; I like to think he’s being more careful with his money .. but then he just said, “I love you 81 times.”

I actually woke up at 5:40. Went to the bathroom, got dressed and was headed out to wake up the kids ready for a work day when something clicked that it wasn’t a work day.

It’s 7:25 and Jack has now been sent to his room by mom – it easily could have been me – for complaining, loudly and poutily no one reads to him, continuing to flick a book’s pages even when being asked and then told to stop. He hit Jasper’s bouncy chair after making a special effort to walk around the table to do so.

I’m now watching the 1st episode of the 6th season of West Wing on my phone as I type. Mom and Jasper are now outside, enjoying the early morning coolness. The day has begun.

 

Quadcopters, Juggle, Pong and Ping

Posted by on April 26, 2013 No comments

Saw this link from friend Matt Clower – http://www.modelairplanenews.com/blog/2013/02/26/juggling-drones-quadcopters-that-can-bounce-catch-and-balance/ and at first I didn’t know whether people were controlling them or they were responding themselves. That it’s on Model Airplane News should be a clue, of course – but turns out it’s not a clue at all. These machines quadcopters / quadrocopters ARE responding to the world around them.

The News Today

Posted by on April 26, 2013 No comments

If you were one of the victims of this attack, can you imagine fearing the knowledge that the government just could’ve shut this down. This article doesn’t show that, yet. But it’s disconcerting. (NBC NEWS) http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/26/17932143-exclusive-government-doc-shows-how-closely-boston-marathon-bombers-followed-al-qaeda-plans?lite

Killing Newborns, family asks for leniency. I cannot imagine having to ask for that in this case. Saying that judges come across as highly stupid wen they quote Focus on the Family to support their case. (ABC NEWS) http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tenn-woman-51-years-newborn-twin-deaths-19051314#.UXrUq7UqYyI

Head of the Air Force steps down, will retire because he couldn’t figure out what he was supposed to do in the job (FOX NEWS): http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/26/air-force-secretary-steps-down-led-nuclear-upgrades-oversaw-contract-sex/

Digital Life sounds so cool, yet scary as well with its implications. And it comes from the Always Tried and True – aka AT & T: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/77900.html

Kanye West, I miss the guy who appeared on Wild N Out and was quick on his feet , funny and self-deprecating. He’ll probably be like that on SNL, too. He’s going to host ASAP (E-online) : http://www.eonline.com/news/412190/ben-affleck-kanye-west-set-for-saturday-night-live-finale

and from the sublimely ridiculous to the deadly serious. Largest AIDS vaccine study shuts down because it doesn’t work. Four steps back, though this study sounds incredibly creepy with all the DNA manipulation (Popular Science); http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-04/largest-current-study-aids-vaccine-shut-down-because-it-doesnt-work

And this one about Einstein Theorizing: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/0425/Einstein-s-theory-of-general-relativity-gets-most-extreme-test-yet

Daddy’s Gonna Make Up a Lullaby

Posted by on April 15, 2013 No comments

This morning was a slow start. I heard the alarm, didn’t associate it with anything like, say, getting up. Finally woke up around 6ish and Carrie asks if I want to snuggle with the baby. Sure do, got things to do, though. Get the other kids up for a start. Carrie said she’d take care of that, then said, oh and he hasn’t been changed since last night.

It was not too ugly in there, just piddles and I changed him and put some take-on-the-day
clothes on him. This double whammy agitation always gets him to cry even if I wasn’t inept at is as I was this morning. So I settled back down with him in my arms and started singing to him. I had about six verses, some of which fell apart as I sang, but these were the three best I sang. And I’m pleased to note, he went off to sleep.

Hush little baby
Don’t you cry
Daddy’s gonna make up a lullaby

There’s a funny squirrel sitting in a tree
He has a nut shouting “look at me.”
Everybody looks to see the sound
Silly squirrel gets shy and faints to the ground.

Hush little baby
Don’t you cry
Daddy’s gonna make up a lullaby

We’re sitting here, comfortable in bed
We have a lot of things to do instead
But we’re going to watch the world go by
That will happen whether you laugh or cry.

Hush little baby
Don’t you cry
Daddy’s gonna make up a lullaby

We’re up in space hanging around
Everyone’s telling us not to look down
We do anyway and what do we see
The entire world at your fee-fee-feee…t

Hush little baby
Don’t you cry
Daddy’s gonna make up a lullaby

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Egg Boogaloo

Posted by on April 12, 2013 No comments

Today Jasper left his enclosed world for good and is on his way to a world of daycare. It’s a shame that has to happen but who’s independently wealthy these days. And those who are, well they tend to be to busy and ignore their kids.

But it’s not a competition. It’s funny that everyone wants to say “he looks like you Carrie” or he “he looks like his daddy.” Truly truly truly he’s healthy, he’s smiling now and it doesn’t matter. He is lovely. He is going to be lovely, like his brothers.

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PHOTO: What, It’s Spring Already?

Posted by on March 20, 2013 No comments

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Three Weeks Old Today – Jasper

Posted by on March 8, 2013 No comments

You are beautiful.IMG_7666

(Photo by Carrie)

 

You

Posted by on February 16, 2013 No comments

I had the better bed but I also had the greater loneliness.

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Jasper Stark Introduces Himself to the World

Posted by on February 15, 2013 9 comments

We are so happy to see him. And so overwhelmed with gratitude.

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UPDATED 19:26 with more and bigger pictures.

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Spoon Nose and Pink Excitement

Posted by on February 4, 2013 No comments

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I think i posted here last time we crack a lacked it here at Baskin Robbins. That phrase Eddie blurted as we pulled up alongside each other at a turning lane: “Let’s crack-a-lackin.”

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Love Carrie – 1st Anniversary

Posted by on February 4, 2013 No comments

2012 was an amazing year and the busiest year of my life. Today is the one year anniversary of the most astoundingly great ideas I have ever had that came to fruition  last year – I married Carrie. It seemed like a good idea at the time – it seems like an even better idea now. (Thank you all for coming, it was so special but we didn’t get thank you letters / photos out – yet ) Sure, we’re still getting used to being a family and figuring out what’s important collectively and individually. It was not your typical first year of marriage – a few months into it, Carrie found out she was pregnant. It was something we planned for – we just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. And somewhere between wedding and knowing about him – it will be a boy – we moved.

Little guys are growing, my life is fuller. We continue to grow together in so many ways. Love you babe.

Tough Words to Say

Posted by on January 31, 2013 1 comment

There’s more on this subject.

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Eight Months Pregnant

Posted by on January 17, 2013 1 comment

With a due date for Jasper of February 17, 2013, today marks the eight month mark of Carrie’s pregnancy. I haven’t been wise here; IIMG_6416 should’ve posted every week about what’s been happening with Jasper and how, now, his legs and body seem to have no room. He’s constantly kicking – he wants out, juuuust not quite, yet.

Last night the cat, dream seemed protective of both of them – Carrie was sleeping in the chair and Jasper was – and still is – inside. In likely reality, Dream had found a warm spot to snooze himself, but this guy kept waking him up taking pictures with his phone.

Visits to the birth center and meetings with a few different midwifes have been a success. There’s been no problems; the worst we heard was that Carrie needed to up her protein a little bit but blood pressure, baby heartbeat and growth of body and baby body is going fine.

I feel I should be able to come up with more to say but “We’re having a baby” covers an awful lot, doesn’t it? E & J seem pretty excited to have a little brother and that’s thrilling, too. Carrie thinks they’re unsettled, too, just because of impending big change; the same they would with any big change.

I, of course, worry about crazy stuff; the 1 in a million chance things. I’m completely unprepared for all the wonder that will filter through my brain and body. We did start buying a few things – car seat – and diaper bags. We got our first Jasper clothing from Aunt Kathy at Christmas. It’s super cute. We also gave Jasper jewelry out to people for Christmas. We think we’ve finalized the full name.

It’s happening. Sooner rather than later. Mom and Dad will be relieved.

Top 10 Draft Beer locales

Posted by on January 14, 2013 No comments

So thirst. Papago Brewing makes an entrance and hits the list.

Draft Mag

So thirsty.

 

David Bowie Has New Music – Where Are We Now

Posted by on January 9, 2013 No comments

The Thin White Duke must be using the royal “we” to access where he is right now. The guy is 66 years old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But he has new music, he still epitomizes cool and doing your own thing – in a classy, fairly graceful, way.

You can listen to his new single, “Where Are We Now” from the vimeo link here (too lazy to direct embed right now) – and what do you think? He has quite a mixed record of records. My personal favorite – and I have not listened to a lot of his CDs – is “Outside” from 1995. It tells a Queensrychean tale of drama in the brave new world of connections. And thankfully not R. Kelly’s sap opera (not a typo).