I missed you, Lake Michigan.
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I missed you, Lake Michigan.
Pronto Pup, Grand Haven, Michigan. Don’t you wish your weiner was this good after 77 years?
I was in the area for work, so drove up to Council Crest Park to break up the routine. Hazy, but gorgeous day (70° F), with many people out enjoying it. #pdx
After some thought and many years wearing the thing, I’ve decided to drop the Apple Watch in favor of my old mechanical Seiko for daily wear. What little value the Apple Watch brought never outweighed its annoyances for me.
Days like these make the hard days worth it.
Goodbye, ol’ Suby. You were a great car for the 11 years you were mine. I probably took this car to 30 states on road trips. Sold to a friend’s son as his first car, hopefully he gets another 100k out of it.
I got tired of my polycarbonate lenses always scratching, so last year I sent in my WP frames to Eyeglasses.com and had real glass lenses put in. No scratches. I love them.
I dragged a friend to the Les Savy Fav show and I don’t think they knew what they were getting into.
Downgrading your Verizon bill be like.
It was only 93° today.
Our back patio is usually chaos. Zoey doesn’t seem to mind. She says she could do without the heat, though.
Roughing it, obviously.
I see you, Cannon Beach.
Happy to see more EV chargers at state parks & campgrounds across Oregon.
Glamping supreme. Ask me if I brought the portable AC. 🏕️
It’s going to be around 100° the next four days. We walked around the neighborhood on the early side and stopped to listen to the bullfrogs at the wetlands. The creeping thistle looked neat. The bees looked happy.
Organic fireworks.
Nice day in PDX, and surprisingly quiet due to the holiday.
Quick trip to NW Portland to pick up some Carrot Cake Granola from Papa Haydn’s for a friend’s birthday. Decided to take the kids and get dessert, followed by Pittock Mansion and the splash pad. Both kids got some bumps and scrapes, like they do!
I love that my personalized radio station played me Ja Rule - Mesmerize on my drive home today.
Took the kids out in the canoe on the Willamette this afternoon with our friend P, who brought her paddle board. Great drop-in point in Newberg. Beautiful, calm day for it. The old 18.5’ Wenonah is still a champ. 🛶
Considering putting my big in scouts this year and of course I ended up on an Etsy page for alternative merit badges. Link
I’m slowly getting better at this.
Here’s some Detroit style pizza I ate at the new Ranch location. 🍕
Someone got off the hedonic treadmill a while ago and never looked back.
Although I’ve given up on growing my own peppers, I have not given up on fermenting my own hot sauce. See you in 4-6 weeks.
This past weekend’s project: the rainwater irrigation system. Despite a lot of work, I still haven’t solved the issue of the pump cycling. Suffice to say, I’ve put a lot more time into working on the automatic irrigation over the years than it would have taken to just water the vegetables by hand.
Summertime.
On high alert for bullfrogs.
“It’s too cold for shorts…”
“Can I take my my pants off?”
I’ve got the day off, so I’m heading to the coast with my boy. At long last, the weather looks decent. I like to keep all the beach gear in a clear tub so I can just throw it in the car and away we go.
Not sure how many of my followers here care about Detroit redevelopment, or old train stations, but the Michigan Central Depot has recently been magnificently restored. Long empty and falling apart, its restoration gets me all sorts of emotional. 📸: Bvictor1
#detroit #trains #historicpreservation https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10225512&postcount=105
Not sure how many of my followers here care about Detroit redevelopment, or old train stations, but the Michigan Central Depot has recently been magnificently restored. Long empty and falling apart, its restoration gets me all sorts of emotional. 📸: Bvictor1
#detroit #trains #historicpreservation
El Jefe Food Cart. Picking up dinner a little early at the best taco truck on Portland’s west side.
Fleet Week in the Rose City.
Took me far too long to find the true purpose of these.
When in Rome…
…Goodnight.
Roma is the filthiest large city I’ve ever visited, but the food is good. Walking a lot (20,000 steps before siesta) and eating our way across the città. Breaking a lot of social norms and embarrassing myself with my poor italiano.
Yesterday we hiked in the Alps, today we hiked the Cinque Terre. We burned a thousand calories hiking from Monterosso to Vernazza. The weather has been great. Resting for a bit before a night out in La Spezia.
Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Benefits to your circadian rhythm being way off given the 9 hour time difference: waking up at 4 a.m. for morning views.
Someone discovered Beatles - White Album on Minidisc.
Tualatin Valley Water District soccer field.
Admittedly, I had no idea how important agritourism had become to suburban childrearing.
Breakside Brewery Beaverton.
Sunny Wednesday morning in downtown Portland for the Northwest Facilities Expo. Quite a different scene than the housing and planning conferences I’m used to. Plenty of swag, including free buckets 🤣. You just have to endure the gauntlet of people trying to sell you stuff. Don’t make eye contact!
Fungus among us
This popped up in photos as a 20-year memory today. This hit me like a ton of bricks. Coachella 2004. Me and some friends drove from Michigan to California, four-deep in a Honda Civic. This is my buddy Trevor. We’ve grown apart and have our own lives now, but I have a lot of good memories.
One very simple but thoughtful thing about the new car is that the center backrest folds down. As a parent of two young kids in car seats, this is very convenient! Can’t even tell you how many times I’ve had to take out a car seat just to make a run to the hardware store for some moulding or lumber.
I was cleaning out some old files and came across the software that came with my 2009 MBP. I still have the machine, too.
Well, it happened. After driving the same beat up old Subaru for 11 years, I got my very first new car at 43 years old. I bought a Tesla Model Y Long Range on Earth Day. I think my son might be more excited than I am.
Went for a drive in the countryside during my lunch break today.
#earthday
Aforementioned REI grand opening. It’s crazy over here.
Sitting in a coffee shop next to this building, which was one of the last affordable housing developments I was involved in as a funder. The nonprofit let me name it.
Saddened to learn of my cousin’s passing yesterday after a short but valiant battle with cancer. Although it’s only been in recent years that I have become close with her dad, I feel so much sorrow for their family losing her so young. Praying they find some peace during this difficult time.
Nice lunch on the waterfront in downtown Vancouver.
We shipped our kids off to my mother-in-law’s for the night and drove out past the gorge to Dalles Mountain Ranch in Columbia Hills Historical State Park. The wildflowers were in bloom and the cloud cover kept us cool. It was very peaceful, and it felt good to burn some calories in preparation for a well-earned beer.
The start of today’s hike.
Siblings and their budding friendship.
Not my doing, but love it nonetheless.
Afternoon walks this time of year.
An awesome #skyline shot from Opening Day in #Detroit from the #Tigers. 🐅
Photo from our neighborhood park over the weekend. This little place has become a central part of our lives and one of the best parts about where we live. There must have been at least 25 kids and their parents there, from diverse backgrounds, just in the short time we were there on Sunday.
Bumming around Southwest on this rainy Saturday. #pdx
“Hulk and Thanos”
Went past the light rail yard yesterday on one of my walks. I’ve always been a lover of trains.
The sidewalks never stood a chance.
My little mischief makers started the day with a giggle takeover!
Made this homemade pot pie recipe tonight for dinner, with some modifications. Mine of course didn’t look this beautiful, but it was a hit nonetheless!
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/one-skillet-rotisserie-chicken-pot-pie
Arapahoe Basin, CO. 2012. #tbt
Four weeks after New Year’s and I nearly had the place to myself.
Hey @maique, happy anniversary! Beautiful couple. Apparently we got married within a few weeks of each other because this month also marks 6 years married to my best friend (Feb 10).
Moonrise on the Oregon Coast and a few moments of peace while walking the dog last night before settling in with the kids.
Sticking with our yearly tradition that we started in 2016 of going to the coast the week of my birthday. Fingers crossed for some decent weather, but in all likelihood we’ll be at the pool!
I was between site visits today and lucky enough to have a few moments to spare, so I stopped at one of my favorite little pull-offs where I used to sometimes stop to eat my sack lunch. A lovely day, and grateful for where I landed in this world. #pdx #pnw
When your organization requires you to take a 12 week leadership course but the only time you have to do it during the day is typically your lunch break while on the treadmill.
Out for an evening stroll.
Test drove a Model Y today (my birthday) and this was my first time seeing a Cybertruck in person. Honestly a bit smaller than I expected by the photos I’d seen.
Sometimes I look at my daughter and she looks a bit like my brother did when he was a kid. Wish he could’ve met her.
She disappeared and we found her sitting in the dining room by herself 😂
Fun in Olympia today on our 6th anniversary.
We took our restless animals to a farm and soaked up the sunshine.
2 years and 3 months after ordering it, my Italian ‘social security’ card arrives. 🤣
After last week’s weather, today’s sunshine and warmer temps were very much welcomed.
Our first Amazon delivery from a Rivian electric cargo van.
We grew some crystals this week and unveiled one tonight. He’s pretty excited about it.
We are thawing and the sun is shining, but here’s a photo of the pup from a few days ago. She’s 7 now and is slowing down a bit, but still has some spunk. 🐕🦺
A coating of ice on everything. I’ll be staying here today, if anyone needs me. #pdx
Another snow day.
Our silly girl
Did I mention we went sledding yesterday?
Today is my daughter’s 2nd birthday. It’s been a fun-filled year, and a joy watching her grow and explore the world! Happy birthday, little one!
Lego has become fun now that he can do so much more himself.
My littlest, one year ago. She’s turning 2 this Friday and my son is turning 5 in a couple weeks. 😭
Veggie chili tonight, accompanied by Chelsea, Michigan’s finest.
#jiffy #michigan
Last night we went to Hapa Pizza in downtown Beaverton. They have been included in several recent articles as a top pizza parlor in the region, so we decided to give it a try. Their Asian inspired pies are unique and tasty. We had one of the peanut sauce pizzas with tofu and it was great.
An old photo of us on NYE, when my wife and I first started dating. Time flies.
Working from home today and my dog keeps bugging me to go for a walk. It’s pretty cold and wet outside and I just want to stay warm and dry in my hoodie. I’ll probably relent, but I wish we had an indoor dog park nearby on days like today.
#holdup
Saturdays are the best.
Went to a ninja gym last night and it was a lot of fun!
That high noon sun.
Thankful for this day.
Beautiful outside.
My loves.
I have my in-laws over for Thanksgiving this year, so we had a full house and it was a lot of fun! My first time cooking a turkey…turned out pretty good. Now we are just drinking old fashioneds, eating coconut cream pie, and huddled around the living room watching football and playing with the kids.
Santa almost forgot to close up the attic.
Happy Thanksgiving, friends. I’m cooking this year, pray for me.
Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. 10 years ago.
This PNW rainy season
Commute.
Tillamook
Lost Lake, Oregon.
Thinking of my brother on his heavenly birthday today. He would’ve been 41. Miss you.
More Seattle fun. We rode up to the top of the Space a needle with a load of Hindu monks. They were very kind to my son and let him ride by the windows in the elevator. Nice littlle extended weekend getaway for us boys.
Me and my boy saw KISS in Seattle tonight!
Three years ago, I was recognized as an Italian citizen and I’m going to visit the Veneto region where me and my children are registered. I’m really excited.
Best buds.
The paint I got on my watch yesterday unlocked memories of seeing similarly speckled paint on my dad’s digital watches growing up.
So this happened. Happy Halloween! 🎃
Halloween Part 1: Preschool Batman. 🎃
Happy Halloween 🎃
Somehow missed that my lil old car surpassed 150k. Knock on faux wood, but I’ve never had it in the shop for anything other than routine replacements. I’ve had this car for over 10 years and it was a few years used when I bought it. #subaru
Searching for painted rocks at the park on this beautiful day.
Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso…
One of those kinds of days.
From Peninsula Park this morning.
I mean, there truly isn’t a better restaurant name in the region.
This is so obviously fake, but every time the memory pops up this time of year, I have a good laugh.
I see this kind of parking job in my neighborhood all the time. Do I be that guy who calls/reports this? Mostly I’m worried about sight distance and kids getting beaned by cars. Also a safety hazard for emergency vehicles.
The very large box my treadmill came in is coming in handy for Project Mystery Machine.
I was on a roll cooking and baking this afternoon. Definitely not a healthy food day, but the weather has had me craving comfort food 🥘
Fun new park in the area.
Snagged a used KitchenAid stand mixer at Goodwill.
Someone out here living my alternate reality dream 😂
Leaving for work on my last day after 6 years at this job.
People from Michigan sometimes ask me how I deal with the rainy season in Oregon. What they don’t tell you is how often the clouds break up. I had severe SAD while in the Great Lakes region because the overcast was so low and persistent. Between the evergreens and cloud breaks here, I’m good.
Last night I went down one of those rabbit holes that led me to watching the Elliott Smith documentary: Heaven Adores You.
I went through my concert tickets and found the one for his show in 1999 at St. Andrew’s hall in Detroit my senior year in high school. Oct 21 marks 20 years since his death.
Setting up my new office space. A little bit darker than my old one, but it’s Fall on Oregon…it’s to be expected. Digging the greenery, though.
We had a really fun weekend, decorating and spending time with friends at their family farm where we got to feed a mule, play putt putt, make apple cider, pet a chicken, and share good food with friends. Happy 40th to our friend Penny.
Literally nobody cares 😂
The missus is away for a friend’s 40th birthday, so me and the kids picked up some Halloween decorations and probably went over budget, but it was worth it.
I added a second phone line on my iPhone for work. I used a budget MVNO called Tello for $10/mo since Verizon wanted to charge me $35. Almost everywhere I go, the Tello number has had more bars. I guess they use T-Mobile’s network.
The photos app is always showing me memories of all the fun times I had pre-kids! Halloween 2010, Lansing, Michigan. Quality Dairy parking lot, on the way to a party on the River Princess.
In about a month I get to take my son to his first concert. Ever since watching the Scooby-Doo and KISS movie, he’s loved KISS. So, in yet another experiment in parenting, we’re taking a trip up to Seattle on Amtrak to see them for their farewell tour. Should be entertaining!
Man, the Hudson Tower in Detroit is getting massive. What a beauty by SHoP Architects. Photo by dcholmes on Instagram.
This album dropped 28 years ago this month and it rocked my 14-year-old world.
I heard Saddle Mountain in the Oregon Coast Range is back open. I miss that hike. It’s a few years old, but here’s a photo at the top.
At the in-laws’ place for my FIL’s birthday. This view will never get old. Columbia River looking across to Oregon from Washington.
Played a 00017 today. It was a return at guitar Center. Nice Guitar for the money. Ultimately passed on it but it was hard. Lol.
Finally got the garage mostly cleaned up today. Living in a small house, our family’s spillover ends up cluttering up the garage where it acts as a catch-all for everything from half finished projects to underutilized baby paraphernalia. Felt good to get it somewhat organized. Then we played.
Yesterday we went to the rhododendron garden in Sellwood for the first time. Today, me and the wife are taking turns with the kids so we can alternate in the hot tub and sauna here at the community pool before we grab something for lunch at the new cart pod in downtown Hillsboro.
First day of seasonal depression.
Day 22: Road. Snapped this while walking from 10 Barrel Brewing to Pioneer Square for the Built to Spill concert a few weeks ago. As a planner, this makes my heart go pitter-patter.
Eastern Oregon is as backwards as anywhere.
Some thoughts today:
Sometimes a breakfast burrito can reorient the direction of a bad morning and turn your day into a better one.
Be more careful with knives. I almost sliced myself pretty badly being careless with my pocket knife while cutting a fishing line for my son. Thankfully I was only grazed. It is not entirely inconceivable that if I had not eaten that breakfast burrito in the morning, I might’ve spent the afternoon getting stitches.
Home with my daughter today.
You don’t need to be a land use planner to figure out there are probably some untidy loose ends around the land lease, but that hasn’t stopped me from daydreaming about buying this former Trout Lake lodge.
Low key last weekend of summer. 🍂
Tore out a cabinet soffit from the ceiling and ripped out the side wall to replace some leaky plumbing. Now trying to finish the drywall sometime before the kids graduate. Note to self: hire somebody next time.
Lunch break heaven @ Thunder Road
Growing some pumpkins for my munchkins. 🧑🌾🌱
September photo challenge: statue.
Next week marks the 20th anniversary of my father’s death. This is a weird one for me in so many ways, but what’s been coming up for me lately is that I’m about the same age he was when he killed himself in a drunk driving accident. This life has required far too much forgiveness.
The spirit begins early around here.
Today’s hike.
My son’s maternal great grandfather, who is almost 85, is in town from Georgia. We went fishing and kayaking yesterday in SW Washington and it was great seeing them together. I loved watching Al teach him how to cast a rod.
Taking my boy for a spin today.
A few more from the beach yesterday.
Beautiful day at Cape Lookout.
Today I played some higher end small body guitars trying to see what might sound similar to my Art & Lutherie $200 guitar, but honestly I was not impressed.
I came across a brand recently called Iris out of Vermont that I’d really like to get my hands on, but I haven’t found any locally.
Mood. But they’re playing “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. And just like Phoebe Bridgers said, I hate this song, but it is sad that his son died.
Listening to: Moon Song by Phoebe Bridgers
Walking back from a coffee shop in Nob Hill this afternoon, I saw this beautiful home and decided to look it up on Zillow. The property taxes are just over $19,000 per year, which means $1600/mo in property taxes alone.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Pumping my own gas for the first time ever while in Oregon. #pdx #oregon
When your old 1st Gen iPad Pro is commandeered and de facto inherited by your children.
I had a flashback this morning as I was getting the kids ready for school that reminded me of a time in my life when everything was so unsettled and chaotic. This seems to happen to me a lot more whenever summer starts to give way to fall, when I can smell the change of season in the air and the evenings get a little bit shorter. The memories of back-to-school anxiousness come flooding back and I get a pang somewhere in the recesses of my brain. Usually I’m transported back to being 13 and crying in the dressing room at Sears while trying on school clothes, but today’s memory was different.
A couple of decades ago, after my third term at an enormous university, I flunked out of engineering school. It used to be a pretty big source of embarrassment for me, but after many years of learning about myself, I've come to understand the difficulties I experienced then were less a personal failure than they were the very obvious result of my crippling anxiety and undiagnosed ADHD. I no longer look at that time negatively, but rather an inflection point in my life when I had begun to understand myself better.
For the next two and a half years after dropping out, I worked various service jobs and other menial labor for minimum wage, which was $5.15 per hour. I had worked as a pantry cook, gas station attendant, cell phone sales rep, water purification system sales rep, surf and skate shop associate, and I even working for an asbestos abatement contractor one summer. I was always broke and things weren’t going so great, to say the least. Often I found myself wondering what could have been and fell into a major depression.
There were a few more twists and turns over this time period that I won’t get into here, but this week marks the 20-year anniversary of me going back to school and restarting my educational journey at a community college. After two years there, I transferred back to university and finished a bachelor’s degree, only to find myself working in a kitchen again because of the Great Recession. During this time, I applied to graduate programs. I was accepted at a top 3 public university, and a couple of years later I received my master’s degree in urban planning. As a result of that, I was finally able to gain a foothold in some meaningful work that actually paid a living wage at the ripe old age of 29. And the rest is history, or so they say.
I likely would have avoided a lot of this hardship had I had financial support, well-connected parents, or even health insurance and medication for my anxiety. However, the fact that I did it on my own is a great source of pride now. I look back fondly at my time at community college. In a lot of ways, it was my best higher ed experience of all three I attended. But more than that, it laid the groundwork for the life I love now.
One of the many things we do as planners…connect neighborhoods with bike/ped facilities for safe routes to school, walking routes to transit, etc. The neighborhood behind me was separated from the elementary school by a creek. Nice to see plans become reality.
I think I need a new method to organize my favorite locations. Ugh this gives me anxiety lol.
Summertime and the livin’ is easy.
Built to Spill at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
#pdx
One thing the Portland region should absolutely be embarrassed about is how many of our light rail stations are just surface lot park & rides. Given our current housing crisis, there’s no reason why there shouldn’t be a thousand housing units or more at each of these. #pdx #oregon #transit
Got my cheap-o guitar back from Portland Fret Works. I had some Waverly tuners installed that I had lying around. I’m pretty sure I spent more on the tuners than the guitar. But hey, I’m thoroughly enjoying it and that’s all that matters.
Last year we lost our neighborhood Indian restaurant, our favorite. We were pretty upset when it closed, and quite honestly, we still are.
But since then, we’ve learned of all sorts of new things moving in nearby. In the place of the Indian restaurant, we’re now getting a brewery, one that we can walk to from our house.
Also, a new Himalayan dumpling place opened and it’s excellent!
Likely heat island effect, but ugh. It certainly feels like 110°F. #pdx
While the wife is away, the kids will play
Happy birthday to my lovely, compassionate, hardworking, thoughtful, fun, and caring wife. My best friend and amazing mother to our two children, you only get better as the years go on and we are so grateful and lucky to have you!
Follow-up visit to get the permanent crown fitted. I swear, these glasses they give you are purely for comedic relief.
My favorite Paul Reubens character will always be Derek Foreal in the movie Blow. Thanks for the laughs.
Since picking up that cheap Canadian folk guitar last week, I have been seriously considering selling my Martin 000-28. It’s a beautiful guitar, but I’m really wondering now if a 00-12 fret might be more my speed. Punchier, more balanced tone. Looking at other Martins, Santa Cruz, and Waterloo. Drop me a line if you have any experience with these smaller body guitars or have suggestions.
Every time I walk by this giant redwood in these people’s front yard, I can’t help but chuckle a little bit about its scale in proximity to the house.
The neglected cuttings I took into the office right before Covid: thriving.
The plants I took them from and cared for at home during this time: long gone.
Sinopah Mountain from Two Medicine Ranger Station in Glacier National Park, July 24, 2021.
On our walk this afternoon. When the earth just starts taking things back.
Reminds me of the World Made by Hand series by James Howard Kunstler I read a few years back.
Big Thief and Lucinda Williams didn’t disappoint. Hard to believe yesterday was our first full day alone together since both our kids were born. Also, my first concert since Covid. Thanks to my mother-in-law for giving us a day off.
Grateful to have this Japanese bakery nearby. Treated ourselves to some donuts this morning.
A memory popped up in my photos today of the time I sumitted South Sister, Oregon’s third tallest mountain at 10,358’. This was my first time doing anything of the sort, but I’d like to do it again when the kids are a little older.
Very excited to see Big Thief and Lucinda Williams at Edgefield this Friday!
I haven’t been to a concert since pre-COVID, so it’s long overdue.
Walked to the school playground for a bit and then to the nature park. Son was really interested in the boxelder bugs and spent a lot time in the dirt with them. He’s covered from head to toe in dirt lol. We’re lucky to have so many parks around.
The whole fam aside from me has been sick for most of the week, so the house is a snotty mess from kids and holding down work. I’m sure I’ll catch it right before I need to go on TV or something.
It’s taken forever, but finally getting some ripened tomatoes.
There is this weird habit of planners and other urbanists to rag on suburbs in the Portland area, especially Beaverton.
I know there are still a lot of parking lots, but that is changing fast. Western burbs are quickly urbanizing, and have some of the densest census tracts in the region.
Brady Bunch-like house on my walk around the neighborhood this morning.
We got a little bit of rain today, which is out of character for this time of year, but always welcome.
A beautiful deer we saw on our hike this morning at Cooper Mountain Nature Park.
Had a lot of fun celebrating my wife’s cousin’s wedding last night. Longest we’ve both been away from our kids in a while. Felt a little strange, but good.
Controlled chaos
A couple years back, when life was a little lighter. Lincoln City, OR.
Excuse the crude drawing, but when did it become socially acceptable for drivers turning right to pull up next to you, where there is only one lane, blocking your ability to see and safely turn left?
Am I the asshole for wanting to now hug the right curb while waiting to turn left?
I’ve been waffling between getting a Leaf and a small hybrid truck as my next vehicle. The answer may have been hidden in plain sight.
Apparently we also have our own See See Coffee now, too. So many changes lately.
Newest Breaskside Brewery location has officially opened. Still wish Matt’s BBQ hadn’t pulled out, but I’m looking forward to this patio.
I did something a little strange today. I visited the place I’m considering as my final resting place. Even though both my wife and I want to be cremated, we also would like someplace our children can visit once we’re gone. Cathartic in some small way.
Is it as good as a Yeti? No idea. But I put this ice in at noon on Thursday.
Went on a nice hike today, but my kids really tested my patience. 1.5 and 4.5 year old kids, day full of tantrums and meltdowns. Plus I’m feeling sick now. And out of shape/overweight. And grumpy. Hoping another decent night’s sleep will help.
Camping the Southern Oregon Coast, Cape Blanco State Park.
Walked to the edge of the earth today with my dog. Well, the lower 48, anyway.
“What’s this one say dad, they must’ve been really good.”
Made it, and set up camp just before sunset.
The Firth of Forth, Scotland. More than a handful of years ago. Edinburgh definitely left an impression on me.
Vigo di Cadore, BL, Veneto: where my paternal great grandparents were from (Laggio). This is where my kids and I are registered as IT citizens.
My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy for next spring and I’m looking forward to exploring this region.
(Photo: u/Roykamso on Reddit)
Long couple of days, but feeling more alive today after some rest and lots of coffee.
Got in about 2 a.m. (5 a.m. Eastern) the night before last. Had a couple hour delay with our connecting flight out of Seattle. All told, a 13-hour travel day with my 4 y.o.
Carried him (40lbs) and his cargo about a mile according to my watch. My legs and arms definitely feel like they got a workout today. I guess that’s how we acquire that coveted “dad bod”.
Overall, Pax was a trooper though, and is a great traveler despite me having kept him up way past his bedtime.
At one point, he spilled a half-full glass of apple juice all over himself an hour into our 4.5 hour flight from Detroit and had to fly pants-less (pictured here) for the remainder of the flight. I dried him off with a clean pair of undies I brought in my carry-on, and away we went. I don’t think he minded so much.
New Grand Central Bakery(!), Sizzle Pie, and Backwoods Brewery locations dangerously close to my work. This can’t be good.
Beautiful sunset in Seattle.
My step dad turns 60 this weekend, which is why I’m in Michigan from Oregon. My brother just got partial custody of his kid after a weird stretched out, ass backwards Michigan court battle thing. So his kid (5) and my kid (4), first cousins, just met for the first time (in person). We’re all “camping” this weekend at my parents’ RV site. How freaking fun this is already to watch them together!
16 years ago, London.
Cross-country boys’ trip. This kid has probably been on more flights before he’s 5 than I did before I was 30. PDX->DTW
Something that really bothers me about my Canon RP mirrorless is that the bokeh in the digital viewfinder and display is completely non representational of your aperture setting. Pictured here is the display vs. the actual photo. Makes me just a little bit crazy.
First ever solo trip with my son tomorrow, heading cross country back to the Great Lakes State. Looking forward to seeing family and friends.
Connected my Micro.blog bookshelf to Libby. Can you tell I have a 4-year-old? 📚
Thank you, Andy!
6 years ago, I proposed to my wife on a hike at the top of Cape Perpetua. The Oregon Coast is full of great hikes with dramatic views. Another one of my faves is Cape Lookout. @Monday 🥾
Waiting for a the doctor to fit us in.
Someone is tuckered out.
Farmers Market. Gorgeous day out here.
My property abuts two roads that don’t connect. My yard is often the shortest path between two points, for kids coming and going to school, or adults trying to catch a train at the MAX station.
My camera catches people cutting through my garden all day. Recently, some kids trampled my acorn squash.
Instead of putting up a fence, I decided to clear away some landscaping for a path around my garden. It doesn’t take a degree in urban planning to know these two roads should’ve connected.
I grew up in a very poor neighborhood in Saginaw, Michigan. I lived in a 900 square foot house with 7 other people. 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
My mom was a teenager when she had me. My mother and I, and later my two brothers, all lived with my grandmother, also a single mother, who still had 3 kids of her own at home.
Yet, by some stroke of luck, our part of the neighborhood was included in a very good school district. Six houses separated us from a very poor inner-city school.
Sometimes, I’m amazed by what some of the neighborhood kids grew up to become given their home environments, especially compared to some of the kids who were inside the city’s school district. Several kids who grew up on my street, including myself, have graduate degrees. One of my closest friends as a kid is an attorney in Chicago.
It’s sad to think schools can have such disparate impacts on kids. The families on either side of the line weren’t any different from ours in terms of socioeconomic status.
As a humanitarian, as a city planner, I wish we could solve the problem of our schools. Good, properly funded schools would go a long way toward solving so many of our societal ills. I think a decent education, along with affordable healthcare for all, are human rights, and the bare minimum any wealthy society should provide to its citizens.
The final piece of the puzzle on my guitar build: a flipped Telecaster control plate with push-pull series mode.
I was never much into serated pocket knives, but I love this Little Native. My first Spyderco.
It’s been a while since I’ve had the time to conquer anything this big in terms of home projects. Honestly, I don’t have many full days to dedicate to projects like this, but I’ve been sneaking in an hour or two here and there. Even though it’s nothing fancy, it feels good to work with my hands.
Last week I removed a soffit, which previously held some cabinets I removed a few years back. Mostly I’ve just wanted to remove it because it was aesthetically ugly and functionally useless.
However, we’ve always heard a “knocking” noise from this area whenever anyone showers. It was just enough to be annoying. So, two birds, one stone.
The knocking was from the expansion and contraction of a plastic pipe across wood. Whenever hot water rushed through the cold pipe, it rubbed against a joist ever so slightly.
Thankfully I did open it up, though. This is right below where two showers meet on the second floor, so lots of tight plumbing. Turns out that the master bath shower drain had a small leak. We were worried something like that might be the case and didn’t want mold growing under there.
I pulled out the side wall because it wasn’t mounted well and bowed in the middle. I also wanted to check for mold there.
On Friday, I replaced the side wall with mold resistant drywall and added outside metal corners. Yesterday, I fixed the leak (and the knock). Tomorrow I drywall the ceiling and start patching.
Honestly, I might hire out the texture. I’ve never done a job this big and it’s pretty much right in the middle of our house. If I screw that up, there’s no hiding it.
no
I love getting to be your dad.
Here’s a photo of me (center right) and my brothers with my stepdad (~1992), rocking an undershirt in public at Niagara Falls. He was 30 when he took on 3 kids who weren’t his own. Happy Father’s Day.
Another one of my kiddos. They were having so much fun just running around up there at Panorama Point.
Given the weather at the coast was questionable today, we decided to head out to the Columbia River Gorge instead. Got some pizza at Double Mountain and now doing more exploring.
Started the gardening year late, but I think we’re gonna be okay. My tomato plants have grown quite a bit since transplanting. Just pruned the bottoms and put the side supports up.
Despite getting a lot of rain 8 months out of the year, the PNW gets virtually zero precip during the 4 hottest months.
With worsening droughts, I’ve become a big water conservationist. 5 years ago, I had a 3,100 gallon rain cistern installed. I can burn through this in 2 mos. on just 3 raised beds.
People are often surprised to learn that I have Italian citizenship because I don’t look like a stereotypical Italian.
My great grandmother was fully Italian, but she and her family were from the Veneto Region, specifically Cadore in the Dolomites. She had blue eyes and blonde hair.
A peaceful morning walk with my first-born.
Current home improvement project: removing a soffit in my kitchen. It only took me 7 years to get this far after removing the cabinets when I moved in. Check back in 2026 when I have this thing patched.
On the drive to school this morning, the kids were being unusually quiet, so I asked my 4-year-old son if he’d thought anymore about what he wanted to be when he grows up.
He’s been really interested in Spider-Man lately, so I was expecting to hear the usual stuff like ‘super hero’ or ‘fireman’. But he flipped the script and said he wanted to cut tumors out of people. That caught me off guard and tugged at my heart strings a little.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to have some tough conversations with him from a pretty young age. One of my younger brothers (his uncle) died in 2021 of a brain tumor at age 37. It was a mixed glioma he had been dealing with for 7 or 8 years, the incurable kind. It was a terribly sad time in my life, one that no doubt impacted my family life. As a result, my son has asked us a lot of questions about my brother and the circumstances surrounding his death.
These are not topics I ever expected to discuss with him at such an early age, and I hate having to tell him about these realities of life. My natural inclination is to shelter him, and I’ve tried to avoid the topic when possible, or to reframe the discussion, but he is very perceptive and can be quite persistent.
I try to wrap these conversations up within feelings of gratitude for the lives we have, or in celebration of the life he lived, or with a focus on being in the present moment. But I also don’t want to deny his real feelings on the issue. It’s a lot for a kid to process, coming into awareness of our finite nature, but it’s clear he knows when I’m not being completely transparent with him.
This morning, he didn’t mention my brother directly when he brought up the tumor comment, but I’m certain that’s where the idea came from. I used this as an opportunity to talk to him about what a surgeon does, how they help people, and that it requires learning a lot of science and how our bodies work. I told him that he could absolutely be a surgeon one day.
I didn’t have a dad at his age, so I’m especially sensitive to how my words and actions might influence him. Whether he becomes a surgeon or a mechanic, I hope more than anything that I can be a good role model for my kids, and to do a decent job preparing them emotionally to recognize their blessings, weather the difficult times, and have the confidence to go after their dreams.
Hard to believe I’ve had my car for 10 years, almost a quarter of my life. Just waiting for that head gasket to go. (Photo from 2013)
Went for a hike today at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park. Even though the pics don’t show it, the kids were pretty moody today and were having a hard time, so we kept it short. We decided to head over to Hoffman Farms for some fresh strawberries and milkshakes.
Yesterday at the park.
I had some issues with incompatible pickup screw sizes, but I got most of my Telecaster build put together yesterday. So far, I’m happy with how it is turning out.
Folks on the East Coast are getting a small taste of what the West Coast has experienced every year since I moved here in 2015. Here’s a screenshot I took in September 2020. At one point we were over 1,000 ppm here in the Tualatin Valley.
This is what I mean about men’s sizes not making sense to me anymore. This is a 2XL. I realize I’m not exactly a small man, but this is cotton and will shrink. In what universe should a 6 ft’ tall, fairly average-built man, be wondering if maybe he should be buying a 3XL?
After napping on me for 2 hours, she was all cheery this afternoon.
First harvest.
Photo I took of my son two years ago today. I honestly didn’t expect to like Lake Tahoe as much as I did, but it was gorgeous and I’d like to go back someday. It probably helped that we were arriving just as everyone else was leaving for the weekend.
Listening to: Boys of Summer by First Aid Kit
People at 80% area median income spend 20% of their monthly budget on cars in the U.S. #cnu31
Spotted a pretty good dust devil at the ball fields.
Spent a good chunk of the weekend cleaning the house and making the yard look presentable because we had some friends and family over on Sunday for a barbecue.
The kids played with water balloons and a cheap slip and slide I picked up from Sierra. It was kind of cold but they didn’t seem to mind.
When they tired of that, they played on the tire swing. That has to be the one thing I’ve ever done that has ever been worth anything, installing that tire swing. It has paid for itself in free entertainment. No matter who comes over, they’re always using the tire swing.
We all sat out on the back deck, had a few drinks, and ate too much food. My mother-in-law and one of her good friends' family came, too.
After our barbecue, we ran over to the coast on Monday for a short hike. Both of the kids seemed to really enjoy it. I was a little frustrated at first because the trails weren’t clearly marked and we couldn’t find the waterfall we were looking for. But it was hard to stay in a foul mood because the weather cleared and the beach was pretty nice.
I also got most of my tomato starts planted:
After a nice long weekend, things have been pretty busy at work in preparation for me starting a new position in a few weeks. I unfortunately got behind on some monotonous tasks while we were out of the office due to Covid, so I’ve been playing catchup with filing and such. I’m also managing a project that is transitioning a very offline bureaucratic process into an online format. It’s unfortunate that I won’t be able to test out the system in real life, but I feel good about leading this project and hopefully providing a good tool for whoever takes my job after I’m gone.
I heard from my new boss today. He and the director would like to get coffee with me next week as an informal way to get to know each other better and talk more about the position. I’m looking forward to it, and excited but nervous about the new direction my career is taking.
Our roses are looking pretty good this year.
Beautiful day on the Oregon coast.
Remembering my brother today and every day.
Yesterday was hard to beat.
Sick kids again.
Mac ‘n cheesin’
An annual zoo membership is the best bargain in town when you have a couple little ones.
An absolutely perfect Portland evening for some back porch lounging.
The first rose of the season. The Rose City isn’t just a fancy moniker.
What started off as a trip to the library…
My 4 year old yesterday:
“I’ve had a really hard day mom, I just need to lay in the hammock for awhile.”
Met up with an old friend downtown yesterday. It was nice to get out of my bubble.
Just washed my car today. Pollen.
We’ve had a couple of car break-ins over the last year. I caught them on the security cameras but the outdoor lights just aren’t bright enough to show enough detail. They are just kids, I think deterrence is the best we can do. Picked up a 15,000 lumen LED floodlight. Maybe this will do the trick.
Who needs ChatGPT when Google Photos randomly creates slideshows of pizzas I’ve eaten over the past 5 years. 🍕
“Okay daddy, I’ll go to sleep but I’m NOT tired.”
Truth be told, my favorite part of the day is chatting with my son about life through his eyes before he falls asleep.
Definitely going to have some tomatoes this year.
An awesome day. Got out to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge before it got too hot and hiked a couple miles with some friends and the kids. Stopped off for a beer and some food on the way home. Looking like nap time now that it’s 90°F.
Happy Mother’s Day to my incredible wife. We lucked out.
We had some pictures taken over the weekend and I’m really happy with how they turned out. Jenkins Estate was in full bloom.
These clearer, warmer, longer days are everything right now.
We’re training her for the X Games.
We had our friend Alyssa watch our kids for a few hours today so we could have some time to ourselves, something that is so often in short supply.
Went for a nice bike ride in the rain on the Banks-Vernonia Oregon State Trail and followed it up with a beer and some Texas style BBQ brisket at Hop Cycle.
Spring is still being moody but the redbuds are in full bloom.
Four food carts just opened in an underutilized industrial spot within walking distance of my house.
Mexican with excellent birria tacos, Hawaiian-Filipino infusion, Salvadoran, Venezuelan. This is bad. Real bad.
This month marks 8 years since I moved to Oregon, and the same for my work anniversary. Time flies!
I guess our house is the one all the neighborhood kids like to crash.
Some unusually nice days this week in Portland. Decided to get up early and head over to the Oregon Zoo.
In addition to our outdoor winter garden, I planted some starts a week and a half ago with my son, who’s 4. I should’ve started earlier, but I’m sure some will work out.
Not sure why, but I’m always amazed when anything grows at all, and I like the vibes I get when they do begin to sprout.
Gardening may be a net negative in terms of financial costs, but a big positive for our physical and mental health, not to mention a great education for our little ones.
My child (left) having a full on meltdown after watching Super Mario Bros. because the arcade only accepts dollars and dad doesn’t carry cash 😂. Kiddo learned some life lessons today, namely you can’t always get what you want.
My 4 y.o. son kept referring to “goose tape” this past week and I had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out he meant duct tape all along. Kids!
Finally getting my garden into some sort of shape. Weeded this box, added some compost, soil amendments, etc. One down, one to go.
Also put a band-aid fix on the broken corner (bottom left). Last year a moving truck backed into my driveway and smashed the corner. Caught the whole thing on camera.
Feeling behind this year but it’s been so cold and rainy.
#gardening #garden #spring #pdx
A mural I spotted in New York last week.
#nyc #streetphotography #mural #einstein #cycling #love #photography #peace #love
Had such a wonderful time in New York. Can’t wait to go back. #nyc
What a great city. #philly
“And did you know the Liberty Bell is a replica
Silently housed in its original walls
And while its dreams played music in the night, quietly
It was told to believe”
— Mitski
As a parent, I’m horrified by mass shootings and live in fear for my kids. What perplexes me however is that motor vehicle deaths, although trending down, are on par with gun deaths. Somehow we keep building cities for cars and not people and the only outrage I see is when there isn’t enough parking, the roads aren’t wide enough, or high density housing is proposed down the street.
(Leading Causes of Death among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 1999 through 2020, CDC) #guns #cars
Hillsboro has nice stuff. Spent the morning and early afternoon swimming at Shute, played at the park, and picked up a big bag of books and movies at the library.
Finished modding my Jazzmaster a few weeks ago, so I was on the lookout for my next project. I have always wanted a double bound Telecaster but didn’t want to break the bank, so I picked up a Squier Classic Vibe. It’ll be fun swapping everything out and making it mine. First thing will be compensated brass saddles. #fender #telecaster #guitar
Here’s a fun one. Ratio of Median Sale Price of Single-Family Homes to Per Capita Income, by Metro Area.
#Today was a good day.
My photos app reminded me I saw Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at the Loving Touch in Ferndale 9 years ago today. Man I miss that place! I saw so many shows there in the early 2010s and you could get so close to the musicians. Iâd like to start seeing shows again, just need to pin down a solid babysitter! #stephenmalkmus #thelovingtouch
Nice and sunny PNW day. Had to hit the food cart pod near my house for a beer and some grub. #today
How many more artists’ depictions of exoplanets and other space junk could we possibly need?
I’m getting tired of clickbait space news headlines that try to pass off illustrations like they’re photos. To be sure, they add nothing and only serve to mislead.
My wife and I have read 3 to 5 books per night to our son since he was about 18 months old. Every single night for 2.5 years. So it’s pretty safe to say we’re kind of experts on children’s books at this point. By FAR the absolute lowest effort books are the Hot Wheels ones. Can’t even believe this garbage was published.
Even as we approach our 5 year anniversary, my heart still sometimes skips a beat.
My boy turns 4 this week, so we had a birthday party for him today. So proud of this kid.
Finally made it into the Chef Store for the first time and my eyes are at long last awakened to life’s glories.
I’ve had the same Gmail address for going on 19 years. This is by far the longest digital relationship I’ve ever had, probably ever will. #gmail #email
Every day while I’m standing at my standing desk.
#applewatch #apple
Last night I found this photo from 1986 in my grandmother’s belongings. It’s of me and my brother. I’d never seen it before.
Everyone always says how much my son looks like my wife, so I was blown away by how much I look like him here. I was just a little bit older than he is now.
My dad left us when I was two. I feel so bad for him that he missed out on what it’s like to be a father to such an exceptional little human.
When you save a meme with Jesus in it and Google Photos asks if your deceased brother and Jesus are the same person.
Our meal delivery service just sent us Hamburger Helper and billed it as French Onion Beef.
My 3100 gallon rain cistern is finally full as of this week. Last year it was full by the end of October, but we had a drier start start to the season this year. I use this water all summer long to water my 3 raises beds.
It’s been such a joy to watch you grow, witness your wobbly first steps, listen to your frequent giggling, and just take pleasure in seeing you as a happy, fun, and playful baby. Feeling all around pretty lucky to be your dad. Happy first birthday to our Annie.
Finally saw my first in-line Apple Pay button on a paywalled news article. Now give us the option to pay you 25 cents per article instead of subscribing.
One great thing about living in an oceanic climate: growing food year-round. Just pulled these out of my raised beds.
Quick outing today to shake off the lethargy, and Annie’s first hike as a walker!
I started going to the gym a couple months ago to improve my mental health. My times are not at all impressive, but they are slowly improving. When I was a teenager (half a life ago) I used to run a 5K in the 17s. One of my goals this year is to run a 5K in under 30 minutes.
My first guitar (1995). Japanese made Lotus strat. My mom’s taste in home decor was also chef’s kiss. 🎸
Updated the bridge and neck on my Custom Player Jazzmaster. Took the adjustomatic off in favor of a Halon, and replaced the MIM pau ferro neck with a American Professional II. Still needs a few tweaks, but so far so good. 🎸
Santa had a lot of fun this year.
Preparing for all of metro #portland to be brought to its knees tomorrow due to freezing temps and a little over half an inch of snow. Might as well get ready to work from home with my two small children present bc it looks like I’ll be paying my daycare to not daycare.
Happy that we got down to California and back for Thanksgiving before all the precip hit in the Mtns. Beautiful as it is, I don’t miss driving in it, especially with steep grades.
Just baked another loaf of rustic white. I love carbs. #baking #bread #dutchoven
I’ve never been much of a baker, but I am a bit of a rustic bread addict. So I decided to give this recipe a try from NYTimes Cooking awhile back. Always turns out great. I plan on bringing some loaves to my holiday parties this year.
Is this...normal? Seems like a lot of activity in the Pacific.
Snapped this photo of Glacier National Park last summer as I rounded out states 46 through 49 on a road trip to clear my head. I had just lost my brother to brain cancer and the road was calling me. Glacier and the Black Hills hit me hard.
Snapped this photo of Glacier National Park last summer as I rounded out states 46 through 49 on a road trip to clear my head. I had just lost my brother to brain cancer and the road was calling me. Glacier and the Black Hills hit me hard. #nationalparks #roadtrip #montana #fuckcancer #nps #glacier
Early sunsets
Found some manzano / orange rocoto peppers at a local mercato. Figured Iâd better try fermenting them into a hot sauce.
Tech support getting philosophical on me #ziply
Mercedes T2 811D fire engine spotted in the wild.
Just a couple cue ball headed punks. #minime
Had to break out the 20 oz hammer to get these open, but Pax had fun today with these Dino fossils from auntie Gab.
The artist at work
This is where he requested to sit and eat his strawberries.
How easily lifeâs needless things pass to your periphery when purpose comes into focus. ð·:@lindsaybacaphoto
This weather.
Poor dude was sick over his birthday week, so he couldnât have a party at home or at school. Celebrated today with Grampa and Gramma Kofstad and got some cool new toys.
âWhat I think is this: You should give up looking for lost cats and start searching for the other half of your shadow.â - Kafka on the Shore ð·:@lindsaybacaphoto
A boy and his mama
Sleepyhead
Nice day on the lake.
Bonding leave status update.
Baby Annette, 1.12.22
Sweet park
Playing in the snow!
Santa swung through for a visit last night ð ð¼
Our best gift. ð¸:@stacyephoto
âIâm an ice cream super hero!â -my kid, who hates wearing clothes.
Pax and Santa
We live in a forest.
From our walk on the Columbia earlier today in Kalama, WA.
Making cobbler.
Howdy, Pilgrim!
Some kids are just extra. Here I caught him sitting down with his mouth closed for 1 second.
Big ass tree
Life north of the 45th parallel.
Helping get some things ready for his baby sister.
Happy Halloween ð
Pax went into the bathroom and closed the doorâ¦sometimes he goes in there to hide, so we didnât think anything of it. He moved the stool over to the toilet, sat on it by himself, and did his business. Opened the door and he said, âI can use the big potty now because Iâm getting big!â Too funny.
Enjoying some Detroit style pizza in PDX. Pretty sweet nod to Diego Rivera with the pizza & beer production murals.
This came up in my memories from a couple of years ago at the beach. Itâs strange to think about what my life was like before this dude. Really looking forward to our second.
Itâs baaaack. I love the rain.
#nofilter
23 weeks
Hanging with my folks at the coast. Happy to have them here!
Dad ran to Costco and said âwe could eat Taco Bell every day this week and still be good.â ðð§»
Kiddo. First day back to nursery schoolâ¦though he never really left, I couldnât resist a photo with seeing all the other cute kid photos.
Mmm, red chalk.
My kid does most things with his pants off now, and I donât blame him.
Promâ¦1999
College roommatesâ¦20 years ago.
Happy birthday to my wonderful wife! Sheâs a great mom and partner and weâre thankful to have her in our lives.
Something came in the mail today! ð¤ð¼ #alwaysbeprepared #pdx
Waking up sweaty and crabby from a nap. #momma
Ran into an old friendly face in Jackson. #porsche
Missing my boy!
An intensely amazing day.
That way.
These crows about gave me a heart attack this morning.
ð
Getting my steps in.
Glamping for the night. Thanks Tim and LaVonna, for letting us use your place.
Happy Birthday, Americaâ¦from IKEA.
The neighborhood allotments in full swing.
This morning at school. Heâs been getting these little dollar store toys as bribes for going on the potty. He wouldnât leave the house without the skirt part of this ladybug outfit on.
This is what you get when your burger flippers are unionized. Just sayinâ
Caught a pic of a hummingbird on my morning walk.
The office cuttings have been thriving despite my neglect over the last year and a half. The jade was a small cutting from my huge jade plant at home, which I got from a farmer several years ago, who got it from her neighbor who passed away. Iâve made a few cuttings from that plant. Some make it, some donât.
Very excited that THE FOOD has arrived. Link in BIO. P.S., Chris: I never finish anything. @loveaxeofficial #tinydeskconcert #bobboilen #tinydesk @nprmusic #bandcamp #loveaxe #thefood #vinyl @tinydesk
Drive around up here and you start questioning your life choices.
Sharayah snapped this one and sent it to me at work. Iâm sure heâs pretty pumped about the pool on this 97° day.
Wanted to help me pump up the âback tiresâ on the wheelbarrow only to find out âthere arenât any dada, we need some new ones.â
She loves it when I open up the dormer window
Quiet office vibes
Who needs a truck when youâve got
My other company
Sometimes youâre the mule. Mt Adams (12,280â) barely visible in the back.
Iâm still not done yet, but Iâm getting close to finishing this little bathroom. (Before and After)
Spent all weekend alone with this kiddo. He survived several visits to the hardware. High energy, but such a good boy.
6 years in the Rose City. What a trip.
#laketahoe
Meditation
Remembering my little brother on this Memorial Day.
POW POW power wheels
I had an Italian lesson during my lunch, and this little helper got excited when he found the animal images, and started naming them (in English). Itâs been a busy couple of weeks, but the little things make it all worth it.
Experimented with a new batch of hot sauce and I like it a lot. Fermented habanero, garlic, radish and onion, with some apple, honey and ginger.
So it begins
I feel you, man
Getting pretty good at brushing his own teeth
I have this silly dream to do a garage conversion and make my house into an imitation Kilbourne Sears kit house. Donât even care that itâd be pastiche.
Beautiful day. Lots of happy pollinators in the lavender.
What kid doesnât want to be a fireman at some point?
Picnicking
Everyone used to say how much Brad looked like our dad, so I never really thought I looked too much like him. Then I came across this photo in my Granâs things recently. First time Iâd seen it. For a moment I wondered where I got that coat.
Numero dos, amigos.
figlio
Next comes the grilling station
The dudes have put in three 10 hour days so far and should be finished with the deck tomorrow.
Hiking with friends
#fatguychristmas
Our buddy.
File under âthings I donât rememberâ
Weâre all bound for the ash heap.
My rock.
Somehow, coach thought my 139 lb frame would be great for the position of nose tackle. Suffice to say I ran cross country the next 2 years.
Me and mom, â81.
Camping and two-tracking in the Jeep, Aug 2013
Progress
Around 2003/04. I think this was right before Bradâs first deployment.
Sight for sore eyes.
Got the year pass, so…zoo day
Me and my brother Brad (left).
Adventures in home barbering!
I rented a tool but I ended up with athletic equipment. Whew.
Safety 1st
Moisturize. And donât forget the sunscreen!
My brother Brad has gone through so much since his cancer diagnosis in 2014. I hate it that he has to go through this, and I wish I could take it away.
#pdxsnowpocalypse2021 #portland #pnw #snow
One cool thing about minidisc is that it has an optical in to sync/record. Not completely lossless, but damn good.
Grateful to get to spend some time with my brother in CO, and looking forward to coming back soon.
100 degree salt water pool with a decent view of a 14,000 foot mountain out the window. Good for the muscles, good for the soul.
standing awkwardly in nature
Lol Iâm too old for this shit
While I caught the smell of flowers on our walk today, Zoey wanted blood after picking up the scent of the neighborhood rabbit :D
âIâm working!â - Pax. Happy 2nd birthday to our little guy. He knows his ABCs, can count to 14, and heâs learning to count in Spanish. He no longer likes âwheels on the busâ but âold Macdonaldâ is a timeless masterpiece. He loves going to the park and hiking in the woods. His interests include trucks, tractors, dinosaurs, animals, and space. Love ya kid!
My little slice of heaven for a few moments. #wintersunshine
Sometimes you still catch me off guard. #wyâeast
No idea why this wine truck was parked in our neighborhood, but man this kid goes bonkers over big trucks.
My coworker today due to a gap in daycare coverage. My lil dude starts at a Montessori school next week ahead of turning 2 on Jan 26th! Heâs such a smart, happy, caring and fun kid!
âYou are an amazing woman.â - the mug. âReal men drink tea.â - the phrase on the tea bag. âYou and your dad work on stuff, but you and me drink tea and get nice ân cozy.â - Shar. âPainting?â -Pax.
We were waiting for a break in the rain but there are only so many hours in the day…
Confession time. Our sofa is always in a state of complete disarray. Aside from bodies (both human and animals alike), you will find blankets to protect against said animal footprints, [5] blankets for warmth, blankets for ânice n cozyyyâ (Pax), pillows, dog toys, dog bones, remnants of Natureâs Bakery Fig Bars, one AirPod, childrenâs PJs, an unused wet wipe, 2 mismatched childrenâs socks, and probably the remote control I havenât seen since the first week of December.
Iâve found that the best way to keep my plants alive is to keep them within reach of the sinkâs sprayer ð #lifehack
2020 was like nothing I could have ever imagined. Iâve had some struggles myself, both with my head and health. But I have been so privileged during this time, and Iâm grateful for the people in my life, blessed to be a husband & dad, and thankful for the health of those around me. I also acknowledge my privilege as a white middle class household with relatively stable employment. I feel so heartbroken for those who donât, and if thereâs a way I can help, please let me know. I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2021, preferably at least once consuming delicious food and beverages INSIDE a really nice restaurant.
Merry Christmas to all!
A visit from Santa!
Playing in tunnels, listening to Rubber Soul.
âDada Iâm workingâ
âElkâ
Shar says this looks like a beer ad @ninkasibrewing
When dad and Pax grocery shop, cookies are involved…even if itâs 9 a.m. ð
My Christmas decoration game is weak.
An important thing for maintaining my mental health: stepping outside, even if only for a few minutes. Fall is in full effect in the backyard.
He was interested in the guitar for 5 seconds and then it was onto the cordless drill.
The holidays started early âround here.
Target just gets me
Had a bit of a break in the rain today, so I drove up to Pittock and snapped a few. #pdx #portland #oregon #skyline #nightphotography #mthood
What can I say, the kid likes trains. #likefatherlikeson #pdx #onwardrosecity
The silver lining has been getting to spend so much time with my loves.
I just started watching Long Way Up the other night, an electric motorcycle journey from the tip of South America, up to LA, with Ewan McGregor. Someone mentioned that not everyone watched Evel Knievel jumping the Grand Canyon to see him make itâsome watched it to see if he WOULDNâT. I stopped the episode and YouTubed Evel and fell into a hole. I never knew the guy was such a character. Highly recommended if youâre up sick and need something strange but interesting to watch.
Indian to open up those sinuses. Mmm
The culmination of many years of work finally paid off today with our recognition as Italian citizens. It still hasnât fully set in, but Iâm overjoyed, especially to be able to pass this onto my kids. Fingers crossed for some other good news today as well! ð®ð¹ðºð¸ . . . . . #juresanguinis #dualcitizenship #planB #italiandiaspora #italianamerican #italia #veneto
Hold the phone
Happy 4th birthday to our dog daughter, Zoey :) Pax wanted to sing happy birthday but then insisted on cake afterwords. Sorry bud, itâs 8 am and there isnât any ð lol.
Itâs not our anniversary or anything. Just feeling grateful to have met my person. * ð¸: @lindsaybacaphoto #weddingphotography
Cheap entertainment #thriftstorefinds #trainthemyoung
Love this kid so much.
That time my mom went back to college and finished her degree near the top of her class.
Canât believe how fast this last year has gone by. Struggling with wanting this pandemic to end quickly vs enjoying my time with my little family and enjoying the ride. #tbt
I touched that tiny sliver of pepper to my tongue for roughly a second, then pulled it away. I didnât feel anything at all for another 2-3 seconds. And then it literally took my breath away and my mouth is still burning 10 minutes later. The Carolina Reaper is a cross between a âreally nastily hotâ La Soufriere pepper from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and a Naga Viper pepper from Pakistan, with an average Scoville heat rating of about 1.5 million. #carolinareaper #whathaveidone #chiles #hotpeppers #peppers #hotsauce #chilipeppers #fermentation
Pax got new homemade slippers and some PJs in the mail from gramma @hag1961 today, too cute. He wanted to put them on immediately LOL.
Itâs garlic sowing season! After this yearâs harvest, Iâm eager to try something new and keep things going year-round. Thanks to our local @territorialseedcompany. Thereâs even a shout out to my alma mater on this varietyâs packaging. #gardening #gardenersofinstagram #gardenersofig #gardenlife #pnw #pnwgardening #msuext #garlic #wintergarden #urbangarden #growingvegetables #oregongrown
Smashing Pumpkins ð #smashingpumpkins @smashingpumpkins
My attempt at art. #anarchy #pdx #portland #anarchistjurisdiction #lifeofdad #edc #seiko #benchmade #pottytraining #vote
Still looking for that perfect toy I guess
Autumn!
Feeling almost human after lunch and a beer at Mazama Brewing. Great beer and food. Please visit or order from this place to give them some business.
My second batch of fermented hot sauce turned out a lot better. I filtered the solids out of this one, which Iâve heard are good as a sandwich spread. Good heat but not unbearable. Interested to find out how the flavor develops over time.
Spelunking the laundry room
More of this, please
Making some zucchini bread.
Somehow I managed to make this gourmet meal without the assistance of a pot filler.
I guess he requested it after seeing his mom do it. Poor kid has his dadâs feet, tho. ðð¤£
I wasnât crazy about the woody taste of the last batch of hot sauce I made. So this time the only thing going into the fermentation are homegrown Red Hot Chili Peppers, a red sweet pepper, and garlic. I also removed the stems and sliced the peppers length-wise for good measure. ð¶
This stuff is rough. At KP getting an inhaler.
Itâs called swagger and it runs in the family (nephew Lincoln).
Stumbled upon a local coffee roaster. Hate when that happens.
Happy Labor Day! Donât labor today.
Out here spinning beyond comprehension. #astrophotography #feelsmallyet? #howis15mmnotwideenough?
In a few days Iâll have my first batch of fermented hot sauce. Weâll see if the carrots mellow out the heat or not. #serrano #chilis #hotsauce #jalapeno #gardening #fermentation #fermentedfoods #fetmentedhotsauce #diy
My loves #tbt
Perfect eve with the boy and @lavonnakofstad7 and Tim and pups.
Sunday vibes
Sunday funday.
âDad, you are sooo annoying.â
She loves me.
My slowest producing pepper plant, the Carolina Reaper. Or as I affectionately call it: pucker butt.
#wcw
Happy birthday to my Sharayah. Youâre always running circles around me and Iâm not sure how you do it, but Iâm so grateful. Hereâs to many more good times and happy trips around the sun. â¥ï¸ ð« ð #loveinthetimeofcovid
Much needed weekend escape.
Monument
#basic
Watermelon
Ocean
Helping
Chocolate
Itty bitty watermelon. I can eat these like grapes, right?
I grew a zucchini.
Saw a full moon during Paxâs first camping trip this week
#dadshots
I canât believe I used to wonder what she did all day. ð¤
Please just lemme in, I swear I wonât do anything!
Zoey had to get a pretty tight shave due to some mats. But now she blends in with our lazy couch blanket and I definitely sat on her this morning. Felt so bad.
This one sums up this afternoon perfectly
Watching him learn is pure joy for me.
Hair was finally long enough for his first perm
When mom works Saturdays…
Getting way too familiar with a mattock. Itâs a good way to take out frustration, though!
There are a few things I feel are worth splurging on. Good coffee is one of them. Water Ave, you complete me.
Spinning and being silly before bed
If at first you donât succeed, try, try again. treat others as youâd like to be treated, etc.
Father/children weekend. Living dangerously under our front porch (garage) on this rainy day. We also learned about New Seasonsâ apple pie.
When you get tired of filling up your spray bottle for your garden starts ð
Love these two, and Iâm feeling especially appreciative and lucky to have such a wonderful partner to help navigate this life. Paxâs face in this photo cracks me up. We got out to the Jenkins Estate and enjoyed Monday evening in the gardens and letting Pax run around like a fool in the grassy open areas. Most of the Rhodies were past their prime, but a few were still looking good. My favorite part was slowly looking around all the community garden plots and what people were doing with theirs. I took some notes. I think weâll all be happy when this virus business is over and we can feel safer going out more often (and maybe having a beer or two on a patio somewhere - Oregon isnât the same without that).
The bees love the lavender.
Stylinâ in his Nike track jacket this morn as we watered the veggies. Thanks gramma @hag1961 ð
Todayâs classes: Walkie Talkie 101
Puppy pillow
One moment you think your kidâs a genius and the next moment heâs half naked with an upside down princess sticker on his forehead and banging repeatedly on your CPAP machine.
16 mos. today. I guess itâs time to start force feeding him piano and guitar lessons. They grow up so fast.
âSo I says to the guy, I says to the guy, âthe cow goes MOO!ââ
FaceID finally just said ânope, you are not my owner and you must enter a passcodeâ.
Iâm either turning into Bukowski or Iâm joining a motorcycle gang for dads who sold their motorcycles.
Funny to think Iâm older now than my parents were when I graduated.
Keeping it classy with a tire swing.
ð
Always fun to see what you can accomplish during nap time. #toddlerparents
Now thatâs what grandmothers are for. Happy Motherâs Day, mom. Thanks for always being there.
To the woman who used the word âtoiletâ in her marriage vows, I love you. You are an amazing mother and Pax and I are so lucky to have you. Grateful for you everyday.
Thanks @erin__franke!
Donât hate me because Iâm beautiful
Man I feel like I just broke out of jail
Just rocking out on the electric avocado guitar
Another barn burner over here.
My work wife
As of this past weekend, weâve got a #bigboy ð. Wasnât expecting this to start at 15 months.
Iâve had these two home with me for the last week and a half and now weâre all going back to our routines. Itâs been nice and Iâm gonna miss having them around.
She sure as heck did. #tigerking #carolebaskin
When youâre bored and a friend suggests dressing up like characters from old paintings… @heatherlynn7c ð
Paxâs new favorite meal is momâs vegetarian âmeatloafâ #momthemeatloafwewantitnow
Sure beats buying 36 bags of soil from Home Depot.
Easter with grandma and grandpa
Just chillin
My crew.
Quarantine Day 21, post afternoon nap. #someonetoldmeilookhomeless
When your underutilized alcove/dormer/recording studio/spare room becomes an arm of the government.
Not exactly sure who I am anymore. #latergram
until tomorrow
The Rummikub Rainman.
A couple rainy day people having a photo shoot in our flowerbed. ð
Progress. Love these beautiful days.
#cherryblossoms #spring #quarantineoutside
The joys of a $3, disinfected, new-for-him used ride.
With all this social distancing, what better time than now to try out that natural deodorant youâve been meaning to try
People keep saying Pax looks like mini me. Sorry to have to burst that bubble. pop
Finally something Pax and I can both agree on: Judy Garland.
Clean baby â . For now, anyway.
Traded some toilet paper for a canoe. Heading to an undisclosed island in the Columbia till summer. See yâall later. #wenonah #canoe #jensen18
Had to.
Went about as well as could be expected on a Friday the 13th with a plague going around. But after 7 years of prepping, the citizenship app is in. And now I wait another 6 months to find out if Iâm a fool or not. #arrivederci #italian
Um. Good morning.
Iâm such a tourist.
#bitchdust
Almost, buddy.
Had fun celebrating, happy birthday @lavonnakofstad7 and have fun in Hawaiâi!
#beachbabes
My beautiful mom.
Desperate times call for desperate measures #latergram
Rubbing elbows with senators on date night, front and center at the Asolo, thanks to an old friend. #thelifespanofafact
Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone. Itâs been a great week! #dadboddontcare #39
This is dad bod. #youknowyouwantit
When the Rhodies are bloominâ and thereâs the scent of freshly cut grass in the air.
Two years ago I made the best decision of my life. To the most wonderful partner and my best friend, happy anniversary. I love you beyond words.
What can I say, heâs pretty advanced. #quantummechanicsforbabies
These PNW winters are awful
Fantastic Italian dinner to start our 2nd anniversary weekend. Iâm a lucky man.
When you come home for lunch to find your dog snagged the honey off the counter and ate about 1,000 calories worth…
Mom says he took his one-year vaccinations in both thighs like a champ. Officially travel ready.
I know my wife already posted this, but I canât not post it too. Love my little boy. (ð·:@lindsaybacaphoto)
Making the paneer tikka.
This place is 2 blocks from my office and it is daaangerous.
Little does he know, my plan all along. #inheritance #babyvirtuoso
Attempted jailbreak.
Still have some odds and ends to finish, but I think itâs an improvement.
#bedhead #whyareweupthisearlyagain
These dudes were born two days apart and have a similar fashion sense.
Hanging out in the studio with my boy, about to lay down some tracks.
Agate hunting
Baby, 11 months old today. Nose scab, 1 day old.
The transition has begun. Belly has arrived. Beard going white. Zoey’s night vision kicked in and she will start growing her antlers and a red nose soon.
#lunch
Santa paid a visit to the Kofstad family Christmas. ð ð»
Some early Christmas presents from cousin Garwood and Judy. Iâve been looking forward to reading this. @teacher1947
The Sunday hangover crew
Brothers from another mother (and father).
Happiness is 3 brothers eating pizza and playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Happy birthday, brotha!
Pax and Shar and LaVonna
Thanksgiving at great grandma and grandpaâs.
Hard to believe heâs 10 months old in a few days. Heâs all over the place too, and Zoey is so good with him.
When youâre 15 minutes from wine country, why not?
Man I love this kid.
Congratulations to this hard workinâ momma for landing a permanent position with benefits in her unit at the hospital! Way to create the future you want for you and your family. We are so proud of you!
4 years later. My, how our world has changed.
Gotta take advantage of these nice days.
Gotta say, this is a pretty great hotel for a conference.
Here we go!
Q: how many days per week do you not go somewhere because of traffic? A: Errry. damn. day. Iâm moving to Idaho.
Whelp, wonât be long now and heâll be climbing out.
New gutters â new outdoor lighting â next up: 3100 gallon rain tank and more raised beds
Practically had the place to ourselves for date night. Pretty surprising since we were impressed by the great beer and food!
Hi, Iâm Pax. I love my mom and dad and my hobbies include: getting into anything I can reach, wearing rainbow pants, and drooling all over everything.
7 mos. and getting too big for his car seat ð©
Future location of a 3,100 gallon rainwater collection cistern.
Came home from Idaho yesterday and realized when we arrived that Google Street View of our house had been updated. Yeah!
It was always sad to see its previous state on Google Maps when I’d get home. The picture at bottom was right before I bought it, when it was going into foreclosure 3 years ago. I was almost hesitant to put our return address on Christmas cards sometimes lest someone looked us up and thought we lived in a meth house.
I bought the house because I could afford it on one income and knew I could make it work seeing as it was structurally fine and is within walking distance to the train.
We’ve since put a little love into it. Most notably, I painted the outside last year (what a job). We’ve got quite a bit more to go, but it has come a long way.
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One of the upcoming house projects is a combination of new gutters and an 1100-gallon rain cistern for the garden and hopefully new landscaping. I applied for a grant a few months back and the agency providing the fund is coming over to do a site visit next week. I’m really excited to see what we can do in our yard once we have a sustainable and cost-effective source of water in the summer months.
Fatties do fit fine, but I might need some different fenders. #700x40c #surlycrosscheck #bike
I think I only post photos of my kid anymore, but I mean, how can I help it?
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Ah, summer. Digging into SW and finding our spots, our community.
Sharayah and I had some incredible “Detroit style” pizza at the new Ex Novo location in downtown Beaverton yesterday. 5 minutes from the house is nice, downtown is coming along. She said it’s the “best pizza she’s ever had” in ‘Portland’. I’m not sure about that, but it’s a nice change from the pies we’re used to getting.
Found a Quaker meeting house in the area I really like today at West Hills Friends Church. Just the right amount of weird meets structure. Everyone is really friendly and welcoming. After several weird experiences elsewhere, I think this must be the place.
Now enjoying a Czech style pils under a tree on a 78 degree day on the patio at Lucky Labrador in Multnomah Village reflecting on the journey that brought me here and considering the future.
Oh, and the kid is 5 months now. How did that happen?
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One of the things that I wasn’t prepared for in midlife is how difficult it would be to adjust to life without a passion.
This isn’t to say that I have never had passion. It’s just that the time commitment involved in nurturing a passion is severely diminished. Work, commute, house, 5-month-old baby — it’s seems so cliche, but finding the time for yourself really is difficult. And when you try to fit it in with any level of regularity, something else usually suffers. But does it have to?
I’ve been playing guitar since I was 14 years old. I never took lessons, but when you’re alone or unemployed or broke or all of the above, you’ve got a lot of time on your hands to noodle around and nurture it. What I lacked in knowledge, I made up in pure creativity. I’m not saying I was some sort of guitar god - that would be douchy as hell. But I loved playing so much and it was an escape from sometimes difficult reality.
Fast forward almost 25 years and I’ve been trying to get back into it. For too many years, my guitar collected dust. I’d pick it up now and again, and it was sort of like riding a bike. But there’s a big difference between taking a leisurely roll around the neighborhood and competing in a triathlon with it. Dedication, education, persistence, passion - you have to want it. And even then, when you’re a cyclist, rarely do people ask you to perform for them on the spot. There’s an implied prerequisite to share your passion with others through performance when it comes to music, even when you treat it as something personal.
Playing guitar for me still is a meditation, but it was more on the leisurely roll side of things. I had fun, sang some tunes around the house, and blacked out the work day stress or nonstop baby puke. However, I’d been feeling like my life was missing an opportunity for growth and to get me out of my shell. .
I started taking lessons for the first time a couple of months ago. I wasn’t sure how I’d like it, but it’s been incredible. It’s every other week, so not a huge commitment, but I already find myself getting to a level I’ve never reached before. I’m still rusty as hell, but it’s nice to be challenged in a way that is not in the form of a traditional education, or work or family related. It also gives me some much needed time to myself. I missed that.
All these years I feel like I’ve been coloring with 3 crayons. Learning the fretboard and scales (however slowly) is opening the palette up and making the creative process easier.
I’ve also made a friend in the neighborhood and we’re getting together for the first time tomorrow night to play acoustic guitar. I haven’t had a friend to play music with regularly in years and I’m actually pretty excited about it. I’m even more excited to have someone in my neighborhood instead of making the trek into Portland all the time.
At any rate, my goal by taking lessons and playing with others is to get better at improvisation and to become a better music writer. I harbor no illusions (or desires) to play regular gigs or becoming known in any way. But I would like to finally start making and recording music and honoring that part of myself that I’ve neglected as other parts of me grew. I’m setting that intention now and I’ll revisit this post in the coming years to see how I’ve done. Who knows, maybe I’ll even post something here someday.
Getting some grandma time :)
Since everyone else is doing it. #firstdayofschool #lastdayofschool #19goddamnyears
Our son really loves breweries. Go figure.
Nice hike today around Silver Falls.
Leaps and bounds
The loves of my life.
Celebrating Paxâs 4 months right
Jesus take the wheel #firstfamilyroadtrip
Happy first Motherâs Day to this one. Couldnât have asked for a better mother to raise our son with. Truly blessed.
Love making this kid laugh.
Later gram of lady lamb jams. Incredible show this past weekend. #mississippistudios #pdx #ladylamb @ladylambjams
Rest peacefully, Gran. You were a unique and special woman and you will be missed.
Stair skirts cut and fitted, about ready to lay some flooring.
Do I answer it?
Gotta say hi to Smokey.
Spending some time in nature while mom is at boot camp.
Whoâs a good boy
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Today my son is three months old. As expected, it’s been a busy and amazing time. My life is changed forever and in all the best ways. Life is more inwardly focused with less a feeling of rudderlessness. It’s simultaneously simpler yet more complicated.
For me and many others, the idea of parenthood before becoming a parent is often shrouded in in fear. Fear that a part of your life will come to an end because of the responsibilities and time commitments that come with becoming a parent. But then you become a parent and, for me, the perspective completely flips.
If I had to pick one word that best describes the human experience, it would be adaptation. To me it’s the human condition. Our greatest strength and our greatest source of suffering.
All the brilliant works of art and feats of engineering were the result of the incomparable human ability to adapt. And yet that feeling of dullness that can often take over our once novel feelings about some aspect of life is also caused by adaptation. Boredom is adaptation. Depression can be a symptom of adaptation.
We can desire change in our lives and seek it out, through hard work and focus. We can be driven toward a goal by passion. And it’s an awesome thing to achieve something you’ve set out to do. Sometimes change is thrust upon us and the pangs of anxiety can be so overwhelming that you feel as though you’re 100 feet underwater and can’t breathe. But all our new experiences become the new normal in time.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that, as an idea and a mindset, parenthood is my new normal. I am no longer fearful of the idea or the reality of parenthood. But the beautiful thing so far is that with every passing day, it’s different. My son changes every day, in big and small ways, and I get to help grow him into a person while simultaneously being filled with purpose.
There are tough times, and there will be so many more. But they pale in comparison to the good.
And unlike the sometimes unhealthy human need for change for the sake of itself, having this purpose nourishes my human need to move forward and adapt without—pardon the expression—throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
There are so many things I could have said in this first post as a parent, but it is just too big now. All I can say is that having my son has been an enormously additive experience to life and I just can’t imagine having never experienced it.
Love,
Dad
The Life
Babyâs first Easter
Grandmas gonna grandma.
Iâve got poles in different area codes.
4 a.m. wake-up for some walleye fishing on the Columbia.
Man I love being a dad.
Hanging out with dad today (and eating my hand) on momâs first day back to work! Good luck, mom!
A âWâ could make this a perfect day.
This kid
An Oregon right turn lane.
I kinda feel like a human again after this weekend!
Babies Rule Everything Around Me!
Baby overload.
Sky is ð¥ RN. #sunset #nofilter
#pdx
Orion was mighty pretty tonight.
Birthday gift from @outdoorshar âºï¸
Pax goes to the coffee shop.
He couldnât vocalize how he feels about Valentineâs Day, so he did the next best thing.
First bath, first trauma.
Two week appt., right on track.
Didnât think I could love anything this much.
Our first child. #oldersister
Our once-a-year snowfall. Off to my only day of work this month (public hearing).
My little dude
ð¼
Baby still isn’t here. Just got back from a check-up and some grocery shopping. Shar’s about to partake in some reality TV, so I’m contemplating other things.
Yesterday was a really good day. We started out with breakfast from Black Bear Diner. Much better than driving into Portland, waiting forever for a seat, having so-so food, and then paying out the ass.
Shar surprised me by taking me for my first ever full-service pedicure. It was…incredible. Of course I didn’t get any color done, but they pull out all the stops. Massage chair, foot soak, foot scrub, foot and leg massage, hot wax, toe nail clean up. I’ve never experienced anything like it and I just might have to do it a couple times a year for relaxation.
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We rented a movie (Venom) and then went out to Breakside Brewing in Northeast for our friend Laura’s 30th birthday. Back home and in bed by 9:30.
Today’s MLK day, so us government workers get the day off and Shar just happened to have the day off as well. I took the day to give the office a thorough cleaning. The office is also my music room and also our spare room now that the spare room has become the nursery. Things are tight in here already, but I rearranged my guitar pedal board last week and all the cut up velcro and patch cables really put things in rough shape. Much better now. Still have to get these cords in order, however.
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I squeezed in an hour or so of playing this afternoon as I got lucky and had the sun coming in the front window. I soaked it up.
All in all, a real nice self-care weekend and much needed at that.
Song:
Japanese Breakfast - Till Death
#39weeks ð
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I’m not 100% sure how or when it all got started, but for the longest time I just wanted to be seen as one of the “cool kids.” I wanted to be accepted by the “cool kids.”
I can speculate that it probably began late in elementary school. My brothers and I grew up poor but adjacent to wealthier people. We didn't go without, but I was consistently surrounded by kids who had everything they wanted and more.
For the first part of my childhood, I also grew up without a father around. I think this contributed to my lack of confidence and knowledge about masculine things. I grew up knowing almost nothing about sports or cars or other things many men use to connect.
To top it off, I have always been really quiet. This made me a target for bullying from the loud and more confident kids. My quietness and lack of confidence in myself made me not cool in the eyes of the ones I thought I wanted to be like.
Sadly, I think I internalized this feeling of being an outsider and channeled in negative ways. Some positive things too, like introspective hobbies like music and writing, but also negative habits like consistently comparing myself, what I have, what I have accomplished, and my tastes, to others. And although I’m aware of it and want to change it, I haven’t yet. I’m beginning to, but I haven’t gotten over the hump.
I find myself ever striving for more and focusing on material things. Not luxury cars, but quality things around the house. I get down on myself about the way my house looks and want to spend money to improve it (I bought it as a fixer up in the white hot Portland market back in 2016). I compare my neighborhood to others’. The list goes on.
But I think I‘m starting to feel more of a letting go of these feelings and fake needs as I get older. I find myself not interested in a lot fo the things I used to be interested in even a few years ago, favoring time spent in at night enjoying quiet introverted things like playing music or reading articles on the internet on random topics I’m interested in.
I’m accepting myself more for who I am and what my strengths are versus a superficial quality of coolness or acceptance by others. And it’s pretty freeing. I am actually growing less and less interested in people in general, with the exception of those closest to me, and it feels great. Strange, perhaps. But I don’t feel anything unhealthy about it. I feel like my season of life is changing and that I’m actually ok with things slowing down to more of an internal focus. I’m focusing less on accomplishments and ownership and more on an internal exploration of my purpose in life.
I may not know who the cool bands are anymore and I still might not be able to chat up the boss about sports. I might be looked over for that promotion. But I’m becoming perfectly content with my quiet little life and worrying less and less about measuring it against those of others.
Today I’m typing from a 15-year-old, wired, white manual keyboard. I just couldn’t type for any length of time on the pancake bluetooth keyboard without some discomfort. Plus, it always sucks when the thing’s batteries would die. Really kills the flow.
Ah, the Apple A1048. Seems a bit stickier than I remember, but hopefully it breaks up a bit after awhile:
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At any rate, I’ve had a lot of thoughts lately that I’ve wanted to write about, but whenever I try to figure out a way to put them into words, I have a lot of trouble. So maybe I’ve been over thinking them and I should just keep them simple.
We are now less than 2 weeks out from our baby’s due date. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had two sets of friends have their babies and that has helped to make things more real.
I mean, it’s really just a construct for us guys until the little person is out anyway, right? We’re not the ones going through all of it. We’re not feeling it inside ourselves.
And I guess the thing that is smacking me in the face is that this little human will be half of me. That is so banal that I almost passed out from boredom typing it. But that is really what I am gobsmacked about. That a person whom I love very much who is sitting in the other room is carrying a living being that is half me and half her.
This probably happens to everybody, but maybe I’m feeling it amplified because it’s been so difficult in seeing my own father in me given that he wasn’t in my life. It’s as though I’ve viewed myself as the child of my mother via asexual reproduction. Any lack of resemblance was merely a mutation or due to some environmental factor.
So today when I got home from work I found Shar lying on the bed in our room, exhausted from the day. She’s been a real trouper, working up until her due date and taking barre classes and such. So I crawl into bed with her and start rubbing her belly and I can feel this child’s outline. I can feel its bottom and along the side of its leg. I mean, it’s not too distinct, but you can sort of tell that this isn’t just a belly with a weird notch in it. And I’m just sitting in the relative quiet that is my life, the relative lack of responsibility for anything more than our dog, and realize. I just realize the reality. It’s slowly been creeping up on me, but it’s gonna hit me so hard when the little he or she is actually here.
I know, it’s dumb. But that’s how I feel right now. Dumb.
The other thing that has been sitting in the back of my mind is the hope that I’m not a failure. Throughout this pregnancy, everybody offers unsolicited advice. I know most mean well, but it can really shake you up if you let it. And it got me thinking about what if I’m not a great parent? All my life I’ve thought about how my father wasn’t there for me and that I’d be this wonderful father in spite of that. But what if I’m NOT? I know my shortcomings in life and I know the dreams I have in my head that I sometimes accomplish and sometimes don’t. I think of the goals I have and the ones I’ve gone after and the ones that collect dust. I guess I just hope I can provide the type of environment that my child or children can thrive. And that they not only love me but they like me and are proud of me someday.
I’m also thinking about my own life and my own risks in different ways. I’m thinking about safety and security and looking both ways when I cross through a busy intersection. I peed at the urinal today and thought about saving for the future and life insurance and college. There’s been a lot of thoughts in this head.
The past few weekends, Shar and I have been sort of go-go-go. I felt a bit of panic that the house wasn’t looking that great and that we don’t have as much as so-and-so or that our house isn’t as nice as this-and-that. And in my way of anxiety, I took it out on Shar. I tend to compare and I really am trying to work on that, but there was no excuse to act mean to her especially at this time. We got through it, but I need to recognize that I need to recognize my feelings for what they are, accept them, and either do something to change it myself or express them and ask for help.
And it was so silly. About making our house a home and just wanting more help in making it look like a home. In the same ways Shar needs help around the house with logistical things. I guess I focus more on the art of it while she’s more practical in a lot of ways. I think we’ll rub off on each other through time.
Finally, I know my time is about to be eaten up to a great degree. I’m taking a month off when the baby is born and I’m so grateful I get to do that, but I know once they’re here that some things will be put on pause. Perhaps this writing, perhaps my playing music almost every night. Maybe our lazy nights on the couch. I guess I can’t really fathom how it’s going to be at the moment. Hell, the next time I write, I could very well have a baby and 2019 is halfway done. But I hope I can retain a bit of myself along the way.
This feels like it’s been one big ramble, but I’m just so filled with a deep well of love and gratitude that I’m here right now and able to experience this. At least until I’m running on no sleep and elbow deep in shitty diapers. Until next time.
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Okay, I think weâre ready to meet you, little one. Gotta a whole lotta love in my heart to give. 38 wks 2 days.
A month off from our anniversary but #fbf to when I married my best friend and ponicorns showed up.
What a year itâs been.â â â â ð·:@lindsaybacaphoto #pdx #portland #love #wedding #marriage #unicorns #pony #firstcomeslove
So the new year came without much fanfare. 2019, here we are.
We spent the evening in bed, and dare I say it was probably one of the best NYE’s I’ve ever had? I’m not sure Shar can say the same, but I’ve almost always disappointed by NYE parties.
For starters, I get too nostalgic. Second, I hate crowds. And third, they’re just sad to me for some reason. Here we are! It’s another year! Let’s pretend we’re gonna change on purpose on this arbitrary moment in space but not really do it! That’s why I start my new habits regularly. I keep a running tally of how long I’ve been doing each to motivate me and to not break the habit.
So, we spent our NYE joyously in our luxurious double pillow top/memory foam king size bed reading, without any real intentions for the new year other than to continue to try and be our best. We leaned over and kissed each other at midnight, turned off the light, and fell asleep.
I also woke up sober and feeling alive. My skin had color to it and I smiled a lot, perhaps for the first since legally able to drink.
I ran 3 day this week. Yesterday I did 3 miles and ran a personal record at age 37, which is still a depressingly slow 10 minute something split. However, I’m trending in the right direction. I took today off because I sort of hurt my leg yesterday and wanted to give it a day to rest. Plus, I really don’t think the running 5 days a week thing is good for our joints.
I have still not lost any weight despite burning about 500 extra calories per day and giving up a lot of not-so-great foods. Not sure what is up there but I can only think it’s at least partially attributed to the vegetarian diet. I see folks doing keto losing tons of weight and it’s sort of frustrating given what I thought I was doing when I began this journey. At least I’m still not gaining. But I might have to rethink this thing. I’m working on 11 months without a piece of animal flesh in my digestive system and I’m rather enjoying it, but I’d really love to lose about 30 pounds.
My last update was about wearing the holter monitor after 3 months of trying to get one from Kaiser Permanente. They shaved my chest and glued the thing on. I dropped it off on New Year’s Day. Still no word. I’m coming to expect this.
The baby’s due two weeks from Saturday. I keep thinking I’m gonna get an excited call from Shar telling me things are happening. I don’t think she’s ever been more ready to be a mother in her life. Me, I’m a little nervous but also very excited.
Two nights ago it moved a lot in her belly and I caught a little bit of it on video. Kind of alien-like! Can’t wait to meet him or her!
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I finally complained to Kaiser Permanente that I was going to switch insurance providers if they didn’t get me in for a holter moniter. It had been three months since my doctor requested one for me and I was getting pretty upset.
Thursday KP called me to setup an appointment for the next day to get fitted for one. The lady was apologetic, and I kept my cool, but I really wanted to be an asshole. Even if this turns out to be nothing, no one should have to wait 3 months for something so simple when you have a family history of heart problems.
Anyway, my heart has only done its flutter twice since I’ve been wearing this thing, so hopefully they can get a read on it and tell me what’s going on. I’m wearing it it until 4:00 today.
My grandfather, whom I met only once, had a condition called an bicuspid aortic valve and died in his 60s. I learned this from my half uncle, whom also has the condition and had heart surgery in his 40s. I may not have it. My recent EKG came back normal, but they only monitored for about a minute. This bicuspid aortic valve is like a an occasional hard push in the heart. I’m not sure if what I’m experiencing is the same thing. But the combo had me scared and wanting to know.
Prior to figuring out my family history, I thought maybe it had something to do with my smoking or eating too much shit food. But I just hit the two year mark since I last had a cigarette and I’m working on a year since I’ve had meat. My cholesterol was way down 6 months after quitting the stuff. And I kept having the heart flutter.
Maybe this isn’t a big deal. But I guess I know my body and it’s not something I’m used to experiencing. Things happen as we age, but it still seems strange.
In other news, Melissa started having contractions for her baby yesterday and she’s in the hospital. I guess after hours she is still being induced. I’m not sure of the details, but I hope all is well with her and her son. I’m sure we’ll learn more soon enough from her and Natasha.
I drove to work yesterday for the first time in a couple of months since I needed to go to the hospital yesterday. I went to Ross and got some new underwear, which I’m strangely excited about. I also think driving sucks now. Traffic was super frustrating on lunch and after work and I can tell it has a major impact on my mental attitude. Even though I got my car fixed, I’m still taking the train to work (I did every day but Friday this week).
The weather has been consistently a little more wet, but not terrible for this time of year. The cloud breaks are still common, we haven’t got any snow, and we only had a couple of days of frost.
Zoey is sitting on the bed behind me and has brought multiple toys to me to get my attention. She really wants to play. I probably should give her some exercise.
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———
Songs:
Sun Kil Moon - This is Not Possible
Car Seat Headrest - Bodys
Another Christmas come and gone. Hard to believe.
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It’s been a sort of weird adjusting expectations with a baby on the way and not being “home” for the holidays. Christmases were always such a big deal in our house. Tree, decorations, lots of gifts. My mom still tries to buy us all a bunch of gifts and I’m pushing 40. But with the baby coming next month, budgeting takes precedence.
And to be honest, Shar and I had some disagreements over this. I am definitely less frugal than her, and I got upset. No one ever said marriage was easy, and compromise we sometimes do. I’m working on it.
I grew up living at my grandmother’s house for a number of years. It was a tiny little 3-bedroom place in Saginaw, Michigan. I had 6 aunts and uncles and a lot of them had kids as well and we’d all cram into that house and the presents would be stacked halfway to the ceiling it seemed.
My grandmother, who lived on social security only, would save up for half the year just to make sure each of her dozen or so grandkids would have something from her to open on Christmas morning. She had a budget of $25 or so for each kid. I know that was a lot of money for her, but it was important to her. I think that must have stuck with me because I still view Christmas as a really big deal, even when money is tight. Not in the sense that I think mindless consumerism is important. But just that it’s the time to splurge a little and show the people you love that you’ve been thinking of them.
Here in Oregon, it’s still a little strange adjusting to the moderate temps and general lack of snow in these parts of the world this time of year. At that same grandma’s house, she used to cover her crappy windows in clear plastic to keep the chill out of the rooms. I can still remember her standing on a chair and using a blow dryer to heat and stretch the plastic until it fit snugly. I’d often wake up as a kid and sit over a heater vent on the ground, pulling my shirt over my knees and trapping all the heat into it. But I ain’t complainin’ about the weather in the PNW.
This year, we spent Christmas Eve in La Center with Shar’s mom and step family. Big full house with lots of kids. It was fun.
After opening up gifts for our own wee little Christmas yesterday, Shar and I went up to Hagg Lake and walked a trail. Zoey stomped around in the mud a bit yesterday and we could tell she had a really good time running around and sniffing everything that she could. She snagged a few dozen burs in her Velcro fur and got mud all over. A glob of mud got on her eyelash and basically cemented it shut.
At one point, Zoey jumped a small creek to retrieve a stick (we threw over) and she had a hard time convincing herself that she could get back to us. It was kind of cute as she whined like a puppy, but we eventually got her back.
Back at the house, the dog got a bath and some scissors to the fir. I fiddled with the washing machine that has been giving us problems and Shar whipped up a real nice Christmas dinner (I’m looking forward to the leftovers for lunch today). After dinner, we all snuggled up on the couch and rented a movie before calling it a night.
Today I celebrate 2 years since I had my last cigarette. I remember smoking my last one the day after Christmas in 2016 and hopping a plane back to Portland before we went off to San Diego for New Years’ Eve. I was so tired of the control it had over me. It goes without saying, but this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. To say nothing about the health benefits, I’m saving at least $2500 per year. Can’t believe how much went up in smoke over the years, but happy to report I’m still going strong and not looking back.
Getting muddy with my girls and drinking hot cocoa on a sunny Christmas Day.
Quick trip to the nurse midwife before the holiday festivities.
Papiâs white elephant by way of necessity. Just a sip! #bulleitrye
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I finally got a good night’s sleep after a few days of short ones and I feel great. Sleep is so important, something our teacher in the birthing class reminded us of last night.
It was our last class, and it was full of useful information. I can’t think about what all this would be like without the knowledge others have passed down. I still feel so ill-prepared, but at this point, I guess that’s probably how a lot of soon-to-be first-time parents feel.
I’ll spare the photos I took of the transition baby shit makes over the course of the first few weeks.
Speaking of shit, today would’ve been my dad’s 60th birthday had he been alive. Hopefully, on whatever plane he’s on, he’s evolved.
So proud of this lady for passing her licensing exam today!!! At 7 and a half months pregnant! Youâre looking at the latest Licensed Clinical Social Worker, folks :)
Yesterday we lounged around Shar’s mom’s house for awhile before getting out the door at 4:00. We stopped into the Grotto to get a peak at the Christmas lights without paying the $5 a head to slosh through the rain and the cold wind.
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All 5 of us piled back into Tim’s Jeep to check out Urban Fondue. Not a place setup for vegetarians and sharing, so I was sort of disappointed, but I got something I could eat, ate some cheese, bread, and a beat salad, and a little bit of dessert.
The night was going well, but the girls and their mom got into a bit of an argument at the end, so things got tense there for a minute. Shar’s sister is in town form San Diego so I don’t think it was her idea of a good use of her time.
They dropped me off at the train at Goode Hollow so I could high-tail it home. They argued more on their way back to the in laws’ house, but I guess they all smoothed it over today. Something about past relationships, too much drink in the system, etc. Something something about our baby-to-be. I don’t really care, just glad it’s all back to normal.
So I had the house to myself and honestly I fell asleep really early (for me, that’s 10:00). I slept on my back wrong at the in laws’ and I needed to just not think about the pain and not move.
Went to the gym today on lunch. Didn’t eat much, so I swung by a Lebanese place at the Orenco stop on the way home. First time there. Not too bad. Saved enough of my falafel wrap for lunch tomorrow.
On my way back to the train, I saw that a new brewery is opening up called Manama Brewing Co. I guess they’re out of Corvallis, and I’m super excited that they’ll be there even though I know nothing about them.
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We don’t have anything of the sort within easy reach of the house, at least not by transit, so this is much needed. Three stops away! Let’s hope it’s good, and that they do growler fills!
Shar’s back tonight, and I’ll have to help her unload all the stuff from the baby shower. We’ll have to organize it some other night because my back is still not tip-top.
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Really nice turnout today for the PNW baby shower. Can’t believe the outpouring of generosity from Shar’s friends and family. We will definitely be off to a good start when baby arrives in terms of necessities and comfort items between the gifts received here and in Michigan.
It was only my second baby shower, and I debated whether or not I should attend, but I’m happy I did. There was even one other guy there (thanks, James!).
There were 4 pregnant ladies, too. Out of control!
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I made some Indian food - a veggie korma that took a bit more prep than I thought it would, but it turned out well and people liked it a lot from what I heard.
Shar’s cousin Alyssa made us a cake. The women painted onesies, which was cool (especially Daddy’s Favorite Little Pint).
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After opening presents (and a few beers), I needed a nap. I stole away to the bedroom for a snooze. I needed it.
We ended the night around the fireplace with a movie. Tim got home from a golf trip down in Coos Bay and brought a pizza while we chilled out. All in all, a great day.
#PDX #friyay
I spent the weekend doing nothing an onlooker would find spectacular, but it was altogether exactly what I needed. It seems like the go-go-go sometimes needs a break, and that’s what we did. At least in the sense that we weren’t off to somewhere or something for a change.
I cleaned out my closet. Yep, dug down to the bottom of things. All of the stuff that doesn’t make me feel great to wear, or my belly has outgrown them. Lots of 34 size pants. A few medium shirts. We filled up a donation basket and brought it to the second hand store. It feels good to have some space cleared away, and hopefully someone else can find them useful.
We thought about getting a Christmas tree this year - a large one, but decided against the expense - we’ll look for sales after the holiday. This year we’ll use the little 3-footer Shar got from the dollar store a few years back. One of my favorite and least favorite things about Shar is how notoriously cheap she is. She may reform me yet.
We took some holiday photos with the dog. I immediately thought about those DINKs who take photos with their dog. Yeah, I guess we are those people. But so the fuck what. We love our dog. Here it is:
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Last night we relaxed on the couch and watched the movie Crazy Rich Asians. Shar wasn’t very excited about it because she’s not into RomComs, but she actually ended up liking it more than I did.
I was telling her last night how nice it has been settling into our life together. I couldn’t have been more grateful sitting there sinking into the couch with both of my girls at my sides.
The best breakfast sandwiches.
#commute
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<noscript><img src="https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/92110/2023/a03cf9da5c.jpg" alt="My grandmother’s house in Saginaw, MI before she passed away. I lived here with her for several years growing up." /></noscript><img class="thumb-image" src="https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/92110/2023/a03cf9da5c.jpg" data-image="https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/92110/2023/a03cf9da5c.jpg" data-image-dimensions="2500x1875" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="My grandmother’s house in Saginaw, MI before she passed away. I lived here with her for several years growing up." data-load="false" data-image-id="5bfec5846d2a73a8a442ea2c" data-type="image" />
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<div class="image-caption"><p>My grandmother’s house in Saginaw, MI before she passed away. I lived here with her for several years growing up.</p></div>
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Round here, everybody's always talking about home,' said Balfour. 'Can't help think that the pleasure's in the missing.” ― Eleanor Catton, "The Luminaries"
Settling in back at home and at work after a week back in the mitten state. It’s getting stranger and stranger going back, if I’m being honest. It’s always good to see everybody and old haunts, but the longer I’m in Oregon the more Michigan’s problems become glaringly obvious. From roads that will shake your fillings out, to dying downtowns trying their damnedest to hold on, it’s rough to be there for any length of time. Hell, even the skies are a different sort of gray than Oregon’s, and that’s saying a lot. At least here the sky moves and swirls and lets the light through, its rains giving the trees life and keeping things emerald.
It was good to see my family. However, things haven’t been amazing for them. Eric lost his job at the dealership and Brad is going through a divorce. Mom had her double mastectomy a couple months ago and even though she’s handling her chemo really well, it’s still scary. She’s lost her hair, but she looks healthy, if not more tired than usual. The doctors seem very positive about her prognosis. I know they’ll all get through this. My dad is also retiring soon, so I’m excited to see how they get to enjoy that.
It was great to see my nephew Lincoln, old friends, my Gran in Detroit. I visited my other grandmother’s grave and her old house where we used to live, in Saginaw.
Back here, we’re cozied up for the holidays and sloshy weather, waiting for our baby to get here. Last night we had a birthing class, which was really eye-opening to me. Shar went last week with her mom since I wasn’t in town, but last night was my first class. The teacher is great. She was a doula for a lot of years and she’s a mother of 3, so she really knows her stuff and is giving us a lot of details on what to expect when Sharayah goes into labor. I’m feeling more confident about it already. I think Sharayah is, too. Two more months and everything will change. Something people can’t seem to stop reminding me about in their weird smugness like no one has ever gone through it but them.
As for my health, I’m just a month away from not having had a cigarette in 2 years. I haven’t vaped in about 5 months. I’m about 9 months into vegetarianism. I’ve gained probably close to 10 pounds between the quitting smoking and quitting meat. My cholesterol is way down. I changed gyms, to one close to my work, so I can walk there on my lunch break. I’ve been going every day. It’s awesome. I’ve also been taking the train to work everyday, which gets me walking even more. So hopefully in a few months this can help me shed some of the pounds. Of all the things that have changed for the better, my weight has been one of the few things getting me down. But I will get it done, I will.
Cracks me up that Bay City got it right but Lansing couldnât.
Selfie with my 86-year-old Gran. I setup her first smart phone for her today.
Mom threw me a baby shower. Thanks everyone for coming out! #cancersucks
Nice views of #mthood on the flight out of #PDX last night.
As to be expected, another incredible show with @aaronbacamusic.
Best of both worlds? #urbansuburban #pastiche
Full of health from milk!
#commute #sunrise
Walking home from the train.
#urbanplanning #janejacobs #brb #stfu #LOL #smh
Just about rounded out the second trimester! Still ainât no one know if itâs a boy or a girl.
The dood abides
ðâ¨
Still bloominâ
Over the moon. #23weeks
Strength comes in many different forms, not least of which are hope, bravery and love. You have these in spades, mom. Iâm very grateful for you and your strengths. Youâre taking a brave step tomorrow and I wish I could be there to hold your hand. Iâm sorry you have to go through this, but I know you will only come back stronger, as you have so many other times. I love you. #fuckcancer
When Shar drives, I crane my neck.
Touch of grey
#pdx
The original Italian parish in Portland.
Honestly, I think Iâd just like to live out here. I think thatâs why I keep coming back. Impossible with Oregonâs land use laws, but a guy can dream.
Waiting for mom to get home from work. #nationaldogday
Shitâs getting real.
I need a lot of time to myself. I sneak it in when I can.
My nephew, Lincoln.
Not too bad for a map my work was gonna throw away and a frame from a second hand store. #pdx #portland #map #maps #oregon
Spent the day with my beautiful wife in Astoria for her birthday.
Celebrated 13 weeks with a hike up Smith Rock over the weekend!
Beautiful morning.
Two years ago today I bought this house in pre-foreclosure status as a short sale. Itâs not the fanciest, nor the largest, neither is it the type of house I thought I wanted when I moved here. But Iâm happy to make it a home with @outdoorshar. Getting there. Now, if the heat would just let up long enough for me to finish this paint job. Next summer Iâm officially calling it: no maintenance, more trips!!!! #diy #rehab #rehabilitation #homeimprovement #pdx #portland #carpentry #paint #housepainting #beforeandafter #midnightblue #house #home
Straight chillin
Hey, dude.
Snagged some old maps before the office purge. #pdx #portland #maps #map
#tbt to 2007, London Eye. Mustâve been about 175 lbs in this photo. Iâd like to get back to that point. I think I still have that shirt, even though thereâs no way it still fits.
#citylab
Def not creepy.
Itâs slow going when you have a job, but itâs starting to look like a different house (to me). I decided Iâm going to take it easy on the white I think and throw in some darker accents when Iâm done.
A park all to ourselves. #wildernessculture #wildflowers #pnw #oregon #pdx
Ah, post-riots architecture. Gotta hate it.
New toy store downtown. Canât say that Iâve seen a toy store in a downtown my entire life, sad to say.
6.29.18. #moon
Turning out to be an awesome day. #mthood #pnw #pdx #oregon #exploregon
Lunchtime meanderings. #horse
Loving the sunshine.
My dad is a pretty cool guy. Still ready for adventures. Hereâs one I wonât soon forget. Happy Fatherâs Day, Vern!
Shopping for a new pair of glasses. Are these in style yet?
That one time the President spoke at graduation. Hard to believe itâs been 8 years. #potus #Michigan #umich #trumpsucks #taubmancollege
Homemade Mac n cheese. Itâs whatâs for dinner.
Federalist was a success @spencerolinek. Thanks for the rec
amapaday
Howdy.
The way she gets me to do things sometimes is by threatening to cut off her hair. And let me tell you, it works.
People have asked me how Iâve managed to make it 3 months without eating meat. Well, the Beyond Meat burger on ciabatta is pretty special. #beyondmeat #vegetarian #WTF
Another one from late last year. Just thinking tonight about how this is a life I never even imagined could have happened a few years back. Nothingâs perfect, but I never asked it to be. Just better. And it is. ⢠⢠⢠⢠#hike #hiking #oregon #exploregon #pnwonderland #pnw #saddlemountain #coastrange #cascadia #trail #view #ontopoftheworld #liveasaverb
On top of the world. ⢠⢠⢠⢠#hike #hiking #oregon #exploregon #pnwonderland #pnw #saddlemountain #coastrange #cascadia #dood #doodle #goldendoodle #dogsofinstagram #puppers #trail #view #ontopoftheworld #liveasaverb
An actual place I visited on my birthday this year. A sort of happy accident we ended up here on our last day on the island, and a spectacular farewell it was. #magestic
#bukowski
Throwback to that one time. #ourwild
Our rose bushes this year are going wild.
Nine years ago we lost you. It took me a long time to even process or talk about it. Miss you every day.
Seriously the sweetest.
Beautiful day for a wedding.
Wildflowers bloominâ on a lunchtime ride today.
When you both misunderstood one another as to who was supposed to get pizza, but both bring home exactly the same (special order) pizza without coordinating.
#Oregon
Parking deck views. #mthood
Shaping up to be a pretty nice week.
Shopping for new frames and stopped into Warby Parker yesterday. Shar says I look like an old man in these. #roundfacestruggles
Yes, please. * * * * #portland #nwportland #pdx #oregon #urban #historic #historichouse #spring #house
Night out. Heading to see @realrobbell.
Playing with the kids. (Sure feels good to fall in love all over again.)
Spotted at local Goodwill.
3 years ago, unpacking, moving alone. Trying to make something out of nothing.
Growler-getter almost complete. * * * * #surly #crosscheck #bike #bicycle #cruiserbike
Seismic retrofit by @seraarchitects. I like the corners, and that the basement will be daylighted. Hopefully the old concrete gets a power wash and the interior gets a refresh.
Definitely over planted the olâ garden this year. I need to build another one.
I like this idea. * * * * #pdx #slabtown #portland #nw #pnw #lobby #signs #parks #tile #leed #interiordesign
Take me back * * * * #hawaii #maui
#siblingday #brothers
Ongoing seismic retrofit at the office.
Nearing the finish line on the music room.
Been awhile since Iâve been down here. Almost like theyâre building a city from scratch.
My favorite new food cart. Argentinian empanadas. Yum.
Happy (postponed) opening day #tigers #revivemi #openingdaydet #baseball
And…itâs snowing
Our hemlock straight up died. Very strange.
Happy itâs no longer calling for snow this week. Might need to thin this out later, once I see how it does, but got it in early which makes me happy.
Everyoneâs moving to St. Johns!
Continuing with things put on pause for the wedding, finishing up loose ends.
Itâs Friday and Iâm done with this rodeo. #fbf
I never tire of it.
Always a good sign when the magnolias pop.
This dog is obsessed with birds and squirrels.
Making changes.
#thestubbornlovers
Adaptive reuse, phone booth edition.
Look at this beautiful lady. Beachside in LÄhainÄ. Dinner for two.
Kaanapali. Where the trees glow.
I swear to god I am never going home.
I will be dreaming of this Cubano for the rest of my life.
Facing fears, kayaking the whale-infested oceans. #vday
This will work. #honeymoon #maui
An awesome weekend with family and friends for our wedding. Iâm a lucky dude. (ð¸:Lindsay Baca).
#mrandmrs
I only have eyes for you. #valentine #vday #vd #valentinesday #balloon #heart
I know the exact moment I knew I wanted to marry her. It was our first trip to the coast together, on my birthday a couple of years ago. It was this day, not long after this photo was taken, when She was sitting next to me eating clam chowder in a rundown restaurant overlooking the Pacific and the sun was shining through the windows on her face. I didnât know then what would happen, I just hoped things would stay as good as they were. Not every day can be a sunny February birthday at the coast, but on the whole, it just gets better all the time. 1 week.
This is what $130 looks like at New Seasons. 2 paper bags of groceries. No fancy meats or specialty items (except for the 6 pack). Iâm conflicted because I love the small size of the store. I can get a little more at Winco but itâs always chaos in there. #groceryshopping #hellonearth
The parking deck has views. #sunset #portland
Bitter cup #bachelor #bachelorette
Itâs times like these…
Happy day! New de Garde location in downtown Tillamook!!
#trees #evergreen #bw
Nightmare before Christmas.
#zoolights #pdx
Love old mid-century modern schools. #architecture
The space above that building on the corner has been empty for about a year. I wish it were my office.
Sweet couch, presumably free.
The holdout.
Favorite lunch spot on a clear day.
Itâs been cold but enjoying the clear skies.
Rural planning: bike races and marijuana tourism potential.
Happy Holidays!
Wolf at the door on thxgiving.
Being engaged in the backyard, etc.
#tbt. 14 years old. My first electric guitar, Christmas 1995.
Two years of sarcasm, adventures and fart jokes. <3 her.
From the #PNW, with love @foundersbrewing
Ring game. Yellow gold, because Iâm a grumpy old man.
Melissa and Natashaâs wedding!
Made a dentil shelf for the door. Next up, paint.
Gotta get âem in while you still can. Beautiful day for it, too.
Wedding venue-ing.
Tomatoes, yellow peppers, and jalapeños all did fine this year. Poblanos, not so much.
#stjohns
Current situation.
#nimby #banana #urbanplanning
Getting married 4 months from tomorrow (we think)! Puerto Rico getting hit by Hurricane Maria has made things challenging, but Iâm thankful to have a partner who can roll with it. <3
Not too far off.
Portland, youâre doing great. Keep it up. ð
Wine tasting with friends from LA. Sometimes I forget that this is 10 minutes from my front door.
ecnepsleahcim spotted on the Fiction - New Arrivals shelf at Powellâs.
An hour and a half later, still no food. #harlowpdx
That time my mom went back to college with three boys and graduated magna cum laude. #fbf
Spiders are tangible evidence of evil.
Whoooboy, Iâm a âfarmerâ.
Sheâs in heaven…
This photo cracks me up. The king of awkward and his ferocious dog.
Freshly cut #doodle for these last weeks of #summer.
Gonna have to find a creative way to use all these.
Sadly, my friend Trevor passed away in July. One of his favorite authors was Kurt Vonnegut, and he had an Etsy store where he made and sold lapel pins, such as this (Shop Martin, named after his dachshund). I was able to purchase one that his parents fulfilled. Itâs an epitaph that is in Slaughterhouse Five. It reads âEverything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt.â
Doodle Velcro ass.
#rainier
#latergram from an awesome rooftop patio, perfect weather, and birthday shenanigans.
#eclipse #solareclipse #solareclipse2017 #pdx #oregon
A difference of opinion.
Short but tough. #gorge #pdx #oregon #columbiariver #hike #washington
Out for some fun with the birthday girl!
Model of Downtown Detroit at Bedrock. Shows Hudsonâs and Monroe Blocks. RenCen decidedly absent. Still, Hudson Block will be prominent once built. #detroit #hudsonblock #skyline #model #architecture #skyscraper
Getting close to finishing the upstairs trim. Probably my least favorite job so far and has taken me way too long to finish. Onto the next bedroom. #rehab
#deadremedy #billstock
Moved to an albatross handlebar. #surly #crosscheck #nitto
Hard to believe Iâve never read this. But thatâs about to change.
New blog post on A Sturdy Life about how to make an extra $1000 per year. And no, this isnât an ad for #Uber drivers. Link in bio. #frugal #budget #pennypincher #savemoney #intentionalliving #ting #minimalism #minimalist #iphone #iphone8 #frugal #tips
I thought the devil wore a blue dress? #angel #freshcoffee
This eve. #pdx #skyline #oregon #portland #skyscrapers #mountains #mounthood #mthood #pnw #pnwonderland #westcoast #exploregon #oregon #cityscape #citylife #city #cities #overlook #buildings #citylab
#hood
Back in the day. #triumph #scrambler #moto #motorcycle #puremichigan #motorbike
Another high quality example of some Hillsboro ingenuity.
New blog post from @asturdylife titled âHitting the Hard Reset Button on Social Mediaâ. Link in bio. . . . . . . #minimalism #minimalist #intentionalliving #blog #blogger #phone #socialmedia #reset #facebook #friends #iphone #cyberbullying #truefriends #lessismore #alifealive
Goodbye green monster that Iâve had since college. #adulting.
I like this little craftsman in my work neighborhood. They just rebuilt the porch. #craftsman #bungalow #oregon #pnw #pdx #portland
Got the garden in late, but…signs of life.
The best photo from last weekend.
#Engaged to the love of my life.
While watching whales we saw some sleepy seals.
From sea to shining sea. #america
#newport #oregon #bay #boat
New blog post on A Sturdy Life called ‘The Struggle is Real’. Link in my bio. . . . . . . #politics #socialjustice #trump #liberalism #struggle #swamp #draintheswamp
I read somewhere once that New Seasons isn’t the true sign of gentrification, Little Big Burger is. I don’t know if that is true or not, but the sweet fire burgers are delicious.
#gregandnoreenswedding
#sidecar #moto #motorcycle #motorbike
In what decade would you guess this neighborhood was built?
I love lake.
Ten years ago my professor, Morgan Sweeney, passed away while on our U.K. study abroad trip. He was a funny, kind-hearted man straight from a novel or movie. He seemed genuinely interested in his students and I had many conversations with him while sitting on benches such as the one pictured, outside of castles and other historic sites. That summer was one of the best experiences of my life (save for riding a coach across the rolling English countryside whilst hungover). Thanks, Morgan.
One of my favorite hikes. Awesome day. Now off to Double Mountain for beer and pie.
Just peachy
Don’t bother trying to get ahold of me for the next several days. . . . . . . #gibson #lespaul #doublecut #tvyellow
Z’s best George Burns impression.
A nice day in #pdx.
#skylark
Beautiful day.
#Seattle #skyline
Howdy.
When great 3rd places pop up where once none were, we rejoice.
First MLS game! #timbers
Live a meaningful life.
Checking out @theminimalists live at the Aladdin in #pdx. #minimalism #lessisnowtour
#Latergram. The nice weather has me out of hibernation mode and looking forward to more adventures.
One’s recovering from a rabies vaccine, the other from eye surgery, and I’m dying from cuteness overload.
Catching up after a busy weekend. Day 28 of the #Minsgame. Not pictured, but purged/sold: 2nd gen Apple TV, iPod Classic, and an old Yamaha receiver.
Zoey should’ve rented a rototiller.
Is this still good, @gaybrains?
New blog post on A Sturdy Life about valuing your time. Link in my bio. . . . . . . #minimalism #minimalist #asturdylife #travel #redwoods #intentionalliving #alifealive #pdx #oregon #california #bucketlist #planning #trip #vacation #summer #weekend #earthday #trees
This week I’m on an “automobile diet” and taking the train to work every day this week for #earthday. Hoping to establish a longer-term pattern. Here are two projects we partly funded (left and right foreground). They also happen to be two of the most energy efficient buildings in the country. #communitydevelopment #trimet #max #pdx #passivehouse #urbanplanning #affordablehousing
“Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.”
I have a new blog post on #asturdylife about when thrifting isn’t thrifty. Link in my bio. . . . . . . #minimalism #minimalist #springcleaning #declutter #declutteryourlife #thrifting #thrifty #thriftstorefinds #thrift #pdx
Day 13 of the #minsgame. Parting with some of my less prized records. 91 items and counting. . . . . . . #minimalism #minimalist #springcleaning #declutter #declutteryourlife #records #vinyl #thriftfinds #lessismore #scrambler #moto #motorcycle #cyclepsyhos
Day 9 of the #minsgame. Resorted to raiding the sock drawer. What a mess it was. . . . . . . . #minimalism #minimalist #springcleaning #declutter #declutteryourlife #day9 #socks
Powell Butte with my girls.
Day 7 of the #minsgame and this is officially getting harder. A portion of the ties I never wear. . . . . . #minimalism #minimalist #springcleaning #declutter #declutteryourlife #day7
Got an upcoming move planned? Are you dreading it? Check out my latest blog post. Link in my bio. . . . . . #minimalism #moving #growing #pdx #packing #uhaul #storage #clutter #declutter #minimalist
I’m looking for durable product recommendations to include in a list I’m curating called The Sturdy Thirty. It could be practically anything you’ve found a lot of value in. Shoot me a line if you have one and follow me at @asturdylife! #thesturdythirty #minimalism
I’m starting a new project called A Sturdy Life. If interested, you can find the link in my bio. Ain’t much there yet, but bookmark if you wish.. . . .
#minimalism #intentionalliving #minimalist #architecture #urbanism #placemaking #urbanplanning #life #pdx #asturdylife #growth
#guitargoals #gibson #lespaul #special #doublecut #tvyellow
This week marks 3 months without cigarettes and I ran almost 3 miles before 7 am. Quick, someone check my temperature.
I love this place. Feeling pretty special.
Daffodils and tulips coming up, and roses well on their way. Looking forward to painting this sucker because I’m having fun slowly transforming this former short sale shithole into something a bit nicer. #homeownership #oregon #pdx #sweatequity
Can’t help but smile at the Dual Hearted IPA by @fallingskybrew. I wonder if @bellsbrewery has any thoughts on this?!? #pdx #craftbrew #beer #twohearted
Pawsing for a photo. . . . .
#puppy #puppies #puppiesofinstagram #goldendoodle #goldendoodlesofinstagram #pdx #doodle #cute
#raisedbeds #garden #spring #oregon #willamettevalley #cedar #organic #homesteading
I’m home sick today, bitches.
Ready for my girls to come home after a long weekend in Cali. I feel like a rudderless ship when left to my own devices. I just go from task to task to distract myself.
Quasi
All in all, a great birthday weekend. No huge plans made, but lots of time with both my girls, working on the house, good food, and a beer or two. Here’s to a year full of growth, a heart full of love and appreciation, and a promise to invest in those who who have invested in me.
. . . . .
#saintjohnsbridge #stjohns #pdx
Epic.
Lunchtime meanderings.
I swear to god, she is just staring at herself.
My prescription for stress relief.
So good.
East Jordan, MI leaving its mark 2300 miles away.
Repurposed desktop with hairpin legs. Didn’t turn out too bad.
Zoeymonster
Woke up today knowing in my heart of hearts that it’s time for a change. When you love everything about your life except your job, it’s a scary feeling. The end of 2015 and all of 2016 was great to me. I moved to a great city, found the woman of my dreams, had countless adventures, and bought a house. 2017 will be focused on physical, mental and spiritual health.
Amazon package delayed due to natural disaster.
I get so much more work done in the comfort of my own home. It’s too bad my place of work allows this 0% of the time, except on my own time, which is obviously “unpaid”. Us lazy government workers. If the general public knew how many times me and my coworkers put in 60+ hour weeks without overtime, just because we’re understaffed and we care about the job we do, I think maybe there would be less shit talking about government workers going on. And maybe I could have a goddamn beer on my lunch once in a while.
Our little monster with the sneak attack ear licks.
Taking in the sights (and smells and tastes).
City by the bay.
Her parents got jokes
#hooverdam
Everyday she’s hustlin'. #thugkitchen
Searched for a filter to hide the hangover. Alas, it does not exist. Me and ma, wrapping what seemed like 1,000 gifts today. I need a vacation from my vacation.
Sledding!!!
Growing up too fast!!!
Had to #dib
Hanging out with my favorite for the day before I scoot off to the wintry Midwest.
Here, have a seat.
Lazy Sundays.
St Johns Winter Beer Fest
Project maple radio progressing.
Something I’ve been saving.
Reusing some maple flooring to make a Bluetooth stereo.
Black Goldendoodle going home with us in a couple weeks. Shar’s pretty excited!
Lounging and loving with full hearts and bellies on thanksgiving. Watched ‘Bad Moms’ at the request of my mom. Left my keys in her parents kitchen; came in two hours late to work today. “Floating Holidays” replaced automatic days off. Not complaining. It’s dead at the office, which, not surprisingly, makes it easy to get actual work done.
My lil Eskimo.
A year ago she walked into a bar and I’ve been her chauffeur ever since. She must be doing something (all the things) right.
What the hell is this thing
Pomeroy Place Veterans Housing groundbreaking!
Board of County Commissioners approve funding for homeless veterans' housing. Not a difficult sell, but a win nonetheless.
Date night at the ice skating rink. #luckydude
I don’t, either. #idgaf #1dgaf #alaska #licenseplate
Heartless Bastards.
Worked in the yard again last night, trying to make it into something sane. Lots of tree limbs and debris and old toys and junk left from the old renters. Drank some beer and burned some branches under the guise of a recreational fire. It was nice (and no one called the fire department).
#dadhat #jumpcreek #idaho
Another exciting training at a HUD field office.
Hey boy-see
Who’s laughing now, Google Street View?
Off to a good start.
King for a day.
Someone in the building didn’t like the gendered restroom signs.
Leaves turnin' on my quiet street. Fall in the air.
Looks like a nuke went off in Portland.
Wrapping up a pretty decent weekend. Ahh
I love that this little house has a huge redwood in its yard.
Even the strip malls…
The most physically demanding thing I’ve done (so far).
Well, I think that’s a little bit of an improvement. Exploring paint options.
Stuff happening.
Happy 30th to this goofball, the light of my life. May the love and happiness you share with others return to you tenfold.
Enter:suburbia. Closing next week ð¬
And my heart will go on
Post white water rafting. First of many, so much fun.
Stop off at Buoy.
Pretending to know what I’m doing
Pops looking pretty excited about pizza and beer after a long day in the gorge yesterday.
Shoots n ladders.
It’s just ok. #nofilter
Does not suck.
Ramona Falls
Fording the rapids.
Super proud of this amazing woman for completing her MSW today. Looking forward to many more weekends like this one (sans homework!)
O hai. #1925 #martin #acoustic #guitar
#First official #5k since high school. On an upward trend… #pdx #iwasarunner
Get busy livin'.
Another awesome day in the gorge. 8ish mile hike at Eagle Creek. #eaglecreek #oregon #waterfall #hike
Love where you live. #Oregon
Am I dreaming? ð #coyotewall #washington #oregon #columbiarivergorge #gorgeous #hike
“I’ve always loved infiltration. To me, that’s what punk rock has always been about: going where you don’t belong without anyone noticing until it’s too late. It’s not about how you dress. So, I think we chose the venues under the guise of, “Hey, this place looks pretty damn beautiful. Let’s go there.” The Fox Theatre in Detroit, for example. It’s a pleasure to wander in this historic place, set up shop and say, “the elegant scumbags are in town.” -Josh Homme #americanairlines #austintoportland #flight #detroit #punk #iggypop #joshhomme #foxtheatre
You know you’re in Texas when you almost get run over by a man on a mule on the sidewalk. ***
#austin #tx #texas #walkability #travel #mule #horseback #southernliving #eastaustin #cowboy
They tried to make me go to rehab, but I went to the Farmacy instead. Austin, I love you. ***
#austin #tx #texas #brunch #hillsidefarmacy #breakfast #restaurant #eastaustin #clever #travel #wandering #eats #reuse #historic #renovation #rehab #wouldntitbenice #farmtotable #southernliving #comfortfood
East 6th is looking a lot like North Mississippi. #pdx #atx #portland #austin
Dig it. #shadows #signs #design #chiocodesign #austin #texas
Mornin'. #Texas #Capitol #Austin
Wait…so, what exactly is “authentic Detroit style pizza,” anyway? #Detroit #313 #austin #michigannative #texas
#isthisreallife #waterfall #oregon #pnw #silverton #hike
We saw probably 10 waterfalls today and put down a good number of miles hiking. It was radical. #waterfall #silverton #Oregon #hike #pnw
Things were pretty good at brunch today. #tastynalder #portland #breakfast #travelportland
Blue Dot Double #IPA for a blue sky day. #hairofthedog #pdx
Pristine automobile. #VW #volkswagen #lovebug #vintage #cars #carsofinstagram #pdx
Picnicking with this bodacious babe. Grateful every day. #mountsainthelens #washington
Neighbors with a #luthier #pdx
#oregon
Love these guys @geographermusic #pdx #hawthornetheater
Quiet morning. #pdx #burnside #sunrise #usbancorptower #highrise #skyline #oregon #roadtrip #fuelforlife
#oldmancans #pdx
I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of the Oregon coast. #pacific #ocean #mist #Oregon #oregonexplored #alifealive
#pioneersquare #seattle #rise
#stairwaytoheaven #seattle
Only in #Portland. #pdx #keepportlandweird #goosehollow #lumina #cars
#magnolias blooming.
#spring #pdx #portland #psu #arbor
Stuff’s about to get weird. #1984 #knitting #freebooks
Birthday at the #beach. Beautiful #Oregon day.
A little sweetness in my life for my day off. #saltandstraw #presidentsday #icecream #pdx
#PDX #Bridgetown #portland
On that not-so-dusty #trail. #Oregon #sunrays #trees #green #pnw
#oxbow #deer #oregon
#downtown #portland #pdx #skyline #willamette #oregon #bridge
#downtown #pdx #Stumptown #portland #coffee
Book of Mormon
#martin #martinguitar #pdx #portland #guitar #acoustic #elderly #lansing
Still feel like I’m cheating winter by living here.
My super smart, caring and beautiful niece excited about opening a gift from gramma. She’s getting so big. #latergram
Lunchtime meandering. #mthood #oregon #pdx #hillsboro #snow #pnw
Powell’s City of Books #pdx #portland #bookstore #powells
We’re all bozos in the #bus.
“Nothing has been wasted, for it all has brought you here.” #mthood #pdx
#fuckcancer #brothers #homefortheholidays #greymatter #cancersucks
Isn’t it funny how someplace you resented and scrapped so hard to get away from can become the ultimate place of comfort as an adult?
Practically have the place to myself. #giraffe
These folks make great beer. @baerlicbrewing #pdx #brewery
#pdx #fall #love #nature #leaves #heart #portland
A man rows his boat down the Willamette River with a fresh white Mt. Hood peaking out over the Tilikum Crossing in Portland at sunset. #snow #mthood #Tilikum #pdx #Oregon #sunset #love #bridge #mountain #cityscape #nature #river
The stable. #history
There be fungus among us.
Attempted #murder. But honestly, there were thousands of crows in downtown #pdx this evening. Eerie.
Does not suck @ Lake Cushman #washington #olympicnationalpark
Smoosh?
uspostalservice iPhone camera thinks the Paul Newman stamps I ordered are ten Paul Newmans. #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman #paulnewman
taylorswift pop #jiffypop #pdx
portlandcider’s take on a pastie. I wonder what a #yooper would think?
Not everyone in this town who wears flannel is a #lumbersexual. #pdx
I always get a kick out of this.
A nice night.
#Telekinesis at Mississippi Studios. #pdx
Soaking up as much sunshine as I can before it decides to go away for…a few months.
A very special #window.
Live music, local beer, homemade tamales and a good cause. #Bienestar #hillsboro
#VFW memorial plaza in Vancouver, WA
I need this shirt. #grumpy
I have found the vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, nougat-free center of the hippy universe. #Eugene #Oregon
Top of the morning to ya. #pdx #mthood
#tillikumcrossing #pdx
#skills
Quiet morning waiting for the streetcar to make my first journey over the Tilikum Crossing. Portland completed the loop as well as the Orange line (light rail) and they opened this weekend. Nerding out. @ridetrimet #transit #portland
Wish I were catching the Orange. But Blue line it is. @ridetrimet #trimet #max #lightrail
Contrasts
Smell ya later. #vegas
#Utah #bigsky #zionnationalpark #alive
#Utah is easily one of the most spectacular states.
#Utah #Zion
#Zion #Utah
When you find a swimming hole in the desert
#Chevy #3200 #zionnationalpark #buffalo
#Vegas #caesarspalace
#lax #googie #architecture #mcm
That’s a bummer, man.
How sweet it is to have windows.
A hot spring in a lake in a volcano in a forest in Oregon. #latergram #paulinalake #Oregon #volcano #newberry #bend #deschutes
Custom.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument. #love #Oregon
#exploregon #newberry #deschutes #hotsprings
Decided to take the #Porsche out for a drive.
#Exploregon
Pretty excited about deez donuts. #bluestardonuts
Spotted in Portland @goldenharvest #pdx #lansing
#Beirut @zachcondon #mfnw #closerwithskype
#nofilter #sauvieisland #oregon #pdx
#sauvieisland
Messing around on #sauvieisland #portland #olivertractor #roboteyes
And…we’re back in business. #Beogram @bangolufsen
#pdx #skyline #pureroregon
Not a bad Wednesday after a hard day’s work. Beer collaboration with #bcorps between @newbelgium and @hopworksbeer. The party is behind me but the view up here is amazing.
landrover defender 90. #want
Nice…brush guard? #vw #bus
I LOL’d. #cheetahs #newengland #deflategate
Woke up in a dream. #Oregon
shinola notebooks at @powellsbooks #portland #detroit
Whose tag line was first: “Your adventure begins at visitbend.com” OR “Your trip begins at michigan.org”? @visitbend @puremichigan #puremichigan #visitbend
No contest. @craftworkdetroit hands down. Take me home. #Salem #Oregon #Detroit
Fallen heroes in #sellwood. Bucked. #lego
Looking for a house to rent in #sellwood. Grabbing some BBQ at Reverend’s. Beautiful day in #portland.
#Prosciutto everywhere @hamletpdx
A grainy iPhone picture of the rising #bluemoon this past weekend at #sauvieisland over the #columbiariver #vangogh, maybe? #latergram #skinnydipping #oregon #starrynight
Ever look closely at a #plum or a #pluot? They look like delicious little #galaxies. #stardust #fruit #space #time #fruittheory
#columbiarivergorge #Oregon #pdx
Hello there. #sauvieisland #bugs
On a potential site visit for a veteran’s housing and public services project and this is the neighbor. Thought it was cool until I saw the confederate flags. Too bad. #confederateflag #turkeys #chickens #pdx
Good times.
Because 4am yoga on concrete is always a good idea @modesty4president #latergram #seattle
Stumbled upon a #sweatshop.
“Not your father’s root beer.” #hardrootbeer @smalltownbrewery @clarksbistroandpub
Obligatory #beard update for my mom. @debhagerty14
#pdx #place #placemaking #planning #architecture #placestudio #landscapearchitecture
Food pod. #pdx #camper
My favorite things. @lardopdx @buoybeer #buoyatlardo #beer #pdx
Feeling like a warm fall night, neighbor. #church
This state has that whole import substitution thing down pat. Catsup?
Latergram. Crappy photo but was introduced to this great place called the Multnomah Whiskey Library last weekend. Speakeasy style place. Took awhile to get in, but the waitstaff are incredibly knowledgeable, even given their 1,500 bottles of whiskey. The library style sliding ladders were a nice touch. Great place to sip with friends on a leather couch in a great space. #pdx #whiskey #scotch #bourbon #whiskeylibrary #library #portland #bar #speakeasy
#yodude
Teddy Roosevelt. #roughrider #statue
Hey, why not? #weezer #projectpabst
Modern barbecuing.
The green room. #PDX
“The Big Legrowlski”. Abide. #PDX #growlers #lebowski
Urban planning trivia night. #portland #pdx #urbanplanning #lotuscardroom
#parking #pdx
First time seeing one of these.
Fun finds at the #portland Goodwill. #canon #tx #vintage #film
Found in our building. #diegorivera #detroit #dia #oregon
Plan B.
Those legs tho. Short hike up to #Bagby hot springs yesterday. I love this state. #Oregon
Oh, just the World Domination Summit 2015. No big deal. #wtf #PDX #wds2015
Coincidentally perfect. #badboys #pistons #reruns #detroit #laimbeer #pdx
Now I walk #alone. Chin up. #portland
#whatever
The County takes its sustainability and social responsibility kind of seriously.
On my evening walk. This made me miss my Scrambler. #triumph #motorcycle
This city. #pdx #oregon #pot
Where the Willamette meets the Columbia. #portland #oregon
To many more days like this @maggiesisco #oregon #clacksmas #forest #rapids
#hats
The struggle is real here in Oregon. #heatwave
Affordable Housing Inventory Update at Metro
The #Oregon coast. #pdx #patches #nofilter
When I’m hungry, everything looks like bacon.
Seattle
Mt. St. Helens (54 miles away @ 8,364 ft) with Mt. Rainier in the background (104 miles away @ 14,410 ft). #pdx
Not too shabby. Mt. Hood from 50 miles out. Elevation: 11,235 ft. #mthood #pdx
Up way too early.
A little late night maintenance, #welding on the tracks. #pdx #trimet #lightrail #slowshutter
The Compromise. #trees
Those things in the distance still throw me off from time to time. The county I work in is beautiful. #flatlander
Ain’t lost. #thuglife
From earlier in the week. Last resort coffee and taking notes like a second grader.
Anyone ever done this before? 2 hours? Sounds awesome. #ziptours
Meaner Wiener. #hillsboro #hotdogs #intheshadows
I love this city. #pdx #food #burgers
Hello there! #mthood #pdx
Spotted in the 5th quadrant today en route to a great BBQ with @jeffjpdx &co. #dodge #van #vintage #pdx
#multnomah #library
Still life with #rogue. #eighthop
Because it was the right thing to do. Week one down. #pdx #rogue
Buildings of #pdx.
#idk
They might be giants. #hillsboro #pnw
An excuse to get drunk on wine, but not a bad excuse. Painting vertical lines at #clarksbistroandpub #hillsboro
The #PNW. Where ferns grow in the sewer. #nature #pdx
Yep. #goodbeer #greatfood #hillsboro @clarksbistroandpub #pinedrops
Old and new stock. #TriMet #max #pdx #hillsboro
Beaverton Central. #trimet #oregon #pdx
#lardo #portland
#portland #willamette #sail
#portland
Nice try. #Honda #ev #charging #hillsboro
Things are getting pretty rowdy down here on Taylor. #starlightparade #portland
This must be one hell of a parade if people have been setting up over 7 hours early. #starlightparade #portland
#fortgeorge #Astoria #publichouse
Genius. #Astoria #Oregon #Taps
I guess this makes it official. #librarycard #multnomah #portland
My new home.
Up at the buttcrack, racing the #sunrise. #pdx bound. #Detroit - #Portland #roadtrip
Found while cleaning. #wbw #msu #40lbslighter
Right on top while cleaning out the office.
Got the route planned. That doesn’t look too bad… #pdx #Detroit
“I park where I want” #corvette
Cleaning windows on the Boji #lansing
#thisoldsaddle #belt
#halp!
Maybe we can “borrow” this truck @maggiesisco ð #canadadry
How well do #peppers travel? Ha
Time to start that diet I’ve been meaning to get on…lol
Here kitty, kitty. #tiger
Open the #windows.
#Pyrex #labflask #dirt #plants #herbs #experimenting
#bt5k2015
#Detroit #cliffbells #leonbridges
#Michigan Governor #RickSnyder at the Building Michigan Communities Conference. Politics aside, there’s something to be said about him being the first governor to attend Michigan’s largest community development and housing event for the last 17 years.
Saying my goodbyes. #Portland #Hawthorne
Hehe #chihuahua #greatdane
1: it is an unseasonably warm, amazingly awesome day. 2: it is my last day in #Portland and I’m trying to not let that bum me out. 3: I wish I had the heart and confidence of some of these not-so-great street performers. Gotta work on that self love. Thanks #Oregon for the memorable and friendly trip. #cheers
Sunset on the #Oregon coast. Couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to drive the 101. Cheers from #Pelican.
#degarde brewery’s Petit Azacca
#contemplation #Josiah #Oregon #coast
End of the line. #holyshit
Time to hit the countryside. #haha
There is beer here. #apexbar #azaccadryhopped #bearrepublic #portland
#Portland #skyline
I’m pretty sure dogs run this town. #ohsu
Up next.
Now that’s a placemaking strategy I can get behind.
Onto #Bridgeport for the Hop Czar. #Portland
Great pour. #deschutes
Had to, and may have two. #deschutes #pinedrops
Thirsty doggy.
A couple of people having an extremely bad day?? #lovelansing
Nice little set of Homer Laughlin #coffee mugs found at #goodwill this weekend.
Nice #recordstoreday find at #voa. Wow. #vintage colonial wind-up #record player.
An easy, breezy Saturday. Forecast calls for brunch making, bike riding, thrifting, and Beer Grotto-ing.
Beautiful spring evening with a belly full of Jamaican food and a new issue of #theatlantic.
Biker babe on her new used bike! #Zoobies #oldtown #sundayfunday
I have acquired a #cowboy hat.
The new pornographers' #electricversion won me a free beer at #trivia. Love that album
Home Depot said it couldn’t be done. Shower diverter + 1/2" female pipe thread to 3/4" male garden hose thread converter + garden hose quick connect = my apartment now has laundry facilities and my clothes are clean for Easter. #smallapartment living
Good as new and glad to be out of that Malibu. #Shaheen doesn’t discriminate. #donthate #subaruofamerica
One of those days.
This place is great. #Zoobies
A good day! #cheers
Picture me rollin? #loaner #chevysontheroam
The garden has begun.
Finding some architectural #salvage pieces at #Detroit #antique mall.
#jeffersonchalmers #detroit
“Happiest #homeless person says…let #love burn your troubles away.” This guy is walking to the #cumberlandgap #Lansing #lovelansing
I went on a rant about 3rd wave coffee a few months ago. Well, this was my first nitro cold brew and it was delicious. #Lansing
Tiny #kitchen solutions.
#motorcity
#JohnVarvatos #detroit
Spring in #Detroit
I don’t know what I was thinking, but I should’ve bought this. #VOA #Lansing #Thrifting #velvetpainting
I want these machine heads. #elderly #Lansing #martin
Obviously thrilled. #cars
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. #darkhorse #doublecrookedtree #ipa
Better than a sharp stick in the eye. #Lansing
#moving along, slowly but surely.
#latergram because fur hat, that’s why. And it’s been a rough few weeks so why not laugh at yourself. Come on, Spring!!!
#Hozier #royaloak
#moving #myuglychair
Higher Grounds beans right around the corner at #GTPC
I can see this coming in handy in a few months.
#mecurybar #detroit
What a purrrfect day I’m having right meow.
Some #nextlevel #coffee making right here. #espro #frenchpress
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood at -1° #newcenter #detroit
This could be my part-time office soon. Zero complaints. #Detroit
You have outdone yourself, Dan. Keep your hands off my red #swingline! #officespace #milton #imgoingtosetthebuildingonfire
20,000 dreams #detroit
Proud owner. Thanks for the early bday gift @maggiesisco! #Pewabic #pint #cheers #madeindetroit #detroit #craftbrew #pottery
There goes my #hero
Pluck those #heartstrings all you lovely people. #valentines
#puremichigan
My brother, there’s nothing he can’t do.
#chrisbathgate #macsbar #lansing
A) Will Dan kill me if I drink his last #Founders #KBS and B) will it even matter?
#no
Snow day.
Silly kids ð¦
The renovated lobby @ the Whitney.
#michigan #pewabic #pottery #detroit
#perspective #belleisle #detroit #centralpark #manhattan #olmstead #maps
Offer accepted pending inspection and appraisal! #1923 #craftsman #bungalow
#stencil #brick
Oldest aquarium in North America. #belleisle #aquarium #detroit
Canal livin', #Detroit leanin'
Cheech
#brunch #feed #Chicago
It had to come at some point. #snow #michigan
Emily shoeing me from her stacks and stacks of #paper. We all love the #Bureaucracy!
Margaritas as big as your head.
Always nice to be #home.
#saintnick #christmas #snowglobe
Family tradition. #glenlivet
‘Use with extreme caution. Or don’t. We Arnt your mom’. #ghostpepper #bloodymary
Well this is fun.
I see that my white elephant gift of a white rhino head was well received. #work #holiday
I was recognized with a coin today from the government. It should have been cash and pizza.
No, Trulia. No.
Always a welcomed reprieve. #home
The beauty of Northern MI. #michigan
#northernnatural #traverse #tc #cider
Whiteout in the D. #detroit #riverboat #snow
Thinking back to one of my favorite days. Greeting the morning in #Paris. #sunrise #init
Leggy the lamp does NOT approve of the snow and cold. “In these heels?!” he says… #brrr #fragile #leglamp #winter #novelty
#westsidemarket
Nature hug in #Maine. What a great trip. 10 states in 5 1/2 days. #newengland #roadtrip #bucketlist #waterfall âï¸ Sorry it didn’t work out, but I’ll be back for you, NYC.
#Portland
#sunrise
Sunrise #Maine
#Maine
#newhampshire
#Vermont
Cleaning out my trunk. What the hell is this??
Maintenance weekend. #Subaru #roadtrip
#eeyore
First item on the bucket list: knock out New England and add 6 states (for a total of 41), with a pitstop in New York for good measure. #roadtrip #alifealive #doinit #subaru
#decepticon #chevy #1500 #van
No thanks. #spider
It’s only been about 10 years since I’ve seen this kid. #college #roommate
#sharonvanetten #thelovingtouch #ferndale
#grandhaven #lakemichigan #surfing #lighthouse #pier #puremichigan
#Zoobies #latergram
#Thursday #gonzo
Winter is coming. #subaru
I’ve had these middle-of-the-road #headphones for about a year. I will never go back to #earbuds. Well rounded sound quality and they drown out this chaotic office. What’s your favorite pair?
#bros
#tigers #fullmoon #puremichigan #detroit #baseball
Not bad, McGillicutty! #snackattack
Mad’s first day of 3rd grade. #latergram #growingup
She doesn’t get out much #catstagram
Um.
Few things more beautiful to me than a sycamore tree.
#Shinola clock at #EasternMarket #Detroit #Shed3
Maggie’s handiwork on an industrial desk I found at #MSU Surplus Store for $15. Steel construction with solid wood top. I like the distressed wood with the clean white paint job. Nice job! #detroit #diy #desk #furniture #apartmenttherapy
Drinks and movies. #detroit
You can have your #DollarShaveClub. #Muhle
This place is amazing. #UMich
“Flying high!”
Trimmed dat beard down to the #stubble. Feeling #naked.
Merikuh. Brad in his #flag tank #madeinchina #america #wtf #brothers
I do like this town a little bit. #detroit #peoplemover #rail #skyline
Missing this old grump something fierce. #gunther #boxers #lounging #oldman #mansbestfriend #wayback #doggie
Doesn’t make me feel old at allllll.
Plenty of great #Motown entertainment tonight at the Detroit Economic Club’s Chairman’s Dinner. #econclub
Dan breaking in my chair at the air show. #latergram
Beautiful day for a game. #tigers
#detroit #fleetwood #cadillac
Movie in bed with the munchkin.
Brad, Madisyn and Amy.
Down on the centennial farm for the family reunion. Uncle Terry’s #3100 #Chevy #Truck.
#zen
#peace
Had trouble finding my keys. #recovery #fiscalyear
A shell of his former self. #crawdad #nofilter
#eyespy #detroit #windsor #international
#canned #bells #twohearted, take me away.
The mayor of happy. #happycity #alexander
Jim and William debating the future of the city. #cnu22 #meetbflo #buffalo #jhk #jameshowardkunstler
I found the sunshine between two hulking buildings.
#cnu22 #meetbflo #buffalo #silocity #bus #sunset
#cnu22 #meetbflo #buffalo #skyline #sunset
#cnu22 #meetbflo #buffalo #silocity #duany
#cnu22 #buffalo #meetbflo
#cnu22 #buffalo
#cnu22 #buffalo
#cnu22 #buffalo
#buffalo #cnu22
#detroit is one strategically located SOB.
#motorcity #detroit #jefferson #saturday
Doing it right.
My old neighbor Marty paints on the backs of tall boy beer flats. He charges the cost of the beer +deposit for his work.
Hmm. #EL
Ok find today. #kinks
Summer cut. Free
After the storm. #spring
The second longest relationship I’ve ever had. #shedoesnttalkback
#ontheroad
Well isn’t that cute.
#Kiting, sorta.
#tbt #thebighouse #obama #commencement #potus #michigan #otherhashtagsaswell
#michigan #backroads #blue #barn
#ionia #ontheroad #thenational #riverside
#ionia
Rllly wish they’d get back to me on my offer. #realestate #bungalow
Last few days of the big hair!
#sharks
Hilton Head. It’s dark here. #longday
City bucket list 2014: onward to Savannah. #journey #roadtrippin
Oh boy.
After the winter we’ve had, this definitely does not suck. #vacation
Indeed.
Apollo 8. #nasa
#angrybird
#rockets
So…one of our engines had a fuel leak so they had to turn it off and land with one. Taxi escort by the fire department. #delta #deltaairlines #atlanta #nofoolin
Digging the 12er of Centennial cans @gaybrains.
There are 1399 people from Gaylord who don’t know the difference between you’re and your.
James doing his thang. #jhk
Outlawing Main Street - John Norquist, President of CNU, on Hoover and federal impediments to mixed use development.
Robert Gibbs at the Economics of Urbanism Symposium. #birmingham #michigan
#mes14 #ricksnyder #grandrapids #puremichigan
Michael Finney and Rick Snyder. #MES14 #puremichigan
DeGraff opening day two of the #GES14 #innovation #puremichigan
March Hop Madness with my dad! #hopcat
Whoopsie daisy. #kroger
Proud of my dad and his “First Lady”.
Not bad for a Monday.
Detroit Public Library #DPL
Nice ride! #shinola
Fisher.
Working in #detroit
Unfashionably effective.
#stephenmalkmus #jicks #ferndale #detroit
Coming together. #thrift
So this is happening…
#puremichigan
youreadirtyleg !
Waking up in the D.
#fact
Winter: it’s been real, but move along now.
A beautiful February day for a move. #puremichigan #detroit
This #PureMichigan winter sponsored by #Subaru.
I Dream’d in a Dream, or From Cook to Urban Planner. 9-year-old bookmark. #whitman
This is not ok.
Mad at the #naias2014 #detroit #smartcar
Best autocorrect #fail ever.
80s party. #pixystix
Enjoying a #homebrew pale. Happy #Friday. #beer
Brad: “Amazing!” Me: “I call bullshit.” #tbt
Vino of course.
#puremichigan
Today I pick up from layaway my first amp in over 8 years. I will be unreachable for the remainder of the evening. #fender #bluesdeluxe #bargainbasementsnatchofthe year
Ha!
#dollarstore
Santa spotting. #usps
Apparently I’ve been 1 cr. away from an associate degree at LCC for 10 years. Challenge accepted. Ha!
Stout, Pale Ale, Rye.
Tonight we siphon #beer into the secondary.
#indafloodplain
Talkin' shit about a pretty sunset.
#deckthecubes
‘Merica!
Having a little fun.
Local for the win. #madeinmichigan
Happy with it.
Searching for a heart of gold, and I’m getting old
#love
Seattle public library.
#rainier
#newcenter #detroit
#latergram
Many open grants and growing. I need a secretary.
The essentials…
Wish I had her energy :)
Sunrise through the alley.
Killed a few trees today for this. #dfc
Cracking up.
Marion.
My proletariat chariot is finally christened. But seriously, anyone in the market for a Ford?
So far it’s been a good week. Cougar-Rooter? Major awesome points for the name.
Perfect summer day. #oldtown #lansing
The best housewarming gift. #michigan #vintage #maps #nohighways
Found a grasshopper!
Mads planting a garden.
Many summers spent on this thing. #home
#themostamazingwoman
#onfire
As if it weren’t dangerously close enough, I’m moving two blocks closer to El Oasis #tacotruck
Fantastic morning for a ride to the top.
There’s that sneaky #rainbow
Hey lil buddy. #mantis
Somewhere over the rainbow….
#canada #jazz
Fun on Lake Fenton.
There’s just something about sporting a D cap that makes you feel harder than you really are. #selfie
This is not a golf club
My neighbor Marty does good work.
EL is growing up (a little). #eastlansing
Rich and his groovy ride! #vwbus
Hehe #bikecops
The new business cards have QR codes on the back. #gmafb
Happy June.
Toofless
Ah, camping.
Some much needed R&R.
Yup, I like it. A lot.
Uh, yup. #pisces
Frandor
Too good
The Triumph is happy to finally make it out of the garage for its first ride of the season.
I’m not sure what partner designed this, but dang those are some great 8-bit graphics. Old Skool.
What he heck?
CityFlats
Two affirmations in one fortune cookie. Does that mean they cancel each other out?
Niece Mad
Homework.
Took the plunge #martin
The perfect murder weapon is an icicle.
Back in the D
First stop: Short’s
N. Michigan
New tuning machines on an shitty guitar = success.
Elderly
Family
KJ
Mom
Old school GI Joe
Now we’re getting Christmas cards addressed to Andy Dillon.
Can’t even really believe I found this.
You may have a problem when
Secret Santa
Labor rally at the Michigan Capitol.
Want #DAM
My typewriter at the Denver Art Museum.
Grand Lake
Devil’s Thumb
#southwestairlines
Gets dark early
Beautiful day in DT Lansing.
#obama2012
Bane was in our green initiatives meeting today.
Crazy sunset in Lansing
Is getting cold
Really?
Fat Tire
Rainy day people
7 Monks, TC
Everything is going to work out.
Friday
Wine night.
diannaberggren
Doin ma thang
Lowell
Just call me foreman.
50 cents at FBC. I can now die happy.
Reading
Looks like Luna is having a better Monday than me.
Who knew?
On the road
Seriously kitschy lakeshore motel: day 3
Book worm
Fireworks from the boat on Lake Huron.
Summer in Michigan
I’d love to see this become something productive
The lil London planetree that will grow to 100 ft tall long after I’m gone
Los Angeles, I’m yours
But Newport is where the heart is
Yet another contributor of Bryan's DNA in a long line of Barnette and Robb dead-beats, has died.
Meet the other "grandfather" that I'd never met:
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/inthedeltawaves/BARNETTE_John.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
I love how they always chaulk people up to be these amazing people in their obituaries. As if setting up franchises should be held in high esteem.
John Barnette, Jr., 79, of Comstock died Friday, September 9, 2005 at Golden Age Manor in Amery. He was born July 18, 1926 in Enman, SC to John and Willie Sue (Hunt) Barnette, Sr. John served on the USS Dyson during WWII. He was married in Watertown, SD on November 18, 1977 to Mardel Catlin. John worked on the railroad in South Carolina and was a supervisor at the St. Croix Casino. He was past commander of the Charles R. Knaeble VFW Post in Crystal, MN and was a member of the Cumberland American Legion. John was the past grand Hospital Chairman and past 4th Area Commander of the Minnesota Cooties and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a very active volunteer, enjoyed making homemade crafts with Mardel and was always fixing things around the house. He is survived by his wife, Mardel of Comstock; 3 sons, Keith Barnette of Saginaw, MI, John Barnette of Florida & Shawn Barnette of Comstock; 1 stepson, Tony Hall of Michigan; 4 daughters, Dianne (Fred) Lipton of Rosalyn, PA, Kelly (Isaac) Bennett of Michigan, Debbie Barnette of Michigan & Rebecca Barnette of Paris, France; 1 stepdaughter, Patricia Richards of Comstock; 25 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and 1 sister, Kitty (Ted) Music of Chesapeake, VA and also many nieces and nephews and his beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Peanut. He was preceded in death by his parent, his parents-in-law; 12 brothers and sisters; 1 sister-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at Skinner Funeral Home, Turtle Lake with Rev. Brian Perry officiating. Burial will be in Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, WI. Pallbearers are Patti Richards, Vern Catlin, Emmett Catlin, Gene Doster, Larry Verby and Mike Catlin. Military Honors will be accorded by Wisconsin Military Honors Team. Visitation will be 4-8 PM Tuesday at the Skinner Funeral Home in Turtle Lake and one hour before the services on Wednesday.
I got an awesome quilt and pillow cases today from Target.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/inthedeltawaves/quilt.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
I never knew how expensive nice quilts were. I'm such a consumer.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/inthedeltawaves/kindergarten.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/inthedeltawaves/imlovinit.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Who does that?
I must say, though, that despite how impressed I am with Google’s spam filter, those Orwellian tele-programmes target advertisements “powered by gooooogle” work a little too good. Awesome to know that I can get a hotel at a decent price when I go to cash in on this deal.
I'm finally doing it. I'm attempting to write again, and not just in a rambling, psuedo-poetic sense either. This time I actually have a plan, a general storyline, and I'm in the process of creating character sketches and doing geographical research. There is still much work to be done, but once these hurdles are out of the way, the actual writing will be a snap, and fun! It may be slow going when fall begins, but this should give me something creative to focus my energy on in the downtime. I'm thinking about calling it Ink&Watercolors, but this is only tentative, as I'll never know what's really relative until it's polished. I'm really excited.
I'm red as a lobster. I went out on the lake with my dad yesterday for about 5 hours and we ran out of sunscreen. No bueno. Thank god for aloe.
Also, I have a pretty good prospect for a place to live thanks to
Between a few thousand dollars in grants and a few thou in loans, school is set and keeping me comfortable…for now; though I don't like the loan part too much. I guess all that I can hope for is a decent job when I graduate so that they won't become too big a problem.
But I'm definitely getting one of these sometime next month:
Finals week is always a blessing. I'm apparently the reigning champion of procrastinators. My work load isn't all that bad, considering I quit Japanese sometime in the middle of the semester, but I did manage to save three papers for my other classes till the last minute. I ended up writing through the night, first for American Studies and then a reflective piece in the morning on Rumi. I ended up e-mailing it and I got a little bit of much welcomed praise. Things like this make my day:
----- -
Thanks Bryan. I enjoyed the class a great deal--I really found your willingness to think about these ideas and be honest and open in discussion to be important to the success of the class. You are a smart and thoughtful student--best wishes in your future studies and in life in general.
I still have a couple of your papers–especially your Walt Whitman-esque poem from the first project. The Whitman poem is excellent, and the connections you made in your Gilded Age paper showed a comprehensive grasp of the themes we have been talking about.
Good luck in the future, and keep thinking.
Jeff
Earlier in the semester we had the choice between a)writing a paper on the Transcendentalist movement in the midst of the westward expansion, or b) create my own original artwork in the style of my choosing that reflects the ideas of Transcendentalists. So I wrote a quick poem before class where I tried to emulate best I could a Walt Whitman prose piece, reflecting the time frame:
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: -27pt"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">O, this mighty fortress built upon eloquent words and powerful ideals spewed from soft lips,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: -27pt"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">This nation, carved from a continent and gilded with ambition and deceit-filled purpose, with your settlers never settled in their ever-changing notions of will!<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Your people, scattered and numerous across the plains and the mountains, the cities and the countryside, who have grown up with a distance that has failed to set them apart from a nation, tiring and romantic all the same,<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">This young mindset, charismatic and naive, brilliant and baffled alike, and though through many faltered steps you have not ceased to believe strongly in yourselves, <o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">And hardships, they have not been few,<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Struggles far and large, stretching the extent of this country’s vastness, but it is through this toil that your cheeks grow rosy and body restless, feeding the spirit of this land,<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">From the defeated scalawag groaning under the pressures of the other-worldly north, knowing not another way to make his livelihood, who interred his progeny for the ideals that he knows true,<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Blessed be the Yank that has not permitted this vessel to break in two, and has gone lengths to see that freedom and liberty are extended to all of God’s creatures; a challenge that extends beyond the battlefield,<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">May you rise against the difficulties that await!<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">To the freed men, weeping with joy at the sight of a generation born into freedom!<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> and to those children, beaming with veneration for their fathers, and hope for their futures!<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Yes, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />st1:country-regionst1:place<SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">America</st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">, frothing at the mouth with hysteria and genius, the garden of a great people; loathsome and proud, amiable and generous; you are all of these things,<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">With startling ambiguity you exist, for you are the wicked and the heavy at heart; the chain that binds and the torch that lights the way,<o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">And as I sit here in my reverie, change do you still, moving forward and backward concurrently in your narcissistic godliness, with all your juvenile follies that are sure to make you grow wise and mature in your years, <o:p></o:p><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">This is my hope for you, st1:country-regionst1:place<SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">America</st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">.<o:p></o:p>—- – -
As far as I know, I'm done with Lansing Comm. College. Funny, every single one of my professors were MSU profs too. I saved like $20,000. Thanks LCC!
It's times like these that I'm glad that I don't keep a lot of personal possessions. I'm moved out of my apartment and it really didn't take more than two days to get everything organized, packed up, and moved. There is one thing that I'm neglecting, though, and it's painting over the walls. I shouldn't have ever done it, being that it's an apartment but I was tired of living in mind-numbing white. Hopefully I'll finish that up tonight.
I've been thinking about heading over to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship as a spectator on one Sunday to see what they're all about. I'm not really into organized religion, and I'm sure those who know me the best would say that I've said more than my fair share against them. But I think that these people are kind of the anti-religious-establishment establishment. I was researching their stuff and at very least they sound uncommonly interesting to me. They're so open minded that I've been wanting to check them out for the sheer sense of community…and possibly so I can do some volunteer work. I don't know what I'd do, but I feel that I've got a lot to be thankful for, and there are plenty out there that have nothing, so why not do what I can instead of griping about things all the time.
Also, I'm probably a little late on this train by a couple of months, but I've been listening to Bloc Party and it may just be true that they saved music for me. I was starting to think that there were no truly sincere bands out there…that also whaled like nobody's business. These folks most certainly do, and I'm rockin' it like it's hot. Don't listen to the hype, just grab the album Silent Alarm before you're the last person on earth who hasn't heard this heroic band. Also, I'm pretty damned excited about the 6 re-releases of all the Super Furry Animals discs. Too bad I'm pretty much flat. British Sea Power also. I do have the ole iPod. Someday I'm going to need and repent for not paying these wonderful people. My logic - they're a lot richer than I am, and they're not eating kraft dinner…so when I'm old and loaded from retirement and booze, I'll go through the old collection, and any band that I feel changed me positively in some way…I'll buy two of every copy. No I won't.
Lately I've been so incredibly lazy. I think that the last year has caught up with me, working and school and partying and trying to balance it all out. I don't have much motivation to do anything this week. It's like a mini vacation. My body is catching up, and maybe I'll be recouped by this weekend. Until then, I'm just concentrating on myself. I've neglected that person.
I feel like I'm a robot. Not in the trendy way, either.
Routine. Zeep. Zip. Beep. Boink.
And coaxing myself and others into thinking that I'm strong isn't going to hold up much longer, I feel. The ruse is going to break. I'd just like someone else to be strong for me for a couple of days. Maybe so I can just build my strength back up. Like how a diver needs to come up for air, or to refill his tank, or whatever. At risk of being pushed outside the realm of men I'll quite frankly state that I need someone to hold me in my bed without the relationship stresses or sex or whatever. Someone that just makes me feel like I'm alive, that things are ok, and that there are people who care about me. As a reminder. Because I know these things are true, I just sometimes need to be reminded. Lately I haven't been reminded very often.
This winter has been damned dreary. It started out with a kick/hoorah, then it just kind of fizzled. The other day it was -30 with windchill. That's ok. Whatever. I live in Michigan, I can deal with it. Then the snow. And the clouds that block out the life-giving sun. Then my dog Eddie Dies. The saddest little thing ever. But it's alright, he was sick, and it was his time.
Then one of my Profs dropped my final grade from a 3.5 to a 3.0, not because I wasn't a good student, but because I missed some days of class. I outperformed virtually everyone in class and that bastard wants to play god?? If you're reading this Dr, fuck you. I didn't go to class because you didn't teach me anything. The grades I get are from what I already know or from what I teach myself. Sad day when people pay all this money for a paper that says, "Hey, I know how to show up!" Whatever. I'm a hypocrite, si.
And now Erica leaves for Hawaii in a week or so. The one person I've connected with in over 2 years is now gone. Who knows, maybe I'll follow her there.
Yes, there's an Idea.
He flicks his cigarette over the ledge. “It’s one of those things you think couldn’t happen here, not in New York.” A pigeon lands. He shakes his head. “But I guess I’m living proof.” The pigeon flies away.
The next day, Gabriel García-Cohen moved to Bruges.
As he might say, if he were still here and not in the fourth-largest city in Belgium: “For real.” Because it’s not just T-shirt designer/aspiring documentary filmmaker/vintage-ashtray entrepreneurs on the Lower East Side, and it’s not just Bruges. It’s D.J./blogger/illusionists in Williamsburg, sneaker model/jewelry designer/fashion PR assistants in Nolita, and independent homosexual artist/vegan-sake-bar owners in the meatpacking district. Like García-Cohen, they’re moving, or already gone, or talking about moving, even if only for the winter. They’re headed to places like Belgium and New Hampshire; Marfa, Texas, and Mobile, Alabama; to Canada, to Australasia, to Los Angeles.
[bullet holes]
[the orchard out my bedroom window]
[backyard west]
[backyard east]
[an all too typical sight]
[slightly less typical]
[it rained while it was sunny, this day]
Monthly draft calls will increase from 17,000 to 35,000 - the highest level since the Korean War, when between 50,000 and 80,000 men were called up each month.
It will take the US force in Vietnam up to 125,000 but officials say at this stage demands should be met by conscription, without calling upon the reserves.
President Johnson | ||||||
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Speaking in a televised address from the White House President Johnson said: "We do not want an expanding struggle with consequences no one can foresee."
"Nor will we bluster, bully or flaunt our power. But we will not surrender, nor will we retreat," he continued.
The President gave the news conference after a week of intensive talks with senior military and security advisers in Washington.
He explained the decisions were in response to requests made by General Westmoreland, the US Commander in the South Vietnamese capital, Saigon.
Mrs Johnson and her daughter looked close to tears as Mr Johnson admitted: "I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle."
The US leader also made clear his desire for peace and recalled the - unsuccessful - efforts of 40 countries to bring an end to the fighting on 15 occasions.
He called upon the United Nations to redouble its efforts to restore peace to Vietnam and detailed a personal letter to that effect being personally delivered to the UN Secretary-General, U Thant, in New York by the new US Ambassador to the UN, Arthur Goldberg.
The Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, and the Secretary of Defence, Robert S McNamara, are to persuade Congress of the need to finance the US' new military commitments, in the light of a reduced defence budget this year.
President Johnson explained: "We intend to convince the communists that we cannot be defeated by force of arms or by superior power."
(c) BBC, All Rights Reserved
Original text found @ [news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday...](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/28/newsid_2754000/2754033.stm)
China convicts baby traffickers | ||
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Six of them were sentenced to death and five to life in prison in the biggest single baby trafficking case in recent Chinese history. Over a two-year period the smuggling ring is thought to have bought and sold 118 babies, many of them girls. It was unmasked last year when police boarded a bus in south-west China and found 28 babies stuffed inside travel bags. One had died from the cold. To outsiders it is a shocking trade, but in rural China it is ancient and it is growing. It is driven by China's strict family planning laws which limit many couples to one child. Desperate for a boy, farmers often sell a baby girl before its birth can be registered. Ironically, the baby will often be sold to other poor farmers as a future bride for their son. All over China there are poor villages full of boys who have little chance of ever finding a wife. -------------------------------------------------------------
My family left me home and today is the family reunion. Now I just need someone to play Joe Pesci's part and that other dude, chasing me around the house in Home Alone. Any takers? |
sign the petition to save the statler hotel from demolition: www.petitiononline.com/statler/p…
this building is a detroit landmark that needs to be saved; we don't need any more surface parking lots! stop tearing our history down!
they almost tore down the beautiful
I canceled my Sprint account. Time to start saving an extra sixty-two dollars a month. At the end of this month you will only be able to reach me at my home or by e-mail. I figured it was about time to start saving some money, seriously. I kind of like the idea of being somewhat disconnected anyway.
Today I woke up and decided I was going to donate plasma. On the way I stopped by work to request next weekend off so I can go up to Sleeping Bear Dunes/Lake Michigan for some rustic camping with Jonathan and crew…much to my surprise, I actually got the weekend off. One last attempt at a good time this summer.
As for the plasma donation:
I spent about 3 hours getting set up with tests and paper work and waiting and getting hooked up to a machine that sucked my blood out, extracted my plasma, and then pumped my red blood cells back into my body. It went throught this cycle about 12 times while I watched the clock and read a rolling stone I found in the waiting room…laughing at the sorry excuses for critique and wondering why they call it 'donating plasma' when they pay you to do it. All in all it wasn't so bad, althought a little tedious pumping my arm and watching the container slowly fill with a funny yellow substance that came from my body. When I was done I didn't feel too bad. I was just a little bit dizzy, but i got my 25 bucks cash and continued to my car. I got on the expressway, at which point I started to feel really sick. I hadn't eaten anything all day and I'm guessing that's not a good thing to do when you're having fluids taken from you. I stopped at a gas station in Alma to put something in me, and I made it to the bathroom in time as to not pass out in public. But regaining consciousness on a gas station's bathroom floor with your face near the toilet isn't exactly what I consider a good time, either. I got up and drank from the sink…gulps and gulps. Bought two Gatoraids and drank to my heart's content in the parking lot while 'you can't always get what you want' by the Stones came on the radio. I felt better after about 15 minutes, but I'll be sure next time to eat something before I do anything like that again.
So in combination, between the cell phone and the plasma I'm up $87 minus $3 for Gatoraid = $84. I'm going to try and not blow it on music.
<lj-cut text="…And some pictures I've taken of this summer (broadband HIGHLY recommended.">
Drive to Californ-i-a (Coachella):
The card in the Self position reveals aspects of how you perceive yourself right now.
The Tower represents a rapid, creative charge that is unplanned and uncontrollable but presents a brilliant opportunity for transformation. Because of circumstances beyond your control, you have no choice.
Try not to judge whether this development is good or bad. You won't know for awhile whether this was the worst disaster that ever happened or a significant breakthrough. It could be a combination of both.
The card that lands in the Situation position refers to social or circumstantial factors which could be affecting your life at this time.
When the Two of Coins is in this position, you may be surrounded by people who are busy taking sides. If so, resist the impulse to join either camp. Some people with a need to be in control may jump to conclusions. You do not have to join them, however, or take a position one way or the other.
Ask yourself – are all the facts in yet? Or do unknowns still govern the day? If you are patient, you will spare yourself grief, while truth reveals itself in its own good time. Don't let fear have its way with you – you may discover the situation was never as serious as it seemed.
Queen of Swords Position: Challenges/ Opportunities Main (positional) Meaning: Champion your own needs; put some distance between yourself and those who would hamper your progress.
The card that lands in the Challenges/Opportunities position refers to ways that you can turn obstacles into stepping stones.
With the Queen of Swords in this position, improve your ability to balance your needs against the pressures of other people's expectations. To turn this challenge into an opportunity, develop some enthusiasm for spending more time with yourself, making the pivotal decisions in your own life, and living directly with the consequences of your choices.
Become your own best advocate. To help you accomplish this goal, shorten the list of people and circumstances that have the power to distract you or divert your energy. Define your boundaries. State your goals. Start acting on your own behalf.
my car died yesterday. it was sad to see leon the neon on the side of the road, smoking out of the hood. but i just sat on the trunk and looked at the open fields and the clouds and waited for the wrecker. it's events like this that make me happy that i have family around to help. if i move to some distant corner of the globe, i'd be completely alone and things like this would have to be dealt with entirely on my own. when the wrecker came he just hooked a chain up to the front and pulled me a couple miles down the road to a mechanic. i got to steer my car while he pulled and it was kind of fun. poor car. we've been through a lot together. i know it's ugly as sin and it's probably the worst car on the road, but it has lasted so long despite so much tragedy. twice i packed all of my belongings into that thing and risked mountain passes, snow, lightning, wind, deer…traveled cross-country when it had no business doing so…pushed it to the limit and it rarely let me down. so many memories. trips to the beach. love making. the music that has been through those speakers…even the tiny hint of makeup that's still on the visor from when angie used to use the little mirror for applications on the fly.
<lj-cut "photos">
i don't care who started what, this is just absolutely distrubing. i could vomit.
FALLUJA, Iraq, March 31 — Four Americans working for a security company were ambushed and killed Wednesday, and an enraged mob then jubilantly dragged the burned bodies through the streets of downtown Falluja, hanging at least two corpses from a bridge over the Euphrates River.
Less than 15 miles away, in the same area of the increasingly violent Sunni Triangle, five American soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb ripped through their armored personnel carrier.
The violence was one of the most brutal outbursts of anti-American rage since the war in Iraq began more than a year ago. And the steadily deteriorating situation in the Falluja area, a center of anti-American hostility west of Baghdad, has become so precarious that no American or Iraqi forces responded to the attack against the civilians, who worked for a North Carolina company.
American officials said the civilians were traveling in two sport utility vehicles although some witnesses in Falluja said there were four. "Two got away; two got trapped," said Muhammad Furhan, a taxi driver.
It is not clear what the four Americans were doing in Falluja or where they were going. But just as they were passing a strip of stationery stores and kebab shops around 10:30 a.m., masked gunmen jumped into the street and blasted their vehicles with assault rifles. Witnesses said the civilians did not shoot back.
There are a number of police stations in Falluja and a base of more than 4,000 marines nearby, but even as the security guards were being swarmed and their vehicles set on fire, sending plumes of inky smoke over the closed shops of the city, there were no ambulances, no fire engines and no assistance.
Instead, Falluja's streets were thick with men and boys and chaos.
Men with scarves over their faces hurled bricks into the blazing vehicles. A group of boys yanked a smoldering body into the street and ripped it apart. Someone then tied a chunk of flesh to a rock and tossed it over a telephone wire.
"Viva mujahedeen!" shouted Said Khalaf, a taxi driver. "Long live the resistance!"
Nearby, a boy no older than 10 ground his heel into a burned head. "Where is Bush?" the boy yelled. "Let him come here and see this!"
Masked men gathered around him, punching their fists into the air. The streets filled with hundreds of people. "Falluja is the graveyard of Americans!" they chanted.
Several news crews filmed the mayhem. The images of a frenzied crowd mutilating bodies were reminiscent of the scene from Somalia in 1993, when a mob dragged the body of an American soldier through the streets of Mogadishu. That moment shifted public opinion and eventually led to an American pullout.
The White House blamed terrorists and remnants of Saddam Hussein's former government for the attack. "This is a despicable attack," Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, told reporters, adding that "there are some that are doing everything they can to prevent" a transfer of sovereignty to an Iraqi government on June 30.
American military officials said the violence in Falluja, however chilling, would not scare them away. "The insurgents in Falluja are testing us," said Capt. Chris Logan, a marine. "They're testing our resolve. But it's not like we're going to leave. We just got here."
Captain Logan, who is stationed at a large walled base on the outskirts of the city, said Falluja was becoming "an area of greater concern." Last week, a contingent of marines, who recently took over responsibility for Falluja from the Army, fought gunmen in a battle in which one marine, a television cameraman and several Iraqi civilians were killed.
"This is one of those areas in Iraq that is definitely squirrelly," Captain Logan said.
Many people in Falluja said they believed that they had won an important victory on Wednesday. They insisted that the four security guards, who were driving in unmarked sport utility vehicles, were working for the Central Intelligence Agency.
"This is what these spies deserve," said Salam Aldulayme, a 28-year-old Falluja resident.
Intelligence sources in Washington said the four were not working for the C.I.A. They worked for Blackwater Security Consulting of Moyock, N.C., providing security for food delivery in the Falluja area, according to a statement from the company. The occupation authorities have hired hundreds of private security guards for a range of duties.
Witnesses in Falluja said several of the men had Defense Department badges, though such identification is common for contractors working for the occupation. A senior military officer said the four were retired Special Operations forces — three Navy Seals and one Army Ranger. American officials declined to immediately identify the dead men.
In the last three weeks, more than 10 foreign civilians have been killed in Iraq, though no attack provoked the spasm of brutality that followed this one.
Since the war in Iraq began, Falluja has been a flash point of violence. Of all the places in Iraq, it is where anti-American hatred is the strongest. The area is predominantly Sunni Muslim. Many families remain loyal to the captured dictator, Mr. Hussein, who is also a Sunni Muslim. Over the years, Mr. Hussein cultivated a network of patronage and privilege among the tribes and elders of Falluja. Many became top army officers. Some ran big companies. When Mr. Hussein was ousted last April, the people here lost their jobs, their businesses and their power.
That set off a cycle of killing and responses, a bloody feud between a clannish society and occupiers from thousands of miles away. Last April, American soldiers killed more than 15 civilians at a demonstration in Falluja. In November, an American helicopter was shot down outside the town, killing 16. Townspeople danced on the wreckage.
In February, insurgents mounted a brazen daylight attack against a convoy carrying Gen. John P. Abizaid, the American commander in the Middle East. He escaped unscathed. But two days later, gunmen blasted their way into a Falluja jail, killing at least 15 police officers and freeing dozens of prisoners.
Last week, the First Marine Expeditionary Force formally took control of the city, population 300,000, which sits on a desert shelf about 35 miles west of Baghdad. Marine commanders said they were going to try a different approach from the Army, which had basically pulled back to bases ringing Falluja and left policing up to the locals.
"We're doing work outside the wire," Captain Logan said. "We're running patrols. We're rebuilding things. We're working with Iraqis."
Most of the Sunni Triangle, north and west of Baghdad, has become so unsafe that American forces stick to their bases, their movement usually limited to heavily guarded convoys.
Around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, an Army convoy passing through the town of Habbaniya, west of Falluja, rolled over an I.E.D., or improvised explosive device. The bomb was buried in the road and blew up under an armored personnel carrier, killing five soldiers. Roadside bombs are everyday occurrences in Iraq. But few have claimed as many casualties. "It was a very large I.E.D.," said Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for the occupation forces.
A few hours later the men from Blackwater Security drove into downtown Falluja. After they were shot, the scene turned grisly. A crowd of more than 300 people flooded into the streets. Men swarmed around the vehicles. Some witnesses said the Americans were still alive when one boy came running up with a jug of gasoline. Soon, both vehicles were fireballs.
"Everybody here is happy with this," Mr. Furhan, the taxi driver, said. "There is no question."
After the fires cooled, a group of boys tore the corpses out of the vehicles. The crowd cheered them on. The boys dragged the blackened bodies to the iron bridge over the Euphrates River, about a mile away. Some people said they saw four bodies hanging over the water, some said only two. At sunset, nurses from a nearby hospital tried to take the bodies away.
Men with guns threatened to kill the nurses. The nurses left. The bodies remained.
Christine Hauser contributed reporting from Baghdad for this article. (c) NYTIMES
So I guess I better do an update on this past weekend because it was truly stupendous. Trev and I started off by heading down to grand rapids friday night. We met up with elizabeth at her place [cool loft, can't believe she's moving out]. Did some bar hopping but didn't find one we'd have liked to stay at so we drove over to good ol' Billy's Lounge, a jazz/blues club we frequent. Did some drinking. Did some dancing. Had a good time.
Saturday we chilled out at her place while she worked and watched some movies [ie, army of darkness…] and at about 4 we went and got in line at the church to see Micheal Moore speak. Of course it was freezing outside and we had to get there about an hour and a half early. Thank gawd for that though because there were about 3000 people who didn't get in. Including elizabeth because she got out of work late. But the speech was totally, completely exhilerating. I've never felt so in-touch with so many people before….ever. And to top it all off, it was sorta ironic that it was in a church. He was at the podium where a priest/pastor/whatever would stand. Everytime he cursed, he'd look up at the painting of jesus and wince…or make lightning bolt animations/sounds. The church was beautiful. Most of the people were pretty cool, too, because a lot of them were Kendall art students. Though there were people of all demographics there, surprisingly enough. Grand Rapids is an awesome town. Despite it's relatively high republican population, it has a pretty big counter culture. Later that night we went and bought the Dane Cook CD/DVD and laughed half the night away. And then I fucked the rest of the night. Gawgeous.
<lj-cut text="heres some pictures from this weekend">
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my backyard, today after much snow…
my brothers and i out front of my grandmother's house before brad left to go back to iraq. he had come home on leave in september because my father died.
eric, bradley and myself.
this too:
i need this:
this place is a prison these people aren't your friends and hailing thrills through twenty-dollar bills and the tumblers are drained and then flooded, again and again
unkempt and off to drink my worries away.
6 days smoke-free. w00t.
most wonderful seeing ashley tonight [love the leg warmers!!]. i'm so glad i know that venue is there now and that i can see shows and people semi on my level without driving my ass to detroit all the time.
i found a loft in downtown lansing and it's absfab. theres a wonderful view of the skyline directly out the back window. and such a short walk to school. here's a pic i took the other day of quaint lansing:
some random shots of detroit on the way to the cursive show–out of a car window.
^interpol at the state theatre. and some cracked out ice cream man
^the renaissance center
^the fox theatre
^look close in the windows. it says "NO VIOLENCE, NO RACISM, NO WAR"
^one of our new stadia, comerica park
^a look down woodward ave.
^orchestra place
^I believe this is the guardian building. detroit has one of the best collections of 1920's architecture in the world.
^i call this one 'technology vs. religion". haha. a cathedral on woodward.
^i don't know who this guy is but i liked the statue. what era are those dudes below living in?
^a blurry shot of the new compuware world headquarters. to the left, campus martius park is in it's beginning stages.
^a distant shot of downtown
^ "the spirit of detroit"
^outside the majestic before the show.
I love this town.
Well, the show was pretty good last night. Eastern Youth and Cursive were amazing but I don't care for Blood Brother's all that much. I think the sound guy must have been like " How the fuck am I supposed to work with this? How exactly do you excentuate utter chaos?" Haha. Some of these aren't of the best quality, but here are some pics anyway…