My friends Collin and Kat sell their home today and upgrade to a much larger place. Cool for them. I must admit I'm a bit jealous. It's a nice place. I know they'll be happy. I like my home but surely would like more space. This evening and tomorrow will be spent helping them move. My wrist is at about 60% so I'll do what I can to haul boxes.

The sky as it was on a recent walk around Gulley Park. Very representative of the weather we've had this April. A mix of Sun and Rain.

Lazy Basil...December 2002.

New link for you fiends...check out the sidebar. Specifically try Your Daily Art. I'm not sure how I found it but if you like art...you get a new image and commentary each day. We're not talking some lame art or photos like the ones I post. Real honest-to-god art that's recognized as such.

And...not I don't want to have a discussion about what constitutes the definition of art...but will if it's thrust upon me.

Anyway...I really like the page and wanted to share...

Me and Jessica - Aug 31. 2002 @ Jose's Restaurant before a Scuffs show. They're not a band anymore....they morphed into the Lookback Marys. Check them out at http://www.lookbackmarys.com/.

No reason...just like the photo...its Sol Vista Ski Resort in Colorado. Jan. 2004.

Sunday...not so good. Played soccer and it was our best game yet. Still we lost 3-0. Two of the goals came in the last ten minutes when our reletively out of shape team was draging hard.

The not so good part was the fall I took defending a corner kick. Essentially I landed on my hand and did something to my wrist....something painful. I finished the game but by that time my left wrist was not moving. Went home, showered, then headed off to the ER. That was at 3pm. We didn't get out of there till close to 8pm. What a long and painful day. Thanks to Jessica for going to the game and sitting with me at the hospital. It's not broken but badly sprained. I'm typing this with my wrist imobilized and in pain. Not an easy task. But I figured I needed to practice, as I use a keyboard for a living.

Anyway...I'm gimped-up a bit but will still post as much as I can. Ive taken my narcotic pain-killer so I will probably be asleep soon.

More later...

Another excellent Saturday. Golf at 8:15 wit a few guys from work. I did well enough for me but by any fair measure I'm not a good golfer. I have good moments surrounded by lots of bad moments. Still, the point of the event was to be social and have fun. That I did, though it was unseasonably cold and very windy.

Immediately after golf I headed to Dickson Street for the annual Fayetteville Springfest. My friend Beth was dancing. She runs a troop and teaches belly-dancing. They perform every year and it usually atracts quite a crowd. I had hoped to take some photos of Springfest and the dancing but left the camera at home.

Once again Nick and Sarah cooked up a mighty tasty meal of pot-pies and biscuits. They are good friends and very generous. They also like to cook and entertain. Which works out well as I like to eat and be entertained (though I do have a tendency to try and be the center of the enteratinment).

Anyway...time for some reading..then off to bed. I've got an early soccer game tomorrow and Jess is due back from Little Rock (she was doing her sister's prom make-up).

Vagabond...as he was about two years ago...right after we acquired him. This photo makes him look kinda freaky though. I like it but it's not a good representation.

New Pope. No opinions yet. I need to read a bit about him from different sources. Not sure what to make of these Hitler Youth allegations. A buddy of mine tried to rationalize it by saying that most Germans of that era (and age) were in involved in that sort of thing.

Now, I'm all about fresh starts but that seems to me to be the sort of thing that might inhibit good will and ecumenicism. Sort of like having Cardinal Law host parties for kids (and yes, I know he wasn't accused of abusing children...just covering for those that did).

As for Popes, I'll take mine Alexander-style. Nothing quite like that great 18th Century poet (and Catholic - in England where Catholicism was banned at the time). Makes me think of college and Dr. Hines. She loved herself some Pope.

Everyone shoud go read The Rape of the Lock. You'll be a better person for it. Find it here or an annotated version here.

One more thing...go checkout my good friend Gum Drop Alice (aka: magicwritinggal). Inspired by me (I hope) she's done joined the clique and got herself a blog. It's bookmarked on the side. Check it out. Hell, visit all of them...each has a unique voice and opinions. I think they make the world a bit better just by being it it. Okay...enough sap. I don't live in Vermont.

It's coming...but will it suck? Will Lucas betray the fans again?

Word of the Week: Conclave

Via Dictionary.com: con·clave n.

1. A secret or confidential meeting.
2. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. The private rooms in which the cardinals meet to elect a new pope.
   2. The meeting held to elect a new pope.
3. A meeting of family members or associates.

So, how long will it last? I'm guessing they'll knock it out within 5-days. We should have a new Pope by next weekend.

But what do I know...

Thanks to Nick and Sarah for a great evening of conversation, grilling, and Scrabble. Such a perfect evening. Hopefully we'll have more of those before it gets too hot and humid.

What a great morning. Up at 7am. Went to the gym with Jessica for some exercise...then to the Farmer's Market for some coffe, people watching and (today at least) fresh onions. Such a good start to the day....

National Aquarium: Baltimore

"We need a bigger boat."

As you can see I figured out how to post photos. The plan is to post one a day in addition to the text posts (though I doubt they will come daily). I now have an excuse to get out and about with the camera.

Yep...that's a lizard on some type of duck...a fake duck.

Baby Shower Treats

The weekend was okay. The shower went well. W&J got a bunch of swag. I think it can be reasonably identified as a success. The after-party was nice...we sat around the fire-pit talking and drinking.

I was cleaning out some old email this evening and found a link to a map that I thought people might enjoy.

We're heading to Little Rock this weekend.

Jess and I are hosting a baby shower for W&J. Not terribly thrilled about it. Of course I am happy for them; want to see them and everyone else...I just haven't enjoyed the admittedly few baby showers I have attended in the past. However, since Jess and Jen did the planning and its theme (aside from "welcome baby!") is based on a favorite restaurant in Orlando, the night should be enjoyable . The event is titled "Baby Tu-Tu Tango." So...while I have concerns on the shower front, I have faith in my wife and Jen to make it special and unique.

I want to be sure to wish W&J health and happiness. I hope this last month of the pregnancy goes smoothly and the baby arrives healthy and without complication. We don't know what gender the baby is yet but I think it's going to be a boy. It doesn't hurt to speculate. I love the fact that W&J decided not to find out before the birth (or if they did, not tell anyone).

Now for some other good news...normal color has returned to my finger. Mobility is increasing. And, most importantly, I can type again. (Or at least what passes for typing in my world.)

Been meaning to post this for a couple weeks now....it's pretty fun...enjoy. Pretty good animation and Legos are almost always cool.

Click Here.

I've not got a lot to say right now. Sad about the Pope, but we all knew it was coming. It's interesting to view the world reaction and see how the election of the new pontiff occurs. The challenge for me is to find the real news in the midst of all the fluff. It's going to dominate the news until a new one is elected and then we'll have at least another week of analysis and investigation on the new Pope.

First Congressional Medal of Honor from the current war was issued yesterday. I believe it's only the third since the Vietnam War. We can't forget that we're still a country at war...no matter how much it's downplayed by the press and politicians.

Started playing soccer again. Essentially the first time since the end of high school. Managed to jam my left index finger - it's nice and purple now. Just like old times. Don't think it's broken. I should have posted a photo of it. The game was fun, but I am so out of shape. I'm still achy from Sunday's game. At least I don't smoke like members of my team. Hell...after the game the first thing some of them did was get a cigarette. That's bothersome. Still...I'm glad I decided to play again and plan to stick with it.