1/12/2009
Toddler Skiing Rules of Engagement
My family went on a ski vacation last year and we had a great time. There were some lessons learned so i threw them together as we plan our 2009 trip. If you have any to add let me know. I will be editing as Caitlin reminds me of others i have forgot about.
1. Go with other families - It all about job share. The key is to get in some quality skiing with friends or your significant other. If families share the load it can work out well.
2. Stay at the Ski Hill – the less you have to travel the more time you can actually ski. Packing up, driving, unloading, reloading, every day is too much of a hassle. Plus this enables you to eat at the condo and make sure you don’t miss any naps. See rule #7.
3. Rent Ski’s before you go – Standing in line at the ski hill is just a waste of time. Plus it is usually more expensive than renting near your home.
4. Have a schedule for adults and kids – A tight schedule will help folks know what to expect. I regret not setting one up so that
5.Pre book ski school – most places enable you to book your kids in ski school a head of time ensuring them a spot and minimizing the hassle of lines that seem to create stuch a
6. Don’t split days – Rather than try to ski for one half of a day I would suggest taking the whole day off and let your spouse or friends take a whole day and then reciprocate for you the next day. The logistics involved in hand off and schlepping across parking lots to a condo minimize your ski time and make the family time more tense…especially when one person gets lost on the other side of a hill and is an hour late.
7. Don’t miss a nap – A cranky skier is an unhappy skier. The combination of family, physical activity, and added stimulation make it important to stay on schedule. Nothing was more disappointing than being called off the ski hill to pick up my daughter who had fallen asleep in ski school. I felt bad for all of us, but really it was our fault for pushing her past her limit.
8. Bring Snacks For Every Place – Lots of calories being burned and great for bribery if you hit a snag in line, getting up a hill, etc.
9. Sledding Day – Huge hit no matter what! It seems expensive but is so worth it. Bring a camera it is the best photo experience.
9/22/2005
9/11/2005
9/10/2005
Choosing a Hat
Every day the bebe and I take a trip. We see many Things.
Every day the bebe and I take a trip. We see many Things.
Before we leave we choose a hat.
Today i chose a black hat.
The bebe wore a pink hat. Pink keeps the gnomes away.
I wear black so that nobody can see me at night.
Bebe doesn't worry about that. She's brave.
Blackberry Photo Series
Blackberry Photo Series
8/20/2005
Bathroom Reading - Electronic Paper
I am sick of going to public washrooms and having to sit in a stall with nothing to read. My new idea...speed up this electronic paper stuff and lets get some interesting articles in the can. We can let the Bathroom Readers Institute (yes it is real) program the content.
This is important...we need to let the practical ideas of the world rule technology. I don't need the internet on my fridge or tv but i do need it in the bathroom at work. Its the only place i can relax.
My Research is below...it can work people! We can make it work! We just have to all work together, to get it to work!
- http://www.eink.com/
- http://www2.parc.com/hsl/projects/gyricon/
- http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392010&language=english
- http://www.media.mit.edu/micromedia/elecpaper.html
- http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0004C2D2-B938-1CD6-B4A8809EC588EEDF
- http://www.overclockersclub.com/?read=2136713
3/03/2005
Strangest Work Expeirence Ever: Air Hockey Brawl
I have had a lot of weird experiences at my past jobs. I have been threatend, hit by trucks, thrown off of trucks, despised, loved, i've slept under my desk, and left meetings to throw up. Last week i was the strangest encounter ever.
Since last summer my team has played air hockey in the company game room pretty much every day at 2:30. It is a good mid day break, it allows my guys to blow off steam and take revenge on each other for indescretions or issues that have been building up for a long time. As a result, we get along, we don't fight, and when we do it is over quickly. It has been the best management tool I ever had.
Starting about three weeks ago we came into the game room and found a sign posted, "No Air Hockey Between 2-4 Tuesday to Thursday due to doubles pool tournament." We were floored, this really disrupted out day.
We contrived a few plans for revenge:
1. Exploding/Trick Cue Ball
2. Replace All Signs
3. Jimmy Hoffa the Pool Table Balls Into the Baylands Never to Be Seen Again
But...we are lazy, and busy, so we did nothing. We even modified our schedule to be respectful to avoid the anal, pansie pool players. I had a 10 AM meeting with my partner in crime, and part time employee, Pickle. I need to get a better nick name for him but this is all i can think of at 12 AM in the morning. I call Pickle part time because he dreams of painting and airhockey most of the day and gets his design work done in between.
Pickle goaded me into a game of air hockey. I am better than he is, but he works harder at it. He like to beat me and I find that if he wins I can get a little more work out of him. Sometimes though I have to whip his ass just to show him whose boss, i dirgress....
So there we are...at the game room at 10:50 Wednesday afternoon. There were four guys playing pool, which seemed odd and they had their eye on us soon as we started walking over. We ponied up to the table and it was unplugged.
The pool players smirked and turned around obviously thinking that they had made their point. Stupid is as stupid does so I plugged the baby in. I mean, who in the world would think that unplugging something would be a roadblock. I've been plugging in crap to outlets longer than i can remember. Matt looked at me, smilled and hit the coin entry to get her started.
One of the pool players holds up his arms like a policeman halting j-walkers in a small town and walks over to us with a concerned look on his face.
"Sorry guys, this is a tournament game, there is a sign here that says no pool during the tournament." He bends over to look for the sign on the side of the air hockey table. Now it was our time to smirk...we had deep sixed the sign weeks ago.
"Wait..well, there is supposed to be a sign here," Says the Air Hockey table cop.
I interject quickly, because I can see his confidence is slipping away and I wanted to get playing.
"The tournament is from 2-4...its a 11am..."
"Oh...this is a make up game,"
Now... that line was said assuming the following
1. I care
2. I might back down
3. I have any clue what he is talking about
So... i shrug my shoulders and move in a step closer towards the table... i mean come on. Get out of my way already. He's obviously not going to budge or say anything else. I had exhasuted my will to talk about the subject.
I had that feeling of lightheadedness I get before I really freak out. I get a little dizzy. Its as if god is saying...ok, go nuts. It was deffinately the strangest work environment situtation i had ever been in. I coud feel it! I was going to get in a brawl in the game room over air hockey! It was a trainwreck i couldn't stop.
Luckily... cooler heads prevailed. The Air Hockey cop interjected..."We would appreciate it if you let us finish our game."
Well, politness was just what the doctor ordered. All i could think of was, why didn't this fool say that in the first place. I was pretty pissed at this point though so I just turned around shook my head and left. This place is weird.
I have had a lot of weird experiences at my past jobs. I have been threatend, hit by trucks, thrown off of trucks, despised, loved, i've slept under my desk, and left meetings to throw up. Last week i was the strangest encounter ever.
Since last summer my team has played air hockey in the company game room pretty much every day at 2:30. It is a good mid day break, it allows my guys to blow off steam and take revenge on each other for indescretions or issues that have been building up for a long time. As a result, we get along, we don't fight, and when we do it is over quickly. It has been the best management tool I ever had.
Starting about three weeks ago we came into the game room and found a sign posted, "No Air Hockey Between 2-4 Tuesday to Thursday due to doubles pool tournament." We were floored, this really disrupted out day.
We contrived a few plans for revenge:
1. Exploding/Trick Cue Ball
2. Replace All Signs
3. Jimmy Hoffa the Pool Table Balls Into the Baylands Never to Be Seen Again
But...we are lazy, and busy, so we did nothing. We even modified our schedule to be respectful to avoid the anal, pansie pool players. I had a 10 AM meeting with my partner in crime, and part time employee, Pickle. I need to get a better nick name for him but this is all i can think of at 12 AM in the morning. I call Pickle part time because he dreams of painting and airhockey most of the day and gets his design work done in between.
Pickle goaded me into a game of air hockey. I am better than he is, but he works harder at it. He like to beat me and I find that if he wins I can get a little more work out of him. Sometimes though I have to whip his ass just to show him whose boss, i dirgress....
So there we are...at the game room at 10:50 Wednesday afternoon. There were four guys playing pool, which seemed odd and they had their eye on us soon as we started walking over. We ponied up to the table and it was unplugged.
The pool players smirked and turned around obviously thinking that they had made their point. Stupid is as stupid does so I plugged the baby in. I mean, who in the world would think that unplugging something would be a roadblock. I've been plugging in crap to outlets longer than i can remember. Matt looked at me, smilled and hit the coin entry to get her started.
One of the pool players holds up his arms like a policeman halting j-walkers in a small town and walks over to us with a concerned look on his face.
"Sorry guys, this is a tournament game, there is a sign here that says no pool during the tournament." He bends over to look for the sign on the side of the air hockey table. Now it was our time to smirk...we had deep sixed the sign weeks ago.
"Wait..well, there is supposed to be a sign here," Says the Air Hockey table cop.
I interject quickly, because I can see his confidence is slipping away and I wanted to get playing.
"The tournament is from 2-4...its a 11am..."
"Oh...this is a make up game,"
Now... that line was said assuming the following
1. I care
2. I might back down
3. I have any clue what he is talking about
So... i shrug my shoulders and move in a step closer towards the table... i mean come on. Get out of my way already. He's obviously not going to budge or say anything else. I had exhasuted my will to talk about the subject.
I had that feeling of lightheadedness I get before I really freak out. I get a little dizzy. Its as if god is saying...ok, go nuts. It was deffinately the strangest work environment situtation i had ever been in. I coud feel it! I was going to get in a brawl in the game room over air hockey! It was a trainwreck i couldn't stop.
Luckily... cooler heads prevailed. The Air Hockey cop interjected..."We would appreciate it if you let us finish our game."
Well, politness was just what the doctor ordered. All i could think of was, why didn't this fool say that in the first place. I was pretty pissed at this point though so I just turned around shook my head and left. This place is weird.
1/04/2005
My Last Top 5
Here it is... i hope you have enjoyed as much as I have
Top 5 Reasons I Do Not Want to Have Man Boobs
5. I can't wear tight shirts anymore - There goes half my wardrobe
4. Poor self image - I don't need anything else to make it harder to love myself.
3. Too much cyring - I will look even less manly if I am crying after looking at myself in the mirro and have man boobs.
2. They hurt - The pain caused by jiggling when I am going downstairs is simultaneously discomforting and nauseating.
1. I won't be able to be on the "skins team" during soccer games on hot days
Here it is... i hope you have enjoyed as much as I have
Top 5 Reasons I Do Not Want to Have Man Boobs
5. I can't wear tight shirts anymore - There goes half my wardrobe
4. Poor self image - I don't need anything else to make it harder to love myself.
3. Too much cyring - I will look even less manly if I am crying after looking at myself in the mirro and have man boobs.
2. They hurt - The pain caused by jiggling when I am going downstairs is simultaneously discomforting and nauseating.
1. I won't be able to be on the "skins team" during soccer games on hot days
1/03/2005
Top 5 T Shirts of All Time
Well, weekend is almost up and i am running out of steam. I hope you have enjoyed... i will dissapear for a while after this.
5. No One Knows I'm New Wave (white cotton, black letters - '92) - I made this one myself. I saw Mark Arm (Mudhoney) wearing one in rolling stone and I thought it was cool. Plus i love the cars.
4. Death to the Pixies (black cotton, white screen print - 90) - I stil have this one because it is so cool. I plan on passing it on to my children. My legacy will be a small black t shirt cause any money I have will deffinately be gone by then since it will probably cost me 100k a year to send them to college. I wore this to a grateful dead concert. I was the only person wearing black in the whole fucking place. I was so post punk.
3. Blue red tie die (cotton - 90) i bought this at my first grateful dead concert with Kris K. and Lahoda. We had to leave the concert early because Kris wanted to beat the traffic. Dude... that was so spazzy.
2. Ocean Pacific Hoody T Shirt (cotton - 83) There was a fad going on with OP stuff in the early 80s. One of the cool pieces were these thin cotton t shirt hoodies. It was the best. Long Sleve t shirts rule and this was had a hood which was even better. I would wear this one now if i had it. A timeless classic despite its 7th grade fad appeal.
1. Cycling - (blue cotton 01) I think my brother sent this to me, it is a nike t shirt that just says cycling. It is heavy cotton and simple. I love the font.
Well, weekend is almost up and i am running out of steam. I hope you have enjoyed... i will dissapear for a while after this.
5. No One Knows I'm New Wave (white cotton, black letters - '92) - I made this one myself. I saw Mark Arm (Mudhoney) wearing one in rolling stone and I thought it was cool. Plus i love the cars.
4. Death to the Pixies (black cotton, white screen print - 90) - I stil have this one because it is so cool. I plan on passing it on to my children. My legacy will be a small black t shirt cause any money I have will deffinately be gone by then since it will probably cost me 100k a year to send them to college. I wore this to a grateful dead concert. I was the only person wearing black in the whole fucking place. I was so post punk.
3. Blue red tie die (cotton - 90) i bought this at my first grateful dead concert with Kris K. and Lahoda. We had to leave the concert early because Kris wanted to beat the traffic. Dude... that was so spazzy.
2. Ocean Pacific Hoody T Shirt (cotton - 83) There was a fad going on with OP stuff in the early 80s. One of the cool pieces were these thin cotton t shirt hoodies. It was the best. Long Sleve t shirts rule and this was had a hood which was even better. I would wear this one now if i had it. A timeless classic despite its 7th grade fad appeal.
1. Cycling - (blue cotton 01) I think my brother sent this to me, it is a nike t shirt that just says cycling. It is heavy cotton and simple. I love the font.
Top Five Birds
I like birds.
5. Owls - They have HUGE wingspans. Its like watching a fat pteradactyl fly.
4. Herons - Also have huge wing, so graceful, so delicate.
3. Hawks - Just because the should be my nickname. Ted "hawk" Burns
2. City Falcons - My love of falcons started with the Blue Falcon cartoon. Then in VA i used to watch the falconers train their birds to hunt in the fields. However, in Toronto i got hooked on the city falcons that would live on the tops of buildings. They are so resiliant, they came back and took over the skys between buildings. I could watch them from my office on the 33rd floor of the Scotia Bank building and they would soar, and dive, and perch, it was super cool. Plus they kill pigeons which makes them all right by me.
1. Pelicans - Pelicans are simultaneously noble and goofy. They waddle around but they fly in huge packs and are awesome hunters. The best is when they shoot up into the air and nose dive right into the water after a fish. Talk about faith in your own abilities.
I like birds.
5. Owls - They have HUGE wingspans. Its like watching a fat pteradactyl fly.
4. Herons - Also have huge wing, so graceful, so delicate.
3. Hawks - Just because the should be my nickname. Ted "hawk" Burns
2. City Falcons - My love of falcons started with the Blue Falcon cartoon. Then in VA i used to watch the falconers train their birds to hunt in the fields. However, in Toronto i got hooked on the city falcons that would live on the tops of buildings. They are so resiliant, they came back and took over the skys between buildings. I could watch them from my office on the 33rd floor of the Scotia Bank building and they would soar, and dive, and perch, it was super cool. Plus they kill pigeons which makes them all right by me.
1. Pelicans - Pelicans are simultaneously noble and goofy. They waddle around but they fly in huge packs and are awesome hunters. The best is when they shoot up into the air and nose dive right into the water after a fish. Talk about faith in your own abilities.
1/02/2005
Top Five Meals of All Time
I just ate at mcdonalds which made me think of good food. I had their new chicken strips. 5 was too many and 3 is too few. Once again i feel screwed by McDonalds.
Honorable mention: Tortialla with peanut butter and jello powder 1994 (Adirondacks, NY) I was so hungry I started dreaming about food. For some reason this combination came to mind and it was something to behold.
5.Garlic Ship Dish 99-Present (Toronot, ON-Menlo Pak Ct) Caitlin always makes this, it is social (you dip bread in the pan to soak up the garlicy olive oil) and has lots of garlic and olive oil. Bascially one sure fire way to make anything taste good is to add garlic and olive oil. It is a sure fire crowd pleaser
4. Hot Turkey Sandwhich 97 (Gloversville, NY) - Post bike race meal. I had this about 20 minutes after i finished. The next day i was almost completely recovered from the day before. Since then hot turkey sandwich and mashed potatoes are my magic food for job intereviews and bike races.
3. Gallerie Laffayetee 1980 (Paris, France) - My parents had been trucking us around parents and we went into the Gallarie Lafayette to use the washrooms. It is a huge Department store in paris. My dad and i were hungry so we went to the cafe and bought half a chicken. It was AMAZING. it was seasoned down to the bone and not greasy. We were both liking the one to keep the taste alive in out mouths, and it worked. Never had any chicken that came close to it since.
2. Marche 2001 (NY, NY) - Fancy NY french place on the upper east side. The super cool thing here was it was my first tasting menu at a restaurant and it came with wine. They brought a drink to match every course you have. Who knew such a think existied! I am such a bumpkin. When people know what they are doing eating is fun.
1. Thanksgiving 98' (Eastern Short, Maryland) - Up util this date i never really appreciated food. It really only ate for sustenance, ie. because i had to. I had had only one realy gourmand experience, (at the gallerie lafayette) and had no interest in huge meals. All i wanted was to feel full and not be grossed out. Anyway... girlfriend at the time took me to a thanksgiving dinner at friends of her parents out on the eastern shore. They had courses, great turkey, and a wine to go with every course. It was all planned and you could eat and drink a ton. God i love it when people match booze to food, that just seems classy to me. Again... i am a bumpkin.
1/01/2005
Top Five Pant Styles and Pairs of Pants
Pants are very complicated as you will see....they can't be too fancy and must be comfortable
5. Black parachute pants (Parachute pants1983) - I actually wore these a fair bit, they had nice linner and the pockets were convenient. I don't know why these are not still popular with all of the pockets.
4. Brown Dress Pants (Nordstroms - Cotton/Nylon blend 2003) - They travel well and the cuffs are 16.5 inches around making me look sort of like a mod. I can spill on them and don't need to iron them. They are perfection
3. Black comfort fit jeans - (Gap - 94) I died these late 80's faded blue jeans to black on ex wifes advice. They didn't last long but were super comfortable and looked cool with my green stiched doc marteens.
2. Green Army Pants (Army issue fatigues - 88-93) - I had 2-3 pairs bought at Army and Navy in Johnson City NY. I would wear them until they had holes that couldn't be patched up. The coolest thing was i had a grateful dead patch patching up the butt at one point. Some news photographer took a picture of my post punk hippie wear in montreal and it made the fashion section of the Montreal Gazzette in 1991 or 92.
1. Grey Ocean Pacific Cargo pants (Cargo pants 1984) - They made me feel and look like indiana jones. I could escape from my life a little everytime i put these on.
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