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Our travels in the Fall of '09 -pt 1

2009-12-02T20:47:00.024-05:00

We traveled to Hilton Head, SC for a family trip in Oct, and to Destin, FL for our friend Duane and Becky's wedding in Nov, and now we are STAYING HOME everyday in Dec!!! I guess with Duke (and Carolina) Basketball season filling our time here on Tobacco Road and the holly, joy season among us we have plenty to do right here. Here are some pictures from our travels and be sure to check back to see our many festive activities coming up.

pouty face cause she hears thunder and it is going to rain during park playtime:(

this is me holding on tight to my offspring and showing no fear

before...

and after!!!

rain day playing with Dad and Grampy at the kids museum.

Duane and Becky's Wedding - Fall '09 - pt2

2009-12-02T20:37:00.000-05:00

We spent a great long weekend in Destin, FL with a great group of close friends for Duane's wedding. He found himself a awesome creative beauty - Becky! Welcome to the family girl.

*The Rehearsal Dinner*

(LtoR...Haillie, Joel, Coco, Tommy, Kamie, Matt, Ryan, Becky and Duane)

*The Wedding*

My Fair Lady

2009-11-11T22:13:00.002-05:00

We missed the little one terribly, but it sure was nice to spend some adult time together. The super circle of friends made for a fun time, too. Congrats newlyweds!

climbing in the lowcountry

2009-10-23T20:39:00.003-05:00

Today we ...climbed a tree house

...climbed a lighthouse

...and watched a goat climb a house :)

heaven on earth

2009-10-21T22:41:00.001-05:00

just arrived at the beach, and she is already lovin it.

Duane's Old My New Lens

2009-10-19T20:53:00.002-05:00

I'm loving this lens! 2.8 is great... now I'm fiending for 1.8. Why can't I just be happy? :-0 Thanks friend... it's awesome!

the new dining room and a cute little girl

2009-09-20T15:43:00.007-05:00

Cadence is loving the new curtains in the newly painted dining room. She calls it her house and invites everyone in to play and watch tv, she will even get you a snack. I decided to take a little photo session of her playing. We used to do this more often when she was a baby and they are so fun to do and look at later.

*still deciding on the chairs*

Lucky Fan

2009-09-15T22:27:00.002-05:00

After being a bit timid around the Durham Bulls mascot, Wool E. Bull, Cadence took the initiative to go meet him, give him a five, and get his autograph. She was pretty proud of herself and that card. She even got a foul ball on the way out of the ballpark. Bulls win the first game of the championship series over the Yankees. Not bad for a Tuesday.

Labor Day 09er

2009-09-07T23:06:00.008-05:00

We had a wonderful extended weekend in the mountains of NC. Here are some of the highlights in pictures:

more to come soon...

Yay or Nay

2009-09-03T11:35:00.003-05:00

We're currently undergoing a minor kitchen/dining room renovation: furniture, paint, & window treatments. At the moment, we have decent-looking, but inexpensive mission style chairs. The problem is that they fold (yes, they actually look okay) a little too easily, and we're worried our 2-year old will end-up tucked in the chair on the floor. So we ordered 4 vintage, yellow Eames fiberglass chairs. Unfortunately, we got to take a closer look at them, and we were not happy with their condition. So, we pulled out.

The Eames chairs, while ubiquitous, are beautiful and clean (see top picture). We're still leaning that way as long as we can find some that are fairly-priced, gently-used, and in a color that works. However, our runner-up chairs differ significantly. We could use a little help.

I've always been a fan of the crafted-minimalism of the Shaker style. I dig Design within Reach's glossy version of a Shaker chair (see 2 above pics). It's also only $98 a pop. Corrina isn't sold on them, though. I think that these chairs would really stand out in a lightly-yellow painted room with bright white (sheer) treatments.

Corrina's choice is another fairly priced ($119) offering from CB2. While Corrina is leaning toward the grey version, I've posted a picture of it in green, so that the lines of the chair would stand out. I'm actually a fan of the chair, but I feel it might be too bold (polished legs) and contemporary for our house.

We'd love to get your opinions. Set your friendship and family bias aside and let us know what you think... especially those that have been in our casa. Thank

no such person living at this address pt.2

2009-09-02T11:56:00.002-05:00

I received another mistaken email. I'm beginning to love them.

subject: dancing tonight?

Tom and I are dancing at a "dance party" our teacher has periodically at her studio. She encourages bringing friends. It is in the KMart plaza, at the back corner towards the woods we would walk through to get to Southgate. Would you like to join us? It is very informal and fun. Most of the dancers will have less experience than the two of you. It is free. 7-8:30p.

This represents my mental image of my "friends:"

Baker's Monsoon Mix... is soooooo good!

2009-08-21T16:13:00.006-05:00

I'm thinking that maybe half of you have experienced a desert monsoon. If you haven't, they typically start popping-up around the end of the summer. This is the time of the year when you feel you just won't live through another 110 degree day. I guess maybe that's why ol' mother nature put their scheduled visits on our calendar. Anyway, these monsoons are visually striking, have a unique (and wonderful) scent, and replenish the environment both figuratively and literally. I don't miss the heat, but I miss them.

My jr. high buddy, Jason Baker, put together a wonderful mix that I envision is a perfect accompaniment to a late summer storm... even a heavy thunder storm for us folks here in the south. Go to his site for a free download. You can also stream it as you sit on the computer. Get it now while it's still up! Here: Jason Baker: Summer Monsoon Mix.

Well done, friend.

What a Beautiful Thing Love is

2009-08-18T12:01:00.005-05:00

Corrina and I are beyond heartbroken to say that beautiful Evelyn Grace Doyle passed away this last weekend. Many of you (our friends and family) have followed the Doyle's arduous journey through the most unreasonable of situations: infantile Leukemia.

Over these last few days, the only way my heart has felt the slightest bit of comfort is when I am able to reflect on the love that came from Eve's time here. There is absolutely no doubt that Brian and Bobbie gave every bit of their heart and energy to their little girl. Everything they had in them was given to her. Eve's fighting spirit and strength came from them, and it is unmatched. As new parents they were asked to handle a situation that most, including myself, cannot comprehend, and they answered the call. Eve benefited so much from them, and she knew it... from their touch, their kisses, their voice, their tears, and their constant presence. I know she is eternally grateful. I know she returns every bit of love they gave her. We love you, too.

no such person living at this address

2009-08-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

This was the most random email I've received in a while. Obviously it was not meant for me, but maybe it's a sign to go into acting:

Tom,

Congratulations! Your performance was a tour de force.

We so much enjoyed "Little Moscow", at many levels. The script was engaging, your acting made me forget I was watching an actor, but rather just brought me into the story, and then it was such a pleasure to see you excel.

Mazel tov!

Chris and Tom

Bapi 2nd Dirday!!!

2009-08-09T16:16:00.009-05:00

just a couple pictures from her actually birthday party, with her playgroup friends...

Our little girl is turning 2 in a couple days.

The invitations were created and sent out and the party yesterday was so much fun. Cadence loves music, but very much dislikes the birthday song, so we all sang the lollipop song and she loved it. Of course there were lollipops in the cake as decoration so she loved that too. She will have another party in a couple days for her actual birthday but this one was a great start.

Saving for Cadence

2009-08-06T14:36:00.004-05:00

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or be a Upromise Guest Shopping for Cadence's behalf.

2 weeks ago was Tom's birthday!

2009-08-04T16:20:00.016-05:00

Dad is Number 1!
Really she was saying "Go Pelicans". We were in Myrtle Beach and decided to go to see the Myrtle Beach Pelicans for the evening. Cadence likes baseball games, but not mascots! She had a great time along with everyone else.

Tom, Coco, GG, Grandma, Grandpa, Ryan, Mike, Tia and Meredith! That's everyone.

and a Cadence inspired "CHEEEEESE"

Shelby Star Photo of the Day

2009-07-27T15:39:00.003-05:00

Hey! I'm published!... in the Shelby Star. : ) We sent this in to the local paper in Western NC where my family lives. Guess they liked it (or don't get a lot of submissions). All due respect to that strawberry... it was perfect.

BopPy DirDay!

2009-07-12T20:27:00.007-05:00

Weekend in review...3 birthday parties, 2 days, 1 nap and lots of great pictures.

Ellie turned 3 and had a Fabulous Fun in the Sun pool party!
and the cutest CUPCAKES!

Linus had a great Construction Zone party outfitted with
hard hats and tool belts with the kiddos names on them.
Perfect for a 2 year old!

Wyatt turned 2 with a Wet and Wild party with kiddie pools and slides and a huge beach ball that shoots water!
and of course a CAKE!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-10T16:34:00.009-05:00

A local firehouse just got a new woo-woo truck (22month old speak) and
they let everyone in on the fun. We took Cadence over there to see all the trucks,
play with the fire hose, and climb into the trucks. Here are some pictures for ya.
It was a fun time for all.

take 2...

Work is Tough

2009-07-09T21:23:00.003-05:00

out like a light, but still clutching a matchbox car

Monday's are the day that I miss my little girl the most. After being spoiled with a full weekend, that first day back is always the loneliest. This past Monday, Corrina and Cadence had a surprise drop-in, and it was fantastic! Now that I'm on campus and parking is such a hassle, I don't get to see them at work nearly as often as I did in my previous job. I talked Corrina into letting Cadence stay the rest of the afternoon (90 minutes or so) with me. Cadence didn't need convincing... clinic toys and a bus ride home, "I'm definitely staying with Dad." Coco had to run-off to avoid getting a parking ticket. She actually returned to find a warning. I've NEVER heard of anyone getting a warning at UNC.

For the next hour or so, I finished up some revisions while Cadence sat and played with a bunch of freshly opened toys. We then locked-up and went out to catch our bus. As we waited outside, every time one came up, Cadence would yell, "My bus!" The other folks were highly amused by this, as was I. She wasn't actually claiming that she owned the bus as she normally does with any object in the house, but was so excited to get on. Finally, it did arrive. We got a seat in the back where the window starts at the bottom of the seat and reaches to the ceiling. I plopped her down there, and she pretty much kept an OMG face the entire ride. Every once in a while, she'd yell "BUMPY!," which is great because there are never any kids on these busses, and it catches riders by surprise. We rode our 10 minutes or so, and needless to say, Cadence didn't want to get off. As my stop is the final stop, everyone gets off, but she wasn't convinced. Ultimately, I said we'd talk to the driver, so we walked up to the front and exchanged pleasantries. Cadence delivered a very sweet, "thank you," and we were on our way to my truck. The picture (above) shows what happened next... and she never falls asleep in the car. All in a days work, I suppose. Cadence, you can come and toil with me anyday.

2009-07-03T14:12:00.001-05:00

2009-07-03T13:36:00.001-05:00

Hey Local NC'ers! Find Michael!

2009-07-01T13:08:00.005-05:00

SEEK: Frank was just found in NYC

A good friend of ours, Duane Fernandez, has an international scavenger hunt/social experiment going on that he has dubbed SEEK. Anyway, he has placed a box in our (figurative) backyard. It has yet to be found. You locals shouldn't have too much trouble here. Check his blog and twitter for clues!

my cuff designed by mr. fernandez & handcrafted by spexton

similar to what's in store for you

Backassward Thinking in the South

2009-06-25T12:40:00.004-05:00

from NPR (WUNC):
N.C. Senate OK's Paddling in Schools

Thursday, June 25 2009 by Laura Leslie |

State Senate lawmakers defeated a measure that would have required parental consent for paddling. Under the proposal, schools that use corporal punishment would have had to ask parents for permission to paddle students. Kids whose parents didn't consent would be disciplined by other means. Supporters said parents should have that choice.

But Republican leader Phil Berger said it would mean the end of paddling for all students. "A teacher is not going to have two students that do the same thing and discipline one of them with corporal punishment and not the other," says Berger. "It just won't happen."

The original bill would have also required the fifty-five districts that still use corporal punishment to keep data on whom they paddle and why. The State House approved the measure, but the Senate voted it down by a slim margin.

"In North Carolina, paddling is banned in the largest cities, like Charlotte. It remains legal in 70 percent of the state’s districts, although since they tend to be small and rural, fewer than half of the state’s students are covered." from this New York Times Article.