Page Upon Page

Annual Winter Walk in Duke Gardens

2011-04-19T22:28:00.000-05:00

Cadence is 3 1/2 years old this winter and acted as if she remembered taking these pictures over the years. Raleigh and Cadence are getting closer as she gets older and shares treats with him and plays with him more. I can't believe how big she is since we 1st starting going to the gardens. Glad I starting taking these pictures then.

2008

2009

2010

2011

Pajama Day

2010-10-08T09:55:00.006-05:00

Fridays in our house are often Pajama Day! Today, well for many days now, Cadence has been requesting to make cookies, so today was a special Cookie Making Pajama Day! Here are the pictures of our yummy lazy day activities. Really what's wrong with a little oatmeal and raisins, eggs, sugar and cinnamon first thing in the morning! and when you eat them early, you have all day to work them off :) Have a great Pajama Day no matter what you're wearing.

Stay Wondrous

2010-08-12T22:26:00.000-05:00

Happy 3rd Birthday to our little girl. It's all happening so fast. While we miss and cherish moments from only months ago, we're excited about tomorrow's offerings. We love you. Keep loving life!

The Kingsbury Manx at Duke Gardens

2010-07-18T22:30:00.000-05:00

It was a wonderful show. Cadence enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks for the lens, Duane.

Summer Fun! July 4th 2010

2010-07-09T22:03:00.008-05:00

Cadence and Aunt Tia had a blast cooling off on a hot 4th of July. Simple fun!

a girl and her bike

2010-06-16T21:44:00.004-05:00

Cadence has been really interested in riding her bike recently. Here is her first actual go at it outside. She did really good and I think she will continue...

Birthday Mix with a Heavy Texas Influence

2010-05-26T12:14:00.002-05:00

In honor of my three, Texas-born, amigos who share birthdays quite close to one another, I've created a compilation of songs that I think they'd like. Some will definitely be familiar or favorites, but others are those that I envisioned them listening to and enjoying. Happy Birthday, fellas! Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Download: The Ballad of Doyle Hargraves

MADD Walk for Powell "PDUB" Williams

2010-04-06T22:06:00.003-05:00

PDUB: HB, CA

2010-03-12T10:55:00.002-05:00

Artist and friend-extraordinaire, Mr. Duane Fernandez, is currently visiting our old stomping grounds of Hermosa Beach, CA. While having lunch at Los Muchachos, he came across a PDUB sticker placed about 5 years ago. Duane produced these stickers from a stencil he made shortly after Powell "PDUB" Williams was killed by a drunk driver in March of 2005. For both of us, he was as close of a friend as you could have. He is no less missed today as the day he left us.

In honor of Powell, Corrina and I are volunteering and walking with MADD in Raleigh, NC on March 20th. We'd love for you to join us! If you're able, we'd greatly appreciate a donation to support a charity so dedicated in ending these daily (and avoidable) tragedies. Please visit Corrina's MADD page for more information.

Annual Winter Walk in Duke Gardens

2010-02-21T23:40:00.005-05:00

This year the winter weather pushed this walk back a couple weeks. Today was beautiful and we were glad to spend a couple hours walking around Duke Gardens. Cadence is 2 1/2 years old this winter and acted as if she remembered taking these pictures over the years. There was a nice student sitting in the chair reading today and Cadence went up to her and said "you are sitting in my chair." We then asked her nicely if we could bother her for a couple moments while we took our picture. She was fine with moving and Cadence and Raleigh did great.

2008

2009

2010

All in the Name of Science

2010-02-14T22:31:00.000-05:00

It's been pretty convenient (for us) that Cadence is within the age range of the children that we are studying. She's been a very willing guinea pig, and has helped us practice a number of tests, try out new technology, and tweak procedures. It's a good thing we have a lot of toys in the lab.

3 Word Wednesday!

2010-02-10T20:49:00.003-05:00

LET'S GO DUKE!!!!!!

Genuine and/or Proud to be a Father

2010-02-07T23:01:00.000-05:00

All I wanted out of this year's Superbowl was a close game. Honestly, I wasn't really leaning either way. Both teams had their good guys and worthy stories. However, I'm thrilled that the Saints walked away with it. Seeing Drew Brees both literally and genuinely sharing the victory with his son was heartwarming. I know it's because I'm a father, but to see a man who truly realizes how special a child is, especially in that moment, moved me. I know I'd want Cadence and Corrina right there with me. That was unexpected and completely refreshing.

2 sides to every story

2010-01-31T22:27:00.002-05:00

As mentioned in the post before, Cadence has really taken to taking pictures. I'm liking it. Here we are getting each other:

I think we were both moving a little too much.

Cadence's Photography Skills

2010-01-21T14:24:00.009-05:00

Here is a recent family picture, with our future photographer!

Here is a sneak peek of some of the recent photos Cadence has taken with our old point and shoot. It's just her size and she can see the image in the preview window. She closely and carefully lines up what she wants to take a picture of, and actually ends up with quite detailed shots. She is even starting to take pictures of her feet, just like dad! We are hoping to submit these to our friends gallery in Tulsa (wink wink) so she can have her first art opening.

Here are the Wonder Pets driving along. Those Wonder Pets have expensive tastes.

Here is one I titled "the green monster" aka our hamper from her level.
She'll be offering signed originals... once she's able to write her name.

Cameron Turns 70

2010-01-06T20:24:00.004-05:00

Corrina and I are fortunate to go to basketball games at both Duke (Cameron Indoor Stadium) & UNC Chapel Hill (Dean E. Smith Center). I try to say this with the least amount of bias possible, but the Dean Dome doesn't hold a candle to the experience of watching a game at Cameron. When the Dean Dome gets cranking, it's undoubtedly exciting, but it just can't match Cameron's intimacy and history. Cameron feels like it's 70 years old... in the best way possible. Happy Birthday!

From Duke Sports Information:
DURHAM, N.C. - On Wednesday (01-06-10), Cameron Indoor Stadium celebrates its 70th birthday.

Cameron Indoor has been the site of 746 Duke victories in men's basketball over the past 70 years.

The doors of Cameron first opened on Jan. 6, 1940 with a 36-27 Duke win over Princeton in front of 8,000 people - the largest crowd ever to see a basketball game in the South.

The original design of the Stadium was said to be conceived on the back of a matchbook by Eddie Cameron and Wallace Wade in 1935. The official architectural plans for the Stadium were drawn by the Philadelphia firm of Horace Trumbauer, Architect.

The architect who designed the $400,000 Stadium was Julian Abele, who had studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, France.

The original arena measured 262-feet long by 175-feet wide and was the East Coast's largest indoor stadium south of the Palestra in Philadelphia.

Seating for 8,800 included 3,500 folding bleacher seats on the floor designated, then as today, for the exclusive use of undergraduates. The maximum capacity was 12,000.

The money from Duke's 1939 Rose Bowl appearance enabled the building of the arena, which the Blue Devils have posted a 746-150 record (.832) in.

Through the years Cameron has maintained its historic look and feel and is considered one of the premier sporting venues in the world. Sports Illustrated rated it as the fourth-best sporting venue worldwide of the 20th century.

Success inside Cameron didn't begin with the arrival of head coach Mike Krzyzewski, but the Hall of Fame coach has had tremendous success inside Cameron over his career, posting a 387-55 home record.

Over the last two seasons, the Blue Devils have lost just two games inside the historic arena, which has sold out 298 consecutive games.

For 2010: View the World with Wondrous Eyes

2010-01-01T16:18:00.007-05:00

My ~~resolution~~ goal for 2010 is to acknowledge the opportunities that I have, recognize new ones, and truly appreciate how fortunate I am to have these two beautiful ladies in my life. Happy New Year!

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

Join my Family & Friends network on Upromise^®

Help me earn money for college with Upromise. Upromise members can get money back for buying groceries, shopping online, eating out, even filling up at the pump. When you join my network, you can allocate all or part of your Upromise earnings to me. With your help, I can earn over two times more! Upromise partners with hundreds of participating brands, so there are lots of ways to earn every day. I hope you'll sign up today.

click here to Help me earn more by signing up!

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.

surf's up dude

2009-06-23T14:05:00.004-05:00

We took a trip down to Wrightsville Beach for Father's Day weekend, and International Surf Day! Cadence loves the beach, the ocean, the birds, the surf and the hats...

Here she is checkin out the "swell"

on the go to surf with Dad

we waited for a break in the swell and she got to catch some waves!

"the surf on the shore is almost as fun as the surf in the ocean"

just another cute hat picture!

sun up mix

2009-06-11T11:13:00.003-05:00

Here's a summery mix for you to tote along on road trips or for simply milling around the house with the windows and doors open. The idea was conceived by Miss Parks outta Tulsa, OK, and is basically meant to be a compilation of music that I might play for a group of hungover morning risers. In order to be eligible for the compilation the music had to satisfy at least one of three categories: 1)it makes me smile, 2)it makes me sing, or 3)it makes me dance. Hopefully, you'll have a similar response. Tracks span a time range from the 1970's to barely released and the scope of style is a also diverse, but musically (in form) related. Anyway, enjoy!

Download the "sun up" mix The file is large, but that's because I try to keep the sound quality high!

Impromptu Camping

2009-06-07T21:28:00.001-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I took a solo camping trip down on the NC coast. My goals were to surf, camp (obviously), and catch a screening of the surf flick,Picaresque. I camped at a state campground between the sound and the beach. As it was pre-Memorial Day weekend, it was pretty quiet, which was great. The weather was still cool enough to keep most of the bugs away. I think that the truck is smiling in the above picture.

I got in pretty close to dark. Once I set-up the tent and got a little food in my belly, it was time to start a fire and have a couple cold ones. Had a little slow-shutter fun. Smiley.

I was glad I decided to take the PDUB cruiser. I could pedal to the facilities and also check the surf. It was also nice just to get some time on a bicycle again. I love riding.

Between exhausting surf sessions (see below), I did a bit of hiking. This part of NC is one of the few places in the United States to have a variety of carnivorous plants growing in the wild. One of the trails I took was the "Venus Flytrap Loop," and I couldn't find one of the little bastards to save my life. Did find this radical pitcher plant though.

Sooooooooooooooo greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen.

The wind was a blowing strong over the couple of days that I was down there. Currents were a force to be reckon. As you could see in the above photo, there was a large amount of soup to paddle through. That made for a pretty tiring paddle on my 6'1".

Once I finally made it our there, much of the surf was about overhead. Unfortunately the wind swell made for waves that popped up anywhere and everywhere. Pretty inconsistent. Not alot of folks were out, and because of the conditions, I didn't spend much time out there by myself.

Post surf lunch of chumpions.

Oh, cool. Tell him I said, "What up?"

The second night, I headed into downtown Wilmington for the screening. Whenever, I'm down there, I make it a point to stop in for some pizza at a Slice of Life. Top-notch pizza and beer in a quaint little space. Recommended.

Grabbed some parking just off Market Street. I had to take the bike into town. I knew the gates to the campground would be locked by the time I got back, and didn't want to walk back to the spot.

The boys from Picaresque showed up shortly thereafter. The Bastard Lovechild of Rock'n'Roll aka "BLORR" is also part of the, now international, tour. The screening and performance were hosted at the historic level 5 bar. Set on the 5th floor rooftop, I can't think of a better view to scope whilst sipping on a cocktail.

Inside the 5th floor historic theater just prior to the showing. As you'd expect for a surf film, the atmosphere was upbeat and casual. There were plenty of XX flowing, resulting in joyous hoots and hollers throught the flick. Overall, I thought it was great. All shot in 16mm, Mikey Detemple's (filmmaker) creative perspective shown brightly through. I was talking to one of the guys on the tour, and he said that there was a big push to make the soundtrack amazing. They ended-up spending $15K in licensing alone, and it was well worth it in my opinion. Once distribution is flowing, I'm definitely going to pick up a copy.

Level 5 Bar... just a few steps up from the theater door.

The view from the bar. This looks towards market street. There were also spectacular views of the Cape Fear River and the U.S.S North Carolina. I like the "Ladies Always Free" text.

After the Picaresque festivities were completed, I headed up the block and dove into a Commie themed bar. The physical bar space was pretty rad. They had a variety of infused vodkas that they created on premises. You can see them fermenting in the pic above. Actually, that might be my favorite shot of the trip.

I think this was my first Russian beer... Baltika. Solid... similar to a czech-style pilsner or the Italian biggies: Moretti and Peroni.

Day 3 began with more exhausting, but fun surf. It's hard to keep in paddling shape when you live +2 hours from the coast... especially when you avoid the gym, like myself. Anyway, afterwards it was time to pack-up and get back home. 2 nights away had me fiending for the family. My time was up, but I missed my girls, and was ready to get back.

Audiologist hears again with cochlear implant :: WRAL.com

2009-06-03T13:43:00.003-05:00

This is a neat story about Dr. Stephanie Sjoblad, an Audiologist and Assistant Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Sjoblad also happens to be a current colleague and former teacher of mine. Watch the video of her initial stimulation visit. Looks like she is off to a great start! Congrats!

WATCH VIDEO of the "TURN-ON"

Here's the online news story from WRAL:
Audiologist hears again with cochlear implants :: WRAL.com

Shared via AddThis

cutthroat

2009-05-29T08:51:00.013-05:00

I'm typically not one to engage in heated discussion surrounding political or societal matters. Of course, I recognize the absurdness of our political leaders and policymakers. These days, it is especially easy to see as they ineptly react to an economic situation that they laid the path for. But then, as I said, I may hear the latest news... quickly anger, and just as quickly let it wash away.

Well, today happens to be the final enrollment day for our reformed state benefits. Health care copays, premiums, & deductibles are on the rise. Quality coverage is sinking. Anyway, this morning, I opened my inbox to see that my online paystub was available. Payday is always a good day. However, as I viewed my deductions, some voluntary (most were involuntary), I became more frustrated and disillusioned with where we are as a state and country. The amount of tax I donate in addition to the high premium of health care that I pay is starting to impact ME. ME: the person who is thankful for and loves his job. A job that is stable, supportive and enriching. If mediocre health care coverage is still on the rise and is affecting MY family's economy, what is it doing to those that have lost income, lost their benefits, or worst... lost their job(s) entirely? Now is not the time to raise so grave as health care coverage.

Here are the changes (ironically, they called them "highlights") to my health insurance (taken word-for-word from an employee notification):

"Because the legislation for the State Health Plan was just signed into law on April 23, this annual enrollment is being conducted later than normal for a July 1 effective date and with a very short timeframe. Return your completed form AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." Thanks for the rush!

$: Deductibles, copays, and the coinsurance out-of-pocket maximums will increase under both the PPO Basic (70/30) Plan and the PPO Standard (80/20) Plan. They got rid of the coverage option that provided the highest quality of care.

$: Routine vision exams will no longer be covered as of Jan. 1, 2010. Sight probably isn't all that important for my day-to-day work.

$: Preferred brand copay (without a generic available) will increase to $35. Uppercut!

$: Non-preferred brand copay will increase to $55. Kidney blow!

$: Specialty Drug Copays... a coinsurance of 25 percent will be charged for specialty prescription drugs up to $100 for each 30-day supply. So the folks that are really sick are "highlighted" too.

$: On July 1, 2009, there will be an 8.9 percent increase on all coverage tiers (health plans). So for someone with a spouse and 1 child, you'll pay at least an additional grand this year for subpar coverage.

$: On July 1, 2010, there will be another 8.9 percent increase on all coverage tiers (health plans). And you'll pay it again, next year!

In addition to these hikes, NC is one of the few states adopting lifestyle penalties, which they refer to as "Healthy Lifestyles Initiatives."

As they described it:
"In addition to the benefit changes and rates increases outlined in this email, the State Health Plan will implement comprehensive wellness initiatives to support healthy lifestyles, focusing on tobacco use and unhealthy diet/physical inactivity. According to the State Health Plan, these areas are the two leading causes of preventable deaths in North Carolina.

The recent legislation includes a provision for the Plan to ask members to self-report tobacco use and weight status during annual enrollment. The Plan is currently assessing procedures and rules around the tobacco and weight management programs, and will make these available for public comment prior to program implementation."

Basically, individuals that smoke or have a higher than normal "body mass," will have to pay a higher premium. I understand that these workers typically have more health issues with more frequent doctor visits, and thus cost the employer more money. However, policymakers state that this plan was initiated to promote state employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Obesity and addiction are complicated behaviors. Behaviors that take years and much support to change. The notion that having a smoker pay a couple hundred dollars a year will get him to quit is absolutely absurd. The fact that it takes time to adopt these positive, yet challenging, behavior changes is a cash cow that insurance companies can milk from, year after year. In addition, it has been shown that tighter household budgets mean families adopt less healthy lifestyles. They consume more inexpensive, fast food. Cigarette and alcohol sales rise in poorer communities. It's quite an unfortunate cycle. It's very depressing that our leaders continue to exploit the growing number of economically disadvantaged families.

And don't get me started on my pay-cut. Oh excuse me, they call it a "Flexible Furlough Reduction." What an unscrupulous world we live in.

For those that are interested in NC public policy,The Progressive Pulse is a solid blog.

serenity pool

2009-05-17T14:09:00.003-05:00

wait for it

2009-05-12T18:30:00.001-05:00

We finally found a mid-century credenza. After years of scouring thrifts for deals and balking at high-priced vintage boutiques, Corrina found this walnut sideboard in a county south of here for $35 dollars. Clean, solid & sturdy. The munchkin dug it, too. Way to sleuth one out, Coco.

cool mcm blog that i check on the regular: The Mid-Century Modernist

And one parting shot for fun:

Mom's Day

2009-05-11T13:49:00.008-05:00

Corrina deserves her recognition. There is no doubt that she is a wonderful and loving mother, but to Cadence, everyday is Mother's Day. I mean, "Mama" is used in 98% of her vocalizations. However, I don't think Cadence is necessarily honoring mom as much she wants to be by her side every moment of the day. As part of Corrina's maternal nature, she is able to willingly deal with the constant (and sometimes shouted) needs of our little one. That alone deserves some respect. Thanks Mom! We love you!

Now, the forecast for Sunday was not looking good: thunderstorms and muggy. Last year we battled a crazy rain storm and packed breakfast spots on Mother's Day. I wasn't looking to recreate that. This year our plans were loose,but low key... the early highlight being berry waffles at Grayson's cafe for brunch. It's down the street, the food is good, and you don't have to wait for a table. This turned out to be a bummer:

We then headed to Piedmont for their terrific brunch offerings. We love Piedmont and eat there every so often. Unfortunately for them and us, power outages from storms the night before, shut them down. As Duke and UNC's graduation ceremonies were this weekend and it being Mother's Day, this was a huge loss for them I'm sure. Bummer #2.

We ended up going over to Rue Cler which is also in downtown Durham. I've had coffee and pastries from them and Coco has had dinner there, but we've never sampled brunch. They were well booked, but we were willing to sit outside and got a table right away. At that point it was overcast, but the temp was pleasant. The food was delicious... Cadence was able to chit-chat with other kiddos and watch cars passing by. Things worked out.

We headed over to Corrina's parents to wish Sue a Happy Mema's ("mee-maw") Day! At this point the weather turned and stayed beautiful. Quite the grin there, kiddo:

Being a dad, I think that when I pull-out clothes for Cadence I do a good job. Apparently, I made a mistake and put a PJ top on. How am I supposed to know that it's sleepwear?! I think Corrina let it go because I put a skirt with it, but when we were eating brunch, she said, "Look, those kids are in their pajamas, too." I'm not sure if that was a jab or if she was trying to make me feel better. : )

We then headed home, and spent most of the day outside. We were hoping that Cadence's gift to mom would be a nap, but she wasn't in the giving mood. We ended up running through the sprinkler, doing a bit of mowing and gardening, & renovating our mailbox.

It was nice to be outside on a day that was forecasted as being miserable. Mother to mother, I guess nature knew Corrina deserved it. We finished Sunday off with steak kabobs, mimosas, and a slow walk. What a wonderful day to spend with Corrina. Happy Mother's Day!

have you smiled today, really smiled?!

2009-05-05T16:38:00.004-05:00

Spring is springing.

2009-05-05T16:16:00.005-05:00

spring came right on time this year. it was a beautiful weekend in April so I decided to plant some wildflowers out in the yard. Cadence was very much involved and my brother Jake came over to assist me, with both the garden and the little sprout. She loved the watering aspect, and wants to water the garden everyday.

A Beautiful Baby & Determined Fighter

2009-04-29T10:46:00.003-05:00

Brian and Bobbie Doyle, while new to the role, are the strongest parents I know. Truly inspiring. Their gorgeous little girl, Evelyn, was born on March 19th, 2009 and was only shortly later diagnosed with Leukemia. As you'll learn from their blog, this is one tough princess! It is so clear where her strength comes from.

I know that lots of other young families check in to our blog from time to time. While it is heart wrenching to see such a petite and precious infant in the midst of such a fight, I so strongly feel that their family could use all the love and support that can be given. It's impossible for me to read their updates without frequent, emotional pauses. So please, even if in reflection, prayer, energy, or whatever, send them all the love you can muster. Let's help Evelyn and her family lick this illness once and for all! We love you Evelyn, Bobbie, & Brian. ...and Evelyn, we send warm hugs and soothing kisses. Stay strong little one.

Mother Earth Day

2009-04-22T11:18:00.001-05:00

pinchin' pennies!

2009-04-08T21:11:00.002-05:00

I wanted to pass these deals on to our friends and family. These are too good to keep to myself, and I hope they can help in these days when some credit interest is at 25%. Current promotions include:

Visa Platinum Balance Transfer of 2.99% APR Annual Percentage Rate For Life of the Balances!
New and Used Car Purchase or Refinance at 3.99% APR!

You too can join the Pentagon Federal Credit Union by joining the National Military Family Association.

Low, one-time only fee of $20, Membership is open to anyone, NMFA is the leading non-profit advocacy organization for military families and you do not have to retain NMFA membership to stay a member with Pentagon Federal Credit Union.

back to Cadence tomorrow...

Cadence LOVES Oatmeal...

2009-04-06T15:26:00.003-05:00

well, actually she LOVES blueberries in the oatmeal!!!

She has been making her mommy proud these days and eats 1/2 cup of oatmeal a couple days a week. This day she was sick and wanted oatmeal for breakfast and dinner. Today she ate her oatmeal without the berries...thank god!

John Hope Franklin: 1915-2009 ... Sadly, no longer a living historian

2009-03-27T10:19:00.000-05:00

by: Wil Haygood for the Washington Post
John Hope Franklin, one of the most prolific and well-respected chroniclers of America's torturous racial odyssey, died of congestive heart failure yesterday at the age of 94 in a Durham, N.C., hospital.

It was more than Franklin's voluminous writings that cemented his reputation among academics, politicians and civil rights figures as an inestimable historian. It was the reality that Franklin, himself a black man, had seen racial horrors up close and thus was able to give his academic work a stinging ballast. Franklin was a young boy when his family lost everything in the Tulsa race riot of 1921. The violence was precipitated by reports that a black youth assaulted a white teenage girl in a downtown elevator. In the end more than 40 people died, mostly blacks, although some reports put the death total much higher.

Franklin was among the first black scholars to earn prominent posts at America's top -- and predominantly white -- universities. His research and his personal success helped pave the way both for other blacks and for the field of black studies, which began to blossom on American campuses in the '60s.

In time, a second generation of eminent black scholars -- Harvard's Henry Louis Gates Jr., Georgetown's Michael Eric Dyson and Princeton's Cornel West -- would follow Franklin to the heights of America's most illustrious schools.

"He gave us a common language," Gates, director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard, said yesterday. "As the author of a seminal textbook, 'From Slavery to Freedom,' Franklin gave us young black scholars a common language to speak to each other. He had invented a genre out of whole cloth."

Gates, a former recipient of a MacArthur "genius grant," for years was curious as to who had recommended him. He attended a dinner once with Franklin, and Franklin confided that he had been the one to recommend Gates. "And I cried at the table we were sitting at. A lot of us called John Hope 'the Prince.' He had such a regal bearing. We're all the children of John Hope."

Over the course of his career, Franklin taught at Duke, Harvard and the University of Chicago, and would regale friends with the joy he had teaching at Cambridge University in England. Among his many honors was the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which President Bill Clinton bestowed upon him in 1995.

Franklin's life became so celebrated in his later years, and his testimony at congressional hearings so frequent, that he seemed almost a fictional figure, a combination of Booker T. Washington and Mark Twain. "I could not have avoided being a social activist even if I had wanted to," Franklin once said.

Among Franklin's more popular works, many of which remain constants on college reading lists, are "From Slavery to Freedom" (with Alfred Moss Jr.), "The Emancipation Proclamation," "Reconstruction After the Civil War," "A Southern Odyssey: Travelers in the Antebellum North" and "The Militant South, 1800-1861."

John Hope Franklin was born Jan. 2, 1915, in Rentiesville, Okla. His father, Buck, was a lawyer and the first black judge to sit on an Oklahoma district court.

Franklin attended Fisk University, a historically black college, and received his undergraduate degree in 1935. He earned both a master's and doctorate from Harvard University. From there it was an academic career full of highlights, fellowships, research stints and publications. He was a professor at Howard University from 1947 to 1956. His rising reputation caught the eye of Brooklyn College, which named him chairman of its history department. The appointment was met in the black press with an exuberance usually reserved for black sports figures. Franklin had become the first black person to chair a history department at a college that was not historically black.

But it was in the arena of politics and social activism that Franklin carved a new niche for himself. He provided important historical research to NAACP Legal Defense Fund lawyer Thurgood Marshall in the historic Brown v. Board of Education case that outlawed school segregation. A new generation of young Americans would witness Franklin's testimony during the unsuccessful nomination of Robert Bork for a seat on the Supreme Court.

In his long life, Franklin rubbed shoulders with many of the most famous figures from the black struggle in 1950s and 1960s America: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and Marshall. He also lived in many of the cities that experienced tumultuous racial clashes. In a 2005 interview with The Washington Post, Franklin recalled living in Montgomery, Ala., in the 1940s: "In the liquor store, you would use the same clerk as the whites, but walking up to the clerk, there was a wall that separated you from the white person. So all you saw was that white person's hand."

In that same interview, Franklin talked about going to Richmond in 1947 to donate blood to his sick brother. Afterward, Franklin boarded a bus and sat in the whites-only section. He told the driver he had just given blood and was too tired to move; the driver threatened arrest. "The blacks were yelling at me: 'Stand your ground!' And you know what? That bus driver drove on off with me sitting right there."

Word of Franklin's death quickly swept throughout the academic community yesterday. Eileen Mackevich, executive director of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, first met Franklin in the late 1960s while doing graduate study in Illinois. "He taught me about race, about life, about communicating with people in respect to their differences," she said. "I am white, but he taught me things I never would have understood about race even though I've lived most of my life in integrated communities."

She continued: "I think a lot of white institutions congratulated themselves for hiring him as the first or second African American historian. But in the end, he made them feel honored to have him because of what he did for the faculty, the students and the neighborhood."

Franklin was married to Aurelia Whittington, his college sweetheart, who died in 1999. They are survived by their son, John Whittington Franklin. Aside from his family and his intellectual pursuits, Franklin also loved orchids. He was devoted to raising them. "There is even an orchid named after him," Gates said.

...

Here Mr. Franklin's voice as he tells his son, John, about being a Boy Scout during the 1920s in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was fortunate enough to hear this on NPR's Storycorps on the way to work this morning. It's brief, but poignant.

She got mad hops!

2009-03-19T14:29:00.005-05:00

Cadence and friends Andy and Matthew were getting ready for March Madness this past weekend in the bounce house.

Jump!

Jump Up, Jump Up and Get Down!

The Madness!

2009-03-19T10:23:00.001-05:00

t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u r n a m e n t t i m e t o u

btw... Matt, thanks for the ball pictured above. It's one of my prized possessions. I wanted one so badly in high school.

We're back from AZ...

2009-03-17T21:27:00.002-05:00

and we're feeling a wee bit beamish. Happy St. Patty's Day!

pics from the trip to come... Coco, get on it! ; )

We're off to AZ!

2009-03-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Think we're ready (see above)?!?

We can't wait to see everyone!

just a reminder to...

2009-03-02T21:13:00.003-05:00

...stop and smell the roses.

2009-02-24T15:03:00.001-05:00

the are giving away a learning tower, check it out if you are interested.

The Newest Sensation

2009-02-17T22:24:00.003-05:00

As some may have heard, M.I.A. went into labor after her performance at the Grammy's. Eric was showing me a clip of the number via pitchfork.com, and that's where we stumbled across the above clip. I love the whispered "prego shuffle" chorus. Interesting that those colors and shades are what's what these days.

Have a Heart

2009-02-14T15:49:00.002-05:00

An oldie, but goodie... Happy Valentine's Day from the Pages.

Gameface

2009-02-11T11:05:00.004-05:00

Tonight's the big game... Who is gonna take it? Cadence says Duke. Coco and I will be on hand to find out. Can't wait!!!

January walks in Duke Gardens

2009-02-03T19:59:00.009-05:00

In between the winter days of January there is normally a nice warm day to take a walk in Duke Gardens. At the end of January 2008, I took Cadence and Raleigh on that walk. Our then 5 month old was just starting to sit up so it was very cute when she sat up in these over-sized chairs in the gardens. This year Cadence is 17 months old and it is pretty impossible to get her to sit still at all, and Raleigh doesn't get to take walks as much, so he really didn't want to "sit" either. Maybe next year will be a little easier.

Here are a couple more pictures from our walk this year.

start

2009-01-31T21:41:00.007-05:00

wind-up

release

pause

resume

down

take it

give it back

attack

retreat

finish

snow day!

2009-01-20T11:02:00.004-05:00

Spring Training in Scottsdale

2009-01-12T10:00:00.002-05:00

ALERT! ALERT!
Tickets go on sale Tomorrow, Tuesday January 13th at 10am. If you want to join The Page's for some fun in the sun, we will be getting lawn tickets for these games...
Saturday 3/14 at 1:05 v. Padres
Sunday 3/15 at 1:05 v. Royals
(Monday 3/16 at 1:05 v. Angels and Tuesday 3/17 at 1:05 v. Brewers are tentative.) CHANGE! We will be flying back to NC on the 16th so we will not be at the games on the 16th or the 17th. The weekend games are still a go!
Leave a comment if and when you are interested.
By Phone
Tickets.com charge-by-phone at 1-877-4SFGTIX.
In Person
Scottsdale Stadium Box Office

more travel plans to come...

Cadence's 1st Duke Game

2008-12-31T20:33:00.005-05:00

On December 31, 2008 at 4:05, Cadence began the experience of her 1st Duke Basketball game. Tom's family has been going to basketball games since before he was born, and now we have expanded this family tradition 1 more generation. Below is the picture diary that documents this noteworthy event.

Cadence sitting in "her dad's seat, #12".
This is a big deal, but Duke was winning by a lot, so it was ok.

Already giving the refs a hard time. That's my girl!

DUKE WINS.

a peek at the night-night routine

2008-12-30T13:57:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas to all

2008-12-28T22:52:00.009-05:00

Slides...
Trains...
and Automobiles...

For those of you that don't know, there is a new TV show for Dads to watch with their kids. Tom and Cadence are both big fans of Yo Gabba Gabba, and thanks to Paul and Allison for sending this to them to play with. It is very cool to have for the 23.5 hours it is not on TV.

and may your New Year be filled with moments that make you smile...

(Miles Salmon 2yrs, 3months old. Thanks for the trains.)

fun with animated singing toys

2008-12-24T23:43:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve at Mema and Grampy's house, 2008

Childhood Classics

2008-12-20T19:33:00.003-05:00

Cadence loved these. I did, too. Where did such good programming go?
Animal vs. Harry Belafonte

Sesame Street has an official youtube section that's got some pretty great musical guests from the past. Here are two good ones:

Paul Simon (Cadence was singing DANCE, DANCE, DANCE! the rest of the night after this one)
&
Ray Charles singing the ABC's.

Durham's Finest, Cadence's Favorites

2008-12-16T10:09:00.012-05:00

Last week we took our little one to her first parade. She liked the marching bands alot, and really liked the WooWoo's, as she calls them.

This past Sunday, Grampy saw that the local firehouse was giving rides for a donated gift, so you betcha we were there. She liked the whole experience and is still talking about it.

a wintry mix (downloadable)

2008-12-08T23:03:00.005-05:00

While home sick most of last week, I got around to putting together a mix. It does reflect the season's change from fall to winter, and the songs chosen were probably influenced by the way I felt. Not to say that it is a downer of a compilation, although that's just where I was coming from. Anyway, it's in a mellow vein with acoustic and soft synth stylings. It's a contemporary version of the Grown Mix (also available) from a year or so ago. The tracks selected were also ones that I felt Corrina would enjoy even if she had never heard them. It's one long track, which I happen to like for mixes on the iPod. Oh yeah, Coco liked the mix. So... take a sip of the juice or go ahead and download the whole thing. Tracklist is in the comments. Leave a critique, please. Enjoy!

happy birthday carmele!

2008-12-04T09:34:00.006-05:00

It's been awhile since we've seen you, but wanted to let you know that Cadence has been thinking about you this week. She wanted to shout out, "Happy Birthday Aunt Carm!," but that's pretty hard to say, so she decided to write it instead. ;) We hope you have a wonderful day!

Working on the sign,

Standing on the sign,

And finally, dancing on the sign.

A short, behind-the-scenes footage of what it's like to work with miniature, celeb divas:

goodnight

2008-11-27T20:20:00.002-05:00

Cadence had a wonderful Thanksgiving. She happily lasted all day without a nap. Because of her marathon day, she was definitely ready for bed when night-night came around. She never falls asleep in our arms. We know what we're thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We love ya.

hello & good morning

2008-11-27T09:39:00.002-05:00

Whatever Blows Your Skirt Up

2008-11-25T12:21:00.003-05:00

We hope everyone has an uplifting (sorry) Thanksgiving!

we miss ya

2008-11-14T23:18:00.002-05:00

happy birthday, friend. we're thinking of you today... everyday.

today was beautiful

2008-11-09T00:07:00.007-05:00

Is NC gonna Turn Red to Blue?

2008-11-03T22:43:00.004-05:00

That won't be the case if the ladies in the above shot have anything to say about it... doggonit. Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow.

FYI, this would be one of my favorite pics of late. I took it at the county fair in Shelby a month or so ago. I hope I'm happy come Wednesday.

Halloween - Part 3 - actually Oct 31st

2008-11-01T13:58:00.012-05:00

3-in-1...It was a fun, busy day.
1st our playgroup friend, Kelly and her son Wyatt, had a Halloween Party. Cadence went as a Dragon and had her Duke Cheerleader uniform on underneath.

(sorry for the blurry picture, she always seems to be moving.)

"oh, is that something with wheels...sweet, can I push you?"

Storytime with Mrs. Abby, King Kong's mom. This book is called DOG, and it is all about dogs, another one of Cadence's favorites.

Like all Duke Cheerleaders, she had to take a break from the party to get some school work done.

After the party, and naptime, we had to get ready to visit Tom at work. It was a beautiful day to be a flower!

"Mom, can we take these to visit Dad, please!"

Later that night, We took our little Dragon trick-or-treating with our neighbors, Natalie, Margo, Charlie and their parents. It was pretty cute.

Halloween - Part 2

2008-11-01T13:26:00.006-05:00

Last Sunday I took Cadence to a neighborhood get together. Cadence, aka little Ballerina, loved being dressed up and loved playing with the big girls.

all dresses up and still loves playing with her trucks!

the costume at the end of the day. Still looking cute.

Halloween - Part 1

2008-11-01T13:13:00.007-05:00

Last weekend, Mema and Grandpy took Cadence and I to a Fall festival. This was the first costume of Halloween '08.

2008-10-28T17:10:00.001-05:00

We miss you DaDa

2008-10-26T19:35:00.004-05:00

Tom is gone to Omaha for the weekend, so this post is for him.

Yesterday after nap, it was storytime of coarse. Cadence gathered some of her students and I gathered a few more. She was having a blast "reading" to them and then searched through all of them to find the ones with musical buttons in their feet. She thinks all stuffed friends should have hidden musical buttons, but I tend to disagree, especially now that she can push the button herself.

Today, my parents neighborhood had their Halloween party. Cadence and I went and she loved playing with all the kids. Here we are on the swings as one of her "friends" took our picture. Check back on Halloween for the costume reveal.

NASCAR with Gramps

2008-10-26T07:53:00.002-05:00

good seeing you last week Gramps! Here are some pictures for you.

"howl said the mother, we howl said the 9..."

2008-10-25T14:17:00.003-05:00

Here is another one of Cadence's cute little sweet charming traits that make her such a joy to have as a daughter.

We got this book as a gift from our good friend Amy. She lives far away out in the desert of Arizona and thanks to her, Cadence knows what a Coyote, Road Runner, and a Gila Monster are! One day soon we hope to take her out to the desert for a field trip. "Hoooowwwwwwwwlllll" to all our friends, big and little, in the desert.

We went on down to Shelby, again

2008-10-21T21:04:00.004-05:00

My Dad flew in from AZ for a long weekend with the family. As usual, it was a pain getting to and leaving the Charlotte area, but we had a great time while we were there. On Saturday morning we met up with Cadence's cousins at Freedom Park. Fun with Emerson:

After that, we headed to Shelby, and ended up going to their downtown (if you can call it that!) music festival.
Hay there!

A good one with Grampa Norm

On Sunday, I decided to load up some of my childhood relics that my mom had been storing in the attic. On this blog, we've probably established that Cadence loves vehicles. Well, I pulled-out a Rubbermaid container full of my old Matchbox cars, and she actually let out a little gasp of delight!

Fun for all ages!

She'll share.

I was a fan of LandCruisers as a child. Still am.

These will date me I suppose. We've got two A-Team vans, Snoopy and Woodstock, a Decepticon, Airwolf, ZZ Top's ride, and some Duke's of Hazzard rides (I came across Daisy Duke's Jeep and Boss Hogg's Caddy after I took the pic).

Coco makes me laugh

2008-10-14T20:13:00.002-05:00

Corrina, Cadence and I were out running after-work errands this afternoon. Corrina was driving defensively; as we were dealing with several unskilled NC motorists. At one point we had a lady who was unable to pull-off a U-turn in a very busy intersection. It would be clear to most anyone that unless you're driving a golf cart or a smart car (same thing) you wouldn't be able to pull a U-ee in this particular location. As anyone who knows her would expect, Coco commented, but remained cool. Seconds later, in this same intersection, a Jeep full of college kids pulled-out in front of us, cutting us off (T-bone style). That's when Corrina dropped this clean, quotable gem: "There's a whole lot of tools in the shed today." Awesome.

Have you smiled today?

2008-10-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

We went on down to Shelby

2008-09-28T21:31:00.002-05:00

Corrina, Cadence, Jake and I went to visit my family this weekend. On Saturday, Mike had a soccer game. I think the final score was 5-0. The good guys won. Mike scored the first goal of the game, and played goalie (#7) for the second half. As usual, Aunt Tia was great at keeping Cadence happy and off the field. I think Grandma liked showing her off.

On Sunday, we spent some time with Shelby's finest at the Cleveland County Fair. Cadence had a great time. The first thing she got to see was the Farm Equipment aka "Ta-tuh" (tractor). FYI, her favorite toy has remained a Catapillar Backhoe Loader Corrina picked it for her up months ago. Honestly, she's quite fascinated with heavy machinery in general. Paw Paw kids that she'll be a truck driver. I think when she grows up she'll be building and grooming jumps for Ryder.

Cool pic by Coco (above). We saw enough livestock for me, but then again, no livestock is enough for me. I guess this is something that would go under, "things you do for your kids." The kid did love it. She squeezed a chick just a bit too much, and fortunately, she relinquished it. She was amazed that cows really do "moo" in real life. Full-size horses seemed alright. She had more fun barking at the miniature ones.

Photo Mania!

2008-09-18T20:04:00.004-05:00

Thanks for the prodding, folks! An update is long overdue. So much so, that I'ma let the pictures do the talking. It's been a good month (in no particular order):

The Future's So Bright You Gotta Wear Shades!

2008-08-24T14:19:00.004-05:00

Isn't she so cute. I couldn't help from cracking up when this picture was taken. Her GG Ma got her these cute glasses for her birthday.

Happy 1st Birthday Cadence!

2008-08-12T08:44:00.004-05:00

Today is the day! It is very hard for me to believe that a year has gone by. Wow. How life has changed! A year ago today our lives started a new trajectory. I know that it hasn't all been easy, but it certainly feels that way right now. I guess hindsight isn't always 20/20. I do know that I love this little girl with all my heart. Her innocence and happiness is infectious. I work and have worked with A LOT of kids. I honestly can't think of a little one who is so consistently upbeat, social, and engaging. Regardless of my parental bias, Cadence has given me a renewed appreciation for humanity and a perspective (that I once had) on how to again view the world. If we all still had the optimism, wonder and openness from our youth, the world would most definitely be a better place. Happy Birthday little girl. I love you. ~Dad

the above photo is from 03/16/2008 and is one of my favorites from the last year

2 days until the big day! 10 months old

2008-08-10T20:04:00.002-05:00

i know this picture is a little blurry, but she was having such a fun time and has such a big smile that it just makes the picture great.

so, Cadence starting walking

2008-08-09T22:59:00.004-05:00

Here is a video of Cadence walking. She has been stumbling around for a couple weeks now, but officially started 2 weeks ago when she strayed away from the couch and headed for the front door. It has been non-stop ever since and she especially likes chasing Raleigh, or as she says RaRa.