A Minor Rant...

Dear NOR*CAL Guys:

Congratulations on the purchase and subsequent modification of your very, very large pickup truck. I am sure you are very happy with the assortment of large decals you have placed on it, most of which have something to do with MotoCross, WaterSkiing, Snowboarding, Tattooing, Sunglasses, etc., and almost all of them are in Old English typeface. The lift kits and free flow exhaust systems compliment the overall aesthetic nicely and give you the awesome combination of horsepower and high center of gravity that leads to so many spectacular rollover accidents. Thank you so much for hurtling by our home with the accelerator buried in the floorboard, doing 50 in a residential neighborhood, so radically embracing a complete and utter disregard for the safety of those around you (that's totally EXTREME!).

Congratulations also on your matching nautical star tattoos above (or sometimes on) your elbows. This is truly becoming the 'tramp stamp' for 18-35 year old males in Northern California. Way to assert your individuality, en masse. And, for those of you who have not yet gotten any tattoos, congratulations on your recent purchase of a Hart and Huntington shirt, wristband, and cap (worn snugly down on the eyebrows, right next to the piercing). Similarly, for those of you who have never sat on a motorcycle in your lives, congrats on the Orange County Choppers, West Coast Choppers, or Harley-Davidson swag that you wear so proudly.

Enjoy this time in your lives, but try to remember, someday you'll look back on this and realize that you didn't need to try so hard, pose so much, and act so tough; really all you accomplished was pissing off your neighbors and looking like a total douchebag.

Thanks for the chuckles...

Family Update

Yesterday brought Madison's baby shower and introduction to our friends and family. Bill and Carol next door hosted a wonderful party and we were blessed with a great turnout of wonderful people. The day could not have been more perfect and we were grateful for the kind words, thoughtful gifts, and loving support of everyone who came and those unable to attend. Madison continues to grow with gusto, getting a little bigger every day and adding new weapons of cuteness to her arsenal.

Yardwork

Yardwork. A glorious tradition, steeped in majesty, beer, and small irritating cuts on the hands and forearms. This year, we decided to stop procrastinating and finally get to the front yard remodel we'd been dreaming about since purchasing the house in August of 2005. With the help of a very skilled gardener and his crew, we cleared away all the old plants, except for a couple of very healthy roses, removed all the "decorative" rock, and put in a 2' retaining wall. I ran new irrigation infrastructure and did all the plantings. We have brought in about 5 yards of soil thus far and some bark is on the way. So, there's a lot more to do this weekend and we're off to the nursery as soon as we've achieved coffee-stasis.

So, here's BEFORE:
and here's ALMOST AFTER:

Who's my boo-boo?

Michelle took this pic the other day and I absolutely love it. I think it captures Madison's more cerebral side.