Happy birthday

OMG, my baby boy turned three today. Happy Birthday Mason!!!

Gypsy charm

The gypsies are here!!!

This eclectic group of kiwis travels all around the country, selling their trinkets and proudly showing off their house buses and trucks. It was fun to share this experience with the family since they weren't here yet to experience the fair last year. The kids had a great time, and we were lucky that the nasty weather broke long enough for us to hang out for a while. Unfortunately, the fortune teller was booked for the rest of the day. Nevermind though. On to the pictures!!!

its ALIVE!!!!

What can I say? All of this recent talk about Ph.D.s and academia has led me to make zombie paper dolls. Doll, actually; although there will be more to come, I am sure... Not really paper, either, but cardstock on the inside, fake felt on the outside... It's too late to explain any of this...

We're comin' home

In a few months, we will be heading back to the land of corn and basketball. I have a job lined up as a "visiting lecturer" which will provide me the status and priveleges of full-time faculty while I work towards my Ph.D.. Who would have thunk it? So much to do, so much to do...

The wheel of time keeps rolling on...

Time seems to mean less and less as I get older. Especially since children came into our lives, everything has started to blur a bit. But a lot has happened. Our past shapes who we are and dictates certain elements about our future.... A look back:

2006: Last year, at this time, I was brand new to New Zealand, my head reeling with all that I had to learn while apart from my wife and children. Seeming like an eternity before they would get here to join me. Then when they were packing their last bag to join me, losing a good friend to a senseless act of violence.

2005: After a two year battle, we were finally able to legally adopt our oldest two children. After everything we had been through, it seemed like a non-event once the papers were all quietly signed. This was also the year that my last grandparent passed on.

2004: Mason was born! What else can I say. With two babies and a VERY active 5 year old, we are STILL trying to make up for the sleep loss from this year!

2003: We became foster parents. The same week that our two children came to us that we would later adopt, we found out my wife was pregnant. (This was also the year that we visited beautiful Puerto Rico!!! - life BEFORE kids ;) )

2002: I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer. One of the last things she said to me was that she KNEW we would have children in our lives. She seemed so sad when she said it. I really wish she could see us all now.

2001: 9/11 kind of overshadowed everything else

2000: I graduated with my M.S. and we moved to Indiana

1999: I graduated with my B.S. (after years of trying more degrees and schools than you can imagine...)

1992: Just married!

1989: Graduated from H.S. and moved to Tallahassee


Just a snapshot of history. So where to now?... That will be in my next post...

never ending holiday...

I still haven't debriefed from our big trip (although I've changed briefs several times...), but a few days ago we went on a day trip with my mother-in-law (AKA "Momo") to Milford Sound. Milford Sound is located in the pristine Fiordland national park (largest national park in NZ; world heritage area; one of the wettest areas in the wordl). The drive, in itself, was amazing. It felt like going back in time. Although pictures never do this sort of thing justice, here are some pictures of Milford Sound.

Monkey Island; WEIRD, man...

Monkeying around

This morning, our friend and neighbor, Clara, called and asked if we wanted to go picnic with her and her son Pace (Andy's best friend) at Monkey Island. How can you say no to somewhere as exotic sounding as that?

As you can see in the first picture, Monkey Island isn't much more than a pimple on the edge of a beach (and there aren't any monkeys outside of the little human kind). However, it was a gorgeous day, and we all had great fun. The water was carribean blue and clear when you were in, but it was FRIGID. Certainly worth going out in though. This was the first time I've been in the ocean in a long time.
















So weird





I'm trying to catch up on some of my favorite blogs after a long absence from regular internet. I found this weirdness meme on Lady Linoleum's blog, and lets just say that it spoke to me... But 6 weird things about me? Impossible... Let me think though...

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1) I hold my breath when I walk past people I don't like or get a bad vibe from. After we've past each other, I exhale a few puffs of air before breathing normally again. If I'm trapped in an elevator or other small space with them, I breathe as shallowly as possible...

2) I have loud, animated conversations with imaginary people (sometimes superheroes) when driving in the car by myself. Really. Once, I got busted by someone I knew who was stopped at a red light in front of me, and I tried to slyly slip my cellphone up on my shoulder to act like I was having a conversation with a real person...

3) I could get lost for hours (if given the chance) watching bugs or other small creatures. Been that way since a very young age.

4) I like the way skunks smell, but only if passing the scent (we had a dog that got sprayed a couple of times a few years back - that was no fun...)

5) I still try to move things with my mind and send telepathic messages. One day...

6) I believe just about anything is some sort of sign. This has gotten me into messes before, but then again, those messes usually became valuable learning experiences, so who is to say that I wasn't meant to experience them...

Not sure whether or not I'll tag six people (do I even know six people?...), but feel free to join in!

Solve the mystery...

Those who know us, know we like to collect (aka hoard) a variety of stuff. We both like art pottery, although pieces we like are usually ridiculously expensive. Recently, I acquired the following three pieces that I am very fond of. If anyone has any idea of maker or other information, LET ME KNOW!!! (...please)



I won this one on an internet auction very reasonably. It is unmarked, and although you can't tell in the picture, it is a light, pastel blue-greenish color with faint rose-colored glaze mixed in in places. It's around 13" tall.

I found these in an antique shop in Nelson while on holiday. I found the blue one and knew immediately that I would buy it. The shop owner dug out the other one from across the store, saying that he purchased them at the same time. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so here we are. They are approx. 9.5" tall, and again, unmarked. However, after too much time surfing the net, I found a similar vase that was made by Fulper. Most Fulper pottery is marked, but the shape and glaze styles do fit... Any ideas?

I know this isn't a report on vacation yet, but it is kind of related - the pair was purchased then and the other was waiting on our return... :)

We're baaack

We just returned from an awesome vacation. Still exhausted, so will just share a couple of pics from early in the holiday. More details to come...

Fantail falls near Haast
Another waterfall near Haast
Mason's first visit to the West coast

A princess wouldn't want to get sand in her shoes, would she?...

Andy in desperate search for the perfect shell before we leave

View at the end of a rainforest stroll

Fox Glacier...didn't get a picture of Franz Josef glacier...

I'll try to give a fuller scoop soon. All I can say right now is that the kids did great and we all had a blast!!!!

P.S.

I almost forgot... if you want to see some recent family playground pics, go here. Cheers

Mirror, mirror (mirror, mirror, mirror, etc.) on the wall...

Okay, so we've lived in New Zealand less than a year, but that is PLENTY of time for us to start accumulating more crap (and when I say crap, I mean cool crap, good stuff...crap in the nicest sense...). My favorite (or favourite, even), well, new acquisitions, are kiwiana mirrors. They are right up our kitchy alley.
Our D. Cyzon original smoking mannequin head. The *only* person allowed to smoke in our house!!! The picture doesn't do her justice, but take my word when I tell you that she is ubercool! GREAT work Diana!!!!

Well, not sure if I will post anymore anytime soon, as we are leaving the day after christmas on a loooong road trip around the South Island! Hope to be back the end of January with some great pictures from vacation!

Happy Yule, Christmas, Channukah, etc. everyone!!!!

Sin Kitty

Here's my first attempt at amigurumi - my own design. Probably aboutg 2.5" tall.(?) Named for his tell-tale tail... Kinda cutsie, but I'm damn proud.