Dr. Sam

Sam came out today randomly wearing my surgical loupes. When he saw this picture he laughed hard and said: HaHa dats mee!!

Sharpies

As I sit here underlining the text from the journal article I'm reading, I think to myself: I really love sharpies! They write so definitively, so boldly and don't hold anything back. I think we all need to live our lives more like these markers. Giving it our all until we run out of ink.



I got a retractable one for Christmas one year. Its wicked cool! It clicks in and out just like a regular pen.



Maybe its the fumes and smell, but I sure like using them.

Sushi Anyone!

WELL its sorta official. While the orders haven't actually been cut, the colonel (AF not KFC) called and told us we are going to be stationed in MISAWA JAPAN.

I've gone from excited, to worried and am on the way back up to excited.

Em has gone from depressed and is on the way to accepting it.

I will be reporting to COT (Commissioned officer training) on 26 August. That will be for four weeks and then its off to JAPAN.

Misawa in the Aomori Prefecture, part of Northern Honshu, which is the main island of Japan (Same island as Tokyo).

A few Misawa facts:
~400 Miles North of Japan
-rural an scenic
-4 defined seasons with a serious winter
-43,000 people
-Tokyo is an hour away by air, about 3 and a half hours by train, and about 10-12 hours by car.


That's alls I got for yous guys (that was Rhode Islander). Come visit Us!!!!!

Life is Rad in Carlsbad

Our last day (Tuesday) in San Diego was Rad. I took the kids to the breakfast nook. This is Max's favorite thing. He thrives in this environment. His kindness comes forth and he's in constant service mode helping everyone get a waffle, muffin, juice or whatever. I only had a little to tide me over, as em and I had bigger plans later. After breakfast I took off and went surfing for a little while (yes--little while as I get very tired paddling on the board). I did get up, however, and the wave hadn't even broken yet!!!

On my return to the hotel we went to PIPES!!!!! Oh, the French Toast was divine. The best in the world!!!

After Pipes was another trip to South Ponto Beach. We then relocated and hung out at the beach with Laura and Eden!!! Their friends had some Sea Kayaks rented which I tested out. It's a little harder when you have breaking waves crashing on you. It was very fun. Then it was back to the hotel and off to the other Aunt Laura's for dinner (actually breakfast again with German Pancakes :).

It was a great pinnacle to a wonderful trip.

Surf's Up!!!

Monday was a major Beach Day. I started out surfing (for my fourth time) with my bro-in-law in the morning. Then a picnic with our SF friends until the high tide forced us to relocate to a beach farther north. Followed by swimming at our hotel. Max keeps wanting to do anything as long as there is "a lot of water."

Our Maine Trip (Some Blog Catch Up)

Here is a little catch up blogging about our camping trip to Bar Harbor Maine. This is the view of Bar Harbor and its many islands.) (The Bush estate in Kennenbunkport)There was much concern about bears taking our young, but all children were alive and accounted for the whole time. (Well at least alive)

Maine Blueberries are very very tasty. Yes they are different from any other blueberry I've tried. I never was a fan of them to be honest. These were little but full of flavor. They tasted like the batter of blueberry muffins! They make great blueberry pancakes too!We did a fun family bike ride in Acadia National Park. They have these old horse carriage roads to bike on. I was very impressed with Emily, she didn't even crash with the 5 year old tethered behind her.
The trip was interspersed with various variation of lobster. First was lobsta bisque, then lobsta roll, then finished off on the day home with a whole lobsta at the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound. This one was amazingly good. Better than any of the 4 I've had in RI.

I Heart SWA =)

Southwest was great today on our flight. We were able to commender an extra seat for our lap child. They gave the boys extra soft oatmeal breakfast bars and me the whole can of soda. But the greatest was that both of our flights arrived 25 and 30 minutes early respectively!

Too bad that time gained was utterly destroyed and swindled waiting in line at Dollar Car Rental!! I walked in and there was a line of about 15 people. Fine. Twenty minutes later I had moved about 2 feet, and I think that was just people standing on a different foot, thus altering the lines position. As I finally approached the front of the line they decide to let us in on the secret: they don't have any cars!!! So they start busing people over to Budget. Well I stayed in line instead of going with the crowd and was able to get a "free upgrade" to the gas guzzling SUV which happened to be one of the last cars on the lot.

We eventually left Dollar and made our way to Em's sister for a pool party which was awesome!!! Now for some reason I'm still awake.

THE Stay At Home Mom

(Preface: Yes there are situations where one cannot stay at home with one’s children. This is not a post of condemnation or judgment, but rather a simple praise of my wife following our 7th anniversary. So don’t be unduly offended.)

Recently my wife took a lot of flack for expressing her opinion about being a stay at home mom on musing and misadventures. I would like to praise her for not backing down in the face of a heated debate and for defending her point of view.

Emily has sacrificed very much to stay at home with our children. One blog comment in response to E’s suggestion to go without some of the modern day conveniences/necessities said: “cable TV, 2 cars and cell phones, etc. Do you go without any of these things? Does anybody you know sacrifice these things? I doubt it.” Ah, yes she has gone with out all of those things for the first six years of our marriage. We never paid for cell phones, Internet, TV until our recent change in location. Some of our friends still don’t in order to allow the mom to stay at home with their children.

Why stay at home then? E is the most nurturing mother I know (sorry mom). She is so full of love for our boys. They have benefited by her constant presence so so much. It is an invaluable blessing they and I have. I would gladly take on 200,000 of debt and sell my self to the Air Force to enable her to stay home with our babies. To see the constant nurture, care, and love she gives the boys all day is amazing. These are the things that can’t be replaced by a nanny, babysitter, day care, or even a father. Sometimes I wish she could go work and I could stay home, but they wouldn’t quite get the same loving tenderness offered by her.

This is the reason I married her. I observed her with her nieces and nephews, as well as with my own. She loved those little kids and took such great care of them that I knew she would be an exceptional mother. I wanted to find someone as good as my sisters and mom (all of whom have always stayed at home with there collective 15 children). They were a great example to me and all contributed to the qualities I want to find and did find in Emily. (So this post and be for them too).

It isn’t easy for her to do this day after day, but I am so grateful to have found a wife who puts her children’s welfare and nurture before her own and does not complain about it (too much). In all or my journal reading and literature reviews I've done I haven't yet come across an article saying there is a maximum amount of time a child needs to be with its mother. The more the better and there is no substitute for my kids being able to be with her. (And she is a much better writer then me)

Long Hallways

Imagine a long corridor or hallway, empty of all people and obstacles. What does that image make you want to do?

Most kids at the hospital like to run around and scream as they pass down one of the long hallways in our hospital, which leads to our clinic.

So as I was roaming around another hospital, at which I was working today, I came upon a similar scene. I've passed this way quite often. Each time I get the same feeling. This hallway is perfect. It is long, about 50 yards. Has three sloping floors with flat areas in between.

Now close your eyes again and add at the beginning of your hallway/corridor a hospital bed with wheels. Now what do you want to do?

Every time I turn the corner to this hallway there is at least one bed waiting at the top and it takes all the self control I have not to unlock the wheels and go soaring down the ramps!!

I'll let you know when I get brave enough to try it. (I'm not kidding it is so tempting, I think I'll try it out when I have a friend there to give me a push and stop me at the end. There are automatic doors at the end, so I wouldn't crash into those, but that would put me into a waiting room. Hmmm.)

Here are the first Two

These are the two already on the wall. Does this change any one's opinion? So far its about a tie between the last two pictures: Schooner vs Bridge. (I might add that the Bridge is more indicative of RI since it is in RI). Thanks for your input.

This one is a light how at the tip of Cape Cod, Woods Hole.

This is one taken a block away form our house.
(All photos are by me)

You Decide

We have three black frames on the wall above our stairs. One has a picture of a sailboat off of the shore line with no sails furled. The other of a lighthouse. Both are sepia. We need to choose a third picture for the last frame, which is currently housing Max's beautiful art. So which of the following do you suggest we pick to join the others?

This first one is of a lobster boat in Maine.

This second one is of a schooner off the coast of the Elizabeth Islands on the way to Martha's Vineyard.

This third one is a sail boat with the Newport Bridge in the background.

The Maine Report- Day 1

Departed for ME

Pit stop in Kennebunkport.
-Saw the vacation home of the Bush's (They were arriving today)
-Picnic at the beach

Arrived in Portland, ME
-shopped at Freeport outlets, home to LL Bean
-Dinner at Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, great Lobster Bisque!!

Swimming at the Hotel and watch Burn Notice

Maine has a true New England feel. We're lovin' it!

A Few Maxer Quotes

6/26/2007

“I wish I didn’t have such a mean mean breuder” Said in heaving sobs at 3 am after having discovered Sam had emptied his pirate bag onto Sam’s bed during bedtime. Said bag contains all toys, clothes, etc. that he holds dear at this time, however he doesn’t play with them, just hordes them in the bag. Grandma Fae just made it for him out of pirate skull material, before he was using a plastic garbage bag.

7/23/2007

"Daddy, how’s that on for size!"

8-1-2007

as we come upon a motorcycle and its rider:

"WHY DOES HE HAVE A HELMET ON HIS BIKE, BUT HE’S NOT WEARING ONE?!?"

we pass the motorcyclist and max says out the window:

"THAT’S NOT APPROPRIATE!"

then we pass him again:

"C-YOU LATER ALLIGATOR!"

then again:

"STOP FOLLOWING US!"

8-3-2007

Max: (To Dad) "I remember Gabe being born cause it wasn’t very long ago. Did we have popcorn der?"

Dad: "Yes"

Max: "And there was coffee there where we got mommy more water."

(To Gabe) "You were so happy to have me hold you, huh baby?"

8-3-2007

"This is better then being on the trampoline!" (Referring to laying on our bed looking at Gabriel)

Favorite Office Quote

Thank you Shelly:

"Abraham Lincoln once said that if you're a racist I will attack you with the North. And those are the principles that I carry with me in the workplace." - Michael Scott; The Office

Summer Refreshment (Part 2 of 2)

This is Dell's! Frozen Lemonade slush!!

Whenever the temperature passes 70 and the sun is out these little stands pop up. I think they are built into the ground and swing in and out at a certain barometric pressure created by a combination of amount of sun and warmth.

After catchin' the flava a few times since part 1, I think that I prefer the flava betta. cuz ya gotzta catch da flava!!! Both of these are so nice on these hot muggy days. Especially when you drive a beater of a car with no AC and in which the driver's window doesn't roll down!

Go Sox...

They may have lost but it was awesome.

Fenway was amazing.

The Fenway Frank was very close to being worth $4.00.

I love my co-residents!!!



(Welcome to Shelly who is visiting from SF)

Summer Refreshment (Part 1 of 2)

I drive past at least 3 or 4 of these things as I make my way through the ghetto each day. They are so tempting and I have resisted "Catching the Flava" each time until today. These delicioso refreshments are somewhere between an ice cream cone and a snow cone. The Latin server packs this flavored ice in a little dixie cup and it takes the edge off of the hot humid weather! I tried the passion fruit, but there are many other tropical and non tropical fruit "flavas."

Fun? I'm not sure.

Saturday was filled with potential: eggs benedict, say goodbye to visiting ohio friends, garage sells, library, and the tall ships festival in Newport! (Lots of tall masted ships come to port from all over the world: Germany, Canada, Indonesia, etc.) in Newport and you can go on them and tour them.) And we did all that. So, was it fun, exciting and wicked awesome? It certainly was until it got a little fuzzy around 2 or 3 O'clock in Newport. The weather was hot, yet nice. Newport was gorgeous, the ships were majestic. However, the best way to sum it up is: the investment made was > the return. Sammy was a bit pekid, Newport was crowded. We had to park and take a bus to the docks. No stroller + 3 kids + hot day= tired arms, sore back and low blood sugar. In summation, it was a fun trip and everyone actually behaved well, including Em and me, but too much had to be expended. Once we stopped at Panera bread and got some dinna we all pepped up and were able to make it back to the bus.

Next year, it may be more rewarding to simply watch it on TV. I'm a little nervous about trying to go to the Bristol Parade on Wednesday, but it is the nation's oldest 4th of July celebration! Wish us luck.

The resulting feet from wearing sandal on our day trip. (Sam's only seem clean in comparison to Max's.)

P.S. the ship with max and the cannon was in Pirates II. It is the merchant vessel that gets eaten by the Kraken around the 18th minute of the movie. Her name is Providence out of Providence, RI.

Weekend

Beautiful Em with The Fae, and the cute little Gabriel too, at his blessing.
Kayaking in Apponaug Cove...which is connected to Greenwich bay...which is connected to Narragansett Bay...which is connected to the Atlantic. A very beautiful weekend indeed!

Got Gas?