November Visit

Alright folks here are all the videos of the trip! I had a blast and was thrilled to see you. I'll see you two again in just a short couple of weeks. CAN'T WAIT!!

Hey!
This picture is from when I went to visit some friends that live in Chicago last weekend. They are super nice and Deanna (the girl in the picture) is someone I think you two would really get along with. Anyway, they showed me around the city. The picture is one that I took of our reflection in a gigantic metal bean (as in something you might eat) that is a sculpture in a downtown park. It is funny because this is the same park that Obama gave his speech when he won the election. Anyway, miss you both and am looking forward to seeing you both really soon.
Love you
Brian

Obama Worker

Hey folks,
Just thought I'd update a bit on what I've been doing. The picture is from this past Saturday. I went canvasing door to door in our old neighborhood to see who was going to vote for Obama. I would write down each person on my clipboard and what issues they cared about. Some people said 'the economy', some said 'the environment', and some said 'abortion'. Since I have a lot of free time I figured I would help out with the Obama campaign. It was interesting to talk to people. Some people were going to vote for Obama and some people were going to vote for McCain. Everyone was very nice. It was hot though. Obama is going to be in St. Louis tomorrow but I am not going to see him. I don't really get too excited about seeing 'famous' people. I figure they are just like you and me. They eat, poop, and sleep.
It was really nice to talk to you both yesterday. I loved hearing from Adele about your new condo and the playroom. Clem, I was so glad to talk to you. I've missed you a lot and am so excited to be able to give you both big hugs and play when I come out in November. It isn't fun being away from you for so long. If we all hang in there it will get better and I'll be able to visit more often. I am setting things set up so I can do that. But it may take a while.

Gorilla Time

Hi. I thought this was a pretty cool picture. The baby gorilla's name is Uzumma. They open a little door that only the baby can get through and the mama watches to make sure it is ok. They try to get the baby's used to being around people in captivity. Since the mama knows all the staff, she is comfortable letting her baby climb around and meet them. When the baby is done playing she will go back through the little door and sleep with the mama.

What I'm doing at work

The department is planning on hiring someone for next year and I'm on a committee to help out. I'm looking over people's applications to see who would be a good person to hire. It is interesting.
Today I sold off some of my books that I don't need anymore and made a little extra money. Maybe I'll treat myself to a sub sandwich. I've only spent 7 dollars in the last four days which is pretty good. I spent $12.50 about 5 days ago on some chicken and veggies. I figure it will give me 13 meals (half a chicken breast and veggies per meal) which means each meal is actually less than $1!!! It is pretty bare bones though, not too tasty. I let myself spend about 2 dollars a day on an evening snack, which is usually one bag of Doritos (small one for 99 cents) and two little pouches of honey roasted nuts (you can get two for 1 dollar. Last night I bought a can of pringles on sale for 1 dollar as a snack. Anyway, besides work, this kind of stuff is pretty much what I think about now.

I went to the laundrymat this past weekend. They have these huge washing machines that you can put all of your laundry into. So I did that.

The weather here is starting to change a bit. It isn't as humid and hot. It is kinda nice out, but you can tell the chill is starting to set in a bit. I hope we get a lot of stormy snowy weather this winter. Just to keep it interesting.
Love you two
Daddy

So de So

Just getting ready to go to bed. Thinking about you two. Me and Traci got a bunk bed for you two and Hazel to share at her condo so there will be plenty of room for everyone to sleep and have fun. I mean, bunk beds ARE fun. Maybe I'll sleep in the top bunk. At any rate there is that. And hmmmmm. Oh, I looks like Obama is doing pretty good. I'm hoping that after George Bush you two can finally have a somewhat decent President. Heck, I haven't been this excited about a President in my lifetime either.
I hope the books I ordered have arrived. I'll call tomorrow to check and see.
We'll I've been eating a lot of chicken and vegetables lately. Nothing special, just chicken breasts with broccoli and collards. No spices. I really can't make the crazy who-ha's that I used to but I still eat well and actually eat for even less money. Basically I don't use coconut oil (or any oil for that matter). Just the meat and veggies. And of course my jamba juices. Feeling pretty healthy. It is crazy how when food isn't easy to get, by just walking to a fridge, you don't really eat until you really feel like it. Not to much snacking going on. Every few days I get a subway sandwich though as a treat. They sell foot-long sandwiches for five dollars. That is a good javascript:void(0)deal and I can eat one for lunch and pretty much get by for the rest of the day (with maybe an evening Jamba). Anyway, not too interesting to hear about my diet I know. But not too much else to report.
Oh. Here is a photo of Howard Dean. He is the chairperson (like the Leader) of the Democratic Party. I was walking to the gym to work out and there was an Obama Rally outside, so I stopped by. You might see him on TV sometime.














Oh and here is a fantastic song I was inspired to sing while out on a walk about a week ago.



Love you two and will talk to you soon.
Daddy

Song I'd like to share

Your Dad is a little out of it as far as music goes but I've liked Weezer in the past and this song is new I guess, and also kinda well known. I thought of you two when I heard it and thought the lyrics were cool. As you get older there will be people that want to challange you on what you like and dislike and be a pinch critical of who you are. Generally be pains in the butt as they try to make you more like them and less like yourself. Everyone tends to do that to some degree. Even people that mean well, like your close friends and your family. Sometimes criticism can be helpful if done to encourage you to explore new ideas or activities that you are unfamiliar with. That is, if it is done to help build you up into a stronger person rather than tear down the person you have already become. Anyway, listen to the song for your old man. BTW the part about "I don't care" means that you shouldn't care about what people think that don't want to build you up into a healthy happy person. You should care about things that are important to you or others you love. Just thought I'd make that clear.

Here is a link to the song/video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WanLLnVixC4

Here are the words to the song:

They say I need some Rogaine
To put in my hair
Work it out at the gym
To fit my underwear
Oakley makes the shades
That transform a tool
You'd hate
Ffor the kids to think
That you lost your cool

I'mma do the things
That I wanna do
I ain't got a thing
To prove to you
I'll eat my candy
With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners
If I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear
The clothes that you like
I'm finally dandy
With the me inside
One look in the mirror
And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot
About what you think

Everyone likes to dance
To a happy song
(Hey, hey)
With a catchy chorus and beat
So they can sing along
(Hey, hey)
Timbaland knows the way
To reach the top of the charts
Maybe if I work with him
I can perfect the art

I'mma do the things
That I wanna do
I ain't got a thing
To prove to you
I'll eat my candy
With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners
If I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear
The clothes that you like
I'm finally dandy
With the me inside
One look in the mirror
And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot
About what you think

No I don't care
I don't care

I'mma do the things
That I wanna do
I ain't got a thing
To prove to you
I'll eat my candy
With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners
If I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear
The clothes that you like
I'm finally dandy
With the me inside
One look in the mirror
And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot
About what you think

News, Baby Gorilla, and Kale

Hi peeps. Yesterday I had to move a bed out of the house here in Missouri. The renters didn't want it. So while they were out on a day trip I gave it away for free to some college kids. The house is in good shape and I think these people will be good to have renting it. Then I walked up to the Subway sandwich place we all went to by Culvers/Walmart and ate a sandwich. I'm walking a lot in the evenings (while the weather is still o.k.) since I have a lot of time to fill in my day now. Anyway, things are good with me. I miss you two lots and lots, but I am also doing good and am happy and hopeful. Looking forward to hearing about your first day of school. It makes me happy to think about you two being in the same school. Especially Ohlone!! Anyway, here are the last of the videos from my phone from this summer. Two of Traci feeding the new baby gorilla and her mama at the zoo and the video of some of my friends eating the Kale recipe that Adele shared with me (yum!). Love you two.

Soooooooo

Saw the pictures your mom posted. Sweet. So far I have read some stuff for my upcoming class, eaten a jamba and will head out to excercise soon. Here are some more pictures and stuff from my phone that I took this summer. Love ya.

So Mr. Grumpy, What is so "mundane" about Missouri? (You jerk!)

To avoid any hurt feelings on the part of my fellow Missourians: I don't mean that Missouri is itself mundane. What I intend to say, and this is the point of the whole blog, is that now that I don't have my kids here to make my days 'special', 'interesting', and 'meaningful', living here is going to feel much more 'mundane' than it had previously. There is actually plenty to do and cool stuff going on almost all the time in the town I live in-Columbia. It is a vibrant college town with a good civic spirit and vibrant arts culture. Though the weather does suck pretty bad at times (perhaps even most times). So, as far as the mundane bit goes, are we clear??

Recycle and Aquarium

Well. It is 6 in the morning and I'm drinking my jamba. I've got three desktop computers I need to get rid of because my office is so small. Also, I don't really need them anyway. One of them is that terrible computer you two used to suffer with at the house in missouri. Remember how slow it was!!! ugh! I'm going to recycle it today. Found a place that lets you recycle for free. After that I'm meeting a student who wants to take my class. After that it's going to be many hours of working on my paper for a really important journal. Finally I plan on getting a cord to download the pictures and videos off of my cell phone from our trip to seattle. I'll send you some of those when I can figure out how to do it. Anyway. Today Adele is hopefully scuba-diving. OH MY GOSH!!! I love the image in my brain of you doing that. Don't worry Clem, you will be a great scuba diver when you get old enough. You have the advantage of getting exposed to it earlier than your sister did, so watch what she does so you can be extra ready when it is your turn. I can't wait to hear about the things you see at the aquarium!
Love you two.

Just got back to Missouri

Hi kiddos. Just gonna use this here to let you know what I'm doing every so often. Flew on the plane today and drove into Columbia. Stoped at a Subway sandwich place and ate it all up. Yum. I feel really weird being in this place without you two to go and see everyday. Kinda freaky. Who am I gonna throw on the bed!! YOU TWO when I get the chance again! But I'm doing well and I hope you two are also. Hi to everyone in Cali. Get ready for school you freaks!! Yehaw!! Here is the video of you swimming in the lake!!