March 20 ~ Castle progression
Just to keep you up on the progression. I have some of the shingles done, and some of the brick work cut.

March 7 ~ lego story
http://www.bizzyblog.com/WhyWeBannedLego_RethinkingSchools_Wtr2006.html
I thought that this was a really interesting look into the psychology of ownership, power, and socialism. Understand that I am usually opposed to socialism. There is of course a need to teach children to share, and this sometimes gets political voices talking smack about socialism. This is why I think that this story is interesting. I should post more on political issues. Maybe I could upset one of the three people that read this blog. But alas, I am King here.

March 6 ~ Stocks ~ Brett
It’s kill’in me. Near 500 points in one day. Think long run Brett, 30 years to retirement. This is normal!

March 4 ~ Tristan rides first bicycle
So we were waiting for the 2 wheel bike upgrade. But apparently Tristan expressed interested to Ryan and Ryan wanted him to try his bike. At this point Mom decided that she was ready for Tristan to be ready to ride his first bike. Tristan was ready for the adventure. So on Sunday afternoon Dad got the bike which was in the garage, as it was supposed to be a Birthday present but we just hadn’t put it together yet. So it was time. We had all the help Tristan, Jack, Mom and Dad all worked getting ready for the first ride. Tristan and Jack for that matter were excited. Tristan did an awesome job. He rode all the way around the block, training wheels of course.

March 3 ~ Made more beer
Irish Red Ale! Four more weeks now.
I think San Francisco steam is on deck.

February 25 ~ Jack’s Birthday
We had a bunch of people in town for Jack’s birthday. Grammy, Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Maria. Lots of fun. We threw a birthday cookout on Sunday were neighbors came over for ribs and chicken. Jack got a massive train cake (16 cars) decorated with candy of all types. Decorations were added by everyone in the family and neighborhood kids. It was just too much fun. We all gathered around the table and sang the traditional song. Jack was thrilled though a little concerned with everyone looking at him. He knew that everyone was singing for him. Then the fun began. Cake time. He Looked at his car then looked at everyone and reached for the animal crackers on top. After 3 animal crackers then it was time for icing. One handful… then well face first into the cake he went. A few more times, then Jack reached, picked up the piece and started chowing down on it. Oh and the ice cream. That was good too. Afterwards. It was time for a change of clothes and a sink bath.
I can’t believe it has been a year. Wow. He is so big. Such a little boy and he is just my baby. Tristan took his first steps on his own on his birthday. Little Jack is running around the house. Climbing what he can, following big brother Tristan where ever and pushing him on the rocket in the kitchen. It is amazing. I am just amazed at the independence and personality Jack has developed.

February 24 ~ Mardi Gas Party
“What category would you like?” that was the first question we got as we walked into the neighborhood Mardi Gras party. They were mixing hurricanes and you just needed to specify an intensity to partake. I started with a nice Hugo, that I think was a Katrina. It was a very nice gathering with N’awlins style foods. A few beaded necklaces were exchanged, but PG-13. We had a grand time. Mom Vento and Mom and Dad Manley were home with the boys. We dragged Maria along to the party. She went home a little before us. Brett and I had a great stroll home at the end of the night. Looking at the stars, laughing and just plain enjoying the moment.

February 10 ~ Castle progression
I got the first part nailed together. It actually looks like a castle now, sorta. Its funny, I brought it inside so that the glue would dry properly. I stuffed it away in my room quietly and somehow within the hour the thing was manned with a garrison. Tristan comes yelling out of my room touting his find. I had little choice, he played with it. It feels good that even though its little more than the first assembly stage he loves it.

February 5 ~ The Birthday party ~ Brett
Aunt Maria and Uncle Tom and Aunt Kathryn came in to surprise Tristan. Saturday everybody went to the zoo, a common theme for us. It was new to Kathryn and Tom. The Jacksonville zoo is pretty nice. Tristan insisted on having money before he left. This was a mystery to us until he said that he wanted it for the animals. I remembered a promise from a few weeks ago that because we had no money in hand, the next time mommy and daddy brought Tristan to the zoo we would ride the carousel. Tristan remembered the lack of money last time and really didn’t want to miss the carousel this time. He rode the zebra.
Because of the strep we had no childrens party planned so we called Tristan’s best friend and invited them to Chucky E Cheese. This was a last minute plan and had liitle consideration that it was Saturday night Orange Park. We pulled up and immediately saw a parking lot full of screaming kids. The place was packed. It was wall to wall brood children. Amazingly, we found a table and somehow managed to actually have a pretty good time. The kids of course had a blast; pizza ,soda, , presents, video games!

February 2 ~ Tristan's Birthday weekend ~ Valerie
Well, we went to the doctors (2/1) to look at Tristan’s toe, as it had a blister like bump that had been on it for a week or so and now has turned reddish… come to finding out that both the boys have strep. The bump we think was a bee stinger. Next, Mom and Dad off to the doctor. Dad is infected too. No school for Tristan’s Birthday. Next week will be his celebration.

January 30~ The big freeze ~ Brett
Well, everyone start up your SUVs because the global warming thing needs a couple more lbs of fossil fuels to assist. My tomato plants were murdered. We had a frost overnight and now I have plant corpses to dispose of. Just imagine a world where tomatoes have the right to live year round just as we do. Just image a world where bathing suits and flip-flops are standard dress. Just image a world where New York city uses gondolas as taxis.

January 23 ~ Cocoa ~ Brett
Field Trip to Cocoa this weekend. We helped Mom hang pictures and watched Tristan shiver as he insisted on playing in the ocean. Its always relaxing for me to go there. Pinball, theater, beach… Its good to see Mom and Dad and Great-grandpa too. We need to make it down in early spring for a weekend of actual R&R, not as much work. Hah, Who am I kidding, I cannot do that.

January 17 ~ Steps ~ Valerie
Jack took his first steps on his own. He has been getting wherever he wants by moving from furniture to furniture. But tonight we were sitting in the kitchen, playing on the floor and Jack took a few steps to Mommy. It was great. No video, no camera just mommy and Jack on the floor. It was great.
Tristan and Dad were playing a Playmobil game on the computer and peaked over the counter to watch, then back to the game. Its the latest excitement, some boat and castle games. Tristan has a great imagination. He plays with his toys and makes up stories. It is fun to listen. “I’ll be your best friend if you play with me.” he says. The Pirate boat that he got for Christmas is used daily. It is kept on the kitchen island countertop, as Tristan does not want the help of little brother. Jack just wants to play with whatever big brother is playing with for toys.

January 16 ~ Zoo ~ Brett
The boys and I celebrated the MLK holiday by visiting the zoo…again. Gotta make that annual membership worth it, right? Valerie had to work so it was a “guys day out”. That’s a pretty thorough synopsis of the three day weekend.
I got a pseudo- promotion at work recently. I am now unofficially the cv22 aircrew lead artist for the lake gray office. Next step: Prime Minister of England!

January 10 ~ Hurray High school geometry
I actually had to use knowledge from High school geometry. This scripting stuff I’m doing is exercising parts of my brain that I was sure I killed off a few kegs back. We are building an interactive graphics program at my work and I needed a means to find the length of a certain line. Enter the ASA theorem:

I would explain it better but its double top secret… very hush, hush.

January 8 ~ pride of possession ~Brett
Getting back to the sailing thing, I read on a chat forum that a guy had sold his last attachment to land and now lived on his boat alone. This is not ccrazy to me but what struck a tone with me was one of the comments that he got from the other cruisers:
You’ve overcome one of the common obstacles to successful cruising ~ pride of possession. You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy; because no matter how much you have, what you don’t have always amounts to more.
This really says something to me. As I look around my house and see all the crap that I have (and never use) I can’t help but think about how much simpler life would be if I had no more stuff that would fit in a closet. I am guilty of pride of possession. Not that I’m a packrat but I could use to trim a few hundred pounds of stuff.

Finishing up the year~ Brett
We got plenty of loot for Christmas, plenty of food to. I grilled the turkey a la Vento style. For some reason I’m always stressed over doing it that way. I’ve done it several times and it’s not hard. I did have problems lighting the coal on one side this time, but things came out fine. Actually they came out a little too done- just a little. I’d hate to poison my family. I did miss out on one present that I thought was a sure thing. A British wallet. I want the big pocket for bills… not that I have too many to stuff it with. It was not on my list but I swear I spread that idea around. I’ve been toting around this one for a number of years. It’s time for a change.
The new years proved how lame we are. Sure we claimed that Tristan’s 103 fever kept us in but we were really just tired. Actually Tristan was borderline ER. It did break and he appears to be fine. I had to wake Valerie up three time for her to see the apple drop. I guess the Mt Everest documentary I was watching knocked her out ( I had no idea there were that many corpses up there). It may have been “Latitudes and Attitudes” the sailing show that got to her. It’s probably one of the poorest shows on TV but one of the only focusing on sailing. I think that I could do much better, if I owned a magazine and had the interest of sailors from across the globe.
For those of you who do not know, I’ve picked sailing as my happy place. In order to hang onto a culturally acceptable level of sanity while working in ‘cube land’ one must have a happy place. Mine is 1000 miles out of the Galapagos Islands heading for Fiji on a 38 foot sloop. I’ve never actually been sailing before, well not on any thing more that a sunfish when I was 10. I think that I could dig it.

Fall 2006 Archive