Donuts for Dads

This morning was "Donuts for Dads" at my two sons' school. They do it every year and there is a good turn-out. I think it should be "Donuts with Dad" or, actually, "Donut with Dad" as everyone gets one donut (but the latter doesn't sound very good). I enjoyed sitting with my two sons eating a donut - to watch them and talk with them. Its hard to believe Cyrus will be going to Middle School next year and how much Alonzo is growing. Cyrus is a good kid when he isn't complaining about only getting one donut (and other things ;) ). Alonzo can be a good kid but succeeds less often than Cyrus but it is quite special when he is.

I would prefer muffins, especially chocolate ones, but the moms get that later in the school year (Muffins for Moms).

2006 Tri-State Fair

My wife has out-done herself, again. Out of 20 entries this year she got 14 first place ribbons, 3 seconds and 2 thirds. Some ask how she has time to do it all. She just sews for our daughter (and occasionally for herself) and submits those items (there are other items as well, but most of the items are what my wife has sewn for our daughter). She started smocking a year or so ago and has been doing a lot of that in addition to her regular sewing, embroidery (of different kinds) and crafts (this year she made some dinosaur "hats" for our son's birthday party from paper mache (for some dinosaur relays) - of course, I couldn't enter my dinosaur pinata because...well, you know).

We're looking into ways she might be able to sell some of her work. It is hard to get a fair price for the work involved but the end product should be worth it to those looking for quality and detail.

More Work by Christophe Carlier

Here is some more paintings by my cousin in Belgium, Christophe Carlier:

Le voyage à Caer Sidi ou La chute

The Voyage of Caer Sidi or The Fall is the translation I get. From what little I understand Caer Sidi is associated with Welsh legend and Camelot. I'll welcome any additional information or input on Caer Sidi as the internet sources mention it but don't explain it well.

Trilythe

Again, I believe this is associated with Welsh legend from what I gather from this article by Colette Bertot regarding these pieces and the overall gallery showing of Christophe's works (The Call of the Forest: Myths and Mysteries) in Brussells.

Christophe is teaching at Académie Constantin Meunier d'Etterbeek (the Constantin Meunier Academy in Etterbeek)

Obadiah Parker - Hey Yeah (Outkast Cover)

Here's a unique play of Outkast's "Hey Ya" by Mat Weddle of Obadiah Parker [obadiahparker.com] performed at a Studio Open Mic at Xtreme Bean in Tempe, Arizona. I was surprised about the lyrics, which you can actually understand in this version. Half the song is actually pretty good but the last part degenerates (for the most part) as far as the lyrics go. Mat Weddle has got an excellent voice and you can hear more from Obadiah Parker at MySpace. Hint for those with slower internet connections: Click on the link the Google Video which will take you to the video there. Instead of playing while the video loads, hit the pause button and wait until the video complete loads before playing it.

Gosselies, Belgium

I just read an account of an American GI during World War II (Tiger Joe; A Photographic Diary of a World War II Aerial Reconnaisance Pilot by Joe Thompson and Tom Delvaux). For a time he was in Gosselies, Belgium. During that time, the locals mentioned how several residents of the village had disappeared during the German occupation. They requested to dig up a spot where they suspected they would make a grissly discovery and, sure enough, they exhumed 190 bodies, many of which were of married couples with children then orphaned. What a sad discovery and another example of Nazi atrocities.

I mention this because I have family in Charleroi that is just south of Gosselies. My mother was born in the area as well and her mother was living in the area during the war. I can imagine the fear that existed during World War II of what the Nazis might do.