Cheesy rodent

Brynn's sunbeams are too cute. Got to see some of them today as church ended and Brynn was reading to them from "Where the Wild Things Are" it was funny we talked about how some of the monster's have the same feet as we do and why they don't wear shoes (there are no monster stores). Brynn is in the right place as she gets ready every week cutting and getting the projects ready with such diligence.

Save Conan

For those of you who are enlightened you know that there is a problem in the universe (or for the truly enlightened there is a great disturbance in the force). NBC wants to bump our beloved Conan O'Brien to the nebulous universe that is the 12:05 am time slot. All because they want to give Jay "Doesn't have a clue he's not funny" Leno a half hour of prime time show biz real estate. It's this kind of clueless shenanigans that kills shows. I hope NBC suffers and Conan gets the respect he deserves. Head over to the Consumerist to spring into action or delve into Gizmodo's coverage of the late night holy war.

School and and increased workload has vaporized my available free time (aka plop on the couch and vegetate) into a million pieces and has called for dramatic force of will to stay on task and forge on ahead. What's more is that i've lost Brynn to the school bug as we sit next to each other, she huddled under a blanket sleeping as I bang away at the keyboard. Our schedule has made us into busy bees with the only guaranteed time that we will ever see each other is our evening prayers (I peek sometimes, do you?) because goodness knows that we will only stay in bed to sleep for so long (I was up at four last Saturday in order to get ready for work). Life has become a balancing act and we will have to manage our the precious moments that we are together wisely as they will be rare to find in these next few months (years...? Yikes!). I question sometimes whether it is worth all the effort, why can't I just call it a day and move onto other things but as I see our lives already changing for the better and our situation, maturity, and experience developing I envision a world where this time and effort we put in now paying off it's dividends. I also and take time to ponder on what this will mean for our children and how this reflects on our individual upbringing. What I do is a measure of which my parents' labor of love, a love which runs swiftly through my veins and lives deep within my soul. In time as we bring children into the world they will up to me and hopefully down upon us as they stand upon our shoulders. And all I want to do is give them the best view that they can get.

Things I like: Kettle Chips, best kind: Salt and Pepper (with Salt and Vinegar running a close second).

Sofia to the rescue!

Yesterday a wonderful thing happened to me while I was driving to school. My car started making click, click, clicking noises... of course I did the intelligent thing and kept going down the highway instead of pulling over. It was the type of thing where I just wanted to make it to the institute building, park, go to class and deal with my lovely red bundle of joy later. Obviously my car had other plans for me because it decided to start on fire (just in the hood). So of course I pulled over and got waaaaaaay away from my car so it wouldn't explode in my face. Long story short our wonderful friend and neighbor Sofia brought Clifford to me and then she took me to school. It's a blessing to know we live by someone so close who is so giving and kind and willing to go out at 9 in the morning on her day off with her little girl still in P.J's to pick me up and take me to school! Thank you Sofia!

- Brynn

Stretch Armstrong

It seems like forever since i've visited the site but nary a week has passed before I doth putteth letters upon this page. A few winners and losers of the past week.

Dorks in a goofy looking hats scored a big win in WINTER STORM '09! You may laugh but as I stood at the bus stop for over an hour and a half my ears were completely toasty? How about yours? Oh... you were inside... dang you. Unfortunaltely for Brynn, Jack Frost forgot to inform her of his plans and she ended up freezing throughout a hellacious four attempt to leave downtown Portland and get home to the warm, warm, heater that I had turned on for her. I believe she got off at 5:00 and caught the 4:15 Sherwood Express which deposited her safely at the transit center around 10:00 pm. At least she wasn't the lady look forlorn when she learned that her bus was due at 6:00... AM! To paraphrase Brynn when the snow blows into Portland all bets are off as people turn into crazy aborigines, stabbing everyone looking to just get ahead.

Your tax dollars lost a big one this year as Portland proved that it is consistent in one thing... year in year out they are woefully unprepared for the frozen miracle from the sky. Let your votes do the talking.

What is it about money and losers. Unitus Credit Union who I allowed to protected by my banner of "they can do no wrong" screwed us over majorly as they told us we would not qualify for a loan or a credit card (no history) to pay for Brynn's education. If that wasn't bad, they were the same people who gave us the advice to wait until we really needed it to apply for said loan before leaving us scrambling on how to finance the term. Tom, the same guy who signed us up and called month after month reminding us that we could sign up for an unsecured credit card broke the news so this one's for you...
Finally we end on a positive note. Christmas. Always a winner was made even sweeter by spending time with two families this year. I wish there was enough time in the world to visit with each one of you during Christmas and New Years but suffice to say we love you all and may the new year bring many great treasures.

Fa la la la la

Happy Birthday Brynn! We took to the streets and hit our first karaoke joint just off Sandy last night, the very classy Ambassador lounge. These guys are serious about their karaoke with two lounges for singing, a computerized system in which you can reserve your spot online, and a huuuuuuuge neon sign right smack dab on the side of the building sporting a man and a woman singing their hearts out. Unfortunately we couldn't stay around long enough  to test our chops at singing our favorite BSB hits but hey it was late.Really fun to get out and see everyone and we are so grateful that the state has gone smoke free in bars. Now if only they would make a point of regulating the cost of drinks because no way in heck does a bottle of Henry Weinhard's finest Root Beer cost three and half dollars! They literally rob you blind right in front of with a flick of your signature. Oh well, it was all about the experience.

Found this video through Gizmodo as we closed the night and as we close upon the close of this first decade of the 00's this will easily make anyone from our generation feel instantly old.





Merry Christmas to all!

Nice run

It's only been seven months and I have to say I am still amazed at the fact that you get to be married to someone whom you love and the prospect only gets better because there is more time ahead. I wouldn't say seven months is the greatest of all achievements but ti's something that we share and do so happily and lovingly. As Brynn and I watch the new year approach we eagerly await as the seconds count down and we can claim 2009 as our own, one of many to come. I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to make the choices I have so that I can say with happiness that I was in the right place at the right time. With each passing moment we take another step into the blessings that we will share for eternity.

Things I like.

I've been looking around and there are things that I like, that are amazing, and just make a person happy.

* Walking around on your phone being unobtrusive and being able to kick piles of leaves (they hadn't been raked) and just hearing the sound of the leaves swishing, scrapping, and fluttering by your feet. Also not having my phone. The other day I couldn't find my phone (I had left it on silent and apprently it snuck under the couch) and it was glorious. Now Brynn and I have had this conversation over and over but, I do appreciate the convienence of the phone but it's good to know that there are times in which the world can't get at you.

* Holiday spirit. Admittedly I may be a grinch at sometimes (like when it comes to putting up decorations, I want to see nothing before December 1st) but I love the way Brynn gets so into the holiday. I did get my way but she has pressed forward and Father Time has aided her cause and she now flutters about in full Christmas mode. And I love semis with wreaths on their grills. Classic.

* Children having fun. I love when kids go to classes/practices (whether it may be my soccer class or a ballet class on campus) they are in it for the fun. Yes they may pick up a skill here and there but when a child tells their parents that their excited to go to _______, it is because they know they can be themselves and have fun. That why I love what I do.

The bubble

Brynn is sick, all I say is boooooooooooooo! It's our first real sick day and she had to call in which made her feel bad because she's not practically dying. I totally understand the desire to work but then again I am the stickler for trying to get others healthy. Always the double standard that i've lived by, hacking and sputtering around doing whatever needs to be done but it's pains me when others are ill because of the helplessness that it brings to me, not being able to fix the problem a feeling of impotence creeps through my system. Darn germs.
The bubble burst today as a guy talked to me on the bus, headphones and all. We boarded the bus and apparently i've ridden with him before because I was informed of a pretty extensive medical history including the stress that sitting down for prolonged periods of time puts upon your bladder. Go figure.

Bus

I love the kids on the bus. They are just about the best thing ever invented as they provide the cutest moments imaginable riding good ole' Trimet. Just today a mom was reading out loud to her son (which would have proved very annoying had it been someone just reading) and it was just about the greatest. The last thing that could be heard coming from her son's mouth as we pulled away was "Thaaaaaaaaaaank you Mr. Bus Driver" to which driver said nothing and kept going (you can always count on the drivers being surly, in fact a nice one often prompts their fair share of suspicion) which then started a conversation between another boy and his father trying to decipher what the boy had yelled at the driver. Of Trimet, Brynn observed how it presents one of the most unique cultural arenas because everyone is equal but it is proper etiquette to sit next to a complete stranger (which I do frequently because i'm in no way proud enough to pass up a seat, so go ahead stand up if you want, sucker) and not have make eye contact nor do you have to utter a single sentence. Perhaps the perfect one ride stand. There are of course a surplus of stories of those uncomfortable rides where you get stuck with the crazy talking to you about the original design for the statue of liberty (ok that was actually at Rovente's but he totally was a bus guy).

This weekend

Naming contest

No matter what Brynn says we are not calling her our baby. Today we (and by we I mean that after much deliberation and leaning upon her husband) got a cat today. She's and her brother got dropped off at Bill's clinic when they were just babies and ever since the Fullmer's have been taking care of the precocious two. She's the baby and runt but has really taken to Brynn and is really laid back (aside from biting me on the chin...). Brynn is looking through cat names and it's probably going to fall on a girls name but we'll give you a shot. Any ideas?