Monday, July 30, 2007

Achieved the Impossible


Achieved the Impossible
Originally uploaded by homerclees.


Yes, a completely empty inbox. I typically try to keep the inbox pretty clean, only email I still need to act on. Usually, if I have 25 or 30 there on a monday morning, I'm pretty happy. With a little work last night and a meeting free monday morning, I was able to empty it completely. Now I don't know what to do with myself.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Sunday

We all went over to Terry and Pam's house today and met Jud, Lisa, Steve and Patty. The girls all went out for some spa treatments and the boys stayed in to watch the six children in the house. We did pretty damn well, if I say so myself. Pam and Terry's boy Owen had some surgery a couple months ago and he is in a body cast and Pam hasn't gotten much of a break lately. Owen is one year old this week and was born with some spinal issues and will probably never walk. He's a very cute child but has to get pretty icthy in that cast. I think Pam liked the time away from the house and we all had brunch when the wives returned. It finally rained here, a good inch will help the badly parched lawn and trees.
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Saturday, July 28, 2007

Bubbles

Kind of a hot, lazy day in Washington. We went to the gym, ran some errands, played outside and took a quick trip to the pool. Oh yeah, a nap, a long nap by me anyway.
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Thursday, July 26, 2007

Strategic Planning


Strategic Planning
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Always requires lots of post it notes on a wall. I'm at the Topaz hotel all day today, planning out the next few years of this organization.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Oceanside and North County

I got back from California around 7pm last night and Nicole and the boys met me at the airport. It's nice to see their smiling little faces in the terminal. I slept hard last night but had an easy day at work to get back into the work week. Kumie I had fun exploring the North Country, San Diego on Saturday and I got a few good pictures. The mountains were very nice and the winding mountain roads fun to drive. We stopped at a casino as I described earlier and were able to stop at a winery. It was at 4000 feet and it was 97 degrees there. The owner claims all the grapes to their 6 different varietals were grown there but I find that hard to believe. It is hot and dry up there and the soil looked a little rough. I wanted to get over to Rancho California Road to the many vineyards there but didn't have the time. I have a lot going on this week but I'm looking forward to next weekend when I can just hang out and get some rest. Here are the pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157600973314563/

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Back at O'hare


Back at O'hare
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Passing over some traffic. Great time with Kumie yesterday. It was good to see her again. Just one more flight back to National if this plane ever finds the terminal.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Kumie Dance


Kumie Dance
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Here are the Indians at the Valley View Casino dancing because they took $125 of Kumie's money in about 20 minutes. I played video poker for an hour and walked away with $80. Nice.

Breakfast with Kumie


Breakfast with Kumie
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Back at the Jolly Roger again. This time, no Karoke. It's a little hazy here but should be getting sunny soon.

Really Bad Karoke


Really Bad Karoke
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

In Oceanside now and listening to some really awful karoke by some redneck cowboys. Kumie met me in Irvine and we are having a couple drinks before I pass out. I've been up since 4am eastern time. Basically 24 hours now. Good meeting this afternoon and we are probably going to an Indian Casino tomorrow for fun.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Fountain Fun


Fountain Fun
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

In Irvine California. My planes were all early today so I stopped and got a quick bite to eat before my meeting. I'd like to cool off in a fountain right now.

Mr. Plow


Mr. Plow
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Snow plows lined up at O'hare ready for action. They probably have a few months before they will be needed.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Soccer Camp

So the boys did a soccer camp last week and really enjoyed it. It was about 95 and humid everyday but they didn't seem to mind that much. They have been back in the pool most of this week but it's hard to believe I wrote my first pre-school check of the year tonight. Summer is getting old and school is just around the corner. I'm off to Oceanside California tomorrow for a quick trip. A Creative Good - Customer Experience Council Board meeting and a visit with Kumie. She's coming down from San Jose on Friday night and we will be tearing up Carlsbad on Saturday. The Grandparents are coming in to shower attention on the boys this weekend so I probably won't even be missed. Well, maybe a little, I'm the only one that knows how to work the xbox. Enjoy the soccer pics..

Mama's Belly

Wow, I've been a lame blogger this week. Too hot to blog I guess but I do have some pictures from last weeks soccer camp I want to put up soon. Nicole has a nice story about Sam and Dylan's continued wonder about where they came from. Check that out in case you didn't see it already.

http://nikabolid.blogspot.com/

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Now Alarm

One of the workers at the car wash asked why I took a picture of the sign below. I let her know that Alarm was spelled incorrectly and by the time our car was finished, it was spelled correctly. I feel like I accomplished something today. We did go skating with Ben and his family this afternoon. Man, my feet hurt in skates for some reason but it was fun to get out on the ice. Ben is a better skater than the boys but his father can actually get around the ice pretty well. Nicole and I struggle but we are getting the hang of it.



Alerm


Alerm
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I'm a bad speller but at least its not on a permanent sign.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Queenstown Links


Queenstown Links
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Great day for a little golf.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Light Explosion


Light Explosion
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Walking back from the Off the Record bar on Pennsylania Ave I caught this extreme exposure moment that looked kind of like a invasion of light. I met up with Bruce Hashem who runs Nasdaq.com for a few drinks and to share stories from our days together on the ebusiness executive council. It was great seeing him and I think I agreed to join Maryland's 3rd civil war reenactment regiment in the process. I told him I'd march with the crew if I didn't have to camp. He said it wasn't an issue.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

4th of July Weekend Photos



Here are a few shots from the pool and baseball game that turned out ok. Once again the week is going by quickly with lots of activity at work but it's nice to come home and hang with the boys after all the work excitement.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Bubbly

I love the water proof digital camera I have but actually getting good shots of people under water is pretty tough. This was suppose to be Nicole and the boys as they dunked down to get a shot but I only got Sam's eye a little Dylan and the top of Nicole's head. Oh well, I guess I'll try some more this weekend.
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Sunday, July 08, 2007

Mini Fireworks

Since the big ones were called off, we settled for some mini fireworks at the end of the driveway. I'm pretty sure the Alexandria fireworks were cancelled because of the mis-hap at the Vienna fireworks on the 4th. One of the shells mis-fired into the crowd and caused some major injuries. They are blaming Chinese fireworks but I bet some of the same shells were going to be used in Alexandria and the fireworks company's insurance carrier said no dice. Basically, the same Pennsylvania company does all the displays in the area. Off to a really hot baseball game today.
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Saturday, July 07, 2007

Big Bummer


Big Bummer
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The fireworks have been cancelled due to technical difficulties but we are staying for a few tunes from the symphony before going home to light off out own fireworks.

Stardust Cafe


Stardust Cafe
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We ended up eating at the Stardust tonight. It is probably the first time i've been here sine my surprise 40th birthday party nicole threw for me here. Its a jiggy little place and walking distance to the fireworks on the river. Nicole just saw the doctor that delivered the boys walk in. We may reintroduce them.

Lazy Day

I worked from home yesterday so I didn't get out much and today we have only gone to the gym in the morning and are now hanging around home doing a lot of nothing. I set my old laptop up for the boys to use as a YouTube station where they can watch Thomas the Train videos and various car wash clips. They seem to be getting the hang of the mouse and some of the keys. This will all be second nature to them in a few years and they will probably be writing programs for the web.

Alexandria is celebrating it's 258th birthday today with fireworks on the river at 9. I think we are going to grab some dinner in old town and watch the fireworks afterwards. That will probably be enough time in the 95 degree heat. We are suppose to go to a Nationals game tomorrow afternoon. That is going to be a little steamy and I bet we only hang for 4-5 innings tops then back to the pool.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Wacky Barbie

Only Wacky Dave could fit his head in a childs, Barbie Bicycle Helmet. Fun party last night and the boys loved the neighborhood fireworks and sparklers. They were up till 10:30 and were pooped this morning. For me, it was good to see Jud and the rest of the boys. I don't see him so much these days but it's always fun when I do.
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Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Scooter


Scooter
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I took a walk around the whitehouse today with a colleage and found some pretty vocal distain over the commuting of scooters jail term. Its always a circus at 1600 pennsylvania but I'm usually on my way to the gym without my camera phone so I can't record it. Good times.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Summer Hike

It was so fall like today we decided to hit the trails for another hike. I would usually not hike in the summer with high heat and humidity but it was a crisp fall day today and we needed to get out and stretch our legs. We got up pretty early and headed to IHOP for some breakfast before heading to Prince William Forest Park for a 5 mile trek through the woods and in a cool stream.

The boys looked like they were heading to a meltdown at about mile 3 but rebounded quickly when they were promised a wade in the creek down the trail a ways. They did a good job on some fairly tight and steep trails. It was a good way to end the weekend and start the first week of July when the weather will be way to hot to run around the woods. Enjoy the pics....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157600594309320/

Monster Sam


Monster Sam
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

At the pool.