Art in my new neighborhood

Art in my new neighborhood
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Noticed this on the way back from Subway. I don't know what it means.

New equals busy

I'm getting used to working again but it's been a long time since I was the new kid on the block. Lot's of nice people here but I miss my old peeps. Anyway, more and less about that soon. Nicole is back to writing and in case you missed her last two adventures, here they are. http://nikabolid.blogspot.com/

My new view

My new view
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Getting used to a new job is strange. Its been a long time.

The other half of my new view

The other half of my new view
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The washington monument in the distance. The other photo is of the octagon house.

Morning swim lessons

Morning swim lessons
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I'm on my way to the hot tub soon.

A couple of scary skeletons in their new pjs. We just got done watching the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the 30th time and are going to bed now. Swim lessons in the morning.  

Miss Richfield 1981



A lovely shot of my cousin and Aunt in Ptown with everyone's favorite drag queen, Miss Richfield 1981. I guess she performs in Ptown quite often and hails from Richfield Minnesota, a short drive from the suburb I grew up in. The last day of the Summer of George went well. I shot an 82 at a very hard course just north of Baltimore. I realizied when I got there that the last time I played the course was in the first week of the Summer of George in early May. The weather was similar this time as well. 70 and sunny. Work on Monday.

Pre job homework

Pre job homework
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I decided to check out the Green House exhibit at the National Building Museum today in prepartion for my new job. It happens to be near the Chop and I've heard good things.

Two More Days

Two more days of being job free and I'm trying to get everything I had planned to get done during this break completed. I have the guys scheduled to do re-side the house, replace the gutters and install new storm doors on the front and side of the house all done. I have people coming to seal the driveway next week. I've ordered a cord of firewood, I've gotten the carpets cleaned and done a bunch of other little maintenance things to get ready for winter. I feel like I'm nesting. Anyway, going down to the Chop tonight for a happy hour with a bunch of the old AARP gang and then playing golf tomorrow up at Beechtree, a great course just north of Baltimore.

Here's a link to some more photos from my trip to Ptown. My cousin Tony has his own flickr account now and I'm actually in some of these pictures. Enjoy...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68215566@N00/sets/72157594287964591/

The boys got their Vikings sweatshirts this morning. I think they look good in purple. Dylan, the closet one in this shot has a boo boo on his lip from face planting on some stairs at the Rec Center on Sunday. Lots of blood but he got over it quick.  

New employee orientation

New employee orientation
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Done with all that and have a few more days of the Summer of George to attend happy hour and play golf.

The Summer of George ending

Yes, you heard me correctly, I officially have 4 days left of the Summer of George. For those of you who didn’t understand the Summer of George concept, it’s from Seinfeld. George got laid off from the Yankees and had a whole summer to do whatever he wanted, like take up Frisbee golf. I didn’t do that but I did enjoy myself and got a lot done.

I’m starting a new job at the American Institute of Architects next Monday. My role is going to be the General Manager of eKnowledge. It’s a new venture for AIA www.aia.org and involves the development of a set of online tools and resources for the Architect members of the organization. It looks to be a really exciting opportunity and I’m eager to get started. They are located right downtown, across the street from the Corcoran Gallery and a block from the White House. Nice building, as you might expect (Architects) and the people I’ve met so far have been great.

It will be good to get back to work and this is another opportunity to build something new and learn about a new organization and field of work. AIA is in the middle of all the green building activity and I think that is pretty cool. I’ll post some pictures of the building and other stuff when I start next week. Stay tuned.

Checking out hockey practice

Checking out hockey practice
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

After swim lessons. The mount vernon rec center has a pool and ice rink and we showed the boys what skating is. They seemed excited about it. They are turning into good little swimmers.

Worthington Manor

Worthington Manor
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Didn't play so good but it was a nice day.

A Chophouse happy hour

A Chophouse happy hour
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Long over due. The bartenders hardly recognized me but remembered how to make a good grey goose martini.

Provincetown Photos

I've posted the Ptown pics on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157594283347049/

We took the baby beds apart tonight to get the boys room ready for the big boy beds arriving tomorrow. They are in the guest room tonight and didn't seem to tramatized by the loss of the only beds they've ever know.

BTW, in case anyone is interested, I've posted a bunch of stuff on the Captology blog in the last few weeks. I plan on posting a bunch more soon.

http://credibility.stanford.edu/captology/notebook/

It was the first day of school for the boys and they were excited to see all their friends. Charlie is walking behind them and was in one of one of the boys classes last year. We just picked them up and the teachers said they were both really good and they didn't have any accidents in those nice new pants.  

Lake Geneva

I forgot that I created a collection of photos from Lake Geneva last week. This is where we spent the last four days of our summer vacation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157594269341204/

Whew

It was a whirlwind weekend with gay rodeos, dinner, swim lessons and football. Where do I start. Football, the Vikings kicked the Redskins ass. That was cool. The gophers lost to Cal but that was ok because the Gophers kind of suck, in fact, they always kind of suck and Cal has a chance to win the Pac 10.

I had dinner with a bunch of friends on Saturday night at Tallula in Arlington. Very nice evening. Lot of wine and good food. The boys had their first pee wee paddlers swim lesson on Sunday morning and in this class, we don't have to get in the water. I came prepared to swim so I sat in the hot tub most of the time. We bought big boy beds on Sunday too. They get delivered on Thursday so when the boys move into our bed in the middle of the night, I can go sleep there. Not a bad swap I guess.

Oh yeah, Nicole bought me an XBox 360 for my birthday and Kumie got me a bunch of cool extras for it. I went out and bought a steering wheel and racing car game today and boys are thrilled. Mike and I played a little Tiger Woods golf at the half of the Vikings game last night. I double eagled the second hole. If only I could do that for real.

I should have some Provincetown pictures up tomorrow. Maybe some Rodeo pictures as well.

Yee Haw from the Rodeo... 

Got back from PTown today around 3pm after a 90 minute ferry ride to Boston and a quick hour flight to DCA from Logan. My Mom and I had really good time with Aunt Robbie, Tony and Jimmy T. After a sunset whale watching trip and a fantastic dinner at Enzo, Tony, Jimmy and I went out for a few cocktails at the local hot spots. Tony and I talked for a while after we got home and ended up going to sleep at 3. I'm a little tired today to say the least. We are off to the gay rodeo tomorrow and then dinner with a crew for my birthday. I guess I should get some sleep. Oh yeah, the boys really wanted to help me open presents lately so we let them tear a few apart. Aunt Elaine gave me some very nice leather gloves for the impending fall and winter. I'm looking forward to cold weather and fires. It seems time.  

lunch

lunch
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

With jimmy t and aunt robbie. We all toured the state park today and are heading out on a whale watch at 4:30. Jimmy is going to t dance of course.

IMAGE_00129.jpg

IMAGE_00129.jpg
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Tony and Robbie having some coffee on the beach. We had a nice fire about where they are sitting right now last night. I think we finally buried the remaining coals at 1am. We mostly toured around the cape yesterday and then went into town and had lunch with jimmy t. We did a little shopping is town the me and jimmy went to t dance for happy hour. Its a beautiful day today. Don't know what I'm doing yet.

Cape Cod Morning

Cape Cod Morning
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Had some drinks with jimmy t last night and then dinner and tony's movie "scattering mother" with the magpies. The trip up went well and the rain we had in dc yesterday didn't seem to follow us to badly and we actually have a little sun today.

Door County Past and Present

I've added the Egg Harbor, Door County pictures to flickr, but even better, the above picture is of me, Jeff and my Dad from 1967. We were staying at the Kangaroo Lake Lodge and I would have been about 2 and a half. Jeff would have to be 5 something. That's me on the right. The more recent Door County shots are here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157594268658451/

Next Stop, the National Railroad Museum

We stopped here the day we left Green Bay and headed north to Door County. It was only a 90 minute drive north so we had plenty of time to explore the second train museum of the trip.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157594265391315/

We are going gas range shopping today. The one we have is starting to die and doesn't match the rest of the stainless steel appliances anyway.

Tundra Lodge and Lambeau Field

Our next stop after Sycamore was Green Bay Wisconsin, home of the second best team in the NFC Central. I think I mentioned this before but the boys loved the indoor waterpark and giant game room at this hotel. They still bring it up like we could just drive there in a few minutes. Anyway, here's a flickr group with pictures of Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Brett Farve and the next Green Bay quarterback and good friend of Adams, Aaron Rodgers. (number 12 standing next to Farve, number 4)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157594265355464/

We watched the movie "Last Supper" last night and really liked it. It was written by Adams friend Dan Rosen who I spent some time with up in New York earlier this summer and had come down for the CC show last week and had dinner at out house on Sunday. He's a funny guy and actually has a bit part in the movie that stars Cameron Diaz and other big stars. He's turning into a play as we speak and it opens in Chicago in October. Add it to your Netflix account. It's been rather dreary around here today. I'll probably post my pics from the National Railroad Museum later this evening.

ernesto

Or the remnants of the tropical storm has been bringing rain and wind all day. We really needed the rain so its not all bad. We have been so dry in august that the wind and rain are bringing down leaves like it was late october. I'll probably have raking to do when this thing passes tomorrow.

Visit to Sycamore

As promised earlier this week. Here's a flickr collection of the next stop on our summer vacation. We spent a night in Sycamore IL and visited with my Aunt Mary and Uncle Ollie (my grandfathers brother) as well as my Aunt Carole (my father's brothers wife). We also stopped in the cemetary to visit some other Carpenters.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157594262304166/show/

Ok, one more shot of Sam jammin to Hangin Around. I think we may actually have a rock star here..... 

Loud Bang in the Night

Most of the old Wilson Bridge was blown up last night at 12:30 am and woke both Nicole and I up. It kind of sounded like someone was dragging furniture across the deck out side our bedroom, just really loudly. We live a good three miles from the bridge and I was kind of surprised how loud the explosion was to tell you the truth. I noticed on Mike Lee's blog, that he stayed up to watch it on TV. He got some still shots of the big event here. http://hiptop.bedope.com/index.php?FILTER=zyrr@gznvy.pbz&gimme_entry=19132

Here's a picture from Kumie's flickr account that shows Dylan (in the black shirt) jammin with Dan. I think they believed they were really playing. Got to have twin equity on this blog. They get offended if one of them makes it and not the other one.

One of Kathy B's friends took this picture at the concert last night. It shows Sam on a monitor like Uncle Adam jammin out. He didn't get a real good shot of Dylan but I may post it anyway.

Perparing to Rock



The boys couldn't wait to get up on stage last night and play their guitars. In fact, they were a little annoying about it. Here they are warming up for the gig before the doors to Nissan Pavilion opened and Immy's mandolin storage case where we decided to such high powered instruments should be stored. The concert was really fun and Sam and Dylan really hammed it up for the crowd. Sam almost stage dived, running toward the crowd a couple times and did things like put one foot up on the monitor at one point and jumped up on top of monitor at another. Dylan looked like he was really concentrating on playing the guitar and they both waved to the crowd when the song was over. Oh yeah, Adam ran into one of them and they both fell at one point but it was alright, they made it look planned.

They were exhausted by the end and pretty much fell asleep after that.

Flickr Sets - Chicago

I started creating sets of pictures from the two week trek accross middle America. I already posted the Mad River RR Museum and this is our next next stop, Chicago's Navy Pier, Hancock Building and Science and Industry Museum. http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157594252354126/

I'll continue with sets from Dekalb, Green Bay, Door County and Lake Geneva soon. We are off to the Crows concert now and I'll probably have shots of Kumie rockin out in a little while.

Home, yes home. We did the final 270 miles this morning and got home to a yard that hasn't seen rain in 14 days. I started watering immediately. The final leg of our tour went pretty well and I think the boys were actually getting used to long drives. Today's was only 4 and a half hours but they didn't have any melt downs. I did make them listen to the 70's channel on XM Satelite Radio for an hour or so. What was cool about that, was that it was the same music I used to listen to in the 70's when I was traveling cross country with my parents and siblings. The Crows are in town tomorrow so we will be heading out to the show at Nissan Pavilion in the afternoon. The boys are bringing their little guitars with them to play during Hangin Around. Should be cute if they are able to stay up till 11. Linda got this shot in Lake Geneva. I think Nicole liked the lake the most.  

Sponge bob racing

Sponge bob racing
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Here's sam driving the sponge bob race car. He could definitely beat kumie and that ghetto car of hers. We made the the 525 mile trip in about 10 hours and are back in cranberry township pa.

Dylan was wondered why I didn't have any pictures of him on the blog in the last couple days or at least why the last two were Sam. Here he is checking out some lake creature. It's been raining all night with lot of lightning and thunder. This is going to be a long drive if this keeps up.  

We all slept in a little late today, maybe because we know we have a long drive tomorrow. We ended up going into town to the beach for a couple hours where Sam pretended to be a monster fish. We tried going to Big Foot State Park but that beach was really bad. It was more like a ribbon of sand next to a road. It's been a nice vacation but it's coming to an end soon. Back to DC tomorow.  

Here's a boy, (I'm not telling which one) jumping from the boat we rented into Lake Geneva. We went out on a speed boat this morning for about 2 hours to tour the lake and do a little swimming. The boys each got to drive the boat and loved the cool, refreshing lake water. I think this was the first time on a speed boat and I think they liked it more than Go-Karts.  

On the way down to Lake Geneva, we stopped at the Brown County Fair in Green Bay. Not a real big fair but it has a bunch of kiddie rides to tire the boys out for the rest of the trip south. We arrived in LG around 5:30 and went out to dinner with Linda and Gil. It just so happened to be the last day of Venetian Fest here in LG and we were treated to fireworks after dinner. We got a good nights sleep and now we are off to find Go Karts or some sort of car racing for the boys. The place here at the Geneva National Golf Club is nice. The golf courses look fantastic and make me wish I would have brought the clubs. The Door County courses looked pretty good too but no time for golf.  

We had a very nice dinner at the Alpine Lodge last night. It was on the water in Egg Harbor and very German. Build in 1922, it really hasn't changed much. They had a nice little four piece band that played songs from the 50 and 60's in a nice dinner music kind of way and boys were on their best behaviour. I think the combination of white table clothes and a dinner band made them realize they couldn't throw things at cousin Finn. Everybody is gone now and we are off to the Brown County fair for a quick stop then heading down to Lake Geneva. Not too much driving today.  

Cousins bahaving badly. It's impossible to get four toddlers to all smile at once but getting them to make funny faces doesn't seem to be a problem. 

A peaceful sunset on Green Bay. Brandt cracked his head open in the pool yesterday and had to have seven stitches but we all had a nice dinner in town and then went down to the marina to play on the jungle gym. When I get a chance, I'll post the pictures from the Farm we went to yesterday as well. Good times... 

Yes, we forced the children to risk life and limb for a picture. Not really, this is the floor of the Science and Industry Museum in Chicago. We got to Egg Harbor yesterd and are all ready for a few days out of the car. Very nice up here, the air is crisp and clean and the nights are quiet. We had dinner in Grandma and Grandpa condo and walked into town for some icecream. The boys chased Finn around around and Mae chased them. They were really tired when they went to bed but woke up asking for Finn again. Don't know what we are doing today but I'm sure I'll have pictures. I did take a bunch at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay yesterday that I'll have to upload sometime in the next couple days. More soon...