Forgot

Nicole wanted to blog this picture of her in JuJu's birthday hat last night but she forgot the password to her own blog. I have nothing else to say today and I kind of like the green hat, orange wall shot in general so I'm posting it. I think Nicole had a great birthday with lots of cool gifts but I will let her blog about that. We are off to the mountains tomorrow for a quick get away and some hiking. No Wii until we get back and that's driving the kids insane. I didn't have in video games when I was a kid (obviously abused) and I turned out ok, in general. I think they will survive.

Happy Birthday Nicole

We all went out for a fairly grown up dinner at Stardust. At least the boys wanted to look grown up with their handsome jackets and I think they pulled it off pretty well. Dinner was good and we came home and to open a few presents. Nicole seemed to like my very thoughtful gift of a brand new Nintendo Wii. Yes, she is quite the gamer and actually was asking for one for months. It will be a ton of fun when I get it set up and will actually be something she will use particularily when I get the new Wii Fit setup.

I also sent flowers to work today but they didn't show up which kind of ruined the birthday surprise. I would not suggest anyone ever use FTD, ever again. THEY SUCK.....

Fancy Sam

Fancy Sam
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Sam trying on my jacket this morning. The boys have been into picking what I wear in the mornings lately. Today they made sure momma wore her shiney red dorothy shoes. They also brought her a big bunch of roses that they picked up with Blancas help yesterday. Happy birthday Nicole.

Ahoy Matey..

The Pirate Cruise today was a big hit and we got it in before the monsoon hit us around 4pm. The whole thing keeps the kids extremely busy trying to figure out how to find the treasure, complete with a map, message in a bottle and firing water canon at a pirate to get the keys to a treasure chest we find floating in the bay with a big x attached to it. We had lunch with Jud, Lisa, Maggie and Gage afterwords and then back home for a nap. It has rained 7 inches in four days in these parts. That's a lot of water and the lawn could now use some sun.

Here's a link to the whole set of pictures on flickr.

Hangin On

Hangin On
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

To winter that is. It got just chilly enough today to warrant one last fire until October or November. You can see dylan on the left surfing You Tube for chinese toy train videos on his laptop. He's turning into quite a computer geek. It won't be long before he has his own blog and you all stop reading mine. Pirate cruise this weekend, arggggg

First Happy Hour

Well, most of you know that I mean the first happy hour with my new colleagues at ACS. I'm a well known happy hour fly that hardly needs instruction in the successful happy hour, start early and end before clubbing time. The team in WSO planned and executed a great ACS get together at a place called Lime and I loosened up and had a great time with some of my new office mates.

Happy hour became a ritual at AARP for many years and they would tend to extend into the night because we knew each other so well and enjoyed having fun outside of work. This happy hour seemed like the beginning of all that. I met some new people and connected with some I met just a couple weeks ago. We are all older now and have more complicated lives but I get the impression that this group has potential to become close in our work and play making for a highly creative unit. Things are looking good.

PS, I think those pesky tent worms killed one of my trees, bastards.....

April Showers

This picture was taken a few weeks ago during a very wet couple days. We are expecting another round of heavy rain over the next day and a half and I'm sure the boys will wear their little Gordon's fishing outfits to school. Mr. Woo and team came and did their spring cleaning of the yard and trees. They cut down one whole tree and did a lot of trimming of branches and bushes. They laid down a truck full of mulch and aerated, seeded and fertilized the lawn in hope it will grow this year. The rain is the needed trigger to get everything filling in and looking lush until the sweltering heat and lack of rain this summer turns everything brown again. I'm really a fall and winter guy but I do like the clean feeling of spring but it also seems to call me to fix, repair, improve and build and that takes a lot of energy. Fall and winter says recoup, take stock, reflect and hunker down, I tend to like that more. Don't know what it means but Sam sure is cute in his little rain outfit.

Falling Apart

Falling Apart
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

This building on the corner of Connecticut and k street has been coming down in little pieces the last couple weeks. I've been getting used to my new gig piece by piece the last couple weeks at the same time. One going up, one going down. As the blog turns.

Bombs Away

Bombs Away
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Modean on the 17th at waverly woods. Perfect day for golf.

It all happened so fast

The week that is and my blogging is really lacking lately. I worked, played with the kids and slept. I never promised this blog would be exciting. I did have lunch with Donkey and Gina on Thursday and dinner with the Customer Experience group in Alexandria. All and all, I'm tired and going to bed now.

Caterpillar Attack!

They are everywhere and I mean everywhere. They are hanging on the side of the house, the screens and our mailbox looked like grizzly adams yesterday. I've never seen this many of the little bugs in my life. I only hope that means we will get lot of butterflys.

Big Machines

I took the boys down the street to an old estate they have started to rip up to build about 10 new houses. I used to play in construction sites on a regular basis as a child and probably cheated death many times. I actually built a two story clubhouse like structure in the woods near my home with some friends when I was 11 or 12. We stole all the materials from the new home construction in the neighborhood. Anyway, I wanted to show the boys what a construction site looked like and point out all the activity that was taking place to build new homes. They crawled over the machines, the big drainage pipes and piles of rocks. I lost my balance an almost destroyed my camera falling but survived with big gashes on my wrists because I couldn't fall on my hands (because I was holding a camera) I never fell when I was a kid, age and balance, hmmm.

The site being build on is an old plantation like complex a couple blocks from our house. The house itself has to be saved because it's has historic credentials but they will be taking down all the out buildings and barns and things to build 10 new monsters. It will be fun to watch. Out to dinner tonight and no plans tomorrow.

One Week

It was an incredible first week on the new job and I think I'm going to like this place. I know it took a while to post something about what I was doing and now this is two posts in a row about the same thing but it feels good, like a good fit. Enough said.

I forgot to post about picking the boys up at school last Thursday afternoon. They seem to love the surprise and it's great see them running at you screaming "DAD!" We jumped into the car and headed toward a park to run around a little bit and Sam said "Dad, we love you" as if knowing that Dylan was thinking the same thing. I need to remember to take an afternoon off every once in a while to pick them up at school.

Day 4

Day 4
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Its been a busy but exciting first week on the job and I'm starting to feel at least a little comfortable. New jobs are weird but you start to see famliar patterns pretty quickly and you can start feeling like your contributing something by using that outside perspective to add to the dialog. Very nice people here and I have a lot to learn. I don't talk a lot about my job on this blog so the bottom line is that I'm very happy with my move based on the first four days. I'm meeting some of my old aia buddies for happy hour tonight and it will be good to see them too.

The picture is my new view, National Geographic across 16th street and a hotel next door. Thanks for all the nice comments on the last post.

Museum Day

It rained all day so the kids, Mom and the Grandparents went to the National Gallery while I stayed home to prepare for my first day on the new job. I did some reading and a little writing and watched a ton of rain fall. I also walked the yard with Mr. Woo to talk about spring clean up and all the tree trimming and chopping down he needs to do. We found a dead tree near the road and a lot of others that need some serious work. With spring comes house and yard maintenance I guess.

Happy Passover




Aunt Elaine came down from Philly for Passover and we did a 5 year old friendly Seder which was good for me. I know I was a Lutheran once but I don't think the story was all that complicated.

Movin On

Some of you may know this but my last day at AIA was today. It was a semi-tough thing to do but time to move on to a new organization. My first day at the American Chemical Society is on Monday. I'm going to be leading the Web Strategy and Operations team there and I'm looking forward it.

The AIA gig was great and I'm leaving a lot of people I loved working with and a product I was proud to work on. It's weird leaving a job where you are pretty comfortable and familiar with the surroundings but I got an offer I couldn't refuse. I accepted the offer at ACS a couple weeks ago and have been taking care of all the AIA loose ends until today. I still have a few more things I need to take care of but I also have to get my mind out of the AIA issues and prepared to start thinking about my new responsibilities.

It's scary to think I will be learning to work with a whole new team and organization on Monday morning but very exciting at the same time. So long architecture and hello chemistry.

The other side

The other side
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Central park and the gw bridge.

Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Beautiful night on top of Rockafeller Plaza. I'm having a couple drinks and skipping dinner to see Passing Strange. Don't tell anyone.

My Roommate

My Roommate
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I've been staying at Adam's place in the villiage the last fews days and spending my days at the Harvard Club on w44th. Stew, the creator of the show Passing Strange is also staying at Adam's place and his show is on the same block as my meeting. This is supposed to be a fantastic show and I'm half thinking of skipping some of my meeting to catch it today. It's funny but I also saw Stew at TED 2006 and was blown away with his performance. Go see it if you're in new york.

Astor Place Jam

Astor Place Jam
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

These guys are good.

Idyllwild Airport

I was getting ready to head to new york this morning and Dylan asked how I was getting there. I told him I was flying and then asked if I was flying into Idyllwild airport. Now, I'm pretty sure most adults under the age of 60 don't know that jfk used to be called Idyllwild (not sure I'm spelling it right) but how does a 5 year old know this? I thought it was very odd and makes me think there is something to reincarnation. Maybe he used to fly into that airport in a former life.

Anyway, I was running a little late this morning when Sam asked if I could pitch to him outside. I had to make a call and said no, but had a stong urge to take him up on his request. I made my call and looked out the window at the boys hitting and throwing the baseball around with Blanca and decided pitching a few balls to the boys was way more important than packing all the right stuff for my trip.

I ended up playing some ball with them for 20 minutes and when I went back into pack. On the way back inside, the boys both yelled out to me "thanks Dad!" which basically made my day. I threw a lot of stuff in a bag in no particular order and headed out to the airport shortly after. I may look rediculous the next couple days but they do have stores in nyc in case I forgot something and a few more minutes with boys throwing a ball around was priceless.

80's Prom

80's Prom
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

So Edison high school is having an 80's themed prom. Are they trying to say the 80's were so much cooler, we want to be like them? I personally think what I worn to school back then is way better than the slacker gear of today.

I laughed, I cried

I laughed, I cried
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A two hour production. The boys loved it.

The Rose Hill Players

The Rose Hill Players
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Are putting on a production of Enchanted Sleeping beauty today and we are in the fourth row. Its been a busy couple days with a Joe Jackson concert thursday night, I shot an 80 on my first golf outing this year on friday and this, what I'm sure will be a moving performance by fairfax countys finest grade schoolers today.

Architecture Week

Architecture Week
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

And a new exhibit at AIA. Lots of community redesign projects I haven't had a chance to view yet but will get to them tomorrow.

Any Given Monday

This morning, Sam said he wanted to pick out my underwear for me. I thought that was nice and one less thing I had to worry about each morning. Dylan told me that he wanted to go to China this morning. Maybe those two things are connected since most underwear is made in China. When I got home today the boys and I went through a stack of dinosaur cards. Sam wanted the Carnivores and Dylan the Herbivores. Sam had 12 and Dylan 24 at the end of the exercise. Then we created card houses out of the cards and ran into them with toy cars. It was all very hilarious actually.

I know this makes no sense but I wanted to write what we did today so that I can look back in a few years and remember how simple it all was.

Haircut Day

Haircut Day
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

All the boys anyway. The young boys have more hair to cut as well. I wonder if the boys would be willing to be doners for a hair transplant?

Karate Kids

The boys wanted pictures in front of the fireplace tonight in these pajamas. It turned into a karate pose session and this one was pretty hot. I think Sam's face is supposed to be intimidating or something like that. Another busy week with little to blog about I guess. I think I'm getting lazy or it's just a blogging phase. I think we are hiking on Sunday, weather permitting. Tomorrow, I start the taxes. Oh joy...

Colorful Protest

Colorful Protest
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Walking by the Whitehouse this morning and found a very lively bunch of folks protesting the Chinese crackdown in Tibet. It's a pretty grey day but the flags and cherry blossums brightened things up quite a bit.

Sparse Week for Blogging

Mostly because my week was really un-interesting, unlike my typical crazy exciting weeks. ;-) Anyway, we didn't do a lot all weekend and if felt good. I actually spent most the weekend getting a new computer all ready to go for the family room. It was time to upgrade the computer we use the most in the house and take that one downstairs to be abused with new experimental software and crap like that. The new computer is bad ass and hums through all sorts of applications at rocket speed. Pretty cool for a geek like me.

Sam, Dylan and I played some catch with a football out side for a while yesterday. Sam seems to like to throw and catch the ball while Dylan just wants to run it right at me. I can't tell if he's a fullback or linebacker to be but it's all about the hitting and tackling for him. Sam seems to like the finesse play. Either way, I'm going to have a knee blowout sooner than later based on yesterdays workout. I felt the knee move a couple times trying to avoid being tackled and moving quickly to catch an errant pass.

The boys and I also watched the Counting Crows Private Sessions show on Sunday morning. They have seen a lot of Uncle Adam on tv the past few weeks and were talking to him yesterday saying "what are you doing there, come see us" funny stuff. I'm sure they would be happy to blow his bad knee out as well when he stops by next. Sucks getting old...

Le Claw

I've been using the back scratcher Nicole got me recently as a prop in a story about Le Claw (complete with french accent). It's the same old parked in the dark woods and you hear something scratching at the car story you've heard a million times but this one all ways ends up with "Le Claw" attacking them. Tonight's story had us all at the drive in movie and Le Claw coming out of the trunk. I love when they laugh uncontrollably and this story has had them in that state the last few nights. The side benefit being that I've convinced them to Le Claw my back every once in a while.

Adam's new record came out on Tuesday and in case you missed it, they have been on Good Morning America, David Letterman, the View and this Sunday on an A&E show called Private Sessions. Lots of good reviews out there and a nice piece in Rolling Stone about him and the band. Dylan and Sam were happy to see their names in the liner notes of the album and are looking forward to getting up on stage for Hangin Around this summer. I'm tired, time for bed.

Easter Hop

We headed out on a short hike around Roosevelt Island today to get the blood moving and then had our annual Easter Egg hunt. We didn't have Joseph and Kumie to join us this year but it was still fun watching the boys run past the most obvious eggs in all the excitement. I posted all the pictures to flickr once again.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Or something like that is the idea. I finally posted the Disney World pictures I promised earlier this week. This one is of the Grandparent and boys on the Tram of Tomorrow. It was the Tram of Tomorrow the last time I was at Disney in 1978, I guess tomorrow is a long ways away. Enjoy.

Space Coast



I split up the hundreds of pictures we took over the last 6 days into the Space Coast set and the Orlando\Disney World set. The video above and these pictures are from the Kennedy Space Center, Melbourne Beach and the go-cart track in Melbourne. I think we are all glad to be home and in our own beds again. The boys were exhausted and went to bed at 7:30 tonight and I think I could use a little sleep as well. Back to work tomorrow and some NCAA basketball this weekend.

It was great spending so much time with the boys the last few days. I really got used to spending whole days with the little rascals and I'm going to miss that when I'm gone for 8 to 10 hours each day during the week. Oh well, the weekend is right around the corner.

Flying North

Flying North
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Early flight home with lots of good micky memories in tow. Yesterdayat the park was madness and we exited before we could do everything the boys wanted to do but mama, grandpa and me had had it. Had a nice dinner at portofino and back to the hotel for an early bed time. Looking forward to getting home.

Its a Small World

Its a Small World
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

But a long and boring ride. We'e been on it three times now and never again.

Moon Fish Grill

Moon Fish Grill
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Out for a night without the boys. They are with Linda and Gil at the Rainforest Café and we are having a grown up dinner.

Disney World Day One

We got there early to do as many rides as possible before it got too crowded. The Buzz Light Year ride seesm to be the favorite while Big Thunder Mountain is a close second. We had dinner last night in downtown Disney and went straight to bed in preparation of lots of walking around and moments of nausia. Good thing we did, we came back to the hotel for a swim and are heading back to the park for some night time fun later.

Melbourne Beach Sunrise

We got up early today to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic and make some wishes. Sam wished he was a dog and Dylan wished for a Commuter Airplane that was electric. I just wished they'd be my best friends forever. Off to Orlando in a little while with a stop to ride some go-karts on the way.

Manatee Attack

We had seats in the first row, right behind home plate for the Washington Nationals spring training game against the Marlins last night. We left a little early because the boys were getting tired but it was a nice night but their was very little scoring. The only run we did see was a runner, catcher collision at home for the Nats only run of the game. You could hear the bones crunch, which was exciting.

Holdin On

The sea was angry that day my friend. Actually, just enough surf to get the boys all worn out. We spent most of the day in the ocean or pool and the boys loved learning how to do a little body surfing. I'm still working on uploading a bunch of pictures to flickr, maybe tonight, after the baseball game.

One Action Packed Day


Up at 4am, flight at 6:30, Kennedy Space Center by noon and the Atlantic and pool by 4pm. We are getting ready for dinner now but I don't think I can handle anymore excitement. I got some really cute pictures of the boys running in and out of the surf along with some short video I'll share later. It's good to get away.