Halloween Party

Halloween Party
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The calm before the invasion of kids and ghouls. The weather finally broke and it stopped raining in time to throw the annual durpenters halloween bash. It was nice to finally get some serious rain, like 5 inches in the past three days but the sunshine feels good. Lots of pictures tomorrow I would imagine.

Happy bruce

Happy bruce
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Having a cocktail with Bruce who runs nasdaq.com at dc coast tonight. Good to catchup with an old friend from my web executive council days. He's the civil war reinactor that has promised to get me set up with a union uniform and gun. Be afraid

Mmmm, Hamburger

We had a pumpkin carving contest today at work. It was part of the yearly Festifall event. I didn't have anything to do with this but it came in second place. I thought it should have won but the first place pumpkin was titled Architect of the Pumpkin. It was a pumpkin rendition of the Capitol. Lots of creative people here in AIA land. Anyway, I've got the boys to myself for a couple days. The boys and Kumie who's in town to visit the old gang. She's out at a Shins concert tonight.

Nice Pumpkins

It was another warm October weekend but we managed to pretend it was fall and go to the pumpkin patch. This one was pretty funky and we were the first people in the door at 10:30am this morning. Lots of slides, a haunted house, goats, a spooky forest and colonial village. The boys got extremely dirty and Nicole picked up a couple pumpkins and some mums.

Yesterday was a lot of running around to prepare for next weekend's party. I almost burned the house down. I filled all the tiki torches with fuel and lit them to prepare for next weekend. I ran downstairs for a few minutes and when I came back up, one the torches was fulling engulfed in flames and when I ran out the side door, it had fallen into a pile of cushions and a big straw scare crow we had created a couple weeks ago. Can you say six foot flames? Yes, I had a hose out because I had just sprayed out the screen porch and went at it like Squad 51.

Anyway, we lost a couple cushions and the scarecrow was a little toasty but a disaster was averted. A couple minutes downstairs and we would have been having the Halloween party at a hotel. Good times..

Here's a link to the pumpkin patch photos on flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157602593924275/

Too Funny

Ran across this on Boing Boing and had to share. Yeah, the jackhammers are the problem.

Out of sync

Ok, so the following post was suppose to have been before the iPhone World post but somehow didn't make it from my phone to blogger. Just wanted to make sure the back story was there.

The mirrors on either side of this hotel room make it look a lot bigger than it is. I'm having a quick drink in the bar, waiting for kumie to pick me up. We are heading down to Saratoga to see Adam and the band play an Apple corporate event. Here's hoping they are giving away free iPhones. Had a couple good days meeting with the councils and looking forward to heading home tomorrow. Haven't seen Kumie in a while either so that should be entertaining.

Endless Room

Endless Room
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Iphone land

Iphone land
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

So I've never seen so many iphones in one place in my life. The crows played for 500 Apple employees and every one of them had an iphone. It was a great show, the venue was amazing and the small size was like a show in your backyard. Its amazing that apple has the money to pay for such an event. I didn't score a new iphone but got a nice fleese pulloever. Yes, I got one for nicole too.

Redwood Room

Redwood Room
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I'm bored so I thought I would share this bar shot. The Redwood Room here at the Clift is quite a scene. All the pretty people are here.

There it is

There it is
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I knew I left it somewhere...

Hogwarts

Hogwarts
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

This hotel is full of dark wood, red velvet, weird staircases and big chandeliers. It's very Harry Potter and kind of fun to get lost in. This is the meeting room I'm in right now and I'm just waiting for frank n furter to roll out the meatloaf. (reference to the rocky horror picture show)

Top of the St. Francis

Top of the St. Francis
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

In san francisco. The building on the right is where Rachel and Brandt told me they were getting married many years ago. Its the Hyatt and has a great bar over looking Alcatraz and Angel Island. I'm going into the annual fall customer eperience council meetings now. Good times.

A Million Things

Nicole and I have been traveling a little this fall and its my turn to be gone for a couple days. The boys don't seem to mind so much now and understand that after a couple days, mom or dad are bound to turn up again. unfortuneatly, its getting harder for me to leave and I almost always want to get back before I get where I'm going.

We had a low key weekend of haircuts, shopping and naps. The boys played too much Nintendo and I was a little sick. Sam and I have a little competition going with the Mario Kart game. We can play against each other with the two Nintendo's networked and I'm teaching him some good trash talk. He's pretty good and actually beats me sometimes but I spank him then let him win now and again as well. He's a competitve little monster.

I also watched a concert in the basement that Dylan set up for us. He pulled together four kids size chairs and placed them in front of two steam engines and two diesel engines and had me and Sam sit and watch the concert. According to him, the steam engines played drums and the diesels played guitars. After a few minutes, Sam wanted to add hot wheels cars to the band and Dylan was most accomidating. He's a compasionate little monster.

The intesity of children at play is amazing and something we should never lose. I need to remember to have fun with what I'm doing and everything else will make sense.

Spookies

Spookies
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

It finally feels like fall around here so we picked up a few pumpkins down the street. We all got haircuts this morning, played at a park and did a little shopping at whole foods. I think laying around and watching football is in order for the rest of the day. Go Cal.

Exhibit Clarity

Exhibit Clarity
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Ok, so the aia exhibit is not about bridges but spanish architecture. Funny how I just saw my first Calatrava building in Milwaukee last week and now he's being highlighted in AIA's lobby. I dug a little deeper and I found out the he is also designing the new transit hub at the world trade center site in nyc.

Bridges

Bridges
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

It appears an exhibit on bridges is moving into the aia lobby today. Some of the photos are up, but none of the discriptions. The lobby has been exhibit free for too long.

Skeleton Family

We went to Art on the Avenue in Del Ray today and made another scarecrow for our Halloween decorations. Nicole and I also received our skeleton pajamas in the mail this week and we all decided to have a little skeleton party tonight. Good times.

Milwaukee Museum of Fine Art

This Calatrava designed building is right down the street from the hotel. I'm going to visit it later today. I hear the parking garage is fantastic.

Milwaukee city hall

Milwaukee city hall
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A happy reception

Pfister Hotel Ballroom - Milwaukee

Pfister Hotel Ballroom - Milwaukee
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Beautiful old hotel. I'm going to get some photos of the Milwaukee art museum as well while I'm here. Drink some beer and eat some cheese too.

Papa Art

Papa Art
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I got a portrait on the driveway today. Good times.

Superstar!

Dylan's teacher is younger than Sam's and a little more technically proficient. She can't be more than 30, so she has grown up with the latest technology and is probably someone who hasn't seen a Bush or a Clinton as president in her non-toddler lifetime. Anyway, she produced this nice little laminated piece that she sent home with Dylan today. Sam's teacher was equally nice but he didn't get a special certificate. Sam did get a book from his teacher and a note saying that he had a great day too. Off to a good start.

New Month, New School

Well, the boys are at their new school today and they both seemed pretty excited. Here they are outside with Sam playing guitar and Dylan on drums. No, this is not the school of rock but thier new home in the Fairfax County system. They loved Keshet but this new set-up puts them in different classes which we think they need. We are going back to pick them up this afternoon.

Lake Accotink Hike

We stayed close to home this morning and hiked the four mile loop around Lake Accotink. It's only a few miles from home and easy to get to. This is the hike we did a couple of years ago when the boys were much smaller and not able to hike 4 miles. We ended up carrying them most of that hike but they walked the whole way this time. The three boys all got some new hiking shoes yesterday. Sam and I got some Merrells (different types) and Dylan got some spiffy Stride Rights. It's still un-seasonably warm here in VA and I'm really looking forward to some cold weather and some more hikes.

Shoe Shopping

Shoe Shopping
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

For all the boys.

Morning Mario

Morning Mario
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Getting a little nintendo in first thing in the morning. We are off to the gym in a few to get the blood moving.

Moving On

Moving On
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan and Sam are starting a new pre school on Monday so this was their last day at the jcc. They got this really nice farewell card that made Nicole cry, but the new school, with separate classes for the boys is a good move. I don't think the boys really care one way or another.

Morning train play

Morning train play
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Monaco

Monaco
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

In an all day leadership meeting today at the hotel monaco. Its across the street from aarp and scene of numerous aarp leadership meetings and events. Its semi ironic that I'm here on my 1 year anniversary at aia. Or not...

Antietam

My mom, me and the kids got up early and headed out to Antietam Maryland to hike the battlefield. It was a 90 minute drive but we had perfect weather for the visit. We stopped in at the visitor center and checked out Dunker Church before heading down to the Burnside Bridge area and a 2 mile hike. Everyone hiked well but we forgot to bring water so we were a little thirsty at the end.

Sam and Dylan had a lot of questions about who won the battle as we walked through old trenches and sunken roads. Not any easy answer for this particular conflict but we did determine the Sam and Dylan are confederates since they were born in Virginia and absolutely everyone else in their family is a Yankee. They don't like that, because I let them know that the rebs lost the war. They don't like to lose.

We stopped in Brunswick to visit the model railroad layout at the railroad museum there and then had dinner in Balston. Grandma bought the boys and Finn some nifty Baltimore and Ohio Train t-shirts which they plan on wearing to school tomorrow. Here's a link to the photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157602126622816/

Rock Bottom

Rock Bottom
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We had a real nice trip up to Antietam battlefield and to the Brunswick Train museum today and are getting a bite to eat before heading home.

Need I Say More

Bull Run Mountains Hike

I estimate we marched about 3 and a half to 4 miles on Sunday. My knees were singing at me by the time we finished. It was a long trek up hill and a quicker, and steeper decent. We saw some deer and deer scat as well as lots of freshly fallen red and yellow leaves. The boys did great and barely complained the entire trip. I posted the pictures in the usual place. Enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157602063200659/

Breakfast coloring

Breakfast coloring
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Its in the low 50's and time for a hike. We are headed to Bull Run Mountain and have stopped off at ihop for breakfast. Any bets on whether the boys can make five miles with a 1,000 foot vertical?

Face Painters

Got some scary things painted on the boys faces today at the NICU party. We spent the rest of the day loading the van for a trip to goodwill and grocery shopping. I think we'll go on a hike tomorrow so I can try out my new telephoto lens I got from Nicole for my birthday.

NICU Reunion

NICU Reunion
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We decided to stop by the boys nicu reunion to say hi to some of the doctors and nurses that cared for the little guys 5 years ago. Walking in the doors of the hospital brings back some scary memories of daily visits for 10 weeks. Don't want to do that again.

43 and Counting

It's been a few days since the birthday and I'm just getting used to working a full week again. It's been since early August since I've actually been in the office more than two days in a row and it's exhausting. I think work weeks should be two days, with a day off then another two days then a weekend. I think I'll picket the Whitehouse next week on that issue. I had dinner tonight with a couple consultants I do business with and tomorrow I'm taking a couple people from AIA over to see the state of the art broadcast facilities at AARP. Then I'm going to have a couple drinks with an old friend from my old haunting grounds.

Not much else going on, except Happy New Year everyone.

Happy Birthday Me

Happy Birthday Me
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Biltmore Stained Glass

Biltmore Stained Glass
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Meeting is over, time for a quick reception and dinner. Can't wait to get home.

Labor Day Photos

I forgot to mention that I uploaded a whole bunch of Minnesota Labor Day photos to flickr. I got a few good ones but they show all the fun stuff we did. The board meeting is going well and my part is late tomorrow morning. I'll be talking about the official launch of Soloso right before lunch so hopefully people will be too hungry to ask too many probing questions. Not that I couldn't answer them, but it's almost my birthday and I deserve a break.

The Biltmore is a beautiful hotel but it's almost too hot to spend anytime outside looking at the mountains. I'd go to the pools but that seems inappropriate considering I'm here to work. Oh well, time for dinner.

Here's another link to the flickr collection http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157601863131784/

Lobby

Lobby
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

This hotel is one of AIA's 150 favorite buildings and is a great frank lloyd wright inspired hotel.

Arizona Biltmore

Arizona Biltmore
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Made it into Phoenix late last night and am just about to start the two days of board meetings. Its hot down here but the are expecting rain.

First Day of School

I didn't take this picture, so I don't know what the faces are all about. The boys started school today in the same location but with a new school. They seemed pretty excited this morning and said they had a good day this evening. Here's hoping they don't drive their teachers crazy.

Mario Plane

Mario Plane
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We made it to chicago with about 30 minutes to spare before our plane to DC leaves. I got Nintendo out to distract the boys as the plane loads. We had a fun trip to Minnesota and the boys have said they want to go back in summer again. Gotta go, doors have closed.

Beach Fun

Beach Fun
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The boys and some friends are building a canal of some sort.

Crows and Twins

We saw another Counting Crows concert at Midway Stadium in St. Paul last night. Adam was in an increasingly good mood as the Cal Bears marched to a victory over Tennessee. He was getting updates in his ear monitor from the sound guy who was getting game updates from Tom, the tour manager, watching the game on the bus. It was a nice night and my parents, sister, brother and nephew joined us for dinner and the show. A bunch of the Minnesota Twins baseball team came to the show because they had an 11am game on Saturday so that the Minnesota Gophers football team could lose to Bowling Green in the Metrodome last night. How pathetic is that?

Anyway, a bunch of them came backstage to hang out after the show and pose for with our little Minnesota twins. I'm not sure who's who but maybe you baseball fans out there can put the names with the faces.