Laying around

Laying around
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The boys catching a movie during a rainy Sunday.

Night Out

Night Out
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Had a baby sitter and went to dinner with Nicole and 6 friends in old town last night. Had a great time eating, drinking and laughing at Columbia Firehouse. The weather was perfect for an after dinner beer at Pat Troys.

School Lunch

I went to school today and had lunch with the boys. Sam's lunch time starts about 15 minutes before Dylan's, so I was able to sit with Sam's friends before moving over to Dylan's table. Lots of good conversations with the little grade schoolers. One girl at Dylan's table told me that her Mom is in the Airforce and flies the Vice President around. She also mentioned that the new Vice President comes up to the cockpit and says hi when he comes on board while the old one didn't ever say hello.

I guess Dick was too busy working on the Death Star plans to say hello to his crew. Way to go Joe...

Takin the bus today

Takin the bus today
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

In heading to school to have lunch with the little munchkins today. They are showing their purple today as well.

Me at 46

Me at 46
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Another School Year Starts


It was a good morning to start school again and from all accounts, they both had a successful day.

Round Three

Round Three
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Only the 3rd round of the year but a 79 is pretty respectable. Perfect day for golf. About 80 and really sunny. I may stop playing for the year to preserve an under 80 round for the year.

Last Days

Last Days
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

This is the last weekend that the pool is open and it was a little chilly out there i must admit. We are inside now watching football and eating cheese.

2nd Grade

2nd Grade
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The boys got their class assignments today and reconnected with all their little friends. They both seemed excited about their teachers and classmates. School starts on Tuesday.

Green Roof

Green Roof
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

ACS is installing a green roof on the Hach building which is right next to and pretty much level with my office in the Othmer building. The work has just begun but in a couple months it will be a lush, green park of sorts. A big improvement over the tar and asphalt surface currently there.

Where Did I Come From

We read the book to them last night and man was that uncomfortable. Sam kept touching the boobs on the naked woman drawing and Dylan kept saying how disgusting it was during the part explaining how the egg and sperm meet. I'm sure we will have to read it to them a few more times in the coming months but then they can just have it to giggle about be themselves.

My Friend

My Friend
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

With a long 6 days in Boston in having a tasty greygoose martini before dinner with the fabulous wso staff. It's been miserable outside but I've been able to stay dry with all my meeting being in a skyway/shopping mall connected series of hotels here in the back bay. I'm missing the family pretty good right now and hope the shuttle is flying on time tomorrow. I already looked at the train but even the Acela is a 6 hour trip.

Beehive

Beehive
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Getting some fusion jazz at a Boston club. Good for a cold and rainy night. It's good to get 0ut a little.

Wake Up Call

Wake Up Call
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I got an errant wake call this morning at 5:30am but snapped this picture of the sun coming up before going back to bed until 7am.

Boston

Boston
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

One day down at the ACS meeting and everything is going well. I'm staying in tonight and doing the room service thing. Need to conserve energy for a few receptions and dinners to come.

Hi Ya!


Boys got back to Tae Kwon Do today for the first time in a month or so. Too much traveling this summer. Now they are back learning how to kick my ass. All they really have to do is chop me at the knee and I'm done. Don't tell them.

I uploaded the final group of pictures from the Santa Fe trip on Flickr. It's a bunch of shots stuck together in no particular order. Got some good and bad, including pictures with me in them. Now that doesn't happen that often.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157624616799137/

Santa Fe Pictures

I was able to upload most of the Santa Fe pictures to flickr to today. Only have a few left I will probably get to tomorrow. I put them into sets that make sense.

Pecos National Monument: Cool Indian Pueblo and Spanish mission.

Glorietta National Monument: Gettysburg of the west

Black Canyon Trail: Hiked to 8600 feet in the Santa Fe National Forest

Bandelier National Monument: Indian cave dwellings in a big canyon.

Today was pretty kind of cool and rainy, which was a big change from the last few months. It felt good. Saw a tree in Old Town yesterday that had most of it's leaves turning yellow and falling. A little odd in August but a sure sign that the seasons are changing.

Jr. Rockers


Here's a frontal view of the boys jammin with the Crows. I think I should start them on some music lessons soon. It may actually be something they want to do.

Lunch at Luckys

Lunch at Luckys
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I'm home with the boys today and worked most of the morning while they watched a movie. We have now stepped out for some lunch and games.

Rockin the Casbah

Rockin the Casbah
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

They love pretending they are rock stars.

Riding Camp


It's been a nice couple days home after a great trip to New Mexico. I think the boys are happy to be back in their own beds after two weeks and actually only being in thier own beds about five nights in month between Minnesota and NM. I started uploading the pictures from the latest trip in segments since it turned out we took 855 photos total. These are the best of the last day of riding camp. http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157624557295985/

Adama and Emmy are over for dinner tonight then we are off to Wolftrap for a concert tomorrow. The boys are pretty excited to see their uncle and the energy level is high. They need to chill.

Tramway to Sandia

Tramway to Sandia
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We went on the longest tramway in the world today and had lunch at the top of Sandia mountain. The boys loved the ride and the view was spectacular. We also stopped at Tinkertown, but that's a post in itself. We are having dinner in Albuquerque tonight then have an extremely early flight home tomorrow. I took about 400 pictures so I will work on getting those up in the next few days. It's been a great vacation. Lots of stuff I hadn't seen before and it's always fun to spend so much time with Dylan and Sam. Not to mention Nicole, Linda and Gil.

Two Belgians

Two Belgians
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Chocolate shakes that is from ice cream shop on the plaza. Dylan returned his to the bushes last night. Let's see if he can keep it down tonight.

Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: John S
Flash: Standard
Film: Ina's 1969

Bandelier National Monument

Plan your trips with EveryTrail Mobile Travel Guides

Music on the Plaza

Music on the Plaza
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Listened to a little country and western on the plaza before dinner tonight, or was it western and country. The Bandelier hike took alot out of us today. It was a beautiful park but the climbing in and out of caves and crawling up the seven story peublo was hard on the knee. The boys sure loved it as I was sure they were going to fall off one of the 30 foot ladders we had to use.

The Los Alamos science museum was nice and the boys learned all the needed to know to build an atomic weapon. They got that going for them. I'll post the every trail hike profile later. Time for bed now.

Black Canyon Hike

Black Canyon Trail

Plan your trips with EveryTrail iPhone Travel Guides

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We went on what was suppose to be an easy hike that nearly killed us with the rocky terrain and elevation. In this picture, the boys are at about the highest point that they had ever hiked (8500 feet). We finished the 2 mile trek and drove up to the ski Santa Fe basin at 10,000 feet. The boys liked the idea of skiing next to time we visit.

The Plaza at Night

The Plaza at Night
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Have had a great few days in Santa Fe with the weather being nice and cool, some thunderstoms rolling by now and again and lots of time with the kids. This place definately has a slower feel than Washington DC and is a much needed break from the work world. Not too much planned today, a museum or two and maybe a trip up the mountain for a short walk. We are heading to Bandalier National Park tomorrow to hike and check out some cave dwellings.

Yesterdays hikes were fun and informative as well. Pecos is a site of an ancient indian pueblo, followed by a couple of big spanish missions. The Glorieta Pass hike was followed a civil war battle people consider the Gettysburg of the west.

Yesterday's Hikes

Pecos National Park

Plan your trips with EveryTrail Mobile Travel Guides

Glorieta Battlefield Trail

Plan your trips with EveryTrail iPhone Travel Guides

Glorieta Battlefield

Glorieta Battlefield
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Looking down on the union lines at the Gettysburg of the west.

Danger

Danger
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Hiking in pecos national park and keeping a keen eye out for local wildlife.

Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A fairly tame wolf on display with a handler. The handler dude us pretty interesting too.

Gelato

Gelato
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Some after dinner treats in Santa Fe. The altitude is making me tired. That or the wine.

Two Firsts

Two Firsts
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Wow, two blue ribbons. How does that happen.

Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: John S
Flash: Off
Film: Ina's 1969

Horse Show

Horse Show
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

It's horse camp graduation day. The boys are about to show us their skills. Got stuck in the runway at Dulles for two hours last night but finally got here around 10 mountain time. Feeling better now.

Shot with my for iPhone
Lens: John S
Flash: Off
Film: Ina's 1969

Passing Strange

Passing Strange
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

At studio theater. It's been two and a half since I saw this on broadway and I'm loving the music again.

Little Riders

Little Riders
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

This is the boys after their second day of cowboy camp. They are already up to trotting from what I understand. Grandma is taking these photos and sending them to us so we are just getting daily reports. I'm looking forward to getting down there this week and seeing their horse skills for myself.

Sent from my iPad

Brutal Heat

Brutal Heat
Originally uploaded by homerclees

The last three days have been brutally hot and sticky. We've spent a lot of time at the pool and watching movies with the boys gone. A thunderstorm just rolled in and has brought a 15 degree temp change at the same time. I do like the way fresh rain smells and the sound of a ton of water falling from the sky. This video should give you some sense of the storm.

Cowboys

Cowboys
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The boys got some western shirts and cowboy hats on their first day in Santa Fe. I believe grandpa and grandma also picked them up some cowboy boots as well. Nice way to start a vacation in New Mexico. They are starting cowboy camp on Monday morning. Riding, roping and spitting like any good ranch hand.

Sent from my iPad

Off with Grandma

Off with Grandma
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Walking to the gate at Dulles for a flight to Santa Fe. Nicole and I are about to be kidless for a while again. I already miss them.

Summer Vacation Part 1


Back in DC and feeling the heat but happy to have a weekend to relax from all the fun last week. It was great up north and I miss the family but home is good too. I posted almost a 100 picture to flickr this afternoon, including Finn's big bass. He really wanted that picture. Hang it over the fireplace I guess. We had a nice day at the pool with the boys today and will probably do the same tomorrow. Got to beat the heat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerclees/sets/72157624524254358/

Sunset on Sylvan

Sunset on Sylvan
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

And the end to a great vacation up north. Going to make a stop or two on the way back to wayzata tomorrow and then back to dc on Friday. The boys will miss their cousins.

Gull Lake Squadron

Gull Lake Squadron
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Another morning bike ride with Finn joining us this time.

Angler

Angler
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The fish are a little slow to bite, but that's ok with me. I don't like hurting the little fish dudes.

Babe

Babe
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Gettin gansta with Babe the Blue Ox.

Biker Dude

Biker Dude
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Had a great 13 mile ride this morning, then a day at the pool and beach. We also rented a fishing boat to tour the lake and find some good fishing spots for the pontoon boat fishing excursion tomorrow morning.

First Night Dinner

First Night Dinner
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Mae says Dylan is the bride. The kids are enjoying themselves and have already spent an hour in the lake. Lovely up here in the north woods.

Pool Time

Pool Time
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Staying out of the lake and close to home today. Out to dinner with just the adults this evening then off to the north woods tomorrow.

Autobody Experience

Autobody Experience
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

At the Eagles Club in south Minneapolis. Not far from where I went to college, yet I've never been here before. Lots of good memories driving past Augsburg just a few short blocks away. The band is kicking it.

Sailing Away

Sailing Away
Originally uploaded by homerclees

Dropped the kids off at camp this morning after getting into town late last night. It was good to see the little munchkins again.

Sailing Camp

Can a round the world sailing trip be far off with all this sailing happening this week?  I haven’t seen the boys since Saturday but my mom is keeping me stocked with pictures of them as they enjoy a Minnesota summer.  I wish I was in sailing camp.

 

Bistrot Du Coin

Bistrot Du Coin
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Out with Jimmy T and Nicole at a nice French bistro in Dupont Circle. Still without kids.

Independence

Independence
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

It's been a strange holiday weekend without the kids around. I've gotten a pretty good tan going now and have seen 4 movies. Time time to open another bottle of wine.