Sunday, December 31, 2006

Week 77 Pictures

For more Christmas fun, click here. Sorry about the lack of entries lately, but between the holiday fun and trying to buy a house, we've been swamped!


Monday, December 25, 2006

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Like casting pennies into a wishing well...

Today, I had to fire our broker.

Though she was a nice woman, and had driven us all over St. Petersburg last Sunday, she just wasn't getting the job done. When I fired her, she cried, and it made me feel terribly guilty. I had to step out of the office for a moment and remind myself why I had to fire her; how buying a home is one of the most important decisions of one's life and not the sort of transaction left to someone who is "almost good enough."

Still, my karma felt low. Since I re-injured my knee earlier this week, I've felt a bit unlucky. After the spectacle the broker put on over the phone, I had bad feelings swarming around me.

A few minutes later, I logged off my computer, hopped in my car, and drove off to pick up Reilly at daycare. I had made it about a mile when I realized that I had a flat tire.

I had a flat tire in one of the worst neighborhoods in Tampa. To whit: a homeless man "helped" me change my tire. In between cursing and gasping from the pain of my knee, I couldn't help but think of the broker, who was probably at that moment wishing something bad would happen to me, something that would help her get even. I almost called her to let her know that her wish had come true.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Monday, December 11, 2006

Week 74

Week 74 pictures are now up at the Smugmug site. Please click to here view.


Friday, December 8, 2006

My favorite word

This morning, Shawn called from New York and put Reilly on the phone. After some coaxing, Reilly said, "Dadddeeeeeeee!" I almost drove off the road.

Maybe I should get Reilly her own cell phone for Christmas?

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Hope

The other day, I was instant messaging with my friend Ellen about something I had witnessed on the drive to work. While at a stoplight, I was reading the bumper sticker on the car in front of me. The small, round sticker said, "Obama in '08." I smiled. What made me smile is that the car was one of those big Lincolns that the retirees drive, and sure enough--there was a grey-haired man behind the wheel. A white, grey-haired man. And so it gave me hope that in this conservative, Republican-heavy red state that there was one person outside of the normal Democrat demographic who would be willing to vote for a black man.

Today, while on my drive home, I saw the bumper sticker again. The sticker was on the same bumper, connected to the same car, driven by the same old man. I felt the same way as I did before: hopeful.

Hopeful that in this big city, a small world coincidence might be the sign of change to come.

Monday, December 4, 2006

Zone vs. Man-on-man

In honor of Monday night football, a football analogy:

When Reilly first started walking, I followed her around the house in what might be called man-on-man defense. Since any step could be a misstep, I had to be within arm's reach of her at all times.

Now, I just occupy the space around Reilly, making sure she stays away from the dog bowl or the computer mouse. Her proficiency at walking has allowed me to start playing a zone defense, which is a hell of a lot easier on this aging sports-star.

Saturday, December 2, 2006