December 2, 2007 IMG_8175b - "Checkers in the Leaf Fort" -For a brief version of the story, read just the first and last sentences :) How did all this start...well, Ryan (not mine, gray shirt) says to Alex (mine, white shirt) we should rake up all these leaves, make a huge pile, and get in the Guinness Book of World Records. Trevor (mine, green shirt) says Oooooohh, I'll help. The three of them raked the entire yard (which is really cool, I might add). Unfortunately, the size of the pile didn't impress them when they were done. So they began raking leaves from the neighbor's yard. That went on for quite some time, when one of them spotted some already bagged leaves on the curb at another neighbor's. Ryan and Thomas (not mine, blue shirt) go knock on the door and ask permission to take the already bagged leaves--which they got- (See for yourselves). -- Pretty ingenious, I thought. Another hour or so of raking, bagging, hauling, and dumping and they've got a pretty good pile going, but they're beginning to realize that we just don't have the trees to support their endeavor. Trevor has already quit raking and hauling, choosing instead to turn the leaf pile into a nice little fort (using only a hockey stick). The four of them have kind of a meeting at the "fort", and although I couldn't quite hear the whole conversation, a minute or so into it, Trevor (the youngest and by far the loudest) says... "Guinness book, Schmuinness Book...Lets just play checkers".

November 30, 2007 IMG_8019c - "Welding Self-Portrait" Some welding at work today - Check out the colorful (non)welding attire......and really mom, I'm a programmer- nevermind all those sparks :) I think this is my first (ever?) self portrait...not sure it counts, though--with the mask, and all...