GPoD: 11.07.2005

Here's Graham reading from one his favorite books.

GPoD: 11.05.2005

It's tummy time!

Graham with Mullet

After I dressed Graham up in his hockey outfit this morning, I started to get excited about the possibilities for mullet growth. So I decided to do a bit of editing magic and see if we could get a sneak peak of the kid as he may be . . . say, 17 years from now. Behold!

GPoD: 11.04.2005

Here's Graham kickin' it in his new Minnesota Wild outfit (compliments of Grandma Fink). Now we just need to get him started on his mullet, and he should be ready for the ice in no time.

The Graham-a-Phone: Goos and Gahs

It's been a while since we put any audio up, so here's a clip of Graham doing some of that adorable baby goo-ing. Much more enjoyable than the little wahs and fussing he limited himself to in his first few months on the scene. Not that there's not plenty of fussing still.

GPoD: 11.02.2005

Here's a nice grin for today's Graham Picture of the Day (GPoD). "Hey, gram and gramps (both sides)--look how fat I'm getting!"

The GrahamCam: Seasick

Here is some nice footage of Graham in nautical attire (compliments of friends in Scotland!) dreaming of the life aquatic. Unfortunatately for the little fellow the swell was a bit too choppy, and he lost his breakfast. It didn't seem to dampen his mood, however. 'Atta babe.

Driving off the Spleen...

I'm back on O'Brian. I've neglected fiction over the last few months in favor of my schoolwork, but I find that I must regulate the gross humors from time to time with a brisk whiff of the salt air. As Ishmael puts it: "Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off – then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me." If a man can't actually take to ship, the nautical fiction of Patrick O'Brian is the next best thing (always excepting Lord Melville, of course)--maybe even better, as one doesn't have to reckon with sea sickness. This is my second time through the series, and it's better than ever.

GPoD: 11.01.2005

Here's Graham on a walk in the park with his mum and dad. He's trying to be cool for the photo. You can't smile when you're cool.

In Praise of Hypocrisy

Actually, the title of his sermon was, "What a Bunch of Hypocrites", but I think the Rev. Wells' message this last week might have had a more provocative title. After all, there's nothing all that arresting about charges of hypocrisy in our current social climate. But Wells reminds us this week that a measure of hypocrisy is unavoidable in the lives of fallen human beings who are genuinely struggling to live in accord with standards of virtue higher than the comfortable status quo. If you're not a hypocrite, you're either perfect already, or you're not even trying. Click on the link above to see streaming video of the entire service (the sermon starts around 39 minutes).