Hands down, I believe we have one of the most beautiful campuses in Virginia. And, it's hard to believe that 19 years ago I interviewed for a position here at St. Christopher's School. I remember when I drove up to the school how incredibly beautiful the campus was. It was but one of the many reasons I decided to accept the offer to teach here and to this date, the grounds are still spectacular.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Day 106: A Cruel Lesson
Spring is often viewed as a gentle season. If one can survive the cold old man winter put into place, it just makes sense that spring should be easy by comparison. For weeks now we've watched "momma" bird create a nest in the bottom of an outdoor light fixture. She came and went without a hitch but today for some reason, she was unable to escape. Concern for her and the safety of her eggs became a top priority for our family and we went to work. I managed to remove the base of the light fixture which allowed momma bird to escape without damaging the nest. When we peered into the nest, here is what we found-4 newly hatched baby birds.
My bride and I were quite concerned with our discovery-we're both bio majors and teachers. We knew that the likelihood of survival would be remote unless momma bird returned. My daughter made a few calls to pet stores, animal rescue centers, and my sister who happens to be a vet but their news was less than promising. These birds seemed to be to young to survive without momma's care.
We kept the nest inside for the night because it was going to drop into the 30s(just above 0 C for my aussie friends) and then we placed the nest on a ladder near the lamp in hopes that momma would return.
Well, the day went by and despite the newness spring provides, these baby birds were not meant to be. It was a sad time for my family. :(
My bride and I were quite concerned with our discovery-we're both bio majors and teachers. We knew that the likelihood of survival would be remote unless momma bird returned. My daughter made a few calls to pet stores, animal rescue centers, and my sister who happens to be a vet but their news was less than promising. These birds seemed to be to young to survive without momma's care.
We kept the nest inside for the night because it was going to drop into the 30s(just above 0 C for my aussie friends) and then we placed the nest on a ladder near the lamp in hopes that momma would return.
Well, the day went by and despite the newness spring provides, these baby birds were not meant to be. It was a sad time for my family. :(
Monday, April 19, 2010
Day 105: A day at Deep Run Park
Spent the whole day with the wee one while mom was out of town at our son's baseball game. A good chunk of our day was spent at Deep Run Park. We played on the playground, had a snack, feed the ducks, and told stories. This photo was taken just after she threw her last piece of bread. She sat and watched the duck swim away.
Day 104: The Ice Bucket
Our track team is finally using ice buckets as a means to stem injury and today was no different. As we were walking by the icing session, Coach Bruner commented that his boys were unable to handle the ice bucket very long. My eldest daughter on the other hand has been using this method for quite some time as part of her training and she has developed a threshold for the cold. Let's just say that she put the boys to shame.
That's my girl!
That's my girl!
Day 103: Running to Dad
It doesn't happen everyday, but when my daughter runs to greet me after a long and strenuous work day, it is certainly the best part of my day. When she runs into my arms and squeezes me tight, I feel the stress of the day wither away.
Day 102: A missed day!
Today I really let myself down. I went 101 days without missing a photo op of sorts but for some reason day 102 slipped right past me. I never thought it would bother me as much as it is but if anything comes out of this project, it is a promise to myself that this will be the 1 and only photo I will forget this year.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Day 101: Pitching
My son was so excited to hear that he would be the opening pitcher in today's game. He did a nice job despite the cold drizzle and light wind but let's just say the parents didn't fair as well.
As for the quality of the photo, I was stunned that the resolution was quite good using a BB at 5x from this distance.
As for the quality of the photo, I was stunned that the resolution was quite good using a BB at 5x from this distance.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Day 100: Highlighting Passages
After a quick shower, it was time to finish up homework for the evening. After crossing out the completed assignments, it was time to do a little reading and highlighting. As one can see, my son is busy at work discerning which passages require some additional attention.
Day 99: Rock Climbing and Happy Birthday
Today was my daughter's birthday and we opted to take her and a friend climbing at Peak Experience-an indoor climbing facility. My son and I were lucky enough to climb too.
It was a great day that started with Chipotle for lunch, followed by rock climbing, Sushi for dinner, and then an incredibly rich chocolate cake for dessert.
Happy Birthday Pea!
It was a great day that started with Chipotle for lunch, followed by rock climbing, Sushi for dinner, and then an incredibly rich chocolate cake for dessert.
Happy Birthday Pea!
Day 98: Costco Gas and the Memory Game
For some reason, I am unable to remember the hours of operation for Costco's Gasoline. I checked their website and I even called but the information could not be found. So in an effort to burn this info into my mind, I decided to take a photo of the hours of operation and I plan on keeping it in my Blackberry.
Am I getting old?!
Am I getting old?!
Day 97: Charlie Brown Xmas Tree
I was walking towards my car in the parking lot when I stumbled upon this baby pine tree in the shadows of this telephone pole. Over time however, this tiny little tree will dwarf this pole but before that happens one of them will have to come down.
I know which one I want, how about you?
I know which one I want, how about you?
Day 96: Ubuntu
This laptop is like an old shoe. It's about 7 years old but this Gateway has been running Ubuntu for at least 2 years and works great as a web based machine in our kitchen. What I like most about this laptop is that everyone in the family uses it and has found that Ubuntu is a snappy OS and is not that difficult to use when the destination is the web. I can only imagine how snappy this OS would be if it were on loaded machine.
So as a result, our home has 4 OSes-OSX, XP pro, Win 7, and Ubuntu.
So as a result, our home has 4 OSes-OSX, XP pro, Win 7, and Ubuntu.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Day 95: Pollen, Pollen, Pollen...
The quantity of pollen in the air and on the surfaces of just about everything is just phenomenal. I'm one of the lucky ones who does not have severe allergies.
Now what I find so astonishing, from a science perspective, is the amount of energy plants dedicate towards reproduction.
On a side note, I wonder if forensics would consider using pollen to check for fingerprints? As one can see, my prints are visible on the surface of my car and the clarity of the print is quite good.
Now what I find so astonishing, from a science perspective, is the amount of energy plants dedicate towards reproduction.
On a side note, I wonder if forensics would consider using pollen to check for fingerprints? As one can see, my prints are visible on the surface of my car and the clarity of the print is quite good.
Day 94: It was a close game
It was a great baseball game. Both teams had wonderful pitching and fantastic fielding. Despite the final score, it would be fair to say that the game could have gone the otherway just as easily. My son was on the losing team but I convinced his Giants will be able to redeem themselves the next time these two teams meet up.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Day 93: Keens
It must be spring! I broke out the Keens this weekend when I went out for my morning bike ride and they stayed on while I plowed through a few hours of yard work. What are your favorite outdoor shoes?
Day 92: Easter Parade on Monument Ave
Easter is my favorite holiday of all times. The Easter Parade is but one facet of this glorious holiday season but when the weather is nice, it a wonderful way to end the weekend. There were thousands of people walking around enjoying the sunshine, flowers, music, and food. It's also a great place to do some people watching.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Day 91: Red Caboose
It was a busy morning today but a trip to the playground led to this little treasure. The Red Caboose is located on the grounds of this elementary school and along with the playground, a child's imagination can run wild.
Day 90: Dyeing Easter Eggs
Today the kids dyed Easter Eggs. As one can see, we had quite a few eggs and some happy children in the process. It's a tradition I hope that continues for many years to come
Day 89: Playball
The day started off sunny and warm but a 6:30 game caught players and parents by surprise. Winds gusts close to 30 mph and a drop in temperature was enough to skip the slurpees and go for hot cocoa. Let's just say we are looking forward to some warmer days.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Day 88: Vent
Today was another busy day. I primed some more sections of our kitchen and before I knew it, it was 11:30pm when I realized I had neglected to take today's photo. As I shared my dilemma with my bride, she mentioned why not take a picture of the vent above the bed because it is the last thing you will see before you close your eyes. Hmmm, good idea! So there you have it! Nighty Night.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Day 87: Priming the kitchen
I started priming the walls of our kitchen this evening. The sage green will need 2 coats of primer to cover it up but in the end, our kitchen will be brighten it up which will make my bride happy.
Day 86: Coal Chute
Today was opening day for my son's baseball team. It was a long day but at one point, I had the opportunity to take a walk into Carytown. Carytown is a section of Richmond that is pretty arty and it attracts a pretty diverse crowd. Now on my way to Carytown, I came across this coal chute on the side of one of the buildings. I still find it fascinating that urban residents had to have regular deliveries of this sooty material in order to heat their homes.
Day 85: The 1/2 gallon container gets smaller
Today I opened our refrigerator to pour myself a glass of OJ. When I retrieved the container, its appearance seemed thinner. Upon further inspection, the OJ container now lists its volume as being 1.8 quarts. Why?!
Day 84: A new stage
Well the wee one hit a new stage today. She's moved up into a booster seat in our new car and she is so proud. When I brought the new booster home, she had to sit down in it immediately. But what really made her happy was the fact that it had pink trim and flowers all over it. A perfect match for my little girl.
Day 83: Colorburst
Early spring always surprises me with small bursts of color that seem to appear out of nowhere. Today was one of those days where my daily trek to the middle school brings my by a plot of ivy. What caused me to pause was how rich the color was in these flowers and how they seemed to come out of the blue-sorry couldn't resist. Now I'm not 100% sure but I believe these are bluebells.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Day 82: Lease Me
Toyota is having its fair share of woes but their latest lease was too good to pass up. So we took the plunge and I'm happy to say that we finally have a 2nd car that can hold the entire family safely.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Day 81: An Old Building
In one of the older sections of Richmond, there is appears to be an abandoned wooden building which I believe may have served as a school or school offices at one time. I came across this structure while my son was at baseball practice and I couldn't resist checking it out. As one can see, everything is made of wood. There is wood rot in the typical places and the paint, which I am sure is loaded with lead, is peeling everywhere. I love the character of older homes and couldn't resist taking a photo of this piece of history.
Day 80: Yard Debris
It was a beautiful weekend and yesterday I managed to get lots of work done around the yard. We're still dealing with a torn up front lawn because of a new sewer line but we are making progress. As one can see we have lots of yard debris and I'm hoping it will be taken by our trash service. If not, it looks like another trip to the county landfill. We still have a long way to go, but the yard is getting tidier and tidier with every passing weekend.
I could sure use a DIY Yard Crasher! Anyone seen Ahmed Hassan? It would be great to have 10-20 people to help with this yard.
I could sure use a DIY Yard Crasher! Anyone seen Ahmed Hassan? It would be great to have 10-20 people to help with this yard.
Day 79: Problem solving and the Riding Mower
I was really excited to break out my new riding mower today but the battery had another idea. The past winter wore down the battery to the point where I could not get the engine to turn over. This is a new mower and I only used it 1 other time this fall but I was determined to bet it started. Being a nube with this type of equipment, I hit the web to check and validate that I could jump start the mower with my car without damaging the car or the mower. As I suspected, one can jump start a riding mower with your car!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Day 78: Hooray for Spring
I know we haven't hit the spring equinox just yet but today felt like spring. The daffodils and jonquils are popping up everywhere and the sun's rays had everyone on campus in good spirits.
Hooray for Spring!
Hooray for Spring!
Day 77: Heading home
t was another long day. PT, baseball practice, followed by a drive home at dusk. I almost feel like I put in another day of work and I still have things to do when I get home. Phew this parenting stuff is wearing me out but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Day 76: Yum Yum Good
It was a crazy busy day today! Everyone seemed to be going every which way in the family but my bride had the wisdom to take a moment to email me and suggest that we get Chinese food for dinner. The funny thing was I was thinking the same just moments before I received her email. But to add to the digital karma, after reading my bride's email, my daughter texted me saying that she was studying China in one of her classes and she asked if we could get Chinese food too. Coincidence?
Day 75: Icing down after PT
It certainly looks a lot worse than it is but as part of her PT routine, my daughter has to ice down her knees for 10 minutes. The good news is that the pain has gone down and her strength and flexibility have improved. At this point, because she has Osgood-Schlatter, it appears that we will have to deal more with pain management as we wait for the "growing pains" to abate.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Day 74: Snack time before bed time
Tonight we got the wee one ready for bed, teeth brushed, hair brushed, and we actually had her in bed until she looked up and said, "I'm hungry". So we head downstairs to get a little snack of multigrain Cheerios. As one can see, she is a happy camper. Nighty night!
Day 73: Taxes are done!
Where would I be without Turbotax?! I took about 4 hours to complete, but our taxes are done and have been e-filed. Time to clean up the mess and start a new folder for 2010.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Day 72: Martinis
I finally had some 1 on 1 time with my bride this evening so we headed out to Maggiano's for dessert and a couple of martinis. She had the Lemon Drop whereas I had the Pomegranate Martini along with New York Cheesecake and berries. I was actually going to photograph the dessert, but we started eating it before I could take the photo.
I suppose not being able to wait was a good sign! :)
I suppose not being able to wait was a good sign! :)
Day 71: Nature's Geometry
After returning from the Great Wolf Lodge, my bride sent me out for some supplies. I found myself at Kroger and as I was spying the fruits, I came across a rather large bunch of bananas. I've seen large bunches of bananas before but I've never quite seen them arranged in this fashion and with so many. It had me wondering what the entire cluster may have looked like.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Day 70: Great Wolf Lodge
Today we ventured to Williamsburg to spend the night at The Great Wolf Lodge. It is a family friendly place with a massive indoor water park. The Lodge has something for everyone, including our 3 year old. I'm a bit water logged for the first day but you can be sure I will be able to rally tomorrow. Nothing like some family fun to end our Spring Break.
Day 69: Baseball Practice
As my children get older, it seems like the days increase in length as well. Today was the start of my son's regularly scheduled late evening baseball practices but fortunately for me, the temperature was still mild.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Day 68: More and more mulch
If you saw yesterday's photo, today's shouldn't be much of a surprise. After dropping off yard waste and the county dump, I loaded up with a mound of mulch destined for our yard. The bad news is that I probably need 3-5 more truck loads. The good news is that the county uses the yard waste that is dropped off by residents and turns it into mulch. The mulch is free for the taking and for that I am grateful.
Day 67: Yard Work
Part of our Spring Break Staycation is designed to get some much needed yard work done. We've been at this house for under a year and the yard requires some TLC. I've already made 2 trips to the dump with yard waste so it makes sense that this wheelbarrow under cover of night is the focus of today's image.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Day 66: Recycling?
Seems like I've been a day behind for a number of days with my posts but my photos have always been taken the day the photo was due.
I've been through the Atlanta airport 2x in 4 days and I am perplexed by these recycling cans. They use electricity to sort the recyclables. To me it would have made more sense to have 3 different containers stacked on top of one another rather than go through the expense of purchasing these electric recycling containers and paying for power. What do you think?
I've been through the Atlanta airport 2x in 4 days and I am perplexed by these recycling cans. They use electricity to sort the recyclables. To me it would have made more sense to have 3 different containers stacked on top of one another rather than go through the expense of purchasing these electric recycling containers and paying for power. What do you think?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Day 65: Google Swag
We received a Google Swag Bag at the Google Teacher Academy for Administrators and it was full of some neat gifts. However, at the networking dinner, they had 1 more item to add to our bag. Many of us were wondering, hoping, and dreaming that perhaps the new piece of Google Swag was going to be a Nexus phone but hey that's what dreams are all about.
Now I just have to figure out how to stem off the arguments my kids will have over who gets to keep this piece of swag. In any event, thank Google for a wonderful opportunity.
Now I just have to figure out how to stem off the arguments my kids will have over who gets to keep this piece of swag. In any event, thank Google for a wonderful opportunity.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Day 64: Google Teacher Academy for Administrators
What a day! Met lots of incredibly bright people, enjoyed meeting folks in my PLN F2F, and I learned lots! It's a shame this program is only 1 day because by the end, I felt prepared to have some in depth conversations about teaching, learning, and empowerment. I look forward to chatting with many of you as we continue our journey.
Day 63: Lunch @ Schilo's
After checking into my hotel in San Antonio, Texas, I made my way over to the riverwalk in search of an eatery that was not Tex Mex. As I wandered around, I came across Schilo's Delicatessen. A German deli with the vintage flair of the early 20th century and the gizmos of the time period. Now the food was outstanding and the restaurant itself had lots of things that were worthy of photographing but it was this sign that caught my eye. I suspect it's the 19 years I've been working with MS boys that influenced my decision for today's picture but I just found this too funny to pass up.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Day 62: El Caporal
On this cold and damp day, what could be better than take out from El Caporal for dinner. Let's just say everyone was quite happy with the meal and there were hardly any dishes to wash too.
It's a favorite eatery for the Cuevas household so if you are in search of excellent Mexican food, check out El Caporal.
It's a favorite eatery for the Cuevas household so if you are in search of excellent Mexican food, check out El Caporal.
Day 61: Pudding Ying Yang
My bride was feeling under the weather today so my son and I purchased all of the accouterments for the evening's dinner and dessert. As we were shopping my son expressed a desire to have pudding, then it expanded to include the Oreo cookie pie shell, and finally it had to include 2 flavors.
As I was preparing the meal, he mixed the pudding, placed it in the refrigerator, and then added it to the Oreo cookie pie shell to produce the Pudding Ying Yang.
As I was preparing the meal, he mixed the pudding, placed it in the refrigerator, and then added it to the Oreo cookie pie shell to produce the Pudding Ying Yang.
Day 60: Lava Lamp
I've always been a big fan of lava lamps and this one is particularly special. I purchased this lamp while I was a science teacher and it was a big hit with my MS boys. Well, I know longer teach science and the lamp has come home with me but it has been passed down to my MS aged son.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Day 59: In Memory of Jackson Ramsey
Today my daughter experienced her first candle light vigil. Her diving coach's son and her friend died yesterday. He was only 16 years old but in that short span he touched a vast number of people with his smile, kindness, and good natured personality.
My daughter is handling it well but I couldn't help but give her a big hug after the vigil because I cannot imagine what it is like to lose a child.
My daughter is handling it well but I couldn't help but give her a big hug after the vigil because I cannot imagine what it is like to lose a child.
Day 58: Orange Nehi
I've been spending quite a bit of time with my daughters lately so today I decided to take Little Boy out to eat for lunch. His favorite pit stop in Richmond is The Boardwalk. But don't let this tiny and unpretentious establishment fool you. They serve the best hot dogs I've ever eaten. They even beat the dogs that are served on the hot dog carts in NYC but that's a story for another day. Anyway, my son gets the Sgt Santa dog which is as plain as they come but I on the other hand opt for the Kraut dog. The Kraut Dog is sauerkraut, spicy mustard, and swiss. Now along with our dogs, we spring for Orange Nehi to wash down our dogs and here is the bottle cap to prove it.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Day 57: Cinderella's "Glass" Slippers
I'm a lucky fella! I found Cinderella's "Glass" Slippers. I know a little princess who will be quite happy when she wakes up tomorrow and sees them.
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