Some more family photos

I know it looks like all we do is take staged photos and we don't really go out and play with our kids and take natural "kids being kids" photos. We do that all the time, but these photos are just really cute. I'm a big fan of the turn of the century Irish farmer look that Ronan has going on. He looks ready to pull some turf out of the ground. All he needs is a pipe in his mouth and he's set.

Grace - You have beat me

Some of you may know that I have some talent when it comes to world geography, specifically world capitals. It's one of my obsessive compulsive(s) that plague me daily. I have never been bested in a "what is the capital of....?" contest.

Until now.

My 8 year old niece, Grace, (who is adorably cute, kind and brilliant, by the way) sincerely, truly and legitimately beat me in an intense capital battle. Not only did she beat me, but she beat me bad. She knew 7 more than me and answered some that I could not remember. Not to brag here but I've got some skill in this area and she kicked me around the place. Countries like North Korea, Latvia, New Guinea, Belarus, Estonia, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Algeria. I mean the Western Hemisphere stuff is too easy so we stuck mainly to the tough ones.

I got her on two, Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou) and Madagascar (Antananarivo)

So, with this defeat I will fade and sail away like the Elves at the end of the Lord of The Ring movies.

Grace, I am more than impressed. I'd actually like to somehow invest money into you in some sort of business venture, because you are the smartest 8 year old that I've ever heard of and completely cool about it.

Well sorry to embarrass you...but you kicked your Uncle's butt and I should do the honorable thing and tell the world.

I can still beat your dad (North Carolina???) easy enough and that keeps me going. And I still think I can take you in an Arm Wrestle. Next up, Political Leaders and the history of Socialism in Western Europe. Bring it!

Leave Your Print

November 4th, 2008, I left my print. Well not exactly....I left my digital print. My good friends at Richter 7 (my old job) created the "Leave Your Print" promotion to drivevoters to the booth and I think it's fantastic.

If you needed a tag line for the greatest expression of civic demand "Leave Your Print" is it. My "print" allows me to shake my fist, cry out in anger, weep with disgust and lift my voice. America and it's liberty was created for all of us to tell our leadership to fear us and not the other way around.

I think a lot of people believe America is perfect the way it is. I get worried about that sentiment. Our predecessors created this country out of dissent. They did not want taxation without representation. They wanted representation...they demanded that right and fought for it. Thousands and thousands died so that you and I can say "listen to me now."

I'm proud to live in this country now. I would sacrifice for this country. And I'm proud to "leave my print" for the future of my country.

Now I'm off to work to convince all of Utah that Real Salt Lake is worth buying tickets to...and they are so visit RioTintoStadium.com now and get your tickets today. :)

Halloween Blackmail

Halloween this year was great. The kids costumes were planned by Leah. She was a veterinarian, Eva was a cow girl riding a horse, and Ronan was a cow. The girls loved trick or treating. Ronan sat in the wagon and ate his candy, always a piece in each hand. In an effort to dress up Dave and I got whatever was left in the costume store. I turned out to be a Volturi Vampire and Dave The Incredible Hulk. I have enough pictures to blackmail him if any of you need one for any reason. I trimmed his shorts in ripped fashion and they ended up a little shorter than planned especially in the back. He took the kids trick or treating barefoot. Then we switched posts. When he would answer the door he would grunt and yell in Hulk fashion. DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO MAKE IT LARGER.