The Trip...

Finally, Pic's from the trip out to Warshington.


Connor helped water my Mom's plants, and also became good friends with their dogs Lady (pic'ed here), and Sage. I really want to adopt a dog back here, but I think it's going to be a while before I can justify the app.$100 to do it.


There are four generations of Sellses in this picture: My dad, my gramma, my kids, and me.


Ethan and my dad (aka Grampa Curt, aka Best Buddy).


Connor and myself having a bluegrass jam. Okay, his "Mandolin" was far from in tune, lacked several of it's strings, he's one, and I was probably playing some metal.


Bro James with the kids. Maybe it's time to crank up the resolution on your camera, Ma?


Connor "Helping" my Mom, Gramma Carol, shop for delicious meat products.


Our trip was the first time my dad had seen Connor. They frolicked in the son together for hours and hours. It was a delight.


Here's our family portrait. We're a nice looking family. But I shed a silent tear every time I see this for how "normal" and "grown up" I've become.


Apparently, since I've left town, my parents have taken up Western Swing. Isn't that dandy? My parents have more of a social life than I do. There's something to the whole getting the kids to move out thing. Only 20 more years till I can do it. I kid, I enjoy my children, messes and back talk and all!

And this is what I had to go back to as soon as 9:00 am rolled around last Monday. I can't remember where I found this drawing, so I'll probably get sued for copyright bidness.



Many of the pictures in this and the previous two posts were side by side while I was makin' 'em, but stacked atop each other when I posted. Anyone know how to make them side by side when I post?

The Garden In My Garden

What you see:
The Corn/Legume/Gourd garden (ie The Three Sisters) The Recoverin' Rhubarb (It got massively chopped back because of aphids and wiltage). The "normal garden" which Cindy weeded for me. Both gardens. The part of the yard I didn't mow, complete with apple tree and fire pit. And the Cat - should we name him "Dirt" or "Ash?" Dirt seems to be the one that's sticking...

The legumes in the normal garden don't seem to be as tall and grandiose as I remember at my Uncle Vernon's growing up - I'm sure it has nothing to do with my being gone for two weeks instead of being around to lovingly stake them out. But they are producing many, many, delicious pods.

The Flowers In My Garden

Feel free to chime in with the real names of these plants - as you'll see if you open up the Flickr, I don't know what half of them are - many of you are more gifted at plant taxonomy than I (Keith). We planted some, others planted some, and some seem to be invasive species that are growing all over town!

I Knew I'd Moved For A Reason...

Now the good people at Forbes have given me proof (you may have to hit the "stop" button to read the Seattle slide). Crappy job market, expensive real estate and cost of living, and to think, you get horrible traffic also! I don't think you could pay me to move back to the Seattle area. Portland's not much better (anyone remember the "competition" of a few years ago where Oregon and Washington were neck and neck for #1 & #2 most unemployed?). I may move West again someday, but only if I can continue to live in the woods, cheaply.

Here's a picture of a rancor...

I like to think that he's about to play "Holy Diver" by Dio or "I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister...

Random Righteousness

Recently, as those of you who read and leave comments (strongly encouraged) noticed, I was contacted by my very first religious wackjob on this here blog. You can see said headcase's profile here. Turns out that it's a message sent out en masse to many random blogs by a person or group of people. Might explain why so many religions were listed on his profile (it's changed since I was first made aware that I am valuable enough to a religious order/person/sect/cult to warrant a random mailing) but I don't understand how more than one person can claim messianic aspirations or some such nonsense. On the plus side, the person/group/Jim Jones wannabe is down with Esperanto, a recent interest of mine...Not that I'm going to learn it, but the fact that it exists, that inspires me. Curious that days after I look up Esperanto out of boredom at work, I'm contacted by a weirdo/cultist/blasphemer that has an Esperanto name...

Ah, Esperanto, the sweetest of the invented languages, you beat the pants off of your child Ido. Curiosity made me look up Esperanto one day - and it directed me towards several other interesting concepts. The Baha'i Faith (This has nothing to do with the New Ager that contacted me - again - boredom at work, curiousity about Esperanto, and Wikipedia led to this tidbit) encourages followers to learn it - and according to the description, seem like a pretty mellow, accepting group of people. O' course, I'd have no idea. Also, micronations (Bored at work, supervisor's from England and has been past SeaLand) - Rose Island had Esperanto as it's national language, but wasn't around long. Sealand is much cooler and zanier, even without Esperanto - read the whole entry for a chuck or two. And finally, William "Theres...Something on the...Wing" Shatner made Incubus - an all Esperanto horror movie. That's right.

James showed me this - meeting of two half-wits, truly. Funny that nothing can be solved through violence, yet the thing that prevents a non-violent American from getting physical with a calmer American is the small possibility that a gun may be in the area...and a smaller possibility that it would be used to fend off an angered female motorist. Anywhoooooo.......Did I mention someone from the religiosity woodwork contacted me?

One last thought - if you like random, creepy things...And I sure do - check out Rubber Johnny. James had brought this to my attention a while back, but I just saw the whole video today, and it's a wild one. If the back story's not mentioned anywhere, I can fill ya in.

Sorry for the weirdness and crippling rambling.

-B-

Back In New Yawk

Hola. I'm back from a much needed although not very relaxing vacation. I have no complaints about it really, it was very nice seeing everyone, but aren't you supposed to sit on your ass during the vacation? I did a fair amount of that, but also a fair amount of running around (90% of the blame for that lies with my being a bit of a social butterfly, at least as far as people I already know goes). Next time y'all can meet up with me somewhere for some fishing or some sightseeing or something.

The rundown:

Saturday the 2nd: Too much time on planes. Too much time in Philly. Finally got to my parents to see the wife and kids. Promptly hibernated.

Sunday the 3rd: Don't really remember. I know I went to see my grandpa, and probably played a fair amount of Bro Kev's X-Box.

Monday the 4th: Connor is 1! Hard to believe? Yup, me too. The parents had a barbecue, my uncle Blaine made some awesome smoked meat for everyone, and I saw many, many friends and family. Had a great time, then I hibernated some more.

Tuesday the 5th - Thursday the 7th: Nuthin' doin.' True relaxation achieved in spurts. Some shopping, more X-Boxing, watched AVP - I do not recommend.

Friday the 8th: Out to Motown (Moses Lake, WA). In-Law Bill (Paca to the kids) made awesome porkloin, had a lot of wine and a fine Cuban cigar. Hibernated - Washington summer is much easier to sleep through than an Adirondack summer.

Saturday the 9th: Jet Skiing with Bro James, Bro Kev, and almost Sis-in-Law Sara. Sailed - once unsuccessfully, once very successfully. Got a heavy duty sunburn in the shape of Batman's insignia - you know, everywhere on my shoulders I couldn't reach myself.

Sunday the 10th: Bit more Jet Skiing and sailing, bros went home, I stayed, and some mild relaxation did occur.

Monday the 11th: Just another day in Mo-Lake.

Tuesday the 12th: Headed back towards the Wet Side of Washington. Stopped to see Keith and Natalia - had an awesome Thai lunch in Ellensburg - the burg that's grown into a town and possibly a small city since I was in College there - absolutely delightful lunch we had though. They're expecting their first child - that's gonna be a busy house! Dog, cats, chickens, garden, infant, jobs...And I thought I had a full plate!

Wednesday 13th: Met up with the Twins...Sorry, no link. Couple of college friends and their girlfriends/fiances, I don't know what (What is the status guys? I'm outta the loop here in the boonies). We ate salmon, I failed to take pictures, hilarity and joviality ensued. If either twin reads this - could you send me some of the pictures your significant others were taking? I'll post them here if they're electronic. Also, I watched BlackHawk Down at some point during the week - I do recomend - of course, I seem to be the last male in the US to have seen it.

Thursday the 14th: Traveled all the way to Marysville (about a 2 hour drive from my folks place) for a barbecue with Tammy, her husband Ingvar(sp) and Ian - I used to work with Tammy and Ian at Celltech in Bothell. Evil, evil Celltech. At least when they axed all of us, I got a decent severance package...And wound up in New York. Anywho, it was nice seeing them, but someone needs to hurry up and invent a teleportation station. Marysville is too far, and Seattle traffic sucks too bad - we had one cranky baby by the time we got home (Ethan played with Bro and Sis-in-law Scott and Starr).

Friday the 15th: I was supposed to go to a wedding, but after so many days of running around, shopping, taking my iconic grandpa to see the doctor, etc. I flopped on the couch with my wife instead. Sorry Chad and Andrea, hope it was a lovely time, good luck in your life together! I'll perform the baptism when your first child is born - I am a Universal Life Minister minister after all...Of course about all I've used it for is to "bless" some wine at a party with K&N once back in college. Riiiiight. Also, watched The Life Aquatic - awesome movie. Especially the guy that sits around with a gut string git-tar and plays old David Bowie songs...In French.

Saturday the 16th: Ate some prime rib with the family, got on a plane, didn't sleep all night, spent too much time in Philly - again. Got a ride from a coworker (Thanks Frank), got home, crashed.

The home front, after being gone for two weeks: Garden is rockin,' so are the weeds. Rhubarb's dyin,' so am I in the heat. I have two nice tomatoe plants in the garden now - I didn't plant them, though, If Cindy didn't have the camera 3,000 miles away, I'd take some pictures. I'm so pleased at the thought of tumaytuhs. I'd also post some pictures from the trip - o' course, they're mostly just of the kids in different environments than normal. That's parenthood for ya! The cat seemed to miss me - he won't leave my side when I go outside to pull some weeds, thin some crops, or grab some radishes and lettuce. Annoyingly so - I've almost stepped on him about half a dozen times.

Many thanks again to Peter and Paula for keeping the garden and the cat alive while I've been gone - we'll have a barbecue once Cindy's back. Maybe I'll make some more delicious salmon, Fresh from the...Wait a minute...

Thanks for stickin' with me while I rambled...Word! Sorry for any spelling errors - Blogger's sllepchekc doesn't seme to be wurking.


Bow to me!

Gonna getcha!

...And I'm out, just like this one...