Year in Review...

Following Hannah's example...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?  Traveled to Florida and China.  Adopted a daughter.  Became a dad. (this was a pretty cool year!) 

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  I didn't make any, and will likely not make any for '09.  Having said that, my priority last year was to add Jenny to our family. My priority this year is to be a better dad (fortunately climbing learning curves is a passion of mine.)

 3. Did anyone close to you give birth?  No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.  Although our local fire department thought that I did.  We were working on the house (minor flood in the basement, don't ask) and the police, fire department and rescue squad turned up to check out my "unresponsive" body.  It turns out that wires were crossed and the visit was intended for another family several states away. (Long story, won't share it here)

5. What countries did you visit?   China.
 
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?  A dry basement.
 
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 3- when we received our referral; May 19, when we met our daughter; November 4, when Obama was elected.
 
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?  Jenny.

9. What was your biggest failure?  Only time will tell which of my failures will turn out to be the biggest.
 
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No.
 
11. What was the best thing you bought? Luggage from LL Bean-- it saved our butts in China.
 
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?  Jenny's-- she was wisked from the only home she's known, flown half-way around the globe, and has remained a happy, energetic kid.
 
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?  My Governor.
 
14. Where did most of your money go?  Retirement savings, mortgage interest, mortgage principal, and food in that order.
 
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Jenny (notice a theme here?)
 
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?  Abigail Washburn's Song of the Traveling Daughter
 
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?  Happier, generally.
b) thinner or fatter?  Heavier by 4 lbs.
c) richer or poorer?  Good question.  My instinct is to say richer, but since I've refused to look at the value of equities in the retire accounts, I can't say for sure.
 
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?  Spent time with Kristen.
 
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?  Being pre-occupied with things I can't control.
 
20. How did you spend Christmas?  With Kristen, Jenny and Grandma Kitty.  In suburban Detroit.  And in the Car.
 
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes.
 
22. What was your favorite TV program? I don't watch much TV.  The program that moves me the most is Frontline, the one I actually try to see every week is "Brothers and Sisters" (which Kristen and I watch together as a Sunday evening ritual).
 
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No.
 
24. What was the best book you read? Peter Senge's The Necessary Revolution.
 
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?  That Jenny loves music.  During our first month home she was mimicing Mozart tunes from one of her toys.
 
26. What did you want and get? To travel to new spots (China had long been on my list, and  Florida was far better than I had expected), and to add Jenny to our family.
 
27. What did you want and not get?  A new job.
 
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Much Ado about Nothing (yeah, it's real old but so am I, deal with it)
 
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?  I turned 49 the day after arriving home for China. I staggered to Whole Foods, bought a meal (which was probably something for the grill) and a "Margharitta Mousse Cake" (via Rolf's Pattisserrie, it was awesome!).  Then I made dinner for us.  It was a really wonderful day.
 
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?  Getting our referral on time.  Our adoption agency screwed up the paper work (to put it mildly) and delayed us by three months.
 
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? You must be joking...

32. What kept you sane?  Kristen, friends and family.  Not to say that I'm completely sane, but at least they kept me more sane than I otherwise would have been.
 
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Fancy?  (Hannah, where did you get this?) Barack Obama.
 
34. What political issue stirred you the most?  The US presidential election.
 
35. Who did you miss? old friends.
 
36. Who was the best new person you met? Wow, I've met a lot of cool people in 2008.  This is a tie between Helen, our guide in Gaungzhou, and Jack, our guide in Beijing.
 
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.  Nothing I want to share here!
 
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "I need a miracle every day!"


Oh, and if you've read this far...

...You're turn!  Consider yourself tagged!


1 comment Tags: you do it next, "year in review", from hannah

From Hannah, Brittney, and Yogi...

From Hannah, Brittney, and Yogi:

The Letter A

Are you available? Nope.
What is your age? Too damned old.  I did not know there would be math.
What annoys you? People who think they are alone on this planet.  You know, like the seagulls in Finding Nemo, it's all (for them), "mine!"

The Letter B
Do you live in a big house? No.  A small 2 bedroom place (~1600ft^2).
When is your birthday? May 30.  Every year.
Who is your best friend? Kristen
 
The Letter C
What's your favorite candy? I don't "do" much candy...Paydays?
Who's your crush? Kristen
When was the last time you cried? December 6
 
The Letter D
Do you daydream? Yep.
What's your favorite kind of dog? Someone else's- never been much of a dog person I guess.
What day of the week is it? Friday
 
The Letter E
How do you like your eggs? Sunnyside up or over-easy/
Have you ever been in the emergency room? I should own stock in them as much as I've visited.
What's the easiest thing ever to do? Hard work.
 
The Letter F
Have you ever flown in a plane? Many times, sometimes flying them myself.  I love flying.
Do you use fly swatters? No. Prevention is better.
Have you ever used a foghorn? Nope.  Although my brother and I had airhorns as kids.  Drove the neighbors batty!
 
The Letter G
Do you chew gum? Nope.
Are you a giver or a taker? Giver.  Some say that I can't even take a compliment well.
Do you like gummy candies? They're ok, but candy isn't my thing.
 
The Letter H
How are you? Tired.
What color is your hair? Brown with red/auburn (and now gray) bits.
 
The Letter I
What's your favorite ice cream? Toss up: Cherry Garcia and Chubby Hubby.
Have you ever ice skated? Loved it as a kid.  Hockey is soooooo fun.
Do you play an instrument? I learned piano as a little one.  Still play guitar.  Have tried mandolin and violin- don't have any of  them close to mastered.
 
The Letter J
What's your favorite jelly bean brand? Jelly Belly.
Do you wear jewelry? I wear my wedding ring.  Also wear a watch- does that count?

The Letter K
Who do you want to kill? Uh, no one...que'st que c'est
Do you want kids? Yep
Where did you go for kindergarten? Horace Mann elementary
 
The Letter L
Are you laid back? Yes, maybe too much.
Do you lie? Not much, more than I like.
 
The Letter M
What's your favorite movie? Just one... can't do it Raising Arizona, Finding  Nemo, Shrek all are good.
Do you still watch Disney movies? Sure. See above.
Do you like mangos? Yep.
 
The Letter N
Do you have a nickname? Yes.  JD
What is your real name? David (well, John David, but I go by David)
Whats your favorite number? π
Do you prefer night over day? I like both!
 
The Letter O
What's your one wish? more wishes
Are you an only child? /spits out coffee... I have three brothers and two sisters..all younger
 
The Letter P
What one fear are you most paranoid about? being paranoid
What are your pet peeves? Extreme self-centeredness.  This comes out as: loud, public cellphone conversations, rudeness, the public sharing of bodily fluids, not watching mirrors while driving, greediness, and so on.
What's a personality trait you look for in people? Three things: smarts (more quick wit than "book learning"), interest in things "not me," and a sense of humor.
 
The Letter Q
What's your favorite quote? Too many, let me offer an example:
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde

Are you quick to judge people? Naah.
 
The Letter R
Do you think you're always right? No, I usually think I don't know.
Are you one to cry? Sometimes, I guess.  But, I'm not a very "leaky" person generally.
 
The Letter S
Do you prefer sun or rain? Prefer sun, enjoy a good thunderstorm though.
Do you like snow? Yes.
What's your favorite season? End of summer/early fall.

The Letter T
What time is it? Noon, GMT-6
What time did you wake up? about 6:30 AM
When was the last time you slept in a tent? Colorado, six year ago...???
 
The Letter U
Are you wearing underwear? Yes.
Underwear or boxers? Briefs.  Today.
 
The Letter V
What's the worst veggie? The overcooked kind.
Where do you want to go on vacation? New Zeeland.  Must walk the Milford Track.
 
The Letter W
What's your worst habit? Probably procrastination.  Like starting this in December and finishing a month later.
Where do you live? Wilmette, Illinois, USA
 
The Letter X
Have you ever had an x-ray? Yes
Have you seen the x-games? no
Do you own a xylophone? No

The Letter Y
Do you like the color yellow? ? sure?
What's one thing you yearn for? Time
 
The Letter Z
Whats your zodiac sign? Gemini
Do you believe in the zodiac? Well, it is a thing, a way of organizing/describing the sky.  Do I think that it tells us about our future?  No.
Favorite zoo animal? Lemurs


You! You're it!!!!

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Christmas Meme

If the lovely Mimim can persuade the ever-grumpy Warhead to do this, I should respect her wish as well.

Here goes.

(If you've read this far-guess what?  You're tagged too.  Get on it!)

1.  wrapping paper or gift bags?   Wrapping paper. Never quite understood the "gift bag" thing.  Unless folks are just being lazy.  That I get.

2.  real tree or artificial? Real tree.  Well, a dead, formerly real tree, I suppose.

3.  when do you put up the tree?  Whenever I get to it, usually the second week of December.

4.  when do you take the tree down? Just after it becomes too much of a fire hazard to ignore.

5.  do you like eggnog? I do now.  I've had an on-again, off-again affair with the stuff.  Warhead's description may put me off of it for another decade.

6.  favourite gift received as a child? Army "tanks" that ran around a circuit of small tubes.  The tubes carried air to switches and other in-track thingies that allowed you to shoot projectiles from the tanks.  Very cool.  If they were sold today in the US, the manufacturers would probably go to jail.

7.  do you have a nativity scene? Nope.

8.  hardest person to buy for? My wife.

9.  easiest person to buy for? None of the above.

10.  worst christmas gift ever received? Just one- you're kidding right?  I suppose my least favorite were pairs of socks from distant family members.  Actually, I tend to like what people get me.

11.  mail or email christmas card? Mail.

12.  favourite christmas movie? I guess it's a toss-up between "It's a Wonderful Life" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

13.  when do you start shopping for christmas? Too late.

14.  have you ever recycled a christmas present? Nope.

15.  favourite thing to eat at christmas? Beef Wellington.

16.  clear lights or colored on the tree?  Colored/Coloured

17.  favourite christmas song? Personent Hodie

18.  travel at christmas or stay at home?  Generally, I travel.

19.  can you name santa's reindeer? Only Donna.

20.  do you have an angel on top or a star? Right now, nothing.  Kristen is looking for a new topper.

21.  open the presents christmas eve or morning? Christmas morning.

22.  most annoying thing about this time of year?  Ugly materialism/shopping/traffic/my attitude.


Post a comment Tags: meme, "christmas meme", "your turn"

QotD: Up, Up and Away

Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon or a helicopter?  Where did you go?

I've never been in a helicopter, but have done the hot air balloon thing many, many times.

When I was doing my undergraduate degree, I was very good friends with a balloon-pilot.  His family owned the (then) largest manufacturer of hot air balloons.   Not only was he a pilot, but he was a flight instructor and dealer's representative.

We would fly passengers a couple of times a month, and I would fly about every quarter.  If you haven't done it, I strongly recommend it.  When you are "neutrally bouyant" (neither climbing or descending) you are essentially a part of the air mass you're traveling in.  Everything is perfectly still and quiet.  It's really something.

Hot-air ballooning is the only job I've been fired from (sacked for those of you that speak island english).  We were to fly the Playboy (yes, that Playboy) balloon over the "topping off" ceremony for one of their casinos.  To make a long story short, we had to abort the launch (from a barge at sea) when the barge captain got crossed-up trying to run with the wind and stay alfoat in the swells.  We trashed the (very expensive) balloon and got canned right after the event.  At least I got to meet Christie Hefner.  :-)

1 comment Tags: qotd, helicopter hot air

Broderick Crawford Day- that, and peer pressure...

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Bugs Aero

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Chubby Hubby Tollhouse

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)

J Ran

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Green Falcon

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
David Baltimore

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Ranjo

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The blue scotch

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Leslie Robert

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Vetiver mint

10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Van Meter Dallas

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Tussing Tuskegee

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Autumn Orchid

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + "ie" or "y")
Banana Poloy

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Life Sequoia

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
The Kayak Storm Tour

I blame Brittney, Yogi, Shambly, and Whiskey Kitten.

And if you don't know who Broderick Crawford is (and I assume most of you are too young to have seen his TV show)...  GET OFF OF MY LAWN!

4 comments

QotD: My Daily Dose

What websites do you visit every day?
Submitted by Chez Michelle.

Every day?

News:
    New York Times
    Chicago Tribune
    BBC
    Google News (custom page)
    News in the Great Lakes (clipping service thingy)
    Business Week
    Nussbaum on Design
    Wired News

Work related:
    World Changing
    Tree Hugger
    Information Aesthetics Weblog
    Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance
    Open the Future
    X-plane
    Google Analytics
    Net Impact
    LinkedIn
    Yahoo/Google Finance

Hope the boss isn't reading:
    Flickr
    Rebecca's Pocket
    Lifehacker
    Engadget
    Caterina.net
    Vox

All-in, I spend about an hour each day on the above.

2 comments Tags: qotd, daily websites

QotD: I Was The Sous Chef

Who taught you how to cook?
Submitted by Donna.

I became interested in cooking about the time I got my first chemistry set--I was around the age of seven.  I have always seen the two as pretty related.   So, some of the credit/blame has to go to Morrison and Boyd, a host of authors writing for publishers like Wiley and Scott-Foresman, Little, and Brown, and many over worked and marginally qualified graduate students.

My mother helped me get my scout merit badge in cooking, so I guess she's on the list too.  Kristen and I have taught each other a bit as well.

The real truth is that I'm mostly self taught.  I love to cook and share meals.  There's nothing like eating well with friends!


1 comment Tags: qotd, sous chef

Meme-tag...the passive aggressive version

From yogi, who blames brittney bush...

If you read this, consider yourself tagged and go do it yourself.  you know, if you want to.  Don't blame me, blame Brit

You.
Can.
Only.
Answer.
With.
One.
Word.

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket.
2. Your partner? kristen.
3. Your hair? hopeless.
4. Your mother? smart.
5. Your father? wise.
6. Your favorite item? camera.
7. Your dream last night? tension.
8. Your favorite drink? wine.
 9. Your dream car? fast.
10. The room you are in? living.
 11. Your ex? non-existant.
12. Your fear? irrelevance.
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? smiling.
 14. Who did you hang out with last night? wife.
 15. What you're not? rich.
 16. The last thing you did? lunch.
 17. What are you wearing? jeans.
 18. Your favorite book? pynchon.
 19. The last thing you ate?: sub.
 20. Your life? busy
 21. Your mood? post-noncommittal.
 22. Your friends? who?
 23. What are you thinking about right now? finishing.
 24. Your car? blue.
 25. What are you doing at the moment? typing
 26. Your summer? short.
27. Your relationship status? great!
 28. What is on your tv? dust.
 29. When is the last time you laughed? Morning.
 30. Last time you cried? movie.
31. School? Chicago.
 32. Last tragedy to happen to you? miscarriage.
 33. What are you listening to right now? traffic.
34. Favorite weekend event? football.
 35. Worst Pet Peeve? interweb.
 36. Dream Job? fanatasy.
 37. Your computer? Mac.
 38. Outside your window? grey.
 39. Beer? definitely.
 40. Mexican Food? Sure.
41. Winter? cold.
 42. Religion? pass.
 43. Vacation? lovely.
 44. On your bed? cat.
 45. Love? best.
 56. Fall? colors.


1 comment Tags: blame brittney bush, meme tag, from yogi, 56 questions, not my fault

Beach at Sunset


Beach at Sunset, originally uploaded by j david.

Normally, this is all ice and snow this time of year. Well--not this winter. I guess Yogi and Norby got all of our snow.

3 comments

A bird in the tree


A bird in the tree, originally uploaded by j david.

Testing how the flickr-based posting system works...

This little guy is hiding from the household cats. The kitties have managed to pull the tree over once already this season, so the birdy has reason to feel a bit nervous.

1 comment

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jdavid

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jdavid
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