Gradin.com was established in 1998 to grant an Internet presence to Gradins’ throughout the world. Since that time, in which the primary use was for email, the site has undergone many changes.

The latest of these changes is a new design, incorporating the four seasons into an ever-changing theme. Until the wheel should turn again, enjoy Summer’s fine palette.

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Musings for the week of 2009-06-30

June 30th, 2009
  • Been a while since I went to the office. Good thing I have GPS! #
  • Veggin' on the couch watching my new AT&T U-Verse! #

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My Biography as a Dramedy

June 25th, 2009

I often feel the sudden need to share some charming anecdote from my childhood with friends and family during story time. 'Charming,' apparently, is purely in the eye of the beholder because few can share this feeling with me.

One particular story stands out in my head – I thought it really funny, though my wife found it very sad.

When I lived in San Diego, my late brother and I were standing on the side of the street waiting to cross. A contractor's pickup drives by and empties their ice-filled cooler on us. As I recall it, we both just stood their and didn't say a word. Just brushed the ice off and crossed the street like nothing happened.

In retrospect, I think the story is hilarious. Apparently it's also sad that jerks would do that to little kids on the sidewalk. At any rate, I could imagine a movie about me opening up with a monologue laid over various scenes of comedic tragedy from my early life. I guess I should go ahead and commit those to paper before I forget altogether in case someone has already started on the screenplay of my biography.

 My Biography as a Dramedy

Musings for the week of 2009-06-23

June 23rd, 2009
  • This week of vacation time is sure seeing a lot of work and late nights. #

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Musings for the week of 2009-06-16

June 16th, 2009
  • Balthazar is sleeping on the table at Five Guys. #
  • Okay – I think I have everything together for Bonnaroo tomorrow…hopefully. #
  • Bonnaroo or bust! #
  • Entering Tennessee and seeing the surrounding mtns is really awesome! #
  • Just hitting some very light Bonnaroo traffic. Behind “KS crew 4 Bonnaroo, foo.” #
  • Bonnaroo Day 1: Raining… #
  • first day at Bonnaroo (vendor setup) has drawn to an end… #
  • We’re about to get *seriously* wet in Manchester. #
  • Tornado watch at Bonnaroo! Our work tent now is a swamp. #
  • Watching Amadou and Mariam – it’s an experience like no other seeing them live. #
  • About to turn in on day…I don’t know. Bonnaroo = folding time/space #
  • Woohoo. New well dug = sulfur water #
  • Still working at the roo. Build-a-Drum stops when the people stop coming. #
  • From our perspective, Ben Harper and MGMT are battling it out. Not a good combo. #
  • Now that Bonnaroo is behind me, I’ll niss my cankles. #

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Rewarding Effort

June 14th, 2009

Today was one of the toughest yet at Bonnaroo in the Build-a-Drum tent. I didn’t get as early a start as yesterday so I was stirred awake by the massive heat building up in my tent at around 8:30. Not much time spent at camp and we were all off to the tent to start working. The day was hot with no wind to speak of. The music was tremendously loud, and I couldn’t believe the number of people pouring into our spot continuously. Indeed, we more or less started pushing people away around 3am.

Though today was difficult in terms of work load, it was also the most rewarding. I met some of the nicest people and talked a long while with them as we built their drums. Others that we had developed relationships with returned to continue working or just chat. One man that had given me a hard time the day before returned to apologize for his behavior. He had been way too messed up to manage the instructions before.

Some times life gives you lemons…build a drum!

Lessons from Bonnaroo

June 13th, 2009

It’s my first Bonnaroo and indeed, my first multi-day music festival. As such, I can impart some wisdom to others in the same boat.

Plan for showers. With 19+ hours of body sweat, festival funk, sunscreen, and bug spray, you better plan for some way to scrape the epidermal toxic layer from your osmotic organ daily. if not, burn your clothes and the seats you ride home in.

Munchies. Have snacks at your disposal, if not full meal planning on your non-festival dime. I have spent $3.50 for each cup of coffee I’ve consumed. It’s good coffee, but maybe not twice as good as at the local Starbucks.

Wait until 2am to use the portable toilets. If you can’t avoid waste byproducts all together, you’re at least not going to want to eliminate them in a plastic poop furnace when it’s 7000 degrees inside.

Musings for the week of 2009-06-09

June 9th, 2009
  • Finally got around to making some updates to the Alchemy website: http://tinyurl.com/ngh767 #
  • Update your Google Calendars: June 6th is the Alchemy Drumming & Dance student recital! ( http://tinyurl.com/nnyde2 ) #
  • Wow! Short night. I only just got to sleep an hour+ ago, now it’s time for a change control. #
  • Balthazar just woke up and ran outside in his underwear to get a hug before I left for work. #
  • It’s so hot, the hen are layin’ hard-boiled eggs! #
  • Balthazar is about lose his first tooth! #
  • Wife’s student belly dancing recital went really well. Huge turn-out and good money made to benefit our friend in need. #

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Musings for the week of 2009-06-02

June 2nd, 2009
  • Just ate at Bojangles. Bleh. Why did I ever like that place? #
  • Just figured out it was my cat that has been turning off my computer during the day. #
  • Wow! Twitter through the lens of “blu” is *sexy*! Windows 7 all the way, baby. #
  • Glorious rain, bring it! I am now equipped with my very own Samurai katana umbrella. #
  • Rebuilding a buddy’s eMachine with Windows XP Home. It was massively infected with a virus – quite impressive, actually. #
  • Windows 7 is mostly a boon, but I’ m sad to see support drop for my old hardware devices that have been workhorses #
  • Couple of issues with Blu: a) it’s not remembering my twitter credentials and b) it doesn’t have an option to start at Windows logon… #
  • The lawn *really* needs to get mowed today! Who’s offering? #
  • Do beets make your poo red? I just ate a whole can (of beets). #
  • Just finished up with one of the more involved photo shoots with my wife. Thanks to everyone that helped! #
  • Midnight-Thirty and I just finished filling my belly with $10 of Taco Bell. Off to bed! #
  • Just finished having a great time playing Garoon Garoon! #

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Musings for the week of 2009-05-26

May 26th, 2009
  • Last Night’s American Idol finale was really amazing. Many big name performers. Big upset that Adam Lambert didn’t win, however. #
  • My kindergartner graduated today! Our little boy is moving on in the world and really entering into his own… #

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Musings for the week of 2009-05-19

May 19th, 2009
  • Coconut milk-based yogurt smells like ass, but doesn’t taste like it. I ate the whole cup out of my desire to finish what I started. #
  • Wow! Sporting Windows 7 and lovin’ it. Feel like a kid again learning about my computer. #

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