Remarkably, the biggest change at the Gradin household is simply in our perception. There are all sorts of things that change when a new child is born into your family. Your free time dries up, your bank account empties, you become more selfless. But when you already have an older child, the [...]

In nine days, we’ll be a family of four, having welcomed a new baby girl into the Gradin household on the 24th of this month…at 6:00am. That’s how we role. My wife likes to plan for the unplannable. However, she has made certain assurances for this life-event, and I have little doubt [...]

Today is officially my son’s 4th birthday. We celebrated Sunday and we had a good turn out from friends and family. We got one of those blow-up fun houses for the kids, though plenty of parents took trepidatious young children in with them. 4 years seems to have gone by pretty quick. [...]

If you’re about to do your first set of 4-wheel disc brakes, read this first! I’ll save you some frustration and a sore hand.
My 2005 Mazda3 was up for new brakes and that’s the kind of work I will do myself. What I didn’t realize was that rear wheel disc brakes involve some [...]

…And upon the third decade of life, such an elaborate scheme was laid upon the woolen eyes of their victim.
Never before have I been so bewildered and pleased in the same breath. Here’s the skinny on one of the greatest sting operations of all times.
Jeff calls me early in the month of February to [...]

Amy’s birthday was celebrated this year at Medieval Times in Atlanta. I had heard some bad reports on Medieval Times in general, but nothing was going to stop me from experiencing it on my own. I’m certainly glad I did my own investigation. Medieval Times was a raucous good time for 8 [...]

How is it that awful and awesome can be taken so drastically differently today? Like twins separated at birth to lead very different lives, and yet they shared a womb together. Interesting…and stuff.

The boy, Balthazar, is doing well in his young years. He had his first all-nighter party this evening. We took a trip out to Isi’s (Missy’s) for their girl’s 1st birthday. It wasn’t until 9:30 that we finally arrived, but by 12:00 when we left, Balthazar was going strong. He seemed [...]

Today marks the beginning of Spring and it’s somewhat rainy and cool. Not a bad way to start spring, though we were given a week’s warmth and sunshine that makes this change a little sour. Yesterday was my son’s birthday party, and it happened to be overcast and cool. Could’ve been better, [...]

We celebrated Balthazar’s 3rd birthday today with friends and family. This birthday went very much like the 1st, but unlike the second. We decided that odd years are probably better handled alone. Balthazar, while not bad or angry, was certainly unsocial for his little soirée. At this rate, his 4th will [...]