Kindergarten Schedule

Balthazar told me what his schedule looks like at school.  When he gets to schools, he draws, goes to lunch, naps, plays on the playground, then waits for the buses.  I guess things haven’t changed a lot in the schools since I was little.  Of course, he thinks my schedule looks like this: drive forever… Continue reading Kindergarten Schedule

A Baby Changes Everything

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 thing we noticed… Continue reading A Baby Changes Everything

Twitter Updates for 2008-08-15

When riding your bike, you can’t hold your breath long enough after a garbage truck passes you. # @brianb What’s up with the extra XBOX’s? I only have an old-school XBOX. # @mdotadotx I missed that! That’s good to hear after their upset the other night. # @HamWithCam Phelps is going to melt down his… Continue reading Twitter Updates for 2008-08-15

The First Day at School

Yesterday was Balthazar’s first day of school. It started early that morning and the whole family was up for the affair. We drove him in and walked him to his class. It’s one of those “big steps” in a child’s life. I am excited about the idea of him becoming independent and beginning his formal… Continue reading The First Day at School

Top 5: Things You Wanted to Know About Me

The meme is apparently now a lost word; used only by uncool dads and hipless (as in the lack of being hip) half-wits.  I’m getting on in years, relatively speaking, and am inclined to use such lingo as to embarrass those who would be so easily offended. For lack of better alternatives, I bring to… Continue reading Top 5: Things You Wanted to Know About Me

The Home School Phenomenon

Man has been on a quest throughout time to find the riddle of the root of all evil. Ole-Magnus Saxegard, a student of the Sydney-based University of Technology, explores this riddle in his latest frame-by-frame Flash animation (A History of Evil). It is a brilliant vision. If he’s looking for further inspiration to this age-old… Continue reading The Home School Phenomenon

Gävlebocken (The Gävle Goat)

In a small city north of Stockholm, 5,000 onlookers welcome a giant Goat as it is unveiled each year around Yule. For several decades now, the Gävle Goat has made a historical mark in Gävle history as it is either sacrificed or spared during the Winter. In 1969 the goat was burned on New Year’s… Continue reading Gävlebocken (The Gävle Goat)

A Night of Amazing Celtic Music!

My wife and an old high school friend of ours, Colin Blackledge, have put together a most remarkable double-event concert this Friday off the downtown square in Gainesville. Seven Nations and Emerald Rose will be performing in the small pizza bar venue that is the Monkey Barrel. For $15.00, you can get in to see… Continue reading A Night of Amazing Celtic Music!

Magic: The Gathering

It was in my junior year at high school (1993-1994) that I began playing the soon-to-be wildly popular card game, Magic: The Gathering. Over the next couple of years, I played the game…a lot. You win some you lose some. I didn’t have the money to be the best player, but I had friends who… Continue reading Magic: The Gathering

A Surreal Morning

Monday morning I began my day like many others. It was the first day of school for many, and it was the beginning of the work week for me. I also managed to get out the door in record time (related) that morning; the sun was just creeping up above the horizon as I set… Continue reading A Surreal Morning