...as a 3 dollar bill

This is money created in Lawrence to support local products. It is used as cash interchangeably with US currency by participating local stores and services. I absolutely love that the 3 dollar bill is Mr. Burroughs. Perhaps our most famous local resident - in some circles anyway. Below is also a picture of the house he lived and died in. Only a few blocks from our new place.

It's a Girl!

We didn't make it very far with our plan. We decided to open the envelope and we are going to be having a little girl. I'm really excited. Every father I know who has had a girl say that there is no other relationship like it and I am full of excitement.

The possible names (right now) are:

Violet
Sofia
Lucia
Madeline
Luna
Ava

any suggestions? it has to have Elizabeth as the middle name.

Chip off the old block

Here's Owen James'/Ava Elizabeth's debut on the pixelated screen. Welcome to the future. Stay inside as long as you can. I wanted to peek at his screen when he found out the sex. The radiologist played along and gave it to us in a heavily sealed manila envelope with two pieces of cardboard around it so we couldn't peek through the light. Very funny. It will be hard not to know.

Next week...

oh, baby!

there's someone home. we will find out what flavor of cub we're having tomorrow. we are going to have the doctor put the info in an envelope and then we will open the information at the wedding dinner for a little surprise added to the mix. we have had enough surprises in the last four months, thank you (for those who think it's not romantic or something).

downtown Lawrence

This is a little bit of downtown. It's a cool little area. Good coffee, good food and some great clubs and people watching.
I will be going to this barber just because the type is so cool. famous last words?

Kansas City River Market Area

Bridges, there are lots of bridges. and trains. The mix of late 18th century/early industrial brick and iron is an interesting part of this city. Amazing typography (what a design geek) on the walls from a hundred years ago, faded hand-painted signs of a different era.

Buffalo Quarter

I finally found one of these. lots of buffalo 'round here.

down by the Kaw River

the other night i was down here with the dog checking out the river at night and i heard these loud splashes as some flavor of beast returned to it's murky home. it sounded big, then another one went in and another. about five in all. it freaked out the dog and i got a little spooked because i couldn't see what they were but they had some weight. i flashed the flashlight in and could barley see these 3-5 ft. things swimming back and forth. probaly beavers or muskrats, but i came back today during the day to find out if i could see what they were.

nothing in sight. i guess i'll keep trying.

our first tornado comes to lawrence

this morning as we were getting ready to go into town and get some breakfast the lightning and thunder started, followed closely by hail coming in sideways. the air-raid sirens went off and created an eerie panic effect. all the power went down so we didn't know what to do, but realized that it was passing and we went into town determining to be more prepared about what to do next time. we found evidence of the destruction in downtown. mostly windows shattered and awnings ripped out, but there was some real damage done to the old homes by trees and even an indie club exterior destroyed. there was a strange element of not knowing what to do and awe for the power of the unpredictability of it. standing outside looking for clues in the motion of the clouds and wind. invigorating adrenaline for a sunday morning. i want to chase them around as they head out of town. maybe next time...

the interior life

click on the link to get to see all of the recent ones. see if you can find the secret door.




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take me to your backwoods now...

I'm not sure why this is so cool to me. small signs that we are somewhere far away from where I grew up, maybe? maybe a fish fetish?




Walking...

homeward drive

this is the road home from work. i love my drive because i can actually drive.

into the heart of the american dream...

Wendy and I have made the decision to buy into the American Home-Owner dream. This is OUR front porch. Actually it's in Escrow so there are some possibilities that it isn't but we're going that direction. Isn't that cool?


Springtime (certainly not now)


NOW. these are from the evening they accepted the offer so they are dark. More will come. Be sure of that.


It's a 3-Bedroom/2 bath Craftsman bungalow built in 1940. It has a secret door in the form of a built-in bookcase in the living room that leads to the basement. It cost us $175K. It would go for 700K in Los Angeles.