tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88662402653632050082023-11-16T02:09:08.739-05:00Solipseismicfilling that naval-gazing voidJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790329512028355547noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-52896779859056486812013-04-07T11:26:00.000-04:002013-04-07T11:26:03.384-04:00ZzzzzzzzChinese people can sleep <i>anywhere</i>. The following two pictures were taken minutes apart. The first was as we headed to the metro stop close to our home, and the second was when we emerged at the other end.<br />
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Just last week I was driving in town (taking the boys to meet dad for lunch) and passed two construction workers in the middle lane of a round-about tucked in between their two trucks laying on the ground asleep. In the middle of the road. Granted, that was their work site--there was equipment around and a hole in the ground. But who decides to just park it next to a hole in the ground and inches away from steel metal death missiles hurdling past through the chaos that is Chinese traffic? Who?? Those two Chinese dudes, that's who.Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-79810156086741135802013-01-28T09:41:00.000-05:002013-01-28T09:41:11.799-05:00Freedom!Our blessed a-yi! For the past month James and I have been enjoying Saturday afternoons out while our a-yi (housekeeper) stays home with sleeping kids. It has been such a sanity-saver for us to be able to get out together just the two of us and explore the city. A couple of weeks ago we traversed two uncharted (for us) areas of our new hometown. The first, Xintiandi, is famous for being the location of the first congress of the Chinese Community Party as well as its traditional <i>shikumen</i> ("stone gate") houses on narrow alleyways. The beauty and the poetry of it is, this significant historical site for Chinese Communism is now a thriving shopping area (long live Chinese capitalism!). <br />
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The next stop was an antiques market. Take "antiques" with a grain of salt. Shop and stall owners will swear up and down that this vase or that statue is 700 years old, but if you look closely, you'll find workers in the back room taking spanking new merchandise and aging it with sandpaper and dirt (or so it is told on the grapevine). But, if you are looking for antiques from a more recent era, there is a cornucopia of relics from the last century: radios, fans, lamps, microphones, typewriters, record players, telephones, iron stoves, propaganda and silver screen movie posters, ancient suitcases, medium-format cameras abound...you name it, it's here, crammed in some shop or laying in a heap on the sidewalk. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatever you do, don't say cheese--large-format cameras and cannons don't combine well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scrum of treasures</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFKwilz7Tu_NpcKJx3AdMcEfcO5f0iv8Y8y1U5QGhpPAoeTCANQUclvuBr1kKdcdGZfYQvzdHEFHPXdrjIU6RwfimQP_r03gE5Rv_oS-eM-vE8_-1So4Nk2auUsjoxfTU3UKiZqlBqcI/s1600/IMG_2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFKwilz7Tu_NpcKJx3AdMcEfcO5f0iv8Y8y1U5QGhpPAoeTCANQUclvuBr1kKdcdGZfYQvzdHEFHPXdrjIU6RwfimQP_r03gE5Rv_oS-eM-vE8_-1So4Nk2auUsjoxfTU3UKiZqlBqcI/s640/IMG_2287.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-50567011732258163682013-01-20T09:07:00.004-05:002013-01-20T09:07:58.464-05:00Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsGbB7ZGCUW0tojYZul_X4W_1FLF-px90IpFXttCy2QSzvdMDb1njO33mfEd2C2UK355ttqkBq_OB942Qt4SImlVVDh4epS0kWxqvFSdVL_iuqS5R4M8gJ645Or7hhmzjPxfQGmTeWds/s1600/IMG_2258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsGbB7ZGCUW0tojYZul_X4W_1FLF-px90IpFXttCy2QSzvdMDb1njO33mfEd2C2UK355ttqkBq_OB942Qt4SImlVVDh4epS0kWxqvFSdVL_iuqS5R4M8gJ645Or7hhmzjPxfQGmTeWds/s640/IMG_2258.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Shanghai Zoological Park is a short walk up the street from us.
I, like many of you, have seen the YouTube videos of crazy stuff going down at Chinese zoos,
so I've been a little hesitant to go. However, after being locked up
with three boys for three weeks of Christmas break, I was willing to
brave the lions. We went twice in a three day period with two different groups of friends. On Friday (week ago last), immediately upon entering the gates, the children heeded the invitation of wide open spaces to RUN.</div>
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and RUN</div>
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We saw a few creatures, Jonah found a snake skin on the ground of the reptile house (not a display, just trash...ah, China)...</div>
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then found another field in which to run and throw dirt clods at one another (with only one occurrence of a rock injury--sneaky rock).</div>
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The following Monday we went with a different set of monkeys...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Look at those beggars! Sign clearly visible to not feed the animals, but they know they're going to get something.)</td></tr>
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So actually, these were the monkeys:</div>
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Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-30362931908065739212013-01-18T00:52:00.000-05:002013-01-18T00:52:25.050-05:00Dinner and laundry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Or the public execution of Daffy.<br />
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(Yes, those are socks on the palm tree/bush in the foreground.)Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-79095082956752005612013-01-07T08:36:00.002-05:002013-01-07T08:36:37.770-05:00Happy New Year from the Cores<span id="goog_915732081"></span><span id="goog_915732082"></span><br />
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<br />Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-73545614841603419812013-01-04T02:53:00.003-05:002013-01-04T02:53:43.150-05:00The weather outsideYesterday was gray and frightfully cold. Snow sprinkled down intermittently like a flurry of polka dots. Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-57225166286643981972012-12-30T08:25:00.001-05:002012-12-30T08:25:41.148-05:00Christmasing in China<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Christmas is the new, hot thing right now in China. Its presence, however, is really only felt in the centers of commerce. Local malls and stores invite their customers to enjoy a shiny, plastic Christmas in their homes, but we don't see much evidence from the street that this is happening--or at least happening in the way that we are used to. Twinkle lights are scarce, and the festive twinkles in eyes, and springs in steps, and "Merry Christmas!"-ing that we're used to enjoying from passers-by is non-existent (or is that really just the manic panic of getting everything done before the big day? "MerRY ChRIStMaS!" [twitch]). Malls here have invested in lovely holiday displays, and each time we go to our local Carrefour, our visit is accompanied by "Jingle Bells" played on a continuous loop ("Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleeee..."). Ah, Christmas in China. It's all packages, boxes, and bags, no dahoo dores. There is no antecedent, so the holiday hangs prettily in its plastic casing...meaningless. It's like when Americans try to celebrate Chinese New Year. So we're looking forward to some pretty serious festivizing come February.<br />
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BUT we had a <i>great</i> Christmas day! There was a wild, mad dash to the tree and a flurry of wrapping paper. When it settled, James let the boys open a few presents. We gorged on pancakes with strawberries (in season here somehow), played with new toys, took naps, then got cleaned up for a little get-together with new friends. It was a perfect day.Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-84882140740012672412012-12-29T00:24:00.000-05:002012-12-29T00:24:10.233-05:00Jing'an Temple Shanghai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-66950458878619282302012-12-28T23:43:00.004-05:002013-01-20T11:32:35.151-05:002012 re-cap<div style="text-align: justify;">
2012 saw a lot of dramatic change for the family:</div>
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James flew to DC and passed the Oral Assessment for the State Department in January--not a dental exam, but a rigorous battery of tests to see if he has nerves of steel, Jedi mind control, and laser vision. (He does.) He signed a "worldwide availability" form 11 different times promising that we'll go wherever the US government sends us, no matter how it smells there.</div>
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We got medical tests, shots, and otherwise thoroughly examined for service throughout the spring.</div>
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At the end of June, we left our lovely home in Provo, and began driving across the US. We spent time with family in Colorado, made our way down to Oklahoma, visited Graceland in Tennessee, spent some time on the beach with family in South Carolina, and finally unpacked our suitcases in Falls Church, Virginia, just in time for James to start his job in the middle of July.</div>
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At the end of "A-100" (James' orientation to the foreign service), we attended his "flag day" (we use quotations a lot in the Foreign Service). We waited breathlessly as assignments were read off ranging from Abu Dhabi to Vientiane, were disappointed when Rome went to someone else, and then were thrilled when James was handed a Chinese flag for our first assignment to Shanghai.</div>
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With the assignment now firmly in our back pocket, we spent a few months in additional training, then finally flew to Shanghai in November. A 14 hour flight with 3 kids and the resulting jet-lag notwithstanding, we all survived, and are loving our life here in China.</div>
Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-11460466920839539952012-12-19T08:35:00.000-05:002012-12-19T08:39:39.633-05:002011 Re-Cap<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a baby! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I'm getting ahead of myself, because that didn't happen until the end of the year. It was, however, the most significant event for our family. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SETTING: January found us in Provo and James in the final semester of his MBA program at BYU. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* James traveled to India for Cisco with others from his program.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* James graduated as a Master from BYU (and has been making us address him as such ever since).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We went to St. George to celebrate graduation and hike amidst the beautiful red rocks of Southern Utah.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Petrified Dunes, Snow Canyon, St. George</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_IgRu2HntqsV0LxzilP1m096FrEmEOWwY18HD34KoEcnapopyvDMCQG7iatkOcLMBta54tffMzFWEUvSNp3hqOsFflJread_8Y_u99ayopdRXtBayQ0VQWL55xmXeN1Ez8J3g3Pm44o/s1600/P1030518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_IgRu2HntqsV0LxzilP1m096FrEmEOWwY18HD34KoEcnapopyvDMCQG7iatkOcLMBta54tffMzFWEUvSNp3hqOsFflJread_8Y_u99ayopdRXtBayQ0VQWL55xmXeN1Ez8J3g3Pm44o/s640/P1030518.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simon, Snow Canyon--The desert was in bloom!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KrTrJ9elawqfZoCaiNjh3rUP2VbxmWA6nqT7ijDy_d5ZVCrYmxEJckJDsrmTBWWWufVSw4wqU91J8hhbnveX0qH6s9KbaibvIiUlBs7yKh5Sp6cirZ2YY0Ik4Wf0mb0_8URa4ldhNWQ/s1600/P1030558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KrTrJ9elawqfZoCaiNjh3rUP2VbxmWA6nqT7ijDy_d5ZVCrYmxEJckJDsrmTBWWWufVSw4wqU91J8hhbnveX0qH6s9KbaibvIiUlBs7yKh5Sp6cirZ2YY0Ik4Wf0mb0_8URa4ldhNWQ/s640/P1030558.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jonah, Snow Canyon</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* We found out we would be having a baby in December.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSsbRfgS61XG2W6ltlYCnkp3NoGPEOophQG_dbYFUoQgU2q2Yd7RGs-2Mk_LWgvh07H49wx6iEIzWewYssjvRK3Spoh-qA8cznCLtFBgNdcLu0OrR_y8PkKdIItcmIBuQerznvMzXem0/s1600/Image02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSsbRfgS61XG2W6ltlYCnkp3NoGPEOophQG_dbYFUoQgU2q2Yd7RGs-2Mk_LWgvh07H49wx6iEIzWewYssjvRK3Spoh-qA8cznCLtFBgNdcLu0OrR_y8PkKdIItcmIBuQerznvMzXem0/s320/Image02.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baby Boy Core</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* James took the Foreign Service Exam (only prepared 10 days--and passed). This necessitated a trip to Southern Utah once again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* The Core Family (Rodney Dale--i.e., Grandpa) had a reunion in Colorado. There was sun, surf, jump-rope, cousin slumber parties, and festive explosions. Everything a family reunion should have. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUe0KLrwJRE-OPMZQn0Dk5-dyqAd3RKOIPtFnhx_wLIhqj-FqCmZN3F3LEmH_K2dJzSsNuf1d_7426wlqNnONQNgtGpb7S8jiaJDus0eEwz9kr2Zqxh4fxdnNrIqN6hKkZZ0TGzoWkg8/s1600/IMG_0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUe0KLrwJRE-OPMZQn0Dk5-dyqAd3RKOIPtFnhx_wLIhqj-FqCmZN3F3LEmH_K2dJzSsNuf1d_7426wlqNnONQNgtGpb7S8jiaJDus0eEwz9kr2Zqxh4fxdnNrIqN6hKkZZ0TGzoWkg8/s400/IMG_0149.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Core cousins at Rocky Mountain National Park, CO</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Mejkin and the boys spent the summer at Seven Peaks</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Mejkin got progressively greater with child.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* James started a few companies and continued to surmount each hurdle of the Foreign Service application process.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Thanksgiving was delicious, and then we had our baby. Seth Lucas Core was born at 12:30am on Black Friday. Our little doorbuster was 2 weeks early. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Christmas was blessed with friends and family and generous souls. </span>Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-6039967027336559072012-12-18T01:40:00.000-05:002012-12-19T03:35:38.335-05:00Cincinnati Wrap-up 2010<i>(Pay no attention to the date of this post... Okay, fine, so it's been two and a half years since we've updated [!]. One child and two moves later, we're thinking we need to get back on the grid. The next few posts will fill in the gaping holes of the last few years, and then we'll continue with current updates for family, friends, and cyberlurkers.)</i><br />
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So Cincinnati was great for the remainder of our time there: <br />
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Grandparents visited:<br />
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We slurped up quickly-melting, irresistible Graeters ice cream:<br />
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We played at home:<br />
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We played with friends (at the zoo!)<br />
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And we enjoyed the local flavors of the neighborhood:</div>
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We loved living in the Gaslight District of Clifton. It was a happening place, to be sure. <br />
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Our last evening in Cincinnati, we went to see the Shepard Fairey exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Cincinnati. Loved it. We had seen his installations around town in the months prior (pictures pending), and were finally able to make it in to the indoor event before we left. <br />
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We loved the artistic spread of Cincinnati. It seemed that artists were encouraged, yea even invited, to put their mark on the city in beautiful ways. When I get my big computer with all of our photos, I'll track some examples down. For now, this wraps up our Cincinnati experience. It was lovely while it lasted.<br />
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<br />Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-38721322656514339982010-08-01T20:56:00.000-04:002010-08-01T20:56:53.380-04:00A real boy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhQzrIqAgS2_yRhp0DDpd5UekpjXREjvmhDh0kLRokyypRpyxpqfBKGPbC3aedb14P_5x5yt3oVAPNwQD-eVUREFSbOuvooJB9KSPkrb2qsYJBsdeXdR0MgJPHu6frczCj_sU1CVXfOA/s1600/DSC_0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhQzrIqAgS2_yRhp0DDpd5UekpjXREjvmhDh0kLRokyypRpyxpqfBKGPbC3aedb14P_5x5yt3oVAPNwQD-eVUREFSbOuvooJB9KSPkrb2qsYJBsdeXdR0MgJPHu6frczCj_sU1CVXfOA/s400/DSC_0578.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti1I-41YIZKuCmbhdIa8TsPdRXIPxYB3DBUG15RSZTFKIicpUIC9Ag2LhN_vVhzF6NA2tRcbZ7ykt3PoX4MnK42eL40vS4WVmcMLLkUW5LMxK8d_Um3BEtC37wuc2s6HkRe7Q9bL0w-c/s1600/DSC_0672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti1I-41YIZKuCmbhdIa8TsPdRXIPxYB3DBUG15RSZTFKIicpUIC9Ag2LhN_vVhzF6NA2tRcbZ7ykt3PoX4MnK42eL40vS4WVmcMLLkUW5LMxK8d_Um3BEtC37wuc2s6HkRe7Q9bL0w-c/s400/DSC_0672.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid41WNlcPGrcjdkDXwsxj1jsCAMvnHDHLHaewFXp5ReS5sApZFHlImUCQhy_dNm9-06Ldx3lUERkGlOhCyEJhsuPM15k3Ptgr8zH1IMKGpjBEAYuXcm-oZUt-vi-5YApy4z3jnIsgpmfE/s1600/DSC_0703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid41WNlcPGrcjdkDXwsxj1jsCAMvnHDHLHaewFXp5ReS5sApZFHlImUCQhy_dNm9-06Ldx3lUERkGlOhCyEJhsuPM15k3Ptgr8zH1IMKGpjBEAYuXcm-oZUt-vi-5YApy4z3jnIsgpmfE/s400/DSC_0703.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-28428666914010006452010-07-14T23:18:00.002-04:002010-07-26T20:18:20.022-04:00Switch On...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='576' height='479' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz-nglNWPcY6T-yB9srNdX8JdXzL8DFL0yXWHkQZk7-1M9qY35EwyTfq43uL-kQF90aJT27BmdJgijCLnnKqg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Simon has finally flipped the switch...the walk is on.Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-47156315694580005642010-06-23T22:41:00.002-04:002010-06-24T21:53:21.506-04:00Remembering KentuckyMemorial Day Weekend took us over the border to the bluegrass state in search of small towns and perhaps some twangy tunes. While we didn't find any music, we did discover that Florence displays its country on the water tower; Frankfort is the capital city; Simon is a little swim monkey; Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky; state parks in Kentucky are also golf courses; My Old Kentucky Home was horribly and appallingly re-upholstered, -papered, and -carpeted in 2007 (they don't allow photography inside, and I believe it's because they don't want the blunder publicized); and most importantly that we love to travel by the seat of our pants.<br />
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1. Apparently painted windows are just as good as actual glass-covered holes in the wall.<br />
2. A quick pre-dinner dip in the pool was exactly what the doctor ordered. <br />
3. Sunday morning as James and I packed everything up, Jonah kept himself busy in the hazy sunlight picking me a bouquet of clover flowers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>The Bardstown Parkview Motel & My Old Kentucky Home State Park & Golf Course</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMzna2Og1o3UL4-KeGHzocV90-Yx1JIJxQh12IVvmHrNzqlvk-cW61aNDcf9_Rs52ro18Yyap46XIlqZlwtQ0GZjN27Zl1aFDuaEA67PeZSERuUB4CT01cjWiKKymX9noW5wNLbdCUoI/s1600/P1010720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMzna2Og1o3UL4-KeGHzocV90-Yx1JIJxQh12IVvmHrNzqlvk-cW61aNDcf9_Rs52ro18Yyap46XIlqZlwtQ0GZjN27Zl1aFDuaEA67PeZSERuUB4CT01cjWiKKymX9noW5wNLbdCUoI/s400/P1010720.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-37880658164893018992010-06-12T23:50:00.000-04:002010-06-12T23:50:49.632-04:00Sweet, sweet Simon boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0YjRsp7Pm97W46uGJc3TdDXZ95FmFrZhqIr1e26l2r2g6bIHMm7_11Bobp_GxbZZKATM8xUr11afOgEVGiotJuYVLmdtBCKb5oQEmRUDPPgYncygtTqSQtsLQT3X7UDbBp-sg9rFn2I/s1600/P1010843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0YjRsp7Pm97W46uGJc3TdDXZ95FmFrZhqIr1e26l2r2g6bIHMm7_11Bobp_GxbZZKATM8xUr11afOgEVGiotJuYVLmdtBCKb5oQEmRUDPPgYncygtTqSQtsLQT3X7UDbBp-sg9rFn2I/s320/P1010843.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj6_96zcFoeRYorzg2Hy2K9udwYHgMOMTMjBj9myXDOYbCaxm4rJNigjn8gXmtJrGhDbz8AZAYvoGp1b40hBkhJjfhc1pBIglK5G5Xpfnpdci_p0lWa4JM7hLqQ2LFvTTEI-npPXdDu8/s1600/P1010844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj6_96zcFoeRYorzg2Hy2K9udwYHgMOMTMjBj9myXDOYbCaxm4rJNigjn8gXmtJrGhDbz8AZAYvoGp1b40hBkhJjfhc1pBIglK5G5Xpfnpdci_p0lWa4JM7hLqQ2LFvTTEI-npPXdDu8/s320/P1010844.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH3XGr_YjOpqaggI0Hh2I47IcBihHfUkpiGr7X_ghrqedmzP6T3fu_dnIldI2_fNtmDqbPA6L_wn8ZzkL2zw5Ux82UJmqjiqzrBcqtRBZWHgwulKeIboPWhB3NvhkNRL2ZbTmyK3Wzko/s1600/P1010857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH3XGr_YjOpqaggI0Hh2I47IcBihHfUkpiGr7X_ghrqedmzP6T3fu_dnIldI2_fNtmDqbPA6L_wn8ZzkL2zw5Ux82UJmqjiqzrBcqtRBZWHgwulKeIboPWhB3NvhkNRL2ZbTmyK3Wzko/s320/P1010857.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU78r4QkacrvcZKbKo8dmaexLROBzl83YzzcdNi9Ei0UtqpIdjci4jYcDPLWO9zZcpeffFEVwZ40jqCXObmyXyr3itMKRmHngywSED1xq-73mXikbDDDP75-FiwOXrNzZhCZnaxdRyqeY/s1600/P1010872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU78r4QkacrvcZKbKo8dmaexLROBzl83YzzcdNi9Ei0UtqpIdjci4jYcDPLWO9zZcpeffFEVwZ40jqCXObmyXyr3itMKRmHngywSED1xq-73mXikbDDDP75-FiwOXrNzZhCZnaxdRyqeY/s320/P1010872.JPG" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEHK37mGhKJHqZbRqGzkiSHUPYdBA_lAgXzvdcAIWCiBL5JJ_Nkb6MTo9WakntVcMUrFKhBI8U9KiSNv_fs1d5VuQubMTMGRPH6b8i4rLsSnthelTFB8zMkKdRM7H2xDCr8yZuHLjHPI/s1600/P1010878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEHK37mGhKJHqZbRqGzkiSHUPYdBA_lAgXzvdcAIWCiBL5JJ_Nkb6MTo9WakntVcMUrFKhBI8U9KiSNv_fs1d5VuQubMTMGRPH6b8i4rLsSnthelTFB8zMkKdRM7H2xDCr8yZuHLjHPI/s320/P1010878.jpg" /></a><br />
Happy 1st birthday, sweet boy!Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-1635330895900844122010-06-12T21:32:00.000-04:002010-06-12T21:32:21.022-04:00<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmejkinlegler%2Falbumid%2F5481703281566112657%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNaHz5nt_caMswE%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed><br />
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A few pics of our new digs. Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-25737048604386724262010-04-12T00:30:00.000-04:002010-04-12T00:30:16.997-04:00BEANS!Or a slap-dash face paint job of the cowardly lion. You decide.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpbaGGXd78dAPUQf6Ixor60nlrTRf6ykdw5429QWuCOHmvBgKGGFjWFg2T0At6-Ckq6NUkatAsNnLJPPgDxY4Zj2BOct38yD8VZtDPyEQZXGjxoADcdv8-PAFrnjkv1-m_NtzEMCYKDk/s1600/P1000950-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpbaGGXd78dAPUQf6Ixor60nlrTRf6ykdw5429QWuCOHmvBgKGGFjWFg2T0At6-Ckq6NUkatAsNnLJPPgDxY4Zj2BOct38yD8VZtDPyEQZXGjxoADcdv8-PAFrnjkv1-m_NtzEMCYKDk/s400/P1000950-2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-76533293363494283812010-04-12T00:23:00.000-04:002010-04-12T00:23:16.297-04:00Sing a Song"Mom, will you sing 'Beautiful Night'?"<br />
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"Sure, honey, just a sec." Hefts Simon's rear up to slide in a new diaper. "'This is the night, It's a beautiful night, And they call it Bella Notte...'"<br />
<br />
Jonah, holding an end of the silver dryer vent broken off from his robot costume in each hand begins playing his makeshift accordion. <br />
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Repeat approximately 27 times daily.Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-5812664144266122242009-06-19T16:22:00.003-04:002009-06-19T16:58:13.489-04:00WiredHere are a few more photos from the hospital. It is so good to have gone wireless with our baby--so nice to not have monitors beeping every time we shift him.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="600" height="400" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmejkinlegler%2Falbumid%2F5349137125567819345%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNm4h56uouCj6wE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-62691229685348679952009-06-17T15:32:00.007-04:002009-06-17T16:20:39.882-04:00So you know my name is...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIfatfD4mj9_7m3NzCAkL-w2Sl7zjjSc14ckxTJFJ8BpwJwiNcyJ4pv8H6fDTQhbfsaRcqE5dRsVdwykSgxQhdzyDmDZCe3AabgepBR-ZjG40fJbB33249xUipaFVuuXcjWx7373pnD0/s1600-h/DSC_9713-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIfatfD4mj9_7m3NzCAkL-w2Sl7zjjSc14ckxTJFJ8BpwJwiNcyJ4pv8H6fDTQhbfsaRcqE5dRsVdwykSgxQhdzyDmDZCe3AabgepBR-ZjG40fJbB33249xUipaFVuuXcjWx7373pnD0/s400/DSC_9713-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348392612476205138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Simon Thomas Core </span><br />Friday 12 June 2009<br />American Fork Hospital <br />American Fork, UT <br />9 lbs .03 oz. / 19.5"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All told the labor and delivery was 17 hours--5 of which were at the hospital. The midwife and nurses were awesome and James was allowed to catch Simon as he came tumbling out. Immediately upon Simon's emergence from the womb, the delivery room was filled with nurses. He was having trouble breathing, and was whisked away before I really had a chance to see him. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and has been in the NICU for the past 5 days receiving antibiotics. We have stayed on at the hospital as boarders to be near him, and have had such a positive experience with the staff here. Aside from the infection in his lungs, he is a healthy boy with a bright, inquisitive face and a healthy appetite!Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-44905289837902549372009-06-08T11:45:00.007-04:002009-06-08T13:46:24.139-04:00I'm putting Baby in the corner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SCUN5BEGxqt_G1SavzmE4VpW4vXciB_9d_FYXYusmy3Tn_X19eriGdClScY6dgwvHtTy54YjodolgzKwjDRBMg3FcwyQb_hzBcQAryLi6PCMCe6jnst5KKodH_foOi4UswautKtZIrg/s1600-h/DSC_9668-2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SCUN5BEGxqt_G1SavzmE4VpW4vXciB_9d_FYXYusmy3Tn_X19eriGdClScY6dgwvHtTy54YjodolgzKwjDRBMg3FcwyQb_hzBcQAryLi6PCMCe6jnst5KKodH_foOi4UswautKtZIrg/s320/DSC_9668-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345013383657718946" /></a><br />Someone needs to go into time-out for all these false starts I've been getting for the past week and a half. I could handle going over my due date, if my body would just leave me alone and send the continuous and comforting message, "not yet." Instead I have frequent and semi-strong contractions for a 24-hour period, just to have it all come to a screeching halt for a few days like a "gotcha!" gag. <br /><br />Patience is a virtue. <br /><br />At first I thought that there was something I was supposed to do before he came--that karma was holding back the waves of labor for me to figure something out or get something done. Nope, I made my list and checked it twice. Then we started deliberately putting ourselves into inconvenient situations and saying aloud, "Goodness, it sure would be <span style="font-style:italic;">inconvenient</span> if this baby came now!" He's not biting. Now I'm wondering if little junior just doesn't get it. Last night he was squirming around like he was stuck under a sheet and couldn't find his way out. Somebody needs to show that boy where the ejection button is.Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-55600060099606496802009-02-17T14:08:00.007-05:002009-02-17T19:34:04.450-05:00It's A . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://student.wartburg.edu/ruehs/bathroom.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 163px;" src="http://student.wartburg.edu/ruehs/bathroom.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.cinemaretro.com/uploads/goldenboy.jpg">Boy</a>, were we excited to go to the doctor back in December to find out the gender of our little bun in the oven. Unfortunately, the doctor was way backed up, so we twiddled our thumbs in the waiting room for approximately 62 minutes, then in the exam room for another 27. As we waited, we hoped that the baby would cooperate and <a href="http://www.postersonline.biz/2007/11/14/retro-movie-poster-of-the-day-the-third-man/">man</a>ifest him/herself to us clearly when the time came. Finally, after we were ready to <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/52243555_3250f97cf2.jpg">boy</a>cott all doctors offices entirely, in came the man himself. The visit was standard: we heard the heartbeat, he took our questions, and then he started to bustle out the door. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Wait! Weren't we going to do an ultrasound?</span> I hated to put such a de<a href="http://www.clipartof.com/images/clipart/xsmall2/14651_happy_man_wearing_glasses_and_laughing_retro.jpg">man</a>d when the workday had already gone so late, but I just couldn't <a href="http://www.plan59.com/av/av002.htm">man</a>age to wait another two weeks for the official sonogram. Dr. Y had said at our last visit that we'd find out today.<br /><br />So instead we were ushered into another exam room. Out came the goopy gel and up slid my shirt to expose the ample (and growing ampler) midsection. It took not long to find the little one, and even less time to determine which way the wind blew.Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-49760369090297805782009-01-06T14:59:00.013-05:002009-01-10T13:55:35.364-05:00Not Even the Chair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/2008/06/Neil_Diamond2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 336px;" src="http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/2008/06/Neil_Diamond2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>There comes a time in every American's life when she wonders, "Does Neil Diamond still <span style="font-style:italic;">got</span> it?" Ladies and gentlemen, HE DOES.<br /><br />Our first act of any significance in 2009 was to drive down to Las Vegas, sans kid, to see the legend at the MGM Garden Arena (James' Christmas gift to me). It was a Friday night.<br /><br />We arrived at the venue somewhat travel worn and weary, but starry-eyed. I was unsure what the appropriate dress for a Neil Diamond concert was, so we went as we were, in our jeans and sneakers--it was in an <span style="font-style:italic;">arena</span> after all, and the man <span style="font-style:italic;">does</span> say, "forever in bluejeans, babe." After determining that all of the restaurants near the arena were more than we wanted to spend on a dinner, and not wanting to go too far afield, we opted for the food court. <br /><br />Two slices of pizza, one hot dog, and one well-drenched caesar salad later, we joined the throngs of pedestrians seeing and being seen. It took not long to observe that we were quite under-dressed for such a pastime in such a location. I had honestly thought that the art of dressing up had been lost--or at least that there was no one public place/event that one could go to and reliably find the majority of his fellowmen dressed to the nines. Apparently a Vegas weekend is such a place, at least at a moderately fancy casino. Sequins, silk, feathers, and cleavage abounded. I ached at the missed opportunity to join my sisters in at least the first three ingredients of a fancily-dressed Vegas experience. Ah well, once we got to our seats in the bleachers, I didn't feel so bad. Stilettos and stands don't mix.<br /><br />People-watching before the show rendered some interesting results. We were removed from the majority of the crowd by several generations, though there were a few other youngsters smattered about. There was a twenty-something indie kid who brought his mom, a young family of four, a few frat boys, and lots of older ladies dressed much younger than their age. 'Course we were in the nosebleeds, so the crowd may have been very different down on the floor.<br /><br />The show was AWESOME. Neil struck a pose at the end of each song--no really, e-v-e-r-y song ended with all stage lights cutting except for one or two trained on him in some dramatic stance. He opened his set with a lively rendition of "Holly Holy", a <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> lively rendition--then proffered other classic hits such as "Cherry Cherry," "Love on the Rocks," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "Forever in Bluejeans," "He Ain't Heavy," "Brooklyn Streets," "I Am I Said," and of course, "Sweet Caroline." Neil was a gracious host, affable, personable, and totally in tune with what the majority of his fans were there to see: the old stuff, and he gave it to us with gusto. He did do some songs from his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Home-Before-Dark-Deluxe-Diamond/dp/B0015D3Z3U/">new album</a>, which got less of a rise out of the crowd (not that most of the crowd was rising to the occasion of seeing NEIL DIAMOND in CONCERT, the guy next to me didn't stand up once during the entire show). <br /><br />He ended the first set with "Hell Yeah," which was absolutely perfect. Of course, the minute he started to make his farewells, folks were on their feet filing out of the arena (<span style="font-style:italic;">Gotta beat the rush!</span>). SERIOUSLY?? He's still talking to you, and you turn your backs on him? And besides the appalling rudeness of it, you really aren't going to stick around for the encore????? You don't deserve to be here--you don't deserve to LIVE!! Nobody turns his back on Neil. Every one of those geriatrics rushing home for overdue bedtime got the hairy eyeball from yours truly. <br /><br />We, of course, remained faithfully at our seats, though standing and screaming ourselves hoarse through the entirety of the encore and until we were quite sure he was not coming back for a second. That was a sad moment. Out we shuffled with the masses. We were electrified; I couldn't stop smiling. James didn't get his voice back for at least four days. It was a good concert.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.linngroveiowa.org/NeilDiamond.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 519px; height: 813px;" src="http://www.linngroveiowa.org/NeilDiamond.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-442992396426382672009-01-06T14:21:00.004-05:002009-01-06T14:57:10.543-05:00All Hallow's EveThere have been those who have expressed an interest in knowing how we followed up <a href="http://solipseismic.blogspot.com/2007/11/thats-alright-baby.html">last year's spectacular fancy dress</a>. We considered not doing anything for several reasons: who needs all that candy? Jonah wouldn't remember it anyway, and how can you top the King? <br /><br />James' creativity juiced up, however, and he really got behind the idea of a robot. Jonah, however was not. On Hallow's Eve Eve, my parents came over to accompany us over to the ward Trunk or Treat. Jonah had had a screwy nap day and was cranky. He refused to get into his costume, so after many strategic attempts we gave up (we have quite a clump of video documenting the process which we had planned to put together into a clever little clip, but the best intentions...). We didn't make it to the activity and still have a clutch of sugarbombs lurking around here somewhere purchased to hand out to eager little mouths. <br /><br />On actual Halloween we got invited by <a href="http://www.thescurvyblogger.blogspot.com/">some friends</a> to join them in taking their two little boys around Grandma Allred's neighborhood in Holladay. We hoped that their oldest, who Jonah adores mightily, could possibly coax Jonah into his costume. No dice. He wore the hat, though, and twenty-seven glowstick armbands, and achieved the look of a Tron Hershey Kiss. We toted the real costume around with us just in case. <br /><br />Three days later, while James was at work, Jonah finally discovered how awesome his costume was and wore it around the house off and on all day. <br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="600" height="400" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fmejkinlegler%2Falbumid%2F5288267203764287073%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss%26authkey%3D_tffsiRXibQ" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866240265363205008.post-51581251490677213162008-11-29T11:54:00.007-05:002008-11-30T09:25:52.531-05:00The Rabbit is DeadPooor <a href="http://www.snopes.com/pregnant/rabbit.asp">Wabbit</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRP08gbnB-ubAzuxwPMSXL2qFVDG7GKirioqVJryM_sm5nF2wYvNWzwO8RtCJ3pZ1muaYwfmS_VHFTYj5AHEe6tt6HmdJM8QXFOgK-wmT6V5Ny8pYCamaVITCIsj0ZRSr2rnDtQEA14w/s1600-h/P1010530-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRP08gbnB-ubAzuxwPMSXL2qFVDG7GKirioqVJryM_sm5nF2wYvNWzwO8RtCJ3pZ1muaYwfmS_VHFTYj5AHEe6tt6HmdJM8QXFOgK-wmT6V5Ny8pYCamaVITCIsj0ZRSr2rnDtQEA14w/s400/P1010530-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274125406122405186" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ETA June 4, 2009.Mejkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655970951950309523noreply@blogger.com9