Hmmmmmmmm......

What is black and white and red (urm... uh... 'read') all over... guess somethings just don't work in 'print'...

In other news, the dumpster is still partaking of the whole driveway... yes, even throwing things out can take WAY TO LONG in the bear cave... at least it is almost half full... and they are only charging us $25 for each additional week we keep it.

I am getting ansy (sp?) to start calling in people to get the little projets done... but I still think I need to get the bathroom and kitchen rebuilds completed first... take care of the big expenses before divying out what cash remains in their wake.

Well, that is all for now.

Light be with us all,
ME.

Emma, Any and David Into Baseball Too!

OK... I have to give some fair coverage to the other kids too. Emmaly and Aryana are playing on a Farm League Girls Softball team... they both enjoy their games very much and work really hard. As for David; he just can't wait to get his own cleats, hehehe!

 

Zack in Little League Baseball.

Here is Zack playing in Farm League Baseball. Note the empty catchers glove and if you peer carefully below the basketball backboard, and between the top fence post and the grass growing benieth it; you will see the blur of the ball taking off straight between 2nd and 3rd base. What a slugger he is. Hope he keeps up all the hard work as he can go far - but what do I know *smile* I am his father *smile*.

Mini Me!

My son Zachariah. He is one cool boy... got an arm of iron... just to figure out what one (or maybe two) sports he is gonna make millions doing! Hehehe... whatever he does he will do well.

Oh yes!!! Don't forget: Stong Will tempered by a Heart of Gold! 

The Littlest Bear in the Cave.

Here he is... David Solomon. Such a handsome young boy and such a relief after our first three kids turned out to be SO strong willed; like their mother and I. David is a snuggle bug and has begun to blossom lately; talking in full sentences (full for a three year old!) and communicating very well. He is still of my blood line... you can tell when he wants something and he won't change his mind until he gets what he wants. *smile* 

Time to Travel and Home Remodel Update.

Well... after many years of marriage and 4 kids... truth be told I don't think we have ever taken a 'stereotypical' family vacation. Things change... This Resurrection Holyday the Bearclan will be headed to Ohio. There we will be visiting extended family and exploring how people's of America's Mid-West live. I hear it is still pretty cold there while here it is starting to slowly warm up finally.

Good thing tax returns come every year... and that I have vacation time!

In other current events: no physical work has begun on our home remodelling project. As the architect we were checking out went on a 2 week vacation we ended up talking to Home Depot's remodelling experts. They sent out a general contractor that they work with to take measurements of the bathroom and kitchen. This was last weekend so hopefully this weekend we will hear from the 'designer' back at Home Depot. It is exciting and frustrating all at the same time.

How easy it is to look things up on the internet and try to learn about what would be good to install and how much different things cost. In the end it seems that we will end up sticking to the basics. There is just not enough room to modernize the bathroom all that much. Adding some electrical and new wall coverings and flooring, with a new sink and reposition of the bath about 2 inches... well... at least it will be much better than it has been for the last 3 years; even if it doesn't have an expensive jacuzzi tub in it. hehe.

'Till next time, Light be with you!

Ah... to make our home new...

Has anyone out there ever remodelled their home? Well... the opportunity has arrived for Lara and I to do the same. Never before did I realize how little I actually know about this process. I never considered the need of an architect. I never understood that gutting a room and rebuilding it is easier, more effective and productive, and NO more expensive than trying to fix up what is already there. Then the idea came of moving walls...

Well... that idea is currently on the back burner... although a good idea it easily leads to adding on square footage to our home. With this my humble $30,000.oo remodel quickly jumps up to a $60,000.00 remodel. OK... now that I have realigned my ideaology once again...

So... asside from city building permits and inspections... maybe I can just organize this myself. If I can coordinate the remodel of my small 6' x 7' bathroom and reduce the cost from $8,000.00 down to $3,500.oo... I am gonna try it. If this works out well... watch out kitchen 'cause you are next. It will be nice to see all of this done... in the mean time - WHAT A PAIN!

Without pain, there is little gain... sometimes, I just have to learn the 'hard way'!

'till next time,
Babocan

For Me??

For Me?

Wow, what  a great birthday present… chocolate, heavy weaponry, and a pet that is out of the way and not tearing things up smile. What more could a little brother ask for.

Thanks, David.

HAPPY HAPPY! , JOY JOY!

Happy Birthday Phil!...

Sorry I didn't call, but I have lost my digital contacts... over 8 years of info gone... because of a simple stupid error and my failure to back up!

AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGG!

Any Who... Here is a couple candle "salute" for your B-Day:


And a Ferret in a box for you:


Love your Brother - David

Gotta keep tryin'

Hello again... guess I am still busy playing... oh... can't tell you what game... haha... not that alot of people actually see my blog but I guess this will be a good lesson in self discipline. Till my next post - TTFN.

Bad boy, Bad!!! How do people do it? How do they blog so regularly? I guess my priorities might be a little out of wack. I have busy with life, hahahahha... aren't we all? Well between my hobby of game testing, trying to find a 'craft' for my sons and I to do together (currently slot cars), the Christmas Holy days, the end of 2005 and the start of a new year, continued expectations of improvement and taking on further responsibilities at my career... Life is full in the bear cave, to say the least.

Lara's mother, Carolyne, has come to stay with us for awhile. One more person in this household doesn't really add that much stress (compared to 4 kids between the ages of 2 and 8)... *smile* Among other things she has introduced my kids to Slingo, my wife to Slingo, and lastely myself to Slingo. Now that I have mentioned it three times maybe you should go check it out for yourself... SLINGO ! Have fun.

The basement has finely began its transformation into the master den/bedroom, the new Caravan (um... family bus) has become a true member of the family (messy, lol). My relationship with my kids continues to deepen as I continue to practice control over myself and utilize crazy and unexpected responses to them; you have to keep them on their toes!

Parchance, I will do better in the new year at adding content to this humble abode on the wire! Till next time, Light be with you all. And if you be wondering the lands of Thestra and stumble upon a friendly dwarf, stop and say hello and welcome him along on your journies. There is always room and need for a cleric, you know!

Say Hello to my big brother.

Say Cheese!

My brother David came to visit us here in Oregon. He does alot of travels, well more than I do. Check out his website here.

How it is...

So, California has had beautiful weather since I have been here. No rain and not all that hot - but it is a little too bright for my tastes. Haven't found a place to compare to the upper Willamette valley yet. Rolling hills, green and wet; ok, so I am not too found of the webbing growing between my toes! Ha!

It is always nice to take a little trip now and then. If nothing else, it increases my appreciation for what I have at home. I miss my wife and kids. I can't allow myself to forget how important a kiss from my 2 year old is. I am reminded of the TRUE comfort that having my wife near is to me. It can be freeing not having the daily responsibilities their pulling at you; then when the sun is setting the aching emptiness of your hotel room gnaws away at you.

I look forward to my return home in a couple of days. God has provided once again; even when I haven't matched up to what I think I should have. We have a couch again - yes, it is a hand me down from friends. It is also a God send. My family has not major ailments, David's finger is healing well, Lara's chest pain is only an inflamation of the tissue. The bills are paid for and we have not gone hungry. I continue to work at the struggles at work and succeed - it is hard to not get overwhelmed with all the tasks set before me, even though I have the rest of the year to work on them.

I hope you see God working on your behalf as He is working for me. Be blessed - God is still around, seeking to be found.

My first business trip.

Hail from Oakland, CA... I am on a business trip for my employer. Getting trained means more responsibilities. I can't tell you the details of my training, else I might have to make you disappear - just kidding. I will let you know how my trip is and what I see here in Cali.

Setting Sail -- A Journey of Redemption and Compassion

First-Person Feature by Scott Harrison
May 17, 2005

If you happened to be in New York City late June last year, responsibly on your way to work in the morning, you might have passed me on Houston Street. Disheveled, stumbling and slurring my way home after a night of drugs and debauchery in a trendy SoHo hotel after a gala film premiere. That would also be me you saw on your lunch break across the courtyard, trying to shut out the daylight, stuffing sheets and pillows in the windows.

Ten years had passed since I first embraced New York nightlife. What started out as an exciting and easy way to earn back college money I'd blown in the stock market (shorting Yahoo! of all things) turned into a decade of global travel, social climbing, selfishness and materialism, leaving me with an appalling value system and skewed worldview. This early-morning scene wasn't a first. My New York was one that rarely slept.

I was running an event company I'd started with a friend. We produced events and threw some of the biggest parties in the city. We'd worked with everybody: MTV, VH1, ABC, Cosmo, Elle, Stuff . All the big record labels. Top models and fashion designers. Big brands thought so much of us we were covertly paid big bucks to wear and consume their products.

My life was enviable from the outside. I went out with a top model. Wore a Rolex. Did TV commercials. I was about to be given part ownership in a trendy new restaurant. Fashion weeks were spent in Milan and Paris -- New Year's was a three-week long beach party in Brazil and Uruguay. Most would say I was living out the MTV generation's dream.

On Board
Cut to the present. Seven months later, I write this from the other side of the Atlantic. Sailing in waters somewhere between Benin, West Africa, and war-shredded Monrovia, Liberia. My old ways, the city and its nightlife seem far away.

I am serving a year as the volunteer photographer onboard the hospital ship Anastasis with the global charity Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships operates a...

READ MORE (SOURCE)

Yeah! Gonna play Irth Online!

OK, I signed up to be a Beta tester for Irth Online - and wouldn't you know it - they invited me in. I responded to the NDA sent to me and am now waiting for download instructions and the CD Key. I will tell what I can about it but please note the NDA is still in force. If you want the latest public commentary with PLENTY of Developer input on this game you should really check out the Irth Online Forums.

The Irth Online team will be attending the E3 2005 Expo. For those who do not know, this is the premier Electronics Entertainment Exposition that occurs each year. Here, many many companies great and small show off the latest technologies they have come up with. Many new games have a big showing there before being released publicly.

There is a Developer Chat scheduled for after E3 - they will be discussing the further developments of Irth Online and giving away 200 Beta Keys: so don't miss it. I couldn't find a specific post in the forums; so check the forums often to find out what time it is at.

Lara's rose tatoo!

OK, a little belated with this one. Here are some pics of Lara's tatoo on her right shoulder. Click on the picture for a larger image.

Zack's first tooth...

My son Zachariah just lost his first front tooth.

'click to inlarge'

Another MMORPG...

OK... here is another MMORPG that I am going to start keeping tabs on.

• Irth Online

I found the link on the Project Wish Forums and it looks promising.

On the other hand; from the few times I have recently checked in on what is happening with Mourning, this MMORPG is starting to look dead. With continued lack of GOOD customer communications and unresolved or unchanging issues - it appears this game will go the way of the first WISH (vaporware?)

Light be with you!

Current Gaming Pursuits...

Thought I would post a list of the games I am currently trying to keep track of. Guess you can get a taste for my gaming habits. Here they are in no particular order. Remember, none of these are actually released as of yet; only some are even in closed beta at the time of this posting.

• Project Wish
• Mourning
• Hero's Journey
• Middle-Earth Online
• Dark & Light
• Vanguard - Saga of Heroes
• Dungeons & Dragons Online
• Darkfall Online

As you might guess... I am getting bored with World of Warcraft... when all the fighting is fought out, what is left to do when all you are able is to mine for ore and hammer it into armor and weapons that everyone else already has???

sight update...

Just to let you all know that I am still alive... Life has been very busy as of late... still trying to get used to my new work schedule... but I have put up a new header pic, hope you like.

Saying the right thing, at the right time.

Jack wakes up at home with a huge hangover he can't believe. He forces himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the sidetable. And, next to them, a single red rose!

Jack sits down and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. Jack looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins,cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror, and notices a note on the table: "Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to go shopping--Love you!"

He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table,eating.

Jack asks, "Son... what happened last night?"

"Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind. You broke some furniture, puked in the hallway, and got that blackeye when you ran into the door."

"So, why is everything in such perfect order, so clean? I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me."

His son replies, "Oh, THAT!...Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when he tried to take your pants off, you screamed, "Leave me alone, lady, I'm married!"

Broken furniture -- $85.26
Hot Breakfast -- $4.20
Red Rose bud -- $3.00
Two Aspirins -- $.38

Saying the right thing, at the right time -- Priceless.

Stressed Today?

A Prayer for the Stressed

Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot
change, the courage to change things I cannot accept and
the wisdom to hide the bodies of those people I had to kill
today because they pissed me off.

And also, help me to be careful of the toes I step on
today, as they may be connected to the arse that I
may have to kiss tomorrow.

Help me always to give 100% at work - 12% on Monday,
23% on Tuesday, 40% on Wednesday, 20% on Thursday
and 5% on Friday.

And help to me remember, when I'm having a really bad
day and it seems people are trying to annoy me, that it takes
40 muscles to frown and only 4 to extend my arm and
smack the tosser in the mouth.

Cows, the constitution and the 10 commandments

COWS...
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington. They also tracked her calves to their stalls . but they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION...
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS...
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse! You cannot post "Thou shalt not steal", "Thou shalt not commit adultery", and "Thou shalt not bear false witness" in a building full of lawyers, judges, and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment!!

(SOURCE)

Ping-Pong Matrix

OK This is real performance Art!
Ping-Pong Matrix

Scrappin' Momma

Hello. I have just enough time to say hello. I am involved in scrapbooking and am first a full time mother of 4 kids, 5 kids if you include my husband. I will post more later and include some links to my sights of interest - things about scrapbooking, women's devotions, and being a mom. I hope to have some pictures up soon too. Until then, God Bless.

Larabear.

Seinfeld and Communications

Originally posted by Matthew Montgomery "moonty" at:
http://moonty.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 08, 2004

"Seinfeld and Communications"

An excellent example of many communication behaviors is the long-running television sitcom, the infamous "show about nothing," Seinfeld, which is widely considered to be one of the most succesful television series of all times. There are four main characters: Jerry Seinfeld, George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and Cosmo Kramer. Whether done purposefully by the writers of the show or by a simple incidental reflection of communication styles in our culture, Seinfeld exemplifies many of the communication behaviors we take for granted, all in a very humorous manner."...READ MORE (SOURCE)

A 10Gig hard drive that is smaller than 1"...

OK... so this tech has been out for awhile. BUT, I just didn't realize that the hard drives were so stinkin' small... this web page is chalk full of these kind of articles and so I am going to add it to my links on the right hand column. Click here to see what I am talking about.

New Computer, almost...

So I work for this company which some of you may know; Intel. I get this processor for free! Yeah, your either crying out of jealousy or very happy for me right now; hopefully the later. Problem is I have nothing yet to go around it. So here is a listing of my current plans. If you have any advice please feel free to add a comment to this post.

Here is my processor, price is FREE.

Here is my current motherboard of choice.

The graphics card will probably be from MSI or Leadtek. Ok, so the only deciding factor is the games that come with it.

More details will follow as I have time for more research and I will try and post some pics when I finally get some money to purchase the parts.

God Bless.

gREAT BLOG... nEEDS wORK

hI pHIL

Hello world...

Initial thanks always goes to Yeshua.

The finder's fee (a.k.a. - a big thank you) goes to my brother David for being pushy about this "blog" sight I just have to check out... he even called me on the phone to make it happen.

I have always seemed to draw a blank when faced with putting the actual "content" on a web page, so please bear with me as I explore the new-to-me world of Blogging.

I hope that this turns out well and will attempt to keep it upto date at least once a week if not a few times - so check in as often as you like and see what new ideas have happened upon my brain and made their keypunched way to your eyes.

God Bless! - and if you are offended by God in anyway, I am sorry. I intend no ill to you and do not in anyway want to push Him upon you. Your life is yours and each choice is yours. Think it through... keep your eyes open and listen to your heart and search the reality around and the reality within. Make the best choice and see where life takes you. God IS real and he will work in ways unknown to achieve the end of loving you.