Halloween 2009

Rebecca and I were pretty excited about our costumes this year. She made this amazing mask of E.T. and I planned to dress up as Elliott.


Here I am attaching a white blanket around E.T.'s head. Our goal was to recreate the scene where Elliott is riding his bike with E.T. in the front basket.


How cute is that!


Here is the finished product. You can't see the bicycle handlebars because they are hidden behind the basket, but it was a nice touch.


Brooke and Heather.


Brennan was swine flu.


Two of my favorite film characters from the past few years: Anton Chigurh and Daniel Plainview.


The cast of The Wizard of Oz was pretty good.


The house from the movie Up was unique, but I don't think he needed to write "Up" on the front.


Pac-Man and ghosts.


We ran into Nashel and Megan dressed up as Dexter and a fairy.


This thing was by far the best costume i've seen in years. Remember the fortune teller booth from the movie "Big"? This rendition was a cardboard, wood, fabric, paint, etc. masterpiece equipped with wheels. The booth was constantly mobbed as it made its way slowly down Franklin Street. Some lucky observers were even given fortunes.


The End.

The Stars in the Sky Looked Like Teeth in the Mouth of a Shark

Halloween 2009

Pumpkin carving time.


Grey and Lauren prepping for the slaughter of their pumpkins.


Jaxon helped gut the pumpkins. I usually have the same reaction to that job.




We also celebrated Grey's birthday, and Kari made yet another amazing cake!


Jaxon helped blow out the candles.


Rebecca drew Grey this rad cephalopod for his birthday.


Cannibal Pumpkin.


Sea Turtle and Frog Pumpkin.


Here is the view from my sidewalk.




Pirate wanted to wish Grey a Happy Birthday as well.


After carving we played some games where the losers had to do weird or embarrassing things, like having Pirate lick peanut butter off your forehead. Lauren and Emily lost the first round.




Grey and Warren had to act out a passage that was read aloud by Maria from a book of erotica that was left at our house. I think this had something to do with a mermaid emerging from the water and the fisherman that was waiting for her.


Of course the dude that hates cut off jean shorts the most lost the round where you had to wear a pair of Grey's for the rest of the night.


Poor Katie had to eat a spoonful of salsa, butter, soymilk, and peas. Pretty nasty.


Guardians at the gate.

Out Here, Even The Prairie Questions the Horizon

Rebecca's sister, Laura, and her husband, Chris, just welcomed Caleb Dawson Pallavicini to the world.


One of Rebecca's other sisters, Katie, drove up from Florida to Winsten-Salem. She is determined to be the favorite aunt, so she is starting early.


After all the family members got their turn, I snuck in to hold Caleb only to get this face from him...


He knew I was an impostor.


Smitty the horse gave his approval.


Dollar bowling night is always a good reason to get a group together.


Brooke and Sabrina get ready for their head-to-head battle.


Rob watches his shot.


Leatherland threw the bowling ball a million miles per hour.


Krankin tried to cast spells on me from behind but it did not affect my bowling skills.


Proper form.


Katie showing good technique with the leg sweep.


The best thing about bowling? The stylish shoes.


Rebecca walking away from a strike.


My girl gots skillz.


Brooke trying to do what we all have wanted to do for so long.


While Brian tries to do it to himself.

Someday I Will Return and Burn Everything Down

Grey and I went backpacking in western Virginia. This was Grey's first time hiking on the Appalachian Trail so it needed to be documented.


We started out in Damascus, VA on the Virginia Creeper Trail.




There were lots of fun fungi to observe.




It had been raining a bunch so everything was nice and green. Rain is great for color but bad if you want to have a fire at night.


Unfortunately, it was too early in the season for the leaves to begin to change.


Emily and Galen got married on a rainy afternoon on a farm outside of Pittsboro.


The rain stopped long enough for the ceremonial first toss on the wedding cornhole set.
http://www.cornhole.com/


Look at those cute cornhole bags.


Just like most things dorky, I'm pretty good at cornhole.


Swimmer Dan made his triumphant return to North Carolina.

Adam's Top 25 - Part 4

16. The Rolling Stones- Sticky Fingers (1971)
This is actually the only Stones album I own but it seems to be on a lot of people's top 100 so I guess I own one of the better ones. This was their 9th studio album and the first one on their own label.
Key Songs- "Brown Sugar", "Wild Horses", "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"



17. Rites of Spring- End on End (1986)
Largly considered one of the first bands to shift hardcore to a more personal place , they are considered by many as the first emo band. This is one of the many bands I wish I could have seen live but they only played 12 live shows and I would have been 8 or 9 at the time. Featured Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty of Fugazi.
Key Songs- "Drink Deep", "For Want Of", "Deeper Than Inside"



18. Tori Amos- Little Earthquakes (1992)
A good friend I met in college worshipped everything that was Tori, so that is how I came to love this record. After listening to hours of hardcore and punk records in college i would play this cd while i was studying or to relax so it holds a certain place in my hear if only for nostalgia purposes. Plus, Tori is a redhead which doesn't hurt her cause either.
Key Songs- "Crucify", "Silent All These Years", "Me and Gun"



19. The Weakerthans- Reconstruction Site (2003)
The first time I heard The Weakerthans it was when they played live with Lucero and Murder by Death (two of my favorite bands at that time) in San Diego. The next day I went out and bought this record and I don't think more than two weeks have gone by where I haven't listening to at least one song off it. Every good mix cd should include a Weakerthans' song.
Key Songs - "One Great City!", "Plea From A Cat Named Virtue", "The Reasons"



20. The Promise Ring- 30 Degrees Everywhere (1996)
This record is super emo but you gotta love Davey's lisp and catchy lyrics. This band started off as a side project to Cap N' Jazz but became the signers full time thing after they broke up in '95. I thought it was funny that the super emo singer always wore football jerseys. "Couldn't you just take the second bus home?"
Key Songs- "A Picture Postcard", "Everywhere In Denver", "Red Paint"

Time Is A Game That Only Children Play Well

Katie and I had another triathlon this weekend.



This event featured a pool swim, which has its pros and cons.


In the pool waiting for my start time.


Out of the pool and onto the bike.


Katie sticks her tongue out at the competition.


I should mention that Katie won her age group. She is a beast!


Brennan and Shawn came to cheer us on. Thanks!


Vijay had a party to celebrate his PhD defense. I don't know the story behind the sash, but he is holding Grey's cool but kind of creepy artwork.


Check out the rad cake that Kari made Vijay. Everything you see is edible.


After food and cake the party moved downstairs to the fooseball table. Katie demonstrates the importance of stretching before a match.


And Grey demonstrates how important it is to take your meds everyday, so you can avoid embarrassing pictures like this.


It is not as easy as you might think to play dominos while wearing a case of beer on your head.


"Brennan, look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me."

Leave The Ring On The Rail For The Wheels to Nullify

Last week was my Aunt Terry's (center, blue top) 50th Birthday celebration. Her and my Uncle Billy rented an 8 bedroom house in Virginia Beach. She is one of 9 siblings. Six of them are pictured here. (Sorry for the blurry photo.)


We played lots of Wii bowling until it was time to hit the beach or the backyard pool.


I learned to play Mexican Train Dominos and now I am addicted!


Then my cousin Eric (yellow shirt) developed a game that pitted two teams of siblings against each other. Teams took turns answering questions about about one another and growing up together. I learned that Ken's favorite present was one that he still has some 40 years later; a desk he got when he was a kid.






The following week a group of us went to Lost Cove near Linville Gorge.


Annie made the trip as well. She is 16 years young.


Our camping spot.


Our dominos playing spot.




Still breaking in the new hammock. This might have been the first time it has left my back yard.


Swimming spot #1.




Swimming spot #2 was a really mellow waterfall. Climbing back up was really challenging for Rob's dog Baker.




Sliding down on your butt was a bit painful but too fun to pass up.


Emily, Tamara and Rebecca got in on the action as well, but here the dudes all following each other down.




Rob and Baker.


Check out the new feature Tamara taught me how to do with my camera!


Art.


Annie gets a sherpa to carry her out.