Self check out

You know how they have those self-checkout stations at grocery stores? Every time I use one I think it’s funny when you buy produce and it identifies the produce for you. Then it asks you to move your [insert produce name here].

When I buy bananas, it says “move your bananas.”. Man, that just cracks me up. Every time.

Maybe it’s just me.

G’s 4th

Today we celebrated the birthday of G, the coolest 4-year-old I’ve ever met. I’m truly blessed to call this little guy “son” for the past 4 years, and I look forward expectantly to what God has in store in the years to come. Love you, buddy.

spider and iPhone camera glitch

This is two posts in one. First, I grabbed a great example of the iPhone camera glitch which I read about on Lifehacker (or something like that) last week. This photo falls into that category.

In the second purpose of this post, take a look at the image (Flickr version).

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I was tearing apart the sandbox outside in order to relocate it. When I removed the wooden seat / corner brace, I found this guy. Then I came across two more (they were in 3 of the 4 corners). If you’re thinking “geez, that looks like a black widow but I’ve never seen one that big” then your eyes don’t deceive you. I used a shovel to coax it over and it is in fact a black widow. It’s body section was about the size of the end of my pinkie.

Let this sink in. My kids were playing 1-2 feet away from THREE OF THESE! They were promptly put to death, after the photo op, of course. I’m now devising a strategy to rebuild the sandbox where it’s safe for kids but dangerous for massive black widow spiders.

Any suggestion?

Last night’s dream

Last night, I dreamed I got front row tickets… for Nirvana. And in the dream I didn’t fully realize what was going on until the middle of the show. “Wait a minute,” I said. “Kurt Cobain is dead and Dave Grohl leads the Foo Fighters now! (awkward pause) This is a cover band.” The players onstage were just covering Nirvana songs.

Man, I was bummed. I really wanted to see those guys play.

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Field exercises

I can’t help but think that assembling a barrage of sippy cups is not unlike field stripping and reassembling some sort of assault rifle.

Friday dozering

Friday, we headed down to the family farm to watch some heavy machinery in action. Dad and Jason hired out a massive bulldozer to help cut a new road to the family property through a small forest of cedar trees (sidenote, same trees used for G’s fort project).

It was a fun day, GnR enamoured with the machinery, the family lounging under a tarp tent Dad set up for shade, and me getting a chance to ride Jason’s 4 wheeler (if I give up the Wii, that’s my new hobby). Enjoy some pics.

Ft. Wilson

If you haven’t heard from me in a while it’s because I’ve been putting in my time the past two weekend (read: all my free time) constructing Ft. Wilson for our son, G. It’s nearly complete and we’ll tell all about it. Meanwhile, it’s off to be for me. Need my rest before day 4 of construction.

one highlight from today

Today Meg and I decided we needed some focused quality time with the kids. I won’t go into great detail about our day but it was much needed and much fun. One highlight, however, was when we returned to make supper. The ground beef was in a 2lb. frozen chunk and Meg really just wanted the 1lb frozen chunk. As you may have read on my twitter:

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Rainey, year 2

Good morning fair blog readers. I’m sorry, but this post isn’t for you. It’s for Rainey. **

Rainey, two years ago you made your debut into this world a cute, swishy bundle. You cried, you cooed, you intrigued Gardner, and you forever changed our family. From a family of three, you won our hearts and evened the genders that day you arrived.

And life if more sweet just knowing you.

It’s been an amazing year. You’ve discovered your name, new foods, the ability to scream, and you’ve perfected the sweetest hug I’ve ever seen given. We love you so much, happy birthday my beautiful daughter.

Rainey, year 2 from Ken Wilson on Vimeo.

** That is, unless you can enjoy the sappy ramblings of a dude who loves his family. In that case, just enjoy.

Gardner’s Factory

Gardner’s Factory

Originally uploaded by avclub

Saturday, Gardner and I built a factory. We started with cardboard boxes, a pocket knife, and tape. And time. We ended up with a functioning (in his mind) factory that he can play with. It houses his Playmobil characters, a process line, apparently makes pom-poms, as is generally awesome.

Check out my Flickr for more photos.

Factory overview here.

I’m home!!!!

Though you may not have noticed, the AV Club has been run by happy little robots for the past two weeks (how very Matrix of me, no?). I was on a family vacation for the first week, puttering around the house for a few days, then off the the Willow Creek Arts Conference for all of last week. If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll probably feel a little more connected than if you don’t. Wifi was spotty in places but the iPhone was comfortable for Twittering and general minute (that’s My-Nuuute) web interaction.

However, if you’d like to know what I learned on the trip, check out my avclubbreakout Twitter feed. I split it from my main feed so as not to tick off my friends and inundate them with information. Here’s a brief image… expect about 100 more later this week as I offload my camera.

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I’ve had the opportunity to sit in an airplane, a subway train, and in several cars (as well as in coffee shops, in airports, and in hotel rooms) with minimal distractions over the past few weeks and thus have been able to digest some new media. Here are a few things I’m digging:

Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley; RJD2′s Magnificent City Instrumentals; Weezer’s Pork and Beans; DJ Tiesto’s In Search of Sunrise 7 (didn’t get the Armani Exchange T-shirt); Wicked; a cool Chicago Art gallery opening; Starbuck’s (probably visited 6 different stores in the past two weeks)

More on what I’ve learned later.

Kids on Vacation

On vacation last week, I snagged a few quick videos of my kids doing… kid… things. The first is Gardner on a ski machine we found in an arcade. The second is Rainey demonstrating the finer points of Greek and Lebanese dance at Nicola’s, our favorite place in the world to eat. It’s in Atlanta, which we hit about suppertime on the way back from Florida.

G and the ski game from Ken Wilson on Vimeo.

R at Nicola’s from Ken Wilson on Vimeo.

What are those things?

I’ve seen these things for years in different areas of the country. I’m sure a google search would help me, but I’d rather be lazy and ask you guys… what are those things on the telephone lines? They seem to be located near military bases most often, but I’m not sure there’s a connection.

Anyone?

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Something you’ve probably never seen before

We’re about to take our kids to Split Creek Farms where we’ll buy goat cheese, see farm animals (I refuse to milk one), and watch a live border collie sheep herding demonstration. I’m bummed Tony Morgan has turned down my invitation several times. He doesn’t know what he’ll be missing, but you all will… especially if you follow my Twitter.

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Pig Roast 2008

It’s the morning of Pig Roast 2008 Eve. For those on the fence about coming, here are posts from previous years. I gotta go now, much to do (turn on the free Wifi, make a pig roast iPod playlist, set up the Wii… the usual stuff).

*** As a sidenote, if you’re coming, bring a lawn chair (or ten). And since there about 100 of you expected, if you could park at the church and walk, that may allow all of you to actually have a parking space. Remember, games begin at 4:00, food at 6:00. ***

2007 Pig Roast link 01
2007 Pig Roast (“best of” photos)
2007 Pig Roast (preparation post)
2007 Pig Roast logo
2007 Weekend wrap up
2005 Pig Roast Photos
2005 Pig Roast Photos (and late night prep work)

As we get to cooking, expect a play by play on my Twitter and Flickr.

I’m a fan.

This is my style. Who needs some pansy hair dryer in a gym? Not this guy; we go for the big guns (er, for your… big… guns). When you go to dry off at my gym, you get a full-body-dryer. I must say, it’s really nice for a quick cool down before entering right into the mass of humidity that is South Carolina.

And it really is the King of Fans.

Twitter Saturday

I’m not really in a Saturday-blogging-place right now, but I’ll guide you to my Twitter feed if you’d like to keep up with me today. And if you’re lazy, here are the latest two posts:

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Also, last night we hit up Sullivan’s after the wedding (because wedding cake just isn’t enough, right?). Dang.

Daddy and G breakfast

Me and the G (I know that’s poor grammar, but it just sounds cute) got up and headed out this morning for a daddy and G breakfast, hopefully the first of many. This week’s destination, the Corner B. I had the Granger, and G had a chocolate chip muffin. We talked about all of life’s ponderables (what color is your favorite, what kind of animal would you like if you had your choice, how fat is our cat). It was a blast, and that kid can throw down a chocolate milk like nobody’s business.

At one point, he got hold of the iPhone and took a shot of me, too.

Cannoli search; Anderson, SC

Last night, I went out just after supper to search for just one thing. Three things on my list, but only one did I foresee as being problematic. Tonight we’re serving cannolis for supper. To make a cannoli, you need a cannoli shell.

My first stop was at Bloom. After searching in every possible location, using their cool search computer, and asking the people in the bakery, no dice. I was a little surprised that Bloom couldn’t deliver. What’s a techno-savvy epicurian to do? Grab the iPhone, search for the next store (Ingle’s) and call them ahead of time. It went like this:

Them: “Hello, this is Ingle’s”
Me: “Hi, yes, I’m looking for a cannoli shell?”
Them: “Um…”
Me: “A cannoli shell, it’s an Italian pastry shell”
Them: “Hang on…”
(whispering in the background)
Them: “Yeah, we have ‘em”
Me: “Where in the store would I find them?”
(more whispering in the background)
Them: “Aisle 6, Italian food and pasta”

Friends, when I searched aisle 6, all I found was Manicotti / Cannellini pasta. Once I asked for help, the manager took me back to this same spot. Then we ended up in the frozen bread aisle looking at small tart and pie shells.

Enter the iPhone again. While she dug through the frozen pastries, I pulled up Google images, cannoli shells, and proceeded to show her this:

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“Ah… I think I know where that is.” Sure enough, she helped me locate it. They were in the baking section, near the chocolate chips. Well played.

If you find yourself in the deep South looking for cannoli shells, carry your iPhone and head to Ingle’s. They were very helpful.

And to top off my shopping experience, I heard one of my favorite songs and was compelled to Twitter it.

Easter

It’s been a fantastic Easter. I’d love to get into the details of our weekend, but I’m going to defer until tomorrow. Now back to our regularly scheduled evening. G’night.