On babies and the stock market

It's a girl. I'm a daddy. Stinkin' awesome. I kind of wanted a girl. I can't wait. Jenn and I decided not to really talk with people about what we're thinking for names. Then we don't have to hear your opinions and you'll just have to accept it when she's born. If you can't tell what the pictures are of, maybe I'll post them again with descriptions. My favorite is the third down on the left: her little legs are crossed at the ankles. The top right picture is her little butt: indecent, I know.

So I started trading options on the stock market. I have been studying for a few months and have a mentor that's guiding me along. It has been fun so far. I started off with fake money and now am playing for real. I'm hoping that this will be a nice supplemental income to my SBux paycheck. We'll see how well I do.

It's turning into fall really quick up here. I cut, split and stacked some wood today. I still don't have half as much as we'll need for the winter, but it's a start.

Take 'er easy.

Brian

What have we done?

We had a visit from our resident beekeeper today.

It was pretty interesting watching him smoke out the bees and disassemble the hive.

Alas, the bees were not as busy as we expected and did not yield as much honey as we had hoped.

Joel was over all day and we paid some dearly needed attention to some terribly neglected beer we had sitting in fermenters. We bottled batch #007 (St. Bernardus II clone- no high hopes here). And batch #006? Our Arrogant Bastard clone? Well, you'll just have to watch the video.

Here's a close up of the Martian landscape that was the surface of batch #006.

Needless to say, we dumped the fermenter (after poking our new creation with a stick a few times) and gave it a good scrub down.

Brian

The Hobo Campout 2009

Well, the hobos congregated again at the old Morris Ranch for the second annual Hobo Campout. Old Crow was the libation of choice this year. Fire roasted beans and franks, hobo twinkies, harmonica ballads, and a good yarn or two spun around the campfire were all essential ingredients to the success of the campout this year. We even had a hobo mutt and tomcat hanging around for the festivities.

The hobos decided to spend the night indoors, and a good thing too, because it started raining.

There was hootin' and hollerin' and romps through the woods.

I know everyone secretly wishes they were a hobo. Don't miss out next year on your chance to experience transience.

Brian

A Lesson in Introvertedness?

This last week, I went and saw a movie all by myself. Have you ever done that?

A couple weeks ago, I had an idea to go solo and see a movie once in a while for the sheer experience it. I decided that I would try and do this maybe once every couple months. After I got off work on Wednesday, I drove over to the theatre to check showtimes, and realized I was just in time to catch "Inglourious Basterds." I bought my ticket (still in my java-infused work clothes), and found a seat in the empty theatre.

I enjoyed the movie well enough, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more in the company of my friends. That wasn't the point, though. The point was to do something I would never normally do. I have pretended in the past to be somewhat introverted, but I have come more and more to the realization that I'm pretty far down the extroverted side of the spectrum. All I could think about after the movie was calling my brother to discuss it with him.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from the experience, but I plan on repeating it in the future.

Brian

The Great Outdoors

Jenn and I finally got to take a vacation this summer. Last summer, it seemed like I never stopped going here and there. But this summer has felt entirely different. I work now. I think that's the biggest thing.

We went over to the peninsula to Klahowya Campground on the Sol Duc river. We got there in the dark and set up our tent like trained professionals. We awoke to find green moss, a chirping river, and overhanging trees.

After a lazy morning, we headed to Hurricane Ridge and enjoyed the scenic vistas along a short hike.

Hot dogs, PBR, Settlers- what more could you ask for?

I was inspired by Kelly to make a little rock garden in the middle of a decaying stump.

We packed up and headed home via a scenic byway along the Strait of San Juan de Fuca.

What a great time. I love camping and was so worried that I wouldn't get the chance to pitch a tent this summer. It turned out to be a memorable trip, and probably the last that we will take all by ourselves for a while...

Adios,

Brian

cutie

atop the ridge

Wigand #2 & #3

touchable

adorable

furry