Gävlebocken (The Gävle Goat)

In a small city north of Stockholm, 5,000 onlookers welcome a giant Goat as it is unveiled each year around Yule. For several decades now, the Gävle Goat has made a historical mark in Gävle history as it is either sacrificed or spared during the Winter. In 1969 the goat was burned on New Year’s… Continue reading Gävlebocken (The Gävle Goat)

*@%! Road Trash

I’m driving to work this morning, minding my own business, when I notice a monstrous bag skulking across the road. It’s one of those clear cellophane bags; the kind you get at the grocery store to hold your vegetables, only this one can probably hold the whole “Fresh Foods” section. Likely a furniture bag, and… Continue reading *@%! Road Trash

Dragon*Con 2007 :: Wrap-Up

Upon arrival at DragonCon Friday evening, I was met by a frantic Jeff at the Hyatt hotel. It would seem that the hotel doesn’t actually guarantee two beds in reserved rooms. A curious approach, as we had booked the room for quad occupancy. To make matters worse, the room presented to Jeff had a window… Continue reading Dragon*Con 2007 :: Wrap-Up

Balthazar Comments on Commodity Foods

I was just pulling out of driveway (a severe angle up to the road), and I burned the clutch a bit to keep from stalling out in reverse. Balthazar says, “Daddy, I smell chicken nuggets.” So a burning clutch smells like a chicken nugget, or perhaps it’s more apt to say that chicken nuggets smell… Continue reading Balthazar Comments on Commodity Foods

The First Camping Trip

While Balthazar’s first camping trip was actually over just before 10:00pm, he did get some good exposure to camp-life and the adventures that surround it. Balthazar has been going on about a camping trip for days now. We’re not exactly sure where he picked this up, but I couldn’t be happier. I love camping and… Continue reading The First Camping Trip

Speaking of DiY PC Projects…

How familiar are you with that acrid smell of burning electrical components in expensive computer equipment? That smell that pricks your nose to alarm at 100′ from behind sealed doors… I was reacquainted with this noxious odor this afternoon while trying to reanimate an old Shuttle Intel P4 system I had laying around. It has… Continue reading Speaking of DiY PC Projects…

The Smell of Victory

Success comes in many forms and in some cases the mark of success isn’t always apparent to others. Most recently, the bowels of our home were home to some number of rodents – big ones. I don’t know how many, though I hope the number was three. I first knew we were in trouble when… Continue reading The Smell of Victory

‘Twas the Night Before Yule

‘Twas the night before Yule, when all ‘cross the heath, not a being was stirring; Pagan, faerie, or beast. Wassail was left out & the alter adorned, to rejoice that the Sun King would soon be reborn. The children lay sleeping by the warmth of the hearth, their dreams filled with visions of belov’d Mother… Continue reading ‘Twas the Night Before Yule