Fall – Gradin.com: It's like family, only weirder

Thanks be Giving

I am thankful for baby-smell, a daughter’s love, an oldest son’s helpfulness, and a wife that’s still here with us all.

I don’t know what it is about the Fall, but it tingles my senses and excites something in me. I feel a great deal of hope for personal productivity. Projects blossom in my mind, creativity becomes a force around me like the wind, and all things seem possible. Having three children in my family now… Continue reading Autumnal Mental Celerity

Hide and Seek

Sometimes a new song is played and you instantly fall in love with it. It could be that it’s a great emotional swelling in your body, or just something so groovy that you can’t keep still while you listen. Other times, it might be a contextual reference that gives the song a special relativity. Imogen… Continue reading Hide and Seek

The Lone Ranger

We have now officially fallen to a distant 2nd for Balthazar’s adoration. My mother gave him the gift of a lifetime – somewhat inadvertently – yesterday. She had been at a dog party where the requirement was to dress up your animals for Halloween. Among hers, she had some cowboy and villain paraphernalia that fell… Continue reading The Lone Ranger

Missed Scandinavian Fest [again]

For the 13 years now, I’ve missed Atlanta’s very own Scandinavian Festival. The problem is that it’s hosted on one day of the year and I always seem to discover that day after the fact. This year, I was prepared all week. Well, mostly prepared. I had planned on going, though I didn’t bother to… Continue reading Missed Scandinavian Fest [again]

Seasonal Inspiration

At this time of year, every year, I start getting a fever for some serious woodwork. For some reason, the change to Fall brings out the craftsman in me and I begin planning new designs and reviewing old plans for carpentry projects I’d like to do. Some are extreme, long-term projects like a three-story deck… Continue reading Seasonal Inspiration

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

I broke out of my comfort zone in two big ways this weekend; both involving drumming. When it comes to personal challenges, those involving my creative efforts are the most difficult to engage. A failure at something coming from creativity is a personal one, to me. However, I don’t feel that I lost in either… Continue reading Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

intacard Looks Like Bad Business

If you’re looking around for an AllofMp3.com replacement, you’ve probably happened across MP3fiesta.com. At first glance, it looks like a good thing. Reading into some of the reviews will give you more hope that MP3fiesta is what we were looking for after the fall of AoM. However, upon a true introduction to the services I… Continue reading intacard Looks Like Bad Business

Oo-Lah-Lah, Spring’s Guffaw

Winter really didn’t have much of an icy grip this year. It is not unheard of to see a hearty snow in the middle of March, but I think the danger of that is over. Spring appears to be here to stay, if the Cherry trees, Flowering Pear, and Daffodils are to be believed. Per… Continue reading Oo-Lah-Lah, Spring’s Guffaw

Oh Captain, My Captain!

The Death of Captain America On his way to an arraignment at the Federal Courthouse in New York City, Captain America was shot in the right shoulder by a sniper’s bullet. Several subsequent shots were fired point blank at Rogers by Sharon Carter, brainwashed by Dr. Faustus who was allied with the Red Skull. Sharon,… Continue reading Oh Captain, My Captain!