The Kessel Run

What happened to the Grab?

2012-01-11T13:55:00.003-05:00

Well, its all still here, and that's good. But I have been toying with the idea of a running blog. so either that happens here or somewhere else, stay tuned

An Open Letter to Sam and Leah

2010-12-08T15:29:00.003-05:00

hey kids,

been pretty stagnant on the blog, but as I sit here on the couch as baby sister takes a nap, there are a few things I wanted to say:

Leah: You are You... but there is a certain joy in seeing some of the similarities that you and I have. Not just the fact that you look a lot more like me than sam ever did, but you seem to have a similar disposition. You are happy, and love people and love to smile. But also, you don't like being sick or having a toothache or anything like that. In fact, I think that (much like me) you are more aware of these things than the average person. If I was being laudatory I would say you are much more "in tune" with your physical self. But (if my experience with this is any indication) your mom will think you are being a bit of a ninny. Nevertheless, I love that about you.

also, I have taken to calling you baby sister and I know that the days when I call you that are numbered. I don't want you to be defined by your relationship with sam, nor by the very temporary status of being a baby.

Sam: It's sweet that you don't want santa to come inside our house. It's also sweet when you know you shouldn't get away with something but try anyway. It's fun to play with you, but not everything needs to be a firetruck. I like it when... well i like a bunch of stuff about you, boy, but your sister is waking up so I need to go get her.

THE BEST WORST KIND OF LIMBO

2010-04-05T20:31:00.002-04:00

I know. I know. Nothing on the media grab for four months and then, on the eve of some really big news: BAM! a random post. I don't really have much to say, except to tell you that waiting to meet your daughter can really work on the nerves.

Anyway watch this space for breaking news. even in its dormant state, this old blog can still scoop with the best of them

WHO ARE WE KIDDING?

2009-12-07T17:36:00.003-05:00

Posting for the sake of posting makes for an extremely boring and somewhat indulgent blog. But with the boy, and the writing for work and facebook, and a commitment to start working out more, the blog is now in the back seat.

So the Media Grab is being mothballed. well Kinda. I plan to return to writing the semi-sporadic long ass e-mail that I used to write. But now, I will also post that e-mail here. No need to check back, you will get it in your inbox.

Of Course, Check facebook or other purveyors of all things circosta if you want multimedia.

I might reconsider when 2.0 gets here. But let's be reasonable shall we?

SWEEP THE LEG

2009-10-31T17:21:00.005-04:00

Amy thought she was getting a non-nonsense, non-descriptive skeleton costume. In actuality, our son is going as Johnny from the Cobra Kai dojo.

BOOO, I MEAN MOOO

2009-10-20T20:10:00.005-04:00

Halloween came to the Circosta household a bit early this year. We went to Chick-Fil-A, and lo and behold it was "kids night". So that means the Chick-Fil-A Cow was there. Sam, being a rational young human being (and thus apprehensive about six-foot, bipedal, plush-covered, walking cows with backwards caps) did not like this one bit.

When the cow came up for a high five, sam froze. AND I MEAN FROZE. The shock only lasted about a half a second though. then, it was scream city and a leap into mama's arms.

All's well that ends well though. After a hug, some nuggets and a promised trip to the park Sam graciously waved "bye bye cow".

SKOOOTCH!

2009-10-16T09:44:00.002-04:00

Two of my Two-plankin friends who used to give me crap cause snowboarding wasn't cool, should check this video.

whose stupid now?

UH OH CRACKER

2009-10-14T14:46:00.002-04:00

I pulled out the video camera because sam was looking at the cover of Vanity Fair (don't judge) and pointing to Penelope Cruz while simultaneously saying "hot" "hot". Good luck with that little buddy.

OF Course, the video you get is sam starting to melt down about the goldfish cracker that fell on the floor.

Be it big time movie actress or little goldfish cracker, I guess we always lament 'the one that got away'

SWITCHING IT UP

2009-10-10T11:43:00.002-04:00

It's been a bit hectic in the circosta household this week. A couple of evening events, both amy and I have been under the weather and Sam has a crack-like addiction to Thomas the Tank engine.

I'm writing this from a hotel room in Wisconsin. I'm tired, a little feverish and trying to drag my ass out of bed to give a speech. And yet, despite all of this, I can't help thinking how much harder today is back at the ranch. Apparently, Sam decided that 4:30AM is an acceptable time to get up. And as much as we love hanging with the little dude on the weekends, pulling solo duty means that you gotta keep an eye on that dude THE WHOLE TIME. Throw in the fact that we have begun major renovations (new bedroom for the second kid) and you are looking at one tough day. Thanks Amy for bucking up.

Also, if you want some really interesting writing about the various roles mom and dads play, check this out. spot.on. accurate.

WHERE DID WE GO?

2009-09-30T16:14:00.002-04:00

This blog really isn't the place for me to share work stuff, but if you want to know what motivates me to do the work I do, read this.

REAL NEWS

2009-09-29T20:15:00.002-04:00

If you are concerned about what constitutes news and how it should be financed, you could read this, long but ultimately insightful article on the state of the news media today.

or you could use the metric employed by some enterprising community college students over at NBC "It's the real news, not some stupid school paper. It's got Marmaduke and everything!"

GO BLUE

2009-09-27T20:51:00.001-04:00

If I had to handicap it right now I would say Sam has a 1 in 3 shot at starting for Wolverines.

I mean he rocks the gear, loves to watch football with his old man, and has some serious guns

MOVING TO SODOR?

2009-09-26T17:58:00.003-04:00

Sam's love of trains knows no bounds. Y'all thought I was kidding when I said he was totally in the tank for locomotives. But as we sit here having quelled a tantrum with promises of Thomas the Tank Engine on the DVR, I am thinking that we might be headed for a train intervention somewhere down the track. In the meantime, amy can successfully name all of Thomas's friends with her eyes shut. I am not at all joking.

choo choo

THE LITTLE THINGS

2009-09-22T19:21:00.005-04:00

The more perceptive and punctuation-aware may have noticed a change in the title of this blog. While shifting the apostrophe might not seem like much, it represents a seismic shift here at the Media Grab.

We have gone plural.

Anticipated arrival of our second child (working title: ‘Baby 2, Electric Boog-A-Loo) is in early April, 2010.

Of course we are elated about this new life and the endless possibilities and the wonder and amazement etc. etc., But this momentous event isn't just about love and family and the next generation. Frankly, this is really about circulation numbers on the blog.

We here at Little Circostas’ Media Grab are hoping that ‘Dos Ninos” will shoot some much needed life back into this publication. Let’s face it, with occasional posts and a noticeable lack of multi-media content we are not living up to our promise to bring you “All things Circostian”.

For instance, the other day Sam and I casually had a conversation about the pros and cons of rail transportation. Sam (being ‘totally in the tank’ for trains) felt obligated to take the pro-rail position. I, on the other hand, prefer my wheeled transportation off the tracks. We were about to get into the feasibility of light-rail in midtown Raleigh, when Sam summarily ended things with a declarative and emphatic “choo choo”. Sadly, our loyal readers were deprived of this very important debate as it went completely undocumented on the blog.

As a second child myself I am a bit concerned about our ability to muster the appropriate amount of documentation surrounding child number two’s milestones. Like most new parents, Amy and I took a snapshot of Sam every time he did anything no matter how mundane. (Get the Camera Honey, he might have just hiccuped). Same was true of my parents and their first child. The stacks of photos of Albert Circosta Junior are so voluminous it’s nauseating. But finding even scant documentation of my early life is like looking for Sasquatch. Sure, there might be a photo somewhere, but chances are it’s grainy, and probably fake.

Despite the long odds of keeping up sufficient media around version 2.0, we are determined to do our best. The Media Grab has offered Amy a tentative agreement to generate more posting opportunities. We also recently both figured out how to use our phone camera and phone video. We are armed with the latest in 21st century baby documentation technology, and we intend to use it. With more and fresher content and the attraction of not one, but two little circostas, we can't go wrong.

And hey, if higher ratings in cyberspace don't ensue, at least we get another kid out of the deal. Classic win win.

Stay tuned

RAD.

2009-09-07T20:21:00.002-04:00

Sam could go on to any number of successes in his life. The world is his oyster. But I may never be more proud than this right here.

WE MADE IT!!!

2009-08-31T16:12:00.003-04:00

Sam and I are alive and well after being a solo duet over the weekend. Amy headed to a wedding and left me and sam to fend for ourselves. I'd be lying if I told you I was without apprehension. Truth be told I was downright phobic about an entire weekend of just me and the boy. I had visions of Sam alternating between meltdown and frantic repetitions of his mother call that goes something like this:

ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-mama-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-mama-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-mama-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-mama-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-mama-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-mama-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma

After a friday afternoon flight from West Virginia and a late night of poker, I woke up alone on Saturday to the sounds ofa little boy whose dad might have been sleeping a little too long. I was in full dread stage, but really, that was about it for Sam histrionics over the weekend (and for the record, I probably did sleep in a bit more than I should have).

We went to five-guys, we hung out at the park... and although we waited til Amy got back on sunday to go to the pool, Sam's weekend of manliness culminated with him jumping off the diving board into the pool. Never mind that our boy can't swim and that he wasn't wearing any flotation device... he went for it, and I chalk it up to his man weekend.

Amy, being less than enthusiastic about our son's new found daredevil-ism, grilled me on any past encouragement I might have offered, but that leap of faith was all sam.

Sure, we missed AMy. And the fact that the weekend of fathering forced me to miss the best surf OF THE WHOLE YEAR should not go undocumented. But all and all, it was a good weekend. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

(next time, Sam might get a chance to go daredevil in some hurricane surf... I mean if he is jumping off diving boards, why not? right?!?)

BUTTER.

2009-08-18T19:33:00.003-04:00

A few years ago, after my grandma Virgina passed away, we were all sitting in her kitchen in desperate need of some levity. In my grandma's later years she developed a penchant for the unhealthiest of foods. I had seen her eat cream cheese with a spoon, chicken skin as a meal, and everything (EVERYTHING) got an extra stick of butter. Cakes, Broccoli, whatever. So maybe that is why, sitting in that kitchen we all got a good laugh when we got back from the funeral and the only thing written on her shopping list was "butter".

I think Sam might be channeling Grandma Brady this week. Last night we sat down to eat a little steamed artichoke. I tried to teach him how to dip the leaves in the melted butter. Discontent with a dip, he tried to 'scoop'. And when that didn't work he just picked up the bowl and drank the whole thing.

Yup. That's my boy.

I didn't get any video of it, but in case you doubt me that the kid will eat anything, check this:

GEEPS? DIAPER?

2009-08-10T21:08:00.001-04:00

SPUR OF THE MOMENT????

2009-08-02T13:46:00.002-04:00

Damon: When did your grandma pass away?

Amy: Spring of 2007.

Damon: Why didn't I go to the services?

Amy: You were really busy, and it was a spur of the moment thing.

As opposed to the really well-planned funeral services.

SAM HAS POOP

2009-07-27T21:12:00.002-04:00

So you never want to be comfortable handling the feces of another being. If it gets too easy then you know that you made a bad life decision somewhere down the line.

That's why when I inadvertently picked up what I thought was a dried blueberry this evening and when i found out it was poop and upon further discovery realized it was sam poop and I still sorta just nonchalantly got rid of it and washed my hands as if it was no big deal... well lets just say I am reevaluating my poop reaction meter.

SAM HAS FRIENDS

2009-07-23T16:46:00.002-04:00

Editor's note: just this week our friends had some kids... twins. So i sent them this. Congrats y'all and hope you don't mind me recycling the content (of course you don't cause you work for an enviro org... recycling rocks!)

Welcome C.W. and Lyla

Hey there kids, Welcome to earth. Trippy place huh. Here is something that will someday blow your mind: If you started walking (well crawling) in one direction, and you went that way for as far as you possibly could, and if you were to come to abig body of water (we call them oceans) and you were to keep swimming and then you were to repeat this crawl swim thing a few times making sure always to stay in the same direction... Eventually you would end up RIGHT BACK WHERE YOU STARTED. I know, crazy huh? But lets not drop such heavy stuff on y'all here in your first day. It's been a bit hectic already and I wouldn't want you to be overwhelmed. You two are in some very good hands. I mean this. Not everyone ends up in such a sweet gig, but y'all struck gold. You have two loving,goofy, fun, grounded, happy parents. You also have this older sister, and Ihave seen Ainsley operate around the younger set. She is aces. Lucky I say.and your parents dropped some cool names for you, and bonus, you have a dog.Kids should have dogs, it's just the way it should be. IF I may, (and I am by no means an expert in all this) I would like to offer you a few suggestions on living. Several of these things involve other people so you two are lucky in that, being twins, you already have each other to participate (like frisbee throwing... Or see-sawing) Take them for suggestions, not directives, just a fellow earthling who has a 32 year head start on the journey around the world: 1. dig on music. Maybe you learn to play an instrument or maybe you dance,or maybe you end up as a background singer in a rock & roll band (shoooowhop) either which way, music is universal and makes things better. 2. Let fate decide. Not on big things, you gotta make your own luck, but every now and again let go of it all and leave it up to fate. I'm thinking about menu options at a new restaurant or a fork in the trail out atumstead. Nothing wrong with letting it fly. 3. lean on each other. Twins can get a little exclusive and into each other and it can be weird, so make sure you spend some time doing your own thing so you never are defined as just one part of a set. But also, don't be scared to lean on one another, y'all are in this together. And really, this business about leaning on each other applies to the non-uterinerelationships you develop. Be not afraid to lean on someone, but never lose your own sense of what it means to stand on your own. 4. Surf. Or ski, or try something that involves sliding. It's a hoot, and if you can convince your parents to move to midtown you will have access to all of the boards and skates you need at my house. Even if you can't convince them to midtown it (and y'all should try to... Very very hard) call me when you are ready and I will take you to the beach. 5. Listen to your folks. Not because you believe in some artificial sense of hierarchy, or because they are bigger. Listen to them cause they are thereto help. You aren't gonna find too many people who care about you as much as they do, so give 'em an ear. 6. Don't listen too closely. Sometime, when you get to be somewhere around15, you are going to come to the conclusion that your folks really don't have it figured out anyway. Here is a little secret that I probably shouldn't let you in on yet: We are all making this up as we go along. 7. Never let THEM define you. I'm not too worried about this with you chase and lyla. We don't really know you too much, but I bet that being part of'the crowd' isn't going to be among your most treasured values. But here isthe rub: being different for differences sake still lets them win. A trite,but telling example: a lot of your parent's hippy friends drink microbrewscause they don't want some big corporation brewing the happy juice. Well, ifyou really like the happy juice that is made in a factory in downtown stlouis, drink it, and don't look back. 8. speaking of happy juice try not to get into that or any of the other'adult' things too early. Being older does not make you cool. Seriously. 9. do something you care about. Maybe its your job, or your painting hobby,or rock climbing or being with friends. Sure, we all have to do a fairamount of stuff we don't want to , to pay the bills, make others happyetc... But drop some joy in your life every single day. 10. Don't give up when it gets hard. Rough patches happen, with yourfriends, your work, your hobbies. Stick to it. Accomplishments earned meansomething. On the other hand, if you feel like you are just banging yourhead against a wall, no sense in that either. 11. learn a silly trick. Maybe its juggling or throwing a Frisbee orcalculus. Fun to have that in your hip pocket. 12. travel. It may not be a straight line, it may not be in one direction,but going places is cool and one of the many ways you can get back to whereyou started from. Best of luck to you both, Chase (or if I can call you C.W. Or maybe c-dub) Iexpect you to keep an eye on your little sister and be mindful of your bigsister, if you ever need some man time, call my boy sam. And Lyla, my dearyou are a part of a gender majority in the buzby household, please refrainfrom tyrannical majority behavior and rule with a benevolent mind towardsthe loyal opposition. Much love Damon

STALE BLOG

2009-07-22T20:02:00.002-04:00

What to do? Work = busy. Sam = busy. house, sports, lakemont, boards = busy busy busy. I don't want to shut it down (if the media grab goes under there will be precious few outlets to chronicle all things circostian.) but bi-weekly posts aren't cutting it. I suppose I could recycle posts (nowstalgia anyone?), or find some media partners. I think the last suggestion might be the best. I'm thinking some sort of group blog. Anyone game? We could each promise a post a week. I am totally serious.

BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER

2009-07-17T08:27:00.002-04:00

Vacation is over and even though Walloon might be the bestest place ever, I'm glad I'm home.

Pictures soon, some are already up on FB and Amy FB.

VACATION, ALL I EVER WANTED?

2009-06-30T16:44:00.003-04:00

Me, Sam and Amy are headed up north for a few days of relaxation on a lake. I'm excited, but for perhaps the first time in my adult career, I am a little sad about missing some fun stuff at work. Lucky for me I will have a blackberry and promises from the rest of our crew to keep me in the loop.

I don't know if I am there yet, but I read this quote in a book titled "let my people go surfing":

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreations. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always seems to be doing both.

HOLLOW VICTORY?

2009-06-28T20:16:00.004-04:00

So the first annual lakemont biathlon was this weekend. And since it was held on the morning after my first late night poker outing since college, I didn't have high expectations. For those of your reading my facebook status around 12:30 am, you might understand why I wasn't "race-ready" (thanks Vann). The gargoyle, trained and ready, was decked out with a fancy swim shirt and was practicing his flip turns when I showed up. He was totally in my head.

After the kids, and relays, and teenagers finished up it was time for the main event. At this point, I'm just hoping not to get lapped. Coming out of the swim, The Gargoyle (due mostly in part to whatever robotic training regimen he is involved in over at SAS) has about a 30 second lead. The good news is that he is at least in sight. The other piece of good news I recently saw Rocky 4. I don't think that the Gargoyle is a soviet, but the computer company he works for in Cary is the closest thing to the KGB this side of Moscow. The gargoyle may have the best technology available (no joke, his office has an Olympic training pool), but I had my Italian heritage, and two solid weeks (14 days!) of Rocky-style training going for me.

Having never run an actual footrace before, I was unaccustomed to something called 'pacing'. Apparently, 'pacing' is where you run less than flat out the whole time so that you can run longer than the length of a frisbee field.

This pacing strategy is all the rage amongst distance athletes. You don't finish a half-iron man (like the gargoyle did last month) using damon style bizerker running. And the pacing strategy would have paid off for the Gargoyle, except for one thing: The lakemont biathlon was an "all-age event" (Read: the course had to be something that a six-year old could complete)

Still & all, it wasn't until the third and final lap that I caught the gargoyle. And in a testament to his off-the-charts level of classiness he dropped me a solid high five when I passed him.

But he must have sensed that my 'take-no-prisoners' mentality would catch up with me. I built up about a 15 second lead, but started to flag around the last bend. I ended up winning, but only by 6 seconds. While I was shot, I kinda have the feeling that it was over before it really started for my nemesis.

There were awards afterwards and plenty of "the gargoyle is old enough to be your father" banter. Which, of course led to a whole bunch of star-wars references ("search your feelings, you know it to be true")

I HAD A BLAST.

And now that I am batting a thousand on racing, I think I might actually keep going. I need to learn some things, like this "pacing" thing. But there is a lakemont biathlon course title to defend, and I would bet a dollar to a donut that the gargoyle is already lobbying for a slightly longer racecourse.

A BIT TOO CHEESEY

2009-06-21T20:39:00.004-04:00

You would think that a plate full of raw meat and scalding cooking appliances at every table would be the two must troublesome aspects of a fondue restaurant. You might think that, but in the case of the melting pot on wake forest, you would be wrong.

Apparently the only people who eat at fondue restaurants are celebrating a birthday or anniversary or something. Amy and I were there (5 years of matrimonial bliss). Assigned to our table was the inattentive, but comedic, Terrance. He had a memorized spiel. It had been clearly vetted by legal (don't eat directly from fondue skewer, use caution when consuming molten cheese, etc). But terrence found ways to add a little zazz. From nicknaming the rescue spoon 'search and destroy' to comparing the fondue plate to a dog's paw, no aspect of our dining experience was shielded from the awkwardly delivered comedic stylings of Terrence.

The kicker was when we ended the meal Terrence chimed in with this little gem (and I am directly quoting here): "Thanks for coming in. The good news about tonight is it's your anniversary and you two 'celebrating' when you get home is a sure thing" (note that 'celebrating' was said in a way that still makes my skin crawl a little bit.)

Now, I don't know if the Melting Pot's training materials include a section on the appropriate amount of familiarity one should have between waiter and guest, but I am pretty sure that cracking wise about the inevitability of relations between two people you have never met probably crosses some sort of line. If indeed the melting pot training manual doesn't address this I suggest they add the following:

"we here at the melting pot want to put our customers at ease. Eating at a fondue restaurant can be a bit uncomfortable. Uncooked meat, a steamy broth, small tables and an open cooking element coupled with the faux pleasantness that come from over scripting everything about the dining experience all add up to a certain level of apprehension among our clientele. This is why it is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to refrain from comment on the subject of marital relations in front of the customers. This line of commentary is difficult for even close friends to manage, let alone in the context of the waiter/customer relationship. Rather than creep everyone out by making weird insinuations about the inevitability of sex, please stick to melting pot approved topics, like up selling the specialty salads."

Thanks Terrance for making our 5th anniversary a memorable one

Hang ten, little buddy

2009-06-16T15:25:00.000-04:00

Facebook | Amy Dutton Circosta's Photos - Carolina Beach

UH-OH

2009-06-12T07:24:00.001-04:00

So this was pinned to my door this morning. I think I might have poked a beehive with a stick!

STEEL SHARPENS STEEL

2009-06-11T20:14:00.006-04:00

Everyone needs a Nemesis. Ali had Frazier, Batman had the joker, Sam has the Bunny (although if you saw that boy hug that bunny, you might think that quarrel is done.) It is an undeniable fact that heroes need foils, and we never do our best unless we are pushed.

Allow me to introduce my nemesis:

This here is Sean Gargan. Sean (Or 'the gargoyle' as he will henceforth be known) might appear to be just a normal suburban dad (note loving wife, and clean, pressed linen shirt)

But what you don't know about the Gargoyle is the reason he must be stopped.
first, I have a strong suspicion that he was part of a secret government program to reverse the aging process. The gargoyle claims to be "in his 40's" but unless he has some Benjamin Button thing going, this clearly isn't the case. His kids might be graduating, but with a full head of hair, and no "suburban stomach" he is making the rest of us look bad. And if stopping freakish anti-aging mutants isn't enough of a reason to make him my nemesis, the gargoyle sings in a choir. And no one should look so jaunty in a scarf and cap.

The Gargoyle has the rest of the neighborhood fooled with his pleasant demeanor, nice kids and cool wife. But I'm not buying it. I see through his offers to help and invitations to dinner parties. Luckily I have a plan to stop him.

The Gargoyle fancies himself quite the athlete.

He "runs triathlons" and does the krispy kreme challenge, but when some mere mortal without access to whatever anti-aging serum they give him at SAS kicks his butt at an athletic endeavor, he will be forced to come clean.

It might not be the O.K corral, or Normandy beach, but the venue to vanquish the gargoyle has been chosen. On The Last Saturday in June, at the lakemont pool
the first annual lakemont biathlon will commence. Despite my well documented disdain of running I have signed up. I will run. I will swim. and I will defeat the Gargoyle

SNARF SNARF SNARF

2009-06-09T15:31:00.002-04:00

Hey, anybody remember snarf from the thundercats?

I do. Thats all.

THE SMALL VICTORIES

2009-05-27T12:24:00.003-04:00

Here in the Circosta household we are pretty much all for one, one for all. We generally agree on what needs to happen, when and how. But every now and again I find myself on the outside of mainstream Circosta-ism on certain issues.

take, for instance, the great barber debates of this spring. Sam needs a cut, Amy has steadfastly opposed, and my threats of unilateral action have either been dismissed or rebuffed, depending on what you think an icy silent stare means.

So you can imagine how pleased I was to hear that Amy (finally) made an appointment with the kiddie cutters. I fancy that my lobbying skills played a role in this. And even if they didn't I am relishing the small victory that is a boy cut.

50 words or less

2009-05-25T10:41:00.002-04:00

So the challenge is to write your biography in 50 words or less.(thanks amy)... here is mine. What's yours?

Raised on a mountain, schooled by an ocean, found home halfway between the two with loving wife, happy boy and wondermutt. The quest is systemic but not systematic. Most days it's all good. Connected to many, bound to a few, Damon is perpetually trying to figure what it all means.

Fierce Urgency of NOW

2009-05-22T20:08:00.002-04:00

At the common cause fundraiser last night MLK was quoted. So this is what I am thinking in debating disc vs frisbee tommorow.

We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The "tide in the affairs of men" does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. "The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on..."

MLK

TWISTING BY THE POOL

2009-05-20T09:58:00.001-04:00

With thanks to Jack Katy and of course HElen ROse!!!

WAITING ON THE HONORABLES

2009-05-12T17:07:00.002-04:00

As I type this I am waiting for the NC General Assembly to finish session so some of them can go to a committee meeting in order to consider a bill that will make it easier for young people to vote.

The legislature self imposes a deadline where they won't consider certain bills after this week. This means that the whole place goes wacky. The wackiness results in certain bills getting a thorough discussion and others not being heard at all.

There is a better way. I am convinced of it. But, like most problems that only come up once every couple of years the momentum to fix them expires like the milk in my fridge.

I could prattle on about this being the primary reason for my lack of posts, but it really isn't the proximate cause. That would be Sam. So it pains me this evening to be waiting on this debate, cause it means that today is a day I won't get to spend too much time with the boy... Now that i think about it, this nascent idea of reform, this fixing of the artificial deadline isn't about better democracy at all, but simply a way for me to see my boy.

I guess even we reformers have our motives.

INTERESTING CONVERSATION

2009-04-30T16:41:00.002-04:00

For those of you who check the grab regularly you might have noticed that the most recent post was subtly, but substantially edited a mere four hours after it was posted. Due to a longstanding agreement with the aggrieved party I cannot relay what was cut out of the original post.

This whole recent foray into censorship brought me back to the conversation amy and i had when I told her I would be blogging:

Amy: So you are going to write about me, for the whole world to witness?
Me: well kinda, but really only our friends will see it.
Amy: Why?
ME: Um, I dunno.
Amy: O.K. but here is the deal. Any post pertaining to me I get editorial approval on.
Me: Sure.
Amy: no, I mean it.
ME: (distractedly) of course.

So, there ya have it. The Media grab, in its effort to not leave uncovered a significant aspect of our mission to bring you "all things circostian", unwittingly agreed to being censored. I shall do my best to bring you news, but unless you have access to other circosta media forms you may not be getting the whole picture.

This is like Warsaw in the 80s.

FIG LEAFING IT

2009-04-27T21:39:00.004-04:00

Every now and again my wife's Midwestern sensibilities get the best of her. Modesty and decorum are, after all, the hallmarks of civilized society. Thus I don't complain when she tells me to refrain from getting the mail with only my boxer shorts on, And I don't mind curbing the somewhat saltier vocabulary of which I was once accustomed. I do, however, have a problem. I pity poor sam on his prom night. For the only thing more embarrassing than having the parents pull out naked photos are naked photos with very very small fig leaves.

I'M A GROWN UP ELEPHANT JOCKEY

2009-04-04T19:29:00.003-04:00

Dad, I can play on the flying elephant all by myself, thank you very much.

See, I told you so

NOW I'M ONLY FALLING APART

2009-03-30T14:58:00.002-04:00

Rarely do I catch Amy even approaching an 'overly-dramatic' phase. She is the most even-keeled, no drama, nothing-phases-me, person I know. About two months ago, she caught a cold and chipped a tooth all in one fell swoop. As she laid on our couch convalescing she said something that wouldn't sound strange coming from the more theatric among us, but indeed did sound odd coming from her. "I'm falling apart", she said, and dare I say she said it in such a way that made me think (just for a second) that we had our first spotting of Amy drama.

Flash forward to right now. I have caught whatever bug Sam brought home from day care, gave to amy and has now been inherited by me. I'm tired, drinking pepto like it's the worlds worst tasting smoothie, and need to be downtown for a public financing bill. To top it all off at lunch today, I too, chipped a tough and am now seriously thinking that I am falling apart.

Herein lies the problem. If I submit to my nature and throw myself the pity party I so desperately want to, then I confirm all the stereotype Amy has about our relative need for drama. If, on the other hand I suck it up and be a good solider, then I don't get the requisite amount of sympathy I truly deserve.

Oh, if only I could summon whatever reserves my wife seems to have in spades. If only I could muster up some moxie and buck up. Oh, if only I could refrain from thinking what I feel is happening. But there is nothing I can do, save a total eclipse of the heart.

DEAR SAM, MONTH THIRTEEN

2009-03-26T20:49:00.003-04:00

Hey Buddy,

Well, So much for that regular monthly note where I impart wisdom, reflect on your growth and otherwise provide you with archivable content suitable for whimsy and nostalgia. Here we are month thirteen, and I have no idea how long it has been since I penned one of these. Noting personal little dude, even before you were born I was firing up regularly scheduled things only to not follow through on 'em. (See, e.g. every workout regimen I ever had, Wednesday night friend night, the pre-blog e-mail update, etc.)

So what are we to make all of this? Well, for one thing, following through is hard. I'm trying to buddy, and I know, sometimes trying just ain't gonna cut it. Nevertheless, I'll keep dropping these regularly scheduled (ahem, occasional) notes if you keep growing. And growing you are.

You are a little dude. You do things. You are a full on mini-human.

So anyway, keep rocking it out little man... as regularly scheduled as possible

THE NEIGHBORS MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING

2009-03-25T08:56:00.003-04:00

When Sam was a little tyke, we got him this sweet snuggle carrier called the ergo (made on maui!) It has served us well on our walks throughout the neighborhood.

Lately though, As Sam gets older (read: larger) the neighbors are starting to point and stare. Talk of an 'intervention' has been rumored. In fact, Maggie, of the Famed Gargan Clan sent us this. Maybe an intervention isn't such a bad idea. At the very least, we should probably convert to the ergo's backpack mode. (good thing there are instructions)

STATUS UPDATE

2009-03-15T19:54:00.002-04:00

Damon is:

Not really updating his status all that much

Damon is:

More productive than ever, but still feeling a bit behind

Damon is:

really not grabbing much media, but way into little circosta

Damon is:

Trying to spice up the blog with this cheap facebook rip off

Damon is:

wondering if Haiku was the orginal status update

Damon is:

Still hoping for media consolidation

Damon is:

thinking he might go back to the mass e-mail, or maybe go newsletter style

Damon is:

TTISHPAPOSIODASU

(totally thinking I should have posted a picture of sam instead of doing a status update)

TOO MUCH CUTE

2009-03-05T20:15:00.002-05:00

EVOLUTION OF A STATESMAN

2009-02-21T18:01:00.002-05:00

Just last week, Sam decided to take his first steps. Bold and decisive our boy has now decided that mere walking alone will not suffice. While down in Florida (a swing state, mind you) Sam has perfected the art of the politician parade wave. This is where you point and wave at no one in particular to give the illusion that you are surrounded by old friends and acquaintances.

As we toured the condo, Sam would smile and laugh and wave and point with nary a human around. He is like Joe Biden at a Scranton V.F.W.

His old man may be more proud of this development than he was during the first steps phase. I only wish I was kidding.

BREAKING NEWS

2009-02-15T19:25:00.002-05:00

Dateline: Midtown

The Media Grab continues it's inprobable streak of scooping all others in it's never ending quest to cover all things circostian. Here, today you get a first look at Sam walking. he took his first steps this weekend and he is already cruising!!!

And from the archives, some video shot earlier this month. Note: this video contains some nudity... but it's only baby nudity so breathe easy y'all

A PICTURE IS WORTH

2009-02-07T16:28:00.003-05:00

TOUGH TIMES IN THE MEDIA

2009-01-30T19:32:00.004-05:00

What's up grab-nation? I know I know... an infrequent blogger is an irresponsible blogger. So for that i apoligize. I could whine about the busy work life, or the demands of child rearing, but let's face it, that sort of talk gets us nowhere. Like the chicago tribune and countless smaller news outlets, we here at the media grab are in jeopordy of closing shop. I had some promising, yet ultimately unfruitful, negotations with some other outlets covering all things circostian in an effort to consolidate. But now that those have tanked I am looking for other strategies to keep this enterprise afloat. Maybe I could go to to an all picture format. Or, maybe I need to resurect the long ass e-mail I used to send every few months. I'm looking to retool and suggestions appreciated. In the meantime, how bout a recent picture of the boy:
This is what is at stake people. This is what is at stake.

DID YOU HEAR THE JOKE ABOUT THE DORK WHO SAID NO?

2009-01-19T19:41:00.002-05:00

When I was 10 years old I took my first international trip to Guaymas Mexico with my 'rents and our close family friends, the Gershaters. I don't remember much about it except that I was worried the Bon Jovi CD I bought in a flea market would be sung in Spanish. Other than that it was your typical spring vacation: Mosquitoes, me and my boy Mati trying to ninja sneak around the hotel and a deep sea fishing trip that resulted in the only time I ever saw my dad vomit.

A lot of Arizonians travel to the guaymas area on spring break. It's stunningly beautiful but a real eye-opener when it comes to world affairs. To this day I can't get over the fact that such jaw dropping poverty was less than a day's drive from my house. Having very little experience with international travel can do that to you.

I haven't been out of our borders too many other times, mostly to Mexico. As I got older my reasons for going had less to do with family vacations and more to do with underage drinking, wave seeking, and your typical sub twenty-one antics.

In fact, the only other country I have visited is Canada. I was 14 and again, it was with the Gershaters. While Mati and I were no longer in our ninja phase (we were aspiring NHL'ers on our way to hockey school) we still had a lot of fun. We had this tired joke we would recycle about "the dork who said no" which resulted in belly laughs anytime anyone said the word no.

I'm telling you all this cause Mati has a cause. He has teamed up with some enviro-types and outdoor athlete types to bring solar panels to poor schools. Oddly enough, he just went back down to guaymas to kick off greenscool

If you get a chance, the folks at patagonia are blogging about it. Check it out.

Oh, and if anyone ever asks you if you have heard the joke about the dork who said no... save yourself and tell them you indeed have heard that one.

WII HULA HOOP

2009-01-03T20:17:00.003-05:00

I'm Watching Amy rock the Wii Fit right now in our "new" den. The reclamation project is in full swing. We painted the walls, ditched the old furniture and the new stuff is on its way!!!

2008: A BIG YEAR

2008-12-24T10:42:00.003-05:00

Even a forward-thinking, cutting-edge, new-media project like the Media Grab likes to kick back and reflect from time to time. I just looked up the post from this time last year and it got me thinking: 2008 for me has been hands down the most jam packed, crazy, life changing year since 1995.

Let's recap, shall we?

biggest change: Sam Circosta showing up on leap day.
biggest challenge: adapting to fatherhood
biggest job: the 'lost month' working for Barack
biggest opportunity: 2009
biggest love: (tie) The Wife, The Boy
biggest realization: If I'm not careful I could very well become a morning person
biggest disappointment: I only surfed 6 days in 2008
biggest surprise: I didn't even come close to fainting on feb 29
biggest home improvement project: The reclaiming of kashis room
biggest dinner: the Free Steak from Flemings
biggest resolution: not to slip farther into the abyss of no exercise
biggest trip: RDU to NOLA to Walloon
biggest discovery: They really do grow up fast
biggest thought: It really is all connected
biggest hope: that we all all pull together
biggest fear: that we don't

Anyway, I hope you loyal readers of the media grab, have a happy holiday and move on to big things in 2009

A FEW PICS

2008-12-19T14:36:00.001-05:00

just some photos of the boy

DREAM

2008-12-10T10:50:00.003-05:00

I had a dream last night that readership was falling off on the blog because I wasn't getting enough content out there... we were then forced into bankruptcy just like the tribune

I wish I was joking about this, but these are my dreams.

OF RECESSIONS, ADMINSTRATIONS AND IRRELAVANCIES

2008-12-04T08:24:00.000-05:00

With the transition, and these macro-econ stories, I have been thinking a lot about the effect government has on the day to day lives of all of us. It made me think of this sort of weird quote from Dave Eggers about the power of corporations and official people:

No matter how big such companies are, and how many things they own, or how much money they have or make or control, their influence over the daily lives and hearts of individuals, and thus, like 99 percent of what is done by official people in cities like Washington, or Moscow, or Sao Paulo or Auckland, their effect on the short, fraught lives of human beings who limp around and sleep and dream of flying through bloodstreams, who love the smell of rubber cement and think of space travel while having intercourse, is very very small, and so hardly worth worrying about.

I guess the point here is that recession, or new Washington leadership or really any of these things (although important) don't really do too much to one's day to day. Case in point: when you think back on the following years what do you think of: Spring of 1991, Fall of 2000, Spring of 2008. For me it goes like this 1991: best spring break trip ever (me and Dad on a california/ phx golf and hockey trip) 2000: I met Amy, 2008: Sam is Born. What I am not thinking about is that these were the last three recessions we were in.

There is much to be excited about in these uncertain times, and much to be... well, uncertain about, but either which way, the really important stuff isn't on the news. It's sitting on my couch.

mere mortals

2008-11-25T14:01:00.004-05:00

From the get go, our son has had a noggin that is disproportionally large compared to the rest of his body. He is also built about as solid as somebody with less than a year to show can be built. Here is the picture we took of him this afternoon:

Ok, just kidding, but sort of kidding on the square. Our son is a tank, and he is as tough as nails. He is 22.5 pounds, 75th percentile in height and weight, and his head is now (thankfully) back on the charts, but still at 95 percentile. When the doctor gave him a shot today he didn't even flinch. Sam looked at her as if to say "is that the best you got?!?!"

I'M ON MY WAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING

2008-11-21T17:33:00.004-05:00

So just a few notes

1. I know, I haven't written the monthly 'dear sam' letter for october yet... I was kinda busy. looks like I'll have to double up. But my inspiration for the monthly letter has taken to a more liberal monthly letter posting schedule so I guess I'm off the hook.

2. Another item in the 'Blog Postings That Need to Happen Dept.' is a new campaign video, starring Sam's new nemesis: 'Sarah Penguin'. If you haven't heard, sources close to Sam report that he has made peace with the Bunny and is regretful about some of the things he said about the bunny in the heat of a campaign. It's ok though. Bunny is gonna be in Sam's cabinet. Sarah Penguin, though, that's a different story and one that needs telling. You think someone is having difficulty getting past the election? Let's just say "You Betcha".

3. Sam is a crawling fiend. This means that our weekend will be spent in a long overdue baby-proofing effort.

IT'S OFFICIAL

2008-11-18T18:14:00.002-05:00

From 5 minutes ago:

Dad: Hey Buddy

Son: "da da"

Mom: I think it's offical

Dad: For realsies?

Mom: He just convinced me.

Son: "da da"

Dad: I'm so going to blog about this right now

So there ya have it. Sam's first word.

FIRST WORDS?

2008-11-16T10:30:00.002-05:00

There is some controversy up here in Bloomington. We may have heard Sam utter his first word. Now, seeing as how this first word also happens to be a popular substitute for 'father', I may be jumping the gun here. But Auntie Em - neutral arbiter extraordinaire - witnessed a recent string of 'da da' and seems to think this wasn't just random noise. Sure, he has been making this sound for quite sometime, but he seems to be making this sound in conjunction with my presence.

Stay tuned for a final verdict from Amy. In the meantime I will try and get some video up (and some pictures of our bloomington trip... which is an awesome place by the way, and would have totally made the list of 'places we could have moved to had it been located closer to an ocean and maybe a bit warmer')

SIX YEARS AGO TODAY

2008-11-11T21:22:00.004-05:00

She said yes. And right now she is walking in the door to hang out in our house, with our son!!! Happy Engage-aversary, pumpkin. I love you

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

Is it time for another update yet? Well, probably not. But sometimes,
something big happens. Something that makes you want to shout from the
rooftops and tell everyone you know. Yes, the big things can't be held to a
bi-weekly schedule. That is where I'm at right now. I've got news. Big
news. Life changing news.

On November 11th, I asked Amy Catherine Dutton to marry me. She said yes!

This may come as a shock to readers of my recent e-mails, but I am at a loss
for words. I don't really know how to explain my feelings in relation to
this big event. I feel as though I just hit the lottery. I feel lucky,
happy, totally in love, but at the same time a little bewildered. Good
things tend to happen to me and for that I am grateful. But having Amy in my
life forever makes me feel as though I have somehow received more than my
share of good fortune. Since Monday night we have been making phone calls,
and laughing and smiling til our cheeks hurt. No matter how much you think
you are prepared for something like this, and no matter how much you have
talked about it, when it comes down to crunch time, everything changes.
Rather than try and explain emotions that I am not quite sure I understand
yet, I'll give you a little recap of that wonderful day.

11-11 was not the first day I thought about popping the question. I've had a
ring cleverly concealed since we have been here in DC. Amy and I have
talked about our future, and the kind of timeline we want to work with, but
the timing of the engagement was up to me. With our two-year anniversary,
and Amy's birthday both conveniently occurring in October, it seemed as
though the stars would line up a month ago. But alas, a combination of
factors thwarted any real chance. There was a romantic walk on the beach in
North Carolina, but I didn't have the ring with me. October came and went
and even though calling us "single" would be a mischaracterization we were
certainly not engaged.

Our stay here is coming to an end and I really wanted to have this whole
engagement thing wrapped up by the time we got home. Life for Amy and me
moves into fast forward upon our arrival in Tucson. We have to finish up
school, graduate, find a job, find a place to live, prepare for and pass the
bar, and move all before June. My thoughts were that all of these decisions
would be easier made with a bit more certainty in our future. As the months
have passed here in DC, it was never a question of if we wanted to get
engaged, but how. So when I woke up the other morning and realized that I
had the whole day to plan, I set the wheels in gear. Amy was working and my
status as a federal government employee afforded me the opportunity to take
the day and think things out. Where, why, when and how were the principle
questions that need answering. I wanted something memorable, but not cheesy.
I wanted something note-worthy, but I also wanted surprise. I finally
decided on a simple dinner at home. I went to the store and bought all the
necessary ingredients (we had marinated chicken, veggies, and mashed
potatoes if you were curious). I cleaned up the house, shaved and put on my
lucky yellow surf trunks. Hidden in the pocket normally reserved for surf
wax was a simple, but dare I say splendid, engagement ring.
We ate and talked and I tried to stay calm. Since I had almost proposed
before I figured I could always wait until it was right and do it another
night. This helped tremendously. It kept me from being a wreck in the hours
preceding the big question. After dinner was the moment of truth. No matter
how you see it in the movies, it is always a somewhat chaotic moment. Here
is how it went down:

Damon: "Amy, Will you marry me?"
Amy: "Are you Serious?!?"
Damon: "Yes." ( Present Ring)
Amy: "Okay!" (hugs, kisses, more talk)
Damon "Here" (Damon places ring almost on wrong hand, then regains his
sense of left and right and places ring on finger).

Laughter, tears, shaking, hugging ensue

So it is all wonderful, all very happy and all ecstatic. It may be a while
before I send you all another update, but rest assured all is well in DC.
Neither Rain, nor a lame duck session, nor lack of waves, nor cold weather
can dissuade the happiness in our world right now. All is well herein DC,
very very very well. And it is all because Amy and I will be getting
married!

With love

Damon

p.s. All questions about Date, time, Place, and other arrangements regarding
said union can be forwarded to:

Hold up, we just got engaged 48 hours ago
222 wait a bit lane
Patience, AZ
85621

WHAT A BOY!!!!!!

2008-11-11T21:17:00.002-05:00

Some photos from the past month

COMING OUT OF HYPER-SPACE

2008-11-06T09:14:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, on October 7th of this year I took a one month leave from my day job to help with the legal protection aspect of Barack Obama's North Carolina effort. It was amazing, and exhilarating. With the exception of a Sunday afternoon sometime in mid October, I have been completely and fully engaged in this effort nearly every waking minute over the past month.

It is easy to forget how tantalizing campaigns can be, (especially unprecedented, historic, improbable winning campaigns). It seems every election cycle I say I'm gonna stay out of it, and every election cycle I am right abck in it. I still have a mountain of work to dig out from here at the center, and being at ground zero of election issues has given me some perspective I would to use to inform our near term efforts.

SO what I am saying here is it may be a while before I can hash out the long ass e-mail that will inevitably be hitting your in-boxes soon.

In the meantime, I would like to remind everyone of my efforts in the fall of 2007 to name little Sam "Barack Circosta".

At the time, when a Hillary presidency was almost as certain as death and taxes, there was concern that the name 'Barack' would be nothing but a footnote in Sam's 11th grade history book. Now, don't get me wrong... Sam Circosta is the perfect name for our little boy, and he has his own history to make (2056?) but if Amy isn't careful that middle name of his could change in the coming weeks... If only I could find his Birth Certificate.

A great month, a great experience and a soon-to-be great presidency. And for those of you thinking I am bringing up the barack appeal again in an effort to muddy the baby naming waters so we can name child number two ellemno, how dare you. Campaigns designed to distract people from the real issues clearly don't work anymore.

AIN'T NO STOPPING

2008-11-02T21:23:00.002-05:00

Weird to think, but I am now considering 9:24pm an early evening. At some point, I want to give a full recap of the last 28 days, but for now a few highlights:

1. we have built the most sophisticated campaign ever assembled in the history of politics.

2. Even in this super-sophisticated operation it still feels a little like a very chatoic summer camp

3. I miss Sam & Amy so much, and will never be able to express how awesome amy has been about being supportive and taking the lions share of Sam duty so I could take a huge paycut to work 80 hour weeks.

4. I forgot how punchy, exasuasting, awesome, gut-wrenching campaigns are.

5. In 48 hours we will be on our way to a better country...

goodnight

SUPER SAM

2008-10-31T22:22:00.003-04:00

HE VOTES!!!!

HE TOTES!!!

HE ROOTS!!!

HE TOOTS (or someone did)!!!

HE'S SUPER SAM!!!

A RARE DAY

2008-10-26T15:28:00.002-04:00

After 17 straight days of more than 10 hours (mostly 16)... I had the rare opportunity to take the day off. It's not that there isn't anything going on, but john perko happened to be coming through (you may remember john as the dude who performed our vows). Anyway, such a rare opportunity to see one of my oldest friends and here I am, on the couch. Anyway, i just got word that headquarters is in a bit of a bind... so in addition to an 8pm conference call looks like it might be just a half day.

sigh

well, only nine days left

YAWWWN

2008-10-20T20:06:00.002-04:00

Last night's staff meeting was at 10:40 PM THAT'S RIGHT 80 MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT. Currently I am checking out a webinar so that we can more effectively process all of our volunteers (it's 8:17pm).

It occurs to me now that I haven't fully explained what i am doing...and i don't want to sound secretive, but time is in short supply, so let's just say the reason I am busy and the reason we have meetings at these ungodly hours is N.C. is a swing state. Our job is to (as Julia in our office says) 'protect the S*%T out of this election.'

Since we are a swing state and since the circus has come to town, the opportunity for tomfoolery is abound. So back to work it is.

WARM'S YOUR HEART

2008-10-15T14:18:00.002-04:00

One of the many duties I have on the campaign is to take shifts on the help line. So I spend about an hour a day talking to people, many of whom have never voted before, and giving them information on how to vote. The calls aren't too taxing, it's a welcome break from the breakneck pace of everything else.

This warms my heart for a couple of reasons:

1. It is inspiring to see so many people who care about this election (This is like the prom, Christmas, and spring break for us voting nerds)

2. Everyone wants to vote early. I played an (extremely) small part in the passage of the early voting bill here and it is great that it is such a useful tool to get people involved.

3. Usually, when I am on the phone, my laptop screen goes to screen saver mode and I can see pictures of Sam!

BEST. WIFE. EVER

2008-10-14T11:08:00.000-04:00

A little over eight years ago, Amy and I became 'an item'. Less than a week after our first date was her birthday. I tried my best to do something nice, but without much context, I ended up getting it all wrong (I cooked dinner, with less than preferred ingredients).

I've never been too good at her birthday (with the excpetion of her 30th) and it looks like you can toss this year into that column.

Sorry Am, for having to work until 10pm

I love you. happy birthday

SLEEPY EYE

2008-10-12T20:37:00.001-04:00

Sam has his ancestors to thank for this photo. Like his father, and his father's father, sam gets one droopy eye when he gets sleepy.

Since I am writing this from the office at 8:35 on a sunday, and since I still have two (two!) conference calls left this evening (can you beleive that field staff has meetings at 10pm?) you can safely assume that I, too, am sporting a droopy eye.

027.JPG (image)

LIGHT BLOGGING IT"S CRUNCH TIME

2008-10-08T21:05:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I began a one month leave of absence from my job to work on Barack Obama's campaign for change. I am in the process of helping build a network of lawyers to assist in ensuring every registered voter casts a meaningful ballot. We got a great team down here and all these smart folks from across the country... I almost forgot what a campaign pace feels like.

It looks as though North Carolina is going to be close and as such my hours are long, I will be coming up for air (and back at my regular job) on November 6th. If the blog gets stale, it's cause I am ridiculously buried in the mounds of work that needs to be done before Nov 4th. If you know of any attorneys (especially in the far reaches of our state) who want to help, send them my way.

Sam and Amy are the best for helping me do this, but Sam fully expects everyone involved in this effort to be there for him in 2048!

GO FOR A WALK?

2008-10-05T11:51:00.002-04:00

I want you to imagine, if you will, a young man. This young man has so much trouble getting out of bed in the morning that his college roommates sanctioned an official 'transition zone' where this young man could spend the requisite hour to hour and a half that he needs to shake off the slumber. This same man, in the early stages of his current relationship, used to awake so confused and annoyed at the dawn of a new day that he would often mutter swear words, prompting his girlfriend (now wife) to demand (gently encourage?) that such behavior stop.

In recent weeks, this man (no longer quite as young) has been sighted before the ungodly hour of 8am (on a weekend no less) out and about. bright-eyed, and bushy tailed, our man walks (WALKS!) to the neighborhood starbucks with nary a compliant.

The kash dog, a fan of walks regardless of time of day, has enjoyed this and almost come to expect a morning walk. But on a recent trip (read: today) it wasn't just the kash dog with expectations.

Our man awoke this morning unsure if he would be able to muster a hearty walk this early. Even though his new found parenthood and the rapid decrease in melatonin that comes with advancing age has accustomed this man to less sleep, this morning was one where a slow and easy awaking would have been pleasant.

But as he attempted transition on the couch and tried to muster the moxy merely to drive to the bucks, he saw a longing coming from the eyes of his beloved. No, it wasn't just the kash dog with those expectant "let's go for a walk" eyes. This morning, all the other members of the clan joined in on the expectant stare. Sam, being a bit young to nag, but having already figured out how to work the cute angle flashed those baby blues at me in such a way that said "dad, do what is right here". And Amy, who will probably refute what I am about to say in the comments section, got a chuckle out of it when I equated her desire for a morning walk to kashi's unique "go for a walk" sound (something that resembles a slide trombone or a bird call).

We went on that walk and it was good, but on mornings like these I can't help but think back to sunday's of yesteryear, when 8am meant I had a good two hours of sleep left in me.

OBLIGATORY CHEERIO POST

2008-10-01T19:33:00.004-04:00

Sometimes when you navgate your browser to the Grab you get insightful commentary on all things Circostian... Sometimes you get footage of a baby attempting to eat cheerios. (I'm not gonna ask which one you prefer)

Note: The darth vader-esque breathing you hear is me and my unfortunate septum. I wish I was kidding. One time, in college Iwas asked to leave the classroom while we were taking a quiz. Another time (read: every evening) my wife hopes she can fall asleep first so she doesn't have to endure my scuba diver impression.

DEAR SAM: ROOM TO GROW

2008-09-30T14:08:00.002-04:00

Hey Buddy,

So on your seventh month I want to talk to you about Karma. Karma is the notion that what goes around, comes around. A little less than half your life ago, I wrote about how me and your mom were gonna give you some space so you could become the person that is uniquely and wonderfully you. And while we knew this process would require you to do some stepping up, What I didn't account for in this process is how hard it is to step away.

Already, at just seven months you have shown an independence that makes me so happy, but at the same time, a little sad. Gone are the days when I can unabashedly snuggle on you without you getting a little squirmy. It's like you are saying "hey, dad, chill with the kisses". Sure, you let me get the hugs on (mostly because, unlike you, I am upright and mobile) but don't think I haven't noticed this small, but momentous, shift in you. There is a world out there, little buddy. You have focused on your parents long enough. Now is the time for you to spread your wings (or at least start crawling) and use this space in an all out effort to make your mark in the world.

Son, I know you don't comment on my blog (not being able to type and all), but if you could leave a comment you would have wrote something snarky after I said "hey buddy, we are gonna give you space". I'm guessing you would have penned, for the world to see, a missive about how if space is what I wanted, space is exactly what I shall recive.

And that, son, is what we call karma. Or maybe its not, maybe its just uninteneded consequences. But no matter how far you go in this world, or how much independence you seek, know this: ME AND YOUR MOM WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU AND LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.

DIRTY CAMPAIGN TRICKS

2008-09-27T18:03:00.003-04:00

The other day I found Sam's "vote for me, 2048" shirt in kashi's room. I immediately suspected something fishy when I noticed the big hole kashi ripped in the side.

I think the kash dog might have been jealous about all the buzz surrounding Sam's campaign. She thought she got away with something until the Chair of the Sam Caucus, Rep. Tricia Cotham (D - Mecklenburg), found out about kashi's untoward campaign tactics (Rep. Cotham also made the shirt). Tricia set the kash dog straight and told her to be a good girl dog, and not to be like the McCain campaign. Here she is telling Kash to come here and learn a lesson about fair elections.

Properly chastised, kashi retreated to her corner and immediately 'suspended' her campaign.

A FUNDRAISER TO END ALL FUNDRAISERS

2008-09-25T11:33:00.002-04:00

This week Congress is debating a nearly trillion dollar bail-out of failed financial firms. I'm sure readers of the grab will differ on the merits of such a proposal. One thing that keeps coming up is if any of our government officials have ties to these industries and perhaps received campaign contributions in an effort to curry favor.

Well, even if everything is on the up and up, it looks bad and it diminishes confidence in our government.

If we can find a way to come up with a trillion dollars, then surely we can find some public funds to conduct our electoral campaigns.

That is why, at my house on Friday, we are hosting the fundraiser to end all fundraisers. I sit on the Board of the NC Voters for Clean Elections. Our goal is simple: make our elections a truly public enterprise, where money is not the deciding factor on who wins.

We have a long way to go, but in an election year where people are finally interested in the public domain, we have a shot.

If you are in Raleigh from 5:30 - 7:30 on Friday, stop by and help us out.

I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE RUNNING ANYMORE

2008-09-23T11:48:00.001-04:00

"I just felt like running" - Forrest Gump

"I really don't like running" - me

I tried. I really did. I bought shoes. I got up early. I even tried to channel my inner forrest (and considering I spent the better part of a year working at bubba gump's shrimp co., you figured finding my forrest wouldn't be so hard.)

But the cold hard truth is: I. AM. NOT. A. RUNNER.

It's boring. It hurts my knees. If the whole point was stress relief and more time with my family, neither was happening. In the two hours we have between getting home, and sam going to bed Amy and I were not digging on the hour of heart numbing monotony. That is why just a scant few moments ago my google calender was stripped of all the "5pm Running with amy" appointments.

But, really people, is it any surprise? I mean who was I kidding? To me, running has been the necessary evil that lets you play sports. It has always been an admission ticket, not the show. The only sad part about this is that now Amy and I have to head back to the drawing board on ways we could fit fitness back into our lives. When we went for the Kash walk today we were talking about how diminished exercise is the only real concession to parenthood that we aren't digging (well, that and no sleep).

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

STAND BY YOUR AD

2008-09-22T11:00:00.002-04:00

As many of you know, I spent part of my youth working for a 'maverick' senator in D.C. helping institute campaign finance reform. (Note: I recently broke up with that very same senator.)

One of the key provisions of the legislation I worked on (known as McCain-Feingold), was the notion that you had to 'stand by your ad'. The idea was that you might be less inclined to say untruthful or negative things if you were required to state unequivocally that you 'approved this message'.

Well, looks like that might be coming back to bite someone in the rump.

THE NEW MEDIA

2008-09-19T19:54:00.003-04:00

Although the Media Grab prides itself on delivering some of the best print journalism this side of Isaac Hunter's Tavern, we try not to stick with just one method of content distribution. Sure, our video delivery has been lagging, but when we do get 'em up, it's good living.

Case in point: Dog and Boy having a 'Cute -off'

looks like Sam won this round, as evidenced by Kas dog's retreat

INTERGALACTIC NOISES

2008-09-15T13:45:00.002-04:00

So our little man is at that point where his repertoire of sounds isn't really a functional language, but more than just idle babbling. He has his 'da da da' and his 'eeeerrrroooh' down pat. Last week, when my mom was in town (great seeing you mom), he even made a 'la la'.

At night, he works himself through a whole host of what I am now calling 'star wars noises'. He starts with a little Jawa, and if it's a good night, that's it. He will doze off making no more noise than those lovable pint-sized droid stealers. If, on the other hand, he isn't pleased with life in the crib, he moves up through the menagerie of star wars beings. First it's a little ewok and then maybe a tauntaun . Amy and I know its time for us to check on him when he makes like chewbacca (or, as we refer to it, 'going wookiee'.) When Sam goes wookiee, there is no turning back.

The good news in all of this, is that if little sam ever finds himself in a galaxy far far away, he will have no problem communicating with the various creatures he meets. It is also worth noting that at his last doctors checkup his head circumference, weight, and most importantly his metachlorian count were off the charts.

In fact, I distinctly remember our pediatrician mentioning that "the force is strong with this one".

NEW LOVE FOR KASHI

2008-09-14T12:09:00.000-04:00

So the wondermutt is:

as jumpy and skittish as ever
occasionally barking to go outside in the middle of the night
adding an unnecessary upper body workout to our runs
really weird about the bouncy ball
and still taking random pieces of clothing to her den to chew it all up.

On the other hand:

She has been extremely tolerant and loving towards Sam, so I guess it all evens out.

SAM OF LAKEMONT

2008-09-11T07:09:00.003-04:00

Born to a swimmer and a surfer, raised on a street that was literally at the bottom of a lake until 1988, Sam Circosta has the aquatic lifestyle in his blood. His favorite swimming hole the lakemont pool has closed for the summer and Sam is a little down. I think he was just getting his sea legs when the season closed. We might try to fit a beach trip in over the next few weeks but with so much going on at casa circosta, it might not work out until November.

HURRY UP & FALL

2008-09-09T07:36:00.002-04:00

Bar none, my favorite season in NC is Autumn. The surf gets big, the air gets cool (not cold) and the mosquitoes head back underground, or wherever it is where those damn bugs go when they aren't annoying the bejesus out me. This week we have a cold front and a couple of days in the 70's, but then it is right back up to 90 for the weekend. When we first moved here we had the hottest autumn on record which lasted well past Amy's birthday. (Quick aside... I am notorious for getting awful presents... any ideas for this year would be most welcome.)

But this year, we had a wet summer and what could be a cool autumn. I can not wait.

TOUGH AS NAILS

2008-09-05T15:39:00.002-04:00

Much as I like to pretend otherwise, I'm not the toughest of guys. I have been known to pass out at the sight of a needle, and on more than one occasion my wife has uttered the phrase "Buck up, Sissy".

Lest we think I am a total wuss, let's not forget some of my more daring feats... hurricane surfing, ice hockey goalie-ing, and changing sam's diapers to name a few. Nevertheless, I have been hoping that the 'ninny gene' is recessive. And I am starting to think that it is. Sam handles everything from the occasional bump on the head to multiple inoculations with nary a complaint. Just yesterday, my boy bumped his noggin good and shook it off like it was nothing. he has started teething now and even though he is a little grumpy he has not engaged in the ear splitting hysteria that his old man might if I had a tooth shooting through my gums.

So, little trooper, here is to you and your toughness. Keep it up, and keep it tough!

A LITTLE SARA-CASTIC?

2008-09-04T09:22:00.002-04:00

Like the liberal media, i too, am "totally in the tank" for Obama... so maybe I saw last nights speech through that lens. Hey, she is a good political performer and after the week she has had I think we were all expecting her to come out and trip all over herself.

two things really bother me though:

1. The McCain camp trying to have it both ways. Either experience matters or it doesn't and its fine if it doesn't but don't try and tell me that living near Russia makes one an expert on Russia. Barack was raised in Hawaii, that's kinda close to Asia, right?

2. Do we really need more divisive politics. We got some stuff going on and when you spend your introduction to the American people trashing the other side, acting snide and sarcastic, I don't think it helps matters.

But I don't believe this was an impetuous decision by McCain. I think it was very calculated, but in the wrong way. This wasn't a 'country first' pick, this was a "I really really want to be president" choice. It was risky, and he likes to be risky, but I think it demonstrates a serious lack of judgment.

DJFIZZLE?

2008-08-30T12:43:00.002-04:00

DJfizzle is my user name at this cool new site that goodneighbor josh showed me. (note to self: josh's new nickname is goodneighbor josh... or good neighbor J)

anyway, here is yesterday's run...

purdue flip
Find more Runs in Raleigh, North Carolina

DEAR SAM: FREAKIN BACK IN

2008-08-29T13:49:00.004-04:00

Hey Buddy,

You are six months old today. Happy half birthday! Oddly enough it is you that has given us a gift. Just this week we are starting to normalize your sleep schedule a bit. You are going down around 7:30 and waking up around 7:30 (with only one little wake up in between!). I can't tell you how awesome this is.

When me and your mom were first dating we would go to the movies. (haven't done that in almost two years.) After the movie is over I like to leave the theater using a different exit from the one we came in on. Your mom, of course, thinks that this is some sort of weird idiosyncratic quark that further confirms her notion that she married a fella who is a little 'off'. (quick aside: Your mom once told me that you can tell when you are in love when you find quarks like these endearing, rather than annoying. I remind her of this often.)

But I have my reasons for alternative theater exit. They have nothing to do with being followed, or a freaky superstition. See, after you have been entrenched in 30 feet of flickering fiction, it kinda puts you in a daze. In those moments after the credits roll your mind is still reeling from all you just absorbed. If you pedantically walk out of the theater in a near trance, herded along with everyone else, that daze feeling can stick with you for the rest of the afternoon.

On the other hand, if you shake things up a little, leave out the side door, then you freak your brain out just a little. This forces you to engage those neurons and deal with your new environment. Basically, by freaking yourself out just a little bit, you get the opportunity to freak back in.

So, Little bro-zer, why am I telling you all this? Well, in a way, the last six months have been about as mesmerizing and engrossing as the biggest and best movie ever. We have been completely enthralled in everything you do (smiling, squeaking, standing up etc.). After the loss of sleep, and the complete absorption by everything you are and everything you do, we are starting to see some change. It's as if the credits are rolling on this chapter of you and the lights are coming up. Sleep (blessed sleep) has given us some perspective on all this and we no longer feel the shell shock of life with a newborn. There is no denying that these last six months have been freaky. A good freaky, to be sure, but freaky nonetheless.

But Little man, here is the deal: freaking out isn't always bad. Sure it can be scary and new and weird, but my advice to you is to embrace the freak out. without it, there is no freaking back in.

Our new life, having been at first freaked out by this thing we call family, and now as we freak back in is so much better. So thanks , little bro, for the first six months.

We love you munch munch.

Dad

A SINGLE STEP

2008-08-24T14:22:00.002-04:00

Realizing that Sam's entrance in this world has seriously cut into my leisure time, and also realizing that the notion of 'sympathy weight' has been all too real, I have been forced to take drastic measures. This morning I became a runner. Those who know me know that I find the prospect of running to be the silliest of athletic endeavors. Unless I am chasing a frisbee, trying to disrupt a crosscourt pass, or being chased by felons, I try not to run anywhere.

I used to mock my wife and her runner friends, telling them that they should take up a real sport. But since sam isn't ready to be my doubles partner, and Amy and I really need something to do to exercise together, running it is. We are training for a half marathon in November and our goal is to complete it in under two hours and without any serious martial strife.

Things got off to a good start. Sam digs his 'bike' (thanks Gampa!) and with my new shoes and some focus I'm hoping to build some strength that will allow me to get back to a broader range of athletic activities.

So, for now, I am a runner (don't call us joggers!). And even though I am into it, I'm not gonna be that guy. you know, the one talking about runner's high. Saying things like "I'm craving miles" and "lets do some negative splits". And I will never refer to a meal as 'fuel'. Like kash dog (who is also a little skeptical about this new ordeal) I will remain but a cautious participant in this runner's world.

DEAR JOHN LETTER

2008-08-22T09:57:00.007-04:00

Dear John

Upstairs, in my one and only house, I have an autographed picture with you and me shaking hands. It was taken in 2002 when I was young and we were on better terms. I worked for you on campaign finance issues, and since we had a history I was willing to overlook some aspects of your personality. There was a time, despite my generally lefty views, that I even considered delaying law school to give it a shot with someone I knew as a centrist reformer from my home state. I was willing to put my life on hold as you tried to win the big prize. If you had gotten through a few more states that spring and stayed true you could have spared us all from the tragedy of George. Sure you would have put me in an awkward position as I tried to decide between you and Al, but it would have been good, and honest and exciting.

Almost everyday since that picture was taken a little bit of sheen gets knocked off your once refreshing and irreverent political image. What I once thought were little quarks merely tangential to your essential self have become the focus of all that you are. It started with you giving love to those you once called 'agents of intolerance', then it's backing away from campaign finance reform (it was our thing) or giving George a snuggle. What I once thought was a wink and a nod to the R's that elected you (a crowd you ran with even though you knew I disapproved) is now a full fledged embrace of everything I think is wrong with the political right. I'm not leaving you cause of your buddies. I'm leaving cause you think those guys are more important than our relationship.

I'm not nearly as well versed in Lord of the Rings mythology as my brother is, but I remember a dark shadowy figure who once was an ok dude until he got a taste of the ring's power and now is consumed by that hunger and willing to do anything and everything to obtain it. John, that's you. It's sad. For me its sad on many levels, not the least of which is our past relationship. And John, I think there are a lot of us out there that feel this way.

The gotcha media is going to spend the next couple of days talking about how you have no idea how many houses you have and how out of touch you are with ordinary Americans. What they should be talking about is how you cheated. You cheated and lied and this is just as bad as what John Edwards did. I'm not sure how important it is to have an ordinary American in the white house, but I do think it is supremely important to have someone with perspective. The perspective that you are lacking these days is fidelity. Having a very limited chance to feel what it is like to stand for election I can understand why you are willing to say what you are saying and embrace who you are embracing, it's seductive. You are boxed in and I know that's hard.

But catting around with every person or idea that you think can get you elected doesn't actually get you elected. And if by some chance you sneak in, this behavior makes for poor governance. This isn't soft shoeing a position to ease you through a rough spot, this is betrayal. You aren't the guy I thought you were and I am more disappointed than you can imagine.

So, John, I guess what I am saying is it's over. I've sorta known since 2004 and I've been seeing other people for a while now, but I always thought that we could at least remain friends. This isn't about Barack and I don't want you blaming him. This is about us, and how you have changed. John, I'm breaking up with you, and it's not cause I need space or need time to figure things out. To switch up the old cliche: its YOU, not ME.

I'll always have fond memories and want to thank you for my time in Washington, but please don't call me anymore, or have your people ask me for money. It's over. the sooner you figure that out, the better off you will be. Maybe you can spend some time after the election getting back to who you were. Our ride is through.

Sincerely,

Damon

MIDTOWN MEDIA

2008-08-20T18:28:00.004-04:00

As many of you know I am probably the biggest booster of this thing called midtown outside of this guy. Sure, my friends say I live in a vast wasteland called north Raleigh, but I beg to differ... Midtown is in the middle of things and the branding of our locale took a big leap forward when this ended up on my driveway:

That's right, we got our own newspaper. In it you will find all the hard hitting journalism you would expect. (lead item: city orders communal toys removed from park) Inside there is a debate about what exactly midtown is (FYI its south of millbrook and north of the 440... of this I am quite sure). I couldn't be happier unless they endorsed Sam when he runs for city council in about 17 and a half years!

CONTENT STEALER

2008-08-20T10:45:00.002-04:00

Maybe some of you have seen this before... If you haven't here is what may very well be my favorite. picture. ever.

WEEKEND TRIP

2008-08-17T19:36:00.004-04:00

As a frequent consumer of the Media Grab and a member of Grab Nation you, dear reader, are surely aware of the many travels we have embarked on over the summer. Travel season is coming to a close and even though we have been road weary and travel tested we couldn't pass up the opportunity to head north so Sam could meet his grandma and great grandpa in Virginia this weekend.

Poor Sweet Kash, who has put up with so much these last months, came along for the ride. Normally she gets the very back of the car all to herself. This time she had to share it with Sam's stroller. kash, like a good jedi, refused to cede the higher ground to the stroller which meant that instead of lying down and chilling out she had to remain upright and vigilant the whole way up.

We made it up to Uncle Chip's house (now known as Uncle Uncle Chip) where Sam got to gander on his Great Grandpa. Sam's "Double G" played a very important role in my life, providing me guidance, shelter and encouragement as I made my way through School. Eighty years separate these two but their smiles are timeless.

Jammied up and ready for a nap, our boy is smiling now, but you never know when he is going to go bananas.

There were many other pictures and much else to say, but all and all it was good trip. heck, with a family like this how could it not be!

THE GRAB BAG

2008-08-15T13:23:00.004-04:00

With a compressed sleep schedule and the most hectic summer we have ever had you may have noticed a decrease in posts. So much is going on and it would be a shame not to provide the world renowned coverage of all things Circostian that the media grab has become famous for. To that end, we are instituting a new feature. It's called the Grab Bag and it is a collection of highlight and lowlight for those times when the media grab can't keep up with the circosta news. Let me know what you think

GRAB BAG EDITION 1:

* Holla if ya hear me Sam has learned how to yell. He does it when he is in a situation where there is a lot going on and he feel he needs to be heard.

* Damn you Disney After a bout of insomnia the other night I found myself watching the second half of Finding Nemo. I also found myself crying like I was three years old.

* Ring Ring goes the Bell Sam started day care this week. He had the best. summer. ever. with nanny extraordinaire Molly G. They have promised to K.I.T and are totally B.F.F.

*Who is On First? While we have lost Molly, through her we have been granted access to the whole line of Gargan's. Molly's younger sisters will hopefully provide nanny excellence in the years to come. The Bullpen is deep and even proud papa Sean agreed to 'pitch in' for 'team sam' if needed.

*Election Goes National Sam's campaign team has been on hiatus. He doesn't want to overshadow Barack this year. And even though the Sam is off the trail, his surrogates have been lighting things up. Rep. Cotham (chair of the Sam Caucus) took his message to New Orleans where she tried to recruit anyone and everyone to the cause. 2048? maybe 2030!

* I'm only sleeping take one Sam can't sleep through the night, but he is getting better at napping. I've stopped by the daycare three times this week and he has been out every time. Should I be concerned?

*I'm only sleeping take two today, when I went to daycare to watch Sam sleep he must have been dreaming about um. 'dinner' cause he was doing this cute little suckle thing.

* it's the humidityRaleigh isn't as hot this august, but we have more mosquitoes.

* the whole half Amy and I start training for a half marathon on the Tuesday after labor day. The race is in November. My goal is to finish.

SAM CAN TRAVEL!!!

2008-08-11T17:06:00.002-04:00

All the way to South Carolina and back and not even a peep. Sure beat two months ago when our little buddy screamed all the way to Asheville

DEAR SAM: CROWDED HOUR

2008-08-08T16:22:00.002-04:00

Dear Sam,

You may notice that the date of this post is nearing five and a half months. When I shamelessly stole the idea for a monthly letter, people scoffed. "you'll never keep it up" they would say laughing derisively. Well, buddy I must admit, that keeping up with this ain't no picnic. But I do it for two reasons. First, I think you will get a kick out of reading these when you get to be a bit older. I'm not knocking your inability to read, all I am saying is that the perspective of time will make these enjoyable for you. (a little aside, I am fond of telling people that you plan on being fluent well before your first birthday, which is a little slight of hand considering your status as a 'leapling'.) Second, writing these things down helps me think about all the wonderful things you do. For instance, since your mom and I weren't born in the south we can't really tell a hootenanny from a hoe-down. But you, true to your southern roots, can do a little stompin dance that makes you look like either the caller or the fiddler at a square dance (and everybody promenade!)

Not to get all serious on you buddy, but one of the more important things you can learn in this world is to follow through. And I'm not just talking about the second half of your golf swing. I mean making priorities out of the things you have said you would do. Of all the people to serve as role models on this, young man, I'm not sure I am the best. I try, but I fail from time to time. Case in point, the tariness of this letter. Sure I can make excuses about being busy with our trip to Michigan, tons of work stuff and all, but excuses are nothing like lasagna which, anyone will tell you, is much better the second time around. Really though, ask your mom about this (not the merits of lasagna as leftovers)... she follows through really good.

So lets see, what have we covered: follow through, lasagna is better the second time and if you are from the south it is perfectly acceptable to dance like it.

love you, bro-zer

Dad

p.s. "bro-zer" is but one of the many nicknames we got going for you now. We also sometimes roll with 'sam-a-lamb-a', 'baby buddy boy', 'little-guy', and a host of others (maybe mom will comment on others)

YEAH, I REALLY DO THINK

2008-08-04T23:08:00.002-04:00

Being partial to Canadian entertainers (alex trebec excepted, of course), I can get on board with the musical stylings of alanis morrisette. Her ditty "isn't it ironic" which really isn't about irony at all, but more about a series of unfortunate coincidences is trailing through my head as I type this.

See, last night I didn't sleep much. We got in late from the airport and Amy had to leave early this morning, leaving me to keep an eye on a boy who contrary to his dad (and sort of ironic in the alanis sense of the word) is a real morning person. Couple that with the inevitable catch-up at work and i am about as plum tired as i can be. Nevertheless, it's late, I'm tired, but here I am typing. hence, the song lyrics running through my head (it's like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife.)

I think I need some sleep

HIATUS

2008-08-01T08:37:00.002-04:00

Even Bloggers need a summer vacation. As such I have not posted the entire past week. Amy, Sam and I are up in Norhern Michigan. It's wonderful and with spotty internet and even spottier cell phone service it feels good to unplug for a while. But fear not, grab nation, We will be back next week with posts, pictures and even a new dear sam letter

NOLA IS NO MIDTOWN

2008-07-24T18:29:00.003-04:00

Sure, New Orleans is making remarkable strides post katrina, and the unreserved jazzy attitude has an allure all its own. But for my money, Midtown Raleigh is like a gazillion times better. It's not touristy, the food is better, it doesn't smell musty like an old persons house, and the people in midtown are just the most awesomest in the world (and I'm not just taking Sam & Amy)

So here is to midtown! It may not get a bunch of visitors, but its just good living!

THE BIG not so EASY

2008-07-22T17:27:00.003-04:00

I am writing from New Orleans, down here for a conference and for the first time since Little Man has been around, I will not be sleeping under the same roof. Couple this with the fact that he was super smiley this morning and since I got a new phone on the way to the airport I don't have any pictures of my boy and you can imagine how things aren't so bright down on Bourbon Street.

Luckily I have back pages of this blog and can stare at photos which either buoy my spirits or sink me farther down in despair, depending on how you look at it.

One time, when Amy and I were freshly married, I spent a month in D.C. earning some money to move us to Raleigh. In retrospect, being away from my wife was a small but necessary inconvenience. At the time I thought I was going through a quarter-life crisis.

I'm hoping to keep a little more perspective this time.

I miss you little boy, I miss you and your mom more than I can say

AMIRILLO???

2008-07-20T11:13:00.003-04:00

With the lack of sleep and our first family cold, things here at casa circosta needed a little brightening up. Luckily Sam has a closet full of toys given to him by all the generous friends he has. Anyway, we opened up his little einstein color cube and watched him go to town. Each flashing light is accompanied by a song and a nice lady's voice that tells you what color you are looking at. The weird part: that lady is tri-lingual... and frankly her pronunciation of the french word for blue (bleu?) sounds a little pretentious.

SNIFFY

2008-07-19T04:11:00.002-04:00

Things at the grab are a little sketchy, we are in the throws of Sam's first cold. At least he was nice enough to share... Amy and I are feeling it too. weekend plans? cancelled. New weekend plans? recuperate

SUNNY HAS A BABY AND BILLS TO PAY

2008-07-17T08:02:00.003-04:00

I Don't know when it is that musical preferences begin, but in the first weeks of Sam's life I used the rhythmic stylings of Paul Simon to keep him from freakin out. He is particularly fond of mid-nineties Paul when he was rockin out with the African drums. Anyway, all these many months later, Sam likes to scroll the Itunes and get his 'obvious child' on.

PICTURES

2008-07-13T12:16:00.004-04:00

I had a feeling things at the grab were getting a bit prose heavy. So in an effort to keep this a multi-media experience I present the following:

Sam either really enthralled or really concerned about the probability of future coolness.

He smiles a lot more now. Amy mused yesterday that a certain amount of smiles are needed to counteract the cries. Let's hope sam keeps fulfilling his smile quotient.

His new jumperoo is awesome, but the premise is that he sits in something reslembling a monster's mouth. I haven't been this freaked out since the bunny.