If gas goes to $4/gallon ...

one less car, originally uploaded by young@art.

I'm going to modify my bike for commuting for Frankie and I. Can haul 150 lbs with this kit (Xtracycle.com).

Image from the Dave's Beer Archive

circa 1993, Dave Finishing Floors with Friend

This is me in a 1833 row home we used to own in Baltimore finishing the pine floors with a friend. The image represents an eternal hardship of man; his desire to rent, not own.

Dinner?

The big thrill this morning at breakfast? A couple ducks seem to sitting on our lawn. They also appear to be flirting with one another. Frankie is thrilled with this new development. Suzi, not so much. She's barking angrily.

Have a restful weekend all.

Sun, Capri Sun

Bringer of the Capri Sun, originally uploaded by Seligmans Dog.

Yesterday was opening day for the 2nd half of the tiny tots soccer season. The mighty Mustangs were to play the Storm. As of 12:25, there were only 2 members of the Storm that showed up. About to forfeit the game, the other team members showed up.

Yesterday, it was our turn to provide the snacks and drinks. The image is me holding the insulated case of Capri Suns. You can't see it, but my wrist is handcuffed to the bag. These Capri Suns are the most critical part of the entire Saturday soccer experience. Without that end of game treat, we would quickly realize the implications of being outnumbered on the field. It would not be pretty.

Northern Brewer, $2.50 / ounce

Northern Brewer, $2.50 / ounce, originally uploaded by Seligmans Dog.

I scored these compressed, fragrant Northern Brewer hops on Ebay the other day for about $2.50 / ounce delivered. I emptied the mail package to reveal this unlabeled ziploc baggie of hops. Score! 75 grams (another batch of beer) more than I payed for. If you haven't been paying attention to the beer world lately, there's been a massive increase in prices of hops over the past couple years. Perfect storm of factors contributing to the shortage, that seems to be easing up lately.

After I tossed this baggie in my freezer and went to work, I couldn't help thinking I was going to come home to a lawn full of black, shiny Chevy Suburbans with tinted windows and a SWAT team nearby. Apparently, all the big gun security agencies are too busy fighting terrorists to care about drug deals.

I have seen my future and I see a nap in a movie theater

Miley Cyrus, thanks to her failed country-singer-dad-turned-agent is growing up in the spotlight and infecting our children with bubble gum chipper drivel and the painful twangs of a guitar. The cute little billionaire's movie is likely in our path this Spring break.

The review: http://tr.im/my_eyes_my_eyes,

I'll be the one napping in the theater at AMC Lennox.

Poisson d'Avril

Frankie stuck this on my back the mnther day.

Is it illegal to drive with earplugs?

Fast and Furious review, Catholic style

"A climactic scene involing a corrupt Catholic priest, who exchanges a blessing for a bribe, leaves this ethically swerving vehicle running on empty."

Mr. Diesel returns to this gripping series, so it can't be all bad.

Review: http://tr.im/going_to_hell

Dry ice mania hits the Kindergarteners

This week I engaged the kindergartners with a new biweekly science acivity. We took crushed dry ice, put it in an empty pop-bottle, covered the bottle with a balloon and let it inflate as the dry ice sublimed. While the balloon filled, the kids eagerly squirmed through the requisite learning part of the exercise. By the end of the "discussion," we had every group holding a bottle with a full balloon on it.

Then, the grand finale. One student in the group was to hold the bottle and another was to launch the balloon by pulling it off the bottle.

The design flaw? 4 kids to a group and all 4 wanted to launch the balloon. Mayhem. Then the balloons started to fly and then it got crazy nuts. I'm a tad traumatized and I'm not sure if her saintly teachers will permit me back in, but it was definitely fun.

Here's a copy of the activity: tr.im/dry_ice