Now that's class

I've been slacking lately. I've been really busy, so this has sorta taken a back seat and probably will for the next two years or so. But in the mean time, here is a video by request of Alli cutting a mango.

We had so much fun at the cabin this past week for the family reunion. I can't even remember a time when I've had that much fun. Thanks mom and dad for putting it on.

Here is a post of Bastian:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ecjKx8zs0

If you go to this link, you'll see a short video of Bastian. I like the part where he tells the boat to say cheese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGhDMVqeuR8

This is the youtube video I just finished for work, though it's much better if you click on the video and watch it at Youtube because of the width issue

We had some friends over last night, so we added a little more to the wall. Alli did MIss Piggie and I started work on The Mask.


Bastian took two pees in the toilet yesterday and followed those up with his first healthy log a couple of hours later. Hooray for him! Too bad for all of you though, we didn't take any pictures.

Bastian Playing Cars

Bastian found his nice clean doggie and blanky

Added Kermit to our "Pick a Brick" wall last night.

We're over at Gogo's again for our weekly injection of American Idol....yes, it's a secret pleasure my wife and I share. I remember when we lived in NM all those weeks ago and we saw a youtube video of Adam Lambert singing a remake of some song that we both like and have been major major gay fans ever since. Call me Eve, I don't dare as long as Adam knows how much I love him. "Two snaps in a circle".

Not much new has occurred over the past week. Bastian has made his first friend next door, Abdullah. They are funny together because the other is so kind and Bastian is well....he's a bastard, hence his name. Abdullah's grandparents take care of him while his parents attend ASU's graduate program for biotechnology. Coming from such different backgrounds, it's interesting to see how they play together. I've spent a few hours with his grandparents talking about politics and Pakistan/Afghanistan....I'm not surprised to hear the same longing for peace and equality from them as I have felt having spent months away from our pleasantly high standards of living, and working towards constant diplomacy in my own life. I'm doing a terrible job.

So that's that.

I'm over at Gogo's house doing laundry and scheming. I can't confess just yet, but hopefully I'll have a plan soon.

Bastian is upstairs with Alli watching Monsters Inc, Brooklynn is sick with the flu. Gogo is cooking spaghetti and Grandpa is sleeping. It's all pretty quiet. Nice....

The funeral for Journee (did I spell that right?) was today. It was short but effective. We had some things to do over at the apartments before we went over to Brian's for lunch, so by the time we got there, most everyone was leaving. The laundry wasn't going to do itself, so we left as well. I changed out the fill valve in the hallway bathroom after Devin and I went to HD for the parts and a grab bar/shower head for Mama and Papa. Good times lying on the same bathroom floor where my youngest sister spends her time with the flu bug. My throat feels itchy.

Well, that's about it. Just waiting to geek out over AI tonight...Nobody stands a chance against Adam.

Oh yeah, Adam Barry, that dream is stuck in my mind forever.

Check out this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Happy Easter people. We are in our apartment now and enjoying the opportunity of having our own place. It has been about two years since. It's not quite Hotel Barry, but it's nice. The job is going well. The prior manager, from two managers ago, is still living on the property. He has been really helpful shortening the learning curve adjustment period for me. He's a bit long winded, but he is full of good information, so I listen. Not much else is new. Bastian seems to really like it here as does Alli.

If you have patience through the accent...this is crazy man...I can't wait to get mine.

Well, it's been a while since I've even thought about posting, so lets do a quick update. Alli and I (and Bastian) are back in AZ awaiting the coming fall for school to start. I've picked up a gig that will provide us with a small income and a place to live over the next three years. But, if we consider our track record, it won't last that long. I'm sure we'll find a new place to move to within a year, although I'm not quitting school, so it'll have to be in the area somewhere.
Bastian is talking up a storm these days, and just in time too. Alli is about four months out until the newb pops it's head out and it'll be nice to have one kid that speaks English. I'm just not very good with babies. I find it difficult to rationalize or hold any sort of meaningful conversation with them.
So at this moment, I'm sitting upstairs at my parent's house (again) and writing some more on the book I've been working on for what seems like forever. I've changed it quite a bit because I've read some things lately that have really overdone the topic I was shooting for. I sent out a couple of chapters to some publishing companies and one wrote me back after about a month that requested the full manuscript for consideration. I was excited about that, but for some reason I'm holding back on that idea because I feel like there's something really missing that I'll stumble upon in the future....
Well, I guess that's about it. I'll try and put up some new stuff on the blog here since it's sort in broken record mode.

This is me in all my sexiness

Today, without getting too graphic, Bastian and I were taking a shower and he was trying to fill up this bottle he had with the water that was dripping from the facet. I went wash the shampoo out of my hair and looked down to see that he had switched to filling his glass with the water streaming from my down-unders and couldn't help but laugh out loud. Good times.

So Allison, that's a long drive for you guys, but I'd love it if you could pick me up on Tuesday.

Today was windy. My windmill will need reworking after taking such a beating. It's OK though, I've learned a lot and I'll fix it to be virtually indestructible this time.
I have a job interview out in Phx next week. I hope I'll be able to see you all. I'll be coming alone, sorry B. I'll need someone to pick me up at the airport on Tuesday night around 8 if that works for anyone. Any volunteers? If not, I'll have to start making awkward phone calls....
Well, tomorrow we're going into town to buy a bunch of materials for the little building I'm doing right now. I'll take pictures eventually and show you what we've been up to.
Boring post. If I don't get to blogging again soon enough, good luck Dad.

Is today Monday?
Bastian went to preschool again today and watched the Little Mermaid twice afterwards, so he's found two new things he loves more than anything.
Let's see, in regards to mom's comment, No I'm not worried. I was thinking about a design for another structure here. Excited, would be more applicable.
Anya, I found out what was causing me the sneezes. It was a sleeping-bag that I just starting using. It came from an abyss somewhere and on it's way out, it carried with it tiny little subhumans that crawled into my nose at night and built little farms of itchy micro-cacti. I'm just glad it was moved without too many leftover farmers.
Creepy crawlies are my entertainment at night, I hope they didn't bother you too much Allison. They can be bothersome if they start playing games and the noise level gets outa control. Like this one time, little Joe, he's a beetle with really long antenae, and his dad, big Joe, were have a game of batmitten that brought out the crowd. It got so noisy in here that I could put my hands over my ears and still hear the same thing as when my ears were uncovered. Crazy bugs.

For anyone who wants to know, Bastian didn't poop today. I'm sure it has something to do with the full bag of potato chips he downed the night before. Taking after Grandpa I suppose. I wonder if he'd be down for a celery breakfast...
I'm sitting in bed reflecting on the day in my undies and knee high socks. Didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked because we had to head into town to spend some more money. That's what we all do, right? Spend. And when we're not spending enough, they start labeling it a recession. What a strange concept.
I'm allergic to something in our room. Every time I get into bed I end up sneezing and then I wake up with a sore throat. I thought about eliminating things one by one to see if I could eventually find the culprit, but I'm too lazy and I really don't care about the sneezing enough. Just thought you'd want to know that too.
Alli is sleeping. Bastian is sleeping. Rob is sleeping. I stayed awake until 230 the other night just thinking. I'm just happy that Alli sleeps fine with the lamp on. At least that way I can watch the creepy crawlies wander around looking for niblets.
Ok, that's enough rambling. Good night moon.

Bastian tried out what we like to call "Preschool" the other day. It's really daycare, but he did learn a song and played with kids his own age for three hours. He really liked it and will be going back tomorrow to hear a guest dentist come in with his clown buddy to learn about brushing his teeth. Halelujah.
He's been sitting on the little toilet lately trying to push something out, but hasn't quite been successful yet. It's just nice to have him thinking about it man. I'm sick of changing poopy diapers that are so full they could be mine.
Lately he's taken to kissing our visible backs showing between our shirts and pants when we're bent over doing something. It's usually a full on slimy lick that has chunks of leftover chips or cereal. It's amazing how much less germ-a-phobic you become as you have kids and deal with puke, poop, slobber, and pee all day every day. Good times.

I think the industrialized world is moving in this direction and I wouldn't be at all surprised if your Church leaders started advocating this trend as well:

Valentine's Day today eh....hmm, what a weird holiday.

It was fun having Devin, Allison, Sam, Brad, Whitney, and Dixie out for a quick visit. They rolled in early and took a short nap before we all sat around the table for potatoes, eggs, and bacon. I went up to work for a little bit while they tried to catch up on a little more sleep, but Sam had different ideas, which meant that Allison suffered. After the others were rested, they went on a little tour of the place and then we went back down to the house for some Matzo Ball soup, mmm. I started up the oven outside so that we could make pizzas later while Devin sat in the truck with a sad Sam, so that Allison could attempt a little rest. Meanwhile, Alli made the sauce and talked to everyone about eating healthier until the oven was hot enough for the first pizza. We cooked four, medium to large pies that had all sorts of toppings on them depending on whose pizza it was. I shared with Dev. Whitney and Allison had their own and Rob and Brad shared a pie. Alli and Alex were not eating, but we cooked one for them anyway. That night we watched Across the Universe and crashed out until Betsy showed up unannounced to surprise Rob for Valentines Day. He cried.
That next morning, Allison hadn't slept a wink and was in desperate need, so they all decided on leaving early. It was great to have them! I'm so glad they came out. Little Sam is growing up fast and gave me a little reminder of what is to come....
5 1/2 months to go

Every Wednesday, Rob and I join Mark from across the way, in ditch digging. It's not the most fun I've ever had, but ranks right up there with painting over graffiti, playing Yahtzee, or reading the news. They're not all terrible things, and I do sort of take some joy in them, but not a lot. Well anyway, it snowed yesterday (rare), so Mark called up this morning and cancelled. Last week, Oliver helped us out.
Right now, Bastian is still in his bed playing with his toys. I'm trying to warm the house up. Rob is up on the hill working on his foundation. Alli and Alex are in bed (not together-weird).
Today, I'd like to weld up an expansion basin for a copper tubing heater that I'm making for an outside bench. We'll see how it goes. Also, there's a lot of cob to mix up and some more foundations to lay. Good times in Mayhill!

Wow, where did the week go? Hmm...
We had Betsy start off the visits last week and then Oliver arrived on Tuesday with Alex, Betsy's son. I've got POD, Post Oliver Depression. He had to leave last night, but we had a lot of good times for the four days he was here. Bastian led us all over the mountains here and at one point we even carried him to the top during a wind storm. Adventures. Good times.
Jess, Sarah, Wil and Allie (Wil's girlfriend), arrived Friday morning. It's great having them here. Bastian loves hanging out with new people. His parents are pretty boring.
Last night we had a couple of friends over, in addition to the company and we made pizzas in the mud oven. That thing is always entertainment. It gets everyone involved in the cooking, and sort of novelizes the process.
Alli and I are both really lucky. We had great birthdays and received a lot of kind words and well wishes over the last week. Thanks all!

Don't get all excited about Bastian's haircut....we're having serious remorse over cutting the locks. Hopefully it doesn't take another two years to grow it all out into a tangled mess again.

Well, Betsy was here over the weekend and it's always tough to see her go. She belongs her and it's like she takes her part every time she leaves. I know it's hard for Rob. They need each other. Can't wait til she's here permanently.

Well, I decided to wear Bastian's pants while he was modeling his new hair do and then this morning we went on a hike. I was accepted to law school again and this time I'm going....but as Grandma Barry said, "I'll believe it when I see it."

B just asked when we'll be coming around again....I'm not sure yet. I'll keep ya posted B. I'd love to be hanging around torturing you. It sounds like good times.

Well, today we went into "town". I dislike, very strongly, going into town. It's always to spend money and time on things that we can't seem to do without. I suppose I do like eating though, and really, it's all we buy. Food.

There's this giant spider that keeps roaming around by my lamp that is approximately two feet from my mouth. I don't want to eat that guy tonight. I heard somewhere that the average person eats 8 spiders in their lifetime while sleeping. That doesn't seem like a lot to me. In fact, since I've been sleeping on the floor, I think I've probably eaten that many every year. But still, I don't want that big juicy one crunching in between my teeth tonight. I wonder if Uncle Jim has ever seen anything like that in all his years of looking into mouths....mmmm, hairy spider guts.

Bastian's morning:
Wake's up and plays with his trucks that are next to his crib until his lazy parents decide to get up and see him (5 minutes)
Sits with mom and reads some books while dad makes him some pancakes
He eats his pancake while watching a Baby Einstein video (which he loves)
Comes in the kitchen and watches dad make some eggs on the wood burning stove
Burns his hand and cries for ten minutes
Goes in his room because he's pissed off and plays with Thomas (his favorite toy)
Eats the rest of his pancake
Comes out of his room with a spray bottle and squirts mom and the computer one too many times and ends up in time out
Plays with his trains and trucks until he decides to come out again with his fork in his hand and making stabbing motions at dad.
Goes with dad to the bathroom and watches him poop
We march into the kitchen and coax mom into joining us as we do the lazy man's march
He gets ready to go on his daily hike

I've been doing this thing recently on Flickr where you take a picture everyday, but it has to include some part or all of your body. The group is called 365 (one a day for a year). I know I've posted the link before, but if you want to see some pics (possibly of Bastian) then check it out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31348869@N04/

Mom, I might have deleted your post before it posted yesterday. Sorry, but yeah, we should try the webcam again.
Bastian's favorite sayings:
Help please
(While teetering is trucks over the brink of doom) Oh No, Whatcha gonna do?
Singing Thomas and Friends
Singing.
Daddy, come on
Mommy, come on
How you doing?

Nope, Allison is still Allison and Alli will still be Alli. Yesterday, I posted Allison's (Devin's wife) request to know how Alli was doing...

Let's see, today we ended having to go into town to get some paperwork in order. The neighbors who we haven't met came over and we talked a while until they had to take off to Roswell...

Bastian is talking way more these days. He is saying some sentences that mostly have to do with how crazy he is. He's got way too much energy for Alli and I. It's funny to hear him attempt a sing-a-long with whatever is playing and our new little ritual is right before bedtime, he and I will sit in the sofa chair together and watch the Galileo baby Einstein movie. It settles him down nicely, even though it is about 9:30 at that point.

Today I welded up a little monkey bar play thing for Bastians playhouse that we'll start building tomorrow. He needs someplace comfortable while Alli and I work up at the site. Every time we settle in, he ends up running down the mountain towards the house and one of us has to leave. I also started encasing our windmill pole in cob that will end up like a totom pole with faces on it and stuff. We decided that we needed a fire pit up there too, so I started building a cob bench to encircle the pit....I'll take some pics and post...maybe.

So per Allison's request, Alli is doing fine. She's basically sick daily, but it seems to be less frequent...or maybe she's just hiding it. Her mom wants her to go up to San Fran to visit...I don't know if I'm supposed to go.

I thought of a new phrase today, poop knuckle. Put that in your diaries.

I know I cant be the first one to post that the Cardinals did what I never thought was possible....good for them. Today, the three of us went for a hike early in the morning. We went less than a quarter of a mile and then sat down and threw rocks at a dead old tree. I decided to head back on my own to do some "work" while Bastian and Alli continued on. Once they arrived, they helped me toss rocks and move dirt and then we had a small lunch of veggie dogs roasted over an open fire (mmmm). I headed down to the house after that with Bastian and tried to put him to bed, but he had different ideas, so we played for the next two hours while mommy continued working up at the library/guesthouse. Once she came down, Bastian played with her for a while and tried to fix our little website project, but that didn't work out too well cuz Google sucks. I'll have to wait and see if it corrects itself over the next day or two. Once Bastian finally fell asleep after punching me in the face, Alli and I did a search for au pairs. We found a great site that had a substantial list of willing candidates that want to come and work for room and board to learn English and go to school at the CC. Nice. We'll see if it all comes together once I leave for school (if I'm accepted).
Good times, great oldies....
http://alliandgregart.com/Home.html
...check it!

Check out this website that Alli and I are working on: http://alliandgregart.com/Home.html

Well, the website Alli and I created is still under construction, but if you have a moment to spare, check out my flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31348869@N04/

Today we had some guests arrive from AZ. They are originally friends of Rob's and Betsy's, but I claim them as friends now too. Jeanie and Marv flew in his airplane from Camp Verde. Marv comes from Canada eh and is a retired school teacher among other things and Jeanie is something like a hydrogeologist. I could be wrong on that, but she is a pretty smart cookie. Anyway, after they arrived, I went up to the site and started working on the foundation for the library/guesthouse again. I started thinking about all the crap I've got to get done before school starts (if I get accepted), and I started freaking out. It mostly has to do with going to work at State Farm again (if I'm accepted). I hated that place and now I'm turning back to it again because I know I can earn a decent living doing it. I feel like I'm selling my soul though, cuz I know I'll be miserable selling something I hate talking about just for a dime and a nickel. But on the bright side, at least I'll have a job in this torn up economy, and I'll be able to finish (hopefully) the guesthouse. Count your blessings, name them one by one....

Today, the three of us went down to the city and took care of a few things that were past due. Bastian sat in the back watching his baby Einstein movies and repeating everything they said. He's such a good kid when he's learning. When we got home, Alli was hiding under the covers and when he found her, he told her, "That's so funny." We cracked up, not having heard that one before out of his mouth. Then this evening after dinner, Alli was lying down and I was drawing the new sketch for the house, when Bastian came walking in and sat down next to mommy and asked, "How you doing mom?" We laughed again not having heard that one either....He's sure growing up quick.

I built a website today that will contain our crafty stuff. It's still under construction, but if you want the link now it's:
alliandgregart.com

Today, Alli and tried to get caught up after being gone for so long. I'm looking for a job in addition to redesigning the library/guesthouse. The foundation needs to be reshaped, and a cost sheet put together, so that as the money comes available, we can add on to our little structure with purpose.
It should snow tomorrow. I dumped some ice out yesterday and all of it is still sitting in the same place. Once the wind dies down a little bit, I'm going to paint the windmill and hook it up. After a week or so, I'll buy a load controller so that I don't have to leave something plugged in all the time in order not to fry our batteries.

We made it back home to Mayhill early this morning at about 2 a.m. after which Bastian decided it wasn't time to sleep anymore. Alli, the best partner in crime out there, let me sleep while she attended to the Stink. I have no rationale when I'm sleepy and her patience with me is beyond measure. After we woke up, we went up on top of the hill where the building site has emerged into a full blown operation with a well that pumps more than 23 gallons per minute. Rob has been busy up there, so now Alli and I will have our turn. We have a library/guest house to build and complete by the time I go back to school (if I'm accepted again).

Arizona was great. I can't believe how much my parents will put up with. I'm completely crazy and my son isn't far off. Alli is the sanest and is probably the reason why parents allowed us to stay for so long. Can I get an amen? Can I get a hallelujah? Amen! Hallelujah!

Anyway, it's nice to be back and we're looking forward to our birthdays when several of our friends will be coming out to enjoy to dates with us. Hopefully, or depending on your point of view, not hopefully, I'll blog a little more by then....

Happy '09 everybody!