Posts Tagged ‘Marietta’
I’ve got a fresh design for the blog (I liked the last one, but this simple, ultra-clean look is more my style), but that’s not the only change around here!
- I’m stepping down as Art Director for Gemstone Publishing’s line of Disney Comics. My last day will be Wednesday, November 26th.
- Two days later, we’re loading up a truck and moving to Columbus, Ohio! (Thanks in advance to Rae Whitlock, who’s already agreed to round up some strapping young church men to help us unload the truck over the weekend.)
- I’m looking to take on some additional freelance web design and optimization clients. If you know anybody who’s looking for that, you can get yourself a 10% referral bonus (because I’m cool like that—also because I hate cold-calling). Just go on over to the “Feedback” page and pick your favorite way to get in touch with me.
UPDATE: According to Google Maps, this might be where we’re moving:
Our local library is running a reading contest this month: kids vs. adults. They’re doing it with the local elementary school, which is totally unfair—the teachers can force the kids to read! Apparently the adults were trounced heavily last year, so the points have been tweaked in our favor this time around. Adults get 2 points for every book read (including every early reader and board book read to a child). I read seven in a single day without even putting much effort into it.
Heh heh heh. 
Nicole won’t take part in my shenanigans; she thinks it isn’t fair to the kids. I say, if one adult reading voraciously is able to singlehandedly beat every under-18 reader in the school district? …well, then those kids earned the embarrassment that’s coming. (Of course, if they don’t care about reading, will they care about my beating them in a reading contest? No matter. At the very least I might be able to shame their parents and teachers.)
And that’s what it’s all about.
(Pictured above: me reading Neil Postman’s Teaching as a Subversive Activity. It’s good stuff.)
Ten years ago today, the term “weblog” was first coined. In honor of this anniversary, here’s a “true weblog” of a few links related to our family’s new hometown—Marietta, PA (not to be confused with Marietta, GA):
The kids’ rooms are probably the most ordered places in the house right now—I mean, they have to be if we’re going to send them in there to play! The living/dining area, however, is another matter entirely:
One of the things that makes unpacking difficult this time around is that what had been our two bookcases have been commandeered for use in the kitchen and Joshua’s room, respectively. That leaves the rocking chair surrounded by about a dozen boxes that are displaying utter disregard for any concept of “personal space.”
Meanwhile, we’re certainly getting more exercise. Back in Timonium, we could avoid using stairs all day if we just stayed inside. Here, the bedrooms are upstairs so if nothing else we have to go up and down whenever Joshua needs changing. It’s all part of my “get in shape without really trying” plan.
Now once we really do get unpacked, we’re going to have lots of boxes lying around (or more accurately, collapsed and stuck in a closet). Before we toss them, do you have any clever ideas for ways we can entertain the kids with cheap, used corrugated cardboard? Here’s my list so far:
- Cardboard Castle
I like this, but it seems pretty involved. I’m most likely to get halfway done, grow bored and move onto something else… leaving the monstrosity in Nicole’s way.
- Tunnel Network
It’s quick and easy, so it’s got that going for it. But where would the tunnels run? If we set it up in the attic, then sure… but somehow that doesn’t strike me as very safe.
- Puppet Theater
The kids love puppets, so this one’s a no-brainer. Except that I don’t think we have any puppets. We could make some with socks, paper bags, etc.—but that would start getting as involved as the castle idea.
- Cardboard Furniture (submitted by Elaine)
Make some funky chairs, stools or rocking chairs with these printable PDF blueprints.
- Recycle Them, Before The Kids Make A Mess (submitted by Jodie)
Jodie, you’re so practical. 
- Cardboard Box Races (submitted by Audrey)
On a carpeted floor, set the box on its side (like “]”) and put your head and arms inside, then run blindly forward. Great for laughs, and a good workout, too!
- Canvas-ize ‘Em (submitted by Audrey)
Instead of the walls (or even the paper that’s still packed away… somewhere…) break out the finger paint or brushes and let the kids go wild on some empty boxes! (This could also work alongside most of the other tips, too—who wants a drab, tan puppet theater?
- Car Tunnels (submitted by Audrey)
Remember when Mattel and McDonald’s would team up and we’d get Hot Wheels with our McNugget Happy Meals? Remember how the Happy Meal boxes would come with punch-out openings so your new die-cast car could drive through a cardboard city? Pass that experience along to the next generation by punching out a few holes and turning those empty boxes into tunnels and buildings to drive the cars through!
- Doll House (submitted by Audrey)
You know, until I get around to building the fancy one Nicol– er, Katie has always wanted.
- Drums (submitted by Audrey)
All you need is a large stick (or unused tension rod) and the kids can rock out.
- Hats (submitted by Audrey—girl’s on a roll)
Okay, I think you’re reaching a bit here, Aud. Sure, this is a great idea… with smaller boxes. Maybe it would work with the larger ones, too, but I can’t help thinking the kids would look like this. 
- ?
That’s all we’ve got. How about you? Leave a comment and I’ll add your own great idea(s) to the list!
Hey everyone, I’m back!
Did you know the Wall Street Journal displays trackbacks at the bottom of its articles? I didn’t realize this until I started getting a bunch of comments on Friday from people I didn’t know. Friday may have actually been my highest-trafficked day since starting this blog.
Of course, I had to be moving at the time.
We’re in Marietta now. Boxes are all over the place, but everyone seems to love the new digs. (I was really worried there would be something that Nicole hated about the place—she never saw it before Saturday!)
I want to take a moment and publicly thank our friends and family who helped us move: on Saturday, we had Nathan Bartlebaugh, Steve Cole and Brian Powell helping us take our junk down from our 3rd-floor apartment into the moving truck (and special thanks for getting the treadmill! That think must’ve weighed half a ton…). Brian and his wife Jo came up to the new place that evening, and brought us dinner (perhaps the best lasagna I’ve ever had)! On Sunday, my mom and dad, Jordan, Naomi and Sarah came up to help us unload, and our new neighbor, Jason, pitched in too. I think this may be the first time I’ve been invited to a neighbor’s home for dinner before we’d moved into our new place!
Unpacking is going well, but I’m still looking for some nuts and bolts so I can reassemble the end-tables in the living room…
