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April 27, 2003

Strong Opinions

I've started reading several blogs, some of which are found in my "links" on the side of this page. They and sites like Slashdot, O'Reilly Developers hub are my first stops on the web when I read. I measure their value by the strength of their content and the number of comments that their postings receive.

Of course, I don't get many comments and I don't voice strong opinions. I don't feel particularly bad about it, but sometimes I wonder if I lack conviction or merely choose not to write about things that I really feel strongly about. Perhaps thats the "me" that I don't like to expose to the world.

People often tell me that when they first meet me that they get a whole lot more information than they expected (or, for that matter, wanted). While I'm horribly embarrassed by many of the things that I've done or have happened to me, they are merely history and its how I navigate through and past them that makes me who I am...

The "issues" that I feel strongly about probably aren't overly interesting because one thing that I feel strongly about is that "one size doesn't fit all." That, even though I might feel strongly about something for me and my family, doesn't mean that it is the right thing for others.

It may be my ultimate "wishy-washy" cop-out, but its what I really believe.

Sometime people make important personal decisions and have the need to evangelize those decisions and the factors that affected them as the right way. I certainly gain comfortable from sharing my rationale for such decisions, but I try to speak to it as what works for me.

What controversial things do I think is right (now) for me and mine?

Lori is home with the kids.
I live close to work so that I have less time wasted commuting.
An SUV is a convenient vehicle for utility and family transport.

Anyway, there's no driving event behind this post, its just my excuse for not posting juicy vehement diatribes on my opinions/decisions. I don't want the readers to think I'm trying to sell them my way.

Posted by KnipSter at 02:26 PM | Comments (1)

April 26, 2003

Happy Birthday Maura!!

Maura turned 2 about 5 minutes ago, and we had pizza and cake and gifts and fun... It was a nice small day with family and a couple of friends... I think Maura is just having a great time being surrounded by lots of people who love her. She went out to breakfast with Grampa Gary and Uncle Mike. She drove an electric motorcycle at Timbertown and danced with her friend, Griffin (who turns 2 tomorrow)!

Pictures here.

Posted by KnipSter at 02:42 PM | Comments (0)

April 23, 2003

Fussy Time...

Some call it colic, some say its the digestive system settling, but this period of time each evening where my son freaks out can be trying. Although we don't have the panic of the first child, it still is hard to take at times.

I think its my turn to hold him...

Posted by KnipSter at 09:30 PM | Comments (1)

April 20, 2003

Happy Easter

One day at Mass with Lori and her extended family, I was one of only a few in our group who did not go forward for communion. One of Lori's cousins asked why, "Aren't you Catholic?"

"No," I replied.

"What are you?" she inquired further.

"Supportive," I said.

So Easter is one of those days where I go with Lori to Mass. We sat in the so-called "cry room," where families with small children are encouraged to sit so as to not disturb the rest of the parish. It wasn't too "cry-filled." Although with all the little critters running around, I doubt many of the "faithful" got to hear "the word." Anyhow we saw a family that we are friendly with and spoke with them. That was nice.

We spent last night dying easter eggs and dining with Uncle Morgan and Nora. I even amazed them as I emptied an uncooked egg, leaving the shell intact. I'll see if I can get pictures from Morgan.

Hopefully I will also get around to putting up pictures of the kids in their easter outfits. Anyway, Happy Easter!

Posted by KnipSter at 11:40 AM | Comments (3)

April 18, 2003

A long weekend...

While I understand that the United States and, for that matter, the "Western" world is dominated by christian faith, I find it a little odd that Good Friday is as significant a holiday as it is. I don't have work today and many financial markets are closed (in fact, Good Fridays tend to complicate things at work anyway). But I don't mind the day off at home with my family.

Today was one of those "Johnston days of sloth." Although I did take Maura out for one of those large grocery runs, which was an adventure. She is continuing to suprise me, her vocabulary and understanding seems to be growing quickly. She is fairly attentive to me lately, and its real nice. She is very considerate of Kieran, although she is a little like a bull in a china shop with him, although he is a bit "sturdier" than china.

Its incredible how busy these kids are keeping us. And thats what I notice when its "us." Sometimes I think Lori is on the edge when I get home, after some of these weekends, I'm learning that she has much more endurance than I give her credit for. I used to be able to grab several hours of "downtime" during the weekend, but that is done. I don't really mind, but it will be nice once Kieran starts sleeping regularly.

A lot of Upcoming Events....

Ughh....

Posted by KnipSter at 09:26 PM | Comments (0)

April 17, 2003

My Old Man....

Like he said, "Happy Birthday Pops!"

Posted by KnipSter at 12:41 PM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2003

Why I blog...

Some guy at work asked me today what compels to publish my thoughts on the internet. As I spoke with him, I found that I had no real good reason. It may be that its the ultimate passive method of communication. Perhaps its that it is a permanent mark on the world around me that anyone could see.

Of course, it probably that I just want to talk, and, as anyone who knows me will tell you, it doesn't really matter if anyone is listening.

Posted by KnipSter at 09:03 PM | Comments (1)

April 05, 2003

10 Leave, 8 come back...

So I need to get this out of my head. I'm in Las Vegas for a good friends' bachelor weekend. We head out to a sweet golf course and after a pretty decent 10 holes, my buddies Chris and Terry tip over in the golf cart. Chris was bruised and Terry sustained what appears to be a nasty compound fracture of his leg. It is crazy to see how everyone reacts to the horror of the situation.

Personally, I just want to talk about it, the details, the visuals of the moment, while others can't stand to think about how it is. The helplessness of not being able to do more than get people to help was very frustrating. I succeeded in getting out of the way.

Posted by KnipSter at 06:50 PM | Comments (2)

April 03, 2003

Some New Pictures

Here are some more pictures to lookat. I'm also picking up a CD(roll) this morning.

4:52pm Update: The Roll is available now.

Posted by KnipSter at 07:25 AM | Comments (0)

April 02, 2003

Double Down...

Looks like I got a little aggressive pulling entries off of the front page here. So I owe another entry.

Kieran just passed his one month birthday and Maura's a month away from her second birthday. Kieran rolled over twice yesterday and Maura used the potty for the third time last night before her bath.

We are in that particularly challenging time when Kieran tends to get fussy in the evenings, it tires us all out for an early bedtime. Maura now gets up at dawn which is a little earlier than we are used to. The time change this weekend should help a bit, once we get used to it.

This upcoming weekend, I'm off to Vegas to welcome my friend Jon into the fold of married people and I'm going to see a couple of expectant first time fathers. I'm surely not going to be the oldest, but I might feel like it!

Posted by KnipSter at 09:25 PM | Comments (0)