Don't Ask, Don't Tell

"Hey Dad, are Frog and Toad friends or brothers?"
"Well...Henry...that's a good question..."

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Hello, it's Henry. I don't agree with that aphorism when it comes to Sue and Jim. The only good thing about their fence is that it keeps my tennis balls from rolling into their yard. And I guess it keeps Cody safe. It's also good because it is a chain link fence and I can smell Jim's barbecue through it. Dad says Jim knows a lot about cooking barbecue because it is "in his DNA." I don't know what DNA is, but if it tastes as good as his barbecue smells, I would love to try it.

This is Sue and Jim's Redbud tree next door. It just started to bloom. It's very pretty this time of the year. So pretty that we planted one in our backyard last year. Oh, and look at that amazing paint job that Dad did on our garage.

I am getting very good at climbing trees. Don't worry Sue and Jim, only when my Dad is around.

Sue and Jim spend part of their time in Florida. Dad says "that's where the beautiful people live." But while they are there in the spring they miss their blooming Redbud tree and these pretty tulips.

This is roof debris from a neighboring house. Sue and Jim are always picking this up off their driveway, they must have sore backs.

This is their front yard. Dad is taking care of it while they live with the beautiful people. He has an electric mower that he is already complaining about because he says "it weighs, like 500 pounds."

I am excited to see Sue and Jim when they return from visiting the beautiful people.

Baskie

Henry calls it "Baskie". He likes to play "tenacious D". He can bounce pass. When he dunks it on his mini-hoop he immediately runs away from the net, he's going to be great in transition.

Who is the best basketball player in the whole wide world, Dad?

Well, right now Lebron is pretty good. 

Could he beat you?

Maybe.

  

Man Book Club / April 2013 Update

"The first rule of Man Book Club is: You do not talk about Man Book Club. The second rule of Man Book Club is: You do not talk about Man Book Club!"

Let the Great World Spin Colm Toibin 5/5
Beautiful Ruins Jess Walter 5/5
That Old Cape Magic Richard Russo 2/5
This is How You Lose Her Junot Diaz 5/5
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Junot Diaz 6/5
Black Irish Stephan Talty 3/5
The Devil in the White City  Erik Larson 5/5 
Unholy Night Seth Grahame-Smith 5/5
Canada Richard Ford 2/5
Columbine Dave Cullen 5/5

and beyond...

End Zone Don DeLillo 3/5
Train Dreams Denis Johnson 4/5 
Ravens George Dawes Green 2/5
Coal Black Horse Robert Olmstead 3/5
Living on the Black John Feinstein 4/5
Middle Men Jim Gavin 5/5
We Live in Water Jess Walter 5/5
Cogan's Trade George V. Higgins 2/5
A Night to Remember Walter Lord 5/5
Silver Linings Playbook Matthew Quick 4/5
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Seth Grahame-Smith 4/5
World War Z Max Brooks 3/5
All That Is James Salter 5/5
Nanjing Requiem  Ha Jin 3/5
The Expats Chris Pavone 2/5
The Thief Fuminori Nakamura 4/5
I'd Know You Anywhere Laura Lippman 3/5
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling 5/5

Pumps Lake: For All of Your Seasonal Activities!

Our low-lying backyard affords us so many opportunities! In the spring we have a lovely swimming area with a great lakeside view. We can relax, watch the kids play, and feed the ducks. And in the winter, there's  POND HOCKEY!

http://hawkchilds.blogspot.com/search?q=backyard

Pizza and Rings

Eating pizza and wings is a very western New York thing to do. Here, Henry has turned his Lego Gollum from The Hobbit into a real Rochesterian!

1993

I made this 1993 INDIE RAWK! mix and listened to it yesterday at the gym on my ipod. I felt very INDIE RAWK! looking around at all those posers lifting weights...

Ah, to be 22 again.
 

Keep Me Around, American Music Club

He’s After Me, The Hang-Ups

Never Said, Liz Phair

Knockin’ On Mine, Paul Westerberg

Range Life, Pavement

Anodyne, Uncle Tupelo

Positive Bleeding, Urge Overkill

Tree in Orange, Walt Mink

Tractor Rape Chain, GBV

Rafael, Seam