Tree and sky.

In the park.

Mail boxes.

Paper art.

Peter Callesen is an artist who makes sculptures out of paper. The above piece is called Looking Back.

Argh!

Thirteen months old Lili likes to pull dirty dishes from the dishwasher or to turn off the TV during a crucial scene. Both are things that frustrate her parents, especially her father, enormously.

That's not even engrish.

This linguistic masterpiece is on the front of a My Baby Real Deluxe Set. If you wish to view this wonder for yourself, they are located in the toy section of your neighborhood Big Lots store.

Heath Ledger.

Heath Ledger is dead. He was 28. Supermarket tabloids weren't filled with stories about his wild misadventures so reading about his death came as a huge shock. He left behind a body of work that ranges from 10 Things I Hate About You to Brokeback Mountain. I haven't seen all of his movies, but the ones I have were better because of his performances. I liked Heath Ledger because he wasn't a star, he was an actor and he was good at his craft.

Open up!

In order to inspire Lili to have more teeth, we placed her inside a giant mouth during a visit to a local children museum.

Driving joke.

Q: How do you know you are too drunk to drive?
A: When you swerve to avoid hitting a tree and realize it's your air freshener.

Historically speaking.

Today is a very interesting day in history. On this day in 1547, Ivan IV, previously the Grand Prince of Moscow, was crowned the King of Russia at the ripe old age of sixteen. He later conquered several neighboring lands, among them Siberia, making Russia an enormous country it is today. He would also be the first Russian ruler to adopt a title inspired by, and borrowed from, the Roman Empire: Czar. But he is best known by a nickname given to him for the terror he inflicted upon his people during his reign: Ivan the Terrible.

Also on this day in 1919, an American experiment in liquor control, better known as Prohibition, started. This experiment was, of course, a complete failure. But several things did come out of it: the mafia got bigger, the liquor got better, and the Government found out that dictating to the people how they can live their lives is not a good course of action. Unfortunately this lesson, just like Prohibition itself, has fallen by the wayside of history.

Anniversary.

Today is my wedding anniversary. Six years ago my wife and I said our vows in front of friends and family at Phillips Emporium, a local cultural hot spot and coffee house, where we went to a poetry reading on our first date four years prior. In the last six years we have buried relatives, watched friends get married and divorced, and started a family. We have had some proud moments and some not so proud moments, but through it all we have been together and for that I am grateful. It amazes me, though, that my wife has been putting up with me for an entire decade. It could be also said that I have been putting up with her for the same amount of time, but anybody who knows us could tell you that I am the bigger pain in the ass to her than she could ever be to me. I know that I have become the man I am because of her love and guidance and that without her support I couldn't have gotten through grad school. She is not only my wife, she is my best friend. She is the person I miss, and argue with, the most. And I wouldn't have it any other way. So, here is to many more decades to come!

Election year.

Of all the bizzare things I expected to see politicians do this year appearing on the cover of a calendar wasn't something I was prepared for.

It's official!

The document I so proudly hold in this picture is my Masters diploma which arrived today. Now you may refer to me as The Ignorant Immigrant, MSIT.

New problems.

New year has brought with it new hopes but also new problems. I spent the time between my college graduation, December 14th, and the end of last year working full time at my part time job. Because of this I was unable to follow up with the interviews I have had and apply for new jobs. Now things have slowed down and I am working part time at my part time job and full time as a stay-at-home dad to my one year old daughter. The latter is a great gig, I get to set my own hours and take naps, but it doesn't bring home the bacon or fry it. So I can't help feeling that I am letting my family down.

After I got my Bachelors, I spent two months applying for employment and finally got a part time job at U-Haul because the manager confused me with a guy who was supposed to start that day. One thing lead to another and I found myself manning a fort in the middle of a local mall and thinking that I don't wish to spend the rest of my life this way. So I dusted off my study skills and got myself into a graduate program from which I now hold a Masters degree. But now I am back to where I was years ago, aimlessly wandering around in a tunnel looking for a light. It very hard for me to remain hopeful that something will come along and that the faith the head of my department showed in my abilities will bare fruit.

Decorations.

To mark the Russian Christmas, a day that used to be celebrated 13 days later than everywhere else, I thought a picture of a house that still has its decorations up was in order.

Table food.

Ever since Lili turned one on Christmas Day, we have been experimenting with table food. Some experiments prove to be more successful than others. Here Lili attempts to eat a piece of pizza about the size of her head.

Awards.

I saw this banner hanging at a local elementary school. It explains the basic problem with American education system - mediocrity has become something to strive for and reward.

Happy New Year!