Wow! Two blog entries in one day! This weekend I spent 13 hours organizing my digital photos using Adobe's fantastic Lightroom 2 software. 6700 photos catalogued and tagged so far. Over the next few months I'll be uploading the good shots from the archive to the website. One way to look at them is using the new Photo Calendar module (located beneath the Photo Gallery) to view photos by the date on which they were taken. As I publish more photos you'll be able to enter the Way Back Machine and see everything all the way back to the ultrasound taken the day before I was born. Speaking of which, my next major project is scanning in all the film negatives, slides, and prints. I've been digging around the Internet for reviews but the professionals don't seem to like anything under $1000 which is way out of my price range. I'm looking at the Epson Perfection V700 Photo scanner for $500 from Costco. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Read More »
Wow! Two blog entries in one day!
This weekend I spent 13 hours organizing my digital photos using Adobe's fantastic Lightroom 2 software. 6700 photos catalogued and tagged so far. Over the next few months I'll be uploading the good shots from the archive to the website. One way to look at them is using the new Photo Calendar module (located beneath the Photo Gallery) to view photos by the date on which they were taken. As I publish more photos you'll be able to enter the Way Back Machine and see everything all the way back to the ultrasound taken the day before I was born.
Speaking of which, my next major project is scanning in all the film negatives, slides, and prints. I've been digging around the Internet for reviews but the professionals don't seem to like anything under $1000 which is way out of my price range. I'm looking at the Epson Perfection V700 Photo scanner for $500 from Costco. Does anyone have any experience doing this?
Read More »
This morning before school the kids were playing the board game Candyland. They got it for their birthday and have requested we play it several times the past few days. Then in school my mom and I chaperoned a field trip to the local Silver Springs fire station. Three firemen did a great job of keeping the preschoolers attention. The boys were eager to try every piece of equipment on offer: oxygen mask (with flowing oxygen), respirator, suit, hose and nozzle, lights, etc. They wanted to slide down the pole too but the city's insurance company says that is a no-no. Board games and cool school field trips. Two more milestones on the road to when they can play board games and XBox with me. And, though I prefer not to dwell on it, two more milestones to when they can beat me at board games and XBox. Some pictures from the field trip are in the Recent Pictures album in the Photo Gallery. Read More »
This morning before school the kids were playing the board game Candyland. They got it for their birthday and have requested we play it several times the past few days. Then in school my mom and I chaperoned a field trip to the local Silver Springs fire station. Three firemen did a great job of keeping the preschoolers attention. The boys were eager to try every piece of equipment on offer: oxygen mask (with flowing oxygen), respirator, suit, hose and nozzle, lights, etc. They wanted to slide down the pole too but the city's insurance company says that is a no-no.
Board games and cool school field trips. Two more milestones on the road to when they can play board games and XBox with me. And, though I prefer not to dwell on it, two more milestones to when they can beat me at board games and XBox.
Some pictures from the field trip are in the Recent Pictures album in the Photo Gallery.
We had the kids birthday today at the Urban Treehouse in Airdrie. The kids have been excited about it all week, saying proudlly 'I'm 4!'. Is our birthday tomorrow? Practicing singing Happy Birthday. Picking out their own birthday candles and cake. Birthday party = presents connection is made. So much has changed in a year, and not just that they look more like little men. We shared the day with cousins Evan and Luke, and friends Aidan and David. The kids were independent enough that the parents could scarf a coffee and get some chatting in. Snacks, birthday cake, blowing out of candles. Who knew that the party favors on the cake should have been counted - they were a big hit, and reluctantly shared. Excited opening of presents - accompanied by a bossy Matthew telling his guests - No, you don't touch it! It's our presents. But he agreed that Calvin could touch them. A big thank you, then off to play on the slide, in the water area, play with the toys, read books, and of course play with all the friends at the Thomas the train table. A good time had by all, with little fuss, fighting or whining. Good job all parents on that count, we know how challenging it can be to get there. Thanks to everyone for coming, and being unreasonable driving to Airdrie to celebrate with us at this special place. Pictures are posted in the gallery, and video an attraction coming soon. Read More »
We had the kids birthday today at the Urban Treehouse in Airdrie. The kids have been excited about it all week, saying proudlly 'I'm 4!'. Is our birthday tomorrow? Practicing singing Happy Birthday. Picking out their own birthday candles and cake. Birthday party = presents connection is made. So much has changed in a year, and not just that they look more like little men.
We shared the day with cousins Evan and Luke, and friends Aidan and David. The kids were independent enough that the parents could scarf a coffee and get some chatting in. Snacks, birthday cake, blowing out of candles. Who knew that the party favors on the cake should have been counted - they were a big hit, and reluctantly shared. Excited opening of presents - accompanied by a bossy Matthew telling his guests - No, you don't touch it! It's our presents. But he agreed that Calvin could touch them. A big thank you, then off to play on the slide, in the water area, play with the toys, read books, and of course play with all the friends at the Thomas the train table. A good time had by all, with little fuss, fighting or whining. Good job all parents on that count, we know how challenging it can be to get there.
Thanks to everyone for coming, and being unreasonable driving to Airdrie to celebrate with us at this special place. Pictures are posted in the gallery, and video an attraction coming soon.
This year Angela came up with the idea of hosting a Rock Band Halloween Party where everyone was invited to come dressed up as their in-game avatar. Everyone looked great and it was obvious that much time was invested into making their costumes. Angela went so far as to dye her hair permanently red. We had two copies of Rock Band 2 - one on Mike's XBox 360 downstairs and another on Kevin's PS3 upstairs - so nobody had to stand around for very long and people could play until their wrists hurt. Check out some photos from the event in our Gallery. One photo I wish I had is a shot of the TV showing us completing Metallica's Battery wit Read More »
This year Angela came up with the idea of hosting a Rock Band Halloween Party where everyone was invited to come dressed up as their in-game avatar. Everyone looked great and it was obvious that much time was invested into making their costumes. Angela went so far as to dye her hair permanently red. We had two copies of Rock Band 2 - one on Mike's XBox 360 downstairs and another on Kevin's PS3 upstairs - so nobody had to stand around for very long and people could play until their wrists hurt. Check out some photos from the event in our Gallery. One photo I wish I had is a shot of the TV showing us completing Metallica's Battery wit
I realized a few months ago while organizing my external drives the extent of my uncatalogued collection of photos and videos. Thousands of photos and tens of gigabytes of standard and high definition video all sitting unused, undisplayed, and collecting the digital equivalentof a thick layer of dust. Our Rock Band Halloween party (more on this in a minute) and the kids' upcoming fourth birthday both mean more photos and more video. Read More »
I realized a few months ago while organizing my external drives the extent of my uncatalogued collection of photos and videos. Thousands of photos and tens of gigabytes of standard and high definition video all sitting unused, undisplayed, and collecting the digital equivalentof a thick layer of dust. Our Rock Band Halloween party (more on this in a minute) and the kids' upcoming fourth birthday both mean more photos and more video.