Ready For Takeoff

Ready For Takeoff
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael and Alex were able to have several care free days in Orlando, but unfortunately I had to work. On the day of my speech, I was in the room at 1pm dealing with an issue from work while simultaneously trying to improve my presentation. That was mistake: I accidentally destroyed the database I needed for my presentation. I tried to reinstall the software, but I realized that I left the disks at home. Then I tried to use the machines provided for the presenters instead of Jenny's laptop. To my horror I discovered it had the express version of SQL Server which lacked the features I needed. Then I tried to download the advanced version in my room: it was 300MB and the estimate was that i would not finish downloading until the next day; I rushed down to the speaker VIP room and used the connection there. It took about 15 minutes to get it and 25 to install it. The feature I needed was not there when I tested it. After some research, I learned I had to run the install with different options. Finally, at 4:40 everything worked. My first speech started at 4:45. RAP (5.14.2007)

Backyard Gang

Backyard Gang
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

When Michael discovered he would not be in class Monday and Tuesday of this week, he panicked a bit. The story he has been working on was due on the Tuesday we would be gone. He is very conscientious and wanted to make sure that it was finished.

His story is about a Hamster, named Hammy, that secretly tags along on a road trip to Florida. I am happy to tell you that he did finish on time; it was two pages, single spaced and it showed a lot of story tellers insights. It was very visceral, funny and it ended the way it began with Hammy escorting a new friend on a new illicit journey. RAP (5.11.2007)

The Running Man

The Running Man
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

This was true is days long past, and it is still true now: Jen's favorite time of the day is when the boys arrive home from school. They run, full speed, off the bus to our doors and their faces always have huge smiles. It makes her happy that their happy, but also knowing that the home she has created for them is a place they want to be.
RAP (5.10.2007)

Guf

Bed Buddies
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex may have mentioned this to me before, and I have passed on to you if he did, but regardless I still want to share the discussion we had last night. Alex and I were shopping at Krogers and he started describing a place where souls come from before the are born. This idea is actually pretty ancient, and it is ussually called the well of souls or the Guf. He says he has been thinking about this for a while and as far as I can tell nothing really prompted it.

What I am impressed with is that this a serious point of religious philosophy to derive on your own, let alone just to be contemplating at age 7. One of nicknames for him is "Father Alex," because he always seemed to be very spiritual. I doubt that he will actually become a preist, because he is so ornery, but aren't irish preists supposed to be a wee bit ornery.
RAP (5.7.2007)
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Spiderman 3

Spiderman 3
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Jenny thinks that John Schleter's little sister, Grace, has crushes on both our boys. When she asked Alex if he thought that Grace liked him he said "of course she does." That sort of bravado was unexpected coming from Alejandro when talking about the fairer sex, so Jenny inquired why he thought she did. He informed us that some sort of Magic Top told him that "over 1,000" girls have crushes on him. So Jenny asked if she was number 1,000 and he pointed out to her that it was OVER 1,000 girls, so Jens insists that Grace is 1,001.
RAP (5.2.2007)

I Ate It All

I Ate It All
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael went to his first sleep over party Saturday night. His best friend, John Schleter, was allowed to pick one friend to spend the night and he chose Michael. This made Michael (and Michael's mom) very happy. Before the sleepover, Alex joined Michael and John in the early part of the evening at the local Charles Edward Cheese franchise. John's parents gave him a Nintendo DS for his birthday, so our boys wore their Mario shirts to celebrate!
RAP (5.2.2007)
P.S. On the day this card ships, I will have camped out in the wee hours of the morning trying to get table for the 4th of July.

First Hit

First Hit
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Unlike last year, Michael is part of the younger group on his team (a 3rd Grader on a team with 4th Graders -- last year he was a 2nd Grader on a team with 1st Graders). Combine that with his slow starts, the early part of the season could be rough. However, I am optimistic that he will put it all together by the second half season, just like he did last year. We have already been to the batting cages, fixed up the pitching machine and are even using the Wii to get his batting skills up where they belong. RAP (5.1.2007)
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