He's a really nice guy I like him just fine but he's a mouthbreather

Mom's making me wear the breathe rights again. This morning, one side was pointing to the ceiling, one side had slid into an eyebrow. We found two nights ago in the pillow sham. Takes two head and shoulder applications to remove the stick from the nostrils. And then you coke fiend the thing all day. We have ordered the football variety - extra intense anti oil resistance. It's this or off with the tonsils.

Why are there four cake shows on TV? Who needs one cake show, let alone four cake shows. Cake Face. Ace of Cakes. Cake Masters. Earth Cakes! Caked Alive!

It got really nice here. I washed the cars. Haven't washed a car in 20 years, seriously.

This also got washed:



This is Dead Mates from Thunderdome, Tiny knows what I'm talking about.



Taco time at Doc's. $2 Texas beers, PLUS, half off bean dip. Who eats bean dip? We ordered two of them.



This is happening, sort of.


I lit up the gym for a P.B. yesterday. They made me guard the high school phenom, so he put a shingling on me pretty bad. But he was Jane's height, so I just posted him up all day. Felt bad for him cause my shit talk must have reached dizzying volume by game three. McHaled! Old man still gots it.

Also of note, genius visit by 2 of the 3 famous Ward Girls of Dallas. That's Carrie on the left and Jenny on the right. Good times!

Firsts (or number ones)

More vintage JB, including her inaugural stroll:

Reflections After Jane from Austin McKenna on Vimeo.

Keeping with the theme, Mom has reported that our little hot mess just whizzed in the tiny toilet. Congrats lady Jane.

I'm with Puppets

Figured out how to cut / upload my old super 8MM trove. Results to follow.

First pass - sausagefest at 24 Powers. Fall '08ish.

In honor of Lucy's birthday, my other muse.

Coco & Grandma don't care about your fishing trip.

Truly. While Dad was off falling in the water, Mom and Jane took it to Charlotte for a visit to Coco & Mo's house. Swing installed day 1. Highlights from visit with Judy DuBose and Lucy House. Jane was at first resistant to sharing all her new backyard toys, but she came around...


Afternoon visit, courtesy of Chase. From left: Emma Waple, Molly Chichester, Liza Chichester, Janebug and Nelson Waple.


Next morning, visit with the gorgeous Evelyn Turner. (The girls were too "active" to pose for a photo together)


Dress-up with Coco...You're so cute!


Anderson Setaro's 3rd birthday party:


Meanwhile, McNair took his first turn on the swing... He likes balloons better:


Sunday morning at Edgehill park:


Sunday afternoon supper with Wallace Roberts, while McNair and Frances Roberts relaxed in the sun:


A few parting shots... It took a couple of days, but Jane finally warmed up to Kawlija.
Just like Mo and Mommy: when focused, the tongue comes out

Three generations of Beaver men. McNair, Mo, Uncle Josh.


Not psyched for the early morning flight back to TX.

Thanks to Coco & Mo for the wonderful trip! Happy Birthday to Coco. We miss y'all!

FIREBIRD X

Having sat out the last 4-5, last weekend found me back on the water, somewheres near Sylva, NC, geared up (quite literally) for the tenth annual FIREBIRD FISHING TOURNEY. This was never voiced over officially, but it was pretty clear this was my trophy to lose:



Incidentally, after a visual, wife suggested this was not to come home with me, under any circumstances.

Troy organized, Ralph was tourney officiant, as last year's winner. Our accommodations, lower cabin:



And the view from breakfast.



Big turn out - 13 maybe in all. By my count, I was the least educated of the bunch, by degree, unsettling, given this is a Shallowford Forest heavy talent pool. Put myself in the lower fitness third too, given all these nerds seem to be running marathons these days.

Night one arrivals:


Morning one, gear up. As usual, Carlson and his taste for the exotic. That is a non-regulation bait. I somehow dropped $50 at the Walmart on tackle that never made its way out of the package. Opted to go exclusively with the fly rod, bold, given my fight record coming in tallied 1 in 56 conversion.



We fished on the Tuck, relatively menacing. Apparently the ideal time to be on the water is dawn-ish, our best appearance, 11AM.



Success. Mine's clearly bigger than Ralph's:


The resident French Sapper. O-ferred.



This guy was always lurking, occasionally napping, a steady presence bankside.




The hot Carl-son:


Beer 13 group huddle and strategy swap. Right round the time we started falling in the river.



And man down.


(pic removed due to decency clause!)


Night two main event, explo to follow:



Day two found the spin captains killing it.



Ralph and his river otter.



Avoid this pig reheater:



Coming off the water day two. At this point, the tourney was decided. I succumbed to the currents and bad back, spent most of the after lunch with my sleeves under water, filling up my waders. Knees like bruised grapefruit, shins skinless. Never seen so many cargo pants.



Last night, after party and trophy presentation. Your host, Garo the Great.


This man is a machine. Congrats RK. Well earned.



I've missed you men.