K Gardella

Attacking Shrubbery

2011-10-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

It is with great pride and very little prejudice that I have officially done most of what I wanted to do to the honeysuckle. There have been times when I have doubted myself. Now I see the fruits of my labor and realize it was worth all the blackberry thorns, wood chipper Fargo PT SD, and one really bad bu bu on my belly.

New Directions

2011-09-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

I am now studying fruit trees for planting in the spring and pruning for the winter as I hack away at the massive quaff of honeysuckle that has plagued our neighbors houses and our yard for years. Every time I go out of the house my neighbors thank me profusely for my beneficence and the kindnesses I have heaped upon them by cutting the crap out of my yard. Apparently the guy who owned the house years ago put it in for privacy and just did nothing to keep it in check (it sounds like he was a bit of a prick). The really exciting part is putting things into the chipper as I visualize Fargo worst case scenarios and try to figure out how I would give myself a tourniquet if my arm got sucked in. Luckily it has not and also luckily there are about eighty safety devices making it nearly impossible for me to make armburger. I have been very careful too.
We went to the Cumberland county fair today and Commonground on last Friday. The differences were hilarious. The carnies just wore different costumes. Overalls/long skirts and dreadlocks vs baggy pants w/dueche bag hat or overly tight jeans with muffin top. The food was the same only one was organic therefore more expensive. They had one thing especially in common, they both were so much fun. I can't remember having more fun at the Commonground(can't remember lots of things about the Commonground from my youth) and I love attending a fair with Eliot because it is all so wonderful to him. He drinks in the nectar of each thing he does or sees. It is what a parent lives for those moments.

TRICKIN with CHICKIN

2011-06-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

With bargains found at the Riverbend yardsale including a pickax I have finally completed the chicken moat. Well to say it is a moat is not completely right. It is more of a channel. It also serves as a mud run for Eliots cars. He had such a great time helping his daddy with it. He would get his little trowel out and dig away.

Like a new man

2011-06-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

This evening on the bus there was a scarcity of insane behavior to interrupt the tree catalog reading. I got well past the Pink Lady Apple tree before a Drunk Lady hurtled past me on her way through the windshield to ask the driver, "When argh youll goinggg to anrgutstarhh?" The windshield was made with this kind of thing in mind so she was merely shaken not stirred by the incident.
My days have flown by in this manner. Wake, try to cover Eliot's ears but not interfere with the newly released violent criminal riders of the bus, come home and try to not be a victim of a projectile drunk persons. It is like a frat party on wheels where all the pledges are seasoned drinking professionals. My only regret is that I am not able to join them in their adventures, perhaps in the next life. In this life it is clear I am to be a farmer(for those of you who thought I was going to be a nurse this may come as a surprise but hey life and select boxes of cereal are filled with those right?).
In process are three to three thousand projects around the house. I have become adept at putting them off for various excellent reasons. Therefor one can find in my yard the following things,
1)A regulation depth ditch around a chicken coop size area and the materials for building a chicken coop inside of a garage
2)The beginnings of a seriously deforested future berry patch which once the wood has, over the years decomposed, will be perfect for blueberries and raspberries.
3)A hole the size of a root-ball for a dwarf tree which has been excavated then meticulously filled back in for future re-excavation.
My heart was lightened even more than usual by fireflies that did not turn out to be motorists cigarette butts being flicked at me this evening. They buzzed around the yard. I have always found it hard not to tape a flashlight to my bum when I see this. It is what being brought up in Augusta will do to a boy.
Many of you will have noticed by now that my email got hacked. Apparently the fix was in because my computer was also the victim of the geekiest sort of crime. All action movies from now on have been ruined for me. They all are hackers the bad-asses of the big screen. You just never feel the same as you sit down to a movie starring fast typers after falling prey to their evil shenanigans. I have seen the matrix people and it looks really boring, is pre-diabetic, lives at its mom's house, and has to do carpal tunnel exercises.
Despite all my whining I am doing great. This blogging thing makes me feel important, almost as important as when more than 2 people validate my words with a like on facebook. So have a nice evening and join me in protesting the depiction of an action hero as a person who types fast.

The weather outside is frightful

2011-01-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have no idea what this is a picture of. I am thinking it is a fish tank. One never can tell. It is rediculously cold outside. One of those days where SLR cameras stick and no sane person really would be outside anyway. We went out for a date at Westbrook Cinemagic. Eliot stayed with his grandmother and ever braved the cold a bit. The point of this is nothing of course. I have nothing to say. Other than I am going to try to keep my lap warm by blogging with my laptop as the temperature dips to subzero temps this eve.

A Whole Day at the Ocean and All I have to Show For It Is These Berries

2009-11-15T17:40:00.000-08:00

It is Sunday and the day was our oyster. The waves at Portland Headlight were crashing high from a hurricane. The air was so warm the thought of surfing could not be purged. It has been a long time since that has happened. It was on the other side of the planet that I surfed last.
Last night it rained really hard and everything was all wet and smelled rotty in a good way. We walked around the woods in Fort Williams park area for awhile. All those leaves almost got the best of me; I had several three stooge banana peel moments. Eliot somehow avoided falling for the most part. He got chased around by some puppies, guess they thought he was delicious the way they kept licking him. He found some new duck friends as well. They were quite interested in making his aquaintence too until they found out he only was holding the top of an acorn.
This evening has been the night of school again. Borders for studying, home for roasted chicken Ala Jess, back to the computer who was diametrically opposed to me and my paper writing work. I also think the blog and facebook have had their role in my study downfall this evening.

seems to me that i have not been in touch

2009-11-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

Nursing school is underway. Catheters, IM injections, multipul choice exams with evasive answers are all about. I am so happily overwlemed at the moment. That will change in two weeks when I have my next exam. Every week I dress up as a nurse and do my thing. It is not unlike what I have been up to. The main difference is the assessments we do. Every class we are expected to write our assessments of the clients we are assigned. I have some work to do.

My little family has been thriving despite the changing of seasons, scheduals, and scholarships. The hardest thing about school still is not seeing Eliot every morning.

One Small Salamander For Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind

2009-07-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

One rainy day after Jess got home we decided to try our hands at flight. Eliot started it and the family has been doing the same to practice for a Christmas picture.

This salamander just did not care to be picked up yesterday

Notice Eliot's perfect flying form.

A Wild Buckaroos Breaky

2009-07-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

Wild Growlin' Gessler and his rough and rowdy crew of bandits descended on the wild west enclave, Catonsville. the formerly peaceful brothel was rocked by the appearance of these disreputable characters.

Evil Eder with his Wiley counterpart in crime Jessica James

Chicky "Kill" Nasty

"Baby-face" Pat Fun Box

"Grateful to be dead after messin with this maniac" Jack the Ripper

this just in

2009-07-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

my wife just stole all of the awesome pictures i took of the day(with my permission of course) and wrote a narrative better than the one i was going to write. i bet she did not even have to rely on swear words to say how damn good my day was.
here is her link. i hope she spelled lots of words wrong.

http://alittlebunny.blogspot.com/

the days are just packed

2009-07-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

when a day goes just right you know you will be talking about it for the rest of the month, day, year, or more. Wensday was such a day. Eliot and I made our way out the house into the world at around ten o'clock.

We came upon the fire house with its doors open and fire men doing their shift change. They invited Eliot to come into the engines. He even got to ride in one. A happier kid could not be found but this was only the beginning...

blue steel

2009-06-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

the seriousness of the haircut.

we brought eliot in for his fist real haircut friday. he was great about staying still and obeying the barber and the mama but he was so serious. i hope it was not an unpleant experiance for him. the result was fantastic. the gardella boys are looking fine.

2009-06-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Great ideas come from my sleeping wife

2009-06-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

A little past ten I went into a room in the house where some are creative and some just create. My wife had just finished making a stuffed person and I thought of the perfect collaboration. I will make the innards of a simple robot whose arms will move with its legs in tandem. It's innards will be supported by a wooden frame. The arm and leg axel will come out of the top and bottom of the creature. Short wood square blocks will attach to each axle and will have a bit extra axle over the end. Any added appendages are added with glue to the outside of the gear box.
The part where Jess would be able to come in and help is when I cover the robot with skin. It needs to be vaguely inhuman but should show the creator was at least trying when they tried to make the humanoid doll/robot. If the box is strong enough staple guns and hot glue could make for excellent fat cells to round things out. The innards need to be accessable by a very obvious and possibly upsetting looking door(maybe a doornob). When the figure is finished gears(metal) need to be applied to the last bit of dowel. If possible these gears should connect to something too.
I have pictures of a machine I made years ago and would like to craft mine after them and Jess' doll.

2009-06-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Eliot and Jess and I were totally entertained on the roof deck at my bros apt. The view was perfect. I stayed up there with Tim late just enjoying the view. It was perfect.
When Jess, Eliot, Tim, and I got to the cape we took a relaxed stroll around the heritage plantation. it was beautiful with the blooming rhododendron. The colors were splendid.
When Trish joined us we went to sandy neck beach for a campfire and beach ride. the weather was fine, sunset clear, fire was warm, and a lady Eliot had worked his charm on gave Trisha a hamburger she says was the best she's ever had. This was especcially good because Trisha said earlier that evening that she would kill for a bite of a hamburger. I guess those people unwittingly saved someones life. Pracilla you are an unsung American hero.
Sunday we heard my mom grace the church with her beautiful voice. My father was good enough to do a lobster feast for all of us. It was was particularly meaningful and appreciated by me. I had been traumatized and riddled with guilt earlier that evening. Eliot had gotten a very bad splinter on the deck(which my dad had repeatedly had warned me about). I removed most of it but his howling in pain made my hands shake like leaves. I was able to get the larger piece but by the time I finished doing that I was to stressed out. I am embarrassed to say I can deal easily with some other person's father having a head trauma but become completely undone by Eliot getting a splinter. The lobster in the good company of Ann and Pete worked its magic though and I slept well until nine this morning. Today I had some quality time to play with the magic jeep

Cape Cod

2009-05-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

It should be nice getting down to the parents house for the weekend. Jess, Eliot, and I have not been there to visit in a while. It is finally good enough weather for us to spend some time out on the Cape's fantastic beaches. They remind Tim and I of Australia because they are so long. Tim enjoyed the drive on the beach aspect of Frasure Island. I just loved how freakin long the beaches were.

There is no I in teamwork but there are two in irritated

2009-05-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

...but first an old joke

Two little old ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a

flower show was in progress.
The thin one leaned over and said, 'Life is so boring. We never have any fun any

more. For $10 I'd take my clothes off and streak through that stupid flower show!'

"You're on!' said the other old lady, holding up a $10 note. The first little old lady slowly

fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked (as fast as an old

lady can) through the front door of the flower show.

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by

loud applause and shrill whistling. The smiling and naked Old lady came through the

exit door surrounded by a cheering crowd.

'What happened?' asked her waiting friend

'I won 1st prize as Best Dried Arrangement.

Working with the elderly has its ups and downs, specifically pull ups and nursey melt downs. No matter what the reason is for having to change pull ups I nearly always prefer it than having to deal with the latter.

just having a look @ jess. blog

2009-05-16T23:21:00.002-07:00

for all of you who are wondering why there so many duplicated pics, it is because jess is such a darn photographer. i just am in awe when i see them on my laptop. hence the fact she gets her photos in her's and mine. kudos for her she is remarkably talented.

And places

2009-05-16T23:21:00.001-07:00

We have gone many places

2009-05-16T23:03:00.001-07:00

There have been troubles

2009-05-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

My favorite lady has passed. it came on so fast. she was only away from 75 for a few months. it was just january when we were sitting around with eliot. i have all of these videos of eliot sitting on her lap. now i will be going to her funeral. it is really hard to have these extremely valuable connections. In so many ways i am looking forward to the nursing proffesion where there is a limited time to connect. last night i sobbed while watshing a film about alzheimers.

Tonight there was art

2009-05-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

I got time to sit down and do some art. I have been working on my daddy so much it is really hard to make time. after two years though i am finally making the time to do some painting. The idea of getting the little one doing the same is so exciting. he is getting to the age where art and concentrating on art is not going to be such a difficult problem.

There is a great thing in the air

2009-05-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a remarkable few months here in portland. we are enjoying the new place like you would not belive. our garden is beatiful though there is some work to be done. we have a porch that will be perfect when we finally get all the shit organized. My work has been really challenging but the demotion has afforded me some really great time to re-connect with the residents. I before had only time to give out pills. now i am in happy business. i provide all of them with service they appreciate.

Elvis returns!

2009-03-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

Actually he did not just got in another picture. one that a resident had taken. just thought it was worthy of posting.
Eliot, his friend rob, and I did appear in the Portland sun however. It was a very nice pic though i am sure it was modified for printing and will look rather silly on the computer. we celebrated st patties day with a march from st Dom's through the west end. Eliot liked it though did not take to the marching. It was a strange sort of st Patty's day because there was no singing, dancing or shenanigans. it was devoid of all of those things i think of when i think of st Patrick's day. oh well.
we had a fantastic party last weekend and are having the folks and our new landlord up. it should be a blast.

And they all fell down

2009-03-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

The not-for-profit sector has been nailed by the recession and we are beginning to feel it at 75 state st. There is a restructuring meeting this coming week and I will be preparing by starting to look for work. it is just a matter of time before they ask us to give up our benefits and start firing. It is beyond sad. Many of us have given years to this non-profit and are no doubt going to be asked to give up the free health care. It is not just us who will be effected. Our residents are going to be the ones really paying the price. many of the finest workers will have to leave.

Elvis is in the House

2009-03-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

We are getting beautiful spring weather, the birds are coming home; nothing says this more than an Elvis impersonator coming to sing to the elderly.
All day we have been enjoying the warmth. we did some tidying up and now are having a nice little spring tantrum. soon Jess will wear herself out. She will be asleep.

We Are Unthawing

2009-03-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

Our yearly cryogenics experiment has left us feeling shaken. we are defrosting and trying to get outside whenever the temperature goes south of 33. yesterday Dylan Steve Kjel and Sabine dropped in and played around in the yard with Jess Eliot and I. it was fun. we have been working hard on the porch and will soon have it breded in time for days as high as 34. the cellar is looking great too. i have spotted some leak issues and some trash that needs tossing but all has been full speed ahead in getting those areas ready for use. this summer promises to be full of good fun and creativity at seven Russell. for now no pics i have to go play.

2009-02-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

The other day I watched Olive for Sasha and we took some great pictures. Beth, Sabine, and Rowan came over. All the kids were on their beswt behavior and with the ample new space we all were able to get spread out. I snapped this picture after asking the two kids to smile. I figure it will be great motivation to succed in high school when presented as a article of black mail.

Settling In

2009-02-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

We have experianced such a massive change from our place on Commercial to here. Eliot loves it as do we. I definately miss and will have fond memories of our old spot. Russell St seems to be made for us.

I am getting my stuff all into place. The living room is beautiful and we are working to get the porch to the same level. It will allow us to figure out what we will be doing this summer with veggies and flowers.

We are here, so now what

2009-02-16T20:31:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of a very loud heater that is making strange noises while it helps us not freeze. It must be a hard job because it screams and moans all while it does its work.

The have moved and said goodbye to the Commercial St. location. It is time for us to unpack, continue painting, buff floors, clean windows, get curtains. The stuff that will take about two years for a normal human to do. Luckily I am not normal(some say more subhuman). I have projected the goal of finishing later this week. This is so we can finally relax and say there is not any house work aside from the usual. Being insanely busy has had some excellent side effects. I have been sleeping earlier, better, and longer. I have lost my gut for the most part. Focusing on something with a beginning and end has made me work harder. It has been a great move. Although I will miss the people on fridays and Saturdays screaming as they step in eight inch deep puddles in front of our building, the new place is fantastic. I will also miss our friends who I truly loved seeing in our old place but that is the stuff you have to accept I guess with any move.

hello moving

2009-02-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

here are some pics of eliot and my trip to the train museum. it was loads of fun to see how well entertained he was by an empty old building save for a few trains. also a pic of the boy getting his first piercing.

well we are about as under the gun as humanly possibly. i have been kicking butt and taking names this week on the new place as the mama manages the packing. probably not the best idea to work every day this week but it is going to be just fine.

SSSOOOO

2009-02-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

The move is getting a foothold. i am making arrangements, jess and i are deciding what does need to get done and when. There are some things that need to get done eventually. We are both quite sure that the place is wonderful but needs some armourers to help its lack of walk-in closets and such. that is of course why i am putting this out there. If you know of a good deal, have a good deal to offer, or just want to comment on our interest in an armourers by all means....

This is a picture Jess took I thought was just perfect for my vision of the planning of a move for Eliot

When a day starts with vomit

2009-01-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

I have been warned it is uncooth to say such things but when you are reading this you must by now know what type of work I do. This should prepare you for explicit detail.
health has been an issue this week. Eliot was very sick this morning but has bounced back with plenty of energy for tantrums.

The winter doldrums have brought the kind of depressed state that invariably ends in good art. I have been on the creative warpath. Unfortunately good tidings keep coming my way waking it hard to stay focused on the negative. i hang out with relentlessly smilely, disgustinly happy, and horribly positive people and children. It is these folks I say are at fault for making my art come slowly.

We are to move back to the place I lived at before and after I was in australia. It is a place which is about twice as large as the place we are in now. It will suit us very well. if there is anyone out there who is interested in the place we are moving out of we can put you in touch with the landlord. we liked it. just needed some extra room to put all our crap in.

Well we are really doing well in general and are looking forward to date night this evening. I am also looking forward to helping and possibly getting involved with it officially. i brought leons projector down the other day in hopes of being able to doing some projections of art on the parachute. alas it did not work

My Little Boy Is Asleep So I Strolled Down Memory Lane

2009-01-13T10:50:00.000-08:00

I have been avidly using facebook and it has made me very nostalgic. The pictures people post from camps and schools I attended make me want to go back to the valley and view all the quintessential Augusta scenes. Hopefully it is just a passing fancy

The idea of a night with Jess at the Liberal Cup is one I would not mind revisiting. It is that time of year when a diversion or two to break up the day to day monotony would not be a bad thing.

For instance we recently had this fat guy over to show us how to make proper neopolitan pizzas at home. They were great but he was grotesque.

2009-01-11T21:47:00.000-08:00

this picture was taken on frasure island about four years ago. it is crazy. this to being a daddy and husband. such a magical transition that contiues to shock and amaze me.
portland was blanketed by another snowing last evening then frozen in place by a deep cold night. i powered through it with a quick trip to ruskis for wings after work. they are fantastic and so was playing darts well. pete and andrew never saw what was coming.
i have started another painting. it is based in my riverstone motif again but will not be limited to this alone. i intend to combine all of my favorite tecniques in the painting. i hopefully will start making something that will be fit to occupy one of the galleries around portland. it is becoming increasingly hard to find gallery space that can sell with the economy punishing would be buyers.

2008-12-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

2008-12-27T21:13:00.000-08:00

happy christmas

2008-12-27T20:37:00.000-08:00

hello there friends family and stalkers. i have been away due of course to computer issues but now of course am back because of my wonderful wife. It is great to have you back too.
A brief synopsis since it has been a while.
1 Christmas was great we spent it with the verry clan at my mother in laws where we ate bacon and enjoyed eachother. great grandma was looking particularly well and Eliot literally shook each time he opened a present.
2 Work continues to be silly yet stressful for instance, on one hand I decorated the whole place with snowflakes probably two hundred or more where made this year. on the other hand there has been unwanted drama about missing pills, random firings, and endless gossip about the above and a host of other topics. while entertaining i think it is eating away at what little integrity I still have.
3 art is on the rise, winter doldrums and normal depression give rise to inspiration. it is a hard trend but the results make it all worth while. some great ideas are out there in my head right now. look for your art in the mail family I am getting on a letter writing kick
4 school does not start until 2010 and will finish in 2012
5 i can't think of any number fives

so...soon the gardellas will descend upon portland havoc will ensue, good havoc.

2008-12-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

2008-12-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

One last point

2008-12-03T08:33:00.001-08:00

Made in...

2008-12-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

It is getting to be obnoxious. Every time, "This book looks really cool!"
"Where is it printed?"
"Malaysia."
"Oh [disapproving self-righteous frown]."
And at work of with friends, "So what does Eliot want for Christmas?"
"Well this year we have decided to do something a little bit different... [long, boring tirade about my ideas about US debt to China and the economy's downturn here}."
Reading about the economic woes of our country has lead me to a feverish dislike for buying all things made in China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and any other of the usual human rights offenders (other than the Bush administration because we have to pay taxes). The whole thing peaked when I went into one of my favorite little stores in the old port and spoke with one of my favorite store owners. She said that in order to remain competitive she had to buy stuff that is made in countries with dubious manufacturing standards. She said it is the only way to keep prices down. She never had to do this before and had promised herself she would not.
After this I have been keeping my eye out for US made products. It has been very hard on my eyes. All of the toys, all of the clothing, all of the everything made of plastic, are made in places I would not send my worst enemy to work. Every year I have the habit of sending out hand made gifts. I am guessing from the state of my finances and the state of the retailers I have to choose from this will be a tradition I stick to.
On a bright note I am looking forward to an unparalleled year of snowflake making as I have sharp scissors and no snowflakes left from last year. Keep looking at my blog as I will post photos as much as possible of my dirty snowflakes and the pretty ones too.

Eliot the draftsman

2008-11-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

Eliot has been welcomed into the world of markers recently. he has not churned out his most definitive masterpieces yet. we are expecting great things. We pressure him as much as possible to be great and succeed where his father did not. Really he has shown moderate interest in this activity as it does not involve balls of any kind, playgrounds or Olive and Sabine.
Jess and I have been looking into methods and tools teaching at home. there is a great deal of literature out there. i am happy to say the book I am reading now is very inspiring. It is hard to tell now what we will do. We have a friend who have thought of doing this but decided not to as thier child is so appropriate for school. I hope that Eliot is that way about home schooling. It will be ideal if our choice is easy to make because of a clear preference for one or the other.
If anyone out there has read any good material on how to get started early, by all means post it. we are having a great time learning more about approaches to education.

2008-11-25T20:19:00.001-08:00

we went on the narrowguage railroad the other day and had a great time. It is going to be done up special for a polar express reading soon so we are thinking about that as a fun winter thing to do. I have been having a hard time finding such activities as the weather has been less than ideal. Two days of keeping any two year old inside is quite a struggle.

Now you may leave your comments

2008-11-21T22:37:00.000-08:00

Memorable Moments with Meatsauce

2008-11-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Meals are meant to be interrupted and prolonged for their hillarity I discovered. Eliot demonstrates with his new look which we are calling "Red Steel".
We had a very uneventful day so it was nessesary for me to entertain myself using extreme parenting. We are practicing our table manners for thanksgiving. Just kidding ann and pete

Five days off

2008-11-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

I just got off five days off and have been so relaxed. Yesterday I was able to just coast through the day and have nothing at all to do. I went to Freeport with jess and got a comforter and the fixings. We had such a nice time enjoying each others company. Today though, it is back to the old mortar and pestle.

2008-11-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

The little guy is doing some art at the table right now so I have a bit of time to blog. This has been a great week. Eliot and I had our first mamaless night yesterday and everything went well. We both were ready to see jess when she returned though. Eliot and I had lots of fun to mask our sorrow.

I had this awful chest thing that made it not so fun to breathe and that finally has begun to clear out. I took the week off from my usual late hours and shenanigans so as to get better and my body thanks me for it.

Jess took some very nice3 pictures at her company’s symposium. She is really talented. We have been enjoying the task of resorting all of our photos, it is neat to see how much the little guy has grown up. His whole look is new since he started losing his baby fat in his cheeks.

2008-11-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

2008-11-07T07:12:00.000-08:00

2008-10-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

That last post was one of my lamest. I just have been without things to post. Eliot is having a great birthday week. jess and I are doing wonderfully, work has been fine even for work. Life in general has been as smooth as cheap beer pretends to be.
I am very excited to have a sleeping 2 year old in the other room. He is very quick these days and despite his stubby skinny little legs can run quite fast. Definately faster than you would guess for a shorty. He officially has inherited my head. The doctor confirmed it. he has also apparently inhereted my girlish figure which is to say the figure of the pumpkinheaded character in that movie about a halloween man trying to be a santa man. write if you can remember what I am thinking of.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

2008-10-07T17:06:00.001-07:00

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Bum sitting at work riles me all up

2008-10-02T21:02:00.001-07:00

Tonight after all the pill pushing was done some of my co-workers and I sat down for a nice serving of political bullshit served up hot and steamy from our two vice presidential candidates. It seems that with each national political event I grow more attached to local politics. I love voting and being informed. It seems the debate forum is lacking. There is no debate fact checking on the spot and I know that the vast majority undecided voters are not going to go out of their way to investigate any of the things these people are saying. They will just elect who they like best because it is easier. I am nervous for Eliot's world.
I, on the other hand, have been having a great week with the family. The trip to the Cape was fantastic despite the horrible weather. We got to the Heritage Plantation and rode on the giant merry-go-round with the little guy. We also got to see the offending croquet wicket.
Jess and I are going to go on a date type thing tomorrow as well and we are both looking forward to that let me tell you.

2008-09-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

I was over at Leah and Steve's house wen the little one was there. He arrived on Leah's birthday just in time to be freaking cute.

Leah and Steve's Big Day

2008-09-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

otady Leah started in on her labor. We were all very exited to hear the news so Eliot and i went over to beth and Dylan's to get up to date updates and share the excitement. I will post some video of the moments over there while we awaited news. It was a great time.

2008-09-11T10:15:00.002-07:00

WE HAVE FINALLY BEEN DINE HITCHED

2008-09-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

Jess and I got married last weekend and had a fantastic time doing so. It sounds crazy, having fun at your own wedding, but we did. I would say it was the best party/ wedding I have ever been to. I hope to have anniversary parties just like it until death do done us in.
I am exactly like a gazelle in that regard.
The food was amazing, it was served up with perfect timing (I got to jump the cue). No one complained about anything because it kicked ass.
the Half Moon Jug band also kicked ass. They were the perfect band and with Clara singing a beautiful song she wrote for us we had amazing music at the wedding. Clara's song was the perfect gift and Glen played us in brilliantly with his horn.
The guests were all moved by the service, readers and readings. John did a fantastic job leading us through a quaker style wedding. Many people stood(more than I thought would actually) to share stories and well wishes for and about us. I would recommend this form of service for anyone. John had strongly recommended it and we can see why in retrospect. For many these unrehearsed shared words brought extra meaning to an already lovely service. Again thank you John Eder!
I know I am forgetting lots of things that made this the perfect wedding, I just thank everyone for being so generous and kind, so many came from so far away. It was touching to know our families and friends are so present in our lives. we love you guys and look forward to celebrating many more milestones in the future(hopefully also with lobster and steak).

We are ready(kind of)

2008-08-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

Tonite was a fun one. Jess and I spent all our day together saw loads of friends and family and enjoyed a public market together. It made me realize how much I wish I was able to keep her home all of the time. Soon we will be able to do this though after I get my nursing degree.
The wedding plans are going off well. i have a small army of friends who gratiously have offered to help with the setup on sat. it shouldu be perfect. I am realizing we had not looked at our guest list as carefully as we thought. we had not made follow up calls and there may be some troubles do to my negligence. Hopefully all will go smoothly though. There is a 30% chance of rain which all the family keeps telling me to stop fixating on for it will bring bad luck but I just have been obsessing over it anyway.

2008-08-20T21:42:00.001-07:00

As all of you all know Everything has been hectic. we are planning and preparing for the party of the century. It is all very fun though in an insane way. i have rekindled my love for verse. i always used to read it when I was in high school b ut since have forgotten it. Now that we are planning our vows I have had an excuse to reread my favorites and it has been great. Every day my eyes finish hurting from being planted in books. Sadly I began to late. I started with compilations by longfellow and have ended with favorites by tacky wedding planners.

Who Would Have Thunk?

2008-08-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

It is so very perfect to look back at pictures like this before we are to be married. A flower and a bee. Jess' pet bunny. The WT party. It is all just perfect. I am hoping none of it is used in the toasts that are going to be made because it is just to predictable. Jess and I are meant for each other. Who else would be seen next to a crazy man dressed in black long underwear and wings other than a crazy woman dressed in full flower regalia? One has to love the prophetic nature of this photo not to mention the excellence of the costumes themselves.
We are closing in on the date. We have been looking over options for vows. I have a collection of a dozen or so love poems carefully culled from about two to three hundred I have read so far. It should be great.

It is time to create some art

2008-08-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have started in on doing carvings. We have precious little room so my workbench is too short to get sharp tools out of reach from the boy. He got his hands on hands on my open utility knife today and earned himself a timeout. I really was the one who deserved the time out though. I felt so panicked and horrible. i almost got physically ill as saw him start darting across the room holding the tool. I cannot wait to get a workshop.

A bachelors party to end all bachelor parties.

2008-08-07T08:24:00.001-07:00

What do you get when you add twelve men, one rack of pig, three ducks, a swimming pool, and booze? The last supper of Hef? No! My bachelors party. Thanks to some great pulling together of culinary marvels, knowledge of decadance, and support of my wonderful friends I had a great bachelors party. It was very touching to have twelve great friends there to support me in my hours of need prior to the wedding month chaos. Thank you guys and I will never forget the last supper of my single life.

My ID has been revealed. i hope you all are not dissappointed. i gained a taste for blood while campaigning

2008-08-07T08:16:00.001-07:00

http://www.amazon.com/When-Twilight-Burns-Gardella-Chronicles/dp/0451224752/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213827941&sr=8-1%C3%83%C2%83%C3%82%C2%83%C3%83%C2%82%C3%82%C2%A2%C3%83%C2%83%C3%82%C2%82%C3%83%C2%82%C3%82%C2%80%C3%83%C2%83%C3%82%C2%82%C3%83%C2%82%C3%82%C2%9DThe gardellas secret

I just finished reading a book about an adventurer

2008-07-25T10:44:00.001-07:00

He went from the top of the Amazon to the bottom. He said that raising a daughter is scarier. I really want to go canoing for a while. I think Jess does too.

We are Planning a fab wedding and the response list has been amazingly over-whelming. I hope I did not leave anything out. I have resigned myself to one fact though, I am going to have a freaking good time.

Privately I think it is going to even more fun than a carnival. I also think fried dough sucks but don't tell Jess or she won't share hers with me next year.
I have a snazzy suit to wear and we have made a killer menu. The location could not be better and there are plenty of trash bags if it rains. What is better yet I am marrying the best mother and girlfriend ever. We are really excited.

Ths is my mother and mother in laws' birthday.

2008-07-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to you both. we appreciate you since without you not only could we not have enjoyed entry into this world but we could not have experienced our own child. He is lucky too for having such wonderful grand mothers who so clearly adore him. You both bring such different things to the table as grand mothers Eliot will benifit as your children have from the input you have over his young life and many years to come.
I hope this year brings you both good health and wonderful surprises. Mom I am sure you feel extra lucky to be gaining amazing daughters in law in Trish and Jess. Pat you better feel lucky to be getting a son in law like me who is willing to operate (sometimes successfully) your grill, lift heavy objects up and down your stairs, and help you steal rocks from the beach. Jess, Eliot, Dexter, and I love you both and hope that you did not try to light the proper number of candles this evening, what with global warming and all.

Summer of Pan

2008-07-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

I have been getting loads of stuff done on my days off. Tonight the project is to work on some of the prints that are supposed to be shown at Zarra's in August, finish writing the addresses on the cards, and do a bunch of tests for Jess. It should be fun...
Political events are picking up momentum. Tonight Tina Smith is having a barby at Chicks and I may attend depending on the status of the projects in an hour or so.
We are so lucky to live in maine. Every day as of late is more beautiful than the last. Drinking them in is essential to get one through the winter.

Tim and Trisha

2008-06-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

this is wedding season but this summer the season is particularly wonderful for the gardella boys. we both have found the perfect women to watch over us. Tim and Trisha'd wedding was fantastic. we had a great time and I have so many pictures and videos I have realized there is no way to show enough on this here blog. I will just have to ask you to imagine the perfect wedding followed by a fantastic party.

2008-06-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

2008-06-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

2008-06-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

2008-06-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

2008-06-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Eliot Nap Cam

2008-06-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

Criminal Thwarted while cousin makes little buddy

2008-05-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Last Friday at 7:48 p Lucy was borned. Super cute well done c-bo. we are all pumped to meet her whenever that is. Hoping tims or my wedding but we know how even the best laid plans are easily thwarted by the baby types. Speaking of thwarting last saturday when joe called with news of his grampyhood I was busy helping fight crime in Portland. There was a suspicious guy sprinting down the street. I could tell by the clothing he had on and the look of " OH shit I am going to get busted" that he was on the lamb. My spidey sense helped too. Unfortunately I couold not run after him as I would usually what with me being a brave gallant person who fights for the weak and runs from the strong. I did however tattle on him to the local authorities who came screaming around every corner. I love local crime it is so very...local.
At any rate I busted that one for you Luck I hope you are a superhero crime fighter some day just like the Eva and Me.

2008-05-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

2008-05-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

2008-05-25T16:21:00.000-07:00

It is just so easy

2008-05-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry gang for just posting pictures and videos. They are just so easy to get and put up. Things here in Maine have been great. Jess and I have been busy with all the weddings and all. The outside has been a problem. It has been so beautiful we have not allowed ourselves a minute to plan for the greatest wedding on earth.
The blooms in Portland have been amazing. There are flowers everywhere. Trees that have been gaunt skeletons of winter have suddenly blossomed littering the streets with buds and scents indescribable. Eliot runs from flower to flower trying to take it all in. We do our best to keep up. It make the world so much more amazing seeing it through the eyes of our toddler.

2008-05-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

2008-05-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

2008-05-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

2008-05-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

Help!

2008-05-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

This may take an overly long time to load, I am not sure of the way to do this properly just yet so forgive any flub ups.

The Godfather

2008-05-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

Please be thinking of Paul. He has changed the path of so many young men who look up to him it is impossible to imagine the good he has done.

2008-04-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Out with the Old, In with the new: Col. K. Gardella

2008-04-21T16:10:00.001-07:00

Eliot was a bit apprehensive abvout his clean shorn father initially. Thankfully he got used to it. I even him excited about the texture of fresh cut hair...happiness is.

finally the most exellent boy get the press he deserves

2008-04-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

This is the picture itself
It appeared in the press herald on Friday the 11th and danged if it was not an instant favorite. we have lots of copies. whatever you do don't buy your own copies of the paper as it is an absolute rag but I will give you a copy of the pic instead. The power of the elderly and their scissors is overwhelming

The tower and the boyees

2008-04-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

Time for tim to teach about badassedness

2008-04-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

does not lenny look like the guy in my left foot?

2008-04-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

Heads

2008-04-13T21:59:00.001-07:00

Lenny looks suspiciously at his tyym and eliot

2008-04-13T21:58:00.000-07:00

kevin and his hunny and boy lenny

2008-04-13T21:57:00.002-07:00

Excessive funny with the bean

2008-04-13T21:57:00.001-07:00

the animal puts the babies in the basket...

2008-04-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

uber cute rowan and eliot trying to dodge an unwanted politician kiss(where's dave?)

2008-04-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

2008-04-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

2008-04-12T13:51:00.000-07:00