We are all surrounded by people we know really well. Our family and friends bring us comfort by saying predictable things. It is soothing to hear Aunt Estelle go on about her crackpot views on cell phones being the devil.
I have always enjoyed being jarred by unfirmiliarity in small doses, that is why I eves-drop. I love the bus ride to and from school for this reason and tonight was no different. After a long afternoon of trying to understand what I could not see(microbiology) I was equally confounded by what I could see on the bus ride home. A foursome of 18ish kids were sitting in front of me and I settled in for a good round of pretending not to be listening to their every word. It started off pretty dull but got good fast. They went straight to world politics as one of them had just decieded on a brilliant career move: joining the national guard. I listened in disbeliefe as she talked about her motives, "Well I can't work at Domino's forever," she told her high school friends and their baby. The friends said nothing. "The national guard guy told me that I would just basically be doing nothing and said I probably wouldn't even have to go to Iraq. They said I would go to Missouri(Misery as she said it) for basic training and would not be in any danger even if I did go to Iraq because I would not be getting combat training in Missori.
Folks I have to say I felt so sad when I heard this undereducated teenager making such a poor uninfomed decision. The army is good for some but right now even those few would be well advised to find other means of self improvement.

Looking for the perfect gift?

Here is a free cheap gift idea for you creative people out there looking for that unique something for the woman who has everything and then some. Jess was delighted to find this clad in long johns with stripes waiting for her at the door when she returned from work.

TheCamera is Back

In force the camera has returned with a couple of new lenses on for its days out on the street. I have found the wide angle to be angleic and the autofocus to be perfect for my needs. Now it is just a matter of time before jess and I have some work doing art.

The Keys Family

The reins of the valley have been transferred from the crimmens barn going crowd, me rob, jason lablanc to a new generation. The coolest thing is that the valley is in good hands. With the Keys Family taking over Gardiner and the surrounding towns we are able to extend the cool out and about when everyone thought the valley was lost. Travel safely Milo and dictate benevolently.

Hey everyone, I am obsessed with my son. He is just so perfect. Today at work I was a perfectly horrible employee choosing to give residents a look at the pictures on my cell phone of Eliot along with their pills. Because of this everything was rushed. I came home at eleven and have been scrolling through pictures of the boy ever since. It is an obession rivaled only by my need to sing him songs and talk to him when he is awake.

When Eliot was born he opened up a whole lot of new avenues of conciousness for me. I had previously been close to being a father and had been in a father-like role before but the differences were not ones I could have hoped to describe before having my own little boy.
Eliot also opened up new ways of seeing how things progress in the world and through time. He taught me what it is to be tired. Really tired. He also teaches me about relationships every day. The lens having a child in the world with you provides makes the world you percieved before seem quite distorted.
Even after over three months later I am still wrapping my head around this irrevesible fact that confronts me every waking hour.

There was this one picture...

I was hoping I would get to blog this great photo by tim or someone, I was playing guitard for the boy and he was loving it. someone took a pic of my hand and the guitar and it came out really well I am pretty sure it was the bro. At any rate it is now on my 2007 calender cover and will go in the scrapbook at the years end.

Fab Days In

This day has held nothing but hanging out and fing around with my new cell. It is a sad day to hear a full grown man talk about playing around with his cell phone all morning but hey, I transend maturity. Jess and I have spent the bulk of the day in though I went out for a jog in this crap weather. Being endorphined up for the day has been a plus though I am quite sure I will have to go out later to work off some more of that extra energy.
If any of you readers have any knowledge of how to get free data kits for the pebl motorola please let me know as I woudl rather not spend the 40 bucks on a cd i could problably get free online.
Anywhose. The weather outside is frightful and i will be starting class tomarrow. Let the good times roll. wish me luck on my smartification folks.

Cameralessness finds me more pics from the past

Jess says "I want a tea set." then sighs and suggests we get a chicken and make some soup. As I sit quoting her on my blog I realize I have come to a creative impass. Jess Asks me "Do you like veggie burgers? Fresh ones? They are a good thing to make and freeze."
Yes I do like them, "they are the ones with chick peas right?"
Apparently you can make them with any kind of bean.
We both have creative projects we are working on. I am working on a pet portrait for a former classmate of mine. Jess is working on a quilt and a bunch of mittens on commision. It is time to go shopping. The art will have to wait. Last week I started some portraits of Eliot out and about on the town.
Today we need to shop. Jess ate peanuts and ice cream for supper.

The Day Off!

I had a lovely day today with my boy. He and I went out and about all over the town finding lots of people we knew and I bought that kneadable erasure I have been wanting. Talked to Dave about the Firday open gallery scene and will be there tonight hopefully the boy will attend with the mamma. We had a busy week last first friday but sold very little. I sold the portrait of a sick man original and Tom sold some prints but other than that it was a bust. Art walks this time of year usually are but that does not make the fact you are not selling anything any easier.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

I hope all you are having a lovely day. Maine is being treated to another weird january day complete with near sixty degree weather and rain rather than snow. Jess and I just watched An Inconvenient truth the other day. I should really saty away from that stuff it just makes me want to start revolutions when I really ought to just be doing the dishes.
Our winter here in Maine has been rather effed up with no snow and heat waves. Yesterday was a tee shirt day. Jess, Eliot, and I went scouting for places to tie the knot. It was strange to see OOB deserted in 60 degree weather.
The camera is still broken so we are having to dredge up old pics. My apologies. I will try and keep it interesting, you will just have to imagine Eliot being cute until we get our camera fixed.

So the family VerryGardella has new wheels and new phones we will be informing you as to the details. It is quite exciting though. We are pumped to have these things squared. If you want our phone number just give us a shout out. You can do that by sending me an email with your message and number on it. kgarde61@netscape.net

This is our family picture for the year until the camera gets fixed. It portrays us as we are unified as working class people. So cute is that boy.

What Will One Hundred and Fifty Dollars Buy?

A visit from the one oil Magi. I am sitting here at home fretfully
listening to some excellent blues while worrying about Jess and Eliot
being to cold tonight. An end is in sight for me though. I have the
means to call a repair man. He is one his way now. Others in Maine
haven't got the means. There is no end in sight for their freezing
their cans off in this harsh weather that has taken its sweet time in
arriving. I am feeling lucky.
Very lucky.
There have been many deaths from CO2 poisoning this year. There will be more as people who are desperate struggle
to stay warm here. It is not a forgiving state to go without in. In NZ
and AU you could sleep on beaches and live off free stuff and the good
will of many. Here in Maine the winters isolate people who are in need
more than average. I just hope they find help. It is so scary feeling
that temperature drop.

Well Hung Instruments

Today I did not do much but I did manage to devise a system of hangery for the musical instruments four we have that needed hanging. I think with the help of another day off I will be able to get the rest of them hung. It seems power tools are the only thing that can help keep me warm since the house we are renting in has not heat. Good thing too what with the cold weather coming. I am wondering what the f I am supposed to do when Eliot is supposed to get changed tonight and the house is under sixty degrees. I love our home but I also love heat.

Seven Russers and Their Kin

Christmas Day

Today was Eliot's Verry first christmas. It began with a long night of restlessness punctuated by fits of sleeplessness. He in short was not going to bed easily. My cognitive abilities today are a direct reflection of this. I have been in space all day. Bed will be a good thing but I must post...
We had a fantastic breakfast at Pat's with great grandma Mildred there. The usual list of things for the future son in law to do was comparitively small especially when you consider how much bacon I had recieved that morning. I think The fact I was let off the hook was because I was deleriously tired and needed a day off more than anything.
After we opened our gifts Jess and I took the much needed nap. I guess I needed it more than her for a change and consequently slept through the rest of Christmas proper. It is worth noting here the similarities between my staying up last night and all the other kids who could not sleep becuase of their impending exciting day. I felt a certain synchronicity throught the haze of my delirium.
I went to work after waking up at 2 pm. Hit the floor running with a bunch of christmas medical mericles for everyone to have. If I had not been so tired I would have wrapped every pill but since time was of the essence I had to just crush them in apple sauce. For those of you who were not aware of this, I am a drug dealer to the elderly. A state subsidized drug dealer to the aged. The pill company's Santa.
Twas the evening of Christmas
When all through the Home
Not a creature was continent
Not even P. Gome
We had just medicated
Our residents with pills
Not the fun ones of course
No one got thrills
From Kaopectate or medamucil
Even the colace
Was so boring it sent chills
Down the already cold ladies
And gents in my charge

To turn your poetry into verse mocking your profession just Send me a note.

The Grand Parents are Grand

I usually am a bit more restrained when talking about my family but today I must brag just a little bit.
We had our first christmas meal today with Jess' and my family joined mostly together. It was fantastic. Eliot, Jess, and I are so lucky to have such supportive family.
I have to work for Christmas itself so this year will be celebrated more before and after less during though the Verry-Gardellas will have a christmas breakfast at grand mamas condo on christmas morning. Preparing for this holiday has been a challenge but thankfully our supportive relatives and friends have been so great.
Eliot's great grandmother Mildred was caught here holding the crying baby after a long photo shoot at the muddy rudder.