Anyone Else Have These as a Kid?

They're those little magnetic letters! We had these growing up and I swiped them from our house when I left for college. Since then, I have slowly added to our collection. As you can see from our previous concoctions, we were always short on vowels and popular consonants.

This year for my birthday, Eddy surprised me with 84 new letters! In celebration, here is the first verse of one of my favorite poems!

Read More

Farewell, Austin

We've had a great time in Austin (overindulging in food and drink at every possible opportunity). But TSFB travel isn't all fun and games. Check out what happened to Eddy's poor finger the night before we left town. Ouch!

Besides, Captain Duvet was really getting homesick!

Farewell, Austin!

Read More

Austinites

Day four in Austin and I think Eddy is becoming an Austinite. Look at that disinterested look and that trendy T-shirt.

Read More

Nature Reveals Itself to Us

Day two of our vacation we visited the Botanical Gardens in Zilker Park. We might abandon our current jobs to become nature photographers.

Read More

Nicci Birthday Part II

So after we got to Austin, the fun really began! (Not that the Igloo factory wasn't any fun...) We met up with our Houston besties, Rebecca and Alan.

We had dinner at Hyde Park Grill (which, incidentally, was also born in 1982!) Rebecca and Alan brought me some sweet birthday presents including monster cookies, a lil penguin and (my favorite!) Dots!

When we got back to our hotel, we enjoyed monster cookies + ceramic mugs filled with a nice champagne. (We're so classy.)

A totally awesome evening!

Read More

Nicci Birthday Part I

This birthday is just so fun it can't possibly be contained in one blog post. For starters, we went on an early morning tandem bike ride.

Then we hit the road to Austin (with a slight pilgrimage to the Igloo factory.)

And a couple of stops at tourist traps.

Stay tuned for Part II of birthday Nicci still in progress.

Read More

RIP Cedric GOURDon

Today, we bid farewell to a beloved member of our family: Cedric Gourdon. Cedric had been through us through many weeks. (Well, maybe like two...) Here's a portrait of the recently departed.

Here he is at the exact moment of his untimely demise:

Awe, poor Cedric Gourdon!

Mmm... Delicious Cedric Gourdon seeds and pies and muffins and cookies! I mean, awe, poor guy...

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween!

Read More

Eindhoven: A Dutch Treat

Just got back from a short stay in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It may not be as big as Amsterdam, but it is not without its charm.

This time, I brought along a fellow ne'er-do-well, Mathias. Here is looking very German in his little scarf:

Just to prove that we were ne'er doing well, here is me flaunting the rules on the train to Eindhoven:

Look at me standing with my arms out just like that picture told me not to!

I guess I did go to a conference. It was GPCE 2010, and it was my first conference where I was on the program committee: look at my name! This, however, was overshadowed by two things. First, my hotel had a carousel directly outside the front door:

Second, they make stroopwafels in the Netherlands! You can just walk into any corner store and buy them:

What could be better? Nicci sure likes them:

Read More

Pumpkin Haiku

we bought a pumpkin
October is my birth month
Eddy hugs a gourd*

*Actually, according to Wikipedia (which I can personally vet as a soon-to-be librarian) pumpkins are merely "gourd-like."

Read More