Marc's turn

Wow, Morgan wrote quite a bit, how very Web 2.0.  Nice to see (from survey results) that her participation is desired and coming forth.

I was going to title this post "It's a Small World" because of two recent serendipitous events, but now I've got more to say so I won't limit myself to just that topic.  The two events?  One, finding that a colleague at another library branch grew up in our house.  Her family was the original buyer when it was new in 1947, lived here over 20 years.  Her room was where Lola sleeps now.  Her dad worked for the family creamery on 2nd St.  We're hoping her mom can find some old pictures to share, and we'd like to have them over soon.  Pretty exciting, really.

Serendipity #2 - the house behind us has been empty for several months, but if all goes well, won't be much longer.  Friends Jim, Yani, and little Owen had their offer accepted and didn't even know that we were right over the back fence until afterwards.  Neighbors we knew before we were neighbors, fun!  Another brewer and young child in the neighborhood will be welcome additions.

So, other stuff...because I like bullet points so much and time is always short, I'll stick with that winning formula.

• In the "neat stuff online" category, read some good layman's science here.


• Also in technology, those who care probably already know, but both Firefox 2.0 and Internet Explorer 7 launched this week.  I haven't actually downloaded or used either one, but I'm looking forward to the new Firefox features.


• Ordered our new digital camera (now with 50% more megapixels!) yesterday, so we'll have new videos coming before long.


• Timely: Library booksale and don't forget to change your clocks back tonight.


• It's official, tickets have been bought, Morgan is going to Adrian to visit her dad over Veteran's Day weekend.  Wish me luck.

That's it for now, on to more weekend.  Happy Nevada Day everyone!

Happy Halloween

Even though Marc requested that we put the parties on hold, we ventured out to Amy's last night. We brought a few from the party the week before and my "sister's sister" came down from Truckee. We had a Velma, a ghost (like Charlie Brown's with many holes), Stinky Grange, black jack dealer, witch, devil, black cat, and of course the best was Lola's Princess Leia. She was a hit and she loves a party! Then back to Chez Tiar for a little hog tossing.

Holidays are a lot more exciting as Lola is starting to understand and really enjoy the changes around her. Any visit to Raley's includes a 5 minute stand in front of the pumpkins. She can spot a pumpkin from a mile away. Thank goodness that they will be around through Thanksgiving. She will be two in a week. I can't believe how time has flown and how much she has changed. Two!!??

Nothing much else to report. We got DVR and I think our TV viewing is going to take on a whole new level. There are still some issues, but I think that they are on the user's end. Anybody watching "Heroes"? Caught a marathon and now I am hooked, yet still really confused. Marc has recorded so much "Mythbusters" that I am afraid he might start experimenting with things around the house.

Election is nearing. Don't forget to vote. I know that early voting is available at the Downtown Library. If for nothing else, do it for Lola and our future.

So there you go!! Marc has gotten me into it and expanded my abilities. I am afraid that I will end up dreaming about it at night!

Happy Halloween!!

Plane ride

Rode on a C-130 Hercules today, courtesy of the Nevada Air National Guard.  Pretty cool, fun experience.  Photos are posted in the C-130 album of the gallery.

New pics and a survey!

Besides the birthday prom party photos, I also uploaded a few new Lola pictures that had accumulated on the camera...

One neat thing last week I forgot to mention...turns out a sort-of colleague from another library branch used to live in our house!  Her room was Lola's room, and her family were the original owners, living here from 1947 until 1968.  Pretty cool.

One final thing...I want to know more about who reads this thing.  Can you take 2 minutes and fill out this survey for me?  Even if you hate surveys, just answer the first question so I know you're out there, huh?  Thanks.  I'll send out an email soon to get visitors who only come to the site when I do that, but you only need to fill it out once.

my turn

So, I am finally taking the time to write a blog. Funny, I think Marc has kept everybody pretty well updated, including the information on buying beer at Raley's.

October has been a very busy month and has flown by! Nana arrived, followed by my dad, and then my sister and her family. It was a great family reunion on all counts. Nana has been here for about 3 weeks. She leaves on Wednesday and I am fearing that Lola will be scouring the house for days looking for Nana. They have had a great time together.

I held a surprise party for Marc on Saturday night. He did know I was up to something. Personally, I think that it was because he asks so many questions. I knew that he would never let me throw a party for him, so I did it behind his back. It was a great time. Thank you to everyone that helped out! The pictures are on the website....take a look.

Lola will be 2 soon. I can't believe how time has flown and what a great little girl she is growing up to be. Nana has been teaching her some french, she is starting to talk in more complete sentences, and has the greatest personality!! She loves her books, swinging, Nana, animals, balloons, and singing. Stating a biased opinion as her mother, SHE IS THE GREATEST!!!!!

Paige and I are planning a trip to Michigan to spend some time with Dad and see how everthing is going. I think the most important part of his treatments is his positive attitude.

So that is about all..... I am sure that I will think of other things. Maybe I can start to do this on a regular basis. Or maybe not.

To continue...

A little downtime on a pleasant 35th birthday...Port of Subs for lunch, sushi for dinner, oh yes.
So, last night was my birthday party, a surprise affair staged by my dear wife. I sort of knew something was up, I just didn't know what exactly. Turns out she created the "1990 Senior Prom" birthday party for me, since I never went to prom. Yeah. Worth 1000 words.

A bit sad that today's my last day off while Nana is still visiting. Back to work tomorrow and she's back to France on Wednesday. (also in store Wednesday, my flight on a NV National Guard C-130)

Random log:

• We spent all day Thursday and Friday painting our kitchen cupboards white. Lots of work, more than I remotely predicted, but definitely looks good, like a new kitchen Morgan sez.


• My recent batch of spiced amber ale homebrew turned out GREAT, as reported by party-goers last night. For the record, it included cloves, ginger, cinammon, nutmeg, and orange peel for flavors. The keg is still going strong (and supplemented by the kind contributions of our guests and the case that Morgan picked up, our beer supply around here is at record levels!). Speaking of beer, Morgan and I went out while sneaky others decorated for prom, and visited the new Sierra Tap Room on the river. Very nice, old brick, neat location, no smoking, and 6 (I think) varieties of Sierra Nevada beer on tap.


• Yesterday, Lola got to read with dogs at the library, today, fall festival at Bartley Ranch park. Go Washoe County!


• If you need to buy CDs (or DVDs, or magazines), Tower Records is going out of business and discounting to clear out inventory. We stopped by and picked up a few things, only 20% off right now, but sure to increase as time goes on.


• One final plug...it's that time again, VOTE

OK, now I'm done for now. Maybe I'll go load some more photos....

35 years on this planet

Happy birthday to me.

More to come.

Family time

As succinctly as I can make this, just feeling obliged to catch up...

Nana Tiar has been visiting for about 10 days now, Grandpa Dave just left back home after an almost-week visit, and aunt Tracy and uncle Kent leave later today, having been here since Friday.  Obviously, we've been up to lots of good stuff lately.

Played golf with Morgan and her dad, a nice mix of great, fair, and terrible shots for all of us.

Went to a Ikea as an all-day outing last Thursday...aside from the hour-long construction traffic clot we endured leving Reno, and the 45 minute delay in rush-hour Sacramento, it was great!  New bookshelf and mini-dresser for Lola, living room rug, shelves for kitchen and Lola's room, light for over the kitchen sink, etc. etc.

Dinner at the Santa Fe last night, a bit of yard clean up/winterizing both here and at Gigi's house, a visit to a pumpkin "patch" where Lola had her first pony ride, and a nice drive up to Markleeville and stroll around Grover Hot Springs.

So, it's been an eventful time around here.  My 5-day stretch of time off ends today, back to work tomorrow, then a couple more days off at the end of the week.  Tata for now!

Random miscellany

Possibly just because I haven't posted anything recently, an assortment of various stuff that's on my plate, coming soon, etc.

• Coming in the mail to maison Tiar: we finally broke down and ordered a DVR from Dish Network (very exciting!); and for the second time in 3 years, got a free replacement on our faucet-mount Pur water filter.  Does that deserve scorn for poor quality product, or kudos for replacing them so easily?


• Nana Tiar is finally here (visiting from Banyuls sur Mer), after a completely ridiculous series of delays.  Thanks United, thanks SFO, excellent.  Changed gates three times fer cryin' out loud.


• Lola's in a big-girl bed now!  Well, actually it's just her same crib with one of the "walls" removed, but it's like a day bed and she can climb in and out by herself.


• In the "I will never be smart enough for this" category, Netflix is offering a $1 million prize for making their recommendation system better.


• We've seen Natacha Sperka's work hanging at Peg's.  Turns out she's the sister of a Belgian guy I know.


• This little video...some food for thought.  What Earth would be like if only 100 people lived on it.


• Reading Spam Kings now, really enjoying this look at the seedy underworld of spammers.  Also Buddha v.6, which I now see is not the last one.  At least two more to go.


• I've always enjoyed those fun sites that let you create fake church signs and street signs and whatnot...The mother lode of all generator sites is here!


• And finally, my latest library-related blog to read regularly: Librarian in Black

So, that's what I can offer for now.  We'll be doing some fun stuff in coming weeks, Apple Hill, fall festival, Ikea.  Nick's show opening is this weekend, the Atomiks are playing, and good wholesome home improvement like trimming bushes and winterizing.  Plus Morgan's dad is coming to visit and there are at least three birthdays to celebrate.  The world is our oyster this month.