VA Spitting Down Bamas

Unexpected Reverence

2009-04-19T21:28:00.005-04:00

Easter was a lovely day. Spring arrived a bit ago, yet the rain broke for a particularly inviting afternoon. The Downs' invited us over to join them and the Michon's for a delicious feast. Carter was dressed in her latest Easter (it better be used for more than just Easter) dress and she looked adorable.

Her Mama' snapped this one just as the bubble machine spouted some shimmery joy.

Later, "Peanut" & "Lotus" were toddling about chattering about what the older boys were doing, particularly their fascinating cousin Tanner-Man........

Now, today was your typical Sunday morning in our household, slow-moving. However, some unusual events transpired that were noteworthy. First, while Mama' Bear was prepping for the day, "Peanut" brought me her latest Jesus book to read. It is a picture book, with art by Greg Olsen. The desire to have me read a book to her is by no means irregular, yet I was surprised at the coincidence of a Sunday morning that she asked me to read her Greg Olsen book, twice. So, we continued our preparations and made our way to the Reston Chapel.

Hmmm, seems there are a few extra families attending the Sacrament Service, cool. Opening song and prayer followed by the typical announcements of happenings in the upcoming week. The congregation joined in singing the Sacrament Hymn and BAM! my eyes connect with a man on the stand whom I've never seen in person ..... Henry B. Eyring, member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Not every Sunday that you see a living Apostle of Jesus in your Sunday Service. I lean over to Lauren and share with her my observation and I'll leave out the details, but suffice it to say she didn't believe me at first. Moments later we realized that as is customary that the presiding Authority in a meeting is the first offered the bread & water. Sure enough, President Eyring was sitting on the stand, adjacent to our Bishop and Stake President.

At the end of the meeting he shared his testimony of Heavenly Father's awareness of "every sparrow" on the Earth, and certainly He was keenly, and lovingly aware of the physical, emotional and spiritual trials the members of our congregation are experiencing. I emphasize the "are experiencing" because he stated these reassuring words as though prompted to do so. There was no profound statement that had any context outside of directly to those in attendance in that meeting; yet surely it was a priviledge, and delightful surprise.

The most impressive factor for us was that Carter sat through the entire one hour meeting! We didn't have to leave ONCE!! This is amazing! Little-Miss-Wiggles surely had us chasing her over the next two hours of the day, but during this meeting, with an Apostle of God present, she was content to read her picture church books, eat snacks and generally shock us by her reverence. I cannot emphasize enough how wiggly Carter has been at church of late. Over the next hour that she was with me we did at least six, maybe seven laps around our building. For Carter she must've felt as though she had sprinted for a mile or two!!

I personally will attest to the peaceful, and calming sensations provided to me by the Holy Ghost that confirmed to me that this man, Henry Eyring, was indeed an Apostle like Peter, James or John. God does indeed speak to us today through his ordained leaders, in the same manner he did in ancient times.

Turns out that he was present in our service due to being the Keynote Speaker at a BYU - Alumni Fundraiser last night in Oakton, VA and was staying with our Stake President (who happens to reside in our Reston Ward boundaries) while in town.

#6 vs. #1

2009-04-19T20:43:00.005-04:00

Consider this our version of March Madness:

Carter's Aunt Kate & Uncle Brian asked her parents (mostly her Mommy) to tend to their six children while they were on vacation. While they were out, before Carter & I caught the flu, Virginia had it's best snow of the winter season = 6". Meager for many, but a fair amount to play in out here.

So, this is "Lotus" enjoying the feel of snow on her tongue ....

As you are able to see, this cheery little lady embraced the cold snow and fed herself snowballs! She is all of 16 months old in this image and had no apprehension with pouncing about with her mastifs in the rare Virginia snow. "Lotus" is #6 of 6.

Moving, on you see here "Peanut" in the same snow .....

As you are able to observe, she is not "embracing" the snowfall. Her Mother attributes her sobbing to the fact that she contacted the flu virus a day or two later; her Father was doubtful. Ruthless, perhaps, but it's not like she was given a "white-wash" or anything. The reality is that being #1 of 1 lends to being less adventurous than being #6 of 6.

Anyhow, the two played well together over the week .... well, mostly; "Lotus" was prone to taking sneak-shoves on her 1 month younger cousin to establish that it was her "home turf". Well played little one; well played.

Bookworm

2009-02-15T21:10:00.005-05:00

This little "peanut" regularly spends her time reading alone. It's an adorable discovery to find her off by herself, in her alcove, sitting below her bookshelf with several books tossed aside after her reading. Our hope is that she'll be as diligent a reader as two of her older cousins (British = 24 & Tor-Tor = 13). Both are marvelous students and have occasionally been chided for hiding away in their respective bedrooms for hours enjoying quality literature.
Most days she carting books about the small condominium, reading to herself and slamming the books to the floor. While others, she'll drag a book up to you, and ask you to read it to her. Surely she's not the only child that has this practice, yet she's the one who sleeps in our home. I'm so very grateful that this has manifested itself so early, and that Carter's Mother has so quickly embraced it. On a weekly basis new books appear, and though I tease her Mother about it, I know very, very well it'll form her future.

It's an honor to find our little girl already quietly indulging in the activity which those who've accumulature magnificent successes in the world do regularly, reading.

A 2nd President Carter?

2009-01-21T14:29:00.002-05:00

As I watch the former Presidents seating, it is indeed a historic moment of promise for the ENTIRE WORLD! The sweet leg pat of President H.W. Bush, on the leg of the Marine that saluted our former Commander – in – Chief, is indicative of the respect these men hold for the entirety of their lives. The first non-Caucasian President being sworn in the day after Martin Luther King’s birthday is particularly sweet. My daughter will grow up with numerous challenges. Yet as she grows she will do so with truly all things possible! Of the limitless banter in regards to this historic moment I was moved by the suggestion that seven years removed from a horrendous event like the tragedies of September 11th, 2001, we, as a people, have elected a black man named Barak Hussein Obama to the highest elected office in the World!

This is a special time to be alive. A special time to be a citizen of the United States of America and should President Obama be able to fulfill 40% of what he has promised, we will be a better nation in four or eight years. I am grateful for those who have given their lives, suffered atrocities and repression, endured heartache, experienced intense joy, felt the blessing of prosperity and the wisdom of innovated to enable us to peacefully transition power from one steward to another.

May God continue to bless America as long as the majority of its citizens choose good over evil. May God bless President Obama, his family, Vice President Biden and his family, and the entire new “Cabinet” to lead us honorably.

Back again, for the very _____ time

2008-11-29T19:13:00.015-05:00

Here's the deal, Carter turns 1 next week, and I'm trying to do a little repenting. Since I haven't been keeping a journal in a really long time, so this really is the closest thing to knowing what she's been up to besides her Mama's regular E-mails, which are not to be shared in this forum. Anyhoozle, without further ado, Carter's latest =

This is what I know, "Peanut" weighs 20 lbs. & 15 oz's per a Dr. visit yesterday evening (ear infection - almost made it an entire yr. without one). She's 30 1/2" or 2.5 ft. as her Father enjoys saying. The little lady has a several words she is able to pronouce with clarity, and has learned three sign language motions. The words are: "up", "uh-oh", Dad-dah", "duh" (for down), "baby", "peek-oh" (peek-a-boo), "yeah", "meh" (mom), "bah" (ball), "bye-bye" and perhaps others but we're drawing a blank. The motions are "more", "kiss" & "bye-bye".

What you see here is her favorite play-place. Save your money, go to Costco and pick-up cardboard boxes, it's wonderful hours of entertainment. She will place several toys in her box, climb in, and then proceed to eject them very emphatically. Occasionally she will even go in there to "do her business".

Just about every day we find her quietly sitting in her alcove by her bookshelf, with many books about her reading, and you better believe she babbles while flipping pages. Today I realized that she even knows which direction the books should be when peering at images and text. Quite frankly, she doesn't enjoy being disturbed when she's reading by herself. It's her quiet time.

Moving on, her absolute favorite activity is bathing. In fact, she's so fascinated with the tub that she prefers to join anyone doing their own "business" so that she may clang any semi-blunt object on the rim of the tub.

As most kids her age, she does a slight jig when she hears a tune she enjoys. Much to the opposite of our projections, she will not be walking by her 1st birthday. She does have a speedy crawl and will pull herself up on anything that is of interest.

As you will notice below, she will locate any object to inspect, investigate and move around.

Thing is, sometimes she can't exactly get herself out of some of those locations. Especially in undiscovered territory.

She really enjoys climbing into the dishwasher, and following her Mama' vacuuming. Of course, she's just like any other wanna-be-toddler, she plays with her alphabet blocks to learn new "nouns", and very much enjoys plugging away at the psuedo - piano play-circle she has, and clanging pots and pans on the kitchen floor. Stairs are a quick conquer these days and rarely ventures fast enough to be worrisome.

Every now-and-again she watches Baby Einstein, but that's not a regular since we'd rather have her watching the best kind of reality television that exists = Sports. Yes, she's a Redskin fan, and yes, she too is disappointed in the firing of Eddie Jordan after he was asked to win with a basketball team without the two players it was built around (injured Brendan Haywood & Gilbert Arenas), and oh yeah, leading the team to three consecutive playoffs for the first time in two decades.

Well, since the little lady's father hasn't been diligent in updating this little blog here, I'll close with our respective Halloween costumes:

1.) Daddy as Frank Castle aka "The Punisher" (see Dec. 5th, 2008 Punisher: War Zone)

2.) Carter as "Thumper" from Bambi.

3.) Lauren as "Little Red Riding Hood" (which is a tough costume to locate that isn't quite risque, so she used various items to arrange the costume.)

Enjoy as it may be a while before there are further updates.

Miscellaneous Events

2008-07-06T20:28:00.009-04:00

I've been a busy little lady, and if we ever get a "firewire" then "dah-dah" - as I call him - will post some video clips from as far back as three months ago as Mom had promised to the general public.

As you may observe on the left, I have been working hard on my bicept to impress the fellas, you know like "No-No" (that boy is so talented it's hard to keep up, but I will, cause I'ma Downs and we compete) & the likes.

The results are slow in coming, but here's where I'm @ right now ....

Barbell Curls are my favorite, especially since "Monster Mike" bought me a 1 pound dumbbell to work-out w/ and tone up that "baby fatty-fat" (as De La calls it).

But you know how it goes, "light weight, bay-beh!!"

The last thing I want is to have a "girth" issue like my "dah-dah" who's growing posterior has earned him the nickname "Tubby", which was surprisingly catchy, and eventually burst his suit-drawers several months ago & it became quite an issue. (Feel free to ask him, but not to be explained further in cyber-space.)

Anyhoozle, I've got some seriously cool video-clips to add, and I will have to stick w/ one last cool picture of my family to show how wonderful a time I had on the 4th of July. I held my first sparkler and loved the fireworks Aunt Tammi purchased that my cousin "Iceman" and my "Dah-Dah" launched for all's delight.

Next year, we're going to have to crank in more funding for another wonderful celebration of American Freedom!

Which C.P. will we have this season?

2008-07-06T20:22:00.003-04:00

http://

They call me, "Southeast Jerome, Mr. Stanky Janky, Captain Tu-Tu, Mr. Choo, Choo, Dolemite Jenkins"

Food Excitement - 7/08

2008-07-06T19:35:00.005-04:00

So, the 3 of us were laughing @ the impressive attire of a little boy out in California (go figure, those in CA being outlandish) and it occured to our Team (Downs 4.3) that some folks might care to view a few recent images.

For those who care to know, Lauren has been in the process of preparing her phone, which contains Delta-5 Clearance material, for being converted to the joys of the Palm "Centro" - the black version of course, because once you go black, you never go back ... or so they tell me. Thus, our laptop was chug, chuggin' along w/ her efforts to add images to our external database. So here's our 15.15oz, 28.25" lady's update.

First, the foods .....

Don't you worry peoples, I'm a messy-bessy, & w/ all the friends of mine that were born w/in the last 8 months I'm sure I'm not the only 1!!

"Big C Dogg" is to thank for the sinus infection looking mucus on my face, since she thought I was able to feed myself on the 4th of July (@ a very mature 7 months).

Guess what Dad saw me do?

2008-03-30T18:45:00.003-04:00

Not often does her father witness the amazing actions that are new discoveries; usually Mom observes those. Today however, I noticed that while I was sitting on the end of the bed and she was in her "rocker bed", she had curiously lifted her head, raising her shoulders off and holding as though she was going to sit up. She remained frozen in this position, looking like a turtle stretching it's neck, for about 15 seconds and then eased her way back down as I reached to pick her up. After relating the event to Mom, it indeed was a first.

Then, to later add to her father's delight, while observing Dad make himself some lunch from her cozy "rocker bed", she extended her left arm far in front of her and maintained his gaze for about 10 seconds, with her palm extended as though she was asking to be picked up. Normally this behavior is demonstrated in a similar manner by extending an arm and then staring curiously at the fingers as they move. But this time it was a definite, "Hey, come pick me up please." And as is often the case with this little lady, she didn't fuss in begging fashion. She was quite polite.

They tell me I'm svelt & fit

2008-03-30T18:17:00.003-04:00

NBA ... Where Isaiah Happens

2008-03-25T19:03:00.002-04:00

Today I find it only fitting to recite a humorous anectdote from Bill Simmons of ESPN.com Page #2 (aka "The Sports Guy)

"What if the Knicks had never hired Isiah Thomas?

This could have been its own bizarro "Where Amazing Happens" commercial called "Where Isiah Happens."

(Cue the piano music.)

(Picture of the '05 Suns celebrating after a playoff win.)
Where Phoenix dumps the Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway contracts on someone and remakes its team into a contender happens.

(Picture of the '07 Bulls celebrating after a playoff win.)
Where Chicago dumps Eddy Curry for two lottery picks and copious amounts of cap space happens.

(Picture of the '07 Raptors celebrating after a playoff win.)
Where Toronto finds some dummy to take Jalen Rose's contract and aid its rebuilding process happens.

(Picture of San Antonio's 2005 trophy celebration.)
Where San Antonio dumps Malik Rose's contract for a center who helps them win the title happens.

(Picture of the '08 Blazers celebrating after a last-second win.)
Where the 2008 Blazers become the most likable young team in the league because they found a taker for Zach Randolph happens.

(Picture of a white SUV.)
Where a Truck Party happens.

(Picture of Anucha Browne Sanders celebrating on the courthouse steps.)
Where a humiliating $11 million sexual harassment settlement happens.

(Picture of Curry and Randolph looking overweight.)
Where an NBA frontcourt that includes two C-cups happens.

(Picture of a mostly empty Madison Square Garden.)
Where a 60-year tradition of professional basketball goes down the tubes happens.
(Picture of Isiah sitting on the bench with that frozen, blank look on his face like he's either flatlining or planning to kill everyone on the locker room after the game.)

Where Isiah Happens.

(Follow-up note: Has a GM ever directly altered the fortunes of SIX franchises before? Portland, San Antonio, Phoenix, Toronto, Chicago and New York. That's 20 percent of the league.)"

C.K.'s Hip-Hop Dancing Debut

2008-03-25T17:56:00.002-04:00

http://ustream.tv/recorded/hk,MIPW8AASAHx4,wb1qeQ

Iceman = #24 MLB CCHS

2008-03-25T17:51:00.002-04:00

So, I'm working with an emboidery company that is going to silk screen the following image to a bunch of T-shirt for my rising Junior nephew, who's a superb Middle Linebacker that I've dubed "Iceman"; his real name is Jeremy Rhoads.

Vogue, Vogue, Vogue

2008-03-25T17:45:00.004-04:00

So, a few weeks back Jemele Hill, a Page #2 Sportswriter for ESPN.com posted the following article, and I disagreed, and wrote the E-mail scripted below.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/080320&sportCat=nba&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

There are a lot of white morons, and a lot of black morons getting paid handsomely to racially polarize any culture. I'll use two of three examples you cited in your article:

1.) Jack Nicklaus - In 1994, Jack Nicklaus said there weren't more African-Americans in golf because "blacks have different muscles that react in different ways."
- I imagine Mr. Nicklaus, regrets having made such foolish statements 14 years ago, when it is an obvious thought that Tiger Woods either is already or is becoming the greatest golfer ever.
2.) Michael Irvin – Phenomenal receiver, average commentator. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I quite often am, and you are in the published media forum, not I, but wouldn't he have been reprimanded or chastised, off air of course, for making such a declaration?
Michael Irvin, Tim Legler, Stupid A. Smith, Mike Ditka, Deon Sanders and Charles Barkley all seem to be involved in commentating in their respective sports due to their "shock factor." I absolutely adore the charisma Charles Barkley brings to the TNT program, and that's because he says some things "off the cuff" that are straight forward and probably leave Producers scrambling for their mute buttons. Truth be told, Charles, Kenny and Ernie just got a raise not too long ago didn't they? And if that's the case, people eat up the controversy he and others convey, NOT because "Chuck" is black or because "Ernie" is white.
Again, I don't feel this Vogue cover is so much of a racial portrait as a "Beauty and the Beast" shocking contrast. You seem quite respectful of LeBron's personal presentation; I however, think he's anugly 40 year old man. Kobe Bryant, Antonio Daniels, Caron Butler, and Dwayne Wade those men are handsome. For however LeBron carries himself off the court, nothing he achieves on the court is graceful, beautiful or lovely. He's an extremely talented 250 pound fullbackbarreling through the lane and isn't going to ever be considered forhis finesse a la Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, or Kobe Bryant; he simply doesn't exude grace and beauty. The fact that it was are nowned, thick, muscular, heavily tattooed black dude and an unhealthily thin, gorgeous haired, white chic makes the contrast obvious; which is to say, Vogue does beauty, not brawn. If the combination was Brian Urlacher and Halle Berry, would you have flipped your argument to be that all media portrays black women as unhealthily thin, curvaceous, sultry sex symbols?
LeBron and his team of H.S. buddies felt this cover picture was worth their pay and the exposure. They also agreed, as anyone does going into a photo shoot for major media that the magazine is going to post whichever of the many shots taken is the most provocative. And you know what? it worked. Now you and I are babbling on about a magazine that never gets sports exposure, because I happened to see your article on espn.com.

You cited David Beckham as not likely having been portrayed in such a fashion, when in fact, he's arguably the most renown male sports athletes in the world, and certainly one of the most aesthetically pleasing. Should Vogue have placed "Becks" on the cover, they may have gone for something more gritty or sexy, like say, the August 2007 cover of W Magazine. Athletes are revered, and you participate in that portrayal, as are musicians for their "art". These folks aren't respected for their minds.

Even "Good 'Ol Boy Brett Favre" has never been considered the smartest in his field; he was known as a reckless "gun slinger" for most of it.
But I digress, I have to agree with your closing comments, of that if LeBron wants to bring additional respect to his race, and not only focus on his million dollar empire, he'll need to take a few notes from Michael Jordan (who even w/ the gambling issues won the hearts of the world and transformed all sports), Kobe Bryant (who chased awayone of the best Center's of all time, probably did something extra explicit with a hotel worker and yet has still won the heart of millions with his suits and smiles) or even Sean Carter (who as you pointed out is so excepted as a "black man" who brags about exploiting women, dealing drugs and earning millions, that he's been dating the black sweetheart of the world in Bootyance). But, LeBron is a 23year, High School graduate, so he's going to make some really bad decisions as he grows into his goal of being a "Global Icon", and I don't feel that race will dictate those decisions, money will.