Fall Colors

Fall Colors
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

It's a shame; I didn't get out to take as many fall pics as I usually do. Still, was a good autumn by any standards.

Kat's Parenting Skills

Kat's Parenting Skills a video by karmking1111 on Flickr.

A couple of months ago, Kat bought a glove duster, not to dust things around the house, but on the premise that it would make a great puppet. She glued two eyes on it, and viola! Gavin's best friend was born. We've pinned the dust puppet above Gavin's changing area so he has something to take his mind off of the fact that his parents are attacking his bum with wet naps and mild chemicals. As you can see, he is clearly enamored with the dust puppet, which Kat wields so well.

(You probably could have guessed it, but one of Kat's favorite shows, and mine, was the Muppet Show.

It Lives!

It Lives!
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

Here's Badger, wishing everyone a Happy Halloween!

Snoozing

Snoozing
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

The kitties seem to be getting along well these days.

Kat and Gaivn

Kat and Gaivn
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

Super cute pic of mother and son. Click on for a larger image.

Behold, the Father!

Behold, the Father!
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

You never planned this. One day you just find yourself Swiffering an apartment in Korea, with a small child strapped to you. It's at moments like these that the world stops and you have to ponder the randomness of life. Luckily, you will have a wife that will take a goofy picture of you to post on the internet. Randomness complete.

Gavin Speaks (or tries to)

Gavin Speaks (or tries to) a video by karmking1111 on Flickr.

Many people speak of this magical time-- when you first see your baby, or bring your baby home-- that your heart melts and you understand your reason for existence; to take care of this small creature, this extension of you that depends completely on you...or maybe you just stare at each other and mutually wonder: "Who the hell is this person?" Gavin and I were a bit of both worlds.

But that's the first month, and by the second, rays of personality start to burst forth. Things like smiles and sounds. The first month, well that's a bit like a strange dream that you keep trying to divine meaning from. The second month, that's a bit more like a flying dream, one where you don't analyze it so much but just enjoy it for its beauty and pure experience.

However, there is one constant that keeps us grounded. Diapers, there will always be dirty diapers.

(When watching the video, see if you can discern Gavin's squeals from mine. Like father, like son.)

Here's Gavin!

Profile Pic
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

I feel I've been a neglectful daddy. Not to the kid, but about blogging about the kid. I should be telling the world about Gavin, but instead I'm actually tending to him: changing diapers, feeding him, consoling him, basically just trying to figure out who he is. Funny thing, I think Gavin feels the same about me. For the first week or two, whenever I picked him up, Gavin would give me this wide eyed, kind of shocked and scared look, as though he had never seen me before. Later, that look changed to one of mild puzzlement. I could almost see him thinking, "We've met before, haven't we?" Now, we're comfortable with each other. I know him as the joyful, screaming poop monster, and he knows me as the hairy, barren one of the two parents.

The whole parenting thing is an enigma. Kat and I read a lot of the baby books before he arrived and thought we had most things down; however, when the kid actually showed up, we found that we had not a clue what to do. Gavin would start crying and we'd speculate that maybe he was hungry, or wet, or too cold, or too hot, or bored, or overstimulated. This lead us to try a plethora of often contradictory soothing techniques that confused rather than comforted. We'd have him stripped down with the heater on, trying to feed and change him at the same time. If he stopped crying, it was usually in bewilderment of what we were doing.

Now we're all a bit better; us on reading his moods and he on, well, just growing up. It looks like this is a trend that will only just continue. Welcome the world Gavin!

Left Hook

Left Hook
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

He's had enough of my clowning around. When he needs his diapey changed, he needs it changed now!

Synchronized Sleeping

Synchronized Sleeping
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

Doing what they do best.

Gavin and Momma 2

Gavin and Momma 2
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

Brand new.

Badger's Wanted Picture

Badger's Wanted Picture
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

Here's a new addition to the family: Honey Badger. Yes, we know; it's a weird name for such a sweet kitty. We found her while taking and evening stroll. This cat saw us, pegged us for a couple of suckers, and ran up to us mewing. Kat, who true to her name cannot say no to a cat, immediately picked her up and took her inside. This kitten seemed way too nice and we figured she must have an owner. Therefore, we made up the pictured flyers. We actually did find the owner, but she was a young girl who traveled a lot and underestimated the amount of time and care that a kitten needs. She seemed relieved to find some other suckers, I mean owners, who could take the kitten off of her hands. So there, now Badger is part of the family.
By the way, if you're curious where we got the name from, go to Youtube, search under "Honey Badger" and watch the video with the highest view count. Warning, the video can be a little a crass, just like our cat.

Small Wonders

Unfortunately, this summer has been ultra rainy. There were floods, mudslides, a awe-inspiring mountain bike wreck because of mud-puddle involving yours truly. Still, I got lots of bug pics.

I was trying to explain this fascination of the macro to Kat (Kat has no particular like of dislike of the photos; she's just glad I have something that keeps me busy and gets me out of the house).

The small wildernesses that are all around us are truly amazing. The other day I spent an hour searching through a patch of weeds taking pics of all the various bugs. In this 1 meter x 1 meter section, I found 4 different species of spiders, a walking stick, numerous grasshoppers, a couple of moths, a caterpillar, a mantis, and beer can (can not supplied by me). I just think it is funny how many people are amazed by the larger fauna, but there is a whole life and death struggle played out on an epic scale beneath our ourselves, and often under our feet. I find it astounding that so much variance can lie in such a small area and I am also supremely grateful-- grateful that I am human that can take pictures of it all, rather than a bug that has to participate.

You gotta love those crazy NKers and how they pursue peace.

R.I.P.

Remember way back to, oh, 2007, when giant iPods Roamed the earth and blogs were all the thing. Nowadays, how is the lowly blog  supposed to compete with the juggernaut that is Facebook or the speed of the quipy tweets on Twitter? You may say, "No, the blog is not dead!" but I have some specimens of bloggus extinctus for your perusal:

Yes, Kat is Alive (are we sure?)
Late JC (The name fits.)
Mowin Owen

T'is to be understood. I let "Things I Learned Today" fall into a vegetative, comma like state (apparently I'm not learning much anymore). I should be kind and pull the plug, but I can't.

Yes, its sad to watch good blogs die, but that's part of the process; the process of birth, death, followed by the enviable joining of Facebook. At least there are still some absolutes.

Bee and Aster

Bee and Aster
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

One of my better bee pics.

Predator and Prey

Predator and Prey
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.

Spring is here and that means another season of icky / cool bug pics (depending on what your preferences are). This is one of my favs. While hiking, I noticed this earwig and snapped a few shots. It wasn't until I got back home and looked at the photo on the computer that noticed the thing eating the earwig. I think it's a spider, but it could be a mutant leaf, or I don't know what. All I do know is its damn cool, unless you're an earwig.

Nallie vs. the Swiffer

Nallie vs. the Swiffer a video by karmking1111 on Flickr.

Here's Nalli confronted by her mortal enemy, the swiffer. I don't know why she has such a hatred of this thing. She'll be a asleep in the other room, and once I start pushing the swiffer around, she'll bound out to defend her territory. It does make me feel more secure though to know there's an attack cat on the prowl to take out any errant cleaning ladies that might threaten to break in and tidy our place up.

Spring Giveth and Taketh Away

Below are pics of the cherry trees outside my office window. Damn things are distracting. I find myself wasting precious planning time, just staring out the window at them. Then again, I can't really blame the trees (dust flitting through the room distracts me these days). Only problem with these trees is they are the ornamental variety. They don't produce any fruit. Consider them the prissy supermodels of the cherry tree family. Great to look at, but when it comes to hard work, they can't be bothered. (Sorry if I offended any super models, but then again I'd be surprised and honored if any read this blog.)

Salida Ninja

Salida Ninja a video by karmking1111 on Flickr.

When Kat and I boarded this ferry, I was a little upset that she chose the seat right next to a 3 year old. I was afraid that I'd get no rest on the boat ride, and I was right. Eventually this impish creature, named Salida, was eating our snacks, playing with my camera, and sitting in our laps. She was awesome.
This is a small, shaky, clip of Kat and Salida sharing some quality time over the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (a wonderful book by the way).