tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364650652024-03-13T08:56:29.507-07:00From the Mountains...An online account of our wonderful life in the woodsthe larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-39936779881920124632009-12-16T09:06:00.000-08:002009-12-16T09:07:09.407-08:00Testing<object id="flashObj" width="300" height="254" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/8385828001?isVid=1&publisherID=8385525001" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=35038856001&playerID=8385828001&domain=embed&" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param 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pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-46442265739873258752009-04-22T07:09:00.001-07:002009-04-22T07:13:11.990-07:00Test3<a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid19544614001?bctid=20448330001">http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid19544614001?bctid=20448330001</a>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-89313039647193708822009-04-17T06:03:00.001-07:002009-04-17T06:15:37.077-07:00Testing2<object id="flashObj" width="486" height="412" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" 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pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-12558089244498227702009-04-11T11:09:00.001-07:002009-04-14T12:08:53.050-07:00Testing<object id="flashObj" width="486" height="412" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/19544614001?isVid=1&publisherID=8385525001" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=19534388001&playerID=19544614001&domain=embed&" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/19544614001?isVid=1&publisherID=8385525001" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=19534388001&playerID=19544614001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-56988270704793649042009-04-06T02:44:00.001-07:002009-04-06T02:49:51.200-07:00The Perfect DayYesterday had it all:<br /><br />Beautiful weather, including a trip to the park where folks were flying kites. Meg loved watching the kites while Stella chased a friend around in a wide expanse of dark green grass think as shag carpet.<br /><br />Healthy and happy aforementioned kids.<br /><br />Eric and Marian not stressed about money for the first time in nearly 5 years.<br /><br />A Highland Brewing Company medley of beers. Marian had the Black Mocha Stout. Eric had a St. Theresa's Pale Ale (I can't drink a pale ale often, but every now and then it's very fine).<br /><br />Time on our porch, the best reason for owning this house.<br /><br />An "everything" bagel at Breuggher's, toasted, with honey-walnut cream cheese.<br /><br />No war. No deranged shooters along our day's journey. No terminal disease that we know of ruining our day.<br /><br />It really was our little bit of heaven on Earth. And it makes me want to help others achieve this kind of life - if only for a day!the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-67457997228515547182009-04-04T01:40:00.000-07:002009-04-04T02:10:11.000-07:00Madagascar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij81FkYljetrExdf2yPcgNhoh0hYHPzVTiZJ5obIwT2YnB2uFhPU_y9g08F839q19__eQZ0KwhbhZQS25lSXt8ksbGfTz6laBPPRX0yrmqq1XlOBGoKuytRqFbndRxfcnzBfK9/s1600-h/lemurs.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 107px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij81FkYljetrExdf2yPcgNhoh0hYHPzVTiZJ5obIwT2YnB2uFhPU_y9g08F839q19__eQZ0KwhbhZQS25lSXt8ksbGfTz6laBPPRX0yrmqq1XlOBGoKuytRqFbndRxfcnzBfK9/s320/lemurs.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320758177743372386" border="0" /></a><br />Long before Disney popularized the place, I'd wanted to visit Madagascar. A tour of the Lemur Center at Duke University only strengthened that desire.<br /><br />I learned a bit more about the place from two Presbyterian Missionaries from Raleigh named <a href="http://www.theoutreachfoundation.org/Missionaries%20and%20Projects/Missionaries/turkdanandelizabeth.html">Dan and Elizabeth Turk</a>. They are truly down-to-earth - quite literally in Dan's case, as he's a soil scientist. Elizabeth works with village women to improve their health outcomes. They do not match the stereotype of "converting the natives" and telling them to wear more clothes.<br /><br />The country had a coup recently, and the old president had to flee the country. Hate that sort of thing, but it's pretty standard stuff the world over.<br /><br />I bring it up because our friends the Schmerkers are traveling the world and talking about going there. I'm really jealous, but I hope they can do it. They take really good photos and blog well at <a href="http://parisbaconpesto.blogspot.com/">http://parisbaconpesto.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br />A bit of Larson trivia: Marian's birthstone is sapphire, and the blue sapphire for her engagement ring likely came from Madagascar.<br /><br />Here is a good blog about the <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/images/madagascar_sorcerers/madagascar_lemur_low.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/madagascar_ruby_sapphire.htm&h=641&w=500&sz=132&tbnid=dQs8NVdWKZs28M::&tbnh=137&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmadagascar%2Bphotos&usg=__8rDOg6NrhaC-_tELfS3V6SW12P4=&ei=bSDXSeTyOYXsyQXGiOz3Dg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image">country</a>.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-65240924689213736312009-03-29T16:35:00.000-07:002009-03-29T18:15:38.791-07:00Beautiful Day at Biltmore<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpEXWZ62cNDq_yaEEKEs_OhBjjz0L03PGrlNVcPaJWlbJkHCEqgJlEBsUlkFFqqe5HO-kS0K8A8smHKYb8SNrmYWjNIKtiyb0LaXjfkD0cBc3QtoS2ZmeGD6rqZEwwQ3KXl70/s1600-h/DSCN0199.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpEXWZ62cNDq_yaEEKEs_OhBjjz0L03PGrlNVcPaJWlbJkHCEqgJlEBsUlkFFqqe5HO-kS0K8A8smHKYb8SNrmYWjNIKtiyb0LaXjfkD0cBc3QtoS2ZmeGD6rqZEwwQ3KXl70/s320/DSCN0199.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318758745484650242" border="0" /></a><br />It was a little chilly at moments when the wind blew. But mostly it was a magical day - thanks to sunshine and a couple of free passes from our friend Christine.<br /><br />Stella said that next time she's going to paint her fingernails when she tours the house.<br /><br />I wish the batteries on our camera hadn't died. I'd have taken a photo of the "tree that snowed" white/pinkish petals.<br /><br />We're thinking of getting year-round passes. Biltmore is great!the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-82632512813425499512009-03-29T03:25:00.000-07:002009-03-29T03:30:59.491-07:00Marian's On a MissionMarian is determined for us to go through every room of this house and declutter. It's a great idea, actually. Yesterday we went through the kitchen and found dry-goods we had forgotten we had. <br /><br />She really wanted me to throw away the microwave popcorn. Are you kidding? That stuff is great. I promised I'd eat it, and soon. <br /><br />There's Gatorade, some dried beans that are perfectly okay to eat, and even some wild rice that Tracy Phillips left behind when she moved about a year ago. <br /><br />But today she's moving toward the dining and living room area, and I'm a little concerned.<br /><br />"You think we can move that credit card machine?" she asked.<br /><br />The credit card machine for our business has found a space next to our family telephone. I really don't know what else to do with it, honestly. But I suppose today will find me testing out phone lines in the basement - just because I'm an understanding husband who believes world peace begins right here.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-55378730393515241942009-03-26T17:55:00.001-07:002009-03-26T18:10:36.095-07:00Raleigh and BackToday we returned from a couple nights in Raleigh with Susan and Randy, Marian's aunt and uncle. We love hanging out there. It's where we tied the knot and where Marian spent a lot of her childhood. <br /><br />There were a lot of funny things that happened, but one in particular is worth mentioning:<br /><br />After finishing a wonderful Outback take-out steak dinner to celebrate our new company, Marian shared something she'd heard from her brother, Arendall, concerning his time as an Outback Steakhouse manager. <br /><br />Apparently there are a number of tricks that employees play on unsuspecting newbies: <br /><br />1. They tell them that, after running a credit card through the machine, they have to speak into the machine the name of the card. For several days the new employee can be observed running a card and whispering to the machine, "Discover," "VISA," "Mastercard."<br /><br />2. Employees are allowed to eat desserts that, for whatever reason, don't get served to diners. Veteran employees have been known to substitute whipped cream with lard - something that feels greasy-weird for days in a person's throat. <br /><br />3. The thing that really sticks out, though, is a little trick played with the pumpernickel bread which comes free with every meal. When water is added to pieces of the bread, it is able to be shaped into something that looks a lot like - you guessed it. New employees will enter the staff bathroom to find something that looks pretty alarming on the walls, the ceiling, the toilet seat - and so on. <br /><br />Marian's uncle tested this story, and found it absolutely accurate. The untrained eye simply cannot tell the difference. So, with the housekeeper on her way to their house today, Marian's uncle ... <br /><br />We're waiting for a full report.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-46488073165007901992009-03-24T18:41:00.000-07:002009-03-24T19:06:55.439-07:00ExhalingAfter four years of working really hard and developing a fairly sophisticated video product, our investment has paid off: Yesterday, along with an investor/partner, we signed the papers for a new company called Zoom Factor, Inc., which will market video solutions to communities and industries across the country.<br /><br />Zoom Factor has purchased rights to intellectual property developed by Stellar Media, putting that company in the black. <br /><br />And for the first year at least, Zoom Factor has the capital in the bank to operate and show progress. <br /><br />The last half of 2008 was tough, full of moments of extreme doubt, anxiety, and worry. At Thanksgiving I vowed to cover my bases and apply for full-time jobs, just in case. I applied for between 50 and 60 jobs over the next four months. Number of interviews granted: Zero. It's a similar story I've heard from friends at least as qualified as me.<br /><br />We've got a lot of work ahead of us to make this new company successful. And I'm struggling to line up the people I need to run the old one. But, looking around, I'd say I have it really good.<br /><br />With a little of the stress relieved, we might even have time to blog again!the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-12538932100746549172009-03-23T03:55:00.000-07:002009-03-23T03:56:18.463-07:00Is Anybody Out There Still?If anyone is still looking at our blog, please let us know - and we'll start posting again.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-90224355573340558502008-12-24T18:50:00.000-08:002008-12-24T18:52:50.657-08:00Paradise LostSome have asked us where we served in the Peace Corps and what it was like. It is possible that the country will be lost forever due to global warming. <br /><br />This is a well-done video about Kiribati and the crisis it faces, produced by PBS:<br /><br />http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/449/index.htmlthe larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-83751337989943675792008-12-16T17:39:00.001-08:002008-12-17T17:01:45.690-08:00Ten on Tuesday - ok, WednesdayOK, due to mounting pressure from my devoted followers, I'm posting something new. A miracle, I know. <br /><br />1) Life for the Larsons is exciting and unpredictable right now. 2009 is going to be interesting. We're not sure where these next steps are taking us but we're going to embrace it. Enough said.<br /><br />2) The kids are a hoot. Meg is 16 months and took her first steps last week. She loves her dada more than anyone else and is a very strong-willed, loud, demanding, but precious baby. She wakes every morning at 5:30 and is saying all kinds of things - bath, book, baby, more, dog, neigh, sock, and of course, Stella.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRz-1iNF98zzYFMm_Zz99zujYIGmOQST7IP5BCZvwAMxG023r1n4fD6j4P0inl5HBZgeZHCMEFCVkLAioAskzSp-Anxf3nNDEOeLaUzFsU0pYxc874dysGd_FhIRsDyDIYxBA/s1600-h/Picture+8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRz-1iNF98zzYFMm_Zz99zujYIGmOQST7IP5BCZvwAMxG023r1n4fD6j4P0inl5HBZgeZHCMEFCVkLAioAskzSp-Anxf3nNDEOeLaUzFsU0pYxc874dysGd_FhIRsDyDIYxBA/s320/Picture+8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280569785894062834" /></a><br /><br />3) Stella loves preschool and playing with her baby sister. She is very much a little mama and tells her what to do constantly. "Don't throw food on the floor, Meggie." "No Meggie, don't play in the toilet." "Stop drawing on the walls, Meggies!" You get the drift.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLU1HwjpbVM_K5bKdeJP79yXPpKZzW7cDKDjV4XA-uEsqMGl6sMhWOWc9xbvEigDx6UqreyynicGnXqSsbHhqSYGMy-wjMOK0OZoaQ67Z2V7dw-IunmFkczVhEcDARtHxgMpz/s1600-h/Picture+11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLU1HwjpbVM_K5bKdeJP79yXPpKZzW7cDKDjV4XA-uEsqMGl6sMhWOWc9xbvEigDx6UqreyynicGnXqSsbHhqSYGMy-wjMOK0OZoaQ67Z2V7dw-IunmFkczVhEcDARtHxgMpz/s320/Picture+11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280569761067556690" /></a><br /><br />4) Best friend Brittain and I took the girls to the Grove Park Inn for the Annual Gingerbread House competition. Actually, the competition was held a few weeks ago but the houses are still up for viewing. These things are works of art! I couldn't believe how beautiful they were.<br /><br />5)We're headed to Alabama next week for the Christmas holidays. Looking very forward to some R & R and having family spend time with (ahem, take care of while I do nothing) my children.<br /><br />6) I've been swimming laps a few times a week and am really really enjoying it. I've worked up to 30 lengths, which is almost a half mile swim. My goal is to be able to swim a mile without stopping.<br /><br />7) This is why I don't post on the blog often, people. I have nothing interesting to say.<br /><br />8) Except this, I just realized that today marks 2 years to the day that we found out we were pregnant with Meg. I remember we had checked out a church that Sunday morning and were on our way home when I told Eric to stop at the store and let me get a pregnancy test...and we rushed home, took it, and there on that Sunday afternoon I got final confirmation (I was pretty sure what it would say) that little bit was on her way.<br /><br />9) What is your favorite junk food? I mean, no holds barred, nasty trans-fat out the wazoo junk food? I think mine are Ruffles Sour Cream and Cheddar potato chips.<br /><br />10) Eric and I are off to bed. It's 8:01 pm. Such is our life.<br /><br />Now stop hassling me, friends. I'll post again sometime in 2010.<br /><br /><br /><br />9)the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-60251239203280060402008-11-09T07:53:00.000-08:002008-11-09T07:54:11.992-08:00Food Works - Video<embed src='http://www.brightcove.tv/playerswf' bgcolor='#FFFFFF' flashVars='allowFullScreen=true&initVideoId=1782569694&servicesURL=http://www.brightcove.tv&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://www.brightcove.tv&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&autoStart=false' base='http://admin.brightcove.com' name='bcPlayer' width='486' height='412' allowFullScreen='true' allowScriptAccess='always' seamlesstabbing='false' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' swLiveConnect='true' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash'></embed>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-43014642109312439272008-11-06T02:19:00.000-08:002008-11-06T02:40:41.256-08:00The Salt Lake ExperienceIn short, we had a really good time in Salt Lake. Some of it had little to do with Salt Lake, like...<br /><br />1. Seeing our niece, Lily, for the first time. Michelle brought this cutie pie from California and we ate her up.<br /><br />2. Spending time with Stella without the distraction of her little sis. As Stella liked to tell people, "Meg is staying with my mother-in-law." (Marian's mother-in-law, that is!)<br /><br />3. Macaroni Grill. I'll mention all the unique places we ate later, but we happened across my mom's favorite chain at the end of a long afternoon of walking and it was just what the doctor ordered. Chains are successful usually because they get something right. Of course, because we had already ordered food, we were allowed to order a beer (that's one of the quirky Mormon-inspired rules.)<br /><br />4. Speaking Gilbertese with Nei Tofinga - a Mormon guide from Kiribati. It has been so long since we spent time with someone from our Peace Corps country. We heard that someone from Kiribati was giving tours at Temple Square and we left one of our business cards hoping she would call, and she did, so we visited her on-the-job and had a blast.<br /><br />Here are the things we really liked about Salt Lake that we think just about anyone would enjoy:<br /><br />1. Temple Square. Think what you want about the Mormon religion, Mormons have always been very kind and generous toward me AND they have some amazing architecture on 35 acres on the north side of Salt Lake's Downtown. You can take the cool little Trax train right to it. The walled portion has a couple of visitor's centers where they give you an abbreviated version of their history and sing to you at the end. These are inevitably very cute ladies from all over the world who, as you might have guessed, travel in pairs. Outside the walled portion is the conference center where the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics were held. The center has like 1.5 million square feet in the whole complex. The auditorium has seating for 21,000. It's a football field in length from the top balcony to the stage. Yet it feels quite intimate. (Technogeeks will marvel at the 1,400 computer-controlled stage lights!)<br /><br />There are also former homes of Bringham Young that one can explore, though we didn't take the time to do that.<br /><br />Another cool thing is, in another part of the city, they actually have a cheese factory that is part of their charity mission.<br /><br />2. The Red Iquana. A very popular Mexican restaurant just past the western edge of downtown. At least 3 friends recommended it, and they steered us the right way. Of course, they might have told us about the Buffalo Burrs along the way. These are part of the plant kingdom and when they get lodged into a baby stroller tire, only go deeper as you roll. Yes, we left the restaurant to discover that we had 3 flat tires. Fortunately, the cab ride was not far to our hotel, and there is a bike shop in downtown Salt Lake.<br /><br />Red Iquana: four webbed thumbs up!<br /><br />3. The Beehive Tea Room. I don't usually get into tea rooms, but Scott Osondu has gotten me to appreciate tea, and this place has a very welcome vibe. Stella liked it, too.<br /><br />4. Sugar House. Marian can blog more about this cute neighborhood, as I was attending a conference on the day they visited here.<br /><br />5. The Library. It has the best view of the town and the surrounding mountains. I'll look for a photo and post it. The library itself is a marvel in architecture, and Stella loved reading books in one of the numerous nooks there.<br /><br />There were some other nice things, like the Gateway Mall, the Discovery Center kids museum, and the IMAX. But I'd say that just being in such an unusual FEELING place is what made it for me. The West is just plain different from the East, and Salt Lake is a step removed from much of the West. It does one good for a change of scene.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-31212089799300255322008-10-22T18:07:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:19:18.888-07:00Pumpkin experience - backwards in photos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-Sp7wR9-1S9usu3IRdeJ6T8mChyphenhyphenTS4ZiaeWsXtcP4i3U4I7FLzoYSyqN18S09vMGu8gpcDwHppYG9NRt3xX_t4n0avmC5BtsUzGJW_0i2nFTWysxFtMoOgK4PgwzOzvYFeaI/s1600-h/10-22-08-10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-Sp7wR9-1S9usu3IRdeJ6T8mChyphenhyphenTS4ZiaeWsXtcP4i3U4I7FLzoYSyqN18S09vMGu8gpcDwHppYG9NRt3xX_t4n0avmC5BtsUzGJW_0i2nFTWysxFtMoOgK4PgwzOzvYFeaI/s320/10-22-08-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260151219684680802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndjaUX6lLVwyeyX0-Uz2VWUji5yU0dpJqZeU8bSXJdfsdFLYHq_VG2YLsdoMp2SPHwTiQ8bCD-0Y91bB-VxpfytvDj0xNXcBc4GdkJTp7W_aVJTX1cHo55UtIom-lxefPuf_h/s1600-h/10-22-08-9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndjaUX6lLVwyeyX0-Uz2VWUji5yU0dpJqZeU8bSXJdfsdFLYHq_VG2YLsdoMp2SPHwTiQ8bCD-0Y91bB-VxpfytvDj0xNXcBc4GdkJTp7W_aVJTX1cHo55UtIom-lxefPuf_h/s320/10-22-08-9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260151214568817858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv13KFIXDxvyxSegzYvGEcB-XgNXlhpMKErekgwr8RMsMWkdAxvNPx1fwIZNhzDzFM4UkaLSnDIsYatsMq9xpsn0ZKhy8vVmiwFeYI247ylkOHYDYGvq-SgVIGESIrD7030D-/s1600-h/10-22-08-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv13KFIXDxvyxSegzYvGEcB-XgNXlhpMKErekgwr8RMsMWkdAxvNPx1fwIZNhzDzFM4UkaLSnDIsYatsMq9xpsn0ZKhy8vVmiwFeYI247ylkOHYDYGvq-SgVIGESIrD7030D-/s320/10-22-08-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260151203332971586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3fuUkvea2NkunMJCyjZivBYFxwte_Xb59G-br7skvA_-sjyXUDmiuMKfb5tHQ55tZdLBg-BwTZS_62w0jd0NUZZohWVJlETeZnsAsHqNbQ0UYoMVdDWQhsgi-p0sqGf8AlL7/s1600-h/10-22-08-7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3fuUkvea2NkunMJCyjZivBYFxwte_Xb59G-br7skvA_-sjyXUDmiuMKfb5tHQ55tZdLBg-BwTZS_62w0jd0NUZZohWVJlETeZnsAsHqNbQ0UYoMVdDWQhsgi-p0sqGf8AlL7/s320/10-22-08-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260151200087435794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TGHe-WULK1KyQ3Bkf1ljvElNbnMONynoYP7ppbDFVmJZspqCTVyx4wzJlHBVLyjLUW2n21q3Qq984r8ZWz-EgaMZSGD6Al0QEuvl4BV4kNfrQlr4YQFUigpeEqrpIoYcPjI_/s1600-h/10-22-08-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TGHe-WULK1KyQ3Bkf1ljvElNbnMONynoYP7ppbDFVmJZspqCTVyx4wzJlHBVLyjLUW2n21q3Qq984r8ZWz-EgaMZSGD6Al0QEuvl4BV4kNfrQlr4YQFUigpeEqrpIoYcPjI_/s320/10-22-08-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260151186039146674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDkE4O66WLdyOdHtxztSSxfZxYoxTHjD4STrvt4xIG8tpby_ghX_odqNaH8VDD1VvZpfeqyoo9shPYuPonzuTZDJF1HUyFdBTLgCx1p8Z2JOo_qGbEF5YNpq22i-nrjwfUI5b/s1600-h/10-22-08-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDkE4O66WLdyOdHtxztSSxfZxYoxTHjD4STrvt4xIG8tpby_ghX_odqNaH8VDD1VvZpfeqyoo9shPYuPonzuTZDJF1HUyFdBTLgCx1p8Z2JOo_qGbEF5YNpq22i-nrjwfUI5b/s320/10-22-08-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260150664629582802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5NeY3xc8I-JIlmbBwHbYfaNgcucIyx2rgcV_0VrW0qo3mU0r0zFs_LOXVivuqSA4cA1_PVRRqKl1UCgqSJLcgvocRj1xTxhfWqF_PsJ0SsdSzeWxeXhLte6RHw87i22rcQgr/s1600-h/10-22-08-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5NeY3xc8I-JIlmbBwHbYfaNgcucIyx2rgcV_0VrW0qo3mU0r0zFs_LOXVivuqSA4cA1_PVRRqKl1UCgqSJLcgvocRj1xTxhfWqF_PsJ0SsdSzeWxeXhLte6RHw87i22rcQgr/s320/10-22-08-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260150659742117234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0snHQ35sBPqLZwMyOD62SEcofNqnB456lKaE1JPSFOYrSXtJHpjA-M8eRafqMSrqsms2x5uZeZK17oYTK9rvH5BoaEuIiY-SEiyve-I4996EJ3Jhlo0PGxD2KhXkSoSVlY4G/s1600-h/10-22-08-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0snHQ35sBPqLZwMyOD62SEcofNqnB456lKaE1JPSFOYrSXtJHpjA-M8eRafqMSrqsms2x5uZeZK17oYTK9rvH5BoaEuIiY-SEiyve-I4996EJ3Jhlo0PGxD2KhXkSoSVlY4G/s320/10-22-08-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260150655190940898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYiXMLI0mEvrL3sowpVDjizQm10yTZltyDZMzSa0C0KeGOu08EHQFLLBxG2YIEpmpX6Jcl4imzSo3VlGH3tKtr4VAz-9ig78KxsIi3VsqK_d8dKtZR_GTbLmXoKjsqwzFCjay/s1600-h/10-22-08-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYiXMLI0mEvrL3sowpVDjizQm10yTZltyDZMzSa0C0KeGOu08EHQFLLBxG2YIEpmpX6Jcl4imzSo3VlGH3tKtr4VAz-9ig78KxsIi3VsqK_d8dKtZR_GTbLmXoKjsqwzFCjay/s320/10-22-08-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260150644676775266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc5iZvORz8MX13dwEkHbtD1a8SQ44vdVAJ9SSgU4b2FAXFxmpNlF5R-4Fz0SVLW4gNC4ZCpsiaCaT88mN8lIPe2xpxxgVOo9XbiDvzIiFd9YrBb5MB2OWLhEBy-X3ukIlNDLa/s1600-h/10-22-08-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc5iZvORz8MX13dwEkHbtD1a8SQ44vdVAJ9SSgU4b2FAXFxmpNlF5R-4Fz0SVLW4gNC4ZCpsiaCaT88mN8lIPe2xpxxgVOo9XbiDvzIiFd9YrBb5MB2OWLhEBy-X3ukIlNDLa/s320/10-22-08-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260150648796192834" border="0" /></a>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-21258018296846795272008-10-21T17:41:00.000-07:002008-10-21T17:47:37.758-07:00Not a Doofus, But...Next time I'll go in with fewer pre-conceived notions about what an audience is looking for. (And I'll try not to wake 2:45 a.m. and not be able to get back to sleep --- and I'll Mapquest the correct address in Charlotte. Yikes!) I don't think I hit the mark with this one, though the jury is still out -- there might be some agreement to be reached.<br /><br />I appreciate all the well wishes. It really makes me feel good.<br /><br />Random thing, but let me direct you to the story of Galen Rowell, a photographer for National Geographic who died about 6 years ago in a plane crash. I bought a poster from his studio in Berkeley in 1997-ish. I thought of him because some friends are headed for Machu Piccu -- and that was my poster: <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0814_020814_rowell2_2.html">http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0814_020814_rowell2_2.html</a><br /><br />And here is that awesome poster:<br /><a href="http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Sunset-over-Machu-Picchu-Posters_i1252429_.htm">http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Sunset-over-Machu-Picchu-Posters_i1252429_.htm</a>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-73069713765573901252008-10-19T13:01:00.000-07:002008-10-19T13:04:28.056-07:00Think of Us at 10 a.m. Monday (10/20)All the hard work of the year kind of culminates tomorrow (Monday) when I make the biggest presentation of our company's four-year history. No pressure - just please pray I don't trip over my words, or throw up, or look like a doofus.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-5214153486292736802008-10-13T17:34:00.001-07:002008-10-13T17:50:54.813-07:00Long overdue photosHere some recent shots from Stella's birthday and other Larson life stuff.<br /><br />Getting ready to blow out the candles!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVxKbhJkoBWYYvEulTvP_qybIqwT3k8ES4wEg3rpg0xlPcOAjM3IoQLMj4WcVwWsL4f2f0JSemGgfzIVIRc0Wcy-lEf3UgaqbrxQEZwpOA4hQRRm3u6YRa-SaAoyMX6orCpbO/s1600-h/10-13-08-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVxKbhJkoBWYYvEulTvP_qybIqwT3k8ES4wEg3rpg0xlPcOAjM3IoQLMj4WcVwWsL4f2f0JSemGgfzIVIRc0Wcy-lEf3UgaqbrxQEZwpOA4hQRRm3u6YRa-SaAoyMX6orCpbO/s320/10-13-08-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256804311783110690" /></a><br /><br />At her little preschool party, with her cupcake and new do<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzKq4bmpGMHRQVrcJnE5cEFWOsbOSiPNkrxzQ58e-k6vHIksLbmIaLO6DFlBZuPvNX8V0NQ_NXkZN9qosDt53ZK5plMQQcL-6svZq-Xtx4S7xKE4LrbRlRkIZbE32_QjG7lpY/s1600-h/10-13-08-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzKq4bmpGMHRQVrcJnE5cEFWOsbOSiPNkrxzQ58e-k6vHIksLbmIaLO6DFlBZuPvNX8V0NQ_NXkZN9qosDt53ZK5plMQQcL-6svZq-Xtx4S7xKE4LrbRlRkIZbE32_QjG7lpY/s320/10-13-08-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256804310909265794" /></a><br /><br /><br />The cake she picked out. T-A-C-K-Y. But she loved it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSjZRc7cCG85j-syXM-_iucfydhc0f5_uWR_bozmsBRH-DfAAUFms9do2SwWBqj8IiAZuTm4lJ4GNveQUGUnuTDVuZR_HSyPGFFAUbV3i57IFD5JRft4vzk_0HcI1tKRhu3QC/s1600-h/10-13-08-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSjZRc7cCG85j-syXM-_iucfydhc0f5_uWR_bozmsBRH-DfAAUFms9do2SwWBqj8IiAZuTm4lJ4GNveQUGUnuTDVuZR_HSyPGFFAUbV3i57IFD5JRft4vzk_0HcI1tKRhu3QC/s320/10-13-08-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256804316873104210" /></a><br /><br /><br />We can't forget brown-eyes over here<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH8WibSgzH1vYArG8ElZdmKn3M26S5mUMDFGNeg0ykbRKRnvhpCO120BOl9yAOQ_gA-HXhMt4ccS59g9LzH6Df5rHbHM5WEzBFbHyVCMo5t5s9ITyyXjVNmJv-ol6gzUONvdH/s1600-h/10-13-08-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH8WibSgzH1vYArG8ElZdmKn3M26S5mUMDFGNeg0ykbRKRnvhpCO120BOl9yAOQ_gA-HXhMt4ccS59g9LzH6Df5rHbHM5WEzBFbHyVCMo5t5s9ITyyXjVNmJv-ol6gzUONvdH/s320/10-13-08-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256804320843065218" /></a><br /><br /><br />Looking smug<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ_eFJONzIcjP5pa8m_bFlM2NthlUcHBCbIJHwTiiy8h9C0c75JW0j6Kslhc_Z-koAJTo_k6IaKV8zPKHC3n928ZTszW3Ys9g4YNe9-M7EZ82AfYLmnW__v8WS5_GkepOmSbE/s1600-h/10-13-08-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ_eFJONzIcjP5pa8m_bFlM2NthlUcHBCbIJHwTiiy8h9C0c75JW0j6Kslhc_Z-koAJTo_k6IaKV8zPKHC3n928ZTszW3Ys9g4YNe9-M7EZ82AfYLmnW__v8WS5_GkepOmSbE/s320/10-13-08-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256804318533656434" /></a><br /><br />Life is good. We're enjoying the weather SO much this October, outside a lot and trying to soak it all in before the winter. Hope all is well with you!the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-77008738663954365552008-09-30T15:46:00.000-07:002008-09-30T16:03:59.791-07:00Four.Age: T minus 3 days. No wonder my ass was so big, look at me putting those Kettle chips in a bowl!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxzW2Gs8iRHUzs9SeonwVTs4wLMEHDcocz7G1azck5Gf2q5Wjt8-wbQU17asRpzQ2NqkN2xM_EpQq8AjPl1Y0UtiIIGDA_oZH1fgF_SMNkUbyfBh-5DXHjv0vYHAhyawjoZZx/s1600-h/4yr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxzW2Gs8iRHUzs9SeonwVTs4wLMEHDcocz7G1azck5Gf2q5Wjt8-wbQU17asRpzQ2NqkN2xM_EpQq8AjPl1Y0UtiIIGDA_oZH1fgF_SMNkUbyfBh-5DXHjv0vYHAhyawjoZZx/s320/4yr.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251952398891918498" /></a><br /><br />Age: 6 hours old<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeQl8c5tUMlYMotnEzSeWyG0T0ciQCHQPZwUp8Ob0Xh9esaRz-JQwDPRmWTRq6tlCJ4qIIBoJc5gUy_ewE2m66atrGSUcCv2pR4lmbomT1deXkRAbDeWrKVE6hFcc4exHHgx8/s1600-h/4yr+-+pic+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeQl8c5tUMlYMotnEzSeWyG0T0ciQCHQPZwUp8Ob0Xh9esaRz-JQwDPRmWTRq6tlCJ4qIIBoJc5gUy_ewE2m66atrGSUcCv2pR4lmbomT1deXkRAbDeWrKVE6hFcc4exHHgx8/s320/4yr+-+pic+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251952401392909602" /></a><br /><br />Age: 2 years old (can't get my hands on the first bday shot. Feel like a horrible mom)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ulFTJgurwb9i4tCy15vROMhU2ZivVp0DBhshMsqsrhmKRGFnD-7U69PnzlmPJUTlrJ2dkKq3Gs4-t8AMAK7_uAy9kQI_hIFWlgiyvAjUUWKhZGfpJw5nCEUrCrLrGc7LJZv/s1600-h/4yr+-+pic3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ulFTJgurwb9i4tCy15vROMhU2ZivVp0DBhshMsqsrhmKRGFnD-7U69PnzlmPJUTlrJ2dkKq3Gs4-t8AMAK7_uAy9kQI_hIFWlgiyvAjUUWKhZGfpJw5nCEUrCrLrGc7LJZv/s320/4yr+-+pic3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251952402268409330" /></a><br /><br />Age: 3 years old, and sick<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O5XSBgogwUdjQLPwYGfAWO6bbSL86BwzNAAK-U4hEVKO-tZeHYYVSvjVWL7bxuwvS2plkXZUR-FnrZ95RsB3nnXdvTZFHOegqcD73DMnKuktrJRERDRq1pihH38tOu2Ta_RV/s1600-h/4yr+-+pic+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O5XSBgogwUdjQLPwYGfAWO6bbSL86BwzNAAK-U4hEVKO-tZeHYYVSvjVWL7bxuwvS2plkXZUR-FnrZ95RsB3nnXdvTZFHOegqcD73DMnKuktrJRERDRq1pihH38tOu2Ta_RV/s320/4yr+-+pic+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251952403508166738" /></a><br /><br />Today she is: 4 years old<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM50ucMuV2KKpEfAL8ou06mg3EUtnmZuse5xVaiQ3XtY5pTE5WV4Oi1m6JHGBVAlQ_xiKQjPR7_CkZ7ZHsofNAH2Td0dLcJZ9aWwAsLoYBuCXK1FUFrSYZdQP9mWGcMhqDQyE/s1600-h/4yr+-+pic5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM50ucMuV2KKpEfAL8ou06mg3EUtnmZuse5xVaiQ3XtY5pTE5WV4Oi1m6JHGBVAlQ_xiKQjPR7_CkZ7ZHsofNAH2Td0dLcJZ9aWwAsLoYBuCXK1FUFrSYZdQP9mWGcMhqDQyE/s320/4yr+-+pic5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251952409566505506" /></a><br /><br />I feel like my life began the day hers did.<br /><br />Stella, you have made me and daddy happier than we could've ever imagined. You are indeed our sweet peach (and baby sister, though sweet, is often referred to as the sour peach)!<br /><br />Here's to many more happy, healthy years for our beautiful big girl.<br /><br />Party pics coming soon!the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-73534289215356305182008-09-25T11:27:00.001-07:002008-09-29T16:26:11.595-07:00Smile! You're on...Katy Cook's photo shoot of our kids:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZVy8X_Ah3Eg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZVy8X_Ah3Eg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-74432192046324706712008-09-24T02:29:00.000-07:002008-09-24T02:39:54.673-07:00"The Island is Out of Benzene"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2008/09/24/WE00091562/220308/Anon1222230757-AshevilleNCGasShortage746234_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2008/09/24/WE00091562/220308/Anon1222230757-AshevilleNCGasShortage746234_sm.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />When you live in the middle of the Pacific, you expect that your island might run out of things occasionally. Marakei (our Peace Corps post in the country of Kiribati) would run out of foodstuffs all the time. Rice, sugar, salt, flour. There were stretches where everyone went back to totally living off the land and sea: fish, taro root (babai), coconut, bananas, papayas (one can get very tired of papaya), and breadfruit were about it.<br /><br />And sometimes we'd have a program planned somewhere on the island and it would be postponed because the island was out of gas, or "benzene" as it was called. The two or three flatbed trucks stopped running, and motorcycles stayed put. It was a bummer, but you got used to it. (We never, ever got used to the planes not running. That meant mail being delayed for weeks, and that really sucked.)<br /><br />When something similar happens in the United States, like the current gas shortage, you take stock. You realize just how fragile civilization as we know it can be.<br /><br />Now, in Kiribati, if there is no benzene, you just hang out with your neighbors or, if it's raining, you lie in your hammock and read and nap. These days I cannot imagine just chilling like that. But we may have to.<br /><br />Asheville is out of benzene.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-63738161355622458322008-09-19T15:53:00.000-07:002008-09-19T16:02:50.445-07:00The Most Important Thing for a Young MarriageWe're in Wilmington for the wedding of two very good friends, and I'm just meditating on how Marian and I have made it this far - and this well.<br /><br />I think it mainly boils down to <span style="font-style: italic;">believing</span> that our marriage is strong enough...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">...to survive bringing up issues that might rock the boat. </span>We're not afraid to voice them, because we know it's not going to snowball into divorce.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">...to survive the things that happen to us that we can't control</span>, like deaths in the family, insanity in the family, rough financial times, kids....<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">...to survive the ups and downs of emotion and sentiment. </span>I'm not only unattractive much of the time - I'm often downright disgusting. If I had to look good for my wife on a continual basis, I'd be in big trouble. Unconditional love is a godsend for marriage.<br /><br />Many couples break-up because they are afraid they are going to break-up. Approach with fearlessness the things that get in the way of your love, and the two of you will prevail. And every time you are successful at it, you will find yourselves ever stronger.the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36465065.post-22810282040101776152008-09-15T04:16:00.001-07:002008-09-15T04:19:01.450-07:00Steve Martin is Stalking MeOkay, I flatter myself. I just think it's a little weird that I ran into Steve Martin in a Sante Fe art gallery 10 years ago, and this weekend he's less than an hour away from here (in Brevard) playing banjo with a local band. <br /><br />Here's video of the performance. Apparently he's got a CD coming out called "The Crow." The guy is multi-talented and good at pretty much anything he sets his mind to. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UZWQemabJeA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UZWQemabJeA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>the larsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183290925384060031noreply@blogger.com1