Thinking of my Papaw tonight

It's funny the things in life that remind you of a person even when you never experienced that "thing" with them.

I'm sure my grandfather had many things he loved in this world.  The same way I love baseball, Pearl Jam, and learning new things.  Unfortunately we never had the relationship where we shared things outside of the usual grandfather/grandson relationship. I remember him telling me when he thought I was screwing up breaking up with my high school girlfriend.  I was right on that one.  I remember him telling me not to trust my stepfather.  He was right on that one.  But outside of a few of these moments here and there when we were alone we were just a grandfather and his grandson. 

There are a few things I know about my Papaw without us having an "official" conversation about them.  I know he loved his daughters.  I know he loved his wife.  I know he loved me. Above all I know he loved the Lord. Another love he had though that we shared was the love of the river.

I remember putting his boat into the Ouachita River and trying to find the right fishing spot.  I remember seeing a sturgeon jump 10 feet from the water about 25 yards in front of our boat and snapping my head back and seeing his smile and that little glimmer in his eye that he couldn't believe it either.  I remember camping beside the river with Jeff and I cringing at the sound of him eating sardines.  I remember crossing the ferry over the river with him getting out and just staring at the water like there was an answer there to a question only he knew.  I remember a lot here and there.

I remember my Papaw and I miss him.

He's been gone too long now but sometimes something happens and I think of him.  I'm sure we all have moments in time where something out of the ordinary makes us think of someone we want one more conversation with. I have one thing that always, without fail, makes me think of my grandfather. It's a song.  It's a song that I honestly don't think he would like.  But I like it and it always makes me think of him. 

The song has multiple layers about a man finding the welcoming arms of his savior after a lifetime of breaking his own body and spirit.  What I love is the beginning where he looks into the river, cold and black. Here he sees himself as he sees himself but it ends with the the man begging the water to rise and take his reflection away. Then he's left with the way God sees him which was the point of the song all along.  As always with good music, your mileage may vary.

I love the song.  I love my Papaw.  The two are forever intwined in my mind. Maybe he loves this song too.  I intend to ask him when I see him again.

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds perform "The Maker" (Live at Radio City Hall)

I know it's slllooowww

Having multiple gallery posts on the front page of the blog at once has brought the site to a screeching halt on older systems and slower speeds.  I'm going to create a catch-all gallery collection page for everyday life type of galleries.​ Then posts will link to the galleries instead of displaying them.  Hopefully that will help alleviate the problems some of you are having.

Day of the Pumpkin-Updated

We could not decide how to spend our Saturday together.  The decision to get out early wasn't going according to plan.  At our house, we rarely have a plan and when a plan goes awry it tends to make a grumpy bunch.  Finally Jenna, told us to put on clothes and we headed to a pumpkin patch.  It turned out to be a fantastic day.​

UPDATE​

This page now links to a gallery page instead of the gallery being within the post.  Hopefully this will speed up the site a bit.​

Battle Up Amanda!

Cancer sucks. It doesn't care who or what you are.  It doesn't care about the color of your skin or the size of your portfolio. It also doesn't care how loved you are.​

​Tomorrow my aunt Amanda begins her battle against ovarian cancer. There are people I fret over. There are people in this world I worry about.  There are people I pray for. Amanda's never made the list before.  Funny thing cancer.

She has surgery tomorrow from 4-730​ at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, OR.  She has setup a website at akrportland.com to keep family and friends updated.

Amanda's most visible trait has always been her most beautiful; her strength. I've never met anyone as strong as her.  She's never even bothered to knock the dust off after being knocked down.  She just gets up and walks on. I think cancer picked the wrong fight.​

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Jordan's in ElDorado

Holly came home from Arizona this past weekend.  It was the first time we got to meet Malia.  When they came to visit right ​after she was born, Campbell was sick so we weren't able to make it down.  This time they came during the weekend of Arkansas/Alabama.  She apologized they coincided but I assured her this wasn't a big deal.  It was like I was prophetic because it couldn't have been less of deal and I'm glad I missed the game.

The kids played well.  Campbell and Jon Isaac were able to interact much more than the last time they were together.  Even then they mainly chased the bigger kids or played by themselves. Noah and Jana were...Noah and Jana. It's like there were no other people existing in the world.  They remind me of twins finishing each others thoughts.  When you ask one of them what they are doing, they look at each other and I swear there is a silent dialogue between them getting their story together. ​

We tried to take a picture of all the kids in their Razorback garb.  I took 70+ photos and not a single 1 has all 5 kids looking at the camera or with their eyes open.  Go figure.  

I know it's exhausting to tote 2 small kiddos across the country to see people they don't honestly know very well but it's awesome Holly is able to come as much as she does.  She almost comes as often as we go to ElDorado​.  Over the past 2 years it's more since she comes for 1-2 weeks at a time and I have a 3 day limit going anywhere away from my house.

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John Mayer-Musician or Criminal Mastermind

I beat Jenna and the kids home tonight and was picking up the house.  I finally got to listen to John Mayer's new album.  I'd been waiting for a time I could listen at volumes I deem necessary to take in any anticipated music.​

Halfway through, I was enjoying the music quite a bit.  Then all of I sudden I heard...."Love is Verb..."  What?!?!?!?! I had to go to check iTunes and sure enough the title of the song is "Love is a Verb"​

Seriously?!?!?!​

Granted I stole the line from A Weekend to Remember but I'm 99% sure John Mayer is a regular reader of The Sullivan Adventure.  Possibly he heard a speech I gave to a cancer support group 3 years ago.  The title? Love is a Verb.​ Either way the evidence s pretty damning  

At least have the shame to include me as co-songwriter. ​

(Love the steel guitar on the album Mr. Mayer.  You truly are gifted. In more bad news, my buddy Kyle wants to talk to you about "Whisky Whisky Whisky Water Water Water Sleep.)​

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-is-a-verb/id516701586?i=516701814

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Father and son and a whole lot of questions

So Jenna and I were going through a lot of stuff when we moved our furniture onto our new floors. We came across a roll of film...undeveloped.

​She thought we should develop it right away.  I wasn't so sure.  Who knows how old the roll was? It could have been of anybody or anything.  To this point in my life I haven't been lacking without the contents of this roll. So I was...we'll say apprehensive.

Yesterday, common sense was overruled by curiousity. I dropped the roll off at Bedford.  The guy said it was really old and a type that hasn't been used in "forever."  He was scared the film wouldn't have survived but they'd give it a shot.

​It developed. The roll in itself isn't that interesting.  it was shot in black and white (?). It was a weekend Melissa, Dad, and Rosalyn were visiting.  I was (thankfully) dating Jenna.  It was at my old house on Oleander.  Dad and I were obviously on our way to play golf. I was drinking Michelob Light in a can.

Then it takes a turn for the surreal.  He and I are....signing golf balls?!?!?!? ​We are then posing in front of our golfbags...that are empty.  Then we strike poses...like superheroes.  

Truth is stranger than fiction.​

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Labor Day 2012-4 Hands Brewery

Since Annheuser Busch was bought by InBev, the craft beer industry in St. Louis has exploded.  For the past 2 years, I've enjoyed sampling the local fruits of the area.  Recently, a friend of DiCarlo's, Kevin, opened 4 Hands Brewery a couple of blocks from Busch Stadi​um.  Kevin and I met at a Widespread Panic concert several years back but it'd be a miracle if either of us could pick the other from a police lineup.

After the museum we decided to have some snacks and libations so we stopped.  Thanks to Kevin for opening the brewery up to us to explore.  The beer was excellent and he should be very proud of creations.

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Labor Day 2012-City Museum

For the second straight Labor Day weekend, we traveled northeast to St. Louis to visit the DiCarlos.  We left after work and arrived late but there was no time to catch up on rest as we were off this morning to the City Museum in downtown St. Louis.  It was one of the best museums ever for children.  There were multiple levels both indoors and out.  The rooftop was closed due to rain so no ferris wheel and crazy bus hanging off the building.  The place is highly recommended.  You can tell by the pictures, I was in charge of Noah.  You've never lived until you've tried to scale 40-50 foot scaffolding holding a camera and chasing a fearless 6 year old. ​

P.S. This is the type of post that made me change the website again.  I love the idea of a gallery within a post instead of making so many stand alone galleries. Enjoy!​

Another year, another new web architecture...

The site is all new.  Parts look the same but the backend is totally different...again.  The new site is written fully in html 5 so it should be more future proof and it will render properly on all modern browsers and those cool phones we all carry around these days.​ I'm sure I'll have some broken links now but I'm sure there's an omelet/egg metaphor that'll fit. Hopefully all the pains of moving will be over seen.  If something doesn't work right, just let me know.

I wish I had a cool haiku or limerick to mark the occasion but it's taken me a lot of tinkering to get the galleries to work properly so I'll just bid you adieu.​