Here's Aidan in Mexico a few months ago in search of Mayans among the ruins. Looks like he barely fits through the door. They must have been pretty small. I think Mel Gibson got it wrong in Apocolypto.

By the way, what's a blog?

I assume that Pete wants us to add in here, since we are "empowered" to do so, so here is my entry for the day: Baby Flornce in the Sink. I figured it was best to show this photo and not the pne with her playing with the knife set....

Canoga Weekend

Kendall and friends

Clayton meets Lilly

The Kleinman family made the 4 hr treck to northern Cayuga Lake last weekend to reconnoiter with some old friends and check out Lilly, a german shorthair pointer we've selected as our new dog. The kids had a great time on our friends' farm, just north of last summer's vacation spot. It was quite a treat eating straight from the farm, lamb chops, angus burgers, bacon, eggs and mescalin. We found a couple of solid wines at the local wineries (5 minutes drive) including the traditional dry Riesling and a Lemberger, which was described as Pinot Noir meets pepper. Kelly drove in late Saturday from a day at the Culinary Institute of America, not far from the Schwall compound. That's it for Kleinman news...

Blogging 101 - Adding a new post

After you've logged in, click on "New Post" in the upper right hand corner of the blog and you'll end up on a page with several tabs. The default tab is "Posting" and on it there is a title line as well as a window for composing entries. The composer takes a bit of getting used to, but you mostly just type. To add a photo, click on the tool that looks like a photo. To add a link, highlight the word(s) you want to link and then click on the funky icon with a globe and chain links.

The Master Birder

Baltimore oriole

Well, you boys are not buying into this blog yet, but I will stick my guns and try to represent you as frequently as I can in hopes that I can draw you out. Our old friend Skogs has evolved into quite a naturalist, with a scope of amazing photographs that includes birds that I have to look up in my Sibley guide, a gift from the Schlueps. His photographs are perfectly composed portraits of single subjects (mostly), backgrounds expertly clipped to allow us to appreciate the setting without distracting from the bird, or canid.

Periodically, I'll get an e-mail from Mike on something in my general area of work, gleaned from an environmental list serve that he subscribes to or just from his own research. I'm really impressed. In fact, and this really isn't only directed at Skogs, I'm incredibly impressed with all my old friends and amazed that we are still in touch. As Schluep pointed out, our seminal years together (emphasis on semen) were half a lifetime ago. Somehow, with all of our divergent paths, we've found each other again. I truly value this connection.

So, this is my appeal. Please get off your frickin' lazy arses and post something! Do it for Skogs, who was not very pleased with my erroneous link between him and the EPA toxics inventory.

Greg

Siting a new landfill

Some of you have asked about the man we once called the six foot wonder. Here he is, in all of his adult glory, although I think this photo is a few years old. Greg, as he is now called, is happily married with a 10 year old daughter, Meghan. Most importantly, he lives yards away from colonial Williamsburg, meaning we no longer have to stay at ye olde Motel 8 when we're down there.

A Brazilian Reunion

Schluep, Pete, Macho, Schwall and Chung

Before trout, there was Brazil. Macho and Tati threw a wedding for the history books. Although it was all about their union, they channeled their energies into their friends and family who had made the trip, the mecca. By the end we were all hopelessly indoctrinated into the cult of the Macho, evidenced by the white regalia. It would make us pure he said. It would cleanse our minds of dirty thoughts. Why is Schluep's hand on my arse? Why are our faces so unnaturally colored? I love judo fashion.

Pennsylvania Trout - May 31-June 1, 2008

Schluep models a brown

Schluep, Skogs and Macho descended upon Pennsylvania Furnace, fly gear in tow. Four novices fished the little Juniata, waving nymphs and the occasional dry fly. Skogs lost his leader to a brute of a brown, while Schluep claimed to have landed at least one, remarkable in that it occurred while out of sight of the group. Mostly, the going was slow and Macho resorted to sitting in the stream in lotus position to channel away his negative energy. Trains running along the gorge broke the idyll, but, to a man, it was a good day.

Skogs skewering a fly

Sunday morning found Schluep raising all at 6:30. He was able to recruit Skogs and myself to join him at Penns Creek. We had much of the creek to ourselves for the first few hours. Beautiful water, and beautiful fish. Macho, content to do the dishes and load software onto Kelly's computer (that's not a euphemism), was unflappable in his Teflon happiness. It seemed we had just found our groove as a group when we parted ways. Some kind of repeat is definitely in order. Shalom.

10:30am brown, at least 24" (honest)