Over the past two weekends, we’ve been doing a lot of celebrating Kaylee. It started on Saturday, April 16th when we held a week early a First Birthday Party for Kaylee. We invited many of our friends and relatives in from Maryland, Virginia, ... [ more ]]]>

Over the past two weekends, we’ve been doing a lot of celebrating Kaylee. It started on Saturday, April 16th when we held a week early a First Birthday Party for Kaylee. We invited many of our friends and relatives in from Maryland, Virginia, DC, Delaware and even Florida to join in the festivities that essentially including watching a one-year old process 60 people singing Happy Birthday, lit candles and a mountain of presents. I am sure it was fun for her, but it was a great opportunity for us to see so many of our friends that we haven’t seen in a long time.

She had us all meet at Bellevue State Park in Delaware and had set up a circle with 16 starting points around a Cornucopia of supplies in the center. When she ... [ more ]]]> For my birthday this year, Selena put together a most fun event modeled after the book series The Hunger Games.

She had us all meet at Bellevue State Park in Delaware and had set up a circle with 16 starting points around a Cornucopia of supplies in the center. When she said “Go” everyone either ran in to grab supplies or ran away because they were trying to stay alive, which meant keeping on their flag football flags on.

From the start, like in the Hunger Games books, a few died quickly, many scattered and some came away with the supplies. But you were never quite sure why or when the supplies would matter, that would come later as the Gamemakers (Selena and crew) changed the game. As the game progressed, we received text messages from the Gamemakers telling us if they were entertained new rules.

One memorable rule change, at some point when the deaths were not stacking up quickly enough, was all participants had to gather in the center of the Cornucopia ring, link arms with a fellow player, and then the Gamemakers unleashed the kids to pull away as many flags as they could in a minute.

It was intense and exhausting, since the way to win was to get everyone else’s flags and that meant a lot of running and chasing, or being chased. I found myself being chased a lot, and one time, when Selena changed the rules to make my specific flags worth triple points. I’m pretty sure all the players in the game were running after me at top speed at once.

In the end there was a winner, our friend Jason, and a tie for second between our friend Joe and my brother Jeff.

Thanks to everyone who came out to play today in the cold and the mud, and special thanks to Selena and Beth for putting this fun event together.

Here are photos from the event:

Gathering supplies from the Cornucopia

You have to watch your back when organizing your supplies

Attack of the Kids

Tired from the chase but having a blast

The winners of Hunger Games

The participants in the Hunger Games

Everyone dies in Hunger Games

On January 2nd, Selena and I were in Egypt and she regretting that we were not home to celebrate her father’s birthday.

On January 26th , the day after Chinese New Year, Selena brought up that we really should get together with her family again that night, ... [ more ]]]>

Happy Birthday Dad... again.

On January 2nd, Selena and I were in Egypt and she regretting that we were not home to celebrate her father’s birthday.

On January 26th , the day after Chinese New Year, Selena brought up that we really should get together with her family again that night, to celebrate her father’s birthday.

Today, February 11th, I logged onto Facebook, and received a note to not forget that it’s (my father-in-law) Eddie Kang’s birthday.

What’s going on here?!?

At the current rate, my father-in law is due to have 21 more birthdays this year.

Ten years ago, today, the park opened to the public – and I was there. I toured the park for the umpteenth time that morning, not bothering with any of the rides or shows; I had done them all dozens of times pre-opening, but watching ... [ more ]]]> Happy 10th Birthday Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Ten years ago, today, the park opened to the public – and I was there. I toured the park for the umpteenth time that morning, not bothering with any of the rides or shows; I had done them all dozens of times pre-opening, but watching the faces of the families and youngster and Disney die-hards as they explored the new park. That afternoon, I took to my Safari truck and drove my first series of trips through the Kilimanjaro Safari now with real paying customers on board. “Jambo everybody and welcome to the Kilimanjaro Safari…”

The months I spent down in Disney, working on the Animal Kingdom opening team are some of the most memorable of my life. Partially because it was so different than anywhere else I lived and anything else I have done that they are such clear memories. Beyond that, because it was such a break from normality I can sort all my college days’ memories into pre-Disney or post-Disney era (which all is the final months of the pre-Selena era. I like thinking in terms of eras.)

But beyond being a string of great memories, working at Disney was a great education. Disney stressed customer service and seeking ways to make sure the guests are getting the best experience possible. These teaching sunk in, and are still impacting me today. My current profession, user experience designer, (kind of a niche subset of “web designer”), involves making sure the web sites we build make sense and will work for our users. This is a direct carryover of making sure that the Disney guests had the best experience possible while on myride, in my park – Animal Kingdom.

Selena planned a weekend for the two of us for my birthday. I still only know a very limited number of details, only that I had to get over this flu and dress comfortably. ... [ more ]]]> I’m trying something unprecedented here, liveblogging on my iPhone while out enjoying my surprise birthday weekend getaway.

Selena planned a weekend for the two of us for my birthday. I still only know a very limited number of details, only that I had to get over this flu and dress comfortably. More to come.

9:45 – Selena gave me a gift as the drive began, I unwrapped this tin to find a well-designed piece of paper with a series of letters spelling a location: RYSDNAIEV.

10:12 – The anagram does not spell Sad Vinery, Ansy Drive or SDN Aviery.

10:43 – We’ve been travelling deep into central Virginia, it looks like we are heading to Montpelier.

10:54. – No Montpelier, still can’t get this anagram.

11:12 – It’s VINEYARDS! We’re going on a wine tasting tour.

12:00 – First stop was Barboursville. This place was everything I would expect a winery to be. Tried 13 wines, bought two bottles.

12:43 – Selena packed a wonderful picnic lunch of cheeses, crackers, fruit and bread. Had our first picnic on the grass by the Barboursville ruins.

1:20 – Doubled back to Horton’s because they were known for great fruit wines.

1:34 – People very friendly, but facility disappointing. Bought two fruit wines. Heading down towards Charlottesville.

Had to switch iPhones, minedied, using Selena’s now. BTW typos are result of iPhone miscorrecting, not too much wine.

3:00 – Arrived at Oakencroft near Charlotteville only to find it closed on weekdays. Boo! It took a lot of time to get here.

3:39 – Arrived at Kings Family Winery, wow is this area of the country beautiful.

3:58 – Having a post-tasting picnic on the open patio at King Family. Bought a bottle. There is a large group of JMU students sharing a few bottles put here and playing frisbee. Why didn’t we have classy places to go like this around our college?

4:13 – Ear infection been plauged with all week starting to irritate as we go up and down the mountain road to Veritas winery.

4:24 – Veritas is gorgeous too. This was on our list of potential wedding destinations last year. It could have worked for sure (still like where we were more). Bought two bottles.

5:12 – Thanking Selena for a wonderful day of wine tasting.