Author: Ian Kennedy

  • Amtrak

    I’m writing this on the train ride from hell on the way home from a three day trip to Boston. I thought I’d be clever and take Amtrak because their high speed Acela trains have electric outlets so while viewing the New England coastline slip by I could catch up on my email backlog.

    Little did I realize how badly I would need that outlet – it’s now going on six hours and I’m still in Connecticut! Crying babies and a second engine change later and I thank the lord above that I brought my MD Walkman to keep me sane. My train is called the Silver Meteor – little did they realize how apt that name is – we’ve been crashing and burning our way south and are on our third engine.

  • Jury Duty

    My number’s finally come up – I’ve been summoned to appear at the Mercer County Court House to serve as a Petit Juror.

  • Julia

    Julia doesn’t quite have the card up the right way around but she was happy to get it.

    Thank you for the kind card Richard & Diedre!

  • Honda Cog

    Honda Cog

    I just can’t get over how amazing Honda’s “cog” commercial has been. It’s got to be one of the most linked to sites around, 2 minutes of pure analog fun. I read this took 600 takes to get it right.

  • Branch down

    Just yesterday had a 20′ branch come down off a tree in our front yard. We’re lucky no one got hurt or anything was damaged. Turns out the inside of the branch was eaten away by carpenter ants – insect guys coming over to check out our house and tree but I’m now worried that we’re going to loose an 80-year old maple that graces our front yard and provides shade from the hot summer sun.

  • Cruise Missile

    Amazing what folks can build in their garage these days. A fellow in New Zealand built a cruise missile which is certainly interesting but not really useful unless you have a serious grudge. I prefer the 100 lbs thrust pulse jet which has links to instructions on how to attachit to your go kart.

  • Philly

    We spent the day in Philadelphia today which is easier to get in and out of than NYC. Saw a children’s play at the Please Touch Museum and then caught a few laps of the USPRO Wachovia Classic cycling race.

    Later in the evening, our little hamlet put on lessons in Square Dancing in the local commons – city hall brought in a “caller” from Pennsylvania to get things started and instruct everyone how to “dozzie-do” and we all had a great ol’ time. Our version of a summertime bon-odori.

  • Hawaii

    Just got back from a week’s holiday in Hawaii where we met up with Izumi’s parents. Absolutely wonderful break from the craziness of work. Swam every day with the kids and flew (and lost) a kite with Tyler. Tiki torches at twilight, tropical fish and dolphins at the hotel lagoon.

  • Easter

    Easter at the Murtlands. Young Harriet and Julia look on like two Victorian matrons while Tyler compares his harvest.

    Izumi with Harriet, Julia and Tyler

    Easter Photos