Coffee Dharma

Gilbert House

Yesterday I took our son to A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village.  For those not familiar with A.C. Gilbert, he was probably the greatest scientific toy inventor in American history.  He was born in Salem, OR (our town) and invented and created such toys as the Erector Set, American Flyer trains, the Atomic Energy Lab, and 150+ [...]

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Shared Pain

Yesterday was an interesting day. We started the day by going to the doctors for the kid’s shots.  When Kellen was a baby the shots process didn’t bother me much.  It’s not that I’m sadistic but I think the delayed pain reaction from him and the necessity of the shots just balanced for me enough that [...]

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Basic Training

Ah we have entered a new stage in the joys of parenting…          toilet training. There was a time when I assumed there was nothing much worse than the never ceasing changing of diapers.  The smells, monotony and disgust of the entire process were almost more than I could handle.  Of course that is something every parent [...]

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Papa Day

Fourteen years ago I would have laughed at the thought of being a parent.  My life was a cavalcade of haphazard adventures at that time.  I had embarked on a personal journey (physically and metaphysically) that would continue for the next decade.  With dozens of moves and discoveries I found myself farther and farther away [...]

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Soon The Sleep Will End

We have been excited and planning for this event in so many ways. The nursery has been converted to hues of pink and green with flowers a-plenty. The baby toys have been cleaned and gathered. The mountains of girly outfits have been washed, folded and organized for her coming. Now the [...]

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The First Halloween

Dressed in his full pirate regalia (maybe an homage to TFSM?) our son was let loose upon the unsuspecting populace to pillage and riot. This is the first year we have taken Kellen out for Trick or Treating and it was a success. We went to a local mall for ease. He quickly [...]

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Winter Summons

As the days are growing colder I am called back once again to childhood memories and impressions. I am captured by the memories of crisp evenings, the rustle of colored leaves, the excitement of elementary school Halloween parties, and the kaleidoscope of nature’s last fling before the long winter sleep. I see in my son [...]

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What’s In A Name?

As we are expecting our second child my wife and I have been trying to decide on names. Names are significant to me as the meaning and resonance are a powerful aspect of what a name is. I am proud of my own name and it has been a difficult decision to place [...]

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