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So it's been a while again. Maybe one day I'll get back into this whole blog thing. I did get a new Nikon D80 so I will be posting new stuff on my Flickr site soon.

See ya.

So... yeah. I noticed I have not posted anything for... oh... a while. Well, if I may... let me fill you in on all the things that have made my life a little bit busier as of late.

First off. As of yesterday, June 19th... we are an official corporation. ARS (Architectural Rendering Studio) is now in full effect. We received our letter from the Secretary Of State giving us our very own federal ID number and authority to conduct business in the state of South Carolina. Woo Hoo!!! Over a year of thought and business planning is finally a reality. We have more than enough work already and haven't needed to advertise once. "Thank you Lord!!!" So, 40 plus hours a week as a project manager at Narramore Architects in Greenville and starting a business in the evenings... we've been pretty busy.

On an even more exciting note... our sweet little boy, Andrew, who is now 26 mos. old, is going to be a big brother. We found out last week that we are pregnant!!!! Beck is around 6 weeks and is feeling great. A couple mornings where she did not want to get out of bed... but for the most part... she is doing well. On top of that... My brother and his wife are pregnant as well. The girls are two days apart and we should be expecting the little additions around Valentines Day 2008.

...and finally, we tackled a home renovation that took a good bit of my time. We added a 600 square foot deck on the back of our house. We spend a great deal of time in the back yard running, playing, living and relaxing and felt the need to tear down the 15 year old deck that was there and design and build a new one. We've got some other little things we are going add to the back yard over the summer, but for now... Check it out.

So... other than that... it's been a pretty quiet place. I have a ton of pictures that I will soon be adding to my Flickr page. Check back soon.

Peace.

So... tonight, Beck and I went to the 6:00 service. Perry, our pastor, had shared a story he experienced at Waffle House. As soon as he said, "Waffle House" Beck and I looked at each other, raised our eyebrows and nodded our heads. We both knew exactly what the other was thinking... Waffle House. Mmm bring it. So after church... we ended up at the greasy spoon. We sit down, ordered, got my coffee, got our food and our waffles. It was a typical dinner until I over hear the conversation at the table behind me. I somewhat assumed the family sitting there was not too bright considering the amounts of "dun-did-it's and dang-O's" I heard. Surprisingly I did not hear a "gitter done". Anyway... not to be eavesdropping... I just couldn't tune out the distinct Bo Duke style word pronunciations. So, what kind of advice does this father give his young boy....? I believe the advice went something like this.... "Boy you better stop reading them books like that. You gonna become so book smart... you gonna be stupid in everyday life." And if the little boy did not get it the first time... daddy repeated it twice. I crooked my head slightly to the left and smiled with tight lips... as if I were simply pondering the amazing deep thought and wisdom this father just shared with his young son. ...Bravo. (golf clap)

So, the father of the year award goes to...!!! None other than...... Waffle House Dad!!!! Great advice for us all to consider.

Thanks Waffle House Dad.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Greenville? Well... I love it. There. Arriving in Greenville is sometimes the only thing that keeps me coming back to my office. Well... that, and that little slip of paper that comes around monthly with a dollar sign and a signature. But otherwise... Greenville is a beautiful city. I feel pretty blessed that I work two blocks from main street and around 3 to 4 times a week I try to take a walk. I always have my Canon SD100 with me because I love it as well. It's small and extremely versatile. But any who... I took a walk today. The weather was perfect. Here are just a few places I saw along my walk.

By the way... one of the most beautiful churches in Greenville... Sandy Gibbes is getting married there. It is an amazingly peaceful place. I have had many a quiet time sitting on the old benches among the weathered stone faces.

1.) "An evening in the ER can really change your plans for the night."
Last night at dinner... Andrew somehow was able to push himself so hard away from the table that he fell backwards, chair and all, and slammed is little noggin against the floor with enough force to rattle the wine bottles on the rack. So... after a couple "direct" calls to some of the doctors in the ER (being an ER nurse defiantly has it's benefits) we were told, " it would be best if you came in... just to have him checked out." The ER had a 6 hour wait... just to be seen. Not for us. After a quick CT Scan of little buddies melon... a diagnosis of, "head harder than the floor" (technical terms here)... we were out in under 3 hours. I think his big curls cushioned the fall.

2.) "Any kind of habanero sauce that the only words that are in english are, "XXXXTRA HOT" and "Mayan Recipe".... it's safe to say... don't try it."
Don't ask how I know that. I'm just glad I wore deodorant today. I did not realize with a pea size drop I could turn an innocent can of "Chunky Beef Stew" into molten hot liquid magma. You ask, "did it burn your mouth...?"

.... it destroyed my mouth.

3.) "Hand Painting Art is pretty cool."
Check it out.

4.) "When you show your love and effection to your spouse every day of the year... there is no preasure to make it all up on Valentines Day."

When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it's not, mmmmmmm, boy.

Jack Handy

As I sit here at my desk illustrating... I see out of my window and low and behold... the Circus in in town. That's right, The Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus. Right outside my window. How lucky could a guy be. I see the Snake Lady... there's Monkey Boy... the 900lb Man... I think I see the two headed midget... not real sure... he's kinda little. Oh... Alligator Girl and her friend Tattoo Man. Wow... it's not every day you get to see this from your desk. I mean... I work with a bunch of freaks... but this is awesome.

...ok... so Ringling Bros. does not have a freak show. But it would be cool if they did. They are hauling all their equipment into the BiLo Center for shows all this week.

... I am keeping my eyes out though. I would love a signature from Monkey Boy.

Recovering from the Holidays I have finally had a chance to uncover some photos taken with my family.

New Years Weekend with Mom and Dad Bamberg
The Price Family Chrismas & Hannahs 1st Birthday!!!!

So, for Christmas Beck gave me something that I have wanted... and somewhat needed for a long time. Storage space. No... she did not buy me a shed to go in the backyard... she bought me a 160gb Western Digital "My Book" external hard drive. It is awesome! I currently have three 40gb internal slave drives. One in each of my computers. So to be able to consolidate and maximize I now have one drive that will hold it all. Music, photos, projects, freelance work, graphic design... all of it. Woo Hoo!!!! Let the organization begin.

Now... my frustration does not lie in the gift. It lies in the "Giga-Tax". Why is it when I buy a 160gb drive I only receive 149gb. Did the government make this product? I mean it would make sense. When I receive my paycheck... I don't receive the full amount... I receive a check for a portion of what is truly earned... and the government takes a large portion without me ever seeing it. That's not a tax... That's a jack. So I guess my chief frustration is really called a "Giga-Jack" If the manufacturer knows they cannot create an accurate 160gb device... and the closest they can come without going over is 149gb... call it a 150gb. I can deal with loosing one gig of storage but eleven... Come on. Eleven gigs is a lot of space. Thats almost 10,000 pictures. 2,000 songs.

That's just a lot of information to be promised and not delivered.

We have had a wonderful time this Christmas. Becks Mom and Dad came down from the bitter colds of Wisconsin to celebrate on the south with the family. The mid-70's weather has made it a bit of a different Christmas being able to spend the days outside without a jacket or gloves. I'm not going to complain because I know the real winter weather will be here soon enough. My Mom and Dad come up to Anderson Christmas day to see us all and spend some great time as a family.

Here are some of the many pictures taken thus far to remember our Christmas 2006.