Headline: Boys Caught Sharing in Photo

Newport, KY. A mother discovered her two young boys sharing a bag of cereal on her front porch this morning. She claims she did not tell the boys to share, but rather it was their idea. This act of sharing appears to be spontaneous and joyful.

"I had no idea this was going on." said Kelly Russell, the boys' mother. "I immediately grabbed my camera as I knew no one would believe me."

Russell claims the three year old, Bode, discovered a Ziploc bag of Raisin Bran left on the entry way table by her husband, the boys' father. Excited, Bode showed it to his brother, Mac, five years old. Bode then asked his mother if he could eat it on the porch, according to Russell.

"I simply said yes. When Mac decided to join him, frankly, I expected to hear arguing and whining about the cereal," Russell said. 

Russell says that while she has attempted to teach her boys to share, and even punished for not sharing, she has never witnessed anything like this.

"I could hardly believe my own eyes. I mean, I tend to be open-minded about stuff like this -- Bigfoot, Loch Ness and the like. But I never thought I would see it with my own eyes." 

Authorities say they have no reason to disbelieve Russell's story at this point. A statement released claims: "This appears to be an act of spontaneous, joyful sharing between two brothers. While the investigation continues, so far no evidence has been found to prove otherwise." Russell says she can wait. 

"I was a skeptic until today. I know what I saw."

Fans of the Game!

this was the photo on the jumbo-tron at the Reds game yesterday as David and Mac Russell were declared "Fans of the Game!" 

i've always wondered what the "Fan of the Game" wins. turns out nothing... except seeing yourself on the jumbo-tron which, as i consider it, is maybe a something. 

from the backseat...

mac: "bode, you're a big tree with bologna sandwiches hanging from it!"

bode: "oh yeah, mac? well, yer baptized! yer BAPTIZED, MAC!"

my dad

september 1978. i was 5 and my dad was 1 month away from his 30th birthday. snapping this shot is the fancy timer on my dad's new Nikon. photography was his newest hobby. i suspect he picked the Nikon brand b/c of paul simon.

this was a time when it was just me and my dad. i was living a tough life for a little kid, but i didn't know it. my dad made our life an adventure. he made simple things fun and i never for a single minute wondered if he loved me. we camped a lot, ate dinner out of cans and saw a lot of movies. he gave me a tambourine and played his guitar singing songs like "Sister Golden Hair" and "Margaritaville." he took me to see plays at Actor's Theater and we always arrived early enough to have a drink in the bar. i wore dresses and ordered Shirley Temples. 

since i became a parent, i have often reflected on my childhood, wondering how my dad did it -a 20-something bachelor with a little girl to raise. people looked at us and scratched their heads, asking "where is your mother?" i didn't know we weren't a "normal" family. 

i think we parents sometimes fear our kids are going to wake up one morning and say, "you don't know what you're doing, do you. i mean, it occurred to me this morning over my fruit loops that you are winging this whole deal and you haven't got a clue." 

i rest in the fact that this cereal moment never happened with me. my context was "dad's got this." i believe that's a gift from God - blind trust from our children. it's good. i don't always deserve it, but i will always receive it. 

he'll be 60 this year. wo. in the 35 years i've known him, i've never seen anything about him that says he's perfect. but he has been the perfect dad for me. and if you know me, you know how much i love talking about him. i've had my turn. now it's yours... 

what's so great about your dad?

a bittersweet farewell

our friends, kim and shane, are moving away today. they only moved to cincy from dallas a year ago. and now they're off oklahoma to work at a ranch for boys that need just the kind of love kim and shane are made to give. our time with them has been short, but our friendship will be eternal. sappy, but true. 

i'm excited for them, but sad to see them go. 

my feelings are best expressed through the one-hit wonder band Double You's all-time 90's classic...

making history

seriously, people. i don't care who you are, politically or otherwise... this is what we call "making history." 

my sons come from a bloodline that began through a "transaction" between a black slave that stole a ham from the master's smokehouse and an irish indentured servant that wanted the ham for her family. Gus Russell was the result of that "transaction."

i encourage you to put your political views aside today (or forever) and simply appreciate this historical moment. 

title: the big weekend was super fun! subtitle: i survived without krissy's shoes... barely

what a sweet anniversary surprise. 11 years... wo.

this is the sitting area of our room at 21C. just kidding. this is the lobby. 

the rooms include 42 inch flat screens and iPods. ours also had chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us with our turn-down service. the cocktails pictured were delicious shaken margaritas of which we had many in the Proof bar. 

the bathroom came with our very own attendant.

davidrussell bumped into some friends.

ABOTR

ok, so why in the world would i go to Abbey Road on the River, a 3-day Beatle tribute festival? well, i do love the beatles. and i do love to sit outside, drink beer and listen to live music. but mostly, i just love my dad... and hanging out with my dad.

the music is super, and also just being there is entertaining. there are lots of "normal" people, and also other "types" such as: 

a. people who want to be the beatles. these folks are dressed up like various beatles from various beatle seasons, i.e. i saw a few Sgt. Pepper Ringos and one Yoko. seriously, this chick was short and asian and had the whole "short-hair with sunglasses" Yoko look going. she even looked kind of mad. i felt as those if she suddenly demanded something of me, i would instinctively do it. 

b. people who decided at some point during the 60's, "i found my best life and i'm staying." these are the people that appear as though they have dressed "the part" for the festival, but... oh, wait a minute...  that's how they really dress. lots of tie dye and hair and i find myself wondering, where do you go when you're not here? like, do you where that to work? i like to refer to these people as "festival people." festival people are people who seem to be prepared at all times to attend a particular type of festival should one break out. there are many types, i.e. 60's music festival people, renaissance festival people, reggae, civil war reenactment, and so on. 

anyway, 5 stages spread out along the Belvedere featuring beatles tribute bands from all over the world. we watched bands from puerto rico, germany and canada.  my dad and i (and erin) have done this festival together before and it's sort of becoming a memorial day weekend tradition. this is the first year davidrussell and the boys came with us. here are some pics...

kids always find good seats.

of all the beatles albums, mac and bode prefer Abbey Road. saturday on the lawn stage, they had an album theme going. when we arrived and "set up camp," they announced the next band. "everyone welcome to the stage Savoy Truffle from cincinnati! we'll continue our beatle album tribute as they bring us Abbey Road." (what?!) accident? i think not.

so the boys got comfortable and listened to their favorites, "oh darlin'," "octopus's garden," and mac's song - "here comes the sun."

yep, that's my dad. i love that guy. 

"i'd like to be... under the sea..."

super weekend. here's some good news- sometimes weekend plans and family visits actually happen like you hope or even better. the weather is perfect, the marriage is loving, the kids behave, there's a little money around, and family relationships are working. sometimes it's easy and real. i not only appreciate when these instances happen, i receive them as promises of what's to come.