purple dragons show

easter picts

Multicultural Day

The first annual multicultural day was a huge success. Marie sang "a mi burro" and Hayes hit the keyboard while hamming it up pretty hard.

Treasure Island

Every kid has visions of how they would handle their time on the famed Treasure Island. Hayes and Marie immediately took their clothes off.

Field Day at Rosedale

Marie and Sophie planned to wear red ahead of time.

shots for when I start a band

The power of intention

I had a strange desire to shove Max out this doorway and couldn't help feeling a little gulity when this building snuck up and stabbed him in the side. Sorry Max.

Breaking Away? or maybe Rad?

I can't quite put my finger on which 80's sports movie these two are auditioning for.

st patricks day

Looking for little men dressed in green we unconsciously headed to downton Chico, but feeling quite out of place surrounded by green plastic hats, t-shirts, and the smell of vomit-laced beer we headed for precious Bidwell park (just like Annie would have wanted).

quick trip to the snow

lost

We decided to get lost (one of the only known methods of seeing something new) and ended up laughing hysterically at a Yuba City park.

rosedale at dusk

xmas at home

I can think of few things more appealling being home to create your own holiday traditions.

Tahoe

Everyone loves Tahoe, especially kids and dogs.

turn it around lads

Just a gift to be part of these young boys' lives.

Gameface

To see your 5 year old sister lacing up her boots, shin guards securely wrapped under her game socks, her amiable demeanor narrowing into concentration, can only fill you with wonder and amazement. When she drops four goals on an unsuspecting group of colorful t-shirts and socks running around in circles you may consider lightening up on the pre-game pep-talk.

first day of school

Marie's first day of kindergarten; Hayes on the "big playground" in first grade: another bittersweet milestone.

Lots of funny faces

they could be your parents

The kids clean up nice en route to see their mother in Shakespeare in the Park's production of the Tempest. Hilary was fantastic and the entire play was very entertaining.

famous artist

Look for the How-to behind Marie's painting in the fall issue of Growing Up Chico available at many locations throughout Butte County.

resale value

We added a couple of backyard amenities. (note to parents: extra two hours free time per day)

Alarmed Robber

This guy wakes me up every morning.

aerial dance

Hilary and I took the kids out to see the show. for more info go here.

Beware of scare

Patrick's Point

We were able to get away to the coast and completely enjoy ourselves. Here are a few flicks:

dia de los immigrantes (si se puede)

I headed down to the capital for the rally/protest. White shirts stretched around the capital block. I didn't see Arnold but I did get some good shots. Here are a few:

goobye tighe, hello...

After 15 years of head and face hair Tighe decides he wants it off. (summer was safely in San Diego) He came over, the video camera came out, and the hair came off. Video footage to follow.

BobbleHead

fame and fortune be ours.
Direction and videography by M. Max Del Real

Exploring Sacramento

I grew up in Sacramento and find it inconvenient, growth ugly, and generally uninspired. Despite my prejudices I did a little exploring and found a few photos:

on language

My son has told me he knows six languages. They are English, Spanish, Italian, African, Salsa, and Yellow. English he knows because we speak that at home. Spanish he learns at school (he attends a Spanish immersion school where everything is taught in Spanish; math, sciences, literature, etc.) and he will trill his r's to prove it. Italian I have taught him a little of what I know. He learned an "African" word or two off of a movie he saw.

Salsa he first told me about a few years ago when I was trying to teach him Italian. I remember that I told him what the Italian equivalent for an English word, and then he asked me how I knew what it was in Italian. I told him that because I lived in Italy and practiced speaking the language with the help of some other people and terrific teachers, I knew how to say quite a few things in Italian. He began telling me what the Salsan equivalent to English words. He learned more by modeling me than but what I was actually trying to teach him. Instead of parroting the Italian words for me, he mastered the art of "I know something you don't know."

Salsa is spoken by the people of Salsi, an ancient civilization. It is now a dead language, like Latin. It is unclear how my boy has come to speak it despite the scarcity of present-day speakers, yet he can give you Salsan equivalents to just about any English phrase. He also knows Yellow, which was spoken by the people of Yellow, where everyone quite likes the color yellow and things which hold that particular hue. Yellow is also a dead language of an ancient civilization and I have never heard a word of it. I look forward to learning more about it and its particular peculiarities any in form.

I also remember that in high school my friends and I had a special language called The Language of Ong. I don't know who created it but I used it and recall it every so often to add interest at social gatherings. "Fong yu cong king yong oh yu!" was an Ongian expletive, "Dong yong long ay nong" was my name, and "Bong ee Cong ay rong ee fong yu long" meant Be Careful.

In honor of html, Ong, Yellow, and all the other languages of the world I have pledged to add one more language to the many. Here is my first poem about love in my new, as yet unnamed, language:

mamy wow saucedo indejain cod botocks.
inderigh tan deskirz.

Alan makes pens.

Alan makes pens. He puts his number on them. He calls me and I call him. His middle initial is D. Alan said he has a brother but he doesn't have a brother. He does have a friend. Jill works at US Bank. She hasn't forgotten about us. She's in California and likes tape dispensers to be black and utilitarian. She doesn't like lace and "things that have no reasonable purpose." She said that once to me, "I don't like things that have no reasonable purpose." I remember her saying that to me.

San Francisco treats us nice

sledding accident

chico parade

Just an average day of family fun in downtown Chico.

lil intern

this girl can paint.

trip to china

the smut photographer

Marie

Enough said.

Sf trip

We ate like royalty, saw a play and an art show, and had great conversation.

marlowe

we have a new team member.

Jack

videohunt

Videohunt was a huge success in its beta run through. I'm sure video will be available soon but until such time here is still from a resource gathering mission at the Safeway on Mangrove.

pedro the lion

Hilary likes to scare the kids.

Halloween 05

all the usual suspects.

A's game

I promised Hayes we could go to a game. He loved every minute of it.

She's a balla

sugar and spice and everything nice.

I love Blogs suck.

it's just an alternation between romantic and classic,
between heart and head, an alternation between purity and complexity.
that's the pattern of the world.

Television is highly educational.

But don't take my word for it. here is what Areyougeneric.com has to say:

Television sucks you in, evaporating your energy and diminishing your will to think. We sit limp and stare thoughtless in front of a box that never lets us disagree, interact, or talk back. We absorb the artificial, the fake -- corporate-sponsored News disguised as truth, the plastic sitcom disguised as vibrant life.

It is not a babysitter; it is not your best friend; it is not art; it is not exercise. Moderate your use. Turn it off to make time for loving, playing, painting, and reading. Trash your TV.

you know this already. it just makes sense. I know, I'm preaching to the crowd, but what gets me is that without fail I will be talking to you at a party and you will tell me that your life was just like Seinfeld.

animersary annival

In theory a new year upon us should mean little--after all it is an arbitrary milestone. But I can't help feeling that I've left something behind. Given something away that had become unnecessary. I am contented to be moving on.

Il etait une fois un arbre

Je ricorde 'L'arbre au grand coeur' par Shel Silverstein:

Il etait une fois un arbre
Et cet arbre aimait un petit garcon.

Chico es Grande?

Although I've lived in Chico for nearly six years I still feel like I am getting a handle on her. I think one of the things I want to explore with this site is my interpretation of location and its affect on the individual. I know that if we have a conversation using the same words and intentions in Lima, Peru or Chico, California or the library or a back alley house of massage that location will have a sizable affect on the conversation. What other implications does/can location have?

I assume you and I are friends

I have nothing really to say, but still wanting to share, I write to you and daydream of hanging out on a sofa in a well-lit room with magazines on the coffee table. Casual. Caring. Tea? Split the last beer into glasses maybe.

testing audio

isn't this romantic--all this sweet comforting technology.

I will never feel alone again. God is watching. I can feel it.