Little by little

So we are getting there. Still some boxes left to unpack but Erin is doing great job of getting us organized. I don't know what I will do if she gets a job; I will have to learn to be self-sufficient again.

After having several things not work (phone, dsl, microwave, washer) when we moved in, we now have but one hurdle left to clear. The hook up for the washer is 82 inches from the floor, meaning it will not work with our washing machine. We have a plumber coming tomorrow to see if he can rig something. Otherwise, we may have to buy some new appliances, which would not only be costly but a big hassle. But what is moving if not a hassle?

Went to dinner with my cousin Emily and uncle John on Monday. Awesome to see them both. Best I can remember, last time I saw Emily was in Tahoe -- maybe 1994? Good to catch up. There is a photo evidence of the visit, will post soon.

It's a BOY

My brother Brian, who lives with his lovely family in Poland, welcomed a new member early Wednesday morning.

As you can see below, once Agata went into labor, Stan was anxious to make his way into the world.

Congrats and thanks for making us aunts once again.

P.S. How soon until I can teach him about football? I was already tutoring Bella on the safety at 12 days.

Stanisław M. Burns
Born 2:35 a.m. (in a record breaking 1 hr and 45 minutes) - AGATA has talent!
3.3 kilograms = 7.3 pounds
54 cm = 21.3 inches

Mission accomplished

A week later, we are back in CT.

Thanks to two strong movers, all the stuff that used to be MI is now in MD and will soon be here. Monday is the final chapter of moving day (at least in terms of physically getting our stuff to Farmington).

I will try and post some photos of the empty house, which Erin took for the scrapbook, and the new house in the near future.

Sorry we didn't see more people while we were back but moving is a ton of work.

Special thanks to Nate for taking our awesome air hockey table. Have fun with it.

Ready for the cold

I am heading back to Michigan to collect our things this week. Erin is already there and Katie safely at her new vet where they boast spacious three-level kitty condos.

We will be around Birmingham for a week. Sadly, if you want to see us, Sunday night might be it for socializing. (Maybe Monday, too.)

The movers will be keeping us pretty busy the rest of the week. Feel free to stop by and pack a box.

P.S. The reports seem to suggest it will be colder there than it has been here. Yes! (Five claps)

Coming full circle

So sitting on the news desk at ESPN a story came across about a kid from Fernley, Nev., who told his peers he would be attending Cal on a full-ride football scholarship next fall.

My radar might have gone up early on this one. As a former Reno Gazette-Journal prep writer, I knew no kid from Fernely ever earned a DI scholarship right out of high school -- not in any sport, NEVER.

It turned out this kid hadn't either. He made the whole thing up. The elaborate lie is detailed in this column.

How sad is it when a kid has to make up a scholarship? He clearly had this hoax going for awhile and must have felt a lot of pressure to come through. How much could his parents have been involved his life? They never even talked to the coaches who were supposedly going to take care of their son for the next four years?

What might be even sadder is this story went national. Now a kid who had a dream is being scorned or pitied, not just in northern Nevada, but by sports fans across the country.

More proof of how easily sports can get out of control. Good luck to Kevin Hart; he is going to need it.

Too good to be true

There has been much debate this week about whether Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time or simply the antichrist. I used to think the latter was true. That's based on the fact he went to Michigan, has won three Super Bowls and dates supermodels. (The maize and blue thing, in my book, is enough to prove that someone is evil.)

But then I read this. It makes Brady seem like a hard-working guy who rose to this level because he had soemthing to prove.

Regardless of your opinion of Brady, it's a pretty good read.