Picketts 4.0 officially released!
Ella Mackenzie Picketts
April 15, 2008 - 7:44 am
Clinica Abel Gonzalez
Special thanks to: Tamara Frankenburg, Jacobo, Juan Carlos Toral, Thom & Pam Pelliccia, to name only a few...

lots more needed here but this will do to get you started...

relaxing with dad

Ella - age 5 minutes (she doesn't look a second over 4)

Picketts 4.0 - the much anticipated release.

More will come soon, as you can likely imagine i have a little bit of footage from this event, so stay tuned.

phew! I really didn't think i was going to get this post finished in time - but it is here and its going up.

I didn't want the release of Picketts 4.0 to happen before an incredible spring break we had with Jeff, Debbie, April and Eric in Cabarete was duly documented. It was relaxing super fun and so great to be together.

As for life back in the capital we had some contractions last Friday which vaulted us into "full ready mode," the bags are packed and the cell phones are never far away. That said we are enjoying the last days with the three of us, full nights of sleep, and watching the excitement in Oliver build around his baby sister. Karli's belly gets lots of kisses each night before bed.
I am slammed at work and trying to get ahead before the arrival - how does it feel like i am falling further behind?

some more random footage from the last couple of weeks. 4 more working days until Semana Santa! i think i can i think i can i think i can...

Mom left Ollie and i for a weekend with the girls. I nice quiet boys weekend at home? Not for these two. He was jarred from sleep at 3:30 in the morning, thrown into a truck and then driven three hours to the best surf break on the north coast. There he watched the Master of the Ocean competition (cool video on the site, i tried to get some footage of the surfing but just don't have the zoom). After a breakfast we checked into the hotel, i almost went down while putting Ollie in for his nap; in the end however it was simple, if i wasn't going to kite why was i putting us both through this ordeal. It took one second on the water to feel on top of the world again. Had a nice long session on the reef while Abel and Ollie napped and had a short session on Sunday.
This kid is amazing to put up with me, i am so lucky.

long overdue but what can i say - February is a busy month in our family. Since Ollie's celebration the Hughes came for a visit (pic), there has been a full lunar eclipse, i have been down south into true Dominicana on a mind-blowing solo kitesurfing adventure, we pulled one over on Karli for a baby shower, i got older, so did Karli, and independence day was celebrated - not bad really. Does kinda leave you wanting a nap though.

And i have more good news. Karli has promised to write about Ollie's birthday here on this blog! When i started this i wanted it to be a family collaboration of thoughts, images and writing and this is the first step in that direction. There is no doubt her re-count of such a great day will force you to wonder why you ever read any of my drivel, but until she gets it written here are some moving images to keep you entertained.

as promised:

so gorgeous...

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Happy Valentines Day!

I love my wife more then i could possibly express to you - and i love that she is gullible and always ripe for the surprising - got her good this morning with this painting.

This video started out as an attempt to thank the Great Grand Parents who (as always) were very generous over the festive season. We were able to re-do Ollie's room - and Diego-a-size it. He loves it, and we will let you all know how the big boy bed goes. In the end, the video ended up as some random videos from around the house, enjoy:



Can you believe he will be 2 on Saturday?!?! It is absolutely mind-blowing and i guess time just does fly when you are having fun. We would love for you to come to his fiesta which will be nice and mellow, poolside:





Karli making valentines for Ollie's class.
I know that i owe you all belly shots, and i have taken them - i just don't have the files here - stay tuned.

part three finally!

of course since Canada we have had a bunch of stuff going on including a long weekend in Cabarete, back to school, birthday parties, end of semester, hours of pool time, ...and we are all excited around the growing belly!
more pictures will come soon.

The long awaited release of Christmas part deux has come: Christmas in California. Click below to see the release which includes Ollie's first nudes! Thanks to our whole California based support crew for the fantastic times.

The final episode of the Christmas trilogy will be out soon, until then keep fit and have fun!

Christmas 2007 Version 1.0
edicion: la republica dominicana

disfurta

December is upon us, i know this because it seems we are busy every night! Concerts, plays, parties, the works - it is great to be so busy, but at times exhausting. Lots has happened since i was here last, most notably a visit from Kristi, Kristen and Geoff that will be documented when i can get to the pics from our time in Cabarete (they're in Cali). We are excited to only have one more week of work before seeing family and hope to see you as well over our break.

This is the best time of year here; weather is gorgeous and not too hot, it is comfortable to go outside to run, walk or even a little ultimate (of course never forget your Cheerios or Wynnee):

"left? right? they work better this way"

Granny and Boppy were here for their annual fall visit and it was truly wonderful to see them, as usual they spoiled us entirely and gave Karli and i twenty-four hours just the two of us.
The jury is still out as to whether or not Ollie realized we were gone.



The slick baby blue shirt in this video was worn by me thirty years ago! Looks good on him doesn't it.

Geoff and Kristen arrived to Cabarete yesterday and the word is that the relaxing has begun. Kristy's plane should be hitting the ground any second now and we will be eating together tonight.

We are truly spoiled.

i am falling behind so some of these may be coming rather quickly, try not to miss any as they are some of my better jobs.

in other news: if you know of a way for me to make money making movies of my son, please let me know - i like it more than working.

I have great photos and clips of pumpkins becoming jack-o-lanterns, Karli's extremely successful Author's Cafe at school and the OPP being...well himself - it would be ignorant however to post these. The Dominican Republic is hurting right now; after a week of natural power the likes of which i have never seen, we hope that all of the island who have suffered such tremendous loss will find a way to persevere and carry on.


this is a better video then i could make with my limited pictures.

Thankfully our house, family and friends are fine but we will be reaching out to try and help those who were not so fortunate.

You had to know i would give you a little sumtin':

you won't believe it but its true, these were all just single takes.



If you didn't watch the video i am not telling you...

-despite the confusion that the video may portray we won't know the sex of number two for another eight weeks.

forgot about this one (taken on a friend's camera last week some time).

happy holidays...

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving, i find myself missing Canada, more this year then i ever remember in any of my previous years abroad. Lots of reasons i am sure. Starting with the family and the friends that we have there and the turning of summer to autumn.

This weekend i went shopping with Oliver, the worst part of living in a country that doesn't have a harvest celebration such as Thanksgiving (October or November) is that ... and i swear this is true - we were listening to Silent Night and other carols while we shopped! Now i am no Grinch, but October 6th?? No lie, the odd house has their lights up and i even heard a firecracker in the distance ensuring that Christmas must be right around the corner.

well this post has been mulling around in my head for a week now but here it goes.

So last weekend we were invited to a child's third birthday party, it is exciting to meet people who live outside of our tight little international teachers world and we gratefully accepted. Then i found out it was at McDonald's. Now i remember with excitement Thursday nights of my childhood, when dad had late office and mom took us to MickeyD's after our piano lessons, those were the good ol'days. However, as i aged and read the likes of Naomi Klein and her like-minded friends i grew to think differently towards everyone's favorite redheaded clown; and the machine that Ronald represents. I don't eat there, and whenever i do i regret it. Then came along the likes of Super Size Me and Fast Food Nation - books and films i love. When i traveled i loved that i could find a McD's anywhere in the world and be guaranteed a free, clean bathroom without having to spend a dime.
All this considered, i wasn't thrilled at the idea of taking Oliver to McDonald's. However my beliefs are my beliefs, he will develop his own in his life. We won't make a habit of going; yet, we already live overseas, without a TV...what can i say, i don't want him to be the weird kid - not for my beliefs anyway.



Seeing the child marketing machine that is McDonald's from another lens was a heck of a trip; but at the end of the day - and i do mean this...you really can't beat their soft ice cream cones:

last weekend was a long one here in the DR so we went to Cabarete. The weather was wonderful, the ocean was super flat and Saturday was windy. We stayed with friends right on the water and enjoyed hanging out, kayaking and relaxing. I really do love it there, even when there isn't wind.
Our days started with a trip to the bakery to get pastries and coffee before coming back for breakfast and then the relaxing began...pausing only to cook and prepare food before the relaxing resumed, la vida buena.
Work is still killing me but it really is amazing how a little time in the sand and on the water can give you the necessary perspective on life.
pics: (left) Aidan introduces the OPP to the wonderful worlds of cars, (above) Ollie discovers that the only thing better then one sun bed is ten sun beds! (below) a long weekend can really wear a guy out.

My Camera is on the fritz...but the real excuse is simply work - it has been killing me! - apologies

Here is a picture of the OPP on his first day of school, yup lots to get you caught up on ...but today i don't have the the time; apologies. Let me just say these few statements:
mom cried more then niño on day one (to be expected), his teachers say he is doing wonderfully, he is learning Spanish, meeting new friends and is so happy to see me when I get him on my lunch it washes away the hesitation that i had.


I am so incredibly behind here i could never get you caught up. Here is July in Cali:


From there we went to Cabarete for three incredible weeks of family, surf, sand and of course wind, we treated our nanny and her son to a couple of days there. Incredible to believe that as someone who has lived their entire life on this island it was her first time to the beach. She doesn't like sun, the ocean or pools and has simply never had the opportunity - it felt good to give her and her son the experience (even though they still think we are weird). It was stark reminder of how lucky we are...

here are some shots:



Our school is doing a celebrity read campaign and our favorite monkey was invited to participate:

well, its official summer is underway, gracias a dios.
I am in the airport returning from a conference in Washington D.C., and thought i would take a minute and write about our summer thus far:
We have all read or heard stories told about incredible feats done under the highest stress; our summer started in such a way. No Karli didn’t lift a car above her head to free a trapped husband underneath (again); but through a whirlwind of indescribable activities and incredible fortune we packed luggage for the three of us for our six weeks off of the island in…seven minutes.
As much time as i am given i will never be able to thank Sr. Sanchez for his help – thank-you.
As an opening omen, i was scared for what this dubious beginning meant for our summer. Thankfully, it has been far different from where it began. Ian and Liz are officially wed; the entire day was incredible, fun and gorgeous – like them. It was outside at a summer camp, really relaxed and as the natural light filtered through the deciduous forest onto them they were married at the head of the campfire. Truly breathtaking – i was lucky they are so relaxed – because the first thing we discovered neglected in the packing mayhem: the shirt I was going to wear to the wedding. The party started right away, the speeches were great and then just as the party was about to kick into high gear…the power went out. Done. Not with this crew; each of Liz’s two younger brothers (both percussion students) picked up drums, the guy behind the small kit on stage followed suit. The forty-five minute drum circle dance that ensued honestly left me speechless and is one of my all-time wedding highlights.
Ian and Liz went honeymooning on Sunday but we stayed on the Huron’s shores to celebrate Fathers’ Day with Boppy, Granny, Jeff, Deb, April and Eric. We were having so much fun we actually stayed until Wednesday. A, E, D & J had the idea and the time off so we got the cousins together and watched them play, laugh and slide for three days – it was really magical. i sailed three times which were my first Canadian kitesurfing experiences – really fun too with a lot of good people. Someone told me last night that kiting is the fastest growing sport in the world right now…I am scared what that will do to the crowds. From there we went back to Brantford and saw some people and were spoiled by Evelyn and her never ending arsenal of sweets and foods. We tried to buy Manu Chao tickets, but the sold out show was demanding a 300% increase on tickets even after the show started. We took what would have been one ticket at those rates and got an incredible dinner before heading back to B-ford. Ian and Liz returned Friday in time for a family celebration, in honor of Grandma’s NINTIETH birthday! She is as young, beautiful and frisky as ever, sometimes Ollie has trouble keeping up to her but he has 88+ years to practice! We played lots of Frisbee golf, swam, went to the sand dunes on Lake Erie, laughed, talked and hung out with Ian and Liz unsure of when our paths would cross next; but looking forward to the day it happens.
Flying to DC for the conference i am currently returning from really cut it to our time in Canada and has made short visits with family and with friends; it has made seeing some of them simply impossible. 2 new children of friends, 1 more arriving in the fall, 2 stags and a wedding all missed
I guess this is the life i have chosen but, sometimes it really sucks.


Returning to Canada i got to see the new Dufferin – now located at Howland and was duly impressed with the neighborhood that Jeff and Greg are calling home. Friday with hopes of beating long weekend cottage bound traffic we left early, finding out quickly that it was a national day of protest for Canada’s indigenous and that traffic would be slow, it was, but the conversation wasn’t and before too long we arrived at Bobby’s Cottage for some hilarious extremity through bocce, croquet, cranium, poker and taco eating. Bobby has the Moosehead belt for this year, but Karli is already practicing. We returned on the 1st in time to see some fireworks and spent Monday golfing and then poolside with family, before beginning to contemplate how we were going to transport our ever expanding bags to San Francisco, thankfully we had more then seven minutes to pack!

no music as i don't have mp3s on this machine, but this video has some great images from our first few weeks of summer: