Denver Web Designer + New Dad Blog

Welcome 2009 Honda Civic LX

2009-06-15T21:20:00.003-06:00

At first, about a week ago, when we decided that we need to get another car, I thought, WOW that was SO easy! I did some research online with the different dealerships in the area, talked to a few salesman, did a little haggling and wah-la! new car. BUT NO! That is not how the story ended.

It turns out that if you want a Honda with 5 Speed Manual, you have to BEG and PLEAD and CALL BACK and CALL BACK. Then you have to wait a few more days. THEN you have bail on those dealerships and CALL TWO MORE.

That is what it took to get this car.

Christy had wanted the dark grey (Polished Metal). She said "This is my first NEW car, so I was hoping to get the exact one I wanted." After I thought about it - since we were going to go with our second color choice - because the first two guys we talked to could NEVER EVER seem to get the car they said they could - black - I thought, YES, YOU ARE RIGHT, we ARE going to get you the color you want.

So I called two other dealerships which I should have done in the first place, and FOUND THE CAR. They even matched my price from the previous dealership. Not only did we find the exact car, we found the best dealership and salesguy ever. Scott B from Mile High Honda.

He was no pressure, no smack. He had what he said he had. He delivered when he said he would deliver. As it turns out, this WAS the easiest car purchase I have ever had. It helps when you have OUTSTANDING CREDIT ( thanks wifey) and have already decided on the price + tax before you get there at 8:45am.

If you are in the market for new or used Honda or Acura, I highly recommend calling Scott Barr at Mile High Honda.

Oh and here is a pic from last week's rain.

Hail Yeah - or no!

2009-06-08T08:24:00.002-06:00

We had some serious hail yesterday. Probably the worst hail I have ever seen. It was jawbreaker/birds egg-sized. We have to call the insurance company to have our roof inspected and it looks like Fall in our neighborhood, as all the trees were shredded. Our garden is toast as well...poor Christy - with all her hard work.

This is from Saturday. I added a rock walkway 2/3 of the way around the garden to add definition and finally OWN the location. We have moved the garden boxes twice since moving to this house so I had to make a final decision. THEN the hail came.

Chillin' Wiener

2009-06-05T12:57:00.003-06:00

This po' boy ain't getting any younger so he needs to nap longer. I mean, he needs to nap in between naps more frequently. Gibson is now almost nine years old. I cannot believe it. But he is hanging in there. He is grumpier, and more testy, but can still hang with the young dogs running in the backyard. Heck, he can even still play a mean game of I'll Eat the Garden Veggies Before You Can Run Out Of The House And Yell At Me.

Christy has re-planted the broccoli, kale, and eggplant three times now. Someone is going to be banned from the yard in the next week or so.

Danny Gokey or David Gannon

2009-05-07T08:28:00.003-06:00

Wow, it has happened again. I have had numerous Tweeters and Facebookers respond to me saying how every time they see Danny Gokey on American Idol, they think of me. This is awesome for a few reasons. ONE: I have NEVER watched American Idol. TWO: The responders are all women - who think of me. THREE: You might recall my stories of being mistaken on many occasions as thelead singer of the Barenaked Ladies. Well, I am honored too, because usually when someone says "hey, i met someone or know someone or saw someone that looks like you..." that person usually is stocky, overweight and what i consider unattractive. But being compared to Danny Gokey, well, I am pleasantly honored.

Happy 16 Months, baby girl!

2009-03-27T10:35:00.001-06:00

Hadley is a whopping 16 months old today. Don't you just love those teeth? Believe me, there are many more where those came from too. She has at least 12 teeth now, but probably more but we can't get in there to check without losing a fingertip. She has a vocabulary of - well - A LOT of words, and I will make a list and post later. Now if she could just figure out how to rake the yard, we will be all set for Spring!

Pussy Willow budding

2009-03-23T22:17:00.001-06:00

The signs of spring are in the air...and in our backyard. This lovely 2-year old Pussy Willow has started to bud. I planted her two years ago from a sale at Home Depot for $1.50. I also got an Austrian Pine for like a buck. They both are doing well, but the Willow is doing much better in mature growth. I cannot wait to see how she turns out.

Path of Destruction and Economic Relief

2009-03-12T08:25:00.008-06:00

One. We took our big "Economic Relief" Concessions here at work. Yep, that's right. I am now working for $7,200.00 LESS per year - 5 days of unpaid vacation- and 5 furlough days. LOVELY. Talk about stepping back in time. I am not really criticizing the actions, I know that something needs to be done to offset these hard times, but it still hurts, and I am sure that Comcast and Xcel do not care - they will still want the same amount of money each month.

Secondly: In light of all the recent shootings/suicides:

FOR YOU PSYCHOPATHS THAT HAVE NO RESPECT FOR LIFE...and feel you were "wronged" by society, employers, parents, friends, etc...well, we have all been wronged. You are not alone. But we chose to think positive and not act selfishly.

Take yourself, NOT anyone else. Leave our kids and families OUT OF YOUR path of destruction.
You are selfish and need help. Thank you.

I LOVE social media

2009-03-09T12:58:00.003-06:00

In the past few weeks, I have been doing a lot of soul searching with Facebook, Twitter, and blogging.
I declared that I was taking a much-needed break from Facebook, which, I do believe did help, although my break only really lasted truthfully about three days. If you plan on stopping the use of Facebook, make sure you stop all email alerts, reminders, and contacts. Oh yeah, and don't really tell anyone you are stopping the use of Facebook. I found out the hard way which is why I only lasted three days. I have been on less that I used to, which probably makes my boss happy, but really it has enabled me to focus more on my web and print work, become less hyper, and attributes less to my ADD.

But, the fact is, I LOVE social media. I love what his has done for our communication levels on personal and business basis. I like that you do not feel as alone and you actually feel MORE compelled and less guilty telling someone ( EVERYONE ) about a new product, idea, thought, or belief. I love that information is passed so rapidly that you do not miss certain bulletins from news outlets, or tech companies. and, I love that I find about what cute thing my daughter did at the same time the rest of you do....IF you follow my wife @allbeehive on twitter.

I have stopped using Facebook

2009-02-11T15:27:00.002-07:00

I am boycotting Facebook for 2 months starting yesterday. Not because I do not like the Facebook concept and not because someone at Facebook offended me. But

if I read one more post that "someone"

... is tired
... is starting their day
.. .is at work
... is setting up at a coffeehouse for the day
... is in a meeting
... is ready for the weekend

I will split in two and never recover.

I may be taking this social part too seriously but I don't think so.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE social media. I love viral marketing.
But I cannot stand these useless pathetic postings about nothing.

I think Twitter and Facebook should now be used for spreading information. USEFUL information about services, products, news, technology, music, even style, culture and of course, business. BUT NOT that you are tired. That you have a headache. That you just burped ( well THAT is kinda funny ).

I am sorry to sound crabby or whiney. I do not mean to.

It is my choice to go on and read, so I am not blaming anyone specific...well sort of....but mainly I am blaming the culture that these small notes create.

It is back and still about ME ME ME ME ME ME. What about YOU? What about US? What about THEM?

Ok, I am off my soapbox. Facebook, I hope I do not miss you.

Love,
David

Heeth a Gooh Boy

2009-01-28T14:56:00.001-07:00

Most of the time. Gibson is still dealing with not-being-the-center-of-attention syndrome.

Word Camp 2009

2009-01-28T14:54:00.001-07:00

One of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me

2009-01-08T16:07:00.004-07:00

Thank goodness for blogs. FIL. yeah, he's a good guy.

Pottery Barn Hip Holidays - Vol. 2

2008-12-21T22:41:00.002-07:00

Reader Karen wrote to ask me if I would post the song list for Pottery Barn's Hip Holiday's Vol. 2 Christmas album.
Sure. Here you go, Karen. Happy "hip" holidays.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Billy May And His Orchestra

Winter Wonderland - Peggy Lee

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Dean Martin

Let It Snow! - Ella Fitzgerald

Jingle All The Way - Lena Horne

Christmas Night In Harlem - Louis Armstrong & His All Stars

Dig That Crazy Santa Clause - Ralph Materie & His Orchestra

You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch - Deanna Kirk

I'll Be Home For Christmas - Flipped Fedoras

Warm December - Julie London

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Lou Rawls

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Nancy Wilson

So this is what 41 looks like

2008-12-15T15:29:00.001-07:00

I turned 41 today. I actually feel more like 28 which is weird because at 28 I felt worse than I do now. I took a screenshot on my iphone at 12:15pm on 12/15/2008. Hee hee. Happy Day! Tonight we are going to Avenue Grill for my annual birthday dinner. I think we have done this for at least 8 years in different groupings.

Good times.

Busted! Under the Tree!

2008-12-06T19:41:00.001-07:00

We knew it wasn't going to be easy with Hadley's first "mobile" Christmas - tree, ornaments, decorations galore all over the house, so anytime you turn your back, she is walking under the tree pulling at the red balls on the fake garland i got from starbucks a few years ago. She was not happy about the pine needles poking her in the head - in this picture.

Santa....I KNOW him!

2008-12-05T12:17:00.001-07:00

Hadley got to meet Santa over the holiday weekend. We were in Yankton for Thanksgiving and her birthday when, while at the mall, there he was!

I was a little skeptical to introduce Hadley to Santa given my first time meeting him when I was a tike. Apparently I cried and cried. Hadley did WONDERFULLY! She just smiled and laughed. It was amazing. Thank you Santa!

Hadley's first snow...fall!

2008-11-30T15:37:00.001-07:00

I was so excited to see the fluffy snow on the ground when we rolled into town last night after a 9.5 hour tumultuous drive from Yankton, SD back to Denver....

Then this morning, more new fresh powder was falling. So I excitingly grabbed Hadley, put on her long johns, snow pants, sweater, new puffy pink hoodie vest thingy, and her new snowflake hat compliments of the Padricks. It was snow photo day, yay!!!! errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Not so fast Mister Christmas. Hadley was not into it AT ALL! I think she had icicles coming down from her eyes she was so upset.

It could have been that I plopped her in the snow too fast, or her long johns were itchy ( I remember those days), or that maybe she just doesn't like snow as much as her dad.

Sorry Hadders, but we will be doing another photo shoot very soon.

See Flickr for a few more highlights.

Turkey Legs are Yummy!

2008-11-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We are celebrating high on the hog with my parents and my sister's family. The housesitters are reporting everything is going well at our house, and the dogs are one step closer to never wanting us to come back.

Also, and this should probably be mentioned first, today is Hadley's birthday! She is one! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? We can't. I hopefully will post photos of a VERY chocalate-faced baby, soon.

I hope your plates are full, glasses never empty and that you have more pumpkin pie than you can possibly eat!

Pretty in Red

2008-11-25T12:58:00.002-07:00

Hadley will turn one on Thanksgiving Day. One of her presents arrived early from Nana. A homemade "made with love" rollneck sweater. How adorable! She looks so good in red. I think she looks good in white, as well, just like her mother, but for some reason this red captures her fun spirit.

125 Christmas Music Albums...and counting

2008-11-21T11:22:00.007-07:00

Every year, I take note (and pride) in my collection of Christmas Music Holiday Albums. I have a wide range from the classics to the "new." Starbucks puts out a Christmas album compilation every year, so does/did Crabtree and Evelyn, Pottery Barn, Victorias Secret, Old Navy, and well, the Now THAT's What I Call Christmas series. I have most of them.

The tradition/sickness/addiction started about 1999 when I finally realized that you could "find" Christmas music that was not as easily accessible in music stores. ITunes had not even been invented yet, so you had to do some online digging. I had grown up with the classics but had heard a few "new" Christmas renditions on the radio. I thought, well, if Run DMC can have a song, then I bet there are more. BOY was I right. I think I even remember the first search I did, what I found, and how excited I was.

I grew up listening to the Andy Williams Christmas Album. My mom would play the vinyl every Christmas Eve while we got to open one present. The album would play through the holiday until probably New Years Eve. That and Jesus Christ Superstar which is still her favorite. I actually replenished her copy of the vinyl with a remastered copy from iTunes.

Nowadays I use iTunes, Amazon, and Half.com to add to my collection. Most of what I own has been purchased too. FYI.

Here is my list to date. I have added a few in recent days that have brought my total to 124. I am waiting on a few more to show up as well but since I do not have them in my possession yet, I will not post them.

If you have others that are on your favorite list, whether it be classic or new, please let me know.

Absolute Christmas
Alternative Rock Xmas
Andy Williams Christmas Album
The New Andy Williams Christmas Album
Andy Williams - Songs for Christmas
Banana Republic-The Most Wonderful Songs of the year sung by the best/holiday 2002
Beatles Christmas
Bing Crosby Christmas
Borders Christmas Hits
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Peggy Lee Christmas
A Christmas Album
Christmas Book
Christmas Cabaret
Christmas Carousel
Christmas Classics - Bing Crosby
Christmas Classics - Various Artists
Christmas Collection
A Christmas Festival
Christmas Interpretations
Christmas Sing In
Christmas Sing In
Christmas With A Kick
Christmas With Carnie
Christmas With Johnny Cash
Christmas With The Kranks
Christmas With The Rat Pack
Classical Christmas - Classical Interpretations of Christmas Favorites
Cool Yule in the Rockies
Darkness Christmas
Dave's Christmas Roadtrip
The Doris Day Christmas Album
Dr. Seuss-How The Grinch Stole
Elf Music From The Major Motion Picture
Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas
Fruitcake
Funky Christmas
Gather Round: Songs for Kids and Other Folks
Go Tell It On The Mountain - Blind Boys of Alabama
The Greatest Christmas Show On Earth (Disc 1)
The Greatest Christmas Show On Earth (Disc 2)
Green Days of Christmas
Happy Holi-Dee
Hi-Fidelity Holiday
Pottery Barn - Hip Holidays - Vol. I
Pottery Barn - Hip Holidays - Vol. 2
Pottery Barn - Hip Holidays - Vol. 3
A Holiday Journey
The Holiday Tribute to AC/DC
Home Alone Christmas
Home for Christmas
Iliad Holiday Disc 08 Christmas Classics
I'll Be Home For Christmas
In the Swing of Christmas
Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Joy A Holiday Collection
Joy A Holiday Collection
Ledisi - It's Christmas
Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer
Lies, Sissies, & Fiascoes: Part II-We Wept
Love's Holiday "A Gospel Christmas"
Maluhia
Maybe This Christmas
Maybe This Christmas Too?
Maybe This Christmas Tree
Memories of a Winter's Night
Merry Axemas - A Guitar Christmas
Merry Axemas Volume 2
Merry Christmas - Starlight Orchestra (Disc 1)
Merry Christmas - Starlight Orchestra (Disc 2)
Merry Christmas - Various Artists (Disc 3)
Merry X-Mas From The Space-Age Bachelor Pad
The Messiah
Mistletoe and Merriment
Mob Hits Christmas
Monster Ballads Xmas
The Most Fabulous Classical Christmas Album Ever
MTV TRL Christmas
Music for the Millennium
My Kind Of Christmas
Nat King Cole Christmas Album
New Orleans Christmas
Josh Groban - Noel
Crabtree & Evelyn - Noel
NOW That's What I Call Christmas (Disc 1)
NOW That's What I Call Christmas (Disc 2)
NOW That's What I Call Christmas 2 (Disc 1)
NOW That's What I Call Christmas 2 (Disc 2)
The Nutcracker
Old Navy Holiday Hits
The Perfect Christmas - Be Merry
The Perfect Christmas (Disc 1)
Platinum Christmas
Pottery Barn - Hip Holidays - Vol II
Punk Rock Xmas
A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas
A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas 2
Rockabye Baby!: Lullaby Renditions Of Christmas Rock Classics
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Sacred Christmas Music
Santa Baby
Silent Night
Smashed for the Holidays
Starbucks - A Merry Affair
Starbucks Hi-Fidelity Holiday
Stereo Percussion De Noel
Starbucks - Stockings By The Fire
Taste of Christmas
Sueño
Think Global: World Christmas
The Voices of Christmas
The Ultimate White Christmas
Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Part One
A Very Special Acoustic Christmas
A Very Special Christmas 1
A Very Special Christmas 2
A Very Special Christmas 3
A Very Special Christmas 5
Victoria's Secret - Christmas Eve
Victoria's Secret - Christmas Morning
Windham Hill Holiday Guitar Collection
Winter Themes for Winter Days
8 Days of Christmas
45 Songs Of Christmas (Disc 1)
45 Songs Of Christmas (Disc 2)

A Sea of Blue

2008-11-05T08:24:00.005-07:00

We are celebrating over here at Gannon headquarters and we will be for some time.
I think this election of Barack Obama will put us in much better alliance with other countries.

Our world is in desperate need of change and your country elected to do just that. Some states, including the one I live in today, Colorado, has swung to a BLUE state, as well as, Nevada, New Mexico, Virginia, Florida, Iowa and Ohio.

Even if you did not vote for Obama, I hope that you can see that this is a good thing for our country. It is now fresh, not stale.
And if you cannot, well, that is just sad.

Well, so many thoughts are running through my head today.

Here they are in no particular order:

Dear Hadley, last night you witnessed history.

How you like me now?

There you have it.

I told you so.

Congrats Obama.

Sorry McCain.

Today Change is coming. Here's to Hope.

2008-11-04T07:55:00.005-07:00

If your state was unfortunately NOT allowing early voting, PLEASE GO VOTE TODAY! Don't be stupid! Stand up! Support your country. Don't be anti-american! Whether you are blue or red or in between, GO VOTE. Every vote counts.
Ok, I am off my soapbox now.

GO OBAMA!

Here's who built Barack Obama's website and Logo

2008-11-03T08:19:00.004-07:00

I did some research - code digging, and found out some info on who was responsible for the amazing campaign design/logo/website of presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

It looks like Barack kept it local by hiring all Chicago, IL designers/programmers.
Sol Sender: Obama Logo Design
Simple Scott: Obama Website Design/Coding/Creative Direction
Walker Hamilton: Obama CSS Coding/Design

My angel, Hadley, is 11 months today

2008-10-27T07:23:00.001-06:00

This just blows me away. I cannot believe we have been blessed with this little creative, unique fun-loving, smart, teething, clapping, lip-smacking, almost-walking, almost-talking baby girl for almost a year.

Back by popular demand

2008-10-23T07:44:00.002-06:00

Spoken like a true-average-american: