Houses hemmed into homes, part 2

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Originally uploaded by jcroach.

I've posted a bunch of pictures from my trip to New Orleans on our Kodak Gallery. Most all of these were not taken by me.

So it goes (Kurt Vonnegut: 1922-2007)

One of my favorite authors died yesterday. Indianapolis born satirist Kurt Vonnegut Jr. died Wednesday in New York as a result of brain injuries sustained in a fall several weeks ago. He was 84 years old. Vonnegut was best known for his book "Slaughterhouse-Five" which drew inspiration from his experience as a prisoner of war during World War II and his witnessing of the firebombing of Dresden Germany.

I never did get to hear Vonnegut speak. It'll rank up there with some of my biggest missed opportunities, like not seeing Johnny Cash perform before his death. One of my prized possessions is an autographed 3rd edition of "Slaughterhouse-Five" that my lovely wife gave me as a present.

Vonnegut's writing was full of wit, irony, humor, religious skepticism, humanism and compassion. He was a modern day Mark Twain. I wonder if his tombstone will echo that of his character Billy Pilgrim's with it's epitaph: "Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt"?

Here's a Vonnegut poem called "Requim" from 2005

When the last living thing
has died on account of us,
how poetical it would be
if Earth could say,
in a voice floating up
perhaps
from the floor
of the Grand Canyon,
“It is done.”
People did not like it here.

Indy Star article
New York Time article

"I've placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit."

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Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Cathy took this picture in downtown Indianapolis. I don't think any of these R2D2 mail boxes are going to make it to Bloomington, unfortunately. They're part of the new joint venture between George Lucas' Star Wars franchise and the USPS. Also, starting April 25, 15 new star Wars Stamps are going to be released, with the new 41 cent price tag. Maybe they thought people could swallow the high stamp prices if they put some beloved characters on them. Regardless, here's the list of the stamps, available as a single $6.15 pane:

• Darth Vader
• Yoda
• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Han Solo and Chewbacca
• Anakin Skywalker fighting Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Queen Padme Amidala
• Luke Skywalker
• Princess Leia Organa with R2-D2
• Emperor Palpatine
• Darth Maul
• Imperial Stormtroopers
• Boba Fett
• The Millennium Falcon
• X-wing fighter
• C-3PO

Parker finds his basket!

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Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Parker finds all the goods the Easter Bunny left for him.

Egg Hunt

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Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Parker picking up all the eggs.

Happy Easter!

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Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

It was a great day at the Roach house. We had a fun egg hunt in the house (more like egg pick-up) and then we went to church. After nap time, Parker's Grandpa and Nana Roach came down for a visit.

Trip to the Children's Museum

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Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Here is a cute picture of Parker and his pals, Macy and Molly during our fun trip to the Museum last week.

Congratulations to the Griggs Family

Congratulations to Sara and Ben Griggs on the birth of Brandon Christopher Griggs. He was born Thursday, March 29th and weighed in at 9lbs 6oz. I'm sure Connor, Drew and Kendall are excited to have a new little brother at home. Good luck Griggs family!