Tea For Two

Written by Greg:

Clara turned two this last week. She had a Birthday party with 3 of her friends. They had a Tea Party (Lemonade), and got to play dress up too.


Is that a Bomber Pilot or a Princess?

Match Maker Match Maker Make me a match

There was a point in the party where the four girls tried to serenade the adults in the house with their sweet melodies.

Is that the Three Tenors or the Four Toddlers?

After singing, then girls moved over to the piano and composed

Clara had a great time and loved it when everyone sang her happy birthday

Nicolle made snacks for the kids and adults and as always they were great.

Those are Tea Pot shaped Sandwiches

Happy Birthday to our sweet Clara!

Most VALUABLE Player

Friday’s key player was not Greg Vlasney with his 13 points and outside shot to stretch the defense. It was not Greg Tukes filling in for the absent Tom Daugherty at center. It was not the Gregs (Vlasney, Tukes, and Sherwood) with 6 for 8 free throw shooting at the end to preserve the 53-42 victory. It was someone who had 0 Points, 0 Rebounds, 0 Assists, 0 Steals and 0 Blocks. He did however, manage to get 5 fouls.

Mike Burbridge made the summit wards Chris Baughan sing Sinatra after the game. The lines were never more true, “I’ve got you, under my skin.” Mike got under Chris’s skin from the start of the game, and only let him relax when the 2nd team came into the game.

Jeremy Holmes and Greg Wheatley got the assignment to lock down Chris when Mike was not in the game. To Jeremy and Greg W’s credit, they did a great job defending Chris, and since Bishop Sweat out with a back injury, Chris is the league’s smartest and best player. Even with Jeremy and Greg W’s hanging on each of his arms and sticking a hand in his face, Chris would make some impossible shots, keeping Summit ward in the game.

When Mike took on his assignment, he did not just want Chris to miss his shots, he didn’t want Chris to touch the ball. Mike shut down Chris, limiting him to 2-6 from the field, and when asked to comment after the game, all the Mike could say was, “He did score 4 points on me.”

When Mike fouled out with 2 minutes left in the game, his work was done. Lakefield ward had scored enough, and Summit ward been contained. 4 points from free throws, and a layup later, the buzzer sounded and Lakefield was 2-0.

Michael Aagard told Mike at the beginning of the game to stick to Chris like gum, and he wanted to know flavor he was. (Stealing a line from the greatest sports movie ever)

He was Dentyne.

Church Brawl, I mean Basketball, has Begun

Church basketball has started for the 2009 season. I (Greg) will practice my beat writing skills and give a recap from the game and commentary.

Friday Jan, 2nd was the first outing for the Lakefield’s mens team, and they picked up where they left off last season. Just like in the stake championship last year, Lakefield had put the mercy rule into effect before halftime with a final score of 58 to 18.

It was a balanced team effort led by Michael Aagard and Greg Vlazny scoring 14 points each, and Tom Dougherty chipping in an additional 10 points.

Coach Bob Musso still felt there was more to improve, “I don’t remember anyone putting their hands up on defense.” Coach Bob said after the game.

In addition to Coach Bob’s comments, Greg Vlanzy got a technical foul and was forced to sit out for 5 minutes. Also, the ref made some threatening remarks toward Greg Sherwood after he picked up his second foul in the first half.

While the team is able fast break, it needs to work on its half court team offence. Too often when the ball was brought up, the team takes the first chance they see and even force it when something is not there.

Our next game will be against a difficult Summit team. I hope to have photos and more stats for the game. Maybe somebody will volunteer and we can make a Fantasy league out of it. Here is a hint, don’t pick up Andrew.

Go Sun Devils

Looks like the Marron and Gold Pulled off the comeback victory. It makes is so much nicer that it was against BYU.

http://www.sltrib.com/byucougars/ci_11279405

Clara Takes a Bow

Clara has learned how to show thanks to her adoring fans.

Christmas Concert

Nicolle has a choir concert coming up, if anyone is interested...

Bel Canto \bεl 'kanto\: [It.] Beautiful Singing

Home for the Holidays

An evening of holiday cheer and seasonal classics

Friday, December 5 • 8:00 PM
Saturday, December 6 • 8:00 PM
Monday, December 8 • 7:30 PM
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church2105 W Market St, Greensboro
Tickets and more information:
336-333-2220 or www.belcantocompany.com
Single Tickets:$20 Adult, $15 Senior, $5 Student
Group Discount: $5 off per ticket for groups of 10+

Twilight, I don't get you

BY GREG:

Before I begin, I have to admit that I have not read or seen any of the Twilight Books or Movie.

Having said that, I don't understand how a book can command such a following from so many groups. I am not being critical of anyone that likes this series. All I am doing is making an observation from the marketing that I have seen for the movie and conversations I have heard from my friends.
Here are the observations that I have made

1. The Marketing seems to be focused on the same group of people that like shows like Smallville, Dawsons Creek and other Teenage dramas


2. When I am in an Airport, I see the books prominently displayed, indicating that there is a strong demand from the business traveler for this book


3. HBO has seen there is a strong demand for the Teenage Vampire Drama's and has started a series True Blood. Wikipedia says that it will be the third most viewed HBO series behind Sex in the City and The Sopranos.

Someone please tell my why there is such a huge craze about this Series. A friend of mine wrote about it on his blog and now gets a few thousand(maybe less) visitors to his blog every day.

Is this another Harry Potter trend where the book appeals to a wide range of readers?

Do the people who enjoy it, enjoy their high school years?

Maybe that is it, I had more than enough Swirlie's, wedgies and pink bellies to never warrant another trip back to those dreaded years. (Napoleon Dynamite rang a little too true, except for Pedro winning the Election, and Napoleon getting Deb)

Anyway, you get to play the Salesman. Make you case why Twilight is all that, or why Twilight is Saved by the Bell with vampires (that would have been a better progression than the college years)

Imagine Screech as a Vampire, that would make his love of Lisa all the more exciting

Convince me.

Great Pranks

I(Greg) enjoy playing jokes on people. I would consider myself like Jim Halpert of The Office. Some that I have played people in the last year include:

• Auto Correct function in Excel - This is a great one. You go on to someone's computer and go to the Autocorrect funtion choice. The you set it up when they type something, like their Name, the computer automaticly changes the word to something else. Like I type "Greg" and what it turns into is "Greg is a loser with no friends" Lots of fun with lots of laughs.




• Raising the Desk - I picked up about 8 copies of the yellow pages and placed them under each of the legs of my coworkers desk, so when he came into the office, his chair seemed to be about 6 inches lower than before.
  
  
• Flipping the computer screen upside down - ALT + Ctrl + Down. Try it. Quick, easy, and very frustrating for the victim.


• Secret Santa - I printed out a couple of flyers for fake Secret Santa gift exchange and put down the contact information as a guy who is very manly and would never see himself doing that. The flyers were up for a couple weeks before he noticed they were talking about him.



• Reverse the Desk - A guy who I work with is very exact in how he likes his desk to be. It bothers him when I move a pen an inch(which I now do on purpose). When he was gone for a day, another guy and I flipped his office 180 degrees. Everything that was on his right was now on his left. The mouse was moved to the other side, the photos, the bookshelves, the filing cabinets were switched. The Keys on his keyboard were moved to spell his name. Then we swapped his photo of his wife with this photo -

I am now looking for some other ideas. Please let me know some.

Too Funny - Had to share

This is not a political statement, I just saw this video and had to show it to everyone.


Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Feeling bad this Halloween season?

Dr. Clara is ready to assist youOr take your candy (trick or treating with Addie and Caden)Or hold your hand (downtown Halloween festival with friend, Aleesa).Or unknowlingly share her candy with you after she's gone to bed.

Oops... we are busted.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Clara's funny book

It is funny to see how she categorizes things. She calls every sport "soccie-ball."

• She sees my tennis racket and says, "soccie-ball."
• She sees Greg wearing a race t-shirt with a picture of someone running on it and says, "soccie-ball."
• We drive by a golf course and, again, "soccie-ball."
• Whenever Clara wants me to pick her up, she reaches out her arms and says, "Hold you." It is irrestistable.
• Clara had a diaper rash, and when we would change her diaper she would say "hurt." Then we would say, "Oh, I'm sorry." Her rash is gone, but now each time we change her diaper she says, "Hurt... Ohhhh I soooowwy-" with a very sympathetic look on her face.
• We went for a walk and halfway through, she sat down on the curb. Clara then insisted that we sit down with her. After sitting with us for a moment, she turns to each of us and says, "bye bye Mommy. Bye Bye Daddy." After saying that, she stands up and runs away as fast as she could, laughing the whole time. She must have gotten Greg's gene for playing jokes.

Speaking of playing jokes...

• After having whipped cream on her pancakes, Clara had most of the whipped cream on her face. Greg needed to leave to get to class, so he said his goodbye's, then Clara stood up in her high chair, with a mischieveous grin on her face, and requested Greg to give her a goodbye kiss. She has not done this before or since, but she knew that she would be able to "Share" her dinner with Greg that night.
• Clara likes to pretend with her doll's, It started with her rocking the dolls, but it has progressed to having the doll's go potty, giving high five's to the dolls and having the doll's color next to her.
• Clara read the book, "The Stupids (or Silly's as Greg's Mom would say) and in it, the boy eats with his toes. Soon after that, Clara started trying to eat her toes.

for Greensboro voters

Hello Greensboro voters... here is some information on bonds that will go before voters Nov. 4th -VOTE YES to keep Greensboro a great place to live!
War Memorial Auditorium Bond - $50 million
Supports structural, lobby, seating and balcony renovations
Renovations will attract entertainment acts that appeal to a broad audience and promote cultural tourism
A renovated War Memorial Auditorium will serve as a critical performance venue for our local arts sector
Delay of renovations to War Memorial Auditorium will be an economic loss for our community
County Sales and Use Tax Referendum - 1/4 cent increase in sales tax
1/4 cent sales tax will secure an alternative revenue stream to grow our community and the arts 1/4 cent sales tax addresses county's need for additional revenue while allaying pressure on property taxes
1/4 cent sales tax will generate about $16 million annually for Guilford County; 40% of this revenue would be contributed by non-residents
1/4 cent sales tax will increase revenue while keeping property taxes competitive
1/4 cent sales tax will not apply to groceries or gas
Parks and Recreation Bond - $20 million
Funds will support Phase 1 of the Gateway Gardens project, an important aspect to our quality of life
Gateway Gardens project incorporates art in public spaces
Funding for Parks & Recreation facilities and venues position Greensboro as an attractive place to live and work
Transportation Bond (Street Improvement) - $134 million
Funds to maintain and upgrade transportation infrastructure including streets, bridges, greenways, intersections, streetscapes and trails
Greensboro's trail and greenway system incorporates public art, provides alternative transportation avenues and promotes health and wellness
Funds will allow Greensboro to leverage critical state and federal grants as well as private funding
Greensboro's trail and greenway system add to our quality of life

What do you do on Sunday nights?

Greg: Playing with the toy he bought "for Clara."
(He would like for me to tell you that he bought it for $2).

Nicolle: seriously considering becoming a vegetarian while reading "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser. Have you read this?... yikes!!!

P.S. Kelly tagged me (Nicolle) to post 6 quirks... here they are.
1. I always rinse my mouth 5 times after brushing my teeth... no more, no less.
2. I constantly tap a rhythm, with my hands, toes, teeth... anything, really. I don't usually realize I am doing it until Greg asks, "What song are you tapping?" Wierd, I know...
3. When I ride a roller coaster or a boogie board, I can't resist screaming... LOUDLY.
4. I am a germ-a-phobe. Hotel comforters freak me out the most... I never touch them.
5. I only remember movies I have seen for a short time... after two weeks, I have to ask Greg, "Have I seen this?"
6. I don't like talking on the phone, so I make Greg place all of our phone calls, then get mad at him when he doesn't say the right thing. I

Goodbye, Henry

For the past 3 1/2 years, I have worked with Henry Ingram, co-founder and Artistic Director of Music for a Great Space. Henry passed away on September 13. I'm not sure what this means for the future of MGS or my part in it.
Henry's memorial service was beautiful. As another co-worker of mine put it, "it made me wonder about my own orth/value/contribution that will exist when I leave this world. A little overwhelming, to be in the shadow of someone so generous, gracious and significant as Henry." He will be missed!

"Too" funny videos

A short recital:

Kissing Cousins:

PreSchool

by Nicolle:
Clara started preschool this month. She LOVES it! When I ask her in the morning if she wants to go to school, she RUNS to get her shoes. Once I went out of the neighborhood the back way and she cried and pointed in the other direction, saying "SCHOOL! Mommy, Pease (please)." Originally we signed her up for 2 mornings/week, but she has a really great teacher and is THRIVING, so we switched her to 3 mornings a week. After her first day, I asked her what she learned and she shouted "YELLOW." Oh, you learned about the color yellow, what else did you do? "BOOK." Oh, you read some books? "No, book" (and she showed me the sign language for book). Oh, you learned the sign for book, good girl!

Here she is with her tote bag all ready for school!

She is a little girl with a big personality and LOTS of energy, so this is a good outlet for her.

P.S. I ran in the http://www.womensonlyrun.com/ 5K this weekend. Lots of fun, especially with such a cute fan to watch the race and help me eat snacks aftewards. (Oh yeah, Greg is a cute fan, too).

Topsail Island

by Greg:

A photo of the fam from our beach house

For the last week, the Von Sherwood family singers took a little R&R at the beach with some of Nicolle's family. We had a great time and Greg will be spending the next 2 years trying to convince his family that Topsail Island is the place for the next Sherwood family reunion. Hopefully some of these pictures will do some of the convincing for him.

The view from our deck

Another nice little comparison:

September 1st - Pacific Beach, WA - Water Temp - 55 degrees

September 1st - San Diago, CA - Water Temp - 65 degrees

September 1st - Topsail Beach, NC - Water Temp - 80 degrees

Clara loved the ocean and the waves. She would run out into the water and would kick the waves as they would crash onto her.

She also liked digging in the sand, and then moving the sand in a toy truck

She was determined to get the sand transported

We got to body surf and boogie board. Nicolle's mother even went boogie boarding.

Here is the proof.

If you want to know how Clara felt about this place, just see the clip below. (The word she is repeating is "happy."

The week flew by and we are ready to go back soon. So anyone that wants to join us, just let us know.

Clara got Glasses

Clara has bad eye sight. You may ask, "Greg, how do you know a 19 month old girl needs glasses?" I will tell you.

Nicolle has taught Clara how to say "1 more." So now Clara raises her index finger to indicate that she would like ONE more."

Well, today I was giving Clara some of my dessert, and I say 1 more, then she says 1 more and indicates the number of bites of my dessert that she wants.."1".

After getting the bite, she then asks for another bite. My only answer to this is either she is a rickshaw driver from India or she is seeing double. Since she is not old enough to drive, she must have double vision.

I hope the glasses will help this problem go away.

PS I am joking, glasses can't cure double vision.

India Chapter 2

Nomadic shepherds

Cows wandering the city
LOTS of traffic and crazy driving
This year Greg has also been to Europe, South America, and Mexico. He says India gave him the most culture shock, BY FAR.

Some things he noticed:

-men peeing on the street... everywhere

-cows walking down city streets

-busy intersections with aggressive drivers and absolutely no rules

-you had to argue about cab/rickshaw prices, otherwise you get ripped off

-delicious food (curry, Tangier chicken, etc.)

-Men holding hands- its a cultural thing

-one motorcycle carrying a family of four

-the scaffolding on construction sites was made of bamboo tied together with rope
-a sign that said "no spitting: it causes diseases"
-the power goes off hourly

-Indians seem to be a very happy, helpful people
BACK AT HOME:

There was a huge rainstorm and our entire basement flooded... AHHH! Greg was half a world a way and feeling pretty helpless. THANK YOU to our heroes, Ben and Jeremy, who helped me move heavy stuff and get all of the water out and also to Erika, who played with Clara while we worked. We were very lucky that the damage and expense was minimal. Most of our neighbors fared much worse.

We are so happy that Greg made it home safe and sound, and just a little sick. :) Hooray for Labor Day and a long weekend so we can make up for the time we didn't get together last week.

India Chapter 1

Greg was in India last week and, boy, did we miss him. He visited the cities of Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore.

Here is a view from his hotel window in Mumbai

Here is a lady carrying stuff on her head, and the cool rickshaws (made famous on The Amazing Race)

Lots of garbage, everywhere