Home > Everything

January 31, 2012 Projects
mixtape.bbott.orgAn occasional blog about songs I love.
January 7, 2012 Photos
2012-01-07 Christmas and New Year's Day.
December 9, 2011 Photos
2011-12-09 Thanksgiving and California.
October 31, 2011 Photos
2011-10-31 October: Boston, Soccer, Halloween.
October 19, 2011 Projects
A Cappella Arrangements (1992-1996)Recordings and scores of a few of my DQ arrangements.
October 8, 2011 Projects
PanoramasPanoramic images stitched together from multiple photos.
October 7, 2011 Projects
Mood Indigo (2010)An arrangement for women's chorus.
October 2, 2011 Movies
At Maine Indoor Karting for Nate's birthday.
September 27, 2011 Photos
2011-09-27 Cape Cod.
September 1, 2011 Inblox

RIP, A10

I know it's silly, but I got sentimental when my trusty Canon PowerShot A10 finally died last month. It was the first digital camera I owned, and got me started on the hobby that now fills most of these pages. It was a Christmas gift from my parents back in 2001, when Becca was pregnant with Eva. Digital cameras were just entering the mainstream, and the A10 had proud printing on the front announcing "1.3 MEGA PIXELS".

Although it's technically far inferior to the cameras I use now, it took some of my absolute favorite photos. A small selection is below.

[read more]
August 31, 2011 Photos
2011-08-31 August.
August 21, 2011 Movies
Eva, Owen, and a tantalizing frog.
August 21, 2011 Movies
Noah v. Donut.
August 7, 2011 Movies
Go bananas, go, go, bananas! At Center Day Camp.
July 31, 2011 Photos
2011-07-31 July: Cape Cod, Norway, Lake Dennison.
July 24, 2011 Movies
"Be the burger, not the bun!" Tubing at the Medds' in Norway, Maine.
June 30, 2011 Photos
2011-06-30 Acadia National Park.
June 26, 2011 Photos
2011-06-26 June.
June 18, 2011 Movies
Eva's first piano recital.
June 3, 2011 Inblox

Eva's morning routine podcast

For us and Eva, getting ready in the morning has been a daily struggle. We are constantly cajoling and browbeating her to stay on task and do the various things she needs to do between 7:00 and 7:30 before she comes down. We tried a bunch of different things -- checklists, reminders -- but nothing seemed to work.

[read more]
May 30, 2011 Photos
2011-05-30 Noah's birthday, Fort Williams, Botanical Gardens.
May 13, 2011 Inblox

Bid For Brother!

A snapshot of Eva's thoughts on Noah.

[read more]
April 28, 2011 Movies
A birthday message to Uncle Ben.
April 22, 2011 Movies
Playing with Hex Bugs at the Newark airport.
April 22, 2011 Photos
2011-04-22 Turks and Caicos.
April 3, 2011 Photos
2011-04-03 In Vermont for Sugar On Snow.
April 2, 2011 Movies
The annual Egg Drop contest at the Montshire Museum of Science.
March 13, 2011 Movies
It's not wafer thin; it's elephant thick.
March 13, 2011 Movies

"What's this thing?": a stop-motion film by Eva.

Eva: "I can't believe it took 41 photos to make this short of a movie. My friend Olivia helped me and so it went much quicker. The movie is this Caribbean person picking up a hat and saying "What's this?" (Even though you can't hear it.) Also, I thought my hand was out of sight in the last few photos! But I didn't know because someone else was taking the pictures."

February 25, 2011 Photos
2011-02-25 Maine, New Hampshire, and California.
February 24, 2011 Movies
"A Killin' It Family Moment (w/ pinata)": Eva's birthday pinata, shot and edited by Uncle Ben.
February 6, 2011 Projects
remote.squatcom.comAccess my stereo from your web browser.
January 28, 2011 Projects
Kids' artworkImages by Eva and Noah.
January 15, 2011 Movies
Noah builds a complete LEGO model in two minutes.
January 1, 2011 Movies
Two days of sledding at Fort Williams.
December 31, 2010 Photos
2010-12-31 The holidays: Boston, South Deerfield, Longmeadow.
December 25, 2010 Movies
Emmett in the exersaucer.
December 25, 2010 Movies
"That doesn't count!": Noah and Uncle Chris play catch.
December 9, 2010 Inblox

Noah's invention; Eva's observation

Eva: "If the year was only three days long, you could say tomorrow's tomorrow is yesterday."

Noah: "I am going to invent a new kind of book, with eye holes. Whenever you turn a page you will see eye holes. So you can read it on the stairs."

December 5, 2010 Movies
Eva reading at Emmett's baptism.
November 29, 2010 Movies
Cottleston Pie.
November 28, 2010 Photos
2010-11-28 November: fancy baking.
November 2, 2010 Movies
Sliding down the ramp at The Children's Center.
October 31, 2010 Photos
2010-10-31 October: Boston, Halloween.
October 30, 2010 Inblox

New web server

We have a new web server! Hopefully you will notice increased snappiness.

September 28, 2010 Photos
2010-09-28 The Green Room visits the Cumberland County Fair.
September 26, 2010 Photos
2010-09-26 New York City.
August 31, 2010 Photos
2010-08-31 Triathlon weekend; botanical gardens.
August 18, 2010 Projects
Trio for Violin, Marimba, and Cello (2006)A processional for Joanna and Libby's wedding.
July 31, 2010 Photos
2010-07-31 July: Brewster, Yarmouth, Norway, and Winchendon.
June 27, 2010 Photos
2010-06-27 Cape Cod, block party.
June 23, 2010 Movies
Noah tells a long story about frogs.
June 14, 2010 Movies
Water balloons.
June 13, 2010 Movies
Noah has an astonishing amount of fun with a purple ball.
June 12, 2010 Movies
My head fell off!
June 9, 2010 Inblox

Noah's spring conference report

Noah's spring conference was today. Another amazingly long report from Aline.

[read more]
May 31, 2010 Photos
2010-05-31 Noah's birthdays; Hilt's hike.
April 26, 2010 Photos
2010-04-26 April.
April 4, 2010 Movies
I will eat the air! (At the Montshire museum.)
March 29, 2010 Photos
2010-03-29 Bradbury Mountain; Emmett; Cambridge; Northampton; Hilt's birthday.
March 6, 2010 Photos
2010-03-06 Turks and Caicos.
March 3, 2010 Movies
Some B-roll from Turks and Caicos.
February 24, 2010 Photos
2010-02-24 February.
February 21, 2010 Photos
2010-02-21 Eva's eighth birthday party.
February 5, 2010 Movies
Noah struggles with cross country skis.
January 24, 2010 Movies
Eva, Ari, and JoJo sledding (including the maiden run of the jack jumper) at Fort Williams.
January 24, 2010 Photos
2010-01-24 Longmeadow; Amherst; Fort Williams.
January 23, 2010 Movies
Winter fun.
January 17, 2010 Movies
Bubble wrap.
January 6, 2010 Inblox

Noah's winter conference report

Aline, Noah's teacher in the Green Room, put together such a long conference report that I did not have time to scan it all.

[read more]
December 31, 2009 Photos
2009-12-31 December.
December 27, 2009 Movies
Drinking through a crazy straw.
December 25, 2009 Inblox

Noah quotes

Becca: Did I get you at the sweet little boy store?
Noah: [laughs] Yes.
Becca: Is there a sour little boy store?
Noah: [laughs] No.
Becca: Is there a wicked little boy store?
Noah: I don't know, but I know there is a wicked little girl store, because that's where you got Eva.

[read more]
December 25, 2009 Movies
Grandpa shows Noah and Sam how to use their new forklifts.
December 4, 2009 Inblox

Becca, in focus

Becca models compentency in this ad for Maine Med.

[read more]
November 28, 2009 Movies
A typical breakfast with the kids. Noah has blood in his body; mom is a tricking muffin; Eva lectures about human anatomy.
November 28, 2009 Photos
2009-11-28 Fire station; Boston.
November 20, 2009 Movies
Two videos from Andrea's cell phone while babysitting the kids.
November 14, 2009 Inblox

Eva's canning class in the Cape Courier

Eva's picture was in the Cape Courier this week.

[read more]
November 8, 2009 Movies
Walking, talking leaf bags.
November 1, 2009 Inblox

Hello, I would like to renew my subscription to Bad Dad magazine

Eva lost the cap for her self-inking stamp, and got frantic trying to find it, because she didn't want it to dry out. I suggested that she check whether it had rolled under the sofa. A few moments later, I heard her exclaim, with amazing calm but with that edge to her voice that instantly tells a parent a child has been hurt:

"Dad! I think someone left some snapping gum under there!"

[read more]
October 31, 2009 Photos
2009-10-31 October.
October 28, 2009 Movies
Eva's loose tooth.
October 17, 2009 Movies
Licking the bowl (highlights).
September 26, 2009 Photos
2009-09-26 Mediterranean cruise.
September 18, 2009 Photos
2009-09-18 Two trips to Fort Gorges.
September 7, 2009 Inblox

Window art

So, we pull up behind this minivan at a stop light, and Becca and I immediately start laughing, uncontrollably, but as quietly as we can.

[read more]
September 6, 2009 Movies
Abu Tabu Dabo!
August 30, 2009 Photos
2009-08-30 August.
August 29, 2009 Movies
Noah attempts to achieve the unthinkable: eating pizza and drinking chocolate milk at the same time.
August 23, 2009 Inblox

Some recent quotes

Noah: Dad, look at my poop. It looks like a rocket ship with only one wing.

After a neighbor's idling car left a puddle in the street
Dad:Lisa's car peed. [pause] No, not for real.
Becca: Cars don't have penises.
Noah: No. They only have wheels.

[read more]
August 9, 2009 Photos
2009-08-09 Becca's triathlon.
August 2, 2009 Movies
At Tony and Beth's garden.
July 25, 2009 Movies
Crazy dancing.
July 25, 2009 Photos
2009-07-25 July.
July 14, 2009 Movies
I think *this* is my business!
July 14, 2009 Movies
Noah learns to ride his new two-wheeler, but likes his horn too much.
July 10, 2009 Movies
Sam and Noah tear it up on tricycles.
July 9, 2009 Photos
2009-07-09 Portraits with the cousins.
June 27, 2009 Photos
2009-06-27 VRB memorial; summer begins.
June 17, 2009 Movies
Shoes on Noah's shoes.
June 10, 2009 Inblox

Noah's conference report

We have conferences with Noah's teachers twice a year.

[read more]
May 29, 2009 Photos
2009-05-29 May; Noah's third birthday.
May 8, 2009 Movies
Noah opens a birthday present from Fafa.
May 5, 2009 Movies
Noah opens a birthday present from grandma.
May 1, 2009 Projects
PhotoSortHelp choose the best pictures on the site.
April 22, 2009 Photos
2009-04-22 April.
April 18, 2009 Movies
Eva crosses the treacherous lily pads.
April 5, 2009 Inblox

Google Maps: Global Warming Edition

Today, my iPod displayed the following disturbing map:

[read more]
March 29, 2009 Movies
Noah and Nora Grace tug like mad.
March 29, 2009 Photos
2009-03-29 Eva's birthday; Sugar On Snow.
February 24, 2009 Inblox

Happy Birthday, Eva!

Eva just turned seven.

[read more]
February 23, 2009 Movies
Phooey!
February 17, 2009 Projects
SlideshowShows a random slideshow of photos from the site.
February 14, 2009 Movies
Noah at the beach.
February 14, 2009 Photos
2009-02-14 Turks and Caicos.
February 13, 2009 Movies
Just a long shot of the kids digging together at the beach.
January 31, 2009 Movies
Noah plays some favorite songs on our newly-delivered piano.
January 30, 2009 Photos
2009-01-30 January: Mia's birthday, sledding.
January 28, 2009 Inblox

Life with Eva is a drawing room comedy

Scene 1: Upstairs, Eva and mom.

Eva: I think dad is making crepes.

Mom: Mmmm, crepes sound good!

Scene 2: Downstairs, Eva and dad.

Eva: What's for breakfast?

[read more]
January 10, 2009 Movies
Ring around the rosy.
December 28, 2008 Photos
2008-12-28 December.
December 20, 2008 Movies
Sledding with Merrill at Fort Williams.
December 19, 2008 Inblox

What does Noah do all day?

You know you've wondered.

[read more]
November 29, 2008 Photos
2008-11-29 November: New York, Berkeley.
November 9, 2008 Projects
When Eva was Noah's ageChronologically accurate child comparisons.
October 31, 2008 Photos
2008-10-31 October.
October 19, 2008 Movies
The kids sing, whistle, and hiccup.
October 17, 2008 Movies
Out goes Y-O-U get the kidney!
October 12, 2008 Movies
The cousins play rough.
October 4, 2008 Inblox

Imponderables

Noah: "Daddy, do monsters have big penises?"

I did not have an answer for that.

September 21, 2008 Movies
Noah, with Eli, at the bay beach.
September 21, 2008 Photos
2008-09-21 September: end of summer; first day of school.
September 21, 2008 Projects
Wind Quintet (1996)My last composition before graduate school, for my favorite ensemble.
September 14, 2008 Inblox

Playing favorites

Eva: What's your favorite person in the world?

Noah: Momma.

Eva: Are you serious? There's such a thing as JoJo and Santa Claus!

September 1, 2008 Inblox

Eva in pundit mode

Eva hardly ever sees us watch TV -- we usually only watch movies, and only after she's in bed. So she was intrigued to see us glued to the TV during the Democratic National Convention.

She would have preferred to watch Dora the Explorer, but any TV is better than no TV, so she watched a bunch of the speeches. Here are a couple of her better remarks:

  • Noah, we need to turn off this convention. All it is is people saying, Barack Obama will make oil cheaper.
  • [After someone in the room said that McCain was smart:] John McCain?!? He is so unsmart. All he does is copy George Bush.

August 31, 2008 Movies
Chugga-chugga choo-choo!
August 31, 2008 Movies
Chasing balloons at Cape Cod.
August 31, 2008 Photos
2008-08-31 August.
August 4, 2008 Movies
How was it that you tasted pee?
August 2, 2008 Movies
The colorful booger is coming!
July 27, 2008 Photos
2008-07-27 July.
July 6, 2008 Movies
Eva does her best Ogden Nash impression.
June 26, 2008 Projects
childrenscenterportland.orgThe website for Eva's day care center.
June 22, 2008 Photos
2008-06-22 Family Fun Day; Vail Island; Cape Cod.
June 15, 2008 Movies
Noah feeds lots of cherries to Mark.
June 8, 2008 Photos
2008-06-08 Cape Cod, Robinson Woods, Kettle Cove.
June 7, 2008 Movies
Eva's first violin recital.
June 7, 2008 Movies
Noah throws his hat into the air.
May 25, 2008 Inblox

Travelin' Daddy

Eva and Noah both like a song called "Travelin' Daddy". Here is Eva singing it:

[read more]
May 25, 2008 Movies
Some clips from our Spring vacation (Cape Elizabeth, New York, and Cape Cod).
May 24, 2008 Movies
Noah Python's Flying Circus.
May 24, 2008 Movies
Noah in the toddler version of Tomb Raider.
May 18, 2008 Photos
2008-05-18 Noah's second birthday.
May 2, 2008 Movies
Noah's second birthday.
April 28, 2008 Movies
Noah speaks! A reading of "Oh, David!" by David Shannon.
April 27, 2008 Inblox

Noah's first sentences

One measure of cognitive development is sentence length: how many words a toddler uses in a sentence. So of course I made a mental note whenever Noah extended his sentence length: when he first used a sentence of three words, then of four, etc. Then, of course, I forgot; so I can't tell you what his first three-word sentence was or when he said it.

Here's what I know:

Four words was a few weeks ago: "Mommy eat yummy doughnut."

Five words: I don't remember.

Six words: On...

[read more]
April 26, 2008 Movies
Whose poo is that, and what type of poo?
April 20, 2008 Movies
The kids wiggle teeth and tongues.
April 6, 2008 Movies
Eva, Ari, and Noah riding bikes and trikes.
April 5, 2008 Photos
2008-04-05 Winter winds down.
April 2, 2008 Inblox

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis

Meg is Eva's Kindergarten teacher. One morning, while another parent was dropping off his child, he was chatting with Meg and mentioned that he had been up all night looking after his neighbor's kids. The neighbor had been ill and had to be rushed to the hospital.

[read more]
March 22, 2008 Photos
2008-03-22 Eva's sixth birthday; Maple Sugar Sunday.
March 13, 2008 Movies
Noah runs down a hallway. Then he turns around and runs back again.
February 24, 2008 Inblox

Happy Birthday, Eva!

Eva just turned six.

[read more]
February 9, 2008 Photos
2008-02-09 Turks and Caicos.
February 8, 2008 Movies
Some clips from our winter vacation to Turks and Caicos.
January 20, 2008 Photos
2008-01-20 Sledding, skating, reading.
January 19, 2008 Movies
Eva goes skating with her friend Mia.
January 8, 2008 Movies
Noah misbehaves at lunchtime.
January 6, 2008 Movies
Two sledding runs at Fort Williams, the second ending in near-disaster!
December 30, 2007 Photos
2007-12-30 Christmas.
December 29, 2007 Movies
Gimme some sugar!
December 9, 2007 Inblox

Silliness

Eva was in a super silly mood today. A couple of funny things she said:

1. Lying on the sofa, reading a Christmas catalog, with her feet on my lap: "It's good to be tall, because you can read a magazine and have a foot massage at the other end."

2. Driving to a party, talking about housesitters: "When we go away [for Christmas], we will have someone come watch our house. And they will have someone watch their house, and that person will have someone watch their house, and that person will have someone watch their house, and that person will have someone watch their house, and that person will have someone watch their house, and only the last person will have to work, and that person is a tramp."

December 8, 2007 Movies
Sledding with Grandpa's sled on our local hill.
December 2, 2007 Movies
Our trip to San Diego.
December 2, 2007 Photos
2007-12-02 San Diego.
November 25, 2007 Photos
2007-11-25 Ladybugs, Halloween, leaves.
November 12, 2007 Inblox

Eva's Lullaby for Noah

Eva spontaneously sang a rhyming lullaby to Noah. She and Rebecca later wrote this version down. Becca says the original was a lot better, with real rhymes instead of repetition, but I like it anyway.

My quilt on my wall
My lamp on my drawer
My cards of a matching game
Are all in the drawer

So go to sleep in the crib
That's been waiting just for you
Go to sleep in that wooden cradle
And it's been waiting for you

So time to lay down for the night
And count some sheep
Because everything is sleeping
And it's waiting for you to go to sleep

October 13, 2007 Photos
2007-10-13 Seventeen months.
October 8, 2007 Movies
Eva and Noah have crazy fun inside the house!
September 20, 2007 Movies
An ad hoc train of neighborhood kids.
September 3, 2007 Photos
2007-09-03 Ellen and Virginia visit; Cape Cod and New York.
August 20, 2007 Movies
Noah pushes Eva.
August 16, 2007 Photos
2007-08-16 Fifteen months old.
August 9, 2007 Photos
2007-08-09 Kettle Cove.
July 31, 2007 Movies
Noah learning to walk over the course of a few months.
July 23, 2007 Photos
2007-07-23 Gram's ninetieth birthday.
July 21, 2007 Photos
2007-07-21 Fourteen months old.
July 8, 2007 Movies
Eva discusses the biological imperative behind a common taboo.
June 17, 2007 Photos
2007-06-17 Cape Cod, Cape Elizabeth.
May 26, 2007 Photos
2007-05-26 Noah's first birthday.
April 17, 2007 Photos
2007-04-17 Eleven months old.
March 19, 2007 Inblox

At least we can still rewind.

For Eva's first birthday, I gave her a remote control. A classic selfish gift, it was intended to keep her from grabbing and chewing on mine.

Noah inherited it when he started showing the same interests (grabbing and chewing). Yesterday, Rebecca noticed that Noah, holding the remote, had something in his mouth. It turned out to be the Play button, one of two he had bitten off.

"Wow, Eva," I said, "you never managed to chew a button off this remote." She replied, "I'm not the chewing type."

March 4, 2007 Movies
Noah discovers that the Lego container is a great walker. Mark gets excited and asks Eva to film the event to email to Rebecca.
March 3, 2007 Photos
2007-03-03 Eva's fifth birthday.
March 1, 2007 Projects
iTunes ScriptsVarious Perl scripts related to the iTunes music player.
February 23, 2007 Movies
A pony ride Eva requested for her fifth birthday.
February 23, 2007 Photos
2007-02-23 San Diego.
February 11, 2007 Photos
2007-02-11 Crawling, pirate party.
January 30, 2007 Photos
2007-01-30 Eight months old.
January 8, 2007 Inblox

I'm cute, now give me some pizza

The morning show on a local radio station has an ongoing feature where they ask kids to write a letter about "why I love my teacher". If they choose your letter to be read on the air, your class gets a pizza party (hosted by the three DJs themselves -- got to love local radio).

[read more]
December 28, 2006 Photos
2006-12-28 Seven months old.
December 12, 2006 Inblox

You shall have your veng-e-ance

Eva's new "thing" when she gets really mad at me is to do her patented angry face and loudly call me "Lord Cucuface". Those familiar with the Madeline books will recognize the reference.

[read more]
November 25, 2006 Photos
2006-11-25 Six months old.
November 11, 2006 Inblox

Where have we been?

Apologies for the long gap since the last update. A lot of stuff has been happening. Not least of which, we moved to Cape Elizabeth (a suburb across the Fore River from Portland) in October. Since then, I've taken only a few pictures and haven't had time to select any for the website.

[read more]
October 31, 2006 Photos
2006-10-31 Five months old.
October 21, 2006 Movies
Eva entices smiles from Noah.
September 29, 2006 Movies
Meow meow...
September 26, 2006 Inblox

Two quick announcements

First: a new DVD is available. "Summer 2006" contains all photos from July to September. If you would like a copy, please let me know.

Second: following zero requests, I have added RSS feeds to the site. This means that if you use an RSS aggregator (Bloglines, NetNewsWire, Thunderbird, Safari RSS, etc.), you can include this site and see changes when they are posted.

[read more]
September 17, 2006 Photos
2006-09-17 Joanna Abbott weds Elizabeth Graves.
September 12, 2006 Photos
2006-09-12 Four months old.
August 30, 2006 Photos
2006-08-30 Cape Cod, Helen, Bees.
August 21, 2006 Photos
2006-08-21 Three months old.
July 9, 2006 Photos
2006-07-09 Hilton and Linda's 40th anniversary party.
July 4, 2006 Photos
2006-07-04 Cape Cod, Fourth of July.
July 3, 2006 Movies
Somersaults.
July 2, 2006 Movies
"You must pay the rent!"
June 24, 2006 Photos
2006-06-24 Seven weeks.
June 11, 2006 Photos
2006-06-11 Five weeks old.
May 29, 2006 Photos
2006-05-29 Fourth week.
May 21, 2006 Photos
2006-05-21 First three weeks.
May 10, 2006 Photos
2006-05-10 Ellen's found pictures.
May 2, 2006 Inblox

Noah Hilton Abbott

Noah was born at 6:18 this morning. He weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

[read more]
May 2, 2006 Movies
Noah's birth day. Yelling, calming, moaning, meeting, resting.
May 2, 2006 Photos
2006-05-02 Noah Hilton Abbott.
April 23, 2006 Photos
2006-04-23 Maple sugar season.
April 8, 2006 Movies
Mary-Alice plays with Jake, Eva, and Mia at a sugar on snow.
March 19, 2006 Photos
2006-03-19 Birthdays.
March 1, 2006 Inblox

Eva's conference report

At Eva's school, The Children's Center, teachers prepare reports on each child twice a year for parent conferences.

[read more]
February 11, 2006 Photos
2006-02-11 Florida.
February 2, 2006 Projects
PuzzleQuiltDesigns for a quilt with a puzzle hidden within.
January 20, 2006 Projects
Three Compositions (1995)The 10th Anniversary Edition of my undergraduate thesis.
January 5, 2006 Inblox

Pirates and Thorazine

Eva: What do pirates say?

Mark: They say "arrr", "booty", and "avast".

Eva: Why?

[read more]
December 27, 2005 Photos
2005-12-27 Christmas 2005.
December 20, 2005 Photos
2005-12-20 19-week ultrasound.
December 12, 2005 Photos
2005-12-12 Leaf jumping, Moosehead Lake.
November 20, 2005 Movies
Leaf-jumping with Zack and Samantha. Also available as a stand-alone DVD.
November 19, 2005 Movies
A-B-C-D, L-M-N-O-P.
October 31, 2005 Photos
2005-10-31 S'mores to Halloween.
October 27, 2005 Photos
2005-10-27 Ultrasounds.
October 15, 2005 Projects
StreamripperGet radio shows which aren't available as podcasts on your iPod.
September 11, 2005 Photos
2005-09-11 Cape Cod, Portland.
August 14, 2005 Inblox

RBB in the Portland Press-Herald

A couple of weeks ago, Becca told me about a crazy case she had. Today, it was written up in the Maine Sunday Telegram, the Sunday edition of the Portland Press Herald.

[read more]
August 14, 2005 Photos
2005-08-14 Haircut, Sebago Lake, Cape Cod.
July 30, 2005 Movies
Eva drives the boat (mostly in circles) at Kate's family's vacation house on Sebago Lake. Five irresponsible grownups laugh giddily.
July 24, 2005 Photos
2005-07-24 Peak's Island, Tony's garden.
July 17, 2005 Movies
Jumping on Zack's trampoline.
July 9, 2005 Photos
2005-07-09 Cape Cod.
July 8, 2005 Photos
2005-07-08 Portraits.
July 5, 2005 Inblox

Finally, #1 on Google

Yes, this site is the #1 match on Google. That's the good news. The bad news is that it's #1 for the search term clips of trebuchet launches.

bbott.org also shows up for videos of belly kisses, though not on the first several pages (of delightful porn links). Sadly, searching for mark abbott doesn't return anything until page 8 of the search results.

June 25, 2005 Photos
2005-06-25 Water park, swing, lobster bakes.
June 24, 2005 Inblox

P-I-N-O-C-C-H-I-O

Becca: Eva wants to hear that chapter where Pinocchio is sick. Can you show me where that is?

Mark: That chapter is where things start to get weird; there is a fairy who tells Pinocchio that everyone in her house is D-E-A-D, so you may want to substitute S-I-C-K.

[The next morning]

Eva: I need to have a conversation about Pinocchio.

Mark: OK, what?

Eva: In Pinocchio, the fairy said, that all the people in her house, were D-O-K-T-T-R-S.

June 17, 2005 Inblox

Eva likes to go first

Eva: Do you need a tissue?

Becca: Yes.

Eva: OK, I'll get two tissues, and I can have the first, and you can have the next.

Becca: Actually, I really need a tissue. Can I have the first tissue?

Eva: OK. There will be two firsts, and I will have the first first, and you will have the next first.

May 22, 2005 Movies
Mia's baptism, as seen by Mark and Eva.
May 22, 2005 Photos
2005-05-22 Easter; Hilt's birthday; Sam's birthday and Mia's baptism.
May 8, 2005 Projects
squatcom.comAutomatically find and download great music.
March 20, 2005 Photos
2005-03-20 Two birthdays.
February 20, 2005 Photos
2005-02-20 San Diego.
February 6, 2005 Photos
2005-02-06 Winter.
February 2, 2005 Movies
Eva uses her imagination, making an unusual request of her mom.
January 16, 2005 Photos
2005-01-16 Mia Abbott Ollari.
January 7, 2005 Inblox

The quotable Eva

(While eating a delicious dinner)

Becca: Eva, thank you for helping to make biscuits.

Mark: And mom, thank you for making the Chicken a la Grandpa.

(Eva thinks for a moment.)

Eva: And dad, thank you for saying "Time for dinner!"

December 26, 2004 Photos
2004-12-26 Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
October 21, 2004 Photos
2004-10-21 End of summer, butterflies, Berkeley.
October 18, 2004 Movies
The Ellen Interview: Becca talks to her mom about a 10 month old container of cream cheese in her refrigerator.
October 1, 2004 Photos
2004-10-01 Hilt's photos.
September 16, 2004 Movies
Eva sings and plays "Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy".
September 6, 2004 Photos
2004-09-06 The summer ends: Portland, Williamstown, Chatham, Portland.
August 24, 2004 Movies
Robot vs. the cats (for the easily amused).
August 3, 2004 Movies
Eva is spun and makes faces in our front yard.
July 31, 2004 Photos
2004-07-31 Cape Cod, Saturday in Maine.
July 7, 2004 Projects
MBA Reading ListReading like an MBA student via MIT's OpenCourseWare.
July 6, 2004 Movies
A thank-you message from Eva to the staff at Maine Med who took care of her the previous week.
June 12, 2004 Photos
2004-06-12 Vacation in San Diego.
May 27, 2004 Inblox

Doppelgangers

Because I have a 401(k) with Fidelity, I get this cheesy magazine once a quarter. When I got the last issue, I was shocked to see Eva on the cover.

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May 23, 2004 Movies
Baby Sam's baptism; Eva misbehaves in church. This movie is long (over six minutes) because it's the first one I made after I got a DVD burner.
May 23, 2004 Photos
2004-05-23 Springtime; Sam's baptism.
April 22, 2004 Photos
2004-04-22 Becca's birthday; Becca and Eva's trip to Ellis Island and Long Island.
March 31, 2004 Inblox

This is not a blog

This weekend, I saw my sister Joanna, who had a number of criticisms about the revised site layout. One of her big complaints was the "Blog" section. Joanna knows a lot more about blogs than I do -- she has a blog of her own at http://www.livejournal.com/users/joanna_abbott/. So she spent a few minutes schooling Rebecca and me.

My little online journal, I realized, is not really a blog. People can't respond to my posts. There are no "social networking" features like on LiveJournal...

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March 30, 2004 Inblox

New site design updated

After much feedback, I have updated the new site design. Here are the highlights:

  • The front page is much simpler, as requested. (The previous version looked "like an Excel spreadsheet".)
  • No one but me seems excited about having all the different types of content (Photos, Movies, etc.) interwoven on a single page, so this view has been removed from the main page and put on the "everything" link.
  • Dates are now in a human-friendly format.
  • Representative thumbnails have been added to the master list of Photos.
  • Added a Projects category for Mark's programming projects.

I'll mention changes to the Blog in a separate post.

March 26, 2004 Photos
2004-03-26 Zack's birthday; vacation at the Cape.
March 17, 2004 Inblox

New site design

I have rolled out a new design for the site.

[read more]
March 17, 2004 Movies
Ring Around the Rosy. Filmed in Rebecca's patented Tilt-O-Vision.
March 10, 2004 Photos
2004-03-10 Eva's second birthday.
March 9, 2004 Inblox

To do: add badly-implemented blog

All web sites eventually implement blogs.

[read more]
February 29, 2004 Movies
Kids at Eva's second birthday party: Baby Sam, Mackenna, London.
February 18, 2004 Movies
Eva watches herself eat ice cream in the view screen of the video camera. The real treat is watching Eva watch this video; she laughs every time her onscreen self says "boogies".
February 1, 2004 Photos
2004-02-01 Wintertime.
January 1, 2004 Photos
2004-01-01 Holidays 2003.
November 30, 2003 Photos
2003-11-30 Halloween and Thanksgiving 2003.
November 29, 2003 Movies
Eva being noisy (screeching and banging on a bowl).
November 1, 2003 Movies
On the day after Halloween, a scale model of a medieval trebuchet launches pumpkins the length of a football field.
October 25, 2003 Movies
Portland tried and failed to break the world record for the largest number of lit Jack-o-lanterns, getting about 15,000 instead of the necessary 25,000. Still, it was a lot of Jack-o-lanterns. This clip shows a few of them.
October 13, 2003 Photos
2003-10-13 Portland, Cape Cod, Goose Rocks, Chocolate factory.
September 14, 2003 Photos
2003-09-14 Eva at eighteen months.
August 31, 2003 Photos
2003-08-31 Three weddings and a houseful of Bloch women.
July 6, 2003 Photos
2003-07-06 Baby Sam; The Cape; Conway NH for Griffin's first birthday.
June 16, 2003 Movies
After the movers arrive in Portland, Eva plays in a box of packing pellets.
June 16, 2003 Photos
2003-06-16 Becca's graduation, moving to Maine.
June 8, 2003 Movies
Becca is hooded at her Medical School graduation.
June 8, 2003 Movies
On Becca's Graduation day, Eva walks around in her own gown with Aunt Joanna and Grandma Linda.
May 31, 2003 Movies
Eva falls asleep while eating.
May 11, 2003 Movies
Two minutes of Eva lecturing Gus.
April 25, 2003 Movies
Eva learns to use a spoon with the help of the sugar bowl. Raquel and John are witnesses. Includes the phrase "They'll be showing this video in court."
April 20, 2003 Photos
2003-04-20 Butterflies, Becca's birthday, Easter.
April 6, 2003 Photos
2003-04-06 Disneyland, Getty Center, Mt. Soledad.
March 20, 2003 Photos
2003-03-20 Various brunches, Match Day.
February 24, 2003 Movies
Eva eats some birthday cake.
February 24, 2003 Movies
Eva hanging out and walking on her first birthday.
February 24, 2003 Photos
2003-02-24 Eva's first birthday.
February 15, 2003 Movies
Eva and her friends Ben and Albin enjoy their birthday cake. Note: this is a large download. It may not be worth it. However, it was carefully constructed in what journalists call "reverse pyramid" format, which means that you can feel free to stop watching at any point, because you've already seen the best stuff.
January 24, 2003 Photos
2003-01-24 Eva, eleven months: San Jose, Portland.
January 5, 2003 Movies
Eva meets Hannah, the 15-month-old daughter of our friends Tony and Shelly.
January 5, 2003 Photos
2003-01-05 The New Year and trips to Boston, Amherst, Northampton.
January 1, 2003 Movies
Eva and Owen face off, pound on the table, and kiss -- then it all turns ugly.
December 31, 2002 Movies
Eva plays in the Exersaucer; commentary provided by her parents and Dave Smith, who tackle the question, "Does Eva smile too much?"
December 30, 2002 Movies
Eva is licked by Aunt Mary-Alice's dog Cleo.
December 28, 2002 Movies
Jake, 5 weeks old in this clip, is the son of Mark's cousin Todd. We met Jake during a trip to Barre, Vermont, where Jake, Todd, and various of Mark's Dad's family live.
December 28, 2002 Photos
2002-12-28 Christmas.
December 26, 2002 Movies
Eva really enjoyed this bizarre toy. It would dance, then she would drag it off the table to crush the foot of whomever was sitting behind her.
December 16, 2002 Photos
2002-12-16 Thanksgiving and Hanukkah.
December 5, 2002 Projects
MosaicsBig pictures of Eva made by tiling lots of little pictures of Eva.
November 22, 2002 Photos
2002-11-22 Eva, age eight months.
October 31, 2002 Photos
2002-10-31 First Halloween.
October 27, 2002 Movies
Eva eating breakfast.
October 27, 2002 Movies
Eva playing with a box.
October 27, 2002 Movies
Eva giggling at the prospect of belly kisses.
October 23, 2002 Photos
2002-10-23 Eva, age 7 1/2 months.
October 4, 2002 Photos
2002-10-04 Eva, age seven months.
September 21, 2002 Photos
2002-09-21 Eva, age 6 1/2 months.
August 31, 2002 Photos
2002-08-31 Eva's half-birthday: eating and sitting up.
August 15, 2002 Photos
2002-08-15 Eva, age 5 1/2 months: the zoo; first trip to Berkeley; Seal Beach.
July 26, 2002 Photos
2002-07-26 Eva, age five months.
July 6, 2002 Photos
2002-07-06 Summer trip part three: Cape Cod, Connecticut.
June 30, 2002 Photos
2002-06-30 Summer trip part two: Cape Cod.
June 27, 2002 Photos
2002-06-27 Summer trip part one: Washington, D.C.; New York; Massachusetts.
June 8, 2002 Photos
2002-06-08 Eva, age three months.
May 22, 2002 Photos
2002-05-22 Eva, age eleven weeks.
May 12, 2002 Photos
2002-05-12 Eva, age two months.
April 21, 2002 Photos
2002-04-21 Eva, age seven weeks.
April 13, 2002 Photos
2002-04-13 Eva, age six weeks.
April 5, 2002 Photos
2002-04-05 Eva, age five weeks.
March 24, 2002 Photos
2002-03-24 Eva, age one month.
March 17, 2002 Photos
2002-03-17 Eva, age three weeks.
March 10, 2002 Photos
2002-03-10 Eva, age two weeks.
March 5, 2002 Photos
2002-03-05 Eva, first week.
August 14, 1999 Photos
1999-08-14 The wedding.

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