NEPHEW!!!

1. Supporting his MU Tigers while being held by uncle Josh (a few weeks ago).

2. Just smiling away...he does that a lot now. He's so alert.

3. Heading to the office...Brittney brought him up to Luke's work for the first time wearing this outfit...yes, they're khakis. I love this picture!!!

He couldn't be sweeter or cuter! He's healthy and growing at rapid speeds (15 pounds now and he's about 9 weeks old). Luke and Brittney are having a great time with him and they are just the best parents.

Please Digg my blog, Digg is a pain so...

One more thing, can you also please Digg my blog? It would be extremely helpful and only takes a minute or two, but it's a bit convoluted, so here's the fastest/easiest way to do it.

1) Go to Digg and sign up.
2) In Digg's search box enter "the man who doesn't exist" (quotes aren't necessary)
3) You'll get terrible search results.
4) Refine your search by using the three drop-down boxes right below the new search box (which will appear roughly in the center of the page). In the first drop-down select, "title only". In the second, "all stories." In the third, "sort best match first."
5) This should yield my blog.
6)Then simply click on the white "digg it" button on the right.

Your done. Sorry so convoluted. There's an easier way to do this now that I've added new digg, stumbleupon, delico.us, etc. buttons. But if you go through the new buttons, it creates a brand new digg with no votes.

Thanks for all the help!

The Man Who Doesn't Exist

Hey guys -- In addition to tweeting my novel (#tweetednovel @johnmbaird on twitter), I'm also archiving the earlier tweets on my blog, The Man Who Doesn't Exist. Check it out and please follow me. Let me know if you love, hate, are confused, bored etc. I want criticism. Thanks!

Happy Birthday to me!

Okay, so you took a shot -- DISHES!

Who knew I would love them?

This is the cutest set of cups with glass spoons that sit down inside the handle.

Thanks kindly for the perfect find!

I played with them this week-end!

You Know Who Likes 500-Point Rallies?

The flood of tears is now more of a trickle.

Home Sales Rise; Beat Expectations

From the WSJ, below. But shouldn't it read, " ...climbing above expectations, BECAUSE prices plunged..."? Yes, it should. It's called a "market" and the WSJ should know that.

WASHINGTON -- Existing-home sales rebounded in February, climbing above expectations, but prices plunged again.

Home resales climbed to a 4.72 million annual rate, a 5.1% increase from January's unrevised 4.49 million annual pace, the National Association of Realtors said Monday.

Foreclosures and short sales reflect about 45% of total existing-home sales. Distressed properties are discounted, so the abundance of these sales prices new homes out of the market, discouraging construction and weakening the overall housing sector further.

With so many distressed sales, the median price for an existing home fell last month. At $165,400 in February, the median price was down 15.5% from $195,800 in February 2008. The median price in January this year was $164,800. The 15.5% plunge is the second biggest ever, behind January's 17.5% drop.

Hey Look A Post!

Sorry I haven't blogged in so long. LOTS of work to be done. And, when I'm not working, I'm writing. Thus, two, more-than-full-time jobs.

Trying to think if I have any news -- Yes! "I Love You Man" is hilarious! Can't believe it wasn't No. 1 movie this weekend. Apparently "Knowing" sucks.

Quote of the Week, March 18, 2009

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

-- William Faulkner

Anniversary Flowers....

Yes, that's right -- 35 years ago today, two 'very' young adults said "I do" and the clock started ticking. The years have been busy -- jobs, kids, college, weddings, vacations...and it all goes by so quickly.
Dad's creative touch is evident again this year in the flowers. There are 3 white roses with blue tips (these were the kind used in our wedding) for each decade, and 5 red roses -- to total 35 years.
I wish you could smell them. They are lovely.

This is Ridiculous

Typically, I'm very much on the side of corporations. However, this is ridiculous.

CHICAGO (AP) — The tallest building in America is getting a new name.
Chicago's Sears Tower will be renamed Willis Tower after London-based Willis Group Holdings. The insurance broker announced the name change and other details of its agreement with the building's owners Thursday.
Willis is moving five local offices and nearly 500 employees into the 110-story building. The move is expected to be completed by late summer.
Willis will occupy more than 140,000 square feet at $14.50 a square foot. The company says it's not paying anything extra for the naming rights.The 1,451-foot skyscraper is owned by a real estate investment group formed in 2004 to buy the tower

While we're at it, I plan to call my congressman and see if we can change a few more things for a quick buck. What do you think of:

The Empire Cheese State Building in New York?

The Golden Arch in St. Louis?

The Virgin Galatic Space Needle in Seattle?

The FedEx Beale Street in Memphis?

Just brainstorming here ...

Come On!

Chicago weather has been more frustrating than usual lately. I left work on Tuesday and it was around 60. Yesterday morning greeted me with a balmy 20 and WINDY. At least it's supposed to be around 45 on Saturday. Rach, you want to go to the beach?

Quote of the Week, March 11, 2009

There are no great people in the world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.

-- William Frederick Halsey, Jr. (1882-1959) Military Officer

Greetings from the Vatican! (I just mean my desk)

So, I’ve been pretty bad about correspondence lately; not just on this blog, but with everyone. Many apologies. I’m going to try and be better about posting. Ironically, I don’t have much to report. However, Rachel and I did just host Melissa and John last weekend and had a blast! We covered museums and neighborhoods and fun dinner destinations. Also, Melissa about has me talked into a Triathlon in August. Yikes.

Let’s see, what else … Rachel and I picked a Nintendo Wii not too long ago! It’s very fun, though we don’t have a lot of time to play it. I’m trying to carve out more time to play, and to watch TV. And I’m trying to start smoking. Kidding.

I guess that’s it for now, but like I said, I plan to be better about posting!

Love all.

Josh