The title...I couldn't resist. I was out in the garage trying to fix my bike when I had this idea come into my head; I've always wanted to do the shout out list, like those found in a CD booklet or in the credits of a video game, so here's the first of what will likely be a series of posts designed solely to give thanks to those friends, family members and acquaintances who help me/us in so many ways. I figure if I were to die tomorrow, It'd be nice to leave something like this behind (don't read anything into that statement, any one could go at any time!).
First of all, my biggest thanks obviously goes to God for I truly believe and I feel His love in my life every single day. Second, to Sarah, the love of my life and the mother of the two most beautiful things I've ever had the blessing to call "mine."
Thanks...
...to my father and mother who've stayed together through thick and thin (very thin at times) and always kept God and us, the kids, number one in their lives despite the fact that they both had very difficult childhoods.
...to my sisters, as crazy as they can be at time, whom I love in a way that I can't describe. I'm proud of all three of you.
...to the Carters who treat me like one of their own and who help us out with the kids so much. Also, to Jake, E and Rob whom I call my brothers.
...to my surrogate grandparents, the Ottosens, for all their love and support.
....to all of my extended family. Even though we don't see you as much as we'd like, blood always runs thicker than water. I can't wait to do some hiking and adventuring with Uncle Kevin, Todd, etc. November?
...to my OG G-MO...thanks for the conversation two Sundays ago, I'm still thinking about all of that and I better hear from you again soon. I hope everything works out. Blood brothers!
...to Wes and Apes for being there for us so often to help with the kids.
...to Mel and Jer for their undying friendship.
...to Mike T. for all of his help with my new responsibilities.
...to Jay for his critical approach and professional help.
...to Ned for listening to my philosophical and theological ideas.
...to my new friend Freedom and for the book. Thanks man, I hope to make a pilgrimage to the Bhodi Bookstore in LA some time.
...to Riste for all of his help at FMS and for kicking a brother down with Diet Cokes despite the death threats.
...to Dave T. for listening when I needed someone with whom I could be 100% honest.
...to all of the"MMA Friends." Can Couture do it again? I don't know, but I hope I'm with you when it goes down.
...to Big Dave and Martha for the delicious dinner a few weeks ago. Let's do the picnic soon! Oh yeah, and Dave, I haven't laughed as hard since that night. That goldfish can't breathe man!
...to Jarom M. and Jeremy for their friendship and for hitting the pavement with me recently. It's great to have friends, but it's even better to have friends with principles.
...to Shawn for being willing to help me get that computer up and running even though all we did was end up shooting the bull and laughing.
...to Josh for our weekly conversations at church and the fishing trip which are too few and far between.
...to Pres. Parker for everything he's done for me and the genuine feeling of love I feel when I see him.
...to everyone I've forgotten!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
It's Time for Campaignin'
Although I feel it's my civic duty to study up on the issues and vote, I am generally disgusted by politics in general and, personally, am not happy with either candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections. I don't mean to sound like a pessimist, for I consider myself an eternal optimist, but it's so hard to feel like positive change will happen when we as people, and therefore our elected leaders, won't face the real issues that adversely affect our society and civilization.
Unlike some of my more idealistic, at least in the political sense, friends and family members, I will not "throw my vote" away by voting for an independent. So, to spare you from me going into more detail, the following video from JibJab more-or-less sums up the way I generally feel about the 2008 national elections (oh, and I just wasted ten minutes of my life putting myself in the video although I was too lazy to upload a photo that would have worked best for this format):
Unlike some of my more idealistic, at least in the political sense, friends and family members, I will not "throw my vote" away by voting for an independent. So, to spare you from me going into more detail, the following video from JibJab more-or-less sums up the way I generally feel about the 2008 national elections (oh, and I just wasted ten minutes of my life putting myself in the video although I was too lazy to upload a photo that would have worked best for this format):
Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!
Sickness in the Todd Home and Other News
OK, I know this image is a bit melodramatic for a post about the flu, but it's a good way to announce that we're sick here in the Todd household. We all have this strange sickness that's been going around lately. Carter has seemed the least affected, probably because he doesn't slow down long enough to realize he's sick. Sarah and I both started feeling ill last week on Wednesday. I remember saying to my sister April that I felt anxious, a feeling I rarely experience and that I truly despise (I feel genuinely bad for people who suffer from anxiety). It wasn't until later that I realized it was actually a physiological thing affecting my normally rock solid gastrointestinal constitution (I pride myself, for example, on the ability to eat such foods as a cheeseburger and immediately jump on a AAA ride at Magic Mountain). The next day we both had sore throats and that dry, "stingy," feeling in our nasal passages. And then the real fun started: projectile vomiting from Claire. It always fun to clean up semi-digested milk with an assortment of small food chunks mixed in and that's exactly what I was doing as Sarah rushed Claire to the bath tub for the requisite speed bath.
Fortunately the vomiting was limited to Claire, but we're still feeling ill, well, mostly Claire and me. Other than that, everything is fine. I started my students on their narrative writing unit which is always exciting and difficult. Sarah went to the doctor for a check up today and she's in good health. Claire is beginning to talk more and is making the funniest faces. Oh, and Carter starts pre-school tomorrow at the First United Methodist Preschool (aka: FUMPS) where he'll attend two days per week until June. He's a member of the Pooh class and his teacher has been in pre-school education for forty-five years! Her assistant is an animal person and they have a seventy-five pound tortoise, a huge bearded dragon (I want to take a mouse and feed that lizard so badly) and two fire-bellied toads. I think I'm more excited about the animals than Carter. Sarah and I visited the church/school last week and were very impressed by the little campus and the people (women) who run it. We think this will be a great experience for Carter and we're excited for him to continue developing his social skills.
We hope you're all well and we pray for all of our friends and family every night. Have a great week!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Welcome Baby Asher and Congratulations Heidi and Ned
We love our family and are happy to welcome the latest member: Asher Broberg. He was born on August 28th to Heidi and Ned (my sister and her husband). He's a beautiful baby and we're are very pleased that everything went as planned. Here's a pic I took at the hospital with my phone.

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sarah's Flickr Mosaic

1. What is your first name? Sarah
2. What is your favorite food? peanut butter
3. What school did you go to? California State University, San Bernardino
4. What is your favorite color? yellow
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Matt Damon
6. Favorite drink? ice water
7. Dream vacation? Hawaii
8. Favorite dessert? angel food cake
9. What you want to be when you grow up? grandmother
10. What do you love most in life? families forever
11. One word to describe you. dedicated
12. Your nickname. Honey Bunches of Oats or "Bunches" for short
1. Before the world was made… the innerlight of Sarah.K was!!! :))), 2. Apples and Peanut Butter, 3. Grounds of San Bernardino State University, 4. Girasoles acariciados por el viento .../ Sunflowers kissed the wind ... (Dedicada a mis 7500 visitantes/Dedicated to my 7500 visitors), 5. Matt Damon, 6. Jökulsárlón Glacial Lake - Iceland, 7. Sunset Beach, 8. Angel Food Cake, 9. A Helping Hand, 10. Day 27/365: Two years, 11. The Old Odd-Looking House HDR, 12. I'm better keep an eye on this guy.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Personal Mosaic
This is a mosaic that represents me. To find out what this is all about, and how to make one yourself, please visit Holly's blog post that gives all the ins and outs HERE.
Click to enlarge:

The questions that match up with each image.
(Questions go with images going left to right):
1. What is your first name? Daniel
2. What is your favorite food? pasta
3. What school did you go to? University of Redlands
4. What is your favorite color? electric blue
5. Who is your celebrity crush? N. Portman
6. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper (diet)
7. Dream vacation? Trastevere quarter of Roma
8. Favorite dessert? Creme Brule
9. What you want to be when you grow up? master (ended up using the word "guru")
10. What do you love most in life? God
11. One word to describe you. exuberant
12. Your nickname. Although "Danny" is my common nickname, Sarah insisted on her nickname for me, BELUGA (a white whale mammal...cute, smart but chubby and white...hey!)
Copyright of images:
1. El lobo de Daniel, 2. You'll never find it, 3. University of Redlands Chapel, 4. electric blue, 5. Natalie Portman - Closeup, 6. 106.365 - "Old School", 7. Trastevere remake, 8. Crème Brulée, 9. The Old Tree, 10. From above..., 11. Zion, 12. Beluga
Click to enlarge:

The questions that match up with each image.
(Questions go with images going left to right):
1. What is your first name? Daniel
2. What is your favorite food? pasta
3. What school did you go to? University of Redlands
4. What is your favorite color? electric blue
5. Who is your celebrity crush? N. Portman
6. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper (diet)
7. Dream vacation? Trastevere quarter of Roma
8. Favorite dessert? Creme Brule
9. What you want to be when you grow up? master (ended up using the word "guru")
10. What do you love most in life? God
11. One word to describe you. exuberant
12. Your nickname. Although "Danny" is my common nickname, Sarah insisted on her nickname for me, BELUGA (a white whale mammal...cute, smart but chubby and white...hey!)
Copyright of images:
1. El lobo de Daniel, 2. You'll never find it, 3. University of Redlands Chapel, 4. electric blue, 5. Natalie Portman - Closeup, 6. 106.365 - "Old School", 7. Trastevere remake, 8. Crème Brulée, 9. The Old Tree, 10. From above..., 11. Zion, 12. Beluga
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