Chris

2008

2008, upon reflection, was a disastrous year but it will not get me down. After a lay-off 6 months ago, it has been difficult finding a job. The economy taking a long walk off of a short pier didn’t help either. Most corporations have tightened their belts and closed their wallets including layoffs of their own so why hire me?

We moved from Birmingham, Alabama to Houston, Texas in July for job prospects and closer to family. Literally a good move on our part. However, the house in Birmingham is still on the market and sucking away our savings.

2009

I am in charge. Not the economy, nor employers. Neither the winds of fortune. This is all about me and what I will do to not only survive but to become better. I know it sounds like a self-help book in the making but it isn’t.

I am so looking forward to these changes but even though 2009 is a few days away, I am not waiting!

The Denbow family wishes you the happiest of holiday wishes to you and your family. We’re travelling to Tulsa to celebrate with my side of the clan this year. The last time we had Christmas there was 4 years ago. We left home in Birmingham to arrive in Oklahoma 36 hrs later thanks to ice and dying car battery. We were spared from death many times that trip and vowed not to drive that way again if there was a hint of ice! Since we moved to Houston, we can now have a Christmas with my family up in Tulsa again.

Posing will be light from this upcoming Sunday until the Sunday after Christmas. I’ll be documenting activities for Photo Mojo, Video Mojo and more of course.

Have fun, love one another, peace on Earth and try to keep your cool in frustrating circumstances. We have such high expectations and plans that usually fall through so expect setbacks. See what happened to my brother when he told me he ate the last Christmas sugar cookie AND only left a swallow of milk in the carton?

no animals were harmed during this photo shoot. john, however was

I’m loving the dramatic look and wind in her hair complete with a classical wardrobe.

As a fairly new parent to a little girl, I am super protective. Wonderwife and I are allowing Daphne to explore age-appropriate television which is a cable channel called “Noggin”. No commercials, just content. All programs have developmental guidelines in various growth areas and social skills. I can appreciate that but she is still limited to only one hour a day (ideally).

Jack’s Big Music Show

“Are you ready for some music and fun?

C’mon everybody give your foot a tap

C’mon everybody give your hand a clap

Look everybody this is my dog Mel

and my best friend Mary is super swell

Dum diddy dum dee dum day

Dum diddy dum dee dum day

There’s just one more thing we’d like you to know…

You’re always welcome on JACK’S BIG MUSIC SHOW!”

Daphne can watch this show anytime she wants. She is very musical and loves to clap, sing and dance along. With special human guest stars including Jon Stewart and Buddy Guy as well as various puppet animals, these three just want to play music. I find myself laughing at the situations and even singing along (for Daphne’s benefit of course!) This is a very entertaining, funny and intelligent show exposing kids to various music styles ranging from classical to rock.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

A grown man acting as a D.J. likes to play with toys that can dance when you say “Yo Gabba Gabba”. There might be a lesson or two in there somewhere, but I’m not sure. I could only stomach 5 minutes of this. However, it is VERY popular apparently. Thankfully, Daphne has little interest.

Lazy Town

There is a bad guy living in the sewer of this lethargic town who encourages children to embrace sloth. There is another guy in tights watching over the town in a blimp. The kids are stuck in the middle. So many choices! The good guy loves to demonstrate himself with over-exaggerated flips, twists, push-ups, bad costume and a weird mustache. I think he is also the writer, which completes the dude’s self-absorption. Daphne is banned from this show for all time, not for the message, but in the delivery of that positive message. Get off your lazy butt and turn that show off!

What Else Is There?

Parents with older children: please tell me it gets better, not worse. If not, I will have to pull the plug for all of us here at Casa Mojo…

Instead of the typical holiday gift guides, let’s change it up a bit with stuff that people can afford and get access to! Here is a list of desirable doo-dads taken from a very un-scientific Twitter poll. Christmas is closing in fast so drop the hints, leave the product’s web page open for the spouse to see, circle the advertisement in nail polish. Whatever it takes for your true love to get you the things you love, right?

To the tune of The First Day of Christmas (you can sing it in your head as you read along)

 

 

 

 

 

On the 1st day of gadgets my true love will get for me: A Logitech MX Revolution wireless mouse!

On the 2nd day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Apple iPod Touch!

On the 3rd day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Lost 4.0 on DVD!

On the 4th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: an Eye-Fi wireless 2GB SD card!

On the 5th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Drobo SATA Robotic Storage Array

On the 6th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Adobe Photoshop CS4 upgrade!

On the 7th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Flip Mino High Def video camera!

On the 8th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Battlestar Galactica 4.0 on DVD!

On the 9th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Western Digital 1TB external hard drive!

On the 10th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Targus Travel Power Outlets!

On the 11th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Flickr Pro account!

On the 12th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Amazon Kindle!

So what is on your list? Add them into the comments!

Call this a self-evaluation or a wish list, but I will call it both. There are all sorts of things that we want to change and here are my desires now that I am a year older and wiser(?)…

Physical– During the pregnancy of our little daughter, I packed on quite a few “sympathy” pounds and never looked back…until now. I saw some photos taken of me this weekend and this needs to be addressed. Fast.

Spiritual- I think we have found a church home but for various reasons are afraid of committing ourselves in case I get a job across town. I shouldn’t allow this to stop me from growth at home.

Mental- Brain stimulus is crucial in longevity. I’m interested in picking up a new hobby that challenges my brain a bit. Learn a programming language? Logic games? Crossword puzzles? Still pondering this one.

Recreational- One of the things I miss after moving from Birmingham to Houston is the topography. There are so many trails and mountains in Bham and I tried to take advantage of these. Now that the terrain is flat and sidewalks are available, I want to get another bicycle. Ride to live. Live to Ride

Social- Tweetups, barcamps, conferences have been instrumental in meeting new people. I plan on soaking up more of these chances.

Financial- In weird economic situations like our current state of affairs here in the U.S., experience tells me that what you think is enough savings really isn’t. Do more of this.

Again, further thought and exploring will be poured into these things.

Friday- House of Blues for photo shoot with Buddy Guy

Saturday- Wonderwife, DVD and my mother-in-law visited the Museum of Fine Arts in the museum district where we discovered that we were now members. Thanks Sherry & Steve! Mom in town from Tulsa for birthday visit with added surprise bonus- my little brother! Oklahoma Sooners rack up the single season scoring record in college football with 702 points, scored over 60 points in the previous 5 games, won the Big 12 conference title and will play Florida in the National Championship as the #1 team in the country again.

Sunday, December 7, the day: Woke up to a little hand tapping mine to and a gorgeous little girl smiling down at me. After we both smiled, she leaned in to give me two kisses and another smile. My 15 month old daughter somehow knew it was going to be a good day and she started it off right! 73 degrees and sunny in December. A little shopping with family, another trip to the House of Blues for birthday lunch. You must try the Elwood. Blackened chicken sandwich. Yummo! Houston Texans win too.

Wonderwife baked me a custom birthday cake in the shape of my Nikon D200 camera complete with lens! How very thoughtful of her, thank you! The gifts were all great but after years of celebrating birthdays with each other, WW and I were very grateful to be closer to family and celebrate special occasions such as this one. This is more important to us. Thank you to everyone for making it extra special.

 

 

 

Sunday, December 7th at The Coffee Groundz cafe. Throughout the afternoon, you can expect live music, grilling, networking, socializing, drink specials and questionable OHs (overheard tweetable comments)

J.R. is an excellent host and has really introduced a lot of people to the Coffee Groundz who  otherwise might not visit. With the power of Twitter, good drinks (they serve alcohol too!) and free wifi, this place is always buzzin’.

With over a hundred attendees so far, this will get real exciting, real fast. The cafe even opens up to a spacious outdoor patio with plenty of space to mingle.

I’ll be making a brief appearance because that is my birthday and family will be in town. Tweet you there! You can also follow me on Twitter as @mojodenbow

Facebook event page is here

On Twitter: @coffeegroundz

 

**UPDATE**

Flip Mino HD Test from Mojo Denbow on Vimeo.

After discovering a great deal on this ultra-portable HD camera from Amazon.com, I ordered immediately. Initial tests do not disappoint but did not have enough time in the day to put it through it’s paces. Please give me feedback after viewing!!

What is very impressive to me right out of the box was the fact that this camera will store 2GB (1 hour) of HD footage. Very compact and lighter than our 1st gen 30 minute Flip camera. Here is my mobile phone side-by-side as a comparison. Amazing!

**ORIGINAL POST**

As a way to preserve memories and maintain a video blog, we have just upgraded our video mojo. Originally we purchased a Sony Handi cam but the transfer/edit process is a time suck. Then we purchased the super, easy to use 1st gen Flip camera. Now that Flip has introduced the Flip Mino in high definition for up to an hour, I had to jump on it. The deal from Amazon.com included free tripod and action mount too (great for watching me fly head over heels as I crash the bicycle).

More details and video review as soon as it arrives (next day) on Video Mojo!

Jay can has one too

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