The Dutton Family Weblog

Stress test


OK, so yesterday I took off the afternoon to go get my scheduled stress test out of the way. This consisted of different types of breathing into a tube (with and without a snorkel-like mouthpiece) in a “rested” state, and while on a stationary bike of increasing levels of resistance.
The tech was a young, good-looking [...]

Happy Birthday, Joey!


Here’s your fuss. Happy Birthday, my dear *mwah*

Photos from the birthday party :)


This was an all-day preparation, even though most of the food was pre-made (except for the cupcakes and cake). I had fun with the day, though, and I think everyone else did, too
The really cute beehive cakepan that Mom ordered wasn’t here by noon on Saturday, so I went with a makeshift alternative. [...]

Happy Birthday Ivy!


Exactly one year ago today, you came into our lives, and have been such a wonderful and complete blessing, every day. Happy Birthday, Ivy Sommer Dutton!

German ingenuity


Have you ever wanted to drink while riding your bike around, but you were afraid you’d:

Spill your beer
Get too blitzed to drive?
Well, Germany has the solution (of course).
Not sure if y’all can tell, but the patrons at the “bar” there, all pedal, which is what makes the thing move. There was one tooling around the [...]

Life on the road


For those who might think it’s all glamorous having an overseas assignment, take a look at this photo. See the time this was posted? Add 6 hours to it from NYC, and that’s when I’m uploading this. Yup, 2am. I’m sleeping with/in/on my workpapers. Literally. Pretty swanky, eh?

Bring Your Baby to the Movie Theater


Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before? Or maybe they have and I just wasn’t paying attention….
A movie theater here in Houston has a “Crybaby Matinee”. Parents can bring their infants and toddlers to the movie. Cool. I wonder why other theaters don’t do this, or perhaps even provide a babysitting service sort of [...]

Bildern (Photos)


OK, by popular demand, here are some early photos from the trip to Germany. I couldn’t get a good position for setting the camera up for fireworks photos, so those were taken while holding the camera “by hand” and hence they are not too good, but… it’s what I got from that night. The rest [...]

In Koeln


Well, after 12 hours on planes, and a quick 1-hour train ride from Frankfurt to Cologne I’m… in Cologne. It’s actually COOL here right now, and raining. My immediate impression was one of “whoa” - stepping out of the train station at the cathedral was literally AT the cathedral. Really. Right there at the steps [...]

Triberg on the 18th


I plan to spend most of the day around Triberg, in the heart of the Black Forest on the 18th. Home to cuckoo clocks and the highest waterfalls in Germany. At first I was thinking about hitting some of the Westweg in the area, but the Panoramaweg (circular hiking trail) around Triberg and the Falls [...]