T-Monkey

well its not skates

2012-02-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

Well Judy, sorry, its not skates. But we thought we'd start at the top rather than the bottom and try the helmet first. Actually, we had to be sure he could tolerate it before we take him skating.

I can't wait to watch the helmet, long jersey, and really little legs skating around with the other munchkin brigade.

Art Ross, Here we Come!

2012-01-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Well monkey fans, its true.

Its happened, and there is no going back now.

Torben got his first real hockey stick!

Its even a real flat stick, not one of those curved floozys, and because we don't even know if the T is right or left handed yet we can just see how it goes.

Torben immediately did a bite test to make sure it was real and not imitation. Yup! Wood and fiberglass!

He strikes the ready position, get ready to RUMMMMMBLE!

Ok, here comes the cross check! Torben, take a time out, 2 mins. I was kidding about the rumble.

Luminarias

2012-01-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Even though this is a little out of order, as it occurred on Christmas Eve, the Monkey wanted his fans to get a peak the New Mexican tradition of Luminarias.

-Nighttime settling in on the luminaria tour - Gordon's house and his 800 lamps are already well lit and shining. Ours are still warming up-

We placed about 200 paper bags containing a bit of dirt and a tea candle around the perimeter of our front yard, along the driveway and around the various planters. We also created some abstract designs. Our neighbor across the street had over 800 on his house. They were on the walls, parapets, smoke stack - basically every level surface. Pretty much everybody in our neighborhood was involved in this - a few didn't - and everybody made sure to walk their dogs on those properties a little longer the next day.

-Our house now in full light-

- Another view of our house, with Gordon's in the background - we will have to match it next year-
-A shot down our street-

The streets were closed around 5 pm and a tour route created. Local police monitored everything. PNM turned out the neighborhood street lights, everybody turned off their house lights - or put the shades down - to let the farolitos be the only source of illumination. Then the line of tour buses and cars started to roll through - and lasted until midnight at least. It was pretty to see the lines of luminarias stretching down each street. The country club even had a few hot air balloons inflated and glowing.

Torben and company walked around the neighborhood taking in the sights and even crashed a few parties. It was great.

There were a few technical issues with our little lights. We should have used votive candles instead of the little tea candles - our farolitos were a little dim. Next year will be better.

Santa was Here!

2012-01-02T21:36:00.000-07:00

Santa was here, but it was a close one. Torben was adamant that he didn't want Santa to arrive, but after some discussion, he decided he was being reedikulous and "that's just silly, Dad!"

We attempted the tree in the pot this year, a Vandewolf Pyramid Pine, in the hope that it will live in there indefinitely. This year, the tree was a little small, but then so is Tmonkey, yet it did its best to support most of the ornaments. Santa was able to locate it without a problem, and being considerate, we even cleaned out all (well, most) ((well, a good portion)) of the soot in the fireplace so that jolly old elf didn't make a mess of the place. Not sure how he managed the wagon, we suppose one part at a time and then magic assembly.

Torben managed to secure a smearl of gifts...the wagon, bears, books and a laptop. Well, not a real laptop - and of course it makes a wonderful racket.

Look for your thank you coming soon.

Train Cake, whoo whoooooo!

2011-12-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

In preparation for holiday festivities, the train cake was prepared. Though these pictures portray a fun and seamless process, it was anything but (well at least the seamless part).

Cake research and development required the assistance of the resident Materials Scientist to determine the proper structure-properties relations which optimized cake elasticity and adherence to mold detail while allowing adequate browning and easy cake removal. Cake pan greasing experiments were done in the following manner, 1 row (3 train cars) no surfactants, 1 row (3 train cars) non-stick spray, 1 row (3 train cars) non-stick spray and light dusting of flour. It was determined that there were marginal differences between greasing strategies. A classic pound cake recipe (The New Best Recipes, Cooks Illustrated, pg 831 (2004)) was found to satisfy all design specifications, super-moist cake mix was found to be less than optimal. Figure 1 shows the finished cake (iteration number 36A-2) after removal from the pan. Figures 2-4 show application of surface sealants (to prevent moisture from evaporating from the cake interior) and beautification processing required by the marketing department. Finally, taste testing is shown in Figure 5, taster #3 (Grandpa Roger) is not shown, but was responsible for most of the day-to-day tasting to determine maximum shelf life.

Figure 1 - Cake after removal from autoclave.

Figure 2 - Initial steps of sealing and beautification processing.

Figure 3 - Close-up of propriety material used for train wheels.

Figure 4 - Final touches.

Figure 5 - Taste testing with the focus group, milk (cow, organic) was required to reset the palettes between trials.

Thank you for all the wonderful presents!!!

2011-12-15T17:05:00.001-07:00

Torben at his party

2011-12-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

We had a joint b-day party with our neighbors, and they got a pinata shaped like a train...here is Torben and Leo not quite 'getting' what to do.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2011-11-24T13:55:00.001-07:00

Tim raked up a pile of leaves in the yard this morning and Torben had a great time playing in them.

Torben and Smokey!

2011-11-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Torben's first duck banding

2011-11-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

At the Crane Festival Torben got to band a duck. Here he is listening very carefully to instructions!

Close encounter with a duck!

2011-11-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went down to the Crane Festival at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Torben got the chance to band a duck.

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody, still trying to keep up with the Torben blog. This is a few weeks behind...but we had a great Halloween. Torben went to a Halloween party and then went 'trick or treating'. For Halloween he was both a robot and a tiger. Our neighborhood is very popular - we easily had over two hundred trick or treaters visit our house.

Hockey season is back!

2011-10-22T15:59:00.000-06:00

Torben teamed up with his friend Sky at the market.

Torben wears his Canadians jersey any chance he can...

2011-10-22T15:57:00.000-06:00

This was a while ago but we have to make up for lost time, this if from the 4th of July parade...

Looking up!

2011-10-22T15:55:00.000-06:00

Balloon fiesta and bumble bees

2011-10-20T20:29:00.000-06:00

I'm ba-a-a ad, I'm nationwide

2011-07-31T08:48:00.000-06:00

Also while in Milwuakee, Torben visited one of the city's - and the nation's - iconic institutions, the Harley Davidson Museum. Twice. This new museum is quite a place, not only are the regular clientele colorful, the museum is new and glitzy with shiny chrome covering most everything and motorcycles galore show casing Harley's history and development. Like every business entity today, they even have a spot to get the kids branded early.

This one must be be for Pappa bear....

Ride'm Bronco!

I am either gonna be a bad-ass or a stripper....

Definitely bad-ass

Let me introduce you to my bad-ass trainer. He looks rough, but he giggles when you poke'm in the tummy

The Girls

2011-07-28T07:34:00.000-06:00

Besides trains, the trip did involve a human element. Torben got to spend time with his wonderful cousins Angelina and C - whoa, almost did it - Katerina. In addition to garden romps and creating the kid tornado at Grandma's house, there was toe nail painting (pink, of course), museum visits and pony rides. Well not real pony rides.

Chez Milwaukee

2011-07-28T07:20:00.000-06:00

Torben recently spent a week in his old midwest haunts. Returning to the land of humidity was hindered by the weather, "Storms in Venver " (that's Denver for those of you who don't speak child), but we managed to finally make it after a one day delay. The airplane ride made Torben "a little nervous" due to the bumpy ride, but we weathered through it.

As can be expected, Torben was very happy to return to GrandPa's garden train, especially with the addition of the working steam engine. He was up to his old tricks, instructing people on proper railroad etiquette, performing routine maintenance and completing the supply chain via the truck network.

The Fix-it Train

2011-07-05T19:36:00.000-06:00

Dada and Torben took a trip to the old Santa Fe railshops in downtown ABQ. The giant complex is now just a relic, but it does see action as a movie set (they were filming some Captain America movie that day - he got himself blown up into a wall, several times). Inspired by the action sequences, Torben decided to practice his Children's Kung POW moves......
"This is the fix-it train. It fixes the rails. Upon it, I practice my moves. I will demonstrate, please stand back."

"First, I start with a warm-up. Horse stance, arm twist and KidHandSlap! I do this while I balance on these logs so conveniently placed here for my pleasure."

"Next, a reverse kick....WHOA....the edge appeared rather suddenly. I guess my leaps are too powerful for this pitifully small stage."

"I return with the ChildFingerPoint attack! Brutal. Please note my serene, calm expression - don't let it fool you - I am deadly with my finger. Wanna pull it?"
"I finish with the FixItCrane attack - huuwa!. Nothing can withstand this fatal blow. I learned this during my time in Taiwan, there, it is called the TerribleTeaPot"

And, this one is for Mike H, ignore the shirt... "Go Beavers!" Nahhhhh, just kidding.

New Home?

2011-06-30T08:06:00.001-06:00

In case you didn't know, Torben may actually acquire a place where he can put some roots down and a backyard to call his own. Things are progressing, and recently Torben was contemplating the cost /benefit analysis of such a purchase. In a true Zen moment, he was ruminating on this in the company of some cherry trees while munching an apple. He wasn't happy about being bothered.

Torben Misses Judy's glasses

2011-06-28T07:17:00.000-06:00

Torben has always had a fascination with glasses, especially Judy's. Pretty much from day 1 they were entertaining to him - but - no matter how much he tried he could never make glasses a source of food. Torben's getting older now, and he graduating to wearing glasses instead of eating them.

Did I mention train fanatic?

2011-06-22T06:40:00.000-06:00

So Torben bought a box of toys from a rummage sale, 5$ for a bin of little cars, trains and farm animals. Whats the first thing he did with them? Line them up into a train of course. Ta Daaa!

Trains, there everywhere!

2011-06-22T06:25:00.000-06:00

In case you didn't know, Torben is a train fanatic. Luckily, there are oodles of train opportunities here in ABQ (that's short for, wait for it, Albuquerque). There is a zoo train, a train which takes you between the zoo and botanical garden and a garden in train in the garden, a real triple threat. A typical outing for us: Step 1 - walk to zoo at 9am see some animals and wait for first Rio Line train (train departs 10:15. Step 2 - Ride the Rio Line to the botanical garden (putting hands in the air to hold up the two tunnels on this route - and KEEP YOUR ARMS AND HEAD INSIDE THE TRAIN AT ALL TIMES TORBEN, how many times do I....). Step 3 - Run to garden train, talk about the worker guys who fix the trains and the little ladder leading up to the house for the Keebler elves). Step 4 - Press every button which operates the three trains on the three separate mini loops. Step 5 - Return to zoo on Rio Line while enjoying a nice tasty snack. Step 5 - Walk home, crash for four hour nap.

Albuquerque First Impressions

2011-06-19T16:34:00.001-06:00

Well, we have been in Albuquerque for little over a month at this point. So far we have found that this city is very much like the cactus pictured above. The city at first seems a little plain and a little prickly, but it possesses a hidden beauty which emerges once you really start to look. We have discovered the city has a wonderful zoo, aquarium, botanical park, several trains of varying size and disposition, weekend farmer's markets, many quaint places to eat, several brewpubs, parks galore, and more! The people here seem to be generally warm and friendly. They call this the land of enchantment, we are feeling the attraction and are slowly falling for the place.

Albuquerque, finally!

2011-05-29T10:32:00.000-06:00

Well, we have finally arrived in Albuquerque. Things have been a bit hectic, looking for apartments or a house. First impressions were not the best, but the place is growing on us. But, we are happy to be settled and done with traveling for a bit.

Pueblos

2011-05-29T10:26:00.000-06:00

After Moab, the whole crew (including Joan, Roger, Kris, Tim and Torben - oh and Lucy) headed down to Cortez where we spent the night. The next day we headed up to Mesa Verde to the check out the cliff dwellings. Torben wasn't too sure about this, but he took it in stride.

Next stop, Albuquerque!

More Moab

2011-05-29T10:20:00.001-06:00

By the way, we ran into Roger and Joan in Moab, who knew? Also watch out for the blowing sand!

Moab

2011-05-29T10:04:00.000-06:00

After Ogden, we made a brief stop in Temple Square in Salt Lake. Very pretty, but every conversation turned towards the great spirit in the sky which made things a little annoying. However, we did notice all the missionaries in the square were young, good locking chicks. Imagine that!?

After Salt Lake we made a stop in Helper - named so because this town is where helper engines were kept to get trains through the mountains - to see a small mining/railroad/history museum. Cute, but small, not the greatest, Torbs was only slightly impressed - enough to properly use the facilities.

Our next stop was a Dinosaur and Paleontology museum in Price. Torben spent most of the time digging in the sandbox looking for fossils (plastic cars, dog bones etc)

Finally we ended up in Moab. What a beautiful place! We met up with one of Kris's old friends, Dan, and his kids Evan and Issac. The kids got along tremendously, especially at the sand dune arch where they ran screamed, climbed, rolled, buried and jumped in the fine sand at the base of the arch. We were cleaning sand out of pockets, shoes and various bodily cracks for a few days after. The kids also introduced the monkey to Road Runner and friends, Meep Meep!

Ogden, Utah

2011-05-27T14:51:00.000-06:00

After the falls, made it all the way to Ogden, Utah. Had no idea what to expect - but it was Monkey Heaven. First, trains everywhere. Second, the Treehouse Museum - a kids wonderland. Torben ran and explored the firetruck, the Thomas trains, the ethnic homes, the tree, the - well the place is huge and so much to do. After a nice dinner at a local brewpub - something about a rooster - Torben got to climb on the real trains. Ohhhhh, boy. There was so much excitement and a few happy dances. Actually, we found out the dance was not happy but potty. Torben had so much fun, he passed out at 8:30 pm and didn't wake up until 8:30 am.

Shoshone Falls, ID

2011-05-27T14:45:00.000-06:00

We continued on our way to Boise, ID where we camped (in a hotel) for the night. Torben frequented the pool again, but this time we kept him away from the fruit until after the swim sessions. However, we were rudely awoken at 6 am by the fire alarm, which after 5 or six fire trucks showed up made Torben pretty happy - he even got stickers from the firemen. After Boise, we stopped in Shoshone Falls - just outside of Twin Falls Id. You would never guess they are there, but the gorge is shear and deep and the falls are wide. Plus we got our first sunburn of the year, after you haven't seen the sun for six plus months it doesn't take much.

Go West young man (well in our case East)

2011-05-27T14:32:00.000-06:00

Although this chronicle is a little belated, here are a few pictures of our journey from Vancouver B.C. to our new home in Albuquerque NM. The first part of trek took us along parts of the Oregon trail and we found a wonderful interpretive center in Baker City, OR. We highly recommend it if you are traveling that way. Torben climbed onto real period wagons, gazed into the distance, and with a determined jaw and outstretched finger said "Go West, Young man, Go West!" Too bad he was pointing south, but maybe he was trying to throw off the cops who might have been chasing us from Pendleton, OR where Torben vomited in the pool turning it into a fruit cocktail. At the center, we also examined the actual wagon ruts of the trail which still exist and toured the wonderful museum about the Oregon trail.

We love Saturna!

2011-04-29T11:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks Judy Jenny and Isla for a fabulous weekend. We will all miss you so much!

the beach

2011-04-29T11:19:00.000-06:00

The weekend finished off with a trip to the beach. Isla and Torben went swimming with a river otter (you can see it in the backgound)!

The hunt begins...

2011-04-29T11:13:00.000-06:00

Easter Egg hunt

2011-04-29T11:08:00.000-06:00

The Easter bunny hid some lovely eggs for Torben to find. Unfortunately the Easter bunny did not cook them long enough so they were not as delicious as they were pretty...

Easter nest

2011-04-29T11:04:00.000-06:00

Torben hide a nest for the Easter bunny and Easter morning Judy the Easter bunny had visited and deliver all sorts of candy!

Cakewalk - winner!

2011-04-29T10:59:00.000-06:00

Every Easter on Saturna Island there is a Bake Sale. Torben entered the cake walk and WON! Ok it took three tries but he won a new friend 'Henriotta' the bunny and also some lovely cupcakes which we all enjoyed.

Easter long weekend

2011-04-29T10:51:00.000-06:00

This Easter long weekend (in Canada we get both Friday AND Monday off!!) we went to Judy's cabin on Saturna Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands. We had excellent weather and lots of Easter fun. Here is Torben and Jenny hiking up the hill.

Smiling again!

2011-04-11T11:37:00.000-06:00

I really like daycare but what I don't like is all the sickness that goes along with it. I finally got up today and felt like smiling!

Jello, greeen pleaz

2011-04-11T11:35:00.000-06:00

Grandma Joan and Marilyn made me some jello. Finally food you CAN play with!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T16:01:00.000-07:00

My oh my how time flies. A new year already? For the New Year's celebration we went to our friends Judy and Isla's cabin on Saturna Island which is in the Gulf Islands group. When we unloaded from the ferry we found ourselves in 4 inches of wonderful light fluffy snow. Good thing I thought to bring the snow suit (I really had rainy beach visits in mind with the snow suit, not snow). Here are a couple of pictures taken by Isla...as you can see Torben hated every minute of it.

Squirrely Torben!

2010-10-27T15:45:00.000-06:00

Torben got to go to a halloween party with Angelina (Lina) and Katarina (Nina). Tracy Janglinski took these adorable photos of Torben as a squirrel.

Torben on the couch

2010-10-13T12:50:00.000-06:00

Torben says good bye to summer

2010-10-12T19:30:00.000-06:00

This is fun!

2010-08-02T18:36:00.000-06:00

Are we having fun yet?

2010-08-02T18:34:00.000-06:00

Alien Monkey?

2010-08-02T18:22:00.000-06:00

Like my Hat?

2010-08-02T18:20:00.000-06:00

Sneak attach on the railroad

2010-08-02T18:19:00.001-06:00

Heeeeeeeeeee's Baaaaaaaack

2010-08-02T18:11:00.000-06:00

Torben returns to the land of Bucky Badger

Art at Snow photos

2010-06-21T17:42:00.000-06:00

About a year ago at a silent auction I bid on a photo shoot. About a month ago I finally organized myself and the family to get the pictures taken. Of course, you-know-who was the featured star of the session (as he should be). Here is one of the pictures.

2010-06-13T20:14:00.000-06:00

You said, "Fetch!"

2010-06-13T20:12:00.001-06:00

When Dada came home for the weekend - we had a lot of fun.

2010-06-13T20:10:00.000-06:00

Playing the harmonica is just like eating corn only noisier.

Torben plays harmonica

2010-06-13T20:08:00.000-06:00

Not only can a give this thing a few toots, I can almost make the toots sound like a tune.

2010-06-13T20:06:00.000-06:00

Ahhh - success - shoe is off, time to play spoons on my toes.

2010-06-13T20:03:00.000-06:00

OK- I think I have this velcro thing figured out.

Busia = Grandma in Polish

2010-06-13T20:00:00.001-06:00

With Polish Fest coming up this weekend I wonder what other linguistic gems Busia will find?

2010-06-13T19:54:00.000-06:00

Time to play!

2010-06-13T19:52:00.000-06:00

Dogs licking your fingers is the best fun!

2010-06-13T19:47:00.000-06:00

Torben & Calliope

2010-06-13T19:35:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the delay in uploading photos which are now old news from Torben's visit to WI - however, that is how it is! Torben's antics are always fresh.

sitting in the cupboard, why not?

2010-06-02T22:03:00.000-06:00

These slippers don't really fit, but they go so well with my pink diapers.

2010-05-16T22:45:00.000-06:00

We had a great weekend. The weather was excellent and we spent most of our time outdoors. Half of the garden plot is planted and Torben helped me water. He started the process by turning on the water faucet which was not hooked up to a hose. He turned it on full blast then he tried to run away - but didn't get away before being soaked.

Flying again - this week's favorite way to pass the time

2010-05-04T18:39:00.001-06:00

Torben gets good-bye hugs from Angelina & Katarina

2010-05-04T18:37:00.001-06:00

Aunt Tracy donated the girls' vacuum to Torben so he could tidy up

2010-05-04T18:35:00.000-06:00

T, Dad & Gramps imported some wildlife from the park for the stream

2010-05-04T18:33:00.000-06:00

Torben earned his keep by digging in the garden and mowing the lawn

2010-05-04T18:31:00.000-06:00

Torben inspects Lake Mendota - Dad's temp home in Madison

2010-05-04T18:30:00.000-06:00

Torben & Owen are happy gardeners

2010-05-04T18:28:00.000-06:00

Torben & friend Owen & his Grams Suzy having way too much fun with the trains

2010-05-04T18:25:00.000-06:00

Life is a definite balancing act

2010-05-04T18:17:00.000-06:00

King Kong Torben

2010-05-04T18:15:00.000-06:00

Engineer Torben & Asst Engineer Calliope at the Controls

2010-05-04T18:13:00.000-06:00

Corn on the Cob - wow good chewing!

2010-05-04T18:06:00.000-06:00

Exhausted

2010-04-25T17:08:00.000-06:00

Sweet dreams or schemes?

Clowning around

2010-04-25T17:06:00.000-06:00

Having T around is never boring

Do you like my hat?

2010-04-25T17:04:00.000-06:00

Hats - I hate hats, but I saw Gramps walking around with scissors

Rocks rock!

2010-04-25T17:01:00.000-06:00

T spends a lot of time getting the right rock in the right place - usually involving big splashes and wet feet.

Rocks in the stream

2010-04-25T16:58:00.001-06:00

Torben is having a great time adding and rearranging the stream bed

Admirals Win - Free Frosty

2010-04-25T16:56:00.000-06:00

Admirals scored 8 goals - free Frosty from Wendys - a great time was had by all

Admirals Game

2010-04-25T16:54:00.000-06:00

Loading up on carbs before the Admirals Hockey game

Torben inspects the digger

2010-04-25T16:51:00.000-06:00

The wheels on the digger go 'round and 'round

Vroom Vroom

2010-04-25T16:48:00.000-06:00

Look who's in the driver seat

Digger!

2010-04-25T16:46:00.000-06:00

Now this is fun!

Milwaukee Art Museum

2010-04-25T16:44:00.000-06:00

T's impression of a bird

T's First Haircut

2010-04-25T16:38:00.000-06:00

Thank goodness Gramps couldn't carry T, the chair, scissors and a bowl to create this round "do"

We read every morning

2010-04-25T16:35:00.000-06:00

Grams reads the paper & T is brushing up on the Middle Ages

Torban meets Urban Baby

2010-04-25T16:32:00.000-06:00

Hey - I know you!

UhOhderailed Gramps' train car

2010-04-25T16:30:00.000-06:00

I better get back on track!

2010-04-25T16:27:00.000-06:00

Finally the promised pancakes!

2010-04-25T15:58:00.000-06:00

Once you figure out how to get them to your mouth - they are yummy!

Marlene's First Photo

2010-04-25T15:44:00.000-06:00

This is marlene's first attempt at posting a post

We're getting low on pictures...

2010-04-25T14:34:00.000-06:00

Where are my pancakes? I was promised pancakes!!

2010-04-12T21:18:00.000-06:00

2010-04-11T07:09:00.001-06:00

So the Jaglinski clan has now gotten access to the T-monkey blog to give you some sense of his trip to WI. So far so good. We will update with some photos, including a first time pancake experienece soon!

my new turtle

2010-04-09T21:20:00.000-06:00

DIGGERS!

2010-04-08T18:32:00.000-06:00