Welcome to Olsen web galleries (2.0, natch)

So I don't know why it took so long, but I have a flickr account and I've started uploading pictures to it. This is a nice, simple, intelligent way to manage all the dang photos we take. When Eleanor was born, Jon and Leann took something like 400 photos in the first year. Since Henry's been born, we're probably on pace to beat that number. But it was always hard to share those because I was slow and thoughtless about doing web updates. Well, flickr makes it easier.

There's even sets, with sensible divisions (Eleanor, Henry, etc). Here's the link to my sets. Keep watching the skies

Even bigger news than earlier item below

Henry Stark Olsen, the second child of Jon and Leann Olsen, entered the world via caesarian section at North Memorial Hospital (same hospital his mother was born in) June 21, 2007 at 834 a.m. Weighing in at 8 pounds 6 ounces and 20.5 inches, Henry is pretty much the exact same size his big sister Eleanor was at birth--to the ounce! He is so beautiful! You should see for yourself at this quick Image Gallery Jon set up the next day! Thanks to all family and friends and blessings!

Big Jon and Leann Olsen news

We're expecting! June 26th, 2007 is the anticipated due date of Olsen Offspring 2.0. The fetus is quick (I expect my mother would like to know this fact, so I include it) and seems to get excited when Leann eats cake, surprising no one. We are in debates about names. The boy's name is settled. Henry Stark (surely some Olsen, Smith, and Dahl family readers will recognize the relative import of these names, as will fans of Shakespeare, Iron Man comics, and proper old time country music). But if this one is also a girl, we are discombobulated, though not quite fractured. We both like Ivy, Rosalind, Linnea, and to a lesser and unlikely extent Amelia. Jon also favors Charity, Chastity, Dakotah and... ok, I'm kidding about those! Leann favors Waverley and Jon is still guarded/ambivalent. Jon likes Lily but has generally lost steam around that name. Elizabeth, Amelianne, and of course Jon's much-lauded Eowyn have been considered and are still in the top 40 or so. Jon begins to understand his mother's reluctance to name some of her babies before leaving the hospital! Eleanor was consulted and said we should use the name Twinkle. Or Qbert. She also came up with Maraya (Marea?), which is nice, but not for us so much. (Google has since taught us about the Fiat Marea car, and Maraya the "power metal band" both of which disincline Jon to the name)

Quick notes: Winter of Jon Olsen's discontent, here; and I suppose Leann would characterize it as a little too sickly and disruptive (that in terms of house-related projects) for her taste as well. I've been railing against what I perceive to be the excesses of Current Occupant and his band of Flying Monkeys over in my livejournal lately. If you're a family member (like my mother), or a person with sensitive ears, or you're at work, you might want to turn away. In related news, the next generation of Olsen interest in politics, as well as the next generation of Minnesota political activism is well represented on our family page where you see Olsens for Klobuchar in action! Hoo yah. In unrelated news, I'm working hard to keep/catch up with school work, but I'm balancing that with the family life. Casa del Olsen is getting new flooring, so our kitchen is moving (lurching sort of) ever closer to some kind of mythical ideal. I feel like we're on the junk, sometimes. Like we'll never be satisfied until an Olsen home shows up in BH&G or something. Nah. It's awesome. it's fun. I love having a kitchen that we can relax and enjoy. We're going to have to get better stools in there though. And redo the baseboards. And get a better fridge. And maybe that pot rack we discussed. And a better vanity in the half bath. And... oh crap it's happening again...

Promises promises, Jon. I know I know. We keep saying there'll be pictures, but this time it's for real! Almost. Eleanor had school pictures recently, and Leann ordered some. So keep watching the skies for scans of the photos. And some of you will be getting your own prints, I assure you.

Danger! Our dear friend Danger D. Hotrod departed for the Corps of Peace mission in Western Samoa. To send him on his way, we had a farewell party. View the pictures, if you like. Both Jon and Leann are going to miss Aaron a lot, he's a good friend and inspiration. The photos do not do justice to his impact.

There's new pictures in the family section. I posted Jon and Leann's tenth anniversary trip pictures.

Pictures on the family page, showing Eleanor on the go in the big city and other family stuff. Very recent stuff, go see.

There's material on the art page, as I've collaborated with some people on a really cool surrealist desktop experiment.

There's additional new photos of the Olsen family, linked from the family page. You can also go to Jon Olsen's livejournal gallery to see more of the kinds of things I'm looking at as I wander Minneapolis, interact with my family, think out loud, travel, etc. I really wish I was a better photographer, but I'm going to improve as time goes on.

New picture on the family page. Feel free to check it out for maximum cuteness.

Hey this looks new doesn't it? I've redesigned this site, to make it cleaner, with a color palette that pleases me more. (than the kind of pukey mix of anti-pastels it used to be? yeeeah...) I've imposed a stylesheet, for example, and went with a content management system that I can live with (kickin it bloggystyle). Also it will include more up-to-date info on the things that really matter to me these days, including family, art, music, etc. etc.

What about Eleanor pictures? I know some of you don't give a hoot about me and are just looking for the cute stuff. The web page for our daughter Eleanor Olsen is still up. We'll add new pictures soon.

Most up-to-date Hungry for details? You can read Jon Olsen's ongoing livejournal, although it is sometimes crass or political- i.e., lots of swear words. But I also put new poems and an ongoing... uh... literary project there. Leann also has a livejournal and she's awesome, so, you know.

Quick update Jon currently has a wonderful and wonderfully busy job as Electronic Solutions Manager for ProGroup. ProGroup is a diversity consulting firm. I work on their websites, including a really cool esolution called Desktop Diversity and their cool diversity calendar that has won some awards. Leann works with her father now. You can email them at Valley Screenprinting. You can also visit the web home of this Minnesota screen printer at valleyscreenprint.com. Leann is also the creator of Noodletogs, a line of kids clothes.