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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I took a photo today, but decided to post this one from the archives instead. Because the photo I took of Gus today felt too intimate to share here. Usually -- barring nakedness -- I'm good to share whatever with the world, but he seemed so vulnerable in the photo. His guard was completely down and he was looking right at me without any fear. Mom and I always ask you each what our number one job is, and then you repeat back to us, "To keep me safe." And looking at that picture of Gus, my instinct is to keep it for myself as a way to keep him safe.

Anyway, I don't remember taking this photo fifteen years ago, but petting sheep fits well into the memories I have from the summer of 2010, when I traipsed around Vermont before going to graduate school in New Orleans. I think I was at a friend of a friend of a friend's farm for a potluck? Everyone was so wholesome and welcoming in Vermont. Even the sheep.

Dad.

Westminster, Vermont. 7.10.2010 - 3.46pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I had my first "meet the team" job interview today. I think it's a good fit and -- so far -- it's the job I want. But I'm also still hearing from new people about other possibilities, so I'm not committing to anything yet. I got a lot of messages after this post on LinkedIn from people wanting to talk about opportunities.

I took this picture of Suki after looking out and seeing her sleeping with her head on that rail. She's been content spending a good chunk of her days outside lately. Maybe she's getting older and chilling out a little? Who knows.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.9.2025 - 12.39pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I didn't take a picture today, but I found this one in the archives from 16 years ago, before I even started this photo-a-day blog. Kaia and I had moved out of the Goshen House in the hopes that I could sell it. Nene's house became home-base for me again, but I also crashed at my dad's condo in downtown Little Rock some.

I ended up getting stuck with the Goshen House for another six years, taking out grad school student loans to pay the mortgage. Nene actually sold her house before I could sell mine.

I loved that house on Main Street in Beebe that we moved into after my great-grandmother White died. I look at this picture now and I can still feel the carpet against my bare feet. I can hear the echoes of someone walking down the hall or Tom Brokaw's voice coming from the little TV in the kitchen. I can smell Nene making popcorn on the stovetop after school.

Nostalgia is real. But time keeps marching on.

Dad.

Beebe, Arkansas. 7.8.2009 - 7.52am.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Gus started Super Mario Camp at the Museum of Discovery today. He came home and said some kids brought their tablets to use at camp for various projects. Mom and I were skeptical, so we told him to remind us in the morning and we would ask his counselors about it. When we went to bed, we went in to check on him like we always do and noticed he had left himself a note in his doorway floor so that he wouldn't forget to ask.

"Ask if you can bring your tablet to camp. At camp if the people say yes then woo!"

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.7.2025 - 10.29pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

This morning you both asked for Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast, but we were out, so I asked if you wanted me to make you regular cinnamon toast instead. Neither of you had ever heard of it. When you tried it, I asked if you liked it and Magnus gave two thumbs up. I said, "Two thumbs up?" And Gus got in the floor so he could give it "ten fingers and ten toes up."

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.6.2025 - 9.20am.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Nene said you were both tired and went right to sleep last night, but you were ready for pancakes and sausage this morning.

Mom and I enjoyed our morning together and took a walk to Hillcrest Little Bakery, where we ate breakfast on the patio, then walked home. We talked a lot about my job prospects -- I have three separate second interviews scheduled this week and a few more introductory phone calls. I'm excited, but the uncertainty also weighs on me. I'm not sleeping well, even though I am no longer afraid of being without a job.

We drove down after lunch and met you at Nana's. We ate leftovers and chatted with Nana & Connie while you two went up with Nene to her house to get your things. Before we left, though, Mom and I played catch (football) with Gus for a while and Magnus and Nene explored the woods some more. A good (and hot) summer day.

Dad.

Beebe, Arkansas. 7.5.2025 - 6.49am.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nene.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Independence Day at The Compound included pickleball, bocce ball, ribs, lemonade, homemade ice cream, and lots of bikes, scooters, and big wheels. You two spent the night with Nene so Mom and I could have some time to ourselves for the first time in a while.

Nene & Rick took you to the Rudds to eat hot dogs and watch fireworks. Magnus was extremely excited about the sleepover. This afternoon he said, "Dad, I'm ready for you and Mom to go away now." And then he told Nene he wanted to have "cookouts for dinner."

This photo was right after the annual recreation of this photo.

Dad.

Beebe, Arkansas. 7.4.2025 - 3.26pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I had two more job interviews today and I met with an ad agency -- I'm starting to feel pretty good about my prospects.

This evening we were walking down to the Strongs for dinner when Mags got tripped up on the sidewalk and faceplanted on the concrete. We thought might be bad because he smacked it hard. Luckily, Aaron is our pediatrician (and still in his scrubs), so we got it checked out within like 90 seconds. His lip was swollen something fierce, but he didn't bite through it. Phew.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.3.2025 - 5.50pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Gus was supposed to hang with Nene today, but she got sick and I didn't have any meetings scheduled for today, we had a father-son day. I made him go to a lecture downtown about the history of the Little Rock Junior College Football Team, which was the first team in the state to win a national championship after they won the Junior Rose Bowl in 1949.

Gus mostly spent his time reading Dog Man and showing off his new sunglasses he picked out, which he's very proud of. Then we went to the Museum of Discovery and the Nature Center.

It was a good day.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.2.2025 - 12.11pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I had a quasi job interview this morning, then this afternoon I was on my way to meet with an ad agency in Conway when I got a flat tire. I thought I would be able to put the spare on and be back on my way quickly, but I had to fight like hell to get the lugnuts off. I ended up postponing my meeting and calling Mom to bring me a can of WD-40, which helped, but not much. I finally got it fixed and made it to a tire shop in Conway.

I think this is the first flat I've ever had in this truck since I bought it seven years ago. Solid run.

Dad.

Conway, Arkansas. 7.1.2025 - 3.43pm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mom.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I had a phone interview for a job this morning, then I had a DLRP meeting this afternoon. While I ate lunch I enjoyed watching Gus and Mom work on a craft project.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.30.2025 - 11.56am.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

We hit the Leawood pool this afternoon, then ate watermelon on the porch while Mom...I can't remember what she was doing -- maybe the grocery store? Gus picked up my phone and said he wanted to take a selfie. Nailed it.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.29.2025 - 4.20pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

We went to Gracie's backyard birthday party this morning, then Mom took you both to watch the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie with Benjamin Burns's family so I could take some time to work on job search correspondence. Then we all went to Yiayia's house for dinner.

It was a big old hot day, so by the time we made it home, we were all ready to go to sleep.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.28.2025 - 10.37am.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mom.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Magnus took Suki on a walk with me tonight. I thought we would probably just go down Ridgeway by Eli's house, then walk up the alley and back down the street to our house, but Mags really wanted to go get a book from our favorite little free library on Crystal Court. After we got our book, we ran into Bruce the cat, who lives with the Talpos family. He followed us back to Ridgeway, which Magnus found funny.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.27.2025 - 7.54pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Mom thawed and cooked up one of the many frozen meals Tutu made for us when she was here. We ate it tonight while watching another classic movie from my childhood: Cool Runnings. You both liked it -- the dinner and the movie.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.26.2025 - 5.54pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Mom and Gus went to see William at Peter Pan in Shrek Jr. at the Argenta Contemporary Theatre. Magnus was envious that he wasn't going to the play, so I told him we could do whatever he wanted. "Go to Yiayia's house," he said. So we did. While we were there, the TV was on in the background and Magnus said, "Dad, have I been there?" I looked up to see the Lincoln Memorial, where we were earlier this month. I wasn't sure if anything we did in DC registered with him (other than the Metro), so that was a nice surprise.

We picked Mom and Gus up after the play and met the Calhouns for dinner at Kamakaito. When we all made it back to Ridgeway, the Calhouns found a baby bat stuck in their bathroom drain. And when they woke up the next day, they found another on the floor beside their bed. INSANE.

Dad.

North Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.25.2025 - 5.26pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

You have both always loved corn on the cob.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.24.2025 - 7.29pm.