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PHOTOS: The Conch Hunters

Kass, the boys and I had a great time yesterday on the water off Provo. We took a boat from Turtle Cove to the great reef. The fish were abundant and colorful, as the pictures show. We also dove for conch (which we then ate raw and fresh!) and visited one of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever seen.

Conch are interesting little animals. I can't say I love the taste (not bad, but not in love with the taste). They spend their first 8 years growing this massive shell that has come to symbolize all things caribbean. They then have their shell bashed in and eaten.

The creature itself is a really ugly thing. One leg. Two tiny eyes. And a hunk of soft flesh. Think giant oyster and stone crab mate and deliver inside a nuclear reactor.

Stay tuned for Episode 3 of the video series, which will feature this trip.

PHOTOS: Vivi Likes Sand!

Everyday while we've been in Turks we've taken Vivi to the beach. Vivi's first reaction to sand was fear and loathing. We have slowly evolved to peaceful coexistence. So, yes, I may be stretching the truth a little in the headline. But as these pictures show, Vivi has come to terms with her fear of the sand.

PHOTOS: Sunday in Turks

Another amazing day in paradise. Enjoy! Hard to believe we've been down here for 8 days already. Time flies when it's this nice out.

Redskins at Hill Country

One of the benefits of owning your own restaurant is that you can pick what's on the TVs. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Marc showed the Skins game today on the main projection TV at Hill Country. The DC crew -- plus wives (Kass, Chloe, Kristin), kids (Ava, Myles, Cole, Austin) and parents/grandparents (Epsteins) -- got together to watch the Skins beat the Dolphins.

Hill Country is a great place to watch the game. The BBQ is awesome, as you all know already. There are TVs everywhere (upstairs and downstairs bar and downstairs stage). And Marc makes BBQ wings in the smokers that are out of this world. The ones with sauce are great. The plain ones are even better.

I plan to spend many Sundays and Monday nights there this NFL season. Please join me.

Viva la Vivi!

Why do kids need to take dumps at the worst times

Warning. I am posting this directly from Riverside Park.

Why is it that kids only go to the bathroom when the available facilities are at their worst? It's like kids' bowel movements are inversely related to the cleanliness of the world's bathroom. Why can't they be mutually exclusive? Nasty bathroom, no dump. Instead, the closer the bathroom is to Iraq outhouse, the more they have to go.

Case in point: we're having a wonderful time at Riverside Drive. My friend Eli shows up. Myles needs to take a crap. Come on, Myles. We live in a beautifully clean apartment thanks to Kass (and Erica). Why don't you use those bathrooms? Why now?

Please send toiletpaper if you read this. There's none here. Oops.

A beautiful Saturday in NYC

Red Bird

Myles and I took a little adventure yesterday afternoon. The impetus was to pick up contact sheets and negatives of portraits Renny took of Vivian. But as is the case so often, the adventure spun in a whole new direction.

We headed via subway to Duggals at 23rd and 6th. We were walking on 23rd and ran into Dave Linn and his wife, Jen. Dave is a friend from NU. Great guy. (The strange thing here is that I didn't connect with Dave for the first 17 months that I have lived in NYC but just connected via email last week and then ran into him the following weekend. Strange.) Anyway, he was walking to the Madison Square BBQ Festival across the street. I had forgotton about the festival. Hill Country, Marc Glosserman's amazing tribue to Texas BBQ and music, had a booth.

So Myles and I decided to hit the festival after Duggals. We briefly watched a blues band on the main stage and then walked toward the BBQ pits to see if we could find Marc. On our way, Myles noticed this bright red bird that is pictured above. (I walked right by.) He was mesmerized. He tried to touch it but the owner said it might bite. I incidentally told birdman the same about Myles. The birdman didn't believe me as Myles was wearing his favorite Phish tshirt.

Marc was not at the Hill Country stand. He was a few blocks away at the restaurant. So Myles and I walked to the restaurant. We walked in. I told Myles this was Marc's place. His reaction? "Are they going to have video games." Marc and Michael G were there getting ready for night #2 (opening night was a huge success and Kass and I went back Saturday night and it was packed. We hung out with Marc and Kristen, their families and friends. Great band. David Byrne, former head man of Talking Heads, showed up at around 10:30 pm, which was super cool. David runs a great blog that can be found here).

Anyway, this is why I love living in NYC. Spending time with Kass and the kids. Running into friends on the street every day. BBQ. Random bands I have never heard of but rock.  Wandering  knowing its the adventure that matters and not where we're going. Meeting random people, and birds, with the added danger that they may just bite (or eat) my kids.

What a Day

Walking home from park with Mama Kass.

Nice ... Kass is back in action

Running Men

Someone Loves Pancakes!

Saturday at Sarabeth's!

Kisses

Cole Before Bathtime

3 Monkeys and Daddy

Viv and Daddy

Got the new Blackberry Curve today. Love it. RIMM nailed it. This will be a MAJOR consumer hit. This is the first mobile post from the Curve.

Cirque du Solazerow

Cirque du Solazerow. Coming. Summer 2008.

Daddy's Little Girl

The great thing about c-sections is head shape of the baby (and seeing your wife's innards on the operating table). No cone head. Just perfect little round noggin.  (That's a freckle, not an earing. Once again, freckle, no earing. Not that there's anything wrong with that.) The downside of delivering c-sectually? Oozing blood, sore wife. And remember, happy wife, happy life. Cranky wife, hide the steak knife. C-sectioned wife, no life (for a few weeks, at least). Now, a c-section haiku.

Cut my wife open.

Baby comes out with round head.

Daddy passes out.

Vivian's First Pics!

Check out the pics from her first day

by clicking here! More pics to come!

New photos added!

I added some new photos from Nancy and Harold's vowel renewal as well as several other goodies. AEIO made the cut. U didn't. Is Y a vowel or a consonant? Very confusing. See pics here.

Mr. and Mrs. Lazerow

Collage

Click and enjoy!

Scary Times

These indeed are scary times. Here are the pictures to prove it. And yes, Kass and I actually spent a night on the town wearing these costumes.

New Photo Galleries Are Live!!!!

The great photo purge of 2006 is complete. I have downloaded all pictures since February 2006 from my digital camera and posted the appropriate ones to the site. New galleries include the following:

• Kids in DC: Anabel, Harol, Myles and Cole. Together again!
• New York Welcome Party: Robin and Mark hosted a wonderful party for about 50 friends at their amazing place. It was a great, great evening.
• South Beach Spring Break 2006: Kass, the boys and I hit South Beach for Spring Break 2006. Thanks Louis for letting us use your amazing place.
• Cole Turns 2: The headline and pictures say it all!
• May 2006 Photogasm: Enjoy the hodgepodge of pictures from May 2006.
• Summer 2006 in NYC: School's out and summer's in. Kass and the kids enjoy their first summer in NYC.
• July 4th and The Wedding in The Butte: Kass, the kids and I headed to Crested Butte for 2 weeks for the Fourth of July and Kevin & Ashley's wedding.

The Fourth on the Island ... Randalls Island

A little putt putt in the park.

first haircut in the hood

first haircut in the hood ... Cozy's on amsterdam and 82nd.

Remembering Cookie

Kass and I have been comforted by dozens of messages about Cookie.  Thank you all for helping to remember her. She'll always be in our hearts.  I have posted some comments from people who knew Cookie below in an effort to keep her spirit alive:

"I was devastated to hear about Cookie and was so shocked. I'm so sad...I know this is so difficult for you and your family. I loved her so much and she has a special place in my heart since she is the reason I will have dogs for the rest of my life. She was the first dog I loved so much that I wanted one! I'm happy that she went peacefully and that you all were there for her."

"I'm so sorry. I've been around dogs most of my life and I can honestly say that Cookie was THE most gentle and loving dog that I have ever met."

"I will always remember when you all adopted Cookie. It was when I knew that the two of you would end up together. We'll miss her."

"Cookie was such a sweet, wonderful creature. I am glad I got one last chance to see her a few weeks back.  She will be missed. My heartfelt sympathies."

"I am so sorry. Cookie was such a great girl and I'm sure she's in a happy place now. I have many fond memories of her and I'll always remember the first time I entered the door at Golfserv for my job interview. Cookie and Rocky came barreling down the stairs to greet me. They were so friendly and actually got me into dogs."

"That dog was all love."

"She was such a sweet and gentle dog and I'm sure that your home will not feel the same without her."

"i'm so sorry about cookie. she was a total sweetheart, and she continues, and will continue, to be a part of our storytelling and memories in chicago. hope your kids are ok with her passing."

"Our dogs are the hearts of our family on a day to day reality..........Cookie is, and was a very special part of yours. I know that you all will miss that loving presence."

"So sorry to hear it. She was a great dog and really good practice for you two as far as being parents was concerned."

"I am sorry to hear about Cookie's passing. She was such an awesome dog."

"She was a beautiful dog and a good friend to the kid."

"i hope any sad memories can soon be replaced for you with wonderful thoughts of cookie walking down the aisle at your wedding and hanging out at the kids birthday parties. cookie was both family and friend and we will miss her."

"We are terribly sorry for this tragic loss. She had the best life a dog could have living in your home. She knew she was loved and cherished every minute."

"I am so sorry. Cookie was a special dog. I know how much she meant to you. I feel awful. It is like losing a family member. I feel for you. I wish that I were there to give you a big hug. Hopefully Myles and Cole will give you extra big hugs and kisses tonight. Luckily, you have those wonderful portraits of her. When you look at them, you can smile and remember how special she was."

"I am so sorry to hear about Cookie. (I am sniffling!) I see so many dogs every day now, but very few touch my heart like Cookie did. I have such fond memories of her keeping me company in the GolfServ bathroom and of cuddling up with her on our couch when she'd come to stay with us."

"I am so sorry to hear about Cookie. She was one of my favorites."

"She was a loving, beautiful dog who lived a great life."

"The most important thing for me is if it wasn't for her, we never would have Rocky. She won Elena over enough for her to agree to me getting a dog! That's just goes to show what a sweet dog she was."

October Smorgasbord

Ton of events this past week. Please excuse the smorgasbord post.

Kass and I spent the weekend in New York celebrating our anniversary. Given the rocky history of marriage in today's society in general (and both our families in particular), we're thankful for each year we have together. We also have promised to spend our anniversary day together no matter what day of the week Oct. 23 happens to fall on. The weather was dreary, but the food and fun was plentiful. We spent Friday night with Julie and Sharie. On Saturday night we met up with Marc, Renny, Erica and Kristin.

This past Friday we attended the Harbor School Halloween parade. The kids were really cute. They all made their own costumes (Myles' class made cats). Grammy Sheila, Nan Nan Nancy and Grandma Tina joined Kass, Leslie and me to watch Myles, Anabel and the rest of the kids strut their stuff.

Saturday. 11:30 a.m. The 4th Annual Lazerow Halloween Bash. Kass went overboard once again. The decorations were amazing. The house was filled with spiders large and small, bats, balloons, pumpkins and more. She also made her now famous chili. Amazing. I grilled all beef kosher dogs. Andrew shocked everyone with his costume. Best grandparent costume went to Nan Nan and Pops. Food was so good that John returned for dinner for another chili dog and to watch Northwestern lose to Michigan.

Runaway Train

haircut day!

Cartoon Cuts. We came. They cut. Cole screamed his arse off. And a pile of hair and 4 lollipops later, all's well in Lazerland.

Who said it's too early for video games?

He's a little too good at the driving game.

Apple Pickin'

On Sunday, Sept. 25, we threw the kids in the car (mini van, not MINI Cooper) and hit an apple orchard outside Poolesville. Based on both the quantity of apples picked and the fun had, the trip was a huge success. Leslie and her kids joined us, as did Laurie, Gary and Ethan Cohen and Nan Nan and Pops Zirkin. Little Ethan is a Gary clone, which is a little scary but I won't go there right now. But hey, people say that about Myles and me. Enjoy the pictures. And feel free to write if you need any rotten apples.

Official 2005 Family Pictures

Jennifer Hughes paid us a visit earlier this month. She's amazingly talented. Jennifer is great with the camera and even better with kids. She was once again able to capture both Myles and Cole's personalities (at least those personality traits we find most appealing!). To access the pictures from our shoot, please click here and use the event code "Lazerow". You can purchase any pictures you like directly from the web site. If you ever need a professional photographer for your kids, a wedding, a birthday, whatever, give Jennifer a call. She's phenomenal.

Birthday Party Weekend

Two birthday parties this past weekend -- Myles' friend Drew's from Abington Montessori and Danni Kane's. Myles loved the moon bounce. Spent about 2 hours jumping with his buddy Lorenzo and the other birthday party goers.