It's Back - The 20th* Annual Graig vs Dan Pumpkin Carving Contest. In case you're new to this, Graig and Dan each carve 2 of the features on the pumpkin. Who carved what won't be revealed until after voting is complete (this is to prevent any of our enemies from corrupting the vote).

Please take a look at both pictures of the pumpkin and consider both the dark and light conditions. Determine your ranking for the features, and then vote in the handy (and hopefully fool-proof) poll below.


* Number of years has been doubled for dramatic affect.

Candle light

Front Shot

Mouth

Nose

Right Eye

Left Eye

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Who's the big winner?

After a lengthy voting period and with an extensive recount, demanded by the losing party, the pumpkin voting has officially closed and been tallied. The big winner this year were the kids in my neighborhood who got to see the pumpkin as it was perched on our lawn. The other big winner was myself, with a dominating eye-carving performance that was received nearly 33% more points than any other carving. My vision for the eye matched what voters were looking for in a pumpkin.

The final tally was:

A-left eye (Graig): 94 points

B-right eye (Dan): 62 points

C-nose (Graig): 56 points

D-mouth (Dan): 60 points

Total Points:

Graig – 150

Dan – 122

From the start, the left eye wowed the audience with its awesomeness. All the other parts, mired in mediocrity, fought for second place. Coming down to the last three votes, the mouth came from behind to sneak the bronze from the nose.

Next year’s competition will be fierce and hopefully the results will be tallied more quickly. It didn’t help that many ballots had hanging pumpkin seeds, making it difficult to discern voter intention.

9th Annual Awesome Pumpkin Carving Contest

It is time for the 9th Annual Pumpkin Carving contest. To date, the record is Dan winning 4-2-2 with many votes still under protest. The rules are as follows: The first picture indicates the possible parts; A, B, C and D. You can list your favorite parts in order from most favorite to least favorite.

For example, if I liked the right eye, then left eye, then nose and then mouth my vote would be A, B, C and D. If you liked the mouth, nose, left eye and right eye your vote would be D, C, B and A.

We have included pictures with natural (aka kitchen) light and candle light. Please take into account both pictures before casting your votes. Please vote carefully.

Tonski, Senator, Monkey Car, Mystikal Tarantula, BK, Murdock, and Bustin Steel

43 Fo Life

There are apparently some big Carson fans in Bloomington.

Dinner

Sometimes when you are a father, you really need to set a good example about what you can eat for dinner. For example, I want to make sure that Jeremy knows I eat a healthy mixture of vegetables, starches, protein and rice. Yes, rice is its own food group. On the Fourth of July, since Dan ruined all our traditions by going to a wedding, I had to improvise.

Traditionally, a group of us walk around Indianapolis to build up our hunger, then we go eat 1 pound hamburgers and french fries, then we walk that off, stop by the fancy Marriott visit their lobby and other facilities, walk around some more, have milk shakes delivered, walk around again, then watch fireworks.

In order to make up for a lack of 1 pound hamburger, I had to show Jeremy how a real dinner should be made. It starts with 4-5 brownies in a bowl. Add Angel Food cake, four scoops of ice cream, drizzle on some fresh strawberries and add the hot fudge. Top it off with whip cream, chocolate chips and some Hershey chocolate bar pieces.

Below, Amy faithfully photographically documented my Fourth of July dinner.

Tom approves.