Paul Newman (1925 - 2008)

Sadly, my favorite actor, Paul Newman, passed away on Friday. I'm not really sure why, but I've always been a big, big fan of his. I think it's because in spite of being a movie star for more than forty years, he always seemed to me, anyway, to be grounded, humble and modest. He was married to Joanne Woodward, his second wife, for fifty years. Also, his Newman's Own brand of products, started in 1982, has generated profits of more than 200 million dollars, all of which have gone to charity. He created a string of camps, worldwide - "the Hole in the Wall Gang" - which provide free summer recreation for children with serious illnesses. He was a true philanthropist.

On a more personal note, I guess I've always felt a bit of a connection to him, since from a very early age, people would mistakenly call me "Paul" or joke and ask if I was related to him. My standard reply was that he was my uncle. As proof, I would note that we spelled our last names the same way.

Paul Newman starred in some of my favorite movies - "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Sting."

Here's a link to a beautifully written obituary in today's New York Times -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/movies/28newman.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=paul%20newman&st=cse&oref=slogin.

Also, here's a link to a short article that contains remembrances from one of his best friends, A.W. Hotchner -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/movies/28hotchner.html?ref=movies.

Girls' Night Out

Jude and John Patrick, at dinner at Rumor's Wine Bar on 12th Avenue with three of Jude's teammates from Flo, her ultimate frisbee team. These are three of the best ladies I know. We don't get to see enough of them. From left to right, Joan Curry, Jude, Lynn Robinson and Molly Sehring.

As you can see, John Patrick is fired up for a big weekend of SEC football. Looks like he's not going to be pulling for Vanderbilt to run their record to 4-0 when they play Ole Miss in Oxford, MS, this Saturday.

It's Football Time in Tennessee

Tomorrow, after work, Jude, John Patrick and I will join the masses of Vol fans making the pilgrimage to Knoxville for Saturday's game vs. the hated Florida Gators. It's going to be John Patrick's first trip to Knoxville and his first time to stay at his grandparent's house. Jimdad and Jane have graciously agreed to babysit him for us, so Jude and I can attend the game.

Unfortunately, I'm thinking we will be crying all the way back to Nashville on Sunday, as the Gators are going to put a whipping on the Vols. My prediction is Florida by two touchdowns, at least, and it's going to get ugly early. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I will be.

Date Night

This morning, I got up early, made my Foodbrothers' (football pool) picks, then headed to Shelby Bottoms for a trail run. After I ran six miles, I met Jude at the tennis courts at the entrance to Shelby Park at 8:30 a.m. and picked up John Patrick. He and I went to Bongo Java East, where he sat in his stroller while I drank a glass of orange juice and read the sport page. Then, it was back home to meet Jude with his morning snack at 10 a.m.

After lunch, I strolled with John Patrick to the 12th Avenue Tap House, for our usual Saturday afternoon outing. Because he hadn't napped in the morning, he was really, really tired. He was fast asleep, in the stroller, before we were a block away from the house. I listened to Phish ("Billy Breathes") on my ipod on the walk to and from the Tap House, a record I haven't heard in a while.

Tonight, Jude and I had "date night" - our first night out without John Patrick, since he was born. We had a tasty dinner at Flyte, a restaurant on the corner of Division Street and 8th Avenue, about five minutes away from our house. Afterwards, we went to Green Hills and saw the Coen brothers' new movie - "Burn After Reading." We enjoyed the movie, but agreed it was probably a five on a scale of 1-10.

Everybody's Working for the Weekend!

Phew! What a week.

After work today, my law partners and I decided to have a drink next door to our office at Sol, an upscale Mexican restaurant. While we were unwinding, I telephoned Jude, who was stuck in traffic, on her way home from Renewal House. Brilliantly, she suggested we meet at the 12th Avenue Tap House for dinner. Since she would arrive home first, she agreed to stroll John Patrick up to the Tap House. I, on the other hand, would stop by on my way home from work.

When I pulled up about 6:25 p.m., Jude and John Patrick were just strolling into the parking lot. I parked, hopped out of my truck and went inside. The Tap House was a little crowded, but Jude was fortunate enough to get a seat at a table in the corner, by the kitchen, which allowed her to push the stroller out of the way. I said hello, then peaked in the stroller at John Patrick, who was sleeping soundly.

We ordered dinner and debriefed about our busy weeks. About the time our food arrived, John Patrick woke up. He was quite content, murmuring to himself and looking around the restaurant. After we finished eating, I lifted John Patrick out of the stroller, while Jude went to the restroom to wash her hands. He smiled a little, but mostly stared at everything going around him, seemingly enthralled by all the activity.

When Jude returned to the table, I put a bib on John Patrick. Jude raised the back of the stroller, then I placed him in it, so he could eat. She fed him squash (really, mashed, yellow, disgusting squash), which he liked. Next, she fed him some of the rice cereal. After he finished the cereal, she gave him a bottle of formula. It was pretty cool, to feed our son, in public, at a restaurant.

Afterwards, because it was dark, I strolled him home, still wearing my suit pants and a tie. It was a little humid, but we had pleasant walk . Overall, a really nice evening out for our family.

Michael Puryear, Sarah Puryear, John Patrick and Aubrey Swartz, my paralegal Jane's daughter, at our office this afternoon.

Pigskin Picks

Today, after work, my law partners (Mark Puryear and Chas Morton) and I hosted our annual Pigskin Picks party and open house at our office. The Pigskin Picks has a long and storied history. Essentially, it's a football pool my law partner, Mark, started 15 or 16 years ago, when he was working in the District Attorney's office in Franklin, Tennessee. It's for bragging rights only - the winner gets a plaque (I have one proudly displayed in my office) - as several of the assistant district attorneys and police officers usually participate in it.

When Mark and I started our law practice, Puryear & Newman, in the fall of 1997, he continued running the Pigskin Picks. The following year (1998), we hosted a party and open house at our office (an old house we had converted into an office, actually) at 401 Church Street, Franklin, TN. It's hard to believe, but my mother and Mark's mother, Connie Puryear, actually cleaned our office and cooked food in the kitchen there for the party. Man, that seems like a long, long time ago, and I guess it was.

Chas, Mark and I bought the building we're in now (130 Fourth Avenue South, Franklin, TN) more than three years ago and completely renovated it. It's a great location for us, as we're directly across from the Williamson County Courthouse.

Anyway, this afternoon, we hosted friends, family and colleagues at our office. Mark's wife, Elizabeth was there, along with his children, Mark, Sarah and Michael. My mother was there, as was Mark's mother and her significant other, Baird Harris. Much to my delight, Jude was able to get away from work a little early, so she could drive down to Franklin with John Patrick. I was tickled to death when they arrived.

Mark's wife, Elizabeth, hadn't seen John Patrick since shortly after he was born, when they came to our house and brought food for us. His daughter, Sarah, was so excited to see John Patrick and couldn't wait to hold him. I took some great photographs of Sarah and Mark's youngest son, Michael, holding him. It was really cute to watch the kids with him, particularly since it seems like only yesterday that Sarah, then Michael, were born. Time really does get by you, doesn't it?

Objects in the mirror are closer (and bigger) than they appear. A lot closer (and a lot bigger).

Just a couple of guys, kicking back and taking it easy.

Daddy and John Patrick, playing after work on the back porch.

Feeding the Monster

After she consulted this week with her best friend, Cyndi Baines, who is our go to person for "baby tech support," Jude began feeding John Patrick "solid food" (rice cereal, etc.) two or three times a day. Afterwards, she breast feeds him or gives him a bottle.

Tonight, she showed me how to mix up the rice cereal, combining it with baby formula and water in a small, blue baby bowl and mixing it up with a tiny baby spoon. Then, for the first time, I fed him myself. It was messy and really, really fun. He laughed, I laughed and Jude laughed. She laughed particularly hard when I ate his green bean mush (mashed up, pureed or something) out of his spoon.

What does a 15 lb 13 oz baby eat for dinner? Anything he wants to. In this photo, he's eating green beans.