Well, my 5-year old daughter contracted her first case of Stomach Flu yesterday evening. She had been complaining about a headache off and on, but alas, we thought it was the ravings of a young child that didn't t want to ear her peas. (Naturally, I myself am taking amoxicillin for a sinus infection.)
The severity of her condition became apparent about 15 minutes after we put her to bed. I was playing Guild Wars upstairs and my wife had just turned on The Olympics (downstairs).
My headset is broken and I get a lot of static through the line with the normal sounds, so I don't bother with it anymore. This is why I readily heard her. I arose form my chair, and got to the bathroom to see her spitting into the sink. Not thinking it was anything very serious, I "shushed" her, told her it was "alright" and pulled her hair back, so she didn't spit in it. She took a step back and off to the side and then I noticed her dinner was in the sink, on the vanity and floor of the bathroom.
And carpet of the hallway.
And her room.
And her pajama's.
I informed her, "Just sit there, honey," referring to the stool (lid was closed), and the three strides to the loft and, seeing my wife through the railing sitting at the kitchen table watching the TV, I said, "A little help here please." then went back to console the girl who was was not feeling so good.
My wife arrived very promptly (I've asked for help maybe twice before) and pointed, as I told her, "She's throwing up. It's here (sink), here(indicating the front of the vanity and the *huge* mass on the bathroom floor), there(a section of the hallway carpet) and there (her bedroom carpet)."
"Is it on her bed?"
"I don't know," I replied, "I didn't get that far yet." I turned as my attention turned to our youngest offspring.
"Yup," my wife called, "She - oh my, did she ever."
I turned my attention away from my daughter and went into her bedroom, and sure enough, she had dumped a great deal on her bed as well. I then informed my wife that it is all over her PJ's as well, and asked "Well, how do you want to handle it? What do you want to do?"
My wife looked into the bathroom from the hallway, assessed the situation and said "How about I give her a bath and clean her up?"
"Okay," was my reply. And as I set to work to clean what I believed was approximately 5.7 liters of partially digested Spaghetti and Meatballs with red-sauce, and a Caesar Salad over two rooms and a hallway, my daughter realized she had thrown up all over the nightgown that Grandma made for her, and as my wife escorted her to the downstairs bathroom, I could her my daughter reach the level of stressful distress.
I won't go into detail regarding the cleaning of this. I will just make some bullet points of observations -
** Use the rubbish can! (I plugged up the bathroom sink).
** Know your gag-level (As I scooped everything up, using only toilet paper, (no gloves), I realized why my wife made the decision she made)
** Reexamine the carpeted areas!! Knowing where you pretreated the stains isn't enough. (I had sprayed/pretreated the areas on the carpet, letting it soak as I mopped the bathroom. Then, as I was using the Dirt-Devil, scrubbing my way from the bathroom to the bedroom, my left hand found a spot on the carpet I had missed.
Twice.) :^(
** Follow your instincts regarding Risk management and make the coffee right away (I was living in denial, thinking she would eventually fall asleep by Midnight or 1 AM, I with held the coffee until then.)
** Don't be stingy on the Febreeze (We covered this...I even put a scented packet in her humidifier)
** Do the laundry immediately, do *not* let it soak (She ended up messing the bed again at about 4AM. Luckily, my wife had the sheets and protective spread already washed and in the dryer~!)
** Get the nap the next day while you can!! (Don't sit at the computer, writing out this incident for your blog as she is napping with your aching back, burning eyes and throbbing headache!)
...On that note, I will attempt to take my own advice and lay down now.
..here endith the blog...
Friday, February 19, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Viagra by any other name....
Obviously, I didn't post yesterday. I've been sick the last couple days and yesterday I didn't have the drive or desire to post.
Today has been an up-and-down sort of day, but I'll pass on the details and simply reiterate an event that happened a few years prior.
A few years ago my parents were over and as my father was reading the newspaper, he suddenly called my mother by name and announced loudly that he needs "Viagra."
"What?" came my mothers confused reply.
With out his hearing aids in, my father will occasionally speak at about 80 Db (not quite as loud as his chop-saw, but easily enough to drown out the TV, the neighbor's lawnmower and any doubt as to what he is saying.)
"Viagra." he announced, "that's what I need."
My mother glanced at me from her chair with a puzzled look on her face, as if she had heard incorrectly, and perhaps I knew what this was about. Obviously, the blank expression on my face was no help, because she turned her attention back to my dad who had placed his nose back in the newspaper. As for me personally, I confess that I didn't know how I felt about this. I also didn't know what I was feeling at the time (other than confusion). Were my parents going to talk about s-e-x. With me right there? Granted, I was in my 40's at the time, but still...there are just some things you just don't feel comfortable talking to your parents about (jail time fits into that category as well).
Well, to ensure that she had his attention, my mom addressed him by name (else he would have kept on reading the paper) and said "What? You need what?"
"Viagra," was the reply. He was louder now, and like the rest of us American's, when someone doesn't understand us; we talk louder. We repeat what what we are saying, only louder. Often we will go to great lengths to explain things differently, speaking slower, with more enunciation, and more volume. "that's what I need. It's the only thing that worked for me, and that's what I want. We need to get me back on that." He was definitely on the volume track(one day I'll relate how he competes with the TV).
Again, my mother looked at me with a quizzical expression. It was obvious that neither of us knew where this was going to end. I was certainly willing to let if go. I'm sure that whatever my dad was talking about, there was a good chance that he'd forget the words he used now when he next discussed what ever it is he was discussing with my mom later on.
"Viagra." he said, setting his newspaper down. He was obviously getting agitated now. "It's the only damn thing that works for my arthritis, my joints are killing me and we need to get me some."
pause...pause...pause...
"Do you mean Vioxx?" my mother prompted.
"Yea," he said, obviously please that she had finally caught on, "We need to get me started on that again."
I was content with the outcome of this conversation. I recalled that once in my 20's I was actually yelling at a couple of friends of mine, trying to get them to understand that "I THINK I HAVE A CALORIE!!" I eventually resorted to pulling my lower lip with one hand then making a dramatic pointing gesture with the other towards my teeth.
"You mean a cavity?" One of them calmly replied.
At that moment, had I been a cartoon-character, I would have developed floppy ears and bayed like a donkey.
My mother isn't one to let things go..."That's not what you said." she informed him.
"It's not?"
"No."
"Oh." There was a pause, then he asked "What did I say?"
"You said Viagra." came her response in a manner that made no attempt to hide her enjoyment.
My dad looked at me for confirmation. With a sad smile, I nodded.
I saw his shoulders slump, and a comical expression on his face as he shook his head and looked down.
... Here endith the blog
Today has been an up-and-down sort of day, but I'll pass on the details and simply reiterate an event that happened a few years prior.
A few years ago my parents were over and as my father was reading the newspaper, he suddenly called my mother by name and announced loudly that he needs "Viagra."
"What?" came my mothers confused reply.
With out his hearing aids in, my father will occasionally speak at about 80 Db (not quite as loud as his chop-saw, but easily enough to drown out the TV, the neighbor's lawnmower and any doubt as to what he is saying.)
"Viagra." he announced, "that's what I need."
My mother glanced at me from her chair with a puzzled look on her face, as if she had heard incorrectly, and perhaps I knew what this was about. Obviously, the blank expression on my face was no help, because she turned her attention back to my dad who had placed his nose back in the newspaper. As for me personally, I confess that I didn't know how I felt about this. I also didn't know what I was feeling at the time (other than confusion). Were my parents going to talk about s-e-x. With me right there? Granted, I was in my 40's at the time, but still...there are just some things you just don't feel comfortable talking to your parents about (jail time fits into that category as well).
Well, to ensure that she had his attention, my mom addressed him by name (else he would have kept on reading the paper) and said "What? You need what?"
"Viagra," was the reply. He was louder now, and like the rest of us American's, when someone doesn't understand us; we talk louder. We repeat what what we are saying, only louder. Often we will go to great lengths to explain things differently, speaking slower, with more enunciation, and more volume. "that's what I need. It's the only thing that worked for me, and that's what I want. We need to get me back on that." He was definitely on the volume track(one day I'll relate how he competes with the TV).
Again, my mother looked at me with a quizzical expression. It was obvious that neither of us knew where this was going to end. I was certainly willing to let if go. I'm sure that whatever my dad was talking about, there was a good chance that he'd forget the words he used now when he next discussed what ever it is he was discussing with my mom later on.
"Viagra." he said, setting his newspaper down. He was obviously getting agitated now. "It's the only damn thing that works for my arthritis, my joints are killing me and we need to get me some."
pause...pause...pause...
"Do you mean Vioxx?" my mother prompted.
"Yea," he said, obviously please that she had finally caught on, "We need to get me started on that again."
I was content with the outcome of this conversation. I recalled that once in my 20's I was actually yelling at a couple of friends of mine, trying to get them to understand that "I THINK I HAVE A CALORIE!!" I eventually resorted to pulling my lower lip with one hand then making a dramatic pointing gesture with the other towards my teeth.
"You mean a cavity?" One of them calmly replied.
At that moment, had I been a cartoon-character, I would have developed floppy ears and bayed like a donkey.
My mother isn't one to let things go..."That's not what you said." she informed him.
"It's not?"
"No."
"Oh." There was a pause, then he asked "What did I say?"
"You said Viagra." came her response in a manner that made no attempt to hide her enjoyment.
My dad looked at me for confirmation. With a sad smile, I nodded.
I saw his shoulders slump, and a comical expression on his face as he shook his head and looked down.
... Here endith the blog
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Boys are Dumb...
The "boys are Dumb" statement originated from my wife. And although it is an unkind statement, it is certainly true in the way I reflect upon it.
One summer day, (might have been in 2008?) my daughter came and asked my wife why her brother was hitting himself in the head with a rock. Naturally, my wife responded "Because boys are dumb." For those of you with young children, you know how impressionable they can be. So my wife informed me later that day what she had said so I could be prepared for it, and it wouldn't come as such a surprise as it did one evening during dinner when our daughter, (cranky for being told she had to eat her peas) turned and said to her mom "I want to wear make-up so *I* can be the boss." The look my wife had was not directed at her...but me, the guilty one.
Ahem, but I digress...
The next day, following the 'Dumb' comment, was a hot one, and the kids were playing in the yard. My son had on a pair of denim jeans that I had cut into shorts. At one point he had come up to me from playing in the yard to inform me that the fringe that was dangling from the shorts onto his leg was bothersome, and could I remove it?
Having remembered my friend Johnny removing a stray thread on one of my costumes with a cigarette lighter while at the Renaissance Festival, I set to work with a my own lighter. Not a cigarette lighter (Not all boys are dumb - I gave up smoking years ago~!), but rather, I used one of those long necked, fire-place lighters. It worked like a charm~!! The threads immediately flared up then vanished in smoke, so I sent him on his way~!
I returned the lighter to the kitchen and came back outside to sit on the front steps when he came running back, informing me that his leg hurt where I removed the threads. Naturally I informed him that it was his imagination, but he countered immediately that it still burns. With a sigh, I reached for his shorts gave them a rub, and then turned the edge upwards so I could see the inside.
-=Yikes=-
I had set my son on fire~! Frantically, I began patting, rubbing and squeezing out the tiny licks of flame and stubborn embers, all the while apologizing to him. I may have also uttered a few 'expletive deletes' and a reference that my wife was correct.
Boys are Dumb.
Here endith the blog...
One summer day, (might have been in 2008?) my daughter came and asked my wife why her brother was hitting himself in the head with a rock. Naturally, my wife responded "Because boys are dumb." For those of you with young children, you know how impressionable they can be. So my wife informed me later that day what she had said so I could be prepared for it, and it wouldn't come as such a surprise as it did one evening during dinner when our daughter, (cranky for being told she had to eat her peas) turned and said to her mom "I want to wear make-up so *I* can be the boss." The look my wife had was not directed at her...but me, the guilty one.
Ahem, but I digress...
The next day, following the 'Dumb' comment, was a hot one, and the kids were playing in the yard. My son had on a pair of denim jeans that I had cut into shorts. At one point he had come up to me from playing in the yard to inform me that the fringe that was dangling from the shorts onto his leg was bothersome, and could I remove it?
Having remembered my friend Johnny removing a stray thread on one of my costumes with a cigarette lighter while at the Renaissance Festival, I set to work with a my own lighter. Not a cigarette lighter (Not all boys are dumb - I gave up smoking years ago~!), but rather, I used one of those long necked, fire-place lighters. It worked like a charm~!! The threads immediately flared up then vanished in smoke, so I sent him on his way~!
I returned the lighter to the kitchen and came back outside to sit on the front steps when he came running back, informing me that his leg hurt where I removed the threads. Naturally I informed him that it was his imagination, but he countered immediately that it still burns. With a sigh, I reached for his shorts gave them a rub, and then turned the edge upwards so I could see the inside.
-=Yikes=-
I had set my son on fire~! Frantically, I began patting, rubbing and squeezing out the tiny licks of flame and stubborn embers, all the while apologizing to him. I may have also uttered a few 'expletive deletes' and a reference that my wife was correct.
Boys are Dumb.
Here endith the blog...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Kids these days....
I agreed to do a favor for my business partner yesterday. His daughter is dating some guy who apparently had a question regarding Computers and Games (that's what my Business partner said. When it comes to the computer world, all he hears is 'blah-blah-blah-Microsoft-blah-blah-blah-Printer-blah-blah-blah'...you get the idea).
Soooo...today I get a call and do not recognize the Caller ID. Some times you just gotta shrug and say "I'll bite." I picked up the phone to hear my business partner's daughter on the other end. (the Caller ID gave a name I wasn't familiar with I would have recognized her name), and she promptly reminded me that her dad said it was Okay for her to call about helping her boyfriend.
I gladly replied to her, and said of course I'd be glad to help. She began and asked if I knew anything about Windows 7. I informed her that I had a copy but had not installed it yet (which is true). She sounded disappointed, but not wanting to let her down, I asked her why. She informed me that he took his computer into Best Buy and they upgraded it to Windows 7 (Warning: avoid Best Buy unless someone puts a gun to your head. I doubt their Geek Squad could erase an 'Etch-a-Sketch'), and now none of his games and stuff won't work. I began to inform her that normally when an OS is installed over a prior one, there is usually a re-installation required of the applications. Judging by the pitch, she turned her head slightly away from the phone to inform her boyfriend "You have to re-install all your stuff." To wit, I heard him talking to her in the background, in a constant drone. I was unable to tell what he was saying but it lasted for nearly half a minute, when she came back to me and said "Sorry, he's talking to me."
"Yes, I noticed." came my reply.
Then she asked me "What's a good graphics card and where can he get one." (What kind of cowardly boyfriend has his girlfriend call for his problems....? sheesh). I informed her to tell him that his best bet would be to go to www.tigerdirect.com and www.newegg.com. They have some of the good deals, and if you are of the kind that do it...go to Craigslist.
...Again, they bantered back and forth...
Then she told me that he's a Fire Spinner (Spitter?) and wanted to know who who he can talk to in order to get into the Renaissance Festival. I informed her that I have not associated with people from there in nearly 10 years. She was surprised to hear that, and as I was talking to her, she was talking to him and he was talking to her until I said -
"He's right there, correct?"
"Yes."
I'm afraid I lost my patience. This was terribly wrong to me so I said "Put him on the fucking phone." (This is uncharacteristic of me to say to a teenager, but I know her father.)
"Well, he was busy at first, but..." her voice became distant again as she moved the phone away from her, and then I heard her say "Here."
"Hello?" came the voice.
"Howdy," I replied, then went on, "Lets take them in order, First, when install an OS over another one, you generally need to re-install all your applications as well. Some times these won't work because of the bit of the OS, be it 32 or-"
He interrupted me about that point telling me that he did that and that none of his programs will work because they are 32-bit vs the 64-bit OS and that he prefers 32-bit because its more compatible.
I waited about 2 seconds to be sure he was finished, and said "Correct. In fact that is what I was actually starting to tell you before you interrupted me. Please try not to interrupt and just let me finish, okay?"
...I didn't wait for an answer...
"Secondly," I began, then proceeded to inform him that if he wants to be out where the leading edge of technology is, that he needs to research it. I gave him the analogy that tech is like dog-years. It advances so fast, that you need to spend time to keep abreast of it.
Then he asked me what was the fasted CPU out there. (Obviously he suffered from teenage selective-hearing. he didn't get the answer he wanted so he I felt it best to repeat my answer, only I slightly re-worded it). Then he wanted to know what a good graphics card was and where he could get a good deal on it.
...I had an inclination on what he was fishing for, and so I followed that hunch and let him know that I was no longer in the business and no longer deal with the manufactures any more.
I could tell by his reply that he was genuinely disappointed that I didn't have the ability to get him the latest and greatest graphics card at little (to no) cost to him. (And for a PC that isn't working right? Hardly.)
Then I informed him that although I no longer associate with people from the Renaissance Festival, I am on good terms with some, including those in the Fire-using circle. If he had a promo-video or a web-site, I would be happy to direct them to him and -
"I don't see what good that would do because my skills are superior to theirs." he interrupted.
I was done with him at that moment. He went on about how his skills are more advanced and broad because the people at the Renaissance Festival specialize.
I answered with an 'Uh-huh.'
And the rest of my replies were non-committal. He went on about his chains and how he supposed he has to make a web-site, etc...
Wow. Heinlein was right "Age does not grant you wisdom, but it does lend perspective."
I can easily identify a punk...I was one.
I think tomorrow I will post an incident from the past. Something with humor = "Boy's Are Dumb."
Here endith the Blog...
Soooo...today I get a call and do not recognize the Caller ID. Some times you just gotta shrug and say "I'll bite." I picked up the phone to hear my business partner's daughter on the other end. (the Caller ID gave a name I wasn't familiar with I would have recognized her name), and she promptly reminded me that her dad said it was Okay for her to call about helping her boyfriend.
I gladly replied to her, and said of course I'd be glad to help. She began and asked if I knew anything about Windows 7. I informed her that I had a copy but had not installed it yet (which is true). She sounded disappointed, but not wanting to let her down, I asked her why. She informed me that he took his computer into Best Buy and they upgraded it to Windows 7 (Warning: avoid Best Buy unless someone puts a gun to your head. I doubt their Geek Squad could erase an 'Etch-a-Sketch'), and now none of his games and stuff won't work. I began to inform her that normally when an OS is installed over a prior one, there is usually a re-installation required of the applications. Judging by the pitch, she turned her head slightly away from the phone to inform her boyfriend "You have to re-install all your stuff." To wit, I heard him talking to her in the background, in a constant drone. I was unable to tell what he was saying but it lasted for nearly half a minute, when she came back to me and said "Sorry, he's talking to me."
"Yes, I noticed." came my reply.
Then she asked me "What's a good graphics card and where can he get one." (What kind of cowardly boyfriend has his girlfriend call for his problems....? sheesh). I informed her to tell him that his best bet would be to go to www.tigerdirect.com and www.newegg.com. They have some of the good deals, and if you are of the kind that do it...go to Craigslist.
...Again, they bantered back and forth...
Then she told me that he's a Fire Spinner (Spitter?) and wanted to know who who he can talk to in order to get into the Renaissance Festival. I informed her that I have not associated with people from there in nearly 10 years. She was surprised to hear that, and as I was talking to her, she was talking to him and he was talking to her until I said -
"He's right there, correct?"
"Yes."
I'm afraid I lost my patience. This was terribly wrong to me so I said "Put him on the fucking phone." (This is uncharacteristic of me to say to a teenager, but I know her father.)
"Well, he was busy at first, but..." her voice became distant again as she moved the phone away from her, and then I heard her say "Here."
"Hello?" came the voice.
"Howdy," I replied, then went on, "Lets take them in order, First, when install an OS over another one, you generally need to re-install all your applications as well. Some times these won't work because of the bit of the OS, be it 32 or-"
He interrupted me about that point telling me that he did that and that none of his programs will work because they are 32-bit vs the 64-bit OS and that he prefers 32-bit because its more compatible.
I waited about 2 seconds to be sure he was finished, and said "Correct. In fact that is what I was actually starting to tell you before you interrupted me. Please try not to interrupt and just let me finish, okay?"
...I didn't wait for an answer...
"Secondly," I began, then proceeded to inform him that if he wants to be out where the leading edge of technology is, that he needs to research it. I gave him the analogy that tech is like dog-years. It advances so fast, that you need to spend time to keep abreast of it.
Then he asked me what was the fasted CPU out there. (Obviously he suffered from teenage selective-hearing. he didn't get the answer he wanted so he I felt it best to repeat my answer, only I slightly re-worded it). Then he wanted to know what a good graphics card was and where he could get a good deal on it.
...I had an inclination on what he was fishing for, and so I followed that hunch and let him know that I was no longer in the business and no longer deal with the manufactures any more.
I could tell by his reply that he was genuinely disappointed that I didn't have the ability to get him the latest and greatest graphics card at little (to no) cost to him. (And for a PC that isn't working right? Hardly.)
Then I informed him that although I no longer associate with people from the Renaissance Festival, I am on good terms with some, including those in the Fire-using circle. If he had a promo-video or a web-site, I would be happy to direct them to him and -
"I don't see what good that would do because my skills are superior to theirs." he interrupted.
I was done with him at that moment. He went on about how his skills are more advanced and broad because the people at the Renaissance Festival specialize.
I answered with an 'Uh-huh.'
And the rest of my replies were non-committal. He went on about his chains and how he supposed he has to make a web-site, etc...
Wow. Heinlein was right "Age does not grant you wisdom, but it does lend perspective."
I can easily identify a punk...I was one.
I think tomorrow I will post an incident from the past. Something with humor = "Boy's Are Dumb."
Here endith the Blog...
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Why I drink Margarita's
Howdy all -
Here I am, up in the north-land we call Duluth, reclining at my Father-in-law's palatial residence. When you set upon a weekend of relaxation, it shouldn't be surprising the amount of situations that arise. After all, we had decided to cash in on the weekend and bring the kids up north to do a little snow-sledding.
Friday - was riddled with set-backs....weather that affected traffic, packing/laundry situations, Dr. Appointments, and idiots that effected traffic.
We arrived a bit late, but Grandpa had an excellent dinner of Salmon prepared and we ate heartily. (Well, the kids didn't eat exceptionally well..it was just too late in the evening for them). After they went to bed we watched a movie: THE WRESTLER. AN interesting story, and I can understand how it had gotten critical acclaim.
Saturday - This was a day filled with TV, wii, sledding and napping (I had no coffee that day and was rather hard-pressed to have any energy). The sledding was fun and painful. The hill was quite steep and although we went for the kids, the parents and grandma went (Grandpa sat in the truck, playing the game of "Warming House"). The boy went down the hill the most and the daughter lost a boot a couple of times and had a few face-plants that created tears. Naturally the adults decided they should partake in the fun, and no one brought a muffler and filled it with gasoline and gunpowder to strap on to our backs to provide a "rocket assist"...It wasn't needed. The hill provided plenty of speed. I went down the hill more than once, even though I backwards somersaulted the first time. And the second. Yes, I heard the clicks and pops when I did that. And I felt the muscles stretch and strain. And naturally, as I was reaching the bottom I ended up backwards. When you reach those speeds at my age, I suddenly felt like Han Solo, my brain was screaming at me: "I got a bad feeling about this!" When I hit that one bump wrong, I suddenly was in less control of the sled as I was. I went from cruising backwards down the hill into an assorted rolling maneuver. Back-head-sled...back-head-sled.
*ouch*
Once we returned to the homestead, it was shower-time followed by medicine. The kids had hot coco, and I washed down the Ibuprofen with Margaritas. The kids warmed up the way they wanted to, and so I warmed up the way I wanted to~! And I made sure that I remained warm....
Sunday - Well... the kids are in a wii bowling grudge-match with the grandparents, as I type this with a sore neck and upper back. I just heard the daughter yell "I WON!" several times. (Guess the match is over). And as I close, we are headed off to Canal Park. The kids are restless and for the sake of the adults, they need to become tired.
Here I am, up in the north-land we call Duluth, reclining at my Father-in-law's palatial residence. When you set upon a weekend of relaxation, it shouldn't be surprising the amount of situations that arise. After all, we had decided to cash in on the weekend and bring the kids up north to do a little snow-sledding.
Friday - was riddled with set-backs....weather that affected traffic, packing/laundry situations, Dr. Appointments, and idiots that effected traffic.
We arrived a bit late, but Grandpa had an excellent dinner of Salmon prepared and we ate heartily. (Well, the kids didn't eat exceptionally well..it was just too late in the evening for them). After they went to bed we watched a movie: THE WRESTLER. AN interesting story, and I can understand how it had gotten critical acclaim.
Saturday - This was a day filled with TV, wii, sledding and napping (I had no coffee that day and was rather hard-pressed to have any energy). The sledding was fun and painful. The hill was quite steep and although we went for the kids, the parents and grandma went (Grandpa sat in the truck, playing the game of "Warming House"). The boy went down the hill the most and the daughter lost a boot a couple of times and had a few face-plants that created tears. Naturally the adults decided they should partake in the fun, and no one brought a muffler and filled it with gasoline and gunpowder to strap on to our backs to provide a "rocket assist"...It wasn't needed. The hill provided plenty of speed. I went down the hill more than once, even though I backwards somersaulted the first time. And the second. Yes, I heard the clicks and pops when I did that. And I felt the muscles stretch and strain. And naturally, as I was reaching the bottom I ended up backwards. When you reach those speeds at my age, I suddenly felt like Han Solo, my brain was screaming at me: "I got a bad feeling about this!" When I hit that one bump wrong, I suddenly was in less control of the sled as I was. I went from cruising backwards down the hill into an assorted rolling maneuver. Back-head-sled...back-head-sled.
*ouch*
Once we returned to the homestead, it was shower-time followed by medicine. The kids had hot coco, and I washed down the Ibuprofen with Margaritas. The kids warmed up the way they wanted to, and so I warmed up the way I wanted to~! And I made sure that I remained warm....
Sunday - Well... the kids are in a wii bowling grudge-match with the grandparents, as I type this with a sore neck and upper back. I just heard the daughter yell "I WON!" several times. (Guess the match is over). And as I close, we are headed off to Canal Park. The kids are restless and for the sake of the adults, they need to become tired.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Sorry I was late
Well, I missed Thursday's installment. Things were pretty hectic at the household last night. Today isn't going any easier and we will be out of town for the weekend (so not post until Sunday...at the earliest)
So, since I don't have the time to sit down and ramble along...I will copy somthing I had posted elsewhere.
For those of you with children, you should recognize the style of the writing. Similar to the Mouse-Cookie & Moose-Muffin stories, I had recalled a couple weeks ago a discussion I had when my kids wanted to watch a Godzilla movie. They have seen quite a few of the movies, and for some reason, it was not the first couple of movies that raised all the questions. They seemed to accept the premise with minimal input. However, in re-watching one of the films (I cannot recall which it was...sorry) they suddenly had a thirst for knowledge...
If you let your kids watch a GODZILLA movie
…they will want to know what he’s doing in the town.
Once you inform them he’s angrily stomping through Tokyo, they will want to know why he is so mad.
So you tell them he’s angry because of Nuclear testing.
They want to know what that means, so once you explain, they want to know why someone would do such a thing. So you give a brief explanation regarding the concept of war and what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Then they ask why the army cannot hurt him.
After you inform them of the resiliency of his hide along with his ultra-fast regeneration, they will want to know how he got to be so big and strong.
Once you explain how his power is tied into the Atomic Bombing, they will want to know what Nuclear Fusion is.
So you think about it for a moment, and see that they are waiting on an answer from you. So you give a generalized statement regarding the atoms and how molecules are the fabric of our being. Chances are, they won’t understand.
They consider this, look back to the TV and ask if its like The Force.
As you begin to explain the difference, they want to know why their mouths move funny compared to the words.
First you explain that the film is ‘dubbed’, and then you explain why.
They want to know why the film was made in Japan and not in the USA. You explain that the author was Japanese and he got the idea based on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Confused, they will turn their attention back to the movie.
Chances are, your spouse will wonder why the children are ‘stomping’ to the table with arms out front and ‘Rar-ing’ at the dinner table.
They will inform her that they are pretending to be Godzilla.
Your spouse will look at you and say “Oh really?” and when she does, the children will rapidly and loudly simultaneously begin to explain all about Godzilla from a viewpoint totally other than what you told them, combining actions and characters and assorted monsters from many of the movies in one long excited dissertation.
And also pointing out that Bambi never stood a chance.
Here endith the blog
So, since I don't have the time to sit down and ramble along...I will copy somthing I had posted elsewhere.
For those of you with children, you should recognize the style of the writing. Similar to the Mouse-Cookie & Moose-Muffin stories, I had recalled a couple weeks ago a discussion I had when my kids wanted to watch a Godzilla movie. They have seen quite a few of the movies, and for some reason, it was not the first couple of movies that raised all the questions. They seemed to accept the premise with minimal input. However, in re-watching one of the films (I cannot recall which it was...sorry) they suddenly had a thirst for knowledge...
If you let your kids watch a GODZILLA movie
…they will want to know what he’s doing in the town.
Once you inform them he’s angrily stomping through Tokyo, they will want to know why he is so mad.
So you tell them he’s angry because of Nuclear testing.
They want to know what that means, so once you explain, they want to know why someone would do such a thing. So you give a brief explanation regarding the concept of war and what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Then they ask why the army cannot hurt him.
After you inform them of the resiliency of his hide along with his ultra-fast regeneration, they will want to know how he got to be so big and strong.
Once you explain how his power is tied into the Atomic Bombing, they will want to know what Nuclear Fusion is.
So you think about it for a moment, and see that they are waiting on an answer from you. So you give a generalized statement regarding the atoms and how molecules are the fabric of our being. Chances are, they won’t understand.
They consider this, look back to the TV and ask if its like The Force.
As you begin to explain the difference, they want to know why their mouths move funny compared to the words.
First you explain that the film is ‘dubbed’, and then you explain why.
They want to know why the film was made in Japan and not in the USA. You explain that the author was Japanese and he got the idea based on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Confused, they will turn their attention back to the movie.
Chances are, your spouse will wonder why the children are ‘stomping’ to the table with arms out front and ‘Rar-ing’ at the dinner table.
They will inform her that they are pretending to be Godzilla.
Your spouse will look at you and say “Oh really?” and when she does, the children will rapidly and loudly simultaneously begin to explain all about Godzilla from a viewpoint totally other than what you told them, combining actions and characters and assorted monsters from many of the movies in one long excited dissertation.
And also pointing out that Bambi never stood a chance.
Here endith the blog
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
American Idol (Idle?)
As we were putting the kids to bed last night, my wife had the TV-Guide listings on her computer. I had glanced at the screen as I walked past and noticed an images advertising American Idol. Like many folks, we watched part of the first couple of seasons. I remember the season with Carrie Underwood beating out Bo Bice and I saw snippets of the season with Taylor Hicks and Katrina McPhee....(I think that was their names) but nothing since. And as I walked past my wife's computer, I remembered why.
Was it the Judges?
No. Although Ryan Seacrest should be replaced by someone with some talent, I won't digress into that. So....it wasn't because of the judges, I actually did enjoy the commentary from Simon. Not because he was intentionally cruel, but because he spoke straight up: honest and to the point. It was very refreshing. I dabbled in film and theatre for a few years and found the non-confrontational demeanor of Randy and Paula very reminiscant of the false-faced backstabbing world of entertainment. Their weak-willed, awful, mealymouthed manner was a perfect non-confrontational manner of deceit. And I've dealt with a lot of lies. I come from the school of thought that if the contestant sucked, then they sucked. Come out and let them know it, they deserve to know. Inform them why you felt it was awful, where they really bottomed out and what they can do to improve.
Was it the contestants?
Not precisely, but it does dove-tail into the reason. For starters, have you ever read the requirements for auditioning? Along with the typical "your identity and every bit of likeness thereof shall belong to us" disclaimer, I remember reading (from the official web-site) that you had to be under 40 years old. Hmmm...I don't think that someone 41 years of age that auditioned wearing a cap on his head that displayed the numbers "40" could get by with saying "Yes, I'm under 40." But I'd like to see it. Do the producers want someone younger because they are more pliable? Will possess more stamina, ergo, providing them with more money? That reminded me of when I brought the show up to a friend of mine who possesses a diva voice. I had asked her why she had not auditioned for American Idol when they were in town. She obviously has one of the best voices in town.
She informed me "Because tall, over-weight white chicks would get voted off."...well. She put that to the point straight away, that's for certain.
And so, the program has a set criteria, and has churned out many artists that I consider to be from a similar mold. And THAT is the problem. I'm exceedingly grateful that those that shaped our music today were never forced to make it or break it on that show. Our music would be different...so VERY limited by comparison.
And with that, I present unto you (in alphabetical order) a top-10 list regarding some of our the most influential singer's and songwriters that would have never succeed on American Idol. In fact, it is quite possible that half of them would never make it past the initial audition.~!! These are people who shaped the music we listen to today...
#1) Jim Croce (They'd never allow his cigarettes and booze on stage.)
#2) Bob Dylan (They would have instantly disqualified him for not being able to hold a tune.)
#3) Ella Fitzgerald (A large black woman singing Jazz has not done well on that show.)
#4) Odetta Holmes (If her voice voice doesn't take you into a dream-land...you must already be dead...but being a civil rights activist, they'd never let her on.)
#5) Janis Joplin (Her raw talent would get her forward, but then her back-stage / hotel room antics would create a ruckus. The producers would let her stay on the show because of the ratings, but they'd cut her before they made the top ten.)
#6) Mark Knopfller (Guitar playing is his strong-suit. He's the kind of bloke you'd never look at twice on the street otherwise.)
#7) Annie Lennox (If she went on looking "Emily Post" then she would probably ace the show. However, that is not her motif.)
#8) Kyle Minogue (I can't remember the name of the hit she had (was there more than one?), but if I recall, her voice lacked power and was flat. Hmmm...maybe its okay have a flat voice of you show off parts that are not flat.)
#9) Tom Waits (One of the most clever song-writers ever, I would really enjoy him performing a rendition of "The Piano Has Been Drinking", mentioning the Judges in the song...)
#10 Frank Zappa (People that don't like Frank, or appreciate his work have never really sat down and listened to his work! And the context of his work is exactly why only Simon would be the only one to like him.)
Here endith the blog...
===============================================
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Football Rant
Last night I was playing Ogame. Its a browser-based MMO set in space. The game is simplistic and the design is rudimentary. I play it for the social aspect; I need adults to communicate with and although some of these folks are petulant whiners who most likely troll forums (Forums? Huh. I almost said Boards, I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks). There are a few whose company I do enjoy. (On a related note, if you are looking for a game where the action is a bit more intense, I recommend Space Pioneers). Anyway, I was up until about 2 AM last night as my space-ships in-game were traveling to defend someone's planet. During this time, I was chatting with Naraku (that is his Ogame nic) about football, and he, like me, he enjoys a good ball-game. Granted, we all want our chosen team to win, but when its a good game it some how makes a loss a bit more tolerable. So I had mused to him through our IM window that the late hits on Brett Farve were uncalled for - or should I say 'literally uncalled' (and he - a Saints fan, agreed). Clearly, the Vikings were the better team, but for some reason, the team was not in sync. So many turn-overs and the game was *still* tied at the end? It looked like the the Cardinals were caught unprepared, and the Vikings should have known better, did not act as such. And I suddenly asked myself why. - Is there truly an underground movement to create a "Cinderella Story" for the Saints? I guess next Sunday we shall see. Or should I say, I'll read about it. I have no intention of watching the game. I cannot draw my attention to anything that I have lost respect for.
Granted, that is nothing more than a hypothesis as I have no proof of the matter. Admittedly, the alternative is that the referee's were not showing signs of being biased or corrupt and favoring the saints. It may very well be that the officials were simply incompetent. After all, several days after the Saints-Vikings game, the Saints were fined $30,000.00 for their actions. Hmmmm....does Roger Goodell actually believe that would help? They lost face and just proved it again. In a real-life scenario, that would be like someone side-swiping your car on the freeway and then he gets pulled over and is issued a $7.00 speeding ticket before being sent on his way.
Whatever.
Maybe it is merely chance and coincidence. A series of unfortunate and incompetent mistakes by so many. Of course, if that is the case, I suspect that due to the directions of their defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams (who instructed his defensive unit to focus on ruthless quarterback hitting) that there might be some serious payback as the teams the Saints abused with a huge lack of sportsman-like conduct decide that turn-about is fair play.
For next year, I would think many people would feel vindicated if the Saints were decimated next year by the Cardinals and Vikings. Of course, should the Vikings win the Superbowl in 2011, the NFL will most certainly have their lock-out...
"Here endth The Rant."
==========================================================================
Granted, that is nothing more than a hypothesis as I have no proof of the matter. Admittedly, the alternative is that the referee's were not showing signs of being biased or corrupt and favoring the saints. It may very well be that the officials were simply incompetent. After all, several days after the Saints-Vikings game, the Saints were fined $30,000.00 for their actions. Hmmmm....does Roger Goodell actually believe that would help? They lost face and just proved it again. In a real-life scenario, that would be like someone side-swiping your car on the freeway and then he gets pulled over and is issued a $7.00 speeding ticket before being sent on his way.
Whatever.
Maybe it is merely chance and coincidence. A series of unfortunate and incompetent mistakes by so many. Of course, if that is the case, I suspect that due to the directions of their defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams (who instructed his defensive unit to focus on ruthless quarterback hitting) that there might be some serious payback as the teams the Saints abused with a huge lack of sportsman-like conduct decide that turn-about is fair play.
For next year, I would think many people would feel vindicated if the Saints were decimated next year by the Cardinals and Vikings. Of course, should the Vikings win the Superbowl in 2011, the NFL will most certainly have their lock-out...
"Here endth The Rant."
==========================================================================
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 1
I should have let the Acetaminophen kick in before I started this, but since I didn't - I'll just press on and encourage the process with a beer.
There a many odd things that happen and occur in our lifetime's and over the years I have been told repeatedly that my family is not a group of people you meet. They are something that happens to you.
And, since I have been prompted of late to write a BLOG, in addition to the fact that I feel the 'emotional encouragement' as well, having just seen JULIA & JULIA. (We will see if I can maintain the discipline to keep this up, or if I tire of it.)
The last week has been a bit trying...everyone in the family has been under the weather in one way or another. However, a chuckle came a few days back when Ms. Z was sick and in the midst of this, she became rather...'gassy'. At one point she ripped out a good, lengthy fart then proceeded to walk around the kitchen. After moving and standing, moving and standing for about 30 seconds, she found herself on the other side of the kitchen. She looked at me with great surprise and said:
"Whew~! I just can't escape myself."
It snowed today and sure enough, Mr. A rode his bike in the driveway then played with his RC trucks in the snow. Ms Z saw this and the two of them slid on their little saucer-sleds down the snow-banks on the side of the driveway until dinner time.
...and now I think its a good time to close day one...
There a many odd things that happen and occur in our lifetime's and over the years I have been told repeatedly that my family is not a group of people you meet. They are something that happens to you.
And, since I have been prompted of late to write a BLOG, in addition to the fact that I feel the 'emotional encouragement' as well, having just seen JULIA & JULIA. (We will see if I can maintain the discipline to keep this up, or if I tire of it.)
The last week has been a bit trying...everyone in the family has been under the weather in one way or another. However, a chuckle came a few days back when Ms. Z was sick and in the midst of this, she became rather...'gassy'. At one point she ripped out a good, lengthy fart then proceeded to walk around the kitchen. After moving and standing, moving and standing for about 30 seconds, she found herself on the other side of the kitchen. She looked at me with great surprise and said:
"Whew~! I just can't escape myself."
It snowed today and sure enough, Mr. A rode his bike in the driveway then played with his RC trucks in the snow. Ms Z saw this and the two of them slid on their little saucer-sleds down the snow-banks on the side of the driveway until dinner time.
...and now I think its a good time to close day one...
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