A YaYa Update

@ortho w/ YaYa, who just got her cast off but is leery of testing her wrist. While there she finished 'They Never Came Back' by Caroline B Cooney, which she grades a B

Not This Time

Surprisingly, I did not win the $550 million Powerball drawing.

Facts

One hysteria tends to produce another

Who Loves Ya Baby?

I’ve had some rather eclectic television habits lately. Lisa and I have been watching “American Horror Story” on Netflix but have yet to finish the season, so that review will have to wait. Aside from that, and our standard TV viewing choices, I’ve recently watched:

1.       The pilot of Magnum P.I. I thought it was very entertaining and didn’t deviate much from the feel of the series as a whole, though Magnum was more of an outsider/rebel at that stage in the game.

2.       Season 1/Episode 14 of The Donna Reed Show entitled “A Very Merry Christmas”. This episode features the great Buster Keaton, which was a treat in and of itself. I adored The Donna Reed Show when it ran on Nick at Nite back in the ‘80’s, and I liked this episode, but I did notice the characters seemed stiffer and less convincing then I remember.  Perhaps it was just a bad choice of episodes to pick. 

3.       I watched the Kojak episode  “Die Before They Wake”, which originally aired February 6^th, 1974, a month before I was born.  I really dug this episode, which featured Tina Louise (Ginger from Gilligan’s Island) as a heroin addict and a recruiter for a prostitution ring. It’s a bit part, really, but noteworthy. Jess Walton, who I guess has made a name for herself on soaps over the ensuing years, actually had the big guest starring role and wowy wow wow was she gorgeous. My word. Great story, great characters, great dialogue. I’m a fan.

Back to the Routine

Getting back into our Monday routine, I just got back from walking the kids home from school. A bit cold, but surprisingly there wasn't a single complaint until the 1.25 mile mark, at which point they did their best to discourage me from repeating the effort.

Yup

Let a man keep his pride and you can be less worried about keeping your scalp

But . . . .why?

Spent a morbid and fruitless 15 minutes looking for the suicide footage of Christine Chubbuck, the on-air personality who killed herself on live TV in 1974 after stating "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living color, you are going to see another first -- attempted suicide."

The Tree is Up!

Lisa and I surprised the kids on our return by having the Christmas tree up and decorated. Junie can't stop talking about it and has the music box function on the stand running non-stop.

An Ike Quote

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

A Walk - and Star Wars!

out walking with the youngest two

picked up popcorn seeds on our walk. Now home where Smiley and I are settling in for his FIRST EVER viewing of Star Wars!

Fantasy Football

Another bloody fantasy football match-up this week. I have the advantage, being the only team with a player on MNF and the score close to tied, but it's gonna be a  tight one

My opponent's players are done and he has an 11 pt lead on me. I have Jonathan Stewart playing on Monday night and Victor Cruz tonight - I am hoping for a Packers win, but one in which VC notches two TD's and 110 yds.

Larry Hagman

RIP Larry Hagman, aka JR Ewing.

Hector Camacho

RIP  Hector "Macho" Camacho

My Farmville Estate

A Dream

I had a spectacular (non-sexual) dream about . . . . Tommy Thompson. I was at a huge banquet, with a non-partisan crowd of maybe 1500 people. There was some issue, now lost to my memory, that was troubling the crowd, but no one was brave enough to voice their concerns. 

Then my Tommy stood up, dressed in a white shirt just like Smiley's. He started out by stating the obvious, that his political career was over in WI, but that that didn't change his love for the state. He went on to address this unremembered concern, laid into an honest and brutal assessment of Tammy Baldwin's inadequacy, and then, finally, hit the hot button issue on the table. 

"Do I think they did it?" [long pause, pained, regretful look, solemn sincere nod] "Yes. Yes, I think they did."

And with that the crowd rose to their feet, and WI once again took Tommy into their hearts. 

Said Lisa when I told her: "What kind of freak dreams about Tommy Thompson?"

TV Time

Watching "Infested!" and "Monsters Inside Me" on Animal Planet. Earlier viewing: Dark Matters, a cheesy Ripley's-esque show hosted by the quack doc from Fringe.

Loon : A Marine Story by Jack McLean

In the middle of the night I finished reading Loon : A Marine Story by Jack McLean. It’s the memoir of McLean, a son of privilege and wealth who volunteered for the Marine Corps when his grades precluded a quick acceptance into college. The title of the book refers to three bloody days in 1968 he spent battling the NVA at Landing Zone Loon near the Laotian border; forty-three Marines would die before the battle was through, and a photograph of the aftermath would appear on the front page of the New York Times. 

While that’s the alleged focus of the memoir, I found that the section on Loon was the most disjointed and strung together of the book, while recollections of his time at boot camp and his acclimation to Vietnam were meticulous and powerful. Perhaps the memories of those three days are l too strong for him to properly harness them in print.

Overall I felt the book was emotional and compelling, although I’m not a fan of McLean’s tendency to drop one sentence paragraphs back to back to back. Grade: A-

Thanksgiving at Denny's

On his own accord Smiley came down for Thanksgiving lunch in clean jeans and a crisp white button down shirt, cuff-links and all. Looking sharp my man!

Junie excited to finally see Santa as we watch the Macy's parade on TV!

Against my better judgement I went to Kmart for their pre-Black Friday deals. Got a couple nice things for the kids, but waited in line for well over an hour at the register.

Art Ginsburg

RIP Art Ginsburg, aka 'Mr. Food.' I remember his short syndicated segments on the Channel 6 midday news. 

Welcome to 2003! pt 2

July 2003

Friday July 4^th: parade, Brewers game, fireworks

Sunday the 6^th: Lu’s baptism at 9:30 mass and brunch

Tuesday the 8^th: Dad Kohn’s bday

Friday July 11: Tre’s wedding rehearsal; YaYa pukes in our car

Sat July 12: Tre’s wedding

Sunday July 13^th: mall with Lu and YaYa

Wednesday the 16^th: 2pm 6 week check up with ob/gyn

Sun July 20^th: Chuck E Cheese for Jonah’s birthday

Monday the 21^st: Zoo

Wed the 23^rd – theft! (of what, I don’t remember)

Thursday the 24^th – park with Mom (Lisa?) and Grandpa S.

Sunday the 27^th:  Anthony’s ? birthday party at chuck e cheese. Pink eye.

Monday the 28^th: Discovery World

Tuesday the 29^th: Lu pink eye; doc appt

August 2003

Friday the 1^st: museum with Jonah, Caitlin, Jordan and YaYa

Sat the 2^nd : pink eye me and jonah & bronchial sinus infection. Dinner at jeanne’s. Jonah stays with us through the 5^th.  YaYa stays with my folks during that same period to avoid getting pink eye.

Sunday the 3^rd: Federation picnic

Tues the 5^th:  my Dad took YaYa to the playground. I took Lu to the doc. 40 cm, 23”, 11 # 12 oz. 4 shots (immunizations).

Wed the 6^th: Chris, Miller Park. Rain.

Thurs 7^th: movie with Jon. Pirates.

Friday the 8^th: slept all day.  That weekend “bad weekend at work”

Monday the 12^th : WIC

Tues 13^th: take both girls to play on Miller Park’s playground

Thursday the 14^th: Snappers ballgame

Friday the 15^th  through the 16^th: take Jonah and Caitlin with us to the Kalahari; our kids left behind with my folks

Monday the 18^th: Chris over. Watch Adaptation. Watch Lu 1-5 and go shopping

Tues the 19^th: Italian restaurant and Walmart

Wed the 20^th: Lu sleeps through the night!

Thurs the 21^st: Lu rolls over!

Friday the 22^nd: dinner at Jeanne’s. I watch Lu 2-3 hrs (why did I keep noting this? It’s my kid, why *wouldn’t* I be watching her?)

Saturday the 23^rd: Bad day at work. Ballgame with Dad and Elliot; 5 wins in a row. This is the day of Becky and Balto’s wedding; my absence would earn me her scorn for years afterwards.

Sunday the 24^th: did nada

Friday the 29^th: horrible dinner at La Toscana

Sat the 30^th: Harley Parade. YaYa enjoys it a lot. Olive Garden with Lis

September 2003

Monday the 1^st – slept all day. Felt like sh*t.

Tuesday the 2^nd – Lisa & the girls went to sleep early. Watched Brewers game

Wed the 3^rd: cemetery. Olive Garden. Sick – cxl Brewers game

Thurs the 4^th – family has pink eye. Lu 11# 140z.  also that day: YaYa and Lisa and the chicken/M&M incident, followed by a  smiley face.??????

Friday the 5^th: bought YaYa a tent, watched ‘em 630-9 am. Fight with Lisa

Monday the 8^th: tour Miller Park. Brewers game with Elliot

Tues the 9^th: YaYa and Lu doc. 12# 12oz? Tour Miller Park with Lisa, eat at Front Row. Hepatitis 2 vaccination.

Wednesday the 10^th: Took girls to Blockbuster and library to sign up for storytime, and McDonald’s to sign up for party, then Walmart for party supplies, then Pic ‘N Save (grocery). Lu laughed! Lu’s 1^st baseball game!

Thursday Sept 11^th: 2^nd anniversary of 9/11. Beef meal. John Ritter and Johnny Cash die.

Friday the 12^th: Socialist and I hang out. Rickie Weeks called up to majors.

Saturday the 13^th: Brewers win 5-4. Sexson 2 hr. Clean house in exchange?. Lu in saucer (walker)

Sunday the 14^th: YaYa pees in potty!

Monday the 15^th: boring day off. Shopping, Ned’s Pizza. Watched TV.

Tuesday the 16^th: Spare ribs for dinner. Miller Park with Dad. Lisa moody. YaYa peed once, then disaster after disaster. MIR sighting by Jose??

Thursday the 18^th: Argue with rec division. Comiskey?

Friday Sept 19^th: poop at 648! (I assume this means YaYa used the potty)

Saturday the 20^th: Jenny’s bachelorette party

Sept 21^st: Brewers game with Grandpa Kohn and Dennis. YaYa – toddler bed!

Sept 23^rd: Brewers w/ YaYa and Faith. Buckethead. Called shot. Harley.

Sept 24^th: White Sox game (I think this was the Yankees game I attended with my Dad)

Thursday the 25^th: slept all day. Friends premiere. YaYa at Arthur Ave – 1^st time post potty training!

Friday the 26^th: dinner at Uncle Kenny’s

Friday the 27^th: Yaya’s 1^st swim class and music for tots!

Saturday the 28^th: Lisa sees ‘Thirteen’ with Mindy. I watch girls. $ store boxes J (?)

Monday the 29^th: shave beard (followed by frowning face)

Tues the 30^th: dentist

October 2003

Wednesday the 1^st: Great A’s/Bosox game

Thursday the 2^nd: took YaYa to toddler group (she peed). Watched girls for 2 hrs.

Saturday the 4^th: 2^nd swim class. Took grandma then went shopping

Thursday the 9^th: 3^rd shift field trip to Holy Hill and Mr. D’s

Saturday the 11^th: Dale’s last day at work

Friday the 17^th: tour Dale’s new hotel

Saturday the 18^th: Jose’s wedding

Tues the 21^st : Miller Park symposium with Tre

Wed the 22^nd: took girls to Jaspare and shopping.

Thurs the 23^rd: YaYa’s 2^nd birthday. Opens family gifts. Toddler group and library for her first library card! Chris and Jeanne over.

Friday the 24^th: clean bedroom. Dinner at Schroeder’s.

Saturday the 25^th: 7^th anniversary. Trick or treat. Ricardo’s for dinner and saw Wonderland at the Downer (loved it). Yankees lose the World Series. Ray calls to taunt me with that fact at the movie.

Sunday the 26^th: Trick or Treat. YaYa’s second birthday party (McDonald’s) at 4 p.m.  Yankees lose Dada??

Wed the 29^th: 7pm Halloween party at Zablocki school. 3PM pediatrician for YaYa

November 2003

Sunday the 1^st: Rosie’s bridal shower

Saturday the 15^th: work xmas party

Thursday the 20^th: good Friends episode. JFK special.

Friday the 21^st: Aunt Rosie and Bob’s wedding.

Saturday the 22^nd: Jonah and Caitlin book making? Christmas tree up.

Friday the 28^th: Royette’s bday

Saturday the 29^th: Saw Bad Santa (I think with Jon)

December 2003

Saturday the 6^th: St Nick’s. Fight with Chris. Candy Cane lane.

Monday the 8^th: Olive Garden

Tuesday the 9^th: Pewaukee? Rafters (restaurant)

Wednesday the 10^th: Scabies! [relax, it was NOT me - but it's an anecdote worth remembering]

Friday the 12^th: Rockettes (YaYa). I watch Lu.

Saturday the 13^th: The shuttle van at work was shot at. Sadam Hussein captured!

Sunday the 14^th: Lunch with Santa

Monday the 15^th: Dermatologist appt. Ground Round. YaYa’s 2^nd baptismal anniversary

Tues the 16^th: Christmas shopping

Wednesday the 17^th: Sledding! 100^th anniversary of manned flight

Thursday the 18^th: Lisa sick. Dinner at Uncle Ken’s. Jonah and Caitlin’s Christmas concert.

Monday the 22^nd: LuLu get’s shots (immunizations) at 

Flowers in the Attic

Following a late night viewing of Flowers in the Attic with Lisa earlier in the week, I sat down to read the V.C. Andrews book that seemed to grace the desk of every girl in grade school back in the ‘80’s. To my surprise, I enjoyed Andrews’ style and found the book well written, even if she had a nasty little obsession with incest. For a classic cheesy horror novel, it wasn’t bad at all. Grade: B

Great News

Uber excited that Herman Wouk just released a new novel . . .

WTH?

Big to-do with AT&T after they disconnected me this morning * despite paying my bill in full* At one point they asked me to have my bank fax them proof of the payment (!) and when they relented, they STILL wanted to charge me sixty bucks to restore service they cut by mistake. 

AT&T: like Time Warner, only with a longer pedigree.

Back to the Farm

I'm back on Farmville . . .

FB - June and July of 2009

Tired, and amazed at G.H.W. Bush's energy

I Just Saw This on CNN.com: 'I don't feel a day over 84'

Former president George H.W. Bush celebrated his 85th birthday by jumping out of an airplane.

June 12, 2009 at 8:30 pm

Annoyed at the amount of noise coming from the street. It's 2am on a Monday morning - get in your car and go home already.

June 15, 2009 at 1:59 am

Just put Ginger down for a nap. I've been calling the dentist for Lisa - the insurance claims not to have received their request for approval. I'm also writing some reviews for Slapinions to post later in the year. Meanwhile, Smiley's at a picnic and the

June 15, 2009 at 12:14 pm

Watching I-Carly with Smiley and Ginger

June 15, 2009 at 5:49 pm

LuLu's K5 GraduationThis past week featured a big day for LuLu, the graduation ceremonies that moved her from the world of kindergarten into First Grade. We got there just in the nick of time to see her class stroll ...Read More

June 15, 2009 at 5:49 pm

tired. kids and their friends are playing in the basement, no doubt destroying whatever's left in one piece down there.

June 17, 2009 at 10:56 am

trying to type a post on Slapinons while Smiley stands behind me on the chair pulling my necklace taunt and yelling "Elmo now daddy! Elmo now!".

June 17, 2009 at 4:18 pm

Just got done helping my friend Socialist replace the wax seal and bolts on my toilet. By 'help' I mean I entertained him with anecdotes while he did all the work.

June 17, 2009 at 5:38 pm

Happy. Journal's assigned me to write a column for July 2nd.

June 19, 2009 at 11:21 am

I'm wondering why no one from my grade school class appears to be on Facebook. I even dug out an old school group photo to make sure I spelled the names correctly, but no dice. You have to figure some of the girls now live under married names, but still,

June 19, 2009 at 8:04 pm

Just watching the College World Series game I recorded earlier tonight. Not happy that LSU won the earlier game and ousted Ark., but whatcha gonna do?

June 19, 2009 at 11:30 pm

Sorry for the back-to-back thoughts, but I just noticed that my sidebar here features an ad for a "Guarenteed Resume $34.95." If they can't spell their service correctly in the ad, chances are their work isn't going to impress many employers.

June 19, 2009 at 11:35 pm

More problems with the construction of Miler Park, following Friday's rain. Parts of the roof were destroyed, the service area was flooded, and public records stored at the stadium were destroyed.

Repairs, cleaning continue at Miller Park - JSOnline

Repairs and clean-up work continued Sunday at Miller Park after heavy rains early Friday sent cascades of water into the stadium's service level.

June 21, 2009 at 6:59 pm

I should point out that the order is somewhat mixed up. It's a Wondeful Life should be #1 on the list, as it is my favorite movie of all time. And you haven't seen it unless you've seen it in a theater full of people buzzed on Christmas wine.

Favorite movies of all time by Daniel The Godfather, Titanic, It's a Wonderful Life, Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments.

June 23, 2009 at 2:12 am

Just took out two bags of water damaged trash from the basement, including (sniff) my beloved Zombie Halloween Costume! Plus I'm covered in waterlogged cat litter, but who cares -my zombie costume is ruined!

June 23, 2009 at 10:40 pm

Just emailed my column to the Journal, with a little time to spare. Not the easiest one to write, but I think it turned out ok. Oh, and LSU took the College World Series w/ a lopsided win today, so congrats to them. Woulda preferred Texas to win the crown

June 25, 2009 at 1:17 am

Just got this in an email from the J. editor: "Dan, nice column by the way. Not too political, but gets at the importance of freedom and Fourth of July. " It must not have been as bad as I feared ;)

June 25, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Taking Lu in for a last minute doctor's visit. She's got an awful hacking cough. Guess she inherited my family's allergies.

June 26, 2009 at 11:11 am

Just got home from work. Tired and my feet ache.

June 26, 2009 at 11:59 pm

Just got back from a rare dinner out with Lisa. One kid at grandma's, one at my sis, two watched at home with a babysitter.

June 27, 2009 at 11:50 pm

Trying to Facebook while the baby hangs on my leg, jabbing a pencil at the screen and chating "Momma" as she points at my profile pic.

June 28, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Billy Mays of OxiClean Fame, Dead at 50CNN is reporting that Billy Mays, the popular bearded pitchman for OxiClean and other products, as well as a star of his own reality series, was found dead in his Tampa home at age 50.

June 28, 2009 at 1:42 pm

'House Hunters' is on in the background. A young couple (early 20's) are spending Daddy's $$ on their first house and (eek!) the girl is upset that the indoor pool doesn't have its own waterfall, and that the floors are mahogany and not carpet. Poor baby.

June 29, 2009 at 12:53 am

A former Match Game panelist dies of cancer. Bad week for celebrities.

Comedian Fred Travalena dies of cancer - CNN.com

Comedian and impersonator Fred Travalena died Sunday afternoon after a seven-year battle with cancer. He was 66.

June 29, 2009 at 9:26 am

Just got back from a brisk 30 minute bike ride with YaYa, then practiced some hitting. After all that when I went on the computer (robbing her of her precious Club Penguin) she spazzed out and said she hated her bike and baseball too. Jeez kid, learn to c

June 30, 2009 at 12:12 pm

I just found our copy of MJ's HIStory. Can't find my AWOL college diploma, but at least I can locate CD's we bought 14 years ago.

June 30, 2009 at 10:40 pm

Just a reminder - a column of mine will appear in today's Journal-Sentinel. If you're in WI, kindly pick up a copy.

July 2, 2009 at 2:07 am

Got a text from Lis @ ~12 saying they were 75 miles outside of DuBuque, IA. West of the Mississippi my city to city geography gets a little sketchy, so I have no idea if they're making good time.

July 2, 2009 at 1:48 pm  [Lisa and company were en route to Kansas for a NKOTB show]

Man, this sucks. I'll say a prayer for the soldier and his family. I suggest the Taliban responsible start praying hard too, because I imagine the US forces scouring the area aren't going to be in the mood to play nice.

U.S. soldier sold to Afghan militant clan, official says - CNN.com

The American soldier abducted in southeastern Afghanistan is now being held by a notorious militant clan, a senior U.S. military official said.

July 2, 2009 at 1:52 pm

Listening to my daughter watching Ghostbusters II in the living room. Yeah, it's late. So what? I had to drive the babysitter home after work, which meant taking the kids with me. She'll fall asleep on the couch soon enough.

July 2, 2009 at 11:42 pm

So let me get this straight. The Honduran president violates the constitution in his quest for power. The Supreme Court then orders the military to oust him and restore democratic, legal rule. And in response to the legal removal of this communist nut the White House cuts aid to the country. Beautiful.

U.S. 'hits the pause button' on aid to Honduras - CNN.com

The United States put some teeth in its diplomatic signals to Honduras Thursday, stopping some aid programs temporarily to the Latin American country as it grapples with its two-president crisis.

July 3, 2009 at 11:55 am

Just got home 10 minutes ago. A long day, and i look forward to reading/writing in a quiet house. I still have to make that cake, but that *shouldn't* be a big deal. Famous last words, eh?

July 3, 2009 at 11:24 pm

I thought the kids were asleep but they just ran downstairs all full of fake terror, giggling over Smiley having an accident in bed. I'm not even 100% it's true. I wouldn't put it past those girls to dump water on him and fib just to ruin his night.

July 3, 2009 at 11:29 pm

Yeah, all b.s. to get out of bed. Smiley's asleep and dry as a bone. No liquid within five yards.

July 3, 2009 at 11:32 pm

Dying to take a shower, but waiting for the cake to come out of the oven. I think it's thermostat must be going , and lately baking times have to be played strictly by ear.

July 4, 2009 at 12:25 am

I'm beating my chest ala Tarzan. The cake is out of the oven and light and fluffy and golden brown. A thing of beauty, like looking at myself in carbohydrate form.

July 4, 2009 at 12:40 am

in an effort to gobble up some more federal money Gov. Doyle's new budget makes seat belt enforcement a 'priority' issue . So now cops can pull you over for nothing more than seeing you without a seat belt on - and for shi*s and giggles under the guise of "I thought he wasn't wearing one judge!". Absolute bunk. I wear my seat belt, but in no way/shape/form is it the busines of anyone else, esp. the gov't.

July 5, 2009 at 3:23 pm

My son's school bus failed to arrive this morning, Now I have to . . . well, naturally the bus just pulled up, 21 minutes late :)

July 6, 2009 at 8:08 am

Robert McNamara, ex-defense secretary, dies - CNN.com

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, a key architect of the U.S. war in Vietnam under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, has died at age 93, according to his family.

July 6, 2009 at 11:45 am

We found out about this in an odd way. We called to schedule the baby's birthday party and were curtly told the restaraunt was evacuating, could we please call back later? The fire continues to burn in Cudahy.

Residents being evacuated near burning Cudahy plant - JSOnline

Cudahy city officials are continuing to urge residents within a one-mile radius of the burning Patrick Cudahy plant to evacuate their homes immediately while a fire continues to rage more than 10 hours after the blaze was first reported late Sunday.

July 6, 2009 at 11:48 am

Yay! My son is home. I HATE that he takes a school bus, esp. since his summer speech program is at a diff. school, miles away from the one he knows. If he could say more than a couple dozen words - if he could voice his name and address - I'd feel much be

July 6, 2009 at 1:25 pm

Watching/DVR'ing the Michael Jackson memorial service on CNN.

July 7, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Right now Mariah Carey is peforming "I'll Be There" at the memorial. I don't care what anyone says, NKOTB did a better cover of the song.

July 7, 2009 at 12:43 pm

I'm saving my venom for when/if he officially signs with Minnesota.

Report: Favre pays deposit on Minnesota condo | Truth&Rumors | FanNation

A Brett Favre signing with the Minnesota Vikings is expected to be announced in time for the start of the team's single-game ticket sales July 20. The Vikings will play Favre's former team, the Green Bay Packers, Oct. ...

July 7, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Just back from my niece's 13th birthday party. We listened to the rest of the MJ memorial in the car, as V100 was broadcasting it live. (Probably the only time you'll hear me with that on my car stereo :)

July 7, 2009 at 6:53 pm

I just checked my gmail account. It's cool to get emails from people who read my occasional columns, and it *almost* makes me feel like an actual, grown up writer. But man! I can't believe the time some people have to devote to these things. Some are long

July 7, 2009 at 11:57 pm

Why is it . . .That a cell phone conversation in a public place is a thousand * times more infuriating than if the offender was yakking face to face?

July 8, 2009 at 8:48 pm

A Florida couple was slain in their home while 8 of their 16 children were present. 12 of the 16 children had been adopted knowing they had developmental disabilities and/or other issues.

Florida Couple With 16 Children Killed

Investigators asked the public to be on the lookout Friday for a red van they believe carried three men involved in the deaths of a Florida Panhandle couple who were shot in their rural home while eight of their children slept.

July 10, 2009 at 9:55 pm

As a Certified Pool Operator at Job Prior, I can tell you the only way you're getting knocked up in a swimming pool is if you do it the old fashioned way. What's upsetting to me is the woman is Polish. Like we didn't have enough reasons for people to poke fun at us.

Pregnant By Swimming? - ParentDish

Magdalena Kwiatkowska of Poland thinks you can. She is suing an Egyptian hotel because she claims her 13-year-old daughter became impregnated after swimming in its pool during their recent holiday. Ms.Kwiatkowska ...

July 10, 2009 at 11:22 pm

I don't know what's going on. I look at some sites in IE and pics are missing. I go to a different browser and they're there. So one of my posts may or may not need to be corrected. I guess I'll wait til morning, reboot, and go from there.

July 11, 2009 at 1:06 am

Just back from the Frolics parade, followed by a little league game. Tired.

July 11, 2009 at 2:03 pm

anyone going to the circus parade?

July 12, 2009 at 11:24 am

Just got done watching The Unborn. Full review to follow, as you've grown to expect and detest, but as a sneak peek: it was worth the rental fee.

July 13, 2009 at 1:40 am

A glass plate just exploded in the microwave, scattering pieces across the kitchen and just narrowly missing Lisa. I guess that wasn't microwave safe after all.

July 13, 2009 at 11:22 am

Whoo-hoo! I worked tonight and didn't get the results until now. Congrats Prince!

Prince steals show from Pujols, becomes new HR Derby king - MLB - SI.com

Tonight was supposed to be Albert Pujols' night, but Prince Fielder and Nelson Cruz had other ideas.

July 14, 2009 at 12:30 am

Just finished a column and sent it in. Now I'm going to bed. 'Nite

July 14, 2009 at 3:11 am

Tonight's the All-Star game, which means the annual man only feast at my place. Dale, Jason - c'mon down if you can make it.

July 14, 2009 at 3:37 pm

Just to head off the inevitable reports about how Fox is evil for not carrying yet another talk by the Prez - here's the scoop. As the article explains, when the conference was orginially scheduled for 8pm CST NBC was going to skip it and run their own program. Now Fox had to make the call. It all depends on how much $ is invested in the programming set to be bumped. Business is business.

Fox picks 'So You Think You Can Dance' over Obama news conference - JSOnline

It's all business, as the broadcast network had already scheduled a new two-hour edition of "So You Think You Can Dance," one of the most successful summer "reality" shows.

July 22, 2009 at 10:46 am

Pearl Jam's new song "The Fixer" is on the web. I'm (happily) suprised that it has a strong pop sound, w/ kind of an '80's vibe. Or so I gather while sitting here wrestling with the baby for possession of a bag of torilla chips . . . .which she just dumped all over the floor. Curse me for reproducing so often. If only I wasn't so good at it.

July 22, 2009 at 12:02 pm

What's up with all the miltiary jets coming out of Mitchell today? They keep buzzing overhead, even with the current rain showers.

July 23, 2009 at 1:48 pm

I know some of you on this site will recognize the name and his work, even if, like me, you've never read his novels.

E. Lynn Harris: Dead At 54 - Entertainment Newswire | Black Voices

A Random House executive has confirmed to BV Newswire that best-selling author E. Lynn Harris has died.He was 54. Harris was on tour, promoting his 11th novel, 'Basketball Jones,' which involved an NBA ...

July 24, 2009 at 6:36 pm

At Job Prior I was a business rep on the design team for the project in the article. A "$1.5 million . . . streetscaping project on a 4.5-mile stretch of the roadway, from College Avenue to Kinnickinnic River Parkway."

I've very sad to read that since I left the job the artwork has changed, as I designed one of the early logos. It seemed to fit the bill quite nicely.

F* it. The street is an economic mess, and it will take more than some new hardscaping to turn it around.

27th Street fighting for survival - GreenfieldNOW

Greenfield — Some changes along South 27th Street - a $1.5 million streetscaping project, for one - are certainly going to happen.

July 24, 2009 at 8:34 pm

I'm a dork.

On Baseball Think Factory there's an article about Yankees' security with the headline "Beware the Toasties". Naturally I commented with the following:

"IIRC, the New Kids on the Block have an unreleased song from the '80' entitled Toasties. Just thought I'd share."

The first comment after it: "Just thought [you would] share? Why??"

July 26, 2009 at 6:07 pm

I've said before that David Tennant was in grave danger of passing Jon Pertwee as my favorite Doctor ever, and now I think it's official. Plus, after seeing the two part "Human Nature", I think I now have a new favorite episode, possibly the first that I'll ever force Lisa to sit down and watch. Best. Sci-Fi. Series. Ever.

ps. Martha Jones aka Freema Agyman . . . my word.

July 27, 2009 at 11:12 am

The Journal is asking me to write a column that I'm sure would lead to (more) hate mail and serious flack. Hell, I got hate mail when I wrote about SNOW. They asked for volunteers, and when no one raised their hand she wrote me and asked if I'd please d

July 28, 2009 at 12:05 pm