I'm 1.80 points behind my opponent with Mike Wallace yet to play on Monday night; the other guy's roster is done. Plus the two guys I'm tied with for the last playoff spot seem to be on the way to losses. Disaster might still loom, but .   . .

The New Star Wars

I just watched the new Star Wars teaser. While I'm not a SW fan I thought it looked great, far better than the Lucas prequels (at least visually). I'll go see it.

Yeah. I'll pass, thanks.

At the most expensive Salvation Army store ever (84th and Greenfield): $49.99 for a beat up bike, $5.99 for a hardcover book. #delusionsofgrandeur

Black Friday

Lisa and I went shopping at Target from midnight to nearly two last night, soaking in the Black Friday atmosphere. We left with only dishwasher soap and toilet paper, a tremendous boost to the economy made possible by our willpower . . .  and the pathetic nature of my paycheck.  Still, a ton of fun.

Ferguson

Listening to Ferguson area law enforcement on Scanner Radio. Here's hoping and praying for their safety as they deal with the mis-named "protestors" seeking to profit from tragedy.

What a Weekend

It's been a rough weekend of law school. First I plowed through 24 chapters of an online course that is required *within* a class I'm already taking this semester. Then at the end I had to take an online assessment and pass with a 90% or better; so far, I've failed to reach that after SEVEN exams, reaching as high as 89% and as low as 80%. I'm ready to toss my laptop out the window.

St Vincent

If you can, go see "St. Vincent" starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, and Naomi Watts. It's low key, but funny and sweet, and you'll probably wipe a tear or two from your eye.

LuLu and the Sculptor

Watching. The Arts Page on PBS. This episode centers on the hyper-realism of sculptor Marc Sijan. A few years ago he saw LuLu at a hair salon and approached us to have her model for him; unfortunately she turned out to be a few inches taller than needed for the project and it didn't work out. She should be proud to have inspired such a great artist. :)

A Glum Development

I took the day off of work to attend a pro boxing tournament with Smiley, but post-Disney the cost was prohibitive. I then got a line on some cheap tickets from Craigslist, but the guy sold them right before I texted. I've got a wanted post on the site and there's a faint chance of success . . . But I'll probably have to settle for using the night to finish the online testing for legal writing. #tryingtputagoodspinontgings

Rockerfeller

I've finally finished the 800 page biography of Nelson Rockefeller I started on our vacation. I disagree with some of Rockefeller's positions, but applaud his activism and mourn the loss of the (relative) liberal wing of the GOP he represented. A party is stronger when there is room for dissenting views.

Sweet Revenge

While the boss was volunteering I took the #Centerpieces to dance class. Lulu  had been a disrespectful bear for most of the afternoon, and by the time we left I'd had enough. My punishment was brutal and effective. For the entire half hour ride the radio was tuned to church hymns. Not Gospel mind you, but earnest Protestant pleas to the Lord, interrupted only be the recitation of Psalms. I think their ears were bleeding by the time we arrived. #thatllshowthem

My Bookends Are Dressed for the Winter

The Soup Kitchen

Lisa and Junie, volunteering at the soup kitchen with the Girl Scouts

Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B

Just finished watching "Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B". It's not anywhere near as bad as social media indicates; it was actually pretty entertaining.

A Great Day Aboard

One of the reasons for haste while shopping was that I had a 4:30PM appointment at the golf simulator on the ship. It was my first time using one, and I stunk up the joint. Not *all* of it was my fault – no one told me that putting was useless on such a machine because it fails to register the motion, so I racked up a zillion strokes on the greens at Pebble Beach – but, yeah, mostly I sucked. 

It was fun though :)

Then it was back to the stateroom to shower and change for dinner. On our first cruise dinner required dress attire, a restriction that had been relaxed in the years since. We abhorred that change, even as we ourselves attended at least once in shorts, because part of the fun of the cruise was acting like you were fancier than your measly station in life. 

On the second day from port (Day Five by this tale’s reckoning) diners were encouraged to dress their best, and so I put on my shirt and tie and the kids and Lisa tidied up as well. Some of the kids whined that we would look out of place, and sure enough, some people still showed up in shorts, but oh well - I’m glad we dressed up. 

Dinner was marvelous. As always dinner was a four course affair. I wish I had a copy of the menu, but I know I had some marvelous roast duck, and a soufflé for desert that was so decadent, so wonderful, so undeniably heavenly that I do not hesitate to say that eating it may be the most pleasurable thing I have ever done, and by itself a justification for enduring forty years on this Earth. 

That said, not everyone could hang with the “fancy” food. LuLu by this night had already opted out and ordered off the kids menu. Grace kept trying but often couldn’t pull the trigger and actually *eat* the food – I ate half her escargot, and the rest went untouched. At least she tried. 

During dinner professional photographers came by to record the moment, and Tony and Jupa, our servers, made the kids origami animals. 

Afterwards it was back to the club for Smiley (the kid wanted to spend every spare waking moment there) and YaYa, despite her long standing wish to see Hades host the show that night, had some pressing engagement at The Edge and backed out. Lu went to The Edge too, but eventually returned to the room to read and chill. 

Only Junie remained with us to see “Villians!”, hosted, as I mentioned by Hades from Hercules. It tells the tale of Hades as he struggles to prove to the Fates that he’s just as evil as ever. 

Afterwards we took her to have her autograph book signed by Princess Tiana, and she got the chance to dance with Goofy in the atrium!

With a big day ahead the next day, I think we were all in the staterooms and asleep by midnight.

Uncool Miller, Uncool

I just found out that Miller laid off my Uncle Kenny after 49 years of employment. That action denied him his goal of making it to the half century mark with the company he joined as a teen. #dislike

I Guess She Was Tired LOL

Zoboomafoo :(

Zoboomafoo,the lemur from the PBS show, has died. RIP.

Wouldn't You Know It

For years Lisa has had to hunt and scrape to put together the light blue tree she desired. No more. Finally, as with most things, our culture has caught up to her taste.

LOL

Isn't it disgusting what you can buy at Wal-Mart nowadays? ;)

Creepy

The airline finally delivered Lisa's bag. But someone went through it.  Stuff is mixed about and somebody pinned a button featuring the kids - normally on her cosmetics bag - to one of her blouses. #creepy

Just to be Clear

I've said it many times, but since they don't seem to believe me, let me be clear: having thrown all my funds into Disney, this Christmas will be lean. There will be no dollar store gifts, IOU's, or "hug coupons", but it may very well be recession era-crappy job lean.And I think our annual Boxing Day trip is nixed..You went to Disney World, you went on a cruise, you spent time on foreign soil. You're lucky kids. Don't expect me   to feel bad for ya. :) So consider yourself officially, publicly forewarned. 

25 Years Ago Today

Today is the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

I grew up with the Wall as part of my world and my consciousness, to the point where I still get freaked out that it only stood for three decades, not thirty. 

Seeing it fall - not because of war but instead because of peaceful reform - wow.  A powerful moment, for the 15 year old Dan, and for the world. 

The Return Flight

The flight into Milwaukee

Kovalev - Hopkins

Kovalev-Hopkins tonight, the boxing equivalent of Yankees-Red Sox at the start of this century. It should be a doozy.

Life at Warp Speed

#TeamSlap resumed real life at warp speed. Nine hours after our return we left for dance class, music and voice lessons, some grocery shopping, and dropped Smiley off at Train Fest with Tre. Lisa's luggage is still missing btw

Oh btw - thank you for re-electing Scott Walker in my absence. You made me proud Wisconsin.

Bahama Style

YaYa's new do. Her sisters have them too, but apparently they didn't "borrow" my phone for a selfie like their sister.