Die Hard

Lisa and the youngin's are in Chicago getting pizza, GC is at Grandma's, and I just introduced LuLu  to this great film! Her only critique was that McClane didn't "try" the phone before slamming it down - she didn't realize a landline has an audible dial tone lol

Duh

Hour four of a BBC America marathon of Kitchen Nightmares - with Lisa  

Vegetable Soup

The wind is howling and sleet is tap dancing on the windows. A good day for homemade vegetable soup Lisa- thanks!

The Christmas Paintings

We opened our presents at midnight on Christmas, because we were just arriving home from visiting my sister. I'll spare you pictures of the gifts, except for these: paintings Lisa had made for each of the kids. She snuck out to Splash Studio four times between Halloween and Christmas (once with Trudy), wanting to create something special for each of their rooms.

Daddy's Home 2 and a Wonder Woman episode

We watched the Wonder Woman ('70's) episode "Amazon Hot Wax" with Rick Springfield and Judge Reinhold!

-and-

Daddy's Home 2 -  Obviously this isn't Oscar material, but what it is is warm, and honest, and funny - basically, everything Bad Moms was not.

Manicure Day!

LuLu is giving Yaya a manicure with the set OJ bought today for Boxing Day.

Christmas at Alex Q's

After Mass #TeamSlap journeyed over to our friend's house for a get together with their family. They hosted a White Elephant gift exchange, a Bingo game for the kids, Surge, yummy turkey, and some potatoes horrifically covered in cheese. ;)

Fantastic Four

It's not as bad as people say, but it isn't very good. No one is very likeable, least of all Johnny Storm (tho Jordan did a good job with what he had), and the action at the end was abrupt and pointless.

Many Thanks to Smiley

Kudos to my son, the only child to wish me well before the surgery. He even asked to come along and wait with Lisa, which we sensibly refused. He was the only one to greet me with a hug when I came back, personally set up the cooling machine that draped my hip all night, and volunteered to help me out. He even chose to cuddle up to me on the couch. Time and again, I think that whatever bumps lay ahead, in the end he'll be a fantastic husband and father. I love you Smiley!

I'm Home

I got home from the hospital only an hour ago. What a long day. Recovery didn't go smoothly, although I remember little of it. The doc told Lisa how the surgery itself went, and her impression was not optimistic, but I'll relay more info after the follow-up. Right now I'm sore and tired and a little high, and more than a little irritated that I'm -for the moment - not very independent.

It's A Wonderful Life

 #TeamSlap just watched my favorite movie of all time at the Avalon. I made Lu wipe the tears that were streaming down my face! lol

I made French Onion soup from scratch today. I still have to perfect the recipe, but it wasn't half bad.

A Great Gift!

#TeamSlap is celebrating an early Christmas with Jennifer J. Look what she and Sydney bought me! #Creed

Here's JJ's gift to YaYa

And for Smiley,  Jenga Quake

UPDATE:  Dropped the kids off, went to the grocery store, then dropped Lisa off too so I could cruise around and listen to my new #Creed CD.

Is This Normal?

Ok....mind craft [Minecraft] /roblox moms and dads.... Do your kids watch videos of other people playing the game? I think my kids enjoy watching others play more then they actually like to play! Is this normal? Lol - Lisa

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

(3D) With Smiley  and his friend Evan. I saw Nancy Z there too!

My (spoiler-free) verdict? 1. It makes the Lucas prequels look just as bad as u remember. U suck George. 2. As a movie, it's not as good as Empire. But that's a high, high hurdle, innit? 3. Not impressed by the bad guy. Yawn. 4. Death Stars are to SW as Daleks are to DW: iconic but so overdone 5. It's a damn fine SW flick. I'd rank it only behind 4 & 5, and welcome the resurgence in the series!

 I miss my Dad this Christmas even more then last. I think it's finally set in that there will be no other Christmases' with him, and that just sucks. Enjoy your parents while you can. Love you, Mom! Xo - Lisa

Surgery

Earlier today. All dressed up and nowhere to go.

Surgery Eve

Tomorrow morning is my surgery. I've tried to get done what I could beforehand, knowing I'll be out of action awhile. I put air in all the tires, ran some errands, stocked up on household products, and made sure to walk the kids home from school, as it's the last time it'll probably happen until spring. Now all that's left is setting the alarm for the wee hours.

 I'm at Candy Cane Lane with Lisa and Junie 

Technically, the task was completed

"Put the silverware away Smiley," I said.

Goodbye dear toaster

After 19 years the 4 slice Proctor-Silex toaster  Lisa and I got as a wedding present went kaput, ruining the last good thing to come out of that day. ;) So here's the new one, complete with fancy-dancy buttons and removable crumb trays. If you bought us the original toaster, thank you.

Counting On

We're watching the new Duggar show. We've missed them. #JillAndJessa

Elf

You either love Will Ferrell or you hate him. If you hate him, you're an awful human being.

Good Job Girls!

On Saturday morning Junie's Girl Scout troop spent time at the Rescue Mission helping prepare Christmas gifts for homeless families. Afterwards the troop retired to the leader's house to decorate gingerbread cookies and dine on pizza. Proud of you kid!

Poop

From LuLu's Snapchat.

Fury

The Brad Pitt WWII flick. I enjoyed it a lot. I'm not saying it was realistic, or that the characters were good people, just that I liked the film. 

Beautiful

I did YaYa's nails - Lulu

More Nightmares

My sleep was riddled with nightmares and I woke up angry about something I no longer even remember. Gotta shake it off.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Friday LuLu begged me to go buy her this book at Target. 

Saturday she texted me and said she was bored. Read your book, I wrote back. 

Her response: "I finished that last night😕 smh."

A Theory

I've got a theory about why sports are so popular. Yes, following a team creates a regional identity, a sense of community loyalty, and gives you something to talk about over the water cooler. But: there's also an ingrained anti-intellectualism in our culture, and sports -with its detailed stats, its research, its strategy - gives us a chance to dive into academia without sacrificing that machismo. 

The Oscar Pitorious Case

Two things the all-knowing Internet comment section fails to notice about the Oscar Pitorious case: 

1. Under their law, killing an intruder in your home, even in clear self defense, is a crime 

2. An appeals court convicted him of a higher offense than what the trial court chose. What kind of justice system can take someone that's been duly convicted, toss out the verdict, and immediately convict him of another crime without trial? #ThankfulToLiveHere

My Thoughts - Abortion

Not looking for an abortion debate here, but . . . arguing that because a pro-lifer isn't willing to adopt or pay for every unwanted child her argument is hypocritical and moot is just plain dumb. I don't want to assume your bills either, but that doesn't remove my right, and my obligation, to object to a plan to eliminate you.

False Memory by Dan Krokos

A book Smiley read recently. He's since moved on to the Harry Potter series (now on #3)

Rocky IV

In preparation for taking Parker to see the new Rocky movie tomorrow I had to introduce him to the series. IMO, IV is the worst of the bunch, a comic book monstrosity, BUT it has all the core characters and is the most kid friendly entry. Smiley liked it!

Makin' Friends

Last night YaYa and I watched the episode of Doctor Who where Clara finally bit the dust. We had a great time. Alas, I then refused to watch Misery - it's a great film, but it . . . discomforts me - and twelve hours later she still isn't talking to me. Such is parenthood.

YaYa: This whole house is awful.

Me: Why?

YaYa: Because you're in it.

#FeelTheLove

Did You Know?

It's true. Of the 600 people in the building, only about 130 escaped without serious injury.

Charlie Dick

RIP Charlie Dick, husband of the late Patsy Cline. I remember him best as the abusive husband played by Ed Harris in "Sweet Dreams," but Dick claimed that was largely fiction. At any rate, much of Cline's enduring legacy can be laid at the feet of the work Dick did to promote her music after her death.

John Anderson

John Anderson, allegedly the last remaining survivor of the USS Arizona, has passed away at age 98. RIP sir.

Revenge of the Nerds

Most of the plot would result in criminal charges in this day and age

Ouch

Me: You've got a good looking Dad, kid.

LuLu: Yup. It's a shame I've never met him.

Impractical Jokers at the Riverside

Lisa and I just got back from seeing #TheTenderloins comedy troupe, stars of Impractical Jokers, at the Riverside. It was a blast, ESPECIALLY when Murr ate dog poop on a bet! LOL. Better pics - from our camera -may follow later.

Smiley was a zombie for Halloween, as you might remember, but he wanted it kept off FB until the holiday to preserve secrecy. The week of Halloween they allowed kids to wear their costumes to dance class, and when Lisa and I went to pick him up, I pulled up to where he could see our car, screamed "Zommbie invasion!" then took off like a bat out of hell, leaving him and OJ standing outside the studio. They were not as amused as Lisa and I were LOL

Starbucks and the War on Christmas

My take on the Starbucks red cup "War on Christmas" controversy: I believe the whole hoopla was manufactured by the company, through well-timed stories and a flurry of internet trolls in their employ. Well done greedy makers of overpriced burnt coffee, well done.

I'm a Proud Dad

Saturday was a great day for #TeamSlap. Smiley had a yardwork job, as you've seen; Lulu had her first (official) babysitting gig; and YaYa went to the movies with a boy who drove her to the show in his own car. Proud of all my kids.

Ear Woes

Lisa took LK to the ENT today because she continues to have problems with one of her ear tubes clogging. Medicine has failed to clear it, so the doc is having us put hydrogen peroxide in the ear twice daily for ten days. If that doesn't work, Junie will need to go under to have the blockage cleared. :(

Bumper Bowling

This evening I took the Juniors to bumper bowling at Bay View Bowl. No tears, thank Heavens, although Junie did get grumpy and call me a show-off. If you ever want to give your ego a boost, bowl with a 10 and 8 year old.

Smiley the Workin' Man

Yesterday Smiley went to New Berlin to rake leaves for Alys H and Jim F.  With the money he earned burning a hole in his pocket, I took him to Southridge Mall for a pretzel, then to Walmart, where he bought a Nerf-esque bow and arrow and a pack of Pokémon cards (total cost: just over ten bucks).