Sad Face

That sad feeling you get when you delete a half-written post because you know it will out you as an a$$hole.

My Bowling Ethos

G'damn right.

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.

A Good Day

THIS was a good day at the library. The Mrs out helping our niece, a can of Surge, NFL Sunday Ticket, and a new Lee Child . . . life is good lol

False Memory by Dan Krokos

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

Putting up the Tree

Decorating the tree

The 21st tree of Danny and Lisa, the 15th of #TeamSlap :)

Grumble

Slap Kid:  You have anger issues Dad!

Me: Nooo, I have "lazy kid" issues.

*There may have been an additional word between "lazy" and "kid," but let's pretend life is G rated.

Christmas Tree Shopping

Christmas tree shopping with Lisa, Smiley, and Junie 

 

The First Card of the Season

The first Christmas card of the season has arrived. Thank you Sybil W!

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!

A Loss to the Bears

I took a post dinner nap and woke up to a Packers loss, to the Bears, at Lambeau, on national TV, on Thanksgiving. I would argue the time to R-E-L-A-X has passed this season.

A Full Day

Yesterday Lisa and I went with Lu to visit my Mom in the hospital, only to find the rumor of her admittance was just that - a false rumor. So we went to visit Lisa's step-mom Louise in the care facility where she is recovering from a stroke. Lisa had arranged for a friend to come and professionally do Louise's nails. While that was going on I took Lu to visit at my Mom's to find out what was going on (good luck raising them on the phone). It was a nice, relaxing visit. Then, back to visit Louise. Then we stopped and visited my Great Aunt Mabel, who at 93 sometimes finds herself stuck in a happy scene from years past, but despite the lateness of the hour she was sharp as a tack and as always an impressive figure. A nice humble way to start the Thanksgiving holiday.

Hip ain't Hippin

Even after a day of rest and ice my hip is still aching. My activity level is sharply reduced, and for the first time in forever I put on weight this week. I have gone from being apprehensive about the surgery to counting down the days with glee.

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

Hip Update

Bad news: my hip is hurting a lot today. The Good News, such as it is: I'm having surgery on it in mid-December, and the doc says there's a 67% chance he can correct the problem.

YaYa Is . . .

YaYa is the most amazing person ever. She is smart, funny, and by far my favorite & most beautiful kid. She's probably going to be famous, too.

[if you can't tell, someone swiped my phone - Dan]

Did You Know?

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

Weird Sports Talk

I'm watching multiple NFL games to track my fantasy team, and Smiley went on and on about how he doesn't like watching sports.

"I didn't like sports either Smiley and I was a lonely virgin. Don't be a lonely virgin Smiley."

Lisa: "Smiley won't be a lonely virgin. Have you seen your boy?"

Lisa on the Chargers-Chiefs: "This game would be a lot more interesting if they all played naked."

Lulu  (laughing): "This house is crazy."

BTW that was a beautiful two point conversion by the Packers, just aesthetically beautiful.

LOL

A Driving Scare

A bit of a scare: needing to get change for a Girl Scout candy order, I used my lunch to run to the gas station. I didn't use my seat belt, thinking it was only a little more than a mile. Unfortunately, the driver door latch must have frozen in place and failed to catch, because the door flew open as I turned left. No harm done, but crikey it was a near thing - I had to stop and jimmy the latch free to complete the drive.

LOL

The Drive this AM

I reported an accident that disabled a car in the left lane of the Plainfield Curve. Other than that, the ride this morning was pretty smooth, snow be danged.

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.

On Jenny McCarthy

Jenny McCarthy, who preaches that children shouldn't get vaccinated against disease, is angry that Charlie Sheen may have exposed her to a communicable disease. Now, her ignorance on how HIV is spread is very 1983, and rather laughable, but if she wasn't married to a New Kid I might be tempted to point out the hypocrisy of her newest rant.

John Anderson

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

The Boston Bombers

Hey, you know those folks on Facebook claiming refugees have never committed a terrorist act on American soil since 9/11? Try again. The Boston Marathon bombers both fled to American soil due to religious and political persecution - which they then decided to recreate here. 

Or doesn't that count, because they were white? The hypocricy is rampant 

Again, it is NOT a racial or even a religious issue. It's a *common sense national security* issue.

Superman Returns

Back in 2006 I took an eager five-year old YaYa to see this in the theater. It's a great memory, but I wonder if she even remembers how badly she wanted her Daddy to take her to see it. MUCH better than Man of Steel, IMO.

Revenge of the Nerds

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

20 Years Gone - I Remember Him Well

It's OK to Grieve

I don't think apologies or guilt are necessary for mourning the Paris attacks. Yes, earthquakes happened in Japan and Mexico. Yes, terrorists struck in Baghdad and Africa. I mourn those victims too, but the former is an act of nature and the latter sadly commonplace. The Paris attacks pierced the veil of 1st world security and momentarily opened eyes to the fact our civilization is at risk. They struck there BECAUSE it was meant to wound, and this FB guilt is counter-productive and serves to dilute the lesson purchased at the cost of more than 100 lives. #truth

Good Lord!

So the day after the Paris attacks, at the Democratic debate, Bernie Sanders says terrorism is the result of global warming, and Clinton wants to greatly expand the number of Syrian refugees we allow into the US. All I can say is the GOP better get it's act together by election day or we're in some deep trouble.

Gross Meal

One of the kids left behind a half-eaten peanut butter and onion sandwich on wheat bread. #Gross

No one will admit to it,  meaning even the one that ate it knows its questionable, especially when the house was filled with food (including two types of jelly/preserves!). Weirdos.

We commonly have "fend for yourself night"... Lisa and I get so sick of cooking! But peanut butter and onion????????

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.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 45th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Ouch LOL

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

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

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 45th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

When is Enough Enough?

As I'm sure you've heard. today 35 or more people were killed in a series of terrorist attacks in Paris: a bombing outside a stadium, a shooting at a restaurant, and a hostage situation. The perpetrators were heard to be calling "Allah Akbar". 

There are millions, hundreds of millions, of Muslims who are good and just people despite following a religion that values the sword, just as there are millions of Christians who are vile despite following a religion of love and peace. But get your head out of the sand:  so long as the extremists are out there in numbers, the world IS at war, and civilization is at stake. Europe should close it's borders and expel the " refugees" who so conveniently left their woman and children behind. #Truth #PrayForParis

One World Trade is lit in blue, white and red in solidarity with the people of France after the Paris attacks.

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).

Project Runway

SPOILER What a crock that Ashley won! Her collection sucked, IMO, and her victory was nothing but a PC concession to the plus sized community. Kelly, the runner up, put together a wonderful collection and is a clear victim of affirmative action.

A Good Night of Bowling (for me)

 Tonight I bowled a 128, 101, and 138.

Harsh

Smiley, walking into the living room this morning and seeing Star Wars Lego on TV: "[snorts in disgust] They managed to make Star Wars even lamer."

Answered Prayers

I'm religious but not big on prayers of petition, as I think God favors us when we do our own work, but . . . I honestly think the intercession of St. Anthony just resolved a situation in an unlikely way - and in answer to the prayer of a non-Catholic too. #blessed

The BEST answer

Me, to Smiley, after doing something spectacular: Who's the best Dad ever?

Smiley: *I* will be, someday.

Me: Good answer, boy . .. The BEST answer.

The JuneBug

Me and LK after her ENT appointment, waiting for a store to open so we could buy Smiley's Halloween costume.

A Helping Hand

Smiley helping me repair the back gate last week.

Junie The Artist

Some pretty darn impressive artwork Junie showed me on the walk home from school yesterday.

Yum

Lisa made cauliflower cheese soup and chicken fajitas with the leftover veggie tray from the party, and is considering making creamy radish soup with the rest. #DamnGoodCook

Nixon: In His Own Words

LuLu: Why are you watching a documentary on Nixon? He was a cheater! 

Me: He was one of the greatest President's ever. Respect the man in the arena.

LuLu: So? He was cheater. He lied as President.

Me: You mean he got caught. That's the only difference.

The documentary we watched was "Nixon: In His Own Words," and it used audio from his tapes to narrate his Presidency. It was pretty neutral, but you see a bit of an anti-RN slant in some of the editing. In particular, they loved to contrast his actions with his vulgar rants about that subject behind the scenes.

But, like me, Nixon was known by his associates to vent his anger by going over-the-top in his grumbling, then going ahead and doing what needed doing anyway. If you aren't aware of that - and/or haven't read 100's of pages of the tape transcripts, you probably watch the flick and think "what a hypocritical nut."

His sins were great enough; there's no need to fictionalize alternatives.

Winter Prep

We cleaned and prepped the backyard for winter today, and it involved an awful lot of frustration and threats to get the kids to do anything. Sometimes I'm certain they could build the Hoover Dam in a day if they wanted to, and on other days I can't get them to wipe their butt without guidance. Thank God Lisa got home and cracked the whip midway through, or we'd still be out there.

Champs!

Congrats to Ned Yost and the Kansas City Royals on their world championship!

What a Great Feeling

What gorgeous weather! And it's good to see some of the kids are still so happy to see me meet them on their walk home that they'll run a block to hug me :)

Winter Prep

We cleaned and prepped the backyard for winter today, and it involved an awful lot of frustration and threats to get the kids to do anything. Sometimes I'm certain they could build the Hoover Dam in a day if they wanted to, and on other days I can't get them to wipe their butt without guidance. Thank God Lisa got home and cracked the whip midway through, or we'd still be out there.

What Generosity

My niece wanted Lisa to send her a pic of the toaster we bought her, so she could see what it looks like. This is what we sent LOL

Halloween Pics of Trick or Treat