RIP James Noble, best known for playing Gov. Gatling on one of my favorite old shows, "Benson".
Published writer, compulsive reader, Old School Whovian, Match Game enthusiast, NKOTB fan, data hoarder, and - surprisingly, given that list - married with four kids. Welcome to my take on life, fatherhood, entertainment, and whatever strikes my fancy. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Saw some anti-Trump protesters as I was driving home from Marquette. They were holding up their signs on Clybourn, which was odd - since it was blocks and blocks away not only from the venue but from the barricade cordon, which itself was blocks from the site of the GOP town hall debate. Kinda low effort on their part, but ok then.
I only lost a pound in the last week, which is pathetic. But considering that week included two loaves of rye bread, stollen, hot cross buns, kielbasa, and noodle salad, I guess I should consider myself lucky. On the positive side, that lone pound pushes me past a milestone: 75 pounds lost in the last year.
Monday, March 28, 2016
That first picture is from Pinterest, and was Lisa's inspiration for this Easter morning. Alas, this is real life, not the web, and so the umbrellas, when opened, would not support the bounty. So the kids woke up to plain 'ole piles on the dining room table. LOL #PinterestFail
Sunday, March 27, 2016
A Special Easter Treat
Junie gave up takis - a ghastly Mexican hot Cheeto - for Lent. And while I was happy to see them go, it was a struggle for her. So she got a small pack for Easter and was ecstatic (but knew I'd bought them this morning, because she'd snuck a peek at her gifts overnight).
Easter Dinner at Denny's
Easter dinner! (Minus LuLu, who wasn't feeling well. Legit ill, not the "my kid is being a jerk so I wouldn't let them come but I'll tell people they're sick so they don't judge me" ill. LOL)
My Thoughts: The "Pagan" Nature of Easter
Ack, usually this stuff only pops up on Facebook around Christmas, but I just saw a meme about how Easter (and the eggs, etc) is just a "pagan" holiday. Quoting my comment:
I've pointed this out for twenty years, and it never seems to sink in for people, but here goes: Duh, and who cares? Of course, when Christianity moved into new areas it was easier to incorporate the existing celebration practices into the new religion. Symbols are just that, representations of ideas, and the church created new "ideas" to affix to the traditional practices. It made the transition easier. Christmas is still the celebration of Christ's birth, Easter still the celebration of his Rebirth. Who gives a shit if wreaths originally celebrated X if they now clearly and definitely proclaim Y? A guy gives a ring to his ex wife. After a messy divorce, twenty years later he gives another engagement ring to the new love of his life. You're going to argue that ring is a mockery of his second wife because once upon a time it was a symbol of his adoration for a different woman? Hell no.
Two Visits
Before dinner Lisa and YaYa went to visit Lisa's stepmom, and I called my Dad and sister and visited my Mom in the hospital, bringing her a picture Junie drew, a coloring book YaYa picked out, and deviled eggs OJ made her for the holiday.
the name of the Wind
Rachel L recommended this fantasy novel to me, and I finished it last night. It's very good (and has a Wisconsin author), but I can't claim to be enamored by the main character. He's a bit like Harry Potter's son, if Harry Potter mated with Melfoy and begat a pompous knob. He also seems to have an aversion to women. He meets them, they invite him into their bed chambers, he demurs; he has a hottie fawn over him, he spends six hours talking with her (!), and doesn't so much as reach for her hand. Either the author is a virgin or the character should just come of the closet already. Other than that crud, a fine novel.
My Thoughts - on Christmas and Easter being "pagan"
Ack, usually this stuff only pops up on Facebook around Christmas, but I just saw a meme about how Easter (and the eggs, etc) is just a "pagan" holiday. Quoting my comment:
I've pointed this out for twenty years, and it never seems to sink in for people, but here goes: Duh, and who cares? Of course, when Christianity moved into new areas it was easier to incorporate the existing celebration practices into the new religion. Symbols are just that, representations of ideas, and the church created new "ideas" to affix to the traditional practices. It made the transition easier. Christmas is still the celebration of Christ's birth, Easter still the celebration of his Rebirth. Who gives a shit if wreaths originally celebrated X if they now clearly and definitely proclaim Y? A guy gives a ring to his ex wife. After a messy divorce, twenty years later he gives another (different) engagement ring to the new love of his life. You're going to argue that ring is a mockery of his second wife because once upon a time it was a symbol of his adoration for a different woman? Hell no.
Not the Reactions we Expected
Sigh. Smiley is having a half hour hissy because Junie got a sketch book for Easter and he didn't. Nevermind that Lisa bought him a case for his DS that was worth more than Junie's entire basket.
My family's emotional instability + Lisa's family's temper = quite the show.
Thanks YaYa for sacrificing her sketch book to appease her brother. I'll replace yours, thanks for your giving spirit.
One fit stopped, enterJunie drama....
Now Junie's appeased, enter OJ protests..... Good thing parents aren't voted on, I think they'd impeach us.
- Lisa
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Batman v Superman
Very irritated by all the negativity towards Batman v Superman, especially as it seems to stem largely from people who *haven't seen the film* or just dog Affleck because it's what cool kids do.* Ben has always been underrated, and even if I felt otherwise, he was a superb Batman, giving proper credit to Bruce Wayne but not at the expense of the suit. Under his watch Wayne was more than just a mask for the bat, and he was dutifully unmerciful when wearing the cape. And the hoopla over the origin story? Criminy people, it was THREE minutes and necessary to foreshadow a pivotal scene later ("Martha"). Humans suck. *some people have seen it and blasted it, but they're people I don't care a whit about. If Patrick M or Thomas G give it a thumbs down on these points, then I'll concede there is another viable POV. They'll still be wrong, but I'll listen.
Smiley Dyes his Hair
After the eggs and before the movie, Smiley asked to dye his hair jet black, and we passed the task on to Lulu, our resident hair expert. I like the results, and so does he.
Easter Egg Dyeing
As we've done since at least 1998 (starting with our niece and nephew) #TeamSlap dyed Easter Eggs on Good Friday. We do it from noon to three, although as the kids have gotten older it takes less and less time. We don't allow electronics or play during the hours Christ was on the cross, so this is a convenient way to hold their attention. My Godson TJ attended this year, and all the kids seemed to have fun, normal squabbles aside. Note the "Daddy Trump" egg YaYa made, drawing the scorn of the rabidly liberal Junie LOL
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