Any advice on how to help a kid swallow pills? Lol..... Sounds funny, but really....for my two older daughters, they learned young and [it]wasn't a big deal, but we are really struggling with my 12 y.o. Son. And 9 y.o daughter. I've learned It's really hard for some kids. - Lisa
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!
Friday, March 31, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
I took YaYa to this Polish grocer (A&J Deli) to get items for a cultural project at school. Despite the location it was clean, well organized, and worth a visit. The clerk tried to steer me away from this chrzan and onto a milder horseradish, but I didn't listen to her and I'm glad I didn't - it's so mild it barely cleared my sinuses!
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Nocturnal Animals starring Amy Adams
Dark in content and at times difficult to watch, I'd still recommend this story of revenge and loss.
We got word today that Junie will not be going to College for Kids; completely my fault, as I missed a scheduled payment reminder. Earlier in the year the other three kids were denied b/c their desired classes were full. This, on top of the YMCA Camp denying Smiley a slot b/c they were full by Feb; Camp Silverbrook being off the table for the girls; and the Rec division canceling classes. It's shaping up to be the least-full summer of our parenting career.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Paths of Glory
Rewatching Kirk Douglas and Adolphe Menjou star in this 1957 masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick. It is superb.
My Blankie
After I picked up some Doctor Who fleece -- heavy on the 11th Doctor, but with some nods to the past -- Lisa was kind enough to make me a tie blanket. Any imperfections are the result of my help. :)
Sunday, March 26, 2017
The gift that keeps on giving
Dale C. - here's one of the most recent inductees, Sapphire. A pretty blue Betta, freed from his solitude (so happens Bettas are not happiest alone), who'd have known! - Lisa
Whenever I drop something and stoop to pick it up I half expect to hear the sharp whine of an assassin's bullet passing overhead. Having my life spared by random chance would then begin a heroic quest I'm woefully unqualified to handle and yet, somehow, in the end I triumph. #TrueStory
Friday, March 24, 2017
Yesterday, in addition to oversleeping my first class and being pulled over by the cops, I came home to find a bottle of siracha sauce left out. Annoyed, I grabbed the full bottle and my Neanderthal strength caused it to shoot directly into my eye. It was, I imagine, like being sprayed in the face with pepper spray.
LuLu's 1st Date
I just drove LuLu to her first date, a showing of the Power Rangers movie. I've met the boy and like him, and I'm proud to see my little girl take a step toward adulthood.
Just got back from Marquette, where I was all but called a thief by not one but three office workers who couldn't find records of a past transaction and wanted me to pay again. I stood my ground, called out the office manager for implying I was lying, and lo and behold the paperwork was found and i was proven right. It's tiring to live in a world where your options are to roll over or go full as$hole.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Congratulations to Team USA!
Congrats on a great and deserved championship for Team USA! I'm a fan of the WBC, and have enjoyed watching it. There are lots of haters out there bashing it as a pointless exhibition, but that just tells me they never watched the tourney, because it's some dang fine baseball!
World Baseball Classic
Congrats on a great and deserved championship for Team USA! I'm a fan of the WBC, and have enjoyed watching it. There are lots of haters out there bashing it as a pointless exhibition, but that just tells me they never watched the tourney, because it's some damn fine baseball!
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Before you hit "share" and give undue praise to the New York billionaires who have asked their state to raise taxes on the wealthy, think it through: their income is inherited and/or from investment streams, and thus not within the scope of the increase they propose. It's an empty plea that impacts only other people's wallets. How very noble of them.
Monday night I was watching Mannix.
Jessica: Danny, when did you guys get rid of cable?
Me: Huh? We still have Direct TV.
Jessica: (confused) Then why . . .
Lisa (laughs) What you don't understand is that Dan *chooses* to watch this stuff. A hundred bucks a month for TV and he spent last night watching Bob Newhart and Columbo. He's insane.
London Terror
Sweet Lord, stop putting "terrorist incident" in quotes. Even if, in your merry Liberal dreams, the London attack was not religious or political in nature, it is quite clearly *a terrorist act*.
RIP Chuck Barris
RIP Chuck Barris, creator and host of the Gong Show, songwriter, and super secret agent for the CIA (he said). He was 87.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
YaYa
My eldest :)
Monday Gracie got her first ever paycheck, and today after school I took her to set up her first independent bank account. My YaYa is growing up
Monday, March 20, 2017
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Dave and Busters
Lisa and I were going to try this place solo, but Smiley wound up coming along, and then LuLu Stacey C, and OJ's friend Richard called and said they were unable to skate as planned, soooo . . . My birthday Eve date night featured four kids, even if two weren't mine!
My verdict on the joint? Prohibitively expensive, mind numbingly loud, and full of arcade games that fail to appeal to me because I'm, you know, a grown up. Good food tho. Still, I doubt I'll return.
Birthday Ruiner
I was *supposed* to be at a get together for my birthday, but some boss that will go unnamed scrapped that idea. I spent most of the shift singing "Birthday ruiner" to the tune of "Jukebox hero," and instead am hitting the gym.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Lisa's Work
Lisa's latest work: styrofoam balls completely covered by gold thumb tacks, creating ornamentation for a centerpiece.
My Thoughts - Entitlement
There is no entitlement, no matter how ridiculous, that doesn't make people feel "wronged" when someone finally comes around and scraps it. That's why politicians cram them in a budget, to make you beholden to their office. An emotional response to budget cuts is therefore irrelevant. Instead, ask yourself a: is this a legitimate duty of this branch of gov't, or gov't as a whole? b: would legislation creating the entitlement pass if it was originally floated today? c: is this goal better met by private enterprise?
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Dangerous Nonsense
At today's parent-teacher conference:
A teacher has created and posted this propaganda for the students that says Islam spread because of "cultural diffusion." Not one mention of their use of the sword, despite the fact that Islam's founder himself led armies.
This nonsense isn't remotely factual. It's not even an argument that an Islamic scholar would make.
But then they wrap up the lie with truths, listing the Five Pillars, giving a definition of the Koran etc, so the kids associate all of it with historical fact.
Thank God my kids have me as a Dad, because who knows how many kids are believing this nonsense.
Me Right. She Wrong.
At Smiley's parent-teacher conference I corrected the grammar on a poster his teacher made. The teacher stood her ground and said I was wrong, and so I looked it up online, was proven right, and forced a retraction from her.
"Gawd, you are such an obnoxious a--hole," Lisa said, not unkindly.
"Yes," I said. "But I'm an a--hole that was right. Again."
Don't Be in Such a Hurry to Grow Up
Oldest daughter wants to work all summer and I'm making her take days of for two different girl scout camping volunteer opportunities. She's not in agreement, but unlike her I know these lazy days of summer for her are coming to an end sooner then [sic] I'd like to admit. - Lisa
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
The Netherlands
Er, the ruling party in the Netherlands is capitalist, moderately right wing, and won because they took on Turkey. Plus it's a multiparty parliamentary system so the losing parties will still take part in a coalition govt. So all the Leftist rejoicing over their relection, citing it as a rejection of Brexit and populism, seems . . . misplaced.
Lisa's Done Cooking
Estimated two more days of me eating stuffed peppers for breakfast, lunch and dinner because my kids wouldn't eat it when it was made for dinner. I think I'm done cooking. Ramen, canned soup, ravioli, cereal, and pb&j is now on every dinner menu. - Lisa
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
Falling Snow
It's pretty, but so is a mushroom cloud. Four inches or more in my alley, with 24 hrs of it left to go.
Shoveling out the blizzard
I've shoveled twice today to keep pace with the storm. Once before school with the kids, and by my lonesome at noon. My hip is throbbing. Wanna take bets on how crippled I'll be tomorrow? 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)