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!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Junie's Eye Test
Junie passed her in-school eye test today, scoring a 20/50 in each eye. That's normal for a three year old. By 4-5 years old it should be 20/40, then 20/32 by age six.
Lu's Trip to the Fireside pt 1
First Holy Communion is a big deal, and for YaYa we threw a party at a local establishment. Here in 2011 we came to realize that we no longer have the # of relatives to warrant a party, and so we've introduced a new (better?) tradition: taking the Communicant on a one-on-one overnight trip out of town.
For LuLu, we chose a performance of Annie at the Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The day before the show Lisa, Lu and I set off on our trip, stopping on the way at a Wendy's. How cute (or sad?) was this - when I asked her what she wanted, she was ecstatic that her choice wasn't narrowed down to a single item off the Dollar menu.
"I don't only want to have fun," Lu said of the trip. "I want to have EXTREME fun!"
On the 75 minute drive LuLu fell asleep, which is just as well, as we got lost for a bit and added twenty minutes to the travel time. We arrived in mid-afternoon and checked into our hotel, located next door to the Fireside.
From there we headed out to the local Shopko, a store not found in our native Milwaukee.
LuLu had $50 to spend, courtesy of an early Communion gift from her Grandma Jeanne, and we spent a good hour or two looking around. She quickly found two pairs of shoes she loved. (the mismatched socks are intentional, a current 'style')
There was a lot of wheeling and dealing. I often made a deal with her - skip the $23 shirt and take the two nearly identical ones selling for $14 a pair an aisle over, and I'll pick up half the tab. She got some great clothes featuring the iconic peace sign motif she loves:
and wanted this one too. I almost caved on this sharp shirt, but she used it as a bargaining chip to get two other things she wanted instead.
After shopping we returned to the hotel and went for a swim. Lisa had forgotten her swimsuit, so it was just Dad and LuLu in the water.
For LuLu, we chose a performance of Annie at the Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The day before the show Lisa, Lu and I set off on our trip, stopping on the way at a Wendy's. How cute (or sad?) was this - when I asked her what she wanted, she was ecstatic that her choice wasn't narrowed down to a single item off the Dollar menu.
"I don't only want to have fun," Lu said of the trip. "I want to have EXTREME fun!"
On the 75 minute drive LuLu fell asleep, which is just as well, as we got lost for a bit and added twenty minutes to the travel time. We arrived in mid-afternoon and checked into our hotel, located next door to the Fireside.
From there we headed out to the local Shopko, a store not found in our native Milwaukee.
LuLu had $50 to spend, courtesy of an early Communion gift from her Grandma Jeanne, and we spent a good hour or two looking around. She quickly found two pairs of shoes she loved. (the mismatched socks are intentional, a current 'style')
There was a lot of wheeling and dealing. I often made a deal with her - skip the $23 shirt and take the two nearly identical ones selling for $14 a pair an aisle over, and I'll pick up half the tab. She got some great clothes featuring the iconic peace sign motif she loves:
and wanted this one too. I almost caved on this sharp shirt, but she used it as a bargaining chip to get two other things she wanted instead.
After shopping we returned to the hotel and went for a swim. Lisa had forgotten her swimsuit, so it was just Dad and LuLu in the water.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Last Men Out: The True Story of America's Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam" by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
I just finished 'Last Men Out: The True Story of America's Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam" by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. The book focuses on the Marine detachment at the Saigon embassy, the last group of American's to exit Vietnam. Very compelling, and written in an easy and entertaining manner. Recommended.
Some overdue reviews from 2009
I'm not sure if I'm a Michael Crichton fan or not. I've read a lot of his work, enjoying most of it, and I'm certainly conscious of the impact his imagination has had on our culture over the last few decades (Jurassic Park, ER). I've just never been bitten by the smitten bug -- excuse the unintended rhyme - when it comes to Crichton.
Which has nothing whatsoever to do with the task at hand. Pirate Latitudes is a Crichton book allegedly discovered on his computer after his death a few years ago. It is what it sounds like; a more or less true pirate tale set in the Caribbean. I thought it started out rip roaring but the energy petered out as it went along, even as the events on the page grew more volitale. It was odd, like watching a car tire spin all the faster even after it lost its air.
Still, a good effort for a dead guy.
Speaking of dead guys, The Gathering Storm is Book 12 of the late Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series.
The series is now continued by author Brandon Sanderson, and while some fans got all icky-ick over the idea of someone else taking the helm, I think he's done a heck of a job. It's rather seamless, with the only stylistic change I noticed being the introduction of contractions (I'm, you're, etc). Otherwise its all good, and I like the way he's picked up the pace and actually moved events along.
I liked it a lot.
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is a young adult novel set in the world of Alice in Wonderland. Now if you know me, you know I wish that Alice in Wonderland would be retired for the duration of my lifetime. And the next, if possible, as I think it's so repetively re-used it might as well change its name to A Christmas Carol.
Beddor's novel doesn't change my mind, but it came close. It showcases a darker world where Alice's world is at war and the popular version of her tale nothing more than the twisted interpretation of Alice's memories.
Now, please bear in mind Beddor is to writing style what I am to succesful weight loss. It's a great reimagining somewhat weighed down by his clunky prose. But the magic of that reimagining - Hatter Madigan in particular - make it worth overlooking.
Recommended.
[BTW, I don't know why that segment of 2009 lent itself to young adult novels, but I also read "The Giver" around that time]
I really enjoyed Erik Larson's Devil in the White City. It's most often described as being about a serial killer that prowled Chicago at the time of the Worlds Fair, but that does it a disservice. Yes, that plays a part in the text, but I personally found the book to be first and foremost of a study of the Worlds Fair itself; its creators, its construction, its soul.
How great a compliment to Larson's skill that he can take a simple tale of archeticural history and craft into a compelling and riveting narrative.
Very, very good.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
A Mother's Day Gift Worth Mentioning
Danny took all 4 of the beauties to the park by himself, God bless 'em and Happy Mother's Day to me! - Lisa
Happy Mother's Day
Big day for Livvie. First Communion at Queen of Peace's 10:30 mass, then cake after at my house! Happy Mother's day to all, especially the best, mine 🙂 - Lisa
A Great Day
Today was a perfect day, just the kind of day you'll jump to relive when your life flashes before your eyes. Just perfect 🙂
Congratulations LuLu! First Communion May 8th 2011 (Mother's Day)
Today was my LuLu's First Holy Communion, and it will take several posts to tell the tale. For an appetizer, I thought we'd start with these photos of my lovely girl. I'm so proud of her!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Gardening Season has begun!
If you've been paying attention, you know Smiley is obsessed with plants, flowers, trees, gardening, and anything involving seeds and dirt. To satisfy this itch we planted a small garden last year, but the soil in my yard is so poor it yielded next to nothing. After some consideration I we decided to follow the "Square Foot Gardening" method of author Mel Bartholomew this year, and establish raised garden beds that don't depend on the native soil.
My mother-in-law, Smiley and I made the trip to Home Depot Saturday morning for the supplies, then enlisted the help of YaYa and a lil' red wagon to unload the van.
For each of the two boxes, I used 2x6 boards in four foot lengths and fastened them with deck screws to form the frame.
The sound of the drill drew the other kids outside to 'help'.
By the time frame one was done it was time for the kids' swim classes, and a cold, sporadic sprinkle of rain had started. I finshed the first frame and filled it with topsoil, peat moss, and some compost, butunderestimated the amount I needed and didn't have enough to fill the second box. I concentrated on finishing the first one before any serious rain began.
As part of the 'square foot' method, the 4x4 foot box is divided into 16 seperate growing areas, laid out by a simple grid of lathe that 'floats' above the box. Because I know my kids, I figured it would 'float' its way to pieces on the trampoline. So I secured it on two sides. Aside from one piece I forgot to pre-drill (which promptly split), it was pretty easy to rig together.
Come to think of it, the whole project was easy-peezy. Now I just have to fill the second box, grid it out, and get to a'plantin'. Here's hoping we get a better crop this season!
My mother-in-law, Smiley and I made the trip to Home Depot Saturday morning for the supplies, then enlisted the help of YaYa and a lil' red wagon to unload the van.
For each of the two boxes, I used 2x6 boards in four foot lengths and fastened them with deck screws to form the frame.
The sound of the drill drew the other kids outside to 'help'.
By the time frame one was done it was time for the kids' swim classes, and a cold, sporadic sprinkle of rain had started. I finshed the first frame and filled it with topsoil, peat moss, and some compost, butunderestimated the amount I needed and didn't have enough to fill the second box. I concentrated on finishing the first one before any serious rain began.
As part of the 'square foot' method, the 4x4 foot box is divided into 16 seperate growing areas, laid out by a simple grid of lathe that 'floats' above the box. Because I know my kids, I figured it would 'float' its way to pieces on the trampoline. So I secured it on two sides. Aside from one piece I forgot to pre-drill (which promptly split), it was pretty easy to rig together.
Come to think of it, the whole project was easy-peezy. Now I just have to fill the second box, grid it out, and get to a'plantin'. Here's hoping we get a better crop this season!
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