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, May 27, 2011
My Thoughts
Lamest, most overused parenting expression in the media = a 'teaching moment'. Yes, yes, every moment can inspire a lesson. That doesn't mean you should call it anything other than what it is - a really f*ed up thing your kid shouldn't have heard/seen for another ten years or so . . .
SMH
Lisa is back from the Scout Service Center with a new Tiger uniform for Smiley. Guess what? Official Boy Scouts of America uniforms? Made in China.
YaYa's Scout trip to Adventure Rock
On Friday May 13th YaYa and her Junior troop took a trip to Adventure Rock, an indoor rock climbing experience. Yes, you read correctly: we sent our oldest daughter rock climbing on Friday the 13th.
Of course, they first had to sit down and listen to a safety seminar.
But then it was on to the wall.
YaYa said she was nervous the first time she climbed the wall . . .
But claims to have then climbed it "maybe 50 times. For real Dad, we were there like three whole hours."
She certainly seems to have enjoyed it, and it was great exercise. Well done YaYa!
Of course, they first had to sit down and listen to a safety seminar.
But then it was on to the wall.
YaYa said she was nervous the first time she climbed the wall . . .
But claims to have then climbed it "maybe 50 times. For real Dad, we were there like three whole hours."
She certainly seems to have enjoyed it, and it was great exercise. Well done YaYa!
Better than Solid Gold dancers anyday!
This was a tough year for dance. After skipping the 2009-10 season because of finances, we sucked it up and enrolled the kids for the '10-11 year. Monday's everyone but LuLu had practice, a three and a quarter hour stretch that often doubled as hel - er, heck. Have you ever tried to keep a three year old content in a dance studio wating from for two hours? It ain't pretty.
Saturdays were LuLu's day to shine, but unfortunately much of the school world revolves around Saturday's, so birthday parties, Scout trips, and the like chewed into her time.
But we did it, and in return the kids did us proud. Here are some gorgeous shots of my Gang (and note that YaYa is now old enough to do participate in two dances at the recital)
Ain't they grand?
Saturdays were LuLu's day to shine, but unfortunately much of the school world revolves around Saturday's, so birthday parties, Scout trips, and the like chewed into her time.
But we did it, and in return the kids did us proud. Here are some gorgeous shots of my Gang (and note that YaYa is now old enough to do participate in two dances at the recital)
Ain't they grand?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
American Idol
Lee wins?! I didn't see it coming but he's got a great commercial voice & should do fine. Congrats! As for the finale as a whole, wow, the average age of the performers was what - 81, 82? Joe Cocker, Bee Gees, Michael Bleepin' McDonald? Now I love me some BeeGee's, but overall this skewed far older than the audience they want/need, no? Loved seeing Alanis tho'. We should've named one of our daughters after her.
The 2011 Production of Annie
Let me tell you a little something about the school play at my kids elementary school. It's not the artistic version of a sprint, it's a bleepin' marathon.
For months before the play the kids practice twice a week after school for two hours a pop. In the two weeks preceding opening night ('tech week') the practices are daily, and often surpass three hours.
2011's Annie was YaYa's third play, and LuLu's debut.
YaYa was given the part of the orphan Tessie ("Oh my goodness!")
while Lu scooped up the role of an unnamed but adorable urchin.
You know the storyline: plucky Orphan Annie is set to be adopted by the rich Daddy Warbucks when some shady characters finagle a plan to walk away with the girl and some of Warbucks dough, etc. So I'll skip any further explanation and just let you gaze adoringly at some pictures.
Don't blame me for the lack of LuLu shots. All the pics were done by 'their' photographer, and I had to pay for the privilege of owning the shots.
Anywho, it was great. Really. I'll follow up with a post of pics from the performance day itself (well, one of three performances), and that's where I'll also prattle on about all the work Lisa did to help put on the show.
Til then folks.
~ Dan
For months before the play the kids practice twice a week after school for two hours a pop. In the two weeks preceding opening night ('tech week') the practices are daily, and often surpass three hours.
2011's Annie was YaYa's third play, and LuLu's debut.
YaYa was given the part of the orphan Tessie ("Oh my goodness!")
while Lu scooped up the role of an unnamed but adorable urchin.
You know the storyline: plucky Orphan Annie is set to be adopted by the rich Daddy Warbucks when some shady characters finagle a plan to walk away with the girl and some of Warbucks dough, etc. So I'll skip any further explanation and just let you gaze adoringly at some pictures.
Don't blame me for the lack of LuLu shots. All the pics were done by 'their' photographer, and I had to pay for the privilege of owning the shots.
Anywho, it was great. Really. I'll follow up with a post of pics from the performance day itself (well, one of three performances), and that's where I'll also prattle on about all the work Lisa did to help put on the show.
Til then folks.
~ Dan
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A long night of TV, including the AI finale
AMERICAN IDOL SPOILER: Drudge is reporting that souces w/in the show are reporting that Scotty got 2x as many votes as Lauren and will be crowned tonight.
I loved the impromptu interview w/ Paul Ryan on ABC News, including his casual use of Thatcher's "now's not the time to go wobbly". Dems should note how Bill Clinton was caught on camera offering encouraement and telling Ryan to 'call him'.
oved the james/casey/pia skit, and tom jones.
Not overly fond of gaga's performance.
Lauren buried by carrie underwood; that's what an idol sounds like.
beyonce (so far) = yawn
the spiderman kid outsang Bono
congrats Scotty! Grace and olivia are mad, but oh well lol
Doctor Who: Visitation - The Three Doctors - The Unquiet Dead
Doctor Who: Visitation. I don't much like Davidson's imperial Doctor, and I'm loathe to trust a Time Lord who allows his sonic screwdriver to be destroyed. I do like Teagan's constant distrust/annoyance w/ the Doc. Plus the sight of Nyssa in her velvet pants almost takes away the pain of that stupid celery boutonniere Davidson wears.
I also watched Eccleston's "The Unquiet Dead", which I thought was pretty well done (although the Doctor seemed rather naïve). I could tell it wasn't the rare non- Davies episode, as it didn't feature a single homosexual atheist character.
I also recently saw "The Three Doctors" . Well done, but the Brit pronunciation of 'omega' as "oh meh gah' got on my nerves ;) I
Oprah's Finale
I rushed home from work in time to catch the final 15 minutes of Oprah's last show. I'm glad it was low-key, and a fine way to end a quarter century on the air. Her last words to her audience? "To God be the Glory". Indeed. Thanks for 25 years of great TV.
Flashback: LuLu on the Computer 2007
Lisa has enforced a no video games/no gaming system rule in this house since the start of our marriage, and while I once chafed under this Luddite decree, I now see its value. Too many times we've chaperoned an event where the kids were just transfixed by their handheld systems, just brain dead and lacking social grace. Forget that.
We do, however, allow them access to the PC and approved games online, like Club Penguin (where, btw, I am the *best* mine cart surfer EVAH).
It's beginning to backfire on us, as the kids are obsessed with getting comp time, so who knows? Maybe we'll cut that off too in the near future.
At any rate, here's two pictures of little LuLu playing on the computer at her Grandma J's house in 2007 (age 4)
We do, however, allow them access to the PC and approved games online, like Club Penguin (where, btw, I am the *best* mine cart surfer EVAH).
It's beginning to backfire on us, as the kids are obsessed with getting comp time, so who knows? Maybe we'll cut that off too in the near future.
At any rate, here's two pictures of little LuLu playing on the computer at her Grandma J's house in 2007 (age 4)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
TV watching
AI - I think Lauren won the night, but Scotty ruled the season . . . what to do, what to do??????
DWTS - what bs on dwts. Chelsea deserved better than 3rd. Shameful.
Hines wins! @ least it wasn't Kirstie. He's a heck of a dancer.
This makes me sad
This is, of course, refuse, left behind our garbage containers in the hope (and near certainty) that someone will see it and take it to a new home. But boy oh boy, those are a lot of memories going away.
There's the Hello Kitty tricycle I bought my girls from 7 Mile Fair. Smiley's Radio Flyer retro rocket scooter. The blue Graco stroller that held all my kids. The double stroller that has taken us to Florida, the Bahamas, and everywhere you can think of in town.
I gotta go. I'm about to tear up.
Gnomeo and Juliet
Yowsers
Some oil dripped in the oven and while the smoke was negligible, it was enough to set off all the alarms in the house. Hard-wired alarms are great for all that "don't want to die in a fire" schtuff, but suck ass for cooking miscues.
The New Nook
I'm in awe of what I've read of the Nook that debuted today. W/ that & the Color Nook on the market, Amazon's board should quietly start dumping their shares.
Kudos to Mom
Lisa, who is a huge Oprah fan, believed this to be the day of the finale, and yet still gave up watching it to cook with Junie and Smiley once they showed interest in 'helping' Kudos Mom.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The new Bachelorette
Watching The Bachelorette w/ Lisa. Short and bubbly women annoy me, so Ashley is gonna be tough to watch, but drama abounds.
3 Slapinions
Elizabeth Taylor? Attractive, but nothing close to as hot as people claim, and her whole vibe makes me wince. Arnold Schwarzenneger? He did some ahole things, but I have no interest in other people's martial problems. Rihanna's 'S&M' - I like sex, and I like Rihanna, but maybe she could try lyrics that don't read like a letter to Penthouse.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
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