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!
Monday, July 30, 2012
That'll Do it
With the firing of the Brewers bullpen coach, Lee Tunnell is now pressed into service. I'm sure a big, bad, fearsome looking guy like him will whip them back into shape.
Incredible
The MPD dropped off a flyer on my door today, stating that with the large number of foreclosures and abruptly vacated houses in the neighborhood, we should report any suspicious behavior we see, esp. scrap dealers. I've been up and about for 38 years now, and I never thought I'd see the day when financial disaster was so common place it would leech into every aspect of our lives.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell
In the kitchen of our upstairs flat was a two door, white metal storage cabinet that was used for odds and ends and assorted storage. I remember borrowing this book, Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell, from my Dad's stash in that cabinet. From the contextual clues, that puts it at or before 1985, so I was no older than 11.
I loved the book, which was full of action and history (I will always remember the description of the powdered hair of the soldiers.). While I always remembered the book, I long forgot the name of its author.
Decades later, Bernard Cornwell would become one of my favorite authors, a name on the cover that guaranteed I'd read the book. Imagine my suprise when I found Redcoat on his resume, and learned that I'd been a fan for far longer than I thought!
My Day
Going to work soon. Spent the late morning cutting my lawn for the first time since Father's Day (thank you extended record setting drought!). All well and good, but my yard is in full sun and an 80 degree temp for you means a 90+ degree ordeal for the guy pushing the mower. and I am drained. (mayhaps last night's alcohol played some small role in the dehydration as well.)
Return of the Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
Yesterday I finished an electronic ARC for "Return of the Thin Man" a collection of previously UNPUBLISHED Dashiell Hammett 'Thin Man' stories. He wrote these as treatments for MGM back in the '30's. Hammett's prose still packs a punch, even in this truncated format, but his genius shines in the dialogue; some of it is so sharp I was worried I'd need bandages. Individually, I'd grade "After the Thin Man" an A+, "Another Thin Man" a B+ and the oddly angry "Sequel to the Thin Man" a C. As a whole I'd grade this slice of history a B+/A-
#59
A Night Without Kids
Lisa and I had a rare - dinosaur loose in the park rare - night without kids (GC camping; OJ Grandma's; LK and PD at an Aunt's). We went down to the pier at Sheridan Park, browsed through a thrift store, went out to dinner and *didn't have to rush home afterwards to meet some deadline imposed by a damn sitter*, window shopped some more, bought some drinks and hung out at Nancy Lynne Clothier's house, then returned home to watch "48 hours Mystery" and "Psych" before heading to bed. Except for a drunken booboo in the shower (which still provided entertainment galore) it was a postcard perfect night.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Niceville by Carten Stroud
"she cherished her privacy and her memories, many sweet, some bitter; and all far enough in the past to have lost either their savor or their sting," - from Niceville
Today I finished reading "Niceville" by Carsten Stroud. It's an eclectic mix of supernatural ghost story, thriller and crime drama that moves at rocket speed. I saw a negative review from Kirkus but I vehemently disagree, as I thought the book was excellent and a joy to read. In summation: Stroud can WRITE. Grade: A. #58
Friday, July 27, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
How The Hunger Games Movie Saved Our Lives
If you are alive at this moment and over the age of 5 you've heard of The Hunger Games, the bestselling trilogy by author Suzanne Collins. YaYa read the books, loved them, and like most pre-teen girls in 2012, became their Biggest Fan. I even took her to a Hunger Games day at a local bookstore.
I'm not knocking her interest in the series. On her recommendation I read them, and I liked them a lot (especially the first in the series), so of course we promised her she'd see the movie when it hit theaters. What we *didn't* tell her is that we'd surprise her by taking her to see the movie at midnight on the day it came out (March 22nd)!
She was ecstatic, but, oh, of course - come every argument between then and now it's "you never do anything for me!" :)
Alas, while she and Lisa had a blast, their return was fraught with danger. Read on, Dear Reader.
Last night Lisa woke up YaYa @ 11:15 and surprised her with the news that we'd bought tickets for the midnight premiere of the Hunger Games! They went together and had a blast, and even sat next to another kid [from their school] they saw there. When they got home and woke me up it was a preview of 'Catching Fire' - YaYa saw smoke coming from Lulu and Ginger's room. Sure enough, Ginger had fallen asleep with her head sandwiching the desk lamp between the pillow and mattress. Smoke was coming out, the pillow (Big Fat Kitty) was scorched and melted in bits, and Lauren - she was oblivious. How my smoke detectors scream at a slightly overdone pizza but missed this is beyond me, but I'm very glad the ladies changed their minds and skipped a 3am ice cream run on the way home from the show.
I was asleep downstairs on the couch, waiting for them to return. If they'd stayed out longer, or if we'd gone to bed as normal, we'd have slept through the incident until it someone got hurt or worse.
This is the damage it caused to the lamp
Alas, while she and Lisa had a blast, their return was fraught with danger. Read on, Dear Reader.
Last night Lisa woke up YaYa @ 11:15 and surprised her with the news that we'd bought tickets for the midnight premiere of the Hunger Games! They went together and had a blast, and even sat next to another kid [from their school] they saw there. When they got home and woke me up it was a preview of 'Catching Fire' - YaYa saw smoke coming from Lulu and Ginger's room. Sure enough, Ginger had fallen asleep with her head sandwiching the desk lamp between the pillow and mattress. Smoke was coming out, the pillow (Big Fat Kitty) was scorched and melted in bits, and Lauren - she was oblivious. How my smoke detectors scream at a slightly overdone pizza but missed this is beyond me, but I'm very glad the ladies changed their minds and skipped a 3am ice cream run on the way home from the show.
I was asleep downstairs on the couch, waiting for them to return. If they'd stayed out longer, or if we'd gone to bed as normal, we'd have slept through the incident until it someone got hurt or worse.
This is the damage it caused to the lamp
While it's harder to make out, here's the scorched and melted wounds to Big Fat Kitty
So thank you Katniss, Suzanne Collins, and the grand publicity department at the studio, for saving my little girl from harm.
A few days later I saw the movie too.
Here's my verdict, as written on Facebook:
I just got back from seeing "The Hunger Games". Wow. Seriously - wow. They could have raked in a fortune just by slapping something together on screen that loosely resembled the books. They could have, but they didn't. In every shot, in every scene, in every subtle adaptation from print to script, there is a respect for the source material. The best compliment? Absent the existence of the books, I still think this would rank as a damn fine movie. Well done. Grade: a solid, easy A.
You haven't read the books? You haven't seen the movie? Shame on you. Correct that error as soon as you can.
A Thousand Words
A few days ago Lisa and I found time to rent "A Thousand Words" an Eddie Murphy comedy where he plays a literary agent who is cursed with a magic tree that sheds a leaf with every word he speaks; once the leaves are gone so is he. It's got a lot in common with 'Liar Liar' but with a more sentimental edge to it. The first twenty minutes were devoted to a weak script and overacting, but then it settled down into a decent if forgettable comedy that I enjoyed. Grade: C
The Empty Glass by JJ Baker
I finished reading 'The Empty Glass' by JI Baker, a novel about an LA County deputy coroner caught up in the death of Marilyn Monroe. It's very dark and reminiscent of James Cain, and you know from the moment you open the cover that no character is going to finish this book with a smile on their face and a song in their heart. Stylistically it is exceptionally well done. Where it falters is in the motivation. There is no reason, professional or personal, for the protagonist to champion this cause to the bitter end, and that's where Baker lost me a bit. I'd still grade this a strong B+ (book 57 of the year)
A-Rod Injury
BREAKING news from MLB: A-Rod diagnosed with non-displaced fracture in left hand, going on 15-day DL after being hit by pitch from Felix Hernandez. Damn!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Ixnay on the Lockers Today
Lisa and I had planned on a road trip to Janesville today. We were going to take two round trips to purchase and pick up old school lockers for our entryway. At the last minute, in fine Craigslist fashion, the woman came up with a b.s. excuse and backed out. Sucks.
Penn State
A comment online says that its 'pitiful' that Penn State alumni are upset about the NCAA penalties imposed upon the school, saying they should "put the welfare of the children first". These penalties do NOTHING to protect the victims or ensure their well being, unless the funds will be used to fund a time machine to go stop Sandusky in 1998. It's just grandstanding for the cameras, and its hurting the innocent players and students, NOT the monster in jail or the authorities who let him skate.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Wildly Divergent Thoughts:
A) A summary of Slumdog Millionaires says it DOES end with the dance number I remember from the trailers; apparently it was edited for broadcast TV. B) Lisa says I was wrong about the apple cake and that it turned out perfectly. C) People need to STFU about the parents of that six year old killed in the Batman massacre. Whether the kid was too young to be out that late or not, the parents are no more to blame for the death than if he'd been the victim of a random home invader. The idiot with the gun is at fault, and NO ONE ELSE. Putting blame on the parents is just a backasswards way of blaming the victim.
The 2012 Dance Recital
My kids take dance classes every year and participate in a massive recital each May. This year the owner of the studio asked me to write a brief series of skits for the show, to string together the dances into a coherent narrative. My salary? At my insistence YaYa was given one of the two main parts, and she did great!
For those of you close friends and family who failed to properly support my children by attending the performances - shame on you. But here's a small taste of what you missed.
ps - sorry about the picture quality but I forgot my camera and made do with my phone
SCENE:
For those of you close friends and family who failed to properly support my children by attending the performances - shame on you. But here's a small taste of what you missed.
ps - sorry about the picture quality but I forgot my camera and made do with my phone
Good evening/afternoon, and welcome to *** Dance Studios production of 'Up in Grannies Attic'. Our students have worked hard all year to bring you the very best show possible, and they're excited to see all their family and friends in the audience. Please, remember to shut off your cell phones, and for the safety of our dancers no photography will be allowed. And now, enjoy the show!
Girl 1: Grammie Miss Barbara, we're bored!
Girl2: Yeah, there's nothing to do while it's raining outside. Can we pleassse use your phone to text our friends?
GMB: I've told you girls before, Grammie Miss Barbara doesn't do text messages. If you're in such a hurry to write your friends, mail them a letter. [sizzle]. Besides, there's plenty to do in this old attic.
Girl2: Like what? There's nothing up here but cobwebs.
Girl 1: Yeah, and these old trunks.
GMB: But that's exactly what I mean! These trunks aren't just boxes, they hold a lifetime of fun and memories. Go ahead and open one. You'll see.
[the kids do so. Girl 1 lifts out a wedding dress.]
Girl 1: Wow!
Girl 2 [now wearing an eye patch and waving a rubber sword] Look at me, I'm a pirate! Arrrrr!
[both girls laugh].
GMB: I bet if you girls take your time, you'll find plenty to keep you busy up here until dinner.
Girls: OK.
GMB [begins to walk offstage, then stops and turns back, as the girls begin playing with some dolls they've found]. Oh girls?
Girls2: Yes?
GMB: While you're up here, it wouldn't hurt to clean up some of these cobwebs either.
[music begins]
[the girls are digging through a trunk]
Girl1: Hey, will you look at this! [holds up a string of LP's]
Girl2 [shaking her head] : Who would ruin a perfectly good CD by punching a hole in the middle?
Girl1: [puts the 45's back] Did you find anything interesting?
Girl2: Sure. [Shows off a poodle skirt she found]. How do I look?
Girl1: Neat. But check this out. [takes a hippie outfit out of the trunk and holds it up to her chest, makes peace sign]. Peace, man!
[both girls laugh].
Girl2: Do you think Grammie Miss Barbara actually wore this stuff?
Girl 1: I don't know. But if she did, I'm glad she stopped. This stuff is embarrassing. It's not half as cool as our skinny jeans and hair feathers.
[music starts]
(Ginger danced to Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Smiley did a Mambo, LuLu did See Ya Later Alligator and YaYa danced to Cotton Eyed Joe and Tutti Fruitti)
SCENE:
Girl 2: What are you looking at?
Girl1[holding a photo album]: It's an old photo album of Grammie Miss Barbara's. It has photos going back generations.
Girl2: Family is important to Grammie Miss Barbara.
Girl1: You bet it is. Did you know that every year her dance studio has a very special dance? It's called the Family Dance, and everyone you see on the stage has a relative that goes to the studio. There's Mom's and Daughters, sisters and brothers, even Grandma's and grandsons. It's a tradition that's important to Arabesque, and it happens every year.
Girl2: Wow. I wish I could see the Family Dance. I wonder what it would look like . . .
[music starts]
Girl2 [by an open trunk]: Oh! I found the Christmas decorations! Come see!
[Girl 2 holds up a string of lights, Girl 1 grabs something else from the trunk].
Girl 2: Do you think this Christmas Grammie Miss Barbara will let us put out a stocking here? Just in case Santa stops here too?
Girl1: I don't see why not.
Girl2: Good. [reveals what she took out of the trunk, a super large Christmas stocking as large as she is]
[music starts]
(We bought all the kids roses and personalized them with a note, but somehow YaYa's was packaged MINUS the rose! She took the oopsie with uncharacteristic grace).
SCENE:
[Girl 1 is sweeping the floor with a broom]
Girl 2: What do you think you're doing?
Girl 1: Grammie Miss Barbara asked us to clean up some of the cobwebs, remember?
Girl 2: Since when do you do chores without someone nagging you? [suspicious] Did she pay you when I wasn't looking?
Girl 1: No. I just think it's a shame that these trunks have been up here so long. There's too many great things in them to just let them gather dust.
Girl 2: [skeptical] Hmm. If you say so. Go ahead, keep sweeping. But Grammie Miss Barbara said we could play up here until dinner. As far as I'm concerned, it's the weekend, and anything goes.
[music starts]
(after the recital I treated the family to dinner and dessert at Kopp's, and YaYa and Lisa shared a touching hug)
SCENE:
BEFORE 'WILL YOU BE THERE' AND STRING OF MOVIE SONGS
Girl 1: It's almost dinner. We should start putting this stuff back.
[the girls are putting items away]
Girl 2: Grammie Miss Barbara was right, her attic is a great place. There's so many memories, and so many things to explore.
Girl1: I know. I'd almost wish it would rain every time we visit, just so we could play up here.
Girl 2: Every time??
Girl 1: Ok. Every other time. Come on, let's ask Grammie Miss Barbara if we can watch a movie after dinner. [they close the trunk and begin to walk off stage]
Girl 2: Sure. Anything in particular?
Girl 1: Oh, I don't know. Have you ever seen Free Willy?
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