Creating new starts, doing better. Realizing we're not here forever. Feeling remorseful/repenting... good messages, even if you don't go to mass today. I don't remember going to Ash Wednesday services growing up (mostly ev Lutheran church), but all these years raising Catholic kids has made me appreciate the message of Ash Wednesday. - Lisa

Kinda the Reverse for Me, But . . .

It's Fat Tuesday. Have you had your paczki today?

The Last Voyage

This morning Lisa and I watched "The Last Voyage" a 1960 Robert Stack film about the sinking of a passenger liner.I saw it as a kid on TV and loved it, and after rewatching it 30 years later I can say: I had great taste. 

What makes the film extra special is that the crew *actually* set a defunct passenger liner on fire and flooded it during filming. None of the "special effects" are effects, it's really a ship on its way to the bottom of sea, and that lends a brutal urgency to the cast. Watch it!

I'm Just Saying

I don't begrudge the forays into the Oscars or other routine b.s. - heck, I live for pop culture and gossip - but I would like it very much if you would take just a few minutes today to read up on what's going on in the Ukraine. 

The Russian military has entered that country and looks poised to occupy the Crimea. Putin has openly taunted the European Union when they objected, China is in "agreement" with the action, and the White House is offering up noisy but empty threats in return.

None of this is good, and it's something that deserves more attention than its been getting in the US. Please, pay attention.

 Divergent tickets go on sale tomorrow. *cough* Mom and Dad *cough* - YaYa

My Thoughts

Why waste time being upset that someone you dislike dislikes you too? If the bugger's opinion was worth anything to begin with, you wouldn't dislike him in the first place.

The Youngest Besties :)

YaYa's New Jacket!

Enjoying a fish fry at Fritz's with Lisa and YaYa

The Premiere of Late Night and The Awful Truth

 Last night we watched the premier of The Voice (great as usual) and 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'. I found the latter stale and predictable, and sometimes just plain awkward to watch. The only bit that seemed fresh and enjoyable was his anecdote about (failing to) change a tire, and if he's to succeed I think that's where he has to put his emphasis, on 'everyman'/'familyman' comedy. Just MHO.

We also watched "The Awful Truth", the GREAT 1937 screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. LOL - and risque - even seventy seven years later. For the record Irene Dunne, in my vernacular, "crumples me". That face, that body, the voice; hell, even her faith (Catholic) her fidelity (married only once, and for life) and her politics (Republican). What an absolute Eleven on a scale of 1 to 10.

50 Years On

Today marks a half century to the day since Cassius Clay - later to be known as Muhammad Ali - upset Sonny Liston to take the Heavyweight Championship of the World.

The Snake Pit and some TV

Lisa and I woke up at 2:30 a.m, watched the premiere of "Amazing Race: All-Stars", the finale of season one of "90 Day Fiance", part of "The Snake Pit" starring the great Olivia De Havilland, and then retired to bed. Unfortunately, I couldn't fall back asleep and got up to putter around, sooooooo now, as I need to start my day, I'm exhausted. Ain't that life.

update:

We finished watching The Snake Pit this morning. I saw it years ago on AMC, back when they actually played classic movies, and loved it. A second viewing, this time on TMC, didn't change my mind. A serious, unblemished look at mental illness - and in 1948! - and a great movie. Well worth watching.

Harold Ramis

 RIP writer, director and Ghostbuster Harold Ramis, age 69

Maria Von Trapp

 RIP Maria Von Trapp, last survivor of the siblings made famous in "The Sound of Music", age 99.

Today is the 19th anniversary of the day Lisa and I met. Since she had just turned 18 at the time it means that she has now officially known me for more than half of her life. Weird. it seems like yesterday. anyway I'm glad I met you baby. Happy anniversary!

A New Microwave

Check engine light is on, microwave just literally began to burst into flames...ah, the familiar comforts of home lol - from a text i wrote this morning. While the engine light is still on, the day HAS improved

Used funds earmarked for other things to pick out a new microwave, a 2.2 cubic foot behemoth that with luck will serve this family well into the future. With the leftovers we put a downpayment down on Smiley's party and then treated him to a chili dog. So, all in all a productive day. Unexpectedly costly, but productive.

 With Lisa and Smiley at Fritz's Pub

The Tonight Show

We retired early last night, but not before watching the premiere of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. I liked it - the classic set, the fact that it's back in NYC where it belongs, and Fallon's humble performance. (how great was it that his parents were in the audience?). I could've done with a different set of first guests (Wil Smith and U2) but surprisingly, U2 was a funny, entertaining interview. I'm not saying I'll tune in regularly, as talk shows aren't my thing, but good on you Jimmy.

Stuck

Lisa and the kids got the van stuck in a snowbank this afternoon, and I had to walk to their location and help dig it out. Officially, and sadly, my first workout of 2014 Lol

Our Day

I had plans for today - not 'big' plans, but plans involving some travel - but aside from getting LuLu to the dentist at Marquette and a brief grocery run, all plans are nixed.

Too much snow, too much wind. I thought the driving conditions were fine, absent the intervention of any inexperienced driver, but it's not worth risking a half hour trip. Plus our wind tunnel of an alley has 10-12 inches of snow and growing.

Quoting the JSOnline FB page: "As of 7 p.m. Monday, Milwaukee had recorded 51.1 inches of snowfall since Dec. 1, about 20 inches more than the normal for the period."

Kudos to Smiley and YaYa for shoveling the alley and back, albeit just short of at gunpoint.

OH, and lest I forget, I want to thank our "diligent" city workers who - looooooong before the snow began, picked up our garbage and proceeded to leave garbage cans scattered up and down the length of our alley. We had to send scouting parties ahead to clear the path in front of us. My property taxes thank you for your effort.

Pork chops for dinner, followed by a nap, then an evening of watching bobsledding and ice dancing (congrats to all our medalists!). Not exactly an energetic, gung-ho night, but whatever, it's still early . . .

A Movie Marathon For Team Slap

It was classic movie day here at Team Slap. First, The Amityville Horror (although it was the boring Ryan Reynolds version), then Old School, Dirty Dancing, and finally YaYa and I sat down to watch The Exorcist. She found it slow and not very scary, which leads me to question her taste and sanity, but what can you do?

Andipose

These adorable Adipose - a creature from Doctor Who - were crocheted for me out of the blue by a supervisor at work. Thanks Cathie!

He's Gonna Be a Champion. Mark My Words.

Wanna see a future welterweight champion as he claws his way to the top? Go YouTube 2012 Olympian Errol Spence Jr. He is a joy to watch.

Smiley's Valentines Day Poem

This is a poem Smiley wrote and included in a Valentine's Day card:

"Roses are red, bees make honey, give me a kiss and I'll give you all my money!"

Sounds like he's ready for marriage already.