Jerry Vale

RIP crooner Jerry Vale, age 83

A Mixed Day

We had a very nice day overall. I went for a short walk with the kids, bought a nice patio umbrella for all of $2 from a rummage, played with the lil' ones at the park, then took the kids to the grocery store. When we got back I BBQ'd some hamburgers and corn on the cob, and as twilight descended we sat in the back yard with our friend listening to the trains in the distance. I remember thinking it would be a shame if #TeamSlap ever broke apart, and that I would miss moments like that . . . AND THEN Lu started in with Smiley, then it was the oldest two going at it, then I punished YaYa and Lisa scolded *me* saying I punished the victim not the aggressor, and I told her it'd be swell if she backed me up when I disciplined the kids,,then I noticed GusGus stroll down the alley, having escaped yet again, and I sent the kids to bed, so Smiley came down and screamed that "No one likes you Dad. NO ONE!", and Lisa had enough and decided to hit the sack at all of 8:40, and GusGus only now (at 11) decided to prance home, and I have yet to put dinner away...soooo . . . basically the whole neighborhood has confirmed, yet again, that we are a collection of dinkleberries. And now, because I am yacking here, so does FB.

Cool Rider

Lisa spent the day at J-Town (part of Junior Achievement) as the manager of a Chase Bank, helping make Lu's field trip a blast!

H.R. Giger

RIP artist H.R. Giger, best known as the designer of the "Alien" from the movie of the same name

The McCarthy's

premiering Fall 2014: "The McCarthys" (CBS) This Boston-based sitcom about a boisterous Irish-Catholic family and their gay son was passed over last season, but got picked up this year after extensive retooling. "Roseanne" alum Laurie Metcalf and New Kid Joey McIntyre are on tap to star.

He's Back

The runaway (cat) has returned, current typhoon be danged!

Free Speech?

So the Dolphins have *suspended* Don Jones for his negative tweet about Michael Sam, and I cry foul. I'll skip the "what ever happened to free speech?" malarky, as the First Amendment protects free speech from the government, not private entities. But it wasn't like his tweet was full of fire and brimstone, or even that noteworthy, and at some point people should be free to disagree without the expression of that opinion endangering their paycheck. The Thought Police grow ever more powerful.

Speed 2

Tonight we watched the last 40 minutes of "Speed 2: Cruise Control", just so I could say I had the privilege of seeing one of the worst mainstream films ever. 🙂

RIP Patrick Lucey

RIP former WI governor and US ambassador Patrick J. Lucey. He was 96.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

LK and PD walked with the me to the grocery store to stock up for a Mother's Day BBQ, storm clouds be damned, and dang if we didn't pull it off for Lisa- even if it meant LK and I stood for in the rain for awhile watching the chicken cook, a towel over our heads like miserable sentries in a far off jungle. Now that the rain has stopped Lisa's out there making s'more's with the kids. Happy Mother's Day babe!

Our 2013 Christmas Card Photo Shoot

On Black Friday 2013 (November 29th, if I remember correctly) #TeamSlap headed to a nearby park to take the photo that would grace our annual Christmas card. The idea was simple but neat: form a pyramid with the lil' ones at the top. A friend and her daughter took the photo for us.

Now, while we were happy with the shot and used it over the holiday, I regretted that it wasn't of sufficient quality to become *the* #TeamSlap photo, which can be blamed on unfamiliarity with the camera. If we ever get the opportunity again - before the kiddos are too big for my old bones to support the pyramid - I'd like to take it again. :)

Can't believe the kids only have a month and a few days left of school. Fastest year ever! Best year ever! Watching them mature and develop and take on new opportunities and experiences with bravery and finesse has been a joy. So proud of my bookends GC and LK and my centerpieces OJ and PD. Team Slap, whoop whoop! - Lisa

Community

RIP Community . . .. you were a sitcom worthy of the great ratings that never came your way *sniff*

Our van is acting up again, temporarily stranding #TeamSlap - minus me - and leading Lisa to launch an epic salvo at my inability to keep it roadworthy this week. In fairness, we are T-minus 9 hours until payday and a date at the garage

Obi Wan: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." Yoda: "Do or do not, there is no try."

Peter Frampton is playing State Fair on Aug 6th - anyone interested in going?

Junie picks out a First Communion Dress - May 2nd, 2014

Next year our little Junie is receiving her First Communion, and in longstanding #TeamSlap tradition we hit the after-season clearance sales to pick our her dress a year early. Big sister YaYa went along and snapped these pictures as we hit several stores at the mall.

All the dresses were beautiful, and this next pic aside so was both Junie's mood and the experience!

Here's the winning dress. It was never Lisa's choice, but in her words "after two other daughters, I know enough to know it's not about me. She feels beautiful in it, and that's what matters the most." Personally, although I liked all - or almost all - of the dresses, and certainly all the ones pictured here, I did think this one had a certain panache that fit Junie's personality. 

Afterwards, the four of us dined at Buca Di Beppo. 

Congrats on the dress Junie! I can't wait to see you wear it next spring! XOXO

Friends - Ten Years later

Do you know where you were ten years ago today? I know what Lisa and I were doing. We were glued to our TV watching the series finale of Friends. RIP my sitcom love - we still miss you!

Kramp and Adler

For the past four weeks we've been taking Smiley to voice lessons at a local music studio. He loves it, the teacher seems to like him, and all is well. We'll see if we can afford to continue it once dance resumes in the fall.

An Owl by My Window

THERE IS AN OWL BY MY WINDOW I CAN'T SEE IT BUT I HEAR IT EEEEE 😃 -Yaya

A Recap

1. The second show of the recital went much better, with Lauren proudly remembering her dance and GC/OJ taking the stage for the family dance. 

 2. My last shift at work was one of the most brutal, suffocating, titanicly boring 8 hours of my life. It is a misery that cannot, nay, MUST NOT, be repeated. All blame goes to Thomas G, who apparently thinks bettering the lives of his family is more important than sticking around to entertain me. What a selfish pr**k. 

3. #TeamSlap spent the afternoon at Lisa's Dad's house, emptying and cleaning a spare bedroom for the return of Lisa's stepmom from a care facility. Kudos to all of 'em for busting their butts for no reward but the satisfaction of helping someone else. Good job

Dying my hair. - YaYa (with LuLu and Lisa)

Dancing Soldier