Sexy Quote

Yikes

This is what the outlet behind the tv looked like when i came home from work Friday. The surge protector that was plugged into it was also blackened and partially melted, but did its job and protected my electronics. After a miserable day without TV, Socialist came over to replace it Saturday,  in the process teaching me how to do it myself in the future.

Squaaash?

"Squash!??" Here's the great gift Mike St  gave me for Christmas. Thomas G and Justin B were also in the gift-giving mood, and I thank them all. :)

A Miracle

Today it was just me and the two younger ones for a few hours, and at one point I let them walk to the gas station alone. If you don't think that was miraculous, then you don't know how my brain works.

RIP and Thank You

Bam! Great Job!

Today YaYa got a letter announcing her acceptance into Rufus King, Riverside, and *drumroll* her Mom's alma mater Milwaukee High School of the Arts, as an acting major! Congratulations baby, we're so proud of you!

Congrats!

I got accepted into Milwaukee High School of the Arts, Rufus King, and Riverside.. the only schools I applied to - YaYa

In the News

The Russian Ambassador to Turkey has apparently been assassinated. Putin will not respond with calm thoughts and forgiveness. Best pray this isn't August of '14 all over again.

Oh Boy I'm Angry

The McCarthy's

Didja watch The McCarthy's tonight? Why not? It was a great one, truly LOL.

Pathetic

Nothing is more pathetic than one Republican, usually a right wing conservative, slamming another as a RINO ("Republican in name only"). That acronym should be worn with pride.You know who was labeled a RINO? Eisenhower, Dewey, Nixon, Rockefeller, Ford, Connolly, Romney (George and Mitt), Bush 41 and 43, and just about every member of my party that was worth a damn. To paraphrase a frustrated Nixon, nothing is more cannibalistic than some factions of the GOP. #RINO

Sony pulled The Interview????????

Say what you will, this is the first Presidency under which an entire American industry [Hollywood] cowers from the threats of a third rate dictator. Perhaps our friends on the far right are correct, and Obama's tenure has been nothing but a blueprint for the erosion of our will and values. #decline

Woulda Look at That

On page 317 of "Six Crises", Nixon lists Congressman "Gerry Ford" as one of his finalists for the 1960 Republican VP slot. Huh. So much for Ford being a flippant, mindless choice for VP a decade later.

Smiley

The future of this line.

North Korea's Actions Must be Addressed

US Intelligence now confirms North Korea sponsored the hack of Sony, and the subsequent threats to turn theaters that showed "The Interview"- a comedy about the assassination of the North Korean leader- into sites reminiscent of 9/11. 

I earlier chided the media for regurgitating material stolen from Sony by North Korea. It showed a lack of professional and personal ethics.

Today Sony bowed to the demands of these terrorists, withdrawing the film. This shows both an utter lack of courage and conviction, but also a lack of respect for freedom of speech and the ideals we supposedly hold dear.

I think this was a clear act of war by North Korea. I *do NOT* advocate a shooting war in return.

 Instead,  I offer that it is Obama's duty to force Sony to release the film. Given its subject matter it's unreasonable for a top U S official to attend the premiere in support of their rights, but behind the scenes the pressure from on high must be intense and persuasive.

I encourage the AG to pursue legal action against NK in international court, if only for appearances.

I would push China to reign in their creepy little friend.

I would impose comprehensive and unrelenting sanctions, and force our allies to do the same. Do sanctions hurt the populace more than the rulers? Not as much as bombs and drones, and so sanctions it is. 

Under the table I would hope our intelligence forces return the favor, tho i can't name a single Nk entity  worth hitting. 

And behind the scenes, maybe it's time for Iran circa 1954, or Saigon '63. Hopefully with better long term results.

Finally, while Obama is basking in his alleged triumph against Cuba - last century's albatross - maybe he can work on more current dangers. 

And yes, should it be released, I'll be at the first local screening of "The Interview", no matter what threats are on the table. (And I didn't even want to see the film originally .)

#Correct

A Dennis Anecdote

Dennis memory of the day: When Lisa was little her Dad took her and her brothers, at the boys suggestion, to see a horror movie at the Avalon.

 Seven years younger than her oldest brother, it was not a movie she wanted to watch, and for good reason. At one point in the film a guy is attacked with a knife, and brutally and repeatedly impaled against a tree.

As the guy on screen was stabbed, her Dad suddenly broke into song, singing "I'm all right" by Kenny Loggins - you know, the song from Caddyshack.

The theater audience laughed, but Lisa was mortified. 

Over time she came to believe he did it because he saw she was upset, and wanted to distract her from the movie. 

It's a story she'll probably tell till her dying day.

Bridges

And Junie:

Norman Bridwell

RIP Norman Bridwell, creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog

The Purge: Anarchy

Watching "The Purge: Anarchy" with YaYa, Smiley, and Junie. Because nothing says family time like watching  fictional government sanctioned slaughter.

A Simple Truth

This is my most beloved personal philosophy

Frustrating

I'm sure all my kids will remember from their morning today is me bellowing and raging. Nevermind the half hour of being sweet as sugar, going so far (today) as to bake them cookies. No, let's use that time to sit on our arse until there's ten minutes left to get to school, then talk about homework left undone, green clay "I told you I need for today!", the shoes you can't find (shocking, as you won't leave your chair to look for them), the garbage you 'took out' and left on the kitchen floor, etc. Then when i yell, oy, I'm the bad guy- but y'all moved, didn't ya? It took me one hour, one whole hour for my temple to stop throbbing. Enough.

70 Years On

Seventy years ago today the German's began the offensive that would become known as the Battle of the Bulge. My maternal grandfather fought in it, as did Lisa's; her grandpa Roy was captured and served out the war as a POW.

Junie's First Reconciliation!

Monday December 15th was Junie's First Reconciliation (confession), an important sacrament and a pivotal step towards getting her First Communion next spring!

She was REALLY nervous beforehand - and I mean for days - and I overheard this brief (and shady!) conversation a few hours before the event: 

Junie: I don't know what to say. I'm scared. 

Smiley: It's no big deal. Just come up with three things you think sound bad. Like, "I lied to my parents," or "I stole Mom's cookie dough" . . . 

Junie: But I did steal Mom's cookie dough.

Smiley: That's good. Then it'll sound real. 

Having done this three times before, we knew we'd have a decent wait between the start of the prayer service and the actual confession, so Mom helped her with her homework during that time. 

Then, when it was her turn, we walked her into the confessional, introduced her to the Priest ("Your Dad and I go way back, Junie - he's one of the good ones") and then gladly took a picture with our diva in the hallway.

Then Junie lit a candle by the altar and placed it among those of the other students. 

After that we all said the Lord's Prayer and headed downstairs to the cafeteria for cake and punch, where a 5th grade student had written a card just for my gal. Junie was floored and genuinely thankful.

 

Here's her teacher, a veteran of three other Slap kids!

Then, as promised, we took Junie to Leon's Frozen Custard for a scoop of their tasty treat.

Congratulations Junie! Mom and Dad are super proud of you!

Wish I had a copy of this Painting