Happy 6th Birthday Smiley!

The title of the post says it all. Happy Birthday Smiley, and may God bless you with as much love and happiness as you've given this family over the last six years. I love you Little Man!

I Knew it Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale

Tonight, after a long day at work, Lis & I watched "I Knew it Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale" (aka Fredo from The Godfather). It was an entertaining tribute to him as an actor, but little else. As to Cazale as a person, we learned he was born in 1935, smoked a lot, died young . . . and that's it. The filmmaker could have done a lot more with the material.

Some Pics from Smiley's 6th Birthday Party!

 

Girl Scout Mass

 a rather blurry shot of the Girl Scout's at Mass this AM

Better than nothing! I'm so proud of those two cadettes too! Are there more cadettes? - Lisa

My Thoughts - Recall Elections

For the record: I believe recall efforts are an ugly attempt to undermine the value of the election process & our democratic system. If you don't like the guy in office, fight their policies and then vote him out at the end of his duly elected term. There's no damn mulligans here. If my signature was the deciding factor that would get OBAMA out of office, I'd put my pen away.

The Chuck E Cheese Christmas Party 2010

On December 28th we all gathered at Chuck E Cheese for my mother-in-law's annual Christmas party. Here's a good handful of pics taken that day with my cellphone (so apologies for the quality). The kids had a blast!

Our friend Chris' daughter, Meadow.

and her oldest, Faith

Quote

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end - Semisonic. And some Roman dude named Seneca.

Adalbert's vets: I ran into Chrissy G- in the produce dept of the Pick 'N Save on 76th. She has four kids and seemed happy, but alas no Facebook account, claiming she doesn't use a computer at all. How you can be happy w/out FB is beyond me, but to each their own.

The Packers Win the SuperBowl

The picture says it all, doesn't it? A few weeks ago the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV, bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to where it belongs - my home state of Wisconsin.

I felt a special affinity for this year's team. The win back in SuperBowl XXXI was grand, a welcome return to glory after thirty years of mediocrity. Yet this championship was more than a mere sports victory. It was the culmination - the definitive 'The End' - to years of Favre induced agony. I am old enough to know that the good guys don't always win, and that sometimes even the right decisions turn out poorly. For three years the right/wrong of the Favre fiasco has been up in the air. So it was a relief to me - and I'm sure, to Ted Thompson, Aaron Rodgers, and much of the Packers nation - to finally have proof that yes, we did what needed to be done with Favre, and yes, it was the right call. Speaking just for myself, it feels like a literal weight has been removed from my shoulders.

I'm also happy for two more reasons: One, I asked off for the SuperBowl long before it was even a certainty that the Packers would make the playoffs, and Two: I had the opportunity to contribute, in my small way, to the historical record of this Championship. The following column was published in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in the lead-up to the game (by the way, I detest the headline. That was soley the creation of the editor):




Why Pack's success means so much

Here's something you won't hear every day from a Wisconsin native and self-professed Green Bay Packers fan: A lot of the insults other NFL fans toss at us? They're true.

Put otherwise reasonable Wisconsinites within sight of anything green and gold, and they lose their ability to reason and act rationally. Guess what art project my kids did in school this week. Did they paint a still life? Sculpt? Discuss art theory and history?

No. They made their own cheeseheads. Say that aloud, and just try not to wince with embarrassment. They had to make their own cheeseheads in school.

So I can understand why some people are annoyed with the ever-present Packers coverage as we approach Super Bowl XLV. I can empathize with the friends on Facebook who complain that our priorities are skewed, and I am tolerant of the people at the water cooler who - in hushed tones, lest they be discovered and ostracized - say they don't see what all the fuss is about.

I can empathize with these people and I can tolerate their views, but I cannot agree.

I don't care whether you've watched every down or never seen a game - whether you live and breathe sports or view it as no better than an ancient city, states sending out their armies to settle grudges. Either way, acknowledge this fact: For one day, the Packers will have the attention of the largest audience imaginable, and for many of those viewers, Wisconsin and the Pack are one and the same.

If Grandpa Joe hates abstract art, but an exhibit brings that much attention to Wisconsin, I expect him to brush up on Jackson Pollack and put a smile on his face. We should expect no less for the Pack.

(And, honestly, the anti-football crowd should rejoice. This season should - cross our fingers - finally put the kibosh on the lingering Brett Favre-Ted Thompson-Aaron Rodgers triangle that's dominated the past few years. It's over folks. Time to move on.)

Besides, you never know when it will happen again. I was 22 when the Packers won their first championship of my lifetime. Now, as I near 40, decades pass in the blink of an eye, but back then I remember comparing the wait to an eternity in limbo (there's that rationality clause again).

Even worse: Both my grandfathers were within shouting distance of my age when Vince Lombardi walked away from Green Bay. I'm sure, even in the worst-case scenario they could imagine, they didn't think they'd pass away as old men without ever seeing another Green Bay team crowned as champions. I hope I have better luck, but just in case the drought is even longer this time around, I keep telling my kids to soak it all in and appreciate the moment.

Here's hoping they also get to appreciate a Super Bowl win on Feb. 6.

One more thing: I love Rodgers, but Nick Collins [INT for a TD] should have gotten the MVP trophy. I'm just sayin'

Smiley - Hair Model in Training

Smiley and the "Faux-Hawk"

Smiley & I went for a haircut Thurs evening, and he asked me if he could get a mohawk. I said no and had him ask Lisa. To my shock, she told him it was OK. In the end he and I agreed on a 'faux-hawk' - closely cropped hair on the sides, w/ the hair on top blended and sculpted into a mohawk. He loves it.

Attention:

Sunday's paper will include the names of the 2011 crop of Journal/Sentinel community columnists. I've been asked to stay on a 3rd year, which is great, but OTOH whoopdeedoo. I appreciate the platform, and the confidence the editors place in me, but been there/done that/would like to be paid more for it. Anywho, look for me in Sunday's Crossroads section.

 Dan's in the paper today, go buy a copy or check it out on jsonline....own a secret paper or publishing company? Give him a job already! :) Lisa

 The Journal moved up the date of publication to Thursday, so pick up a copy on the way to work. Of note, this warning from the editor: "Hi Dan, your column will run Thursday for sure. Don’t read the online comments unless you’re a masochist."

Uh, what's up Junie?

Tonight Junie spent 10 minutes balancing nuts on a balloon, then applying downward pressure with a plank of wood and shooting them, tiddly-winks style, into a bowl.

Sayeth Lisa: another example that our children do not play with toys, they are just weird.

Customers of Note

Customers of note: the old man who'd been at the Ice Bowl, w/ ticket stubs to prove it; the guy who spent the equivalent of my annual salary at Job Prior to buy a genuine Stevie Ray Vaughn guitar; a member of the Detroit Tigers' front office, with a World Series ring you couldn't miss.

Working on that column. Tonight's musical selection: Andres Sergovia, Mazzy Star, Styx, Cold War Kids, Oasis. Couldn't find the Judas Priest I was looking for earlier.

The Journal editor just wrote and asked me to do a column on the fiasco in Madison, citing my POV and my ability to not sound like a nut. I was going to say 'no', but mistakenly emailed a 'yes' reply I was seeking to scuttle. [Yes, really.]

Whoa Nelly, this is gonna bring some hate mail.

Robot Junie

 "MY AM A ROBOT!"

Quote

 Self Pity

I never saw a wild thing

sorry for itself.

A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough

without ever having felt sorry for itself.

- D. H. Lawrence

 Proof anything can inspire strong emotions: "My wife and I have a motto: If you don't love John Denver, then fuck you". - complete text of someone's post on YouTube.

Say what?

I've mentioned before how I quiz the kids about what artist is playing on the radio, in an effort to get them to pay attention and broaden their listening taste. Yesterday the radio was playing "Captain Jack". I asked YaYa who was singing. "Uh . . .Guns 'n Roses???" she said. Long silence. "That may be the only time in history," I said, "where Billy Joel was confused with Axel Rose"

Ma and Junie

 

The Mark of Zorro

 B4 work I sat down w/ the kids & watched Tyrone Power in "The Mark of Zorro", (these kids will appreciate movie history if it's the end of me). Since it features no talking dogs or singing teenagers, they wandered off 1 by 1. All, that is, except for LuLu, my doll. For her faithfulness she was treated to the greatest sword fight in movie history - Tyrone Power vs Basil Rathbone, a scene she even asked me to rewind.

 I downloaded a virus on my home computer. Working hard to fix it as we 'speak'.

What? I Thought You Could

 We just saw a makeup commercial where a woman transforms into a hot young version of herself. This disclaimer then appeared: "Dramatization. You can not grow younger." I kid you not

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

Last night I finally saw "Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol". Wonderful! It was a entertaining and well written twist on the Dicken's classic, and if I do say so the 'ghost of Christmas future' scene was clever and emotional. Steven Moffatt and Matt Smith are doing great things with this show.

FB - the week of Christmas 2010

Dec 21st

A sincere RIP to Barney Miller star Steve Landesburg. Dietrich was my favorite character on that great sitcom.

We just finished another horrendous day (two in a row baby!) by watching 'Easy A' w/ Emma Stone. It's a comedy about a high school girl who capitalizes on her (unfounded) reputation as a slut to gain popularity, then has to face the consequences of her actions when the line btwn reality and fiction starts to blur. It started off slow, but picked up steam. Very impressed by Stone.

Dec 23rd

‎'Bear', a 2010 movie directed by John Rebel, was just . . . yeah. I'm not sure who should be more embarrassed, the folks responsible for creating this drivel, or yours truly for thinking "well, crap, at least *they* managed to get something produced. What does that say about my own talent?"

Dec 24th

If a train is coming @ you, closing your eyes won't save you. But if u look right @ it, you at least have a chance to jump. - I don't remember the source

I finished Andrew Vacch's 'The Weight', which I quite liked six weeks ago when I was 50 pgs in. Then, through no fault of the book itself, I had to finish it in blocks of 20 or 30 pgs over a month long period. By the end I resented the hell out of the novel. Couldn't stand to even look at it. Anyhow, it's the last bk I'm reading in '10. I'm done read out for the year.

Joey McIntyre and his wife are expecting their 3rd child. Congrats!

Lisa and I are watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on NBC. It remains my favorite movie ever. No contest - there's not a scene that doesn't make me smile and/or cry. Just seeing it on the screen makes this awful Christmas week nearly tolerable.

Christmas Day

A record crowd of Christian pilgrims is celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem. The Pope has also offered prayers urging courage for Catholics in China. My prayer's are with them too; Christians must remain strong in the face of the adversity this world presents against them.

Today, while walking to buy some much needed booze, I found a brand new copy of the 600 pg Polish poem "Pan Tadeusz" by Adam Mickiewicz just laying in the snow. Huh. What are the chances that a) a book nut b) a Polack c) someone both familar with the poem and a fan of it would rescue it from the elements on Christmas Day?

Dec 26th

Happy Boxing Day. I spent Xmas PM making a dinner of ham, potatoes, green beans, and (1st x ever) homemade bread pudding. The latter was greeted with gag reflexes by the kids, but Lu & Smiley wound up liking it. Then, w/ our friend Chris over it was a nt of 'Survivor: Vanuatu', 'Kitchen Nightmares', & Anne Francis in an episode of 'Honey West'. Hope u all had a great & peaceful Christmas.

Until the recent discs from Netflix, we've only seen two episodes of any Survivor (the Richard Hatch finale and this yrs result show). Now, we're hooked. I can't believe how insanely competitive I get, rooting for this contestant or tribe o...ver the other.

BTW - LOVED the abrupt about face that got the snooty but incredibly delictable Ami booted from Vanuatu. Great TV.See More

"Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, but to weigh and consider" - Francis Bacon Sr (quote on a leather book weight Lisa got me for Christmas)

Dec 27th

Quote

 You're born an original. Don't die a copy." - John Mason

Play Practice

 Love it, and btw, Junie was singing the song in the car, she loves the play - Grandma Jeanne

 Lisa took Grace (or Grac.E as she now writes her name) to Justice to use up a gc from her aunt katie (thanks!). She found a lot of bargains, even buying something for LuLu. Nice mother/daughter time.

Monsters

I watched 'Monsters' tonight. Despite its moronic choice of title, it was grand. The story involves 2 people trying to cross the "Infected Zone" & reach the US - the Zone being an area of Mexico that has been overrun with ET's who arrived when a space probe broke up on entry. Yeah, yeah, I know - but it's GOOD, even moving at times. IIRC it won several film awards in the UK, and I think it was well deserved.

A quick word from your host

It's been awhile since I've posted here, and while no excuses are required, I'll mention that part of it was due to a lack of internet service. I could access Facebook on my phone, but venturing here? Nuh-uh.

Anyhow, today is the 16th anniversary of the day I met Lisa. Happy Anniversary babe.

A few random thoughts:

The Sentry (grocery) store on 51st and Oklahoma is shutting its doors after what's probably a fifty year run. I remember it largely for the bulk bags of dog food stacked by the windows; as a kid I would lounge on them while my Mom was in the checkout line. I also stopped there on my way back from a tour of Pius. Both memories are irrelevant, but when else am I going to mention them?

By the standards of its day I'm sure it was large, but in today's world it's not leaps and bounds larger than the produce section of its competitors. As a co-worker said, they can't compete with Aldi on the price of canned goods, nor with Pick 'n Save for produce, but their bakery and deli always did well. Failing to expand and stress those areas hastened their demise.

* * *

Yesterday, while the rest of the family was at dance class, LuLu and I watched the movie Secretariat. It was quite good, and well deserving of a rental.

Lisa and I have also just completed watching Season 8 of Project Runway. The winner, Gretchen Jones, is a good designer, but we both felt Mondo Guerra should have taken the gold.

* * *

"BabydollAngelCakesHoneyBunchesofOats" = my term of endearment for the girls. It comes out naturally, and as one word, all in a rush.

* * *

I'm annoyed by how the girls, especially YaYa, are stressing the last syllable of every word. "want" becomes "wanttttt". Have them say 'uh' and it comes out as eight syllables and takes half a minute to complete.

* * *

"No offense, " = another verbal tic of the girls. They use this phrase to inevitably launch into an offensive tirade about your faults.

* * * *
"Me a Robot. Me a Robot" - a phrase Ginger uses as she walks around with her arms out like a TV sleepwalker, a bucket or box on top of her head.

Happy Anniversary

16 years ago today I met Lisa for the first time. 2/22/95 will always rank as one of the pivotal days of my life, and she remains the best thing to ever happen to me. Happy Anniversary.

TJ

This evening's soundtrack: Edith Piaf, George Harrison, Amy Winehouse, Fleetwood Mac, Rihanna, David Bowie, Black Sabbath . . .

News

"I find it ironic that the same day that thousands of people skipped work to rail against our “undemocratic” leader [Walker] fewer than a quarter of the registered voters in Madison bothered to vote in an actual election." - Phil Hands of the Wisconsin State Journal

"Republicans. . . are holding possible bargaining chips in their efforts to end the stalemate. . . one of those chips may be a bill to require voters to show ID at the polls . . the ID bill could come another day if Democrats don't return. Without Democrats present, the Republicans have enough members to be able to hold votes on non-financial bills but not on a fiscal bill such as a budget"

Coincidentally . . .

YaYa: That's the third time today you've called me a liar!

Me: Coincidentally, that's the third time today you've lied.

 

Ugh, I keep posting and then deleting because i dont want the drama. I need to just stay off facebook. I don't pick friends by politics, nor do I intend to lose friends that way either, so what's the point? It's just hard, passion runs deep. - Lisa