LuLu and I take our first bike ride together!!

Tonight Olivia and I hit the road for our 1st ever bike trip together. We went up to Howard Ave & back (about 2 miles), w/ a few added detours through the park, around the block etc. Tip: if you need to clean rust off your bike, take a ball of wet aluminum foil to it. Not only will it remove the rust, it doesn't scratch the paint.

Smiley loses his first tooth! :(

Smiley just lost his first tooth! Seems so recent that I was sitting in his nursery rocking with him - Lisa

Reviews

I just finished reading Felix Gilman's "The Half-Made World". It is a beautiful, lyrical novel that will never get its due because its part of the 'steampunk' genre. But know this: rarely did three pages go by before I was again awed by his ability to capture a moment or a thought with the perfect, economical use of words. Easily the best written book I've read this year.

Over the last few days we also watched I Like Killing Flies, a documentary about Shopsins, a hole-in-the wall restaurant that's been in business for more than 30 years. It's very interesting, in large part because of the conflict between the intelligence of the owner and the angry, dirty

way he chooses to run his business.

The Infidel is a comedy, sometimes wrongly labeled a documentary, about a Muslim man who learns a) he was adopted and b) he was born Jewish. It's very funny and sweet, and while the tail end drags into kumbaya territory, it was a fun film to watch. Session 9 was a movie I was prepared to write off as a schlocky, B movie horror flick, albeit blessed with a semi-impressive cast. Not so. I'm not saying it was a masterpiece, or even a 'good' movie by convential standards, but it held its own and there was a unique twist in the plot. At times, quite impressive.

A beautiful warm day, a fresh column off to the paper, a short day of work ahead of me, and then a day off w/out any (known) obligations Monday. Sounds good to me.

 "Unless you're ashamed of yourself now and then, you're not honest." - William Faulkner

 off of work and straight to doc w/ Junie for an earache/drainage

 “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” - Edmund Burke

Burlesque

 We just finished watching Christina Aguliera in "Burlesque". I'm not sure why the reviews I read last year were bad. Sure, the plot was predictable, but what, you rented it expecting The French Connection? The music was good, the women were attractive, and the romance was sweet. I liked it.

Voting in the Park

 

Local Elections

Ok, bedtime folks, here in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. If you're in WI, please go out and vote today (unless you plan to vote for someone other than Stone and Prosser, in which case take a siesta from voting and relax at home with a beer. Go ahead, I won't mind - and future Milwaukee County residents will thank you!)

If you want my predictions for the local election: I think Prosser takes the W, Abele grabs the County Exec, and the Bay View hating Terry Falk keeps his school board seat.

The Surprise Hailstorm of Sunday, April 3rd

Holy Cow! A rumble of thunder, followed abruptly by the wildest hailstorm I've ever seen! The lawns, the sidewalks, the street are bathed in hail. It was hitting the neighbor's roof and richoceting [sic] onto my porch wth such ferocity it sounding like someone was taking a bat to the siding. Wow. (noon, April 3rd)

UConn just won the NCAA Championship, just a moment ago; for something completely different, check out these documentaries:

I didn't think I'd like the documentary 'Exit Through The Gift Shop', especially after the montage scenes of graffiti artists made me angry. The destruction of someone else's property doesn't entertain me. Never has, never will.

Then Banksy, a British 'street artist' extraordinaire, entered the film. Banksy has an undeniable talent, a pleasant personality, and a good sense of humor that plays well on film, even behind the facade of a digitally altered face and voice. I developed a grudging respect for the man and his work (some of which is now excavated by property owners and kept as saleable art).

Cue another shift in direction, as Banksy turns the camera back on the documentary maker and instructs him to begin his own artistic career. The results are hilarious, and I wound up enjoying this documentary quite a bit.

No such love for 'Banky's Coming For Dinner', a gawd-awful mockumentary featuring Joan Collins and a man impersonating Banksy. It is a pointless, flat waste of film.

Fat Head is a documentary retort to Super Size Me, the doc that famously accused McDonald's of being responsible for an American obesity epidemic. Despite low production values, I enjoyed the third of the film that went toe to toe with the original documentary. Super Size Me is a better 'film', but Fat Head's logic points out its inconsistencies and inherent propaganda.

Alas, the film then morphs into an extended infomercial for a low carb diet. I agree that 1/3rd of the American diet is fueled by the whims of a Leftist agenda (vegan, etc) and 2/3 the economics of agriculture (hey, if we grew cardboard violins in Iowa the USDA would put 'em down as essential for a healthy breakfast). But dude, stay on target and mind the mission creep: I'm watching to see you refute SSM, not preach a diet of your own.

You know why modern roasts suck? A) because they rely on no-name B listers with no connection to their target B) 80% of the jokes are aimed towards the panel, not the guest and C) it's over the top vulgar.

If you have William Shatner as your target, your funniest attempt at humour should not be a Sulu-gay sex barb.

That said, I had a few laughs, and kudos to Betty White for a fine performance.

Zack Galifianakis: Live at the Onion was a funny, low key stand up performance. Well done.

 Gotta love the honesty from CBS during halftime of the NCAA Championship game: Worst half of championship basketball ever. Awful. Sad. A competition to see who can play worse. A horrible showcase for the NCAA, etc.

 Not the greatest start to the MLB season, finishing today with a record of only 3 -1. Ah well, we'll do better. I speak of course, of my beloved Yankees. My hometown Brewers, OTOH, stand at 0-4. I do count myself as a Brewers fan, but 37 years of disappointment has tempered my confidence. I'm not a Cubs fan - every half century or so I'd like to see a championship.

Random Pics

 

Dr. Phil is playing in the living room; the Dr. Phil 'Family' to be precise. Question for the FB world -does anyone know what happened to the Mormon 'Dr. Phil Family' he used to help each week? The family w/ the hot, 'Danny Girl' Mom who had an affair w/ a man of a different race, got knocked up, gave the baby up for adoption and then finagled financial help from the adoptive parents? They just went AWOL. What gives?

 I was not overly impressed by Britney's GMA performance. Oh, she's still List of Five, and I enjoy her music, but she was 'off'. Her dancing was less than superb, and she seemed out of it. Her psych meds perhaps? Also, finished watching Doctor Who's "The Curse of Fang Rock" late last night. Loved it.

From the "loved it 20 yrs ago, but . . . " files: I watched Mystery Science Theater 3000 last night and yowsas it was bad. Not as bad as the movie they mocked, but not that far off. Dated references, predictable jokes, bad skits, and an air of sadness & depression. Oh, wait, that last bit was me, as I mourned the ruination of yet another fond memory. RIP once beloved show, RIP.

Tic Tac Anyone?

 

My father-in-law stepped up & took the kids to their dance photos, waited there for the 2 hrs it took & drove them home - all not only solo but in a happy, Grandfather-y mood. He saved our butt big time, and I am grateful.

Sadly, while YaYa was OK, Junie spit on him & said she hated him, Smiley wouldn't listen & ran away from him, & LuLu vomited all over his car. Welcome to my world sir, welcome to my world.

Girl Scout Cookie Booth

 

FAVOR: my van won't be out of the shop until 6, & Lisa and the kids have to to be in Brookfield by 4:15 (mandatory photos for the kids dance recital). Can anyone provide 5/6th's of this clan a lift? I can pay for gas, no problem.

Cropsey

Last night we watched 'Cropsey', a documentary about a convicted child abductor/suspected killer who terrorized Staten Island in the '80's. The doc explores the role the local 'Cropsey' urban legend may have played in molding the public's idea of an 'ideal' suspect, and hints that it may have helped convict a man w/out adequate evidence. An entertaining documentary.

The kids are home from school for some teacher thingamabob, our van is in the shop until this afternoon, and Harry and the Henderson's is streaming on the TV via Netflix. Like Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Goonies, Batteries Not Included, Howard the Duck and Space Camp, we'll have to add this to our list of the kids '80's faves.

Mixed compliment of the morn - in a conversation w/ my mechanic he suggested a prob might me caused by a fuel filter. "Naw, I just had that replaced," I said. "Unless XY scammed me." Mechanic: "Dan, I know you don't get this, but you're a scary looking dude. If he doesn't know you, the last thing a guy would want to do is piss you off."

Visiting the Chief

YaYa and her friend Anna hanging with the Fire Chief

 The 'new' Johnny Cash CD [demos, home recordings, radio performances] is wickedly good. I'd tell you the name of the album but it's in the CD player as I write this . . .

Geraldine Ferraro

 Geraldine Ferraro, the former US Congresswoman and 1984 VP candidate, has passed away. She was 75. RIP

 First of three cookie booths this weekend went well! Want cookies? We'll be at the pick n save on whitnall tomorrow 1-5. - Lisa

Some Reviews

If you read reviews on Doctor Who fan sites, "The Curse of Fenric" is remarkably credited as the 'best of the McCoy era' and 'excellent writing'.

Well, it doesn't take much of to be the best of Mr. McCoy's reign as the Doctor, and IMHO most of the reviews contain more plot and characterization than this clunker. It's WWII England. There's an Enigma machine, a paltry six man Italian invasion force, a Viking curse, a bitter old spinster, a nutty British officer, some sea monsters and chess sets.

McCoy is far, far more obnoxious as the Doctor than I recall, and Ace bored me to tears as his companion. Did I mention the special effects probably cost less than the tuna casserole I'm muching between paragraphs?

It is, in the words of Shakespeare, a turd of a story. Yeech.

Due Date failed to my hopes of a Road Trip/Hangover-esque comedy, but it had some moments. It could have used a good edit, if you ask me - chop out that Mexico bit and the story becomes much stronger. It was an OK way to waste a couple hours, but I wouldn't watch it again.

Rollercoaster is a '70's disaster flick about a domestic terrorist targeting amusement parks. I love the decade of my birth, so by default this earns one star; it earns two more by being a fun, rather coherent thriller. I do wish they'd spent a little time finding some rationale for the bomber. I didn't need to like him or even sympathize with the guy, but I'd have liked at least a teensy bit of an explanation.

Extra fun/brownie points: identify a very young Helen Hunt and Steve Guttenberg in bit parts. I don't think Guttenberg was even credited on screen.

SPOILER: there was no reason to bring the protaganist's family to the park at the end, not if they were just going to be sent home without incident. Why introduce them to the scene if not to add tension to the climax?

 Let me know if I'm being presumptious here, but if someone said to you "check yo self before you wreck yo self, 'cuz shotgun bullets are bad for your health" - wouldn't you feel an obligation to tell them shotguns don't shoot bullets? I know I'd value the constructive criticism, and I'm sure they would too.

This is fodder for a future blog post about my 'favorite things'. It's a canvas book cover identical to one I got for my bday in '09. Dorky as it is, it is one of my 5 favorite gifts ever.

Elizabeth Taylor

Unconfirmed reports this morning that Elizabeth Taylor has died. .. .if so, RIP

Kick Ass

 Ha! Lisa thought she'd hate it, but she liked "Kick Ass" so much she made sure I paused it whenever she had to leave the room. Great movie, great fun, great fight scenes, great rental.

it's an all time low...i liked the movie "kick ass" and it had super heros in it! - Lisa

 Went to gs center to get more cookies for a cookie booth this weekend, I need to go back again because they were out of Carmel delights, ugh. If anyone wants to go with or needs something, let me know. Either going this afternoon or tomorrow. - Lisa

 THE SLAPCZYNSKI KIDS WERE ON TIME...whooooo hoooo! - Lisa

 A full afternoon sadly awaits. Meanwhile we finished watchin "The Duchess". Lisa loved it. I enjoyed it, but in the end felt it was just an (interesting) tale of a poor little rich girl. It is 18th century England, and you are richer than Trump X 30. Be grateful you aren't one of the teeming masses covered in lice & suffering from scurvy.

 "The president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation." - Sen. Barack Obama December 20, 2007.

The Conversation

 I just finished watching Coppola's "The Conversation" on good ol' fashioned DVD. It's a great cast and I loved the twist at the end, but all in all I thought it was overlong and a little slow.

 We're watching the season premiere of DWTS, and have just received a text saying that Jonathon Knight is in the audience . . .

 PopEater is reporting that CBS wants Charlie Sheen back on "Two and a Half Men", going so far as to have the network honchos personally take up peace talks between Sheen and show creator Chuck Lorre.

 Get ready for a firestorm. Der Spiegel has obtained more than 4000 photos taken by a rogue group of US Soldiers now on trial for murdering civilians in Afghanistan. The group took trophy photos w/ their alleged victims and now face the death penalty for drug use, murder, sadistic behavior, the mutilation of corpses for 'trophies', etc. The newspaper is publishing only 3 of the pics at this time . . .

 Someone needs to explain to me why the President has committed our military to a) intervene in what both sides agree is a civil war b) hemmed and hawed for wks on the situation while other nations took the lead c) acted only after the nearly successful rebellion was beaten back into near submission d) has provided no clear game plan or goal - even a BS one would be nice to hear

The Eiger Sanction

 Have I mentioned that I love my new (Netflix streaming) Blu-ray player? I just finished Clint Eastwood's "The Eiger Sanction". I hear it was universally panned at the time of release, but screw 'em - I thought it was swell, even if I did ID the bad guy hallway through the film. How can you go wrong with a wise-ass assassin named Dr. Hemlock and an albino ex-Naxi/American spy master?

 And the Slapczynski kids are late again, this is ridiculous. I officially have to take over the alarm now. - Lisa

Tardy. Again.

And the Slap kids are late again, this is ridiculous. I officially have to take over the alarm now. - Lisa

National Champs!

BADGERS WIN! 2011 NCAA WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONS!

Man on Wire

We finished watching 'Man on Wire' the documentary about Phillipe Petit's 1974 high wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Wonderful, wonderful film. Petit is a marvelous interview, full of life and passion, and I enjoyed the documentary immensely.

Right Now

I'm with LuLu at a Girl Scout cookie sale at a church. outside getting some air. I love cold rainy days, but i'm worried the seams of the gutters i fixed on our house yest might not have had time to cure . . .

Other Kingdoms by Richard Matheson

I was ridiculously excited to see the legendary Richard Matheson wrote a new novel, 'Other Kingdoms'. 

Sadly it had no discernable plot, the typically childish portrayal of romance that has always been the chink in his writing armorer, he pontificates about new age voodoo, & the style was right up there w/ a freshman lit paper. 

Ugh. Epic fail. Epic.