Smiley's Trip to the Pumpkin Farm 10/20/09

Lisa volunteered to chaperone Smiley's trip to the pumpkin farm on her birthday. Not the ideal way to mark the day, I'm sure, but he loved the trip, and loved that she went along.







They fed goats . . .









Went on a hayride . . .





This is Mrs. Heidi, Smiley's teacher/first love . . .



There are 36 or 37 kids in Smiley's class. Yes, that's right: 36 or 37. Imagine the cost of his monthly snack day!







They also got lost in a corn maze and saw a puppet show . . .





In short - they had a blast!

An Impressive Innovation

Ford Motor Company is bringing to market the world's first automotive inflatable seat belts, combining attributes of traditional seat belts and air bags.

Ha

Lisa: I'm giving you plenty of warning. Someday, somehow, this is what our front door will look like.

Do Better Man

A WTF complaint: Smooth Jazz 106.9 just posted this on FB: "Alicia Keys talks about her HIV/AIDS" and then, in a smaller font, continues w/  "Foundation" on the next line. So if u aren't paying attention . . .  Damn near gave me a heart attack.

Harold Leroy Fiste and the Trigger Maru: A Veteran's Day Post

To all our service men and women, past and present, Thank You.

* * * *

Coming from a pretty big Polish family, with Great Uncles galore, I grew up around WWII stories. Uncle Leo was at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack, his brother Chester served in the Army Air Corps, another brother (Johnny) served throughout the Pacific in the Merchant Marines, and my Grandpa trudged through Europe as part of an anti-aircraft crew. The husband of my grandma's best friend lost an eye to the Japanese, and on my Dad's side my Uncle Stanley wrote of a tense meeting with Soviet troops in Korea as the war closed.

Rarely discussed was the sad fate of my paternal Great Aunt Vicki's husband, Chief Electrician's Mate Harold Leroy Fiste (02796181).



Harold was born in Alpha, Ohio on November 26, 1915 but called Milwaukee home. In his service career he'd earn a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He'd also lose his life along with the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. Trigger.



The Trigger (SS - 237) was a Gato class submarine that earned a fearsome reputation during WWII. That isn't hyperbole. Postwar counts credited her with sinking 18 Japanese ships totaling 86,552 tons, both good for seventh best on the naval list. She was awarded eleven battle stars and a Presidential Unit citation during the war. The text of the latter read as follows:

For outstanding performance in combat during her Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh War Patrols against the enemy. Employing highly daring and hazardous tactics, the USS TRIGGER struck at the enemy with consistent aggressiveness, seeking out and pursuing her targets with dogged determination regardless of unfavorable attack conditions. Her exceptionally notable record of severe damage inflicted on hostile shipping and the gallant fighting spirit of her officers and men reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.

Note also the glowing praise in a Navy Citation:

For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese shipping and combatant units during her Ninth War Patrol in the Palau Islands area from March 23 to May 20, 1944. Undaunted by numerous enemy escort vessels and desperately severe anti-submarine measures, the USS TRIGGER skillfully penetrated convoy screens to reach her targets... She pressed home daring attacks to leave four freighters and a destroyer a mass of smoke and wreckage... After seventeen hours of skillful evasion, to resurface and strike again at the enemy...

While on her 12th combat patrol in March of 1945, Trigger attacked and sank the repair ship Odate on the 27th. That final success went unknown until after the war; the sub never had the opportunity to report the strike. Within a day Japanese aircraft had spotted and attacked the sub east of Kyusyu, Japan in approx. position 32º16'N, 132º05'E, then guided no less than three Japanese ships to its location.

After an intensive two hour attack from air forces, the Mikura, and corvettes Kaibokan No.33 and Kaibokan No.59, the Japanese reported seeing a large oil slick form.

In the area, four U.S. subs would note the sound of heavy battle, but no knowledge of the Trigger and her fate would be known until she failed to report to Midway by May 1st; she was stricken from the naval register on July 11th, and her probable destruction not confirmed until postwar records were examined.



My Great Aunt would never remarry.

For Harold Leroy Fiste, and all those who have given their lives for our nation and our freedom THANK YOU.

* * *

I'm the Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast
by Constantine Guinness, Motor Machinist's Mate First Class (MOMM 1/c), United States Navy

I'm the galloping ghost of the Japanese coast.
You don't hear of me and my crew
But just ask any man off the coast of Japan.
If he knows of the Trigger Maru.

I look sleek and slender alongside my tender.
With others like me at my side,
But we'll tell you a story of battle and glory,
As enemy waters we ride.

I've been stuck on a rock, felt the depth charge's shock,
Been north to a place called Attu,
and I've sunk me two freighters atop the equator
Hot work, but the sea was cold blue.

I've cruised close inshore and carried the war
to the Empire Island Honshū,
While they wire Yokahama I could see Fujiyama,
So I stayed, to admire the view.

When we rigged to run silently, deeply I dived,
And within me the heat was terrific.
My men pouring sweat, silent and yet
Cursed me and the whole damned Pacific.

Then destroyers came sounding and depth charges pounding
My submarine crew took the test.
Far in that far off land there are no friends on hand,
To answer a call of distress.

I was blasted and shaken (some damage I be taken),
my hull bleeds and pipe lines do, too
I've come in from out there for machinery repair,
And a rest for me and my crew.

I got by on cool nerve and in silence I served,
Though I took some hard knocks in return,
One propeller shaft sprung and my battery's done,
But the enemy ships I saw burn.

I'm the galloping ghost of the Japanese coast,
You don't hear of me and my crew.
But just ask any man off the coast of Japan,
If he knows of the Trigger Maru.

Pumpkin Carving

Well, since they're rotting on my porch as we speak, I reckon it's about time to post pictures of our pumpkin carving, circa 2009. Note our lovely, original-to-the-house 1892 farm sink in the first photo.









The best part of this business are the seeds of course, and Lisa has perfected the preparation process. Something about salting the water before boiling, I think . . .









Smiley's pumpkin . . .





Here's YaYa's Club Penguin entry . . .





And LuLu's moon and stars . . .

Knowing

I liked this movie. A lot.

Fifty years ago a time capsule is buried at an elementary school, and included in its contents are the frenzied scribbles of the class oddball.

When the capsule is opened in the present day, Professor John Koestler's (Cage) son is given the note and sneaks it home. The seemingly random numbers on the page are anything but; they are the date and longitude/latitude of every large scale disaster of the last half century.

There is one set of numbers left, and the date is fast approaching.

* * *

It doesn't take long to figure out that the final predicted event is going to be a doozy, but the script does a fine job of pacing events so as to keep each revelation a surprise. There were a few plot points that were 180 degrees from what I expected, and the film is genuinely creepy at times. I caught myself shaking off a shiver now and again.

Is the complexity of the riddle a ridiculous means of passing on the information? Of course. A simple "hey, looks what's gonna happen!" would have been much smarter - but then we wouldn't have a movie :)

Again, a good film, and worth the rental.

3.2 out of 4

Slapinions is Five Years Old!

Five years ago today this blog was born.

That was right after the 2004 election, and I'd spent many a month writing 600 word pieces and emailing them to friends and family (most of whom, I'm sure, deleted them unread). Then it dawned on me. I read a lot of blogs, I admired a lot of blogs, I enjoyed writing. Why the heck wasn't I blogging?

And so I did. There's not much more to say about the birth process, other than I give Lisa full credit for the blog's title, a combination of my last name and "opinions". Kudos on that hon.

A blink of an eye later and here we are,five years and 1468 published posts later. Five years - that's a respectable run for most marriages nowadays. Color me impressed.

Will Slapinions be around for a grand 10th celebration? I guess we'll just have to wait and see ;)

Oh, and to all those who've stopped by to say hello over the years, a sincere "Thank You". I could do it without you, but it wouldn't be half as fun.

Great TV

Just finished watching the Dr. Who episode "Turn Left". Great episode, wonderful character development, and a grand performance from Catherine Tate. Here endeth my dork status report for the night.

Beneath Still Waters

I'm told the movie version of this book was so gawd awful it isn't worth watching, even for laughs. If you've seen it, my apologies - but don't hold that against the book. It's actually a pretty strong effort by Mattew J Costello.

Fifty years ago the town of Gouldens Falls was submerged beneath a man made lake, sacrificed to a dam project that seemed to be very quickly conceived and carried out, almost as if there was something to hide in the town. Now, as the anniversary of the dam approaches the town is beginning to stir, and from the depths an evil once contained has risen to claim its place among us.

It's a pretty darn good book, full of suspense and a few genuine scares. There's good characterization, a decent plot, and a sturdy if pedestrian writing style.

Well done.

2.9 out of 4

LuLu sings a Jonas Brothers song

Ah, listening to Jonas Brothers sing "I fell in love with a pizza girl, now I eat pizza, now I eat pizza, now I eat pizza everyday" while LuLu sings along perfectly, note for note.

YaYa's 3rd Grade Photo - fall 2009

My Mom was hospitalized today. Any extra prayers would be appreciated.

What's Wrong with the Office?

Is it just me, or is Pam on the Office really annoying since she got engaged (now married)? The character seems off this season. I get the sense the writers are a bit unsure of how to handle her now that Jim/Pam is resolved.

Nothing to Look Forward To

Heading off to bed. Lu had two teeth pulled yest evening, so I'm sure this morning will be a happy, joyous parenting experience.

Tone it Down

Jeez, Peter Gammons. I love me some Yankees, but your man-love for Jeter and Mo is almost . . . uncomfortable. Tone it down a bit. No need to recite a sonnet about them everytime the microphone is passed your way.

Yankees Championship, Pt. XXVII

Eight years ago, as my wife was in labor with our first child, I watched a Yankees game in the delivery room. She's never forgotten or forgiven me, but it was, in fairness, the playoffs.

A week later, with my wife still on bed rest, I held the newborn YaYa in my arms as I screamed with joy at a Yankee comeback in the World Series. I have video of it, actually.

Two years later, the Yanks lost the Series to the Marlins on the day I was out celebrating my wedding annivesary. It still gnaws at me.

A year later I took my Dad on a road trip to catch the Yankees in Chicago.

The season after that, I took my infant son to his first ball game - the Yankees game where Arod hit his 399th and 400th home runs. I blogged about it here.

I love me some Yankees. Why? Because they win. Seriously. They are determined, almost to a fault, to succeed each and every season for nearly a century. I admire that, and I adore many of the names that made them winners: Ruth, Gehrig, Joe D, Mantle, Berra, Bernie, Jeter, Mo, Arod. They are, unabashedly and without pause, committed to their traditions, and to their own greatness. They are a microcosm of the American ideal.

And now, finally, they're back where they belong: on top o' the world.

Congrats guys! What a team, what an effort, what a great World Series!

27 rings! Whoo-hoo!



UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot to congratulate the Philadelphia Phillies on playing a hard fought, tense World Series. I mean that - they're a hell of a team, and there weren't many moments where I wasn't sweating bullets. They'll be in the post-season again, count on it.

I've Noticed

A disproportionate number of 'Caillou' episodes seem to center around losing and searching for Gilbert, their cat. Just ck out the one playing on Sprout right now. It's like a children's program spawned from Danny phobias.

My Public Reading of "A Shadow of a Distant Life" at the St. Francis Library

I had another column in the Journal-Sentinel today, and I must apologize if you wasted three precious quarters on it. You should have let your kids raid the gumball machine instead. It was alright prose but I thought it was empty of soul and sincerity. This isn't false modesty or low self-esteem, just an honest opinion. So again, my bad. I'll do better next time.

On the other end of the spectrum we have that fiction writing contest held by a local suburb. No, I didn't win the contest. But, the judge said, my story had developed a little following, one that argued in its favor so strongly that the winner was decided by a hair. With that in mind, she asked if I'd attend the program and give a public reading of my work.

I said "Sure", but I was officially trying to squirm my way out of it as late as this afternoon. Oh, in my heart I knew I was going to go through with it - why else would I have shaved and changed my skivvies on a day off? - but the idea of standing in front of eighty people and reading a complete short story terrified me.

All the more reason to do it, of course. So at 6:30 Tuesday night YaYa and I traveled to St. Francis Public Library's meeting hall.



After the winners of the juvenile brackets read their work, the judge called me up front. She gave the audience the same explanation she'd given me (my first confirmation it wasn't all flattering b.s.), pronounced my name right (which always shocks me) and I got down to business.

"It's fitting that this was a horror story contest," I told the audience, "Because right now I'm terrified just standing here."



I am not a great speaker, but I have improved with time and practice. I enunciated, I stressed this and paused after that, and from time to time I looked up and made sure to make eye contact with the audience - and all the while my hands were shaking. And then, after five minutes or so, I was done.



"Wow," some people in the audience said - a top 100 Danny moment for sure - and then I got a round of applause. The M.C. returned to the mike "I think I heard some 'wows' out there, didn't I?" she said. "Thank you very much."



I returned to my seat next to a beaming YaYa and listened to the rest of the program, which included a presentation by ghost researcher and author Chad Lewis.

[Oh, by the way: I think my story was better, but the winner was a heck of a public speaker/reader. Tip o' the hat to him for that. I've got a lot to learn.]

After the program a few pats on the back, some compliments, a thank you from me to the judges, and we were on our way back home.

It was a good evening. A really good evening.

Ginger's first playgroup!

I've got a big post on the way, but I wanted to sneak this one in.

Today Lisa took Ginger to her first ever weekly playgroup at the local community center. It's kind of sad that it's taken us this long to get her in one, since her brother and sisters were hard core playgroup fanatics by her age.

But hey, some perspective: the kid smears her poop on her face and digs it. Excuse us for not taking her out in public. I kid, I kid!





Note the puppy shirt, which is an iconic hand me down from YaYa, but best remembered from one of LuLu's professional photos of years past.





I was at home waiting for Smiley's school bus during the playgroup, but Lisa reports Ginger was pretty well behaved and had a blast.

LuLu's 1st Grade Photo - Sept 2009

Push

I wasn't expecting a whole lot when I rented this movie. I was just looking for a mindless "boy movie", one that didn't feature crying women or cancer stricken puppies. Mission accomplished. (I think some of the women still shed tears, but whatever).

What threw me for a loop was how much I enjoyed it.

Modern day Hong Kong has become a secret Mecca for displaced mutants. Some have the ability to move objects with their minds, some can see the future, and some can 'sniff' out their own kind. All all hunted by a secret U.S. agency, but the tables are turning: a mutant has escaped the agency and fled to join a ragtag group of her own kind. She may be the secret to guaranteeing all their freedom, but the agency wants her back - at all costs.

No, this ain't Casablanca, but the setting is wonderful, the characters are interesting and work well together, and there's a decent amount of suspense in the plot.

I don't like that it leaves the door WIDE open for a sequel (I hate when movies do that), and the movie never explains why these mutants haven't dominated the world. I mean literally dominate the world and establish their own empire over the course of history. Who could have stopped them?

Anyhow, a good flick.

3.0 out of 4.