Lawrencia Bembenek - Update

WISN is reporting that Lawrencia Bembenek has been moved to a hospice & won't live to see 2011. I can remember my Grandparents looking at newspapers during her trial & saying they were sure she was framed; it'd be nice if some measure of justice took place while Bambi was around to see it. A request for a pardon is in the works, but the powers that be have kept her down for 30 yrs, so don't hold your breath.

Full Dark No Stars

Is anyone reading Stephen King's "Full Dark, No Stars"? I am, and right now it feels a lot like work. The first novella is so derivative of Poe it reads like student work from a creative writing course. The 2nd story is better, but naturally has a writer as the protagonist, just like, oh, Dark Half, The Shining, Bag of Bones, Misery, The Body, etc. Way to think outside the box Steve.

Passin' Time

I spent part of the morning surfing FB on the new NOOK color.

Lu, a model?

I took LuLu to get a haircut today, & while she was in the chair I went next door to do some shopping. When I returned a man approached me and asked if I'd be interested in having Lu model for him.  

I know - instant creep factor, & I brushed him off. 

But he left a business card behind & to my surprise he cks out, w/4  decades of legit art exhibitions (assuming he hasn't rigged a half dozen websites). In fact, he's the brother of Lance Sijan, the Medal of Honor winner whose name is honored throughout Bay View. 

Huh. Weird.

Lost: The New Man in Charge

I finally saw the LOST epilogue, "The New Man in Charge". Eh. So-so. 12 minutes is too short a time to answer any question worth asking. I'd like to see Hurley's 'reign', and Walt and Ben's employment, explored further in other media as the years go by.

Congratulations to Archbishop Dolan!

In an upset, former Milw. (current NYC) Archbishop Timothy Dolan has been elected Pres of the U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops! "It means the bishops have decided to opt for a confident Catholicism. They had a choice, & they chose the boldest, most outspoken bishop. U wouldn't choose him as ur leader unless u thought what he was doing in the capital of the world (NY) is what we want the church to represent."

btw, this was a clear and bold rebuff of the passive, submissive wing of the American Church, the folks who try to get by with wringing their hands and saying "can't we all get along, even if it means we give up everything we believe in???"

A Royal Congratulations!

Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton have announced their engagement. 'bout time you made her an honest woman William!

Full Dark, No Dawn

I'm 50 or 60 pages into Stephen King's new story collection and yawn yawn yawn. Hopefully it picks up. BTW,  I hate when King writes about sex, even in passing. I don't care how many kids he has or how long he's been married, the text always comes off crude, like it was written by the ugly kid in high school who has to pretend he knows what boobies look like.

Good and Bad

The bad? I didn't land (yet another) job I'd applied for, making me quite grumpy for a minute. Then, a small burst of good news. The Journal-Sentinel has asked me to do a holiday column, w/ the editor stating that "From previous columns of yours, I think you could do one with the right feel, be broad enough to appeal to all readers, and also steer clear of politics." So there's a coupla bucks in my pocket.

Awww

Junie after dance class 11/15/10

Ginger's first school bus ride

Despite attending K3 for the first time the week prior, September 8th was the first day Ginger took the bus to and from school. Unlike our experience with Smiley, who was both picked up and dropped off in front of the house, Ginger must travel to a bus stop a few blocks away each morning (although she is dropped off at home).

The good thing about all of this is that it forces up to be up earlier, and because of that all the kids have been getting to school on time for once. Yay!

Here's how I captioned the following photos: My scared baby takes the bus for the first time




She was only upset for a minute or two, but I was nervous to see how she'd handle the day. This caption? A change of heart; Ginger after her bus trip home.

Today is my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to them, and may they enjoy 25 more together!

Towers of Midnight

I just finished Towers of Midnight, the 13th book in the Wheel of Time series. As expected, it's a well written, engaging storyline populated with characters you know better than you know yourself (and small wonder, unless you've written 13 autobiographies of 1000 pgs each). The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age; Tarmon Gai’don is near. May the Light preserve us all.

Stem Fest

Stem fest with brownie troop 3057 and junior troop 1373, sooo much fun. Silk screened our own bags, and made our own perfume. The girls were about as excited as the adults, lol. Can't use the perfume til Tuesday, and they're chompin' at the bit! Good times with great kids and even better fellow lady-scouts, lol. - Lisa

Nightmare on Elm Street

Just finished watching the new "Nightmare on Elm Street". It was pretty good, but I'm not a fan of the new Nancy, or the humorless Freddy. 

The worst part? The preschool picture, w/ all the kids in the ancient outfits? It was dated *1994*. I was wearing flannel and mourning Kurt when those buggers were being potty trained. Ugh.

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

We watched "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore". It was fine, if you can stomach watching a fantasy world where dogs are remotely as smart as cats.

Smiley's K5 School Picture

IKEA

In Schaumberg, eating @ IKEA

One Summer Day

11:57 am: I'm sitting in the kiddie pool w/ Pdiddy [Smiley] & Ginger, reading a bk & soaking up the sun. 'seems the possum is again residing in our yrd, judging by the poop pile & a fat chipmunk just ran up 2 me, realized his booboo & did a 180.

12:21 pm : Update: make that a family of chipmunks. Once the scout returned with our location, they all came out & raced around the outside of the pool like a Commanche raiding party, then stopped and glared as if to say "Whatchu gonna do about it big man?" before running off under the shed.

Sept 1st through the 6th

September 1st

Lisa and I just finished watching the complete first season of "Big Love", a drama about a polygamist family in Utah. It's well written with top notch acting. We'll be sure to watch the other seasons.

Don't believe that crap that you're as young as you feel. Your feelings lie.

[RE: David Garrett, a classical violinist who plays renditions of rock songs] I like his album but I recognize it's a gimmick. If he wants to elevate the commercial appeal of his instrument, then he should compose pop/rock music for the violin, instead of just adapting old hits.

September 2nd

How you can tell Farmville has taken over your life: Lisa and I were in the produce section when she asked me if I'd ever heard of a sale item called an asian apple pear. I stared at her for a second in disbelief, then answered - unintentionally - in valley girl upspeak: "Uhhhh, *yeah*, I raise them on my farm."

September 3rd

Women are the repository of personal details in the lives of all who intersect their worlds - Sara Paretsky

This is one of 4 sunflower plants Smiley and I planted this summer. He really loves gardening.

September 4th

So my Escort got a flat last night when a friend borrowed it, returning it to my parking slab with the rim damaged. Sigh. This morning, the same car won't start. It is inevitable - my cars work only in summer. At the onset of cold weather I should just think ahead and buy a bus pass.

LuLu got the 1st tomato from her Topsy Turvy Tomato Plant today.

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Yes, I own Ke$ha's album 'Animal', and yes, Lisa and the kids play this song whenever possible. "D-I-N-O-S-A-U-R a dinosaur, an O-L-D man, Old man, At first we thought that it was kinda ill/ when we thought that you were like a billion And still tryna make a killing/Get back to the museum"

We're watching my Godson TJ today. Here we are on the front porch, along with some candids we snapped later.

We just saw Justin Beiber on SNL, and called the girls down to watch him perform. Olivia is well and truly in love w/ the guy, and Lauren says his name so cute. Anywho, while the Haters Hate, the kid produces enjoyable music with a radio friendly hook. Also of note: he did a fine job replicating Luda's rap from "Baby".

September 6th (Labor Day)

Any job is better at time and a half.

Mass and Legion

Saturday night Lisa and I took the Bookends with us to Mass (Lu was ill and Smiley was at Grandma’s). As expected, our Feral Child was less than perfect, but still did OK :) 

I’ve also finished reading Legion, a novella by Brandon Sanderson. It’s a hoot, and features a character that deserves to return in a longer format. Unfortunately, its size prohibits me from listing it among my “read’” list for the year.

LuLu's 2nd Grade School Picture

W on O

Watching Dubya on Oprah. I adore that man, I truly do.

A Bad Evening

The kids were awful tonight. Junie picked up her dinner plate & chucked it across the table; we put her to bed w/out supper. Meanwhile Smiley's had 7 or 8 crying fits (no exaggeration), YaYa was moody, and LuLu was a demon before she fell asleep before supper. All the kids are now in bed for the night. I don't care if it is 6pm, or if homework's done - enough.

SMH

It's a beautiful, warm November day and Smiley and LuLu are outside w/ me in the backyard. They are playing a game called - can u believe this? - "Fartchicken"