Published writer, compulsive reader, Old School Whovian, Match Game enthusiast, NKOTB fan, data hoarder, and - surprisingly, given that list - married with four kids. Welcome to my take on life, fatherhood, entertainment, and whatever strikes my fancy. Enjoy!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Gen-u-wine Wisconsin Potato
While prepping for our belated Easter feast today, YaYa was keen to show me this potato she discovered.
Hmmm. It looks strangely familiar . . .
Hmmm. It looks strangely familiar . . .
Monday, April 25, 2011
My Favorite Things
I was a latecomer to the world of mobile phones, first getting one a few years into this century. Consider my reluctance a last gasp of loyalty to the beautiful pager I wore in the mid '90's. Or just rack it up to a lack of $ to spend on a phone. Either/or.
Nowadays, with more kids than zeros on my paycheck and obligations up the ying yang, a cell phone is a necessity. And while the Cricket MSGM8 II is not 'top of the line', and future readers will giggle at what they'll see as an antique, it is my darling, my honeyboo, my honeybunchesofoats.
It is truly one of My Favorite Things.
The party line: it is a bar phone with a QWERTY keypad, and weighs 3.74 oz while measuring 4.2" x 2.39" x .53". The screen has a 220 x 176 resolution and can display 260K colors. It has a 1000 contact capacity and a 1.3 megapixal digital camera.
I do wish the camera had better resolution and low light capabilities, but at the same time the camera is just about my favorite toy on the phone. I take pictures all the time, and sending them to email or my Facebook account is easy and intuitive. I don't just take pictures of the kids, either. I'll snap a quick pic of a book or CD cover as a reminder to research or purchase it later, and I find myself avoiding taking notes by simply photographing a memo or directions.
Speaking of directions, it does feature a link to Mapquest and an (optional) turn by turn GPS program. I've used the Mapquest link several times, and for frequent long distance destinations I've taken to putting the directions in the phone's permanent memo pad. Ditto recipes, list of recently viewed films for review, etc.
On the web browser I often check JSOnline and my Gmail accounts, and I can't begin to express how much happiness I've gotten from the quick link to Facebook that's built into the top screen. I love mobile Facebook.
As far as widgets/apps, I've downloaded PopEater (a pop culture news/gossip site), This Day in History, a personalized sports score app, IMDB news (movie news), Reuters Science News, Quote of the Day, Weather, and plain ol' news.
Texting is fast and easy with the QWERTY keboard and a quck navigation menu. Texting, heaven help us, has now replaced voice calls as my prefered means of phone communication.
Last but not least, the alarm clock is nice and loud and allows three different times to be set - just what this oversleeper needs.
All that for one flat monthly cost, with no overages, free 411, no contract, and great service :)
A Nook Update
The new Nook update is out! Apps increase from a handful to 139! Now it not only wups the Kindle, it makes it put on makeup and call Barnes and Noble "big daddy"
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A great day for Lisa
Got to choreograph and teach a number to a close friend's daughter, then out to dinner and a comedy club with three awesome friends to celebrate her mom's birthday. Good times!! Thankful for lifelong friends, good kids, and a good hubby 🙂 - Lisa
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Quote of the Day
The inability to forget is infinitely more devastating than the inability to remember," - Mark Twain
I'm Joking, I'm joking
Twice in recent weeks I've been asked how "you" - meaning a conservative - could be a fan of lefty music, up to & inc. being a member of Pearl Jam's fan club. Easy. I simply alter the lyrics in my head to reflect a more appropriate social message. "Screamed and bit the recess lady's breast"" - I think not. "Dreamed of always doing his very best" - there ya go Eddie, Danny made it all better.
Easter Egg Dyeing, 2011
It is a longstanding tradition in the Slapinions household, dating back long before we had kids of our own, that we dye Easter eggs on Good Friday with all the kids in our life.
Well, we missed that deadline because I worked. Frankly, this is a pretty messed up Easter weekend. I work straight through, Lisa and the two oldest are up North at a friend's house for a bday party, and . . well, as I said. It's a bit of a mess.
So with the two youngin's in my care this afternoon I boiled eggs and sat down to dye them. I coudln't find any of the supplies I know we had, so I'm afraid it was a ho-hum food coloring Easter, leading to a largely sedate color palate.
It went pretty smoothly, save for one hissy fit where Lump tossed a bottle of food coloring at the window.
I let the kids eat a few eggs that cracked, but they refused to eat the yolk, because as Smiley said "it were a chicken come from". That led to me giving a platonic, short birds-and-bees speech that fell on deaf ears. "Ya, but yellow part still were chicken come from if there a boy chicken, right? I not eat that."
We saved a dozen plain eggs for the girls to dye when they return. Happy Easter everyone!
Well, we missed that deadline because I worked. Frankly, this is a pretty messed up Easter weekend. I work straight through, Lisa and the two oldest are up North at a friend's house for a bday party, and . . well, as I said. It's a bit of a mess.
So with the two youngin's in my care this afternoon I boiled eggs and sat down to dye them. I coudln't find any of the supplies I know we had, so I'm afraid it was a ho-hum food coloring Easter, leading to a largely sedate color palate.
It went pretty smoothly, save for one hissy fit where Lump tossed a bottle of food coloring at the window.
I let the kids eat a few eggs that cracked, but they refused to eat the yolk, because as Smiley said "it were a chicken come from". That led to me giving a platonic, short birds-and-bees speech that fell on deaf ears. "Ya, but yellow part still were chicken come from if there a boy chicken, right? I not eat that."
We saved a dozen plain eggs for the girls to dye when they return. Happy Easter everyone!
The Ladybugs Have Arrived!
The title of this post is probably a mystery to you unless you saw my Facebook post on Smiley's birthday. For the big guy's 6th Birthday we bought him a ladybug farm and sent away for the little critters. Just as we were giving up hope of them ever arriving, they showed up in the mailbox today!
First we took apart the terrarium and added water to the feeding station. "You strong," Smiley said as I pulled a wire loose. Darn tootin', kid.
We then unpacked the ladybugs from the mailing tube.
When it came time to open the tube that included the live ladybug larvae (?) and feeding gel, Smiley got squeamish. So I added the little guys myself.
He seems to love the setup, especially the magnifying lens built into the top of the dome. Here's hoping they give him lots of joy this summer!
First we took apart the terrarium and added water to the feeding station. "You strong," Smiley said as I pulled a wire loose. Darn tootin', kid.
We then unpacked the ladybugs from the mailing tube.
When it came time to open the tube that included the live ladybug larvae (?) and feeding gel, Smiley got squeamish. So I added the little guys myself.
He seems to love the setup, especially the magnifying lens built into the top of the dome. Here's hoping they give him lots of joy this summer!
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