Pathetic

Nothing is more pathetic than one Republican, usually a right wing conservative, slamming another as a RINO ("Republican in name only"). That acronym should be worn with pride.You know who was labeled a RINO? Eisenhower, Dewey, Nixon, Rockefeller, Ford, Connolly, Romney (George and Mitt), Bush 41 and 43, and just about every member of my party that was worth a damn. To paraphrase a frustrated Nixon, nothing is more cannibalistic than some factions of the GOP. #RINO

Woulda Look at That

On page 317 of "Six Crises", Nixon lists Congressman "Gerry Ford" as one of his finalists for the 1960 Republican VP slot. Huh. So much for Ford being a flippant, mindless choice for VP a decade later.

Smiley

The future of this line.

A Dennis Anecdote

Dennis memory of the day: When Lisa was little her Dad took her and her brothers, at the boys suggestion, to see a horror movie at the Avalon.

 Seven years younger than her oldest brother, it was not a movie she wanted to watch, and for good reason. At one point in the film a guy is attacked with a knife, and brutally and repeatedly impaled against a tree.

As the guy on screen was stabbed, her Dad suddenly broke into song, singing "I'm all right" by Kenny Loggins - you know, the song from Caddyshack.

The theater audience laughed, but Lisa was mortified. 

Over time she came to believe he did it because he saw she was upset, and wanted to distract her from the movie. 

It's a story she'll probably tell till her dying day.

Norman Bridwell

RIP Norman Bridwell, creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog

The Purge: Anarchy

Watching "The Purge: Anarchy" with YaYa, Smiley, and Junie. Because nothing says family time like watching  fictional government sanctioned slaughter.

A Simple Truth

This is my most beloved personal philosophy

Frustrating

I'm sure all my kids will remember from their morning today is me bellowing and raging. Nevermind the half hour of being sweet as sugar, going so far (today) as to bake them cookies. No, let's use that time to sit on our arse until there's ten minutes left to get to school, then talk about homework left undone, green clay "I told you I need for today!", the shoes you can't find (shocking, as you won't leave your chair to look for them), the garbage you 'took out' and left on the kitchen floor, etc. Then when i yell, oy, I'm the bad guy- but y'all moved, didn't ya? It took me one hour, one whole hour for my temple to stop throbbing. Enough.

Junie's First Reconciliation!

Monday December 15th was Junie's First Reconciliation (confession), an important sacrament and a pivotal step towards getting her First Communion next spring!

She was REALLY nervous beforehand - and I mean for days - and I overheard this brief (and shady!) conversation a few hours before the event: 

Junie: I don't know what to say. I'm scared. 

Smiley: It's no big deal. Just come up with three things you think sound bad. Like, "I lied to my parents," or "I stole Mom's cookie dough" . . . 

Junie: But I did steal Mom's cookie dough.

Smiley: That's good. Then it'll sound real. 

Having done this three times before, we knew we'd have a decent wait between the start of the prayer service and the actual confession, so Mom helped her with her homework during that time. 

Then, when it was her turn, we walked her into the confessional, introduced her to the Priest ("Your Dad and I go way back, Junie - he's one of the good ones") and then gladly took a picture with our diva in the hallway.

Then Junie lit a candle by the altar and placed it among those of the other students. 

After that we all said the Lord's Prayer and headed downstairs to the cafeteria for cake and punch, where a 5th grade student had written a card just for my gal. Junie was floored and genuinely thankful.

 

Here's her teacher, a veteran of three other Slap kids!

Then, as promised, we took Junie to Leon's Frozen Custard for a scoop of their tasty treat.

Congratulations Junie! Mom and Dad are super proud of you!

Wish I had a copy of this Painting

My New Hat

I tried out my new trapper hat - fresh from China by way of EBay - when I walked the kids home from school today.

A Quirk of Old Houses

Built into the wall behind our medicine cabinet is this rusty slot, used to dispose of dull razor blades. Since the safety razor first gained popularity around WWI, the wall behind the sink holds nearly a century of metal - each blade carrying the blood of the men of this house. My great-grandfather's is there, as is that of his sons, and my own. Within five or six years Smiley will be shaving and continue the chain.

My Goal

My goal during winter break: learn shorthand. Yes, I know it's antiquated. No, I don't care. If someone on FB can help teach me, God bless and all the better.:)

Quote

"The unusual or the controversial event always makes 'news' over the expected or routine occurrences, even though the latter may be a more accurate picture of the true situation." - Richard Nixon

Note to Self

Note to self: Pages 158-161 of Nixon's "Six Crises" have a telling analysis of Eisenhower's mental processes and leadership style.

Fuzzy Thruston

RIP Fuzzy Thurston

Kourtney and Khloe add to our Christmas

We saw this on "Kourtney and Khloe take the Hamptons" and it's on Lisa's wish list. Don't tell me the #Kardashians aren't good for our society and our economy :)

A Nice Gift I Think

Just dropped Junie off at her First Communion class, along with 24 nativity scene snow globes, enough to give one to every kid in the religious education program. We picked them up for a song (90% off!) before Disney and thought they'd be perfect for this occasion. :)

Dumb and Dumber To

Late last night, with the funeral and the exam behind us, I took Lisa to a movie to try and cheer her up. We chose "Dumb and Dumber To", hoping to get in some laughs, but it was a dud. I laughed only a half dozen times and Lisa was bored senseless. I offered to leave halfway in but Lisa demurred, then fell asleep in the chair next to me and started snoring so loudly I thought she was f'ing with me - which would have been the funniest scene in the movie. Epic fail of a date.

Mary Ann Mobley

A sincere RIP to Mary Ann Mobley, former Miss America, wife of Gary Collins, and distinguished Match Game alumni. :(

Torts

I'm at Marquette awaiting my three hour Torts final, after starting the day with my father-in-law's funeral. Quite the day.

update: Torts is done. 2,676 words written on six total problem sets over three hours. I had time to re-read my work before I submitted it, and while I can't say it's full of the greatest legal arguments of all time, I sure do write purty.

The Funeral Luncheon

At the funeral luncheon for my father-in-law :(

Sorrow

Just got into work from my friend's father wake whose passing is eerily similar to my mother's passing.  Days after a Thanksgiving get together,  Packers playing on Monday night, realizing you are become the new adults of the family.

So, lost in my thoughts of what I went through those days 11 years ago and what Melissa Slapczynski and her family are going through I went into work 1 hour early, not realizing my normal start time of 9pm. 

My family's thoughts and prayers are with the Lisa and Team Slap

-Tre

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

Junie read this 173 page book on our trip (note the water damage from the beach!). It took a little reverse psychology, ala "You'll never finish such a big kid book" but she got there in the end! Nice job kid :)