RECIPE HERE
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Super Moist Pumpkin Bread
RECIPE HERE
She Dreamed of Cows
by Norah Pollard
I knew a woman who washed her hair and bathed
her body and put on the nightgown she'd worn
as a bride and lay down with a .38 in her right hand.
Before she did the thing, she went over her life.
She started at the beginning and recalled everything—
all the shame, sorrow, regret and loss.
This took her a long time into the night
and a long time crying out in rage and grief and disbelief—
until sleep captured her and bore her down.
She dreamed of a green pasture and a green oak tree.
She dreamed of cows. She dreamed she stood
under the tree and the brown and white cows
came slowly up from the pond and stood near her.
Some butted her gently and they licked her bare arms
with their great coarse drooling tongues. Their eyes, wet as
shining water, regarded her. They came closer and began to
press their warm flanks against her, and as they pressed
an almost unendurable joy came over her and
lifted her like a warm wind and she could fly.
She flew over the tree and she flew over the field and
she flew with the cows.
When the woman woke, she rose and went to the mirror.
She looked a long time at her living self.
Then she went down to the kitchen which the sun had made all
yellow, and she made tea. She drank it at the table, slowly,
all the while touching her arms where the cows had licked.
I knew a woman who washed her hair and bathed
her body and put on the nightgown she'd worn
as a bride and lay down with a .38 in her right hand.
Before she did the thing, she went over her life.
She started at the beginning and recalled everything—
all the shame, sorrow, regret and loss.
This took her a long time into the night
and a long time crying out in rage and grief and disbelief—
until sleep captured her and bore her down.
She dreamed of a green pasture and a green oak tree.
She dreamed of cows. She dreamed she stood
under the tree and the brown and white cows
came slowly up from the pond and stood near her.
Some butted her gently and they licked her bare arms
with their great coarse drooling tongues. Their eyes, wet as
shining water, regarded her. They came closer and began to
press their warm flanks against her, and as they pressed
an almost unendurable joy came over her and
lifted her like a warm wind and she could fly.
She flew over the tree and she flew over the field and
she flew with the cows.
When the woman woke, she rose and went to the mirror.
She looked a long time at her living self.
Then she went down to the kitchen which the sun had made all
yellow, and she made tea. She drank it at the table, slowly,
all the while touching her arms where the cows had licked.
Maple Bacon Lollipops
Bacon lovers unite-finally, you can have your dessert that also conains your favorite food group- Bacon! This maple and bacon lolli is a fiercely delicious combination of real smoky bacon bits and delicious maple syrup giving all at once savory and sweet sensation.Mystery
By Indigo Girls
Each time you'd pull down the driveway
I wasn't sure when I would see you again
Yours was a twisted, blind-sided highway
No matter which road you took then
Oh you set up your place in my thoughts
Moved in and made my thinking crowded
Now we're out in the back with the barking dogs
My heart the red sun, your heart the moon clouded
I could go crazy on a night like tonight
When summer's beginning to give up her fight
And every thought's a possibility
And voices are heard, but nothing is seen
Why do you spend this time with me
May be an equal mystery
So what is love then, is it dictated
Or chosen - Handed down or made by hand
Does it sing like the hymns of a thousand years
Or is it just pop emotion - Handed down or made by hand
And if it ever was there, and it left
Does it mean it was never true
And to exist it must elude
Is that why I think these things of you
Oh, but you like the taste of danger
It shines like sugar on your lips
And you like to stand in the line of fire
Just to show you can shoot straight from your hip
There must be a thousand things you would die for
I can hardly think of two
But not everything is better spoken aloud
Not when I'm talking to you
Oh, the pirate gets the ship and the girl tonight
Breaks a bottle to christen her
Basking in the exploits of her thief
She's a very good listener
And maybe that's all that we need is to meet in the middle
Of impossibility
Standing at opposite poles
Equal partners in a mystery - Handed down or made by hand
We're standing at opposite poles
Equal partners in a mystery
Each time you'd pull down the driveway
I wasn't sure when I would see you again
Yours was a twisted, blind-sided highway
No matter which road you took then
Oh you set up your place in my thoughts
Moved in and made my thinking crowded
Now we're out in the back with the barking dogs
My heart the red sun, your heart the moon clouded
I could go crazy on a night like tonight
When summer's beginning to give up her fight
And every thought's a possibility
And voices are heard, but nothing is seen
Why do you spend this time with me
May be an equal mystery
So what is love then, is it dictated
Or chosen - Handed down or made by hand
Does it sing like the hymns of a thousand years
Or is it just pop emotion - Handed down or made by hand
And if it ever was there, and it left
Does it mean it was never true
And to exist it must elude
Is that why I think these things of you
Oh, but you like the taste of danger
It shines like sugar on your lips
And you like to stand in the line of fire
Just to show you can shoot straight from your hip
There must be a thousand things you would die for
I can hardly think of two
But not everything is better spoken aloud
Not when I'm talking to you
Oh, the pirate gets the ship and the girl tonight
Breaks a bottle to christen her
Basking in the exploits of her thief
She's a very good listener
And maybe that's all that we need is to meet in the middle
Of impossibility
Standing at opposite poles
Equal partners in a mystery - Handed down or made by hand
We're standing at opposite poles
Equal partners in a mystery
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Office
E-mail from client: Attached please find the copy of funds to close. Mike will pick up the check today and deliver it to you today or Monday.
My e-mail response: No attachment
Client e-mail response: sorry, I was eating bacon . . .
My e-mail response: Best excuse I have heard all day!
My e-mail response: No attachment
Client e-mail response: sorry, I was eating bacon . . .
My e-mail response: Best excuse I have heard all day!
Only ??? Shopping Days Left
I commented to the wife this past weekend that we should get Buckley a new dawg bed to replace his 1+ year-old, thread-bare-stinky dawg bed. "Why?" came her response. All that aside, Dooce has an interesting idea for creating your own dawg bed. Interesting for someone else, that is . . . .
Dawg Beds
Dawg Beds
If I Had A Boat
by Lyle Lovett
If I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
If I were Roy Rogers
I'd sure enough be single
I couldn't bring myself to marrying old Dale
It'd just be me and trigger
We'd go riding through them movies
Then we'd buy a boat and on the sea we'd sail
And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
The mystery masked man was smart
He got himself a Tonto
'Cause Tonto did the dirty work for free
But Tonto he was smarter
And one day said kemo sabe
Kiss my ass I bought a boat
I'm going out to sea
And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
And if I were like lightning
I wouldn't need no sneakers
I'd come and go wherever I would please
And I'd scare 'em by the shade tree
And I'd scare 'em by the light pole
But I would not scare my pony on my boat out on the sea
And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
If I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
If I were Roy Rogers
I'd sure enough be single
I couldn't bring myself to marrying old Dale
It'd just be me and trigger
We'd go riding through them movies
Then we'd buy a boat and on the sea we'd sail
And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
The mystery masked man was smart
He got himself a Tonto
'Cause Tonto did the dirty work for free
But Tonto he was smarter
And one day said kemo sabe
Kiss my ass I bought a boat
I'm going out to sea
And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
And if I were like lightning
I wouldn't need no sneakers
I'd come and go wherever I would please
And I'd scare 'em by the shade tree
And I'd scare 'em by the light pole
But I would not scare my pony on my boat out on the sea
And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat
Happy Halloween
The tombstones outside the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland? Yeah, they are real people . . . .
Thursday, October 29, 2009
This Day in History
232 Years Ago Today
Hancock resigns as president of Congress
John Hancock resigns his position as president of the Continental Congress, due to a prolonged illness, on this day in 1777. Hancock was the first member of the Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence and is perhaps best known for his bold signature on the ground-breaking document.
108 Years Ago Today
McKinley assassin is executed
On this day in 1901, President William McKinley’s assassin, Leon Czolgosz, is executed in the electric chair at Auburn Prison in New York. Czolgosz had shot McKinley on September 6, 1901; the president succumbed to his wounds eight days later.
Hancock resigns as president of Congress
John Hancock resigns his position as president of the Continental Congress, due to a prolonged illness, on this day in 1777. Hancock was the first member of the Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence and is perhaps best known for his bold signature on the ground-breaking document.
108 Years Ago Today
McKinley assassin is executed
On this day in 1901, President William McKinley’s assassin, Leon Czolgosz, is executed in the electric chair at Auburn Prison in New York. Czolgosz had shot McKinley on September 6, 1901; the president succumbed to his wounds eight days later.
The Sum of Man
by Norah Pollard
In autumn,
facing the end of his life,
he moved in with me.
We piled his belongings—
his army-issue boots, knife magazines,
Steely Dan tapes, his grinder, drill press,
sanders, belts and hacksaws—
in a heap all over the living room floor.
For two weeks he walked around the mess.
One night he stood looking down at it all
and said: "The sum total of my existence."
Emptiness in his voice.
Soon after, as if the sum total
needed to be expanded, he began to place
things around in the closets and spaces I'd
cleared for him, and when he'd finished
setting up his workshop in the cellar, he said,
"I should make as many knives as I can,"
and he began to work.
The months plowed on through a cold winter.
In the evenings, we'd share supper, some tale
of family, some laughs, perhaps a walk in the snow.
Then he'd nip back down into the cellar's keep
To saw and grind and polish,
creating his beautiful knives
until he grew too weak to work.
But still he'd slip down to stand at his workbench
and touch his woods
and run his hand over his lathe.
One night he came up from the cellar
and stood in the kitchen's warmth
and, shifting his weight
from one foot to the other, said,
"I love my workshop."
Then he went up to bed.
He's gone now.
It's spring. It's been raining for weeks.
I go down to his shop and stand in the dust
of ground steel and shavings of wood.
I think on how he'd speak of his dying, so
easily, offhandedly, as if it were
a coming anniversary or
an appointment with the moon.
I touch his leather apron, folded for all time,
and his glasses set upon his work gloves.
I take up an unfinished knife and test its heft,
and feel as well the heft of my grief for
this man, this brother I loved,
the whole of him so much greater
than the sum of his existence.
In autumn,
facing the end of his life,
he moved in with me.
We piled his belongings—
his army-issue boots, knife magazines,
Steely Dan tapes, his grinder, drill press,
sanders, belts and hacksaws—
in a heap all over the living room floor.
For two weeks he walked around the mess.
One night he stood looking down at it all
and said: "The sum total of my existence."
Emptiness in his voice.
Soon after, as if the sum total
needed to be expanded, he began to place
things around in the closets and spaces I'd
cleared for him, and when he'd finished
setting up his workshop in the cellar, he said,
"I should make as many knives as I can,"
and he began to work.
The months plowed on through a cold winter.
In the evenings, we'd share supper, some tale
of family, some laughs, perhaps a walk in the snow.
Then he'd nip back down into the cellar's keep
To saw and grind and polish,
creating his beautiful knives
until he grew too weak to work.
But still he'd slip down to stand at his workbench
and touch his woods
and run his hand over his lathe.
One night he came up from the cellar
and stood in the kitchen's warmth
and, shifting his weight
from one foot to the other, said,
"I love my workshop."
Then he went up to bed.
He's gone now.
It's spring. It's been raining for weeks.
I go down to his shop and stand in the dust
of ground steel and shavings of wood.
I think on how he'd speak of his dying, so
easily, offhandedly, as if it were
a coming anniversary or
an appointment with the moon.
I touch his leather apron, folded for all time,
and his glasses set upon his work gloves.
I take up an unfinished knife and test its heft,
and feel as well the heft of my grief for
this man, this brother I loved,
the whole of him so much greater
than the sum of his existence.
Health Care - Part 2
So a while back, I linked to the "This American Life" episode in which they examined who is to blame for the rising costs of health care.
In this latest episode, they examine how we got to where we are.
It's worth your time.
In this latest episode, they examine how we got to where we are.
It's worth your time.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Quote of the Day
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
~Henry David Thoreau
~Henry David Thoreau
This Day in History
123 Years Ago Today
Statue of Liberty dedicated
The Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States, is dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.
90 Years Ago Today
Congress enforces prohibition
Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment.
Statue of Liberty dedicated
The Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States, is dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.
90 Years Ago Today
Congress enforces prohibition
Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment.
Biscuts and Gravy
Bill's Sausage Gravy
"This is my version of sausage gravy...the best! Pour over hot biscuits (I use store bought.) Follow these directions and you won't be disappointed! Very fattening and Umm Umm Good!"
RECIPE HERE
J.P.'s Big Daddy Biscuits
"This recipe will produce the biggest biscuits in the history of the world! Serve these gems with butter, preserves, honey, gravy or they can also be used as dinner rolls...you get the picture. The dough can also be prepared several hours, and up to a day ahead of time. If so, turn dough out onto aluminum foil that has been either floured, lightly buttered or lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Roll up foil until it is sealed, and refrigerate. Don't be surprised if your biscuits rise even higher because the baking powder has had more time to act in the dough. You may have to make a few batches before you get desired results: desired results equals huge mongo biscuits."
RECIPE HERE
"This is my version of sausage gravy...the best! Pour over hot biscuits (I use store bought.) Follow these directions and you won't be disappointed! Very fattening and Umm Umm Good!"RECIPE HERE
J.P.'s Big Daddy Biscuits
"This recipe will produce the biggest biscuits in the history of the world! Serve these gems with butter, preserves, honey, gravy or they can also be used as dinner rolls...you get the picture. The dough can also be prepared several hours, and up to a day ahead of time. If so, turn dough out onto aluminum foil that has been either floured, lightly buttered or lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Roll up foil until it is sealed, and refrigerate. Don't be surprised if your biscuits rise even higher because the baking powder has had more time to act in the dough. You may have to make a few batches before you get desired results: desired results equals huge mongo biscuits."
RECIPE HERE
Miracles
by Walt Whitman
Why! who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach, just in the edge of the
water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love--or sleep in the bed at night with
any one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with my mother,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive, of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds--or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sun-down--or of stars shining so quiet
and bright,
Or the exquisite, delicate, thin curve of the new moon in spring;
Or whether I go among those I like best, and that like me best--
mechanics, boatmen, farmers,
Or among the savans--or to the soiree--or to the opera,
Or stand a long while looking at the movements of machinery,
Or behold children at their sports,
Or the admirable sight of the perfect old man, or the perfect old
woman,
Or the sick in hospitals, or the dead carried to burial,
Or my own eyes and figure in the glass;
These, with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring--yet each distinct, and in its place.
To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the
same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
Every spear of grass--the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women,
and all that concerns them,
All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.
To me the sea is a continual miracle;
The fishes that swim--the rocks--the motion of the waves--the ships,
with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?
Why! who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach, just in the edge of the
water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love--or sleep in the bed at night with
any one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with my mother,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive, of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds--or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sun-down--or of stars shining so quiet
and bright,
Or the exquisite, delicate, thin curve of the new moon in spring;
Or whether I go among those I like best, and that like me best--
mechanics, boatmen, farmers,
Or among the savans--or to the soiree--or to the opera,
Or stand a long while looking at the movements of machinery,
Or behold children at their sports,
Or the admirable sight of the perfect old man, or the perfect old
woman,
Or the sick in hospitals, or the dead carried to burial,
Or my own eyes and figure in the glass;
These, with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring--yet each distinct, and in its place.
To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the
same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
Every spear of grass--the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women,
and all that concerns them,
All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.
To me the sea is a continual miracle;
The fishes that swim--the rocks--the motion of the waves--the ships,
with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Punkin' Patch!
Oi. So this is the second movie / video I have ever created and I tried for 3 days to upload it to blogger without luck. I finally figured out I can post it to YouTube and link from there . . .
This is the second year we have gone to the Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch and it was such a treat!
Our friend Auntie Critters (AKA, Possum lady, Pigeon lady, and soon-to-be Bat Girl) came along with her dawg Nike.
We loaded everyone up in Hannah for the first official Hannah road trip. We picked up pop-corn and toasted pumpkin seeds which the gals munched on in the back seat while watching our first ever Hannah DVD: The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Bates Nut Farm had a scarecrow contest which you will see in the video. The boys at TKA actually entered a scarecrow dressed as a rapper. There was a petting zoo, tons of "fair food" and Annie's first-ever pony ride!
It was a great day all-in-all and I had the presence of mind to start a pot roast in the morning so we finished the day with big steaming bowls meaty goodness.
Happy Halloween!
This is the second year we have gone to the Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch and it was such a treat!
Our friend Auntie Critters (AKA, Possum lady, Pigeon lady, and soon-to-be Bat Girl) came along with her dawg Nike.
We loaded everyone up in Hannah for the first official Hannah road trip. We picked up pop-corn and toasted pumpkin seeds which the gals munched on in the back seat while watching our first ever Hannah DVD: The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Bates Nut Farm had a scarecrow contest which you will see in the video. The boys at TKA actually entered a scarecrow dressed as a rapper. There was a petting zoo, tons of "fair food" and Annie's first-ever pony ride!
It was a great day all-in-all and I had the presence of mind to start a pot roast in the morning so we finished the day with big steaming bowls meaty goodness.
Happy Halloween!
FRANKENSTEIN!
I watched the original Frankenstein a few years back. It's not what you think it is. I was surprised at how sad it was - for the "monster". If you haven't seen it, you should check it out.
Lileks is doing 5 days of Frankenstein HERE.
Winter? What Happened to Fall?!
Here in So. Cal. we measure the seasons by the calendar - not by the weather:
Sunny and 72 on September 22nd: It's fall!
Sunny and 68 on December 22nd: It's winter!
Sunny and 72 on March 22nd: Spring!
Sunny and 82 on June 22nd: Summer!
Quote of the Day
"I have always admired the ability to bite off more than one can chew and then chew it."
- William DeMille
- William DeMille
The Digging
by Rennie McQuilkin
It's that time of year,
the hedgerows hung with bittersweet.
Potato time.
How early the freeze, I'd say
if we were speaking. We're not.
We turn our spading forks against
the earth. It's stiff,
the Reds and Idahos hard as stone,
a total loss.
Once it was us against the beetles,
blight, whatever was not potato.
How they flowered, rows and rows
in white. Now look.
We give it one last try, and there
far down in softer soil,
a seam of them still perfect.
One after another
we hold them up to the dying day,
kneel down to sift for more.
In the dark of the earth, I come upon
your hand, you mine.
It's that time of year,
the hedgerows hung with bittersweet.
Potato time.
How early the freeze, I'd say
if we were speaking. We're not.
We turn our spading forks against
the earth. It's stiff,
the Reds and Idahos hard as stone,
a total loss.
Once it was us against the beetles,
blight, whatever was not potato.
How they flowered, rows and rows
in white. Now look.
We give it one last try, and there
far down in softer soil,
a seam of them still perfect.
One after another
we hold them up to the dying day,
kneel down to sift for more.
In the dark of the earth, I come upon
your hand, you mine.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Internet Theorums: Skitt's Law
Expressed as "any post correcting an error in another post will contain at least one error itself" or "the likelihood of an error in a post is directly proportional to the embarrassment it will cause the poster."
More Internet Laws Here
More Internet Laws Here
The Things We Do
Saw this on Lileks the other day.
Once upon a time, (time being mid-late 70's) I remember going to a department store (Sears or Penny's - I can't remember) and standing in line with my mother so she could pick up her fur coat that had been placed in storage for the summer. When I asked what we were doing, she explained that she stored her fur coat with the dept store during the warmer summer months. The coat was moth-balled and stored in protective cold storage or something to that effect.
We were picking it up so she could have it available during those frigid winter months in So. Cal. I hadn't even hit the double digits and even then the whole concept seemed idiotic.
Still does.
Once upon a time, (time being mid-late 70's) I remember going to a department store (Sears or Penny's - I can't remember) and standing in line with my mother so she could pick up her fur coat that had been placed in storage for the summer. When I asked what we were doing, she explained that she stored her fur coat with the dept store during the warmer summer months. The coat was moth-balled and stored in protective cold storage or something to that effect.
We were picking it up so she could have it available during those frigid winter months in So. Cal. I hadn't even hit the double digits and even then the whole concept seemed idiotic.
Still does.
Quote of the Day X2
Ok, so Annabelle is sleeping, and I just went in to check on her... you know, hear her breathe...the usual crazy mom stuff. I SWEAR I love her so much I sometimes feel I'm going to PASS OUT. You think I'm being funny? My eyes welled up typing that. I remember thinking I didn't know if I could handle being a mom for this very reason. Knowing this very thing about my personality. Being afraid of feeling THAT much. So glad I didn't listen to the nonsense in my head. I have been transformed on the matter. Transformed into not caring how much I feel because I get to be HER MOM. Transformed into Annie's Mom. And it's not that I have lost myself. Quite the opposite really. She found me.
- TPP
The Post Party reminded me of something that happened the other day.
I have been seeing my hairstylist for ten years. She and I are the same age and are on the same timeline with our lives. We married our guys and had children all within a few years of each other. Really - she is a good friend who I see every few months.
The other day I was sitting in her chair. We were discussing the owner of the salon and what a playboy he is and I mentioned that he is getting older and he should settle down and have some kids. I told her that whenever I talk to someone and they are on the fence about having kids I feel it necessary to convince them to do it because nobody should miss out on that wonderment. If you’re on the fence and there was ever a point in your life that you wanted kids you should absolutely, without a doubt, do it because you will never regret it. She said to me, “What…you? I remember you said, ‘I’m not having any kids. Why would I want to do that? I’ll be fine if I don’t have kids.’ Can you believe you ever said that now that you have a child?”
This morning the little guy climbed into our bed and immediately crawled in between us. We both went to put an arm around him, felt each other, and held hands across his body. Seeing this he placed his hand with ours and said, "We are all holding hands togever."
No - I cannot believe I ever said that.
- QS
- TPP
The Post Party reminded me of something that happened the other day.
I have been seeing my hairstylist for ten years. She and I are the same age and are on the same timeline with our lives. We married our guys and had children all within a few years of each other. Really - she is a good friend who I see every few months.
The other day I was sitting in her chair. We were discussing the owner of the salon and what a playboy he is and I mentioned that he is getting older and he should settle down and have some kids. I told her that whenever I talk to someone and they are on the fence about having kids I feel it necessary to convince them to do it because nobody should miss out on that wonderment. If you’re on the fence and there was ever a point in your life that you wanted kids you should absolutely, without a doubt, do it because you will never regret it. She said to me, “What…you? I remember you said, ‘I’m not having any kids. Why would I want to do that? I’ll be fine if I don’t have kids.’ Can you believe you ever said that now that you have a child?”
This morning the little guy climbed into our bed and immediately crawled in between us. We both went to put an arm around him, felt each other, and held hands across his body. Seeing this he placed his hand with ours and said, "We are all holding hands togever."
No - I cannot believe I ever said that.
- QS
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Cat People - There's No Explaining 'em
Man composes ballad for his cat and then serenades his cat while stacking 61 objects on top . . . . of his cat . . . .
Gravity
by Louis Jenkins
It turns out that the drain pipe from the sink is attached to
nothing and water just runs right onto the ground in the
crawl space underneath the house and then trickles out
into the stream that passes through the backyard. It turns
out that the house is not really attached to the ground but
sits atop a few loose concrete blocks all held in place by
gravity, which, as I understand it, means "seriousness." Well,
this is serious enough. If you look into it further you will
discover that the water is not attached to anything either
and that perhaps the rocks and the trees are not all that
firmly in place. The world is a stage. But don't try to move
anything. You might hurt yourself, besides that's a job for
the stagehands and union rules are strict. You are merely a
player about to deliver a soliloquy on the septic system to a
couple dozen popple trees and a patch of pale blue sky.
It turns out that the drain pipe from the sink is attached to
nothing and water just runs right onto the ground in the
crawl space underneath the house and then trickles out
into the stream that passes through the backyard. It turns
out that the house is not really attached to the ground but
sits atop a few loose concrete blocks all held in place by
gravity, which, as I understand it, means "seriousness." Well,
this is serious enough. If you look into it further you will
discover that the water is not attached to anything either
and that perhaps the rocks and the trees are not all that
firmly in place. The world is a stage. But don't try to move
anything. You might hurt yourself, besides that's a job for
the stagehands and union rules are strict. You are merely a
player about to deliver a soliloquy on the septic system to a
couple dozen popple trees and a patch of pale blue sky.
God and Dog
By popular request! (I have received this so many times now that I am compelled to post)
BTW: I got home late the other night and the Beeze went into a tail-waggin' frenzy. As I often do, I sat on the floor with my legs in a "V". Normally Buckley charges in and sits with his head over my left shoulder and his chest pressed against mine. This time though, he charged in, bumped chests and collapsed in my lap as if to pin me down and say "You have been gone for too long, stay for a while". God is not a dawg, but I think he tries to "pin us" from time to time . . .
- Thanks Tobi!
BTW: I got home late the other night and the Beeze went into a tail-waggin' frenzy. As I often do, I sat on the floor with my legs in a "V". Normally Buckley charges in and sits with his head over my left shoulder and his chest pressed against mine. This time though, he charged in, bumped chests and collapsed in my lap as if to pin me down and say "You have been gone for too long, stay for a while". God is not a dawg, but I think he tries to "pin us" from time to time . . .
- Thanks Tobi!
Thank You Very Much
Of the wines, I prefer Red. Of the whites, I prefer Viogner. Riesling is one of my least favorites (sorry Auntie Critters!) but still preferable to a soda or glass of water. (I would rather drink a glass of Riesling with AC than a glass of red without her).
Once again, I am ahead of my time.
Once again, I am ahead of my time.
Quote of the Day
Attention family: I believe there would be a substantial increase in domestic productivity if everyone would stay in bed until there is at least some semblance of daylight outside. The reasons for being up before the crack of dawn are few, and I see no reason to repeatedly exploit them. The daddy is tired, and the mommy, moreso. Daylight Savings is coming in a week and if we persist in the whimsy of waking at, say, 4:47, when we move the clocks back an hour we will be inclined to wake at 3:47, and this is unacceptable. I understand you have teeth coming in. I hear you having the bad dream. And it appears you have wet the bed. I, too, have similar bothersome ailments. You getting me up in the middle of the night is one of them.
-TMST
-TMST
Friday, October 23, 2009
Spit Your Soda on Your Computer Screen Funny
So I avoid 1/2 dozen references to this video yesterday until a credible source (Thanks Ryan!). Recommended it.
I spit my soda all over my computer screen in a fit of laughter (maybe it was the low expectations)
Fall Movie #16
Harry Potter and the 1/2 Blood Prince
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
So Sad (*chuckle*)
Teaser:
Mr Potter has endured taunts from the public, police, phone companies and even a football referee - all because he shares a name with arguably the world's best known wizard.
Mr Potter, who was born in 1989, had eight peaceful years of being a schoolboy with a fairly ordinary name before JK Rowling released a book entitled Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, and everything changed.
Then Daniel Radcliffe, who at 20 is the same age as Mr Potter, brought the boy wizard to life and suddenly introducing himself as 'Harry Potter' became something of a minefield.
Mr Potter has endured taunts from the public, police, phone companies and even a football referee - all because he shares a name with arguably the world's best known wizard.
Mr Potter, who was born in 1989, had eight peaceful years of being a schoolboy with a fairly ordinary name before JK Rowling released a book entitled Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, and everything changed.
Then Daniel Radcliffe, who at 20 is the same age as Mr Potter, brought the boy wizard to life and suddenly introducing himself as 'Harry Potter' became something of a minefield.
The Speaker
by Louis Jenkins
The speaker points out that we don't really have much of
a grasp of things, not only the big things, the important
questions, but the small everyday things. "How many steps
up to your front door? What kind of tree grows in your
backyard? What is the name of your district representative?
What is your wife's shoe size? Can you tell me the color of your
sweetheart's eyes? Do you remember where you parked
the car?" The evidence is overwhelming. Most of us never
truly experience life. "We drift through life in a daydream,
missing the true richness and joy that life has to offer." When
the speaker has finished we gather around to sing a few
inspirational songs. You and I stand at the back of the group
and hum along since we have forgotten most of the words.
The speaker points out that we don't really have much of
a grasp of things, not only the big things, the important
questions, but the small everyday things. "How many steps
up to your front door? What kind of tree grows in your
backyard? What is the name of your district representative?
What is your wife's shoe size? Can you tell me the color of your
sweetheart's eyes? Do you remember where you parked
the car?" The evidence is overwhelming. Most of us never
truly experience life. "We drift through life in a daydream,
missing the true richness and joy that life has to offer." When
the speaker has finished we gather around to sing a few
inspirational songs. You and I stand at the back of the group
and hum along since we have forgotten most of the words.
Quote of the Day
everyone comes to New York with their head full of skyscraper pictures, most of which are taken straight on, or from impossibly romantic angles. You realize that the photos you saw were taken from someone else’s office, or penthouse, or suite, or balcony, and such views will never be yours except for a brief moment when you rent a plot in the air in a tall hotel. The moment you arrive you realize how much life is lived at ground level. That’s the way it is for everyone. You can visit the clouds, but it’s a rental.
- Lileks
- Lileks
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Fall Movie #15
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
47 Years Ago Today
Cuban Missile Crisis
In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F. Kennedy announces that U.S. spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. These missile sites--under construction but nearing completion--housed medium-range missiles capable of striking a number of major cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C. Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval "quarantine" of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place. The president made it clear that America would not stop short of military action to end what he called a "clandestine, reckless, and provocative threat to world peace."
In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F. Kennedy announces that U.S. spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. These missile sites--under construction but nearing completion--housed medium-range missiles capable of striking a number of major cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C. Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval "quarantine" of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place. The president made it clear that America would not stop short of military action to end what he called a "clandestine, reckless, and provocative threat to world peace."
And You Thought He was Building Toys the Other 364 Days of the Year . . .
“Now, some of you might be wonderin’,” he continues, “‘Why in the heck we would want to do somethin’ like this?’”
“Because we can?” guesses a middle-aged man sporting a camouflage baseball cap.
“That’s exactly right!” Wilkinson says with a mischievous smile. “It’s a whole lot of fun! People talk about the joy of sex, but it don’t last nothin’ like shootin’ anvils.”
Patience
by Kay Ryan
Patience is
wider than one
once envisioned,
with ribbons
of rivers
and distant
ranges and
tasks undertaken
and finished
with modest
relish by
natives in their
native dress.
Who would
have guessed
it possible
that waiting
is sustainable—
a place with
its own harvests.
Or that in
time's fullness
the diamonds
of patience
couldn't be
distinguished
from the genuine
in brilliance
or hardness.
Patience is
wider than one
once envisioned,
with ribbons
of rivers
and distant
ranges and
tasks undertaken
and finished
with modest
relish by
natives in their
native dress.
Who would
have guessed
it possible
that waiting
is sustainable—
a place with
its own harvests.
Or that in
time's fullness
the diamonds
of patience
couldn't be
distinguished
from the genuine
in brilliance
or hardness.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fall Movie #14
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
Quote of the Day
Our business seems to be getting a reputation, at least amongst the other sellers. We do the best work (!) but we're not the cheapest, and we're not the biggest operation out there either, so Mrs. Ditchman has a sophisticated technical breakdown of cost-averaging, or some such thing, which makes us competitive. Also, she is wicked smart and highly attractive. I installed studio lighting in our display booth that highlights and compliments her pretty hair, and the customers line right up.
- TMST
- TMST
Jammies for Joy
Technically speaking, I am in charge of the morning routine. Once Annabelle is up, (5-6am), I change her, feed her breakfast, rotate the toys as she plays in her highchair afterwards etc. I am also technically in charge of bedtime stories (typically three books). Whenever it is time to turn the page, I sort of prop the page out and Annie grabs it with gusto and flips to the next page. I love the idea that I get to "bookend" Annabelle's day.
Did I say "technically"? Well, there are 100 excuses for why I don't get to each of these everyday. Some days I have to work early so I don't have the time. Some days I am out late running errands. Some days I am cooking dinner so the wife does story time. Some days I am just too tired and worn out for either and the wife (as always) picks up my slack.
Last night I did story time: The Hungry Caterpillar, Harry the Dirty Dog and Goodnight Moon. As I read to my little jammied bundle I wondered if she would remember these times. What effect does a daddy's low, soothing voice at bedtime have? 13 years from now when she is crying because a friend did or said this, that or the other and I put my arms around her and talk quietly with her, will the sound of my voice spark some unexplainable comfort her her - subconsciously springing from these quiet, unhurried story times during infancy?
And then I see this. And I am reminded that I am a shmuck for the times that I skip out on my evening duties.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Candied Bacon Ice Cream
And lo there was much rejoicing . . .
I was pretty sure Candied Bacon Ice Cream would work. I mean, it's got salt. It's got smoke. So why not candy it? Inspired by Michael Ruhlman, l wanted to see what would happened when they all got together.
RECIPE HERE
- Thanks Sean!
I was pretty sure Candied Bacon Ice Cream would work. I mean, it's got salt. It's got smoke. So why not candy it? Inspired by Michael Ruhlman, l wanted to see what would happened when they all got together.
RECIPE HERE
- Thanks Sean!
Fall Movie #13
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Medical Update - 10/18/09
I know this is a long time coming - apologies.
When I was a child growing up in LA, we would take an annual trip to Disneyland. There was always a contest between the kids to see who could spot the tip of the Matterhorn from the freeway first.
So I mentioned in our last update that Annabelle was dealing with a pressure sore at the point of her kyphosis that was being aggravated by her body brace. At this point, Annie-Lu's skin is fully healed however the plastic surgeon who has been watching the spot closely said that we could not use the body brace until the ortho docs came up with something that does not put pressure there.
We got in to see the ortho and he basically explained that the brace was not corrective in nature. In other words, the brace was not going to make Annie's back any straighter nor would it halt any possible future progression of the kyphosis. The brace was really more for her convenience in terms of giving her more support in sitting upright.
At 14 months, Annie still does not have the trunk strength to sit unsupported. She is fine in anything with a 5-point harness (stroller, highchair) and can kick-stand it for a while by planting her hands between her knees and propping herself up.
The ortho cleared us to not use the brace and said he would like to see us again in two years, barring complications.
I asked the doc how we were eventually going to get Annie's spine straightened out (I assumed surgery once she has stopped growing) and he said that right now there really are not any options for straightening it. So that was discouraging. But we continue to have faith in God's healing, and a focus on Physical Therapy and hope for future breakthroughs in medical science.
So for know we rely on home-made foam cut-outs for padding when Annabelle is sitting with her back against something and sleeping on her tummy instead of her back. And, of course, lots of therapy workouts.
So that is that.
When I was a child growing up in LA, we would take an annual trip to Disneyland. There was always a contest between the kids to see who could spot the tip of the Matterhorn from the freeway first.
As a kid, we would see that snow capped roller coaster come into view and we knew we were THERE! WE'RE AT DISNEYLAND! Well, actually, no. We were still in the car on the Interstate. Then we would pull into the parking lot and WE WERE THERE! Well, actually, no, we were still in the car circling through the Donald Duck and Goofy parking sections. But you understand. As kids we wanted to BE THERE so badly that we started announcing our "arrival" 30 minutes before the tickets were even bought.
For months now I have been saying that we are nearing the end of the medical marathon but now it feels like we are in the magic kingdom staring down Main Street. There is nothing left but to grow at this point.
Most of our doctors are seeing us on a 6-month to yearly basis now. and we have TWO! COUNT THEM ONE - TWO. Doctor's appointments between now and February (not counting 3 therapy sessions every two weeks).
Annie's favorite finger goods are Cheerios, Kix and Veggie Straws (Costco). She seems to laugh and giggle more and more each day (as if it were even possible) and is working on her words. It seems that she has "good girl" and "dada" down fairly well if you listen closely. She has started to laugh at things on the TV that tickle her (videos to be posted eventually!).
Mobility is the next big step and I recently pulled plans off the Internet on how to make an infant wheelchair-cart-thingy out of scrap lumber (no company currently makes them). But more on that later.
As we continue to wind down this intensive time in our lives, we are hoping to give back to others coming along "behind us" for lack of a better term. We have signed up for a pilot program that Mary Birch may be starting to pair former NICU parents with current ones. There are a number of families we are in touch with and praying with who are going through high-risk pregnancies of their own. And of course, there is the SB Guide Blog and our dream for a foundation.
Thank you once again for your many prayers and support!
Introducing Hannah
Back in 2006, the wife and I were making good money. We had a mortgage and a couple of car payments and we were paying the bills. The wife drove a little zippy convertible and I drove the big dawg-haulin' SUV. On the "Cool-Car Meter" I would have probably ranked us a good solid 8 out of 10.
It was sort of funny because the wife and I are not "car people" we just wanted cars that were reliable and ended up with a couple of car payments when all was said and done. Of course the bottom dropped out of my industry and we have spent the past few years dialing back the expenses and then dialing them back more and more. First to go was my wife's zippy little car. And for a short while we had to rely on just the SUV to juggle schedules and Dr appts.
Cool Car quotient: 4 out of 10
Fortunately for us, good friends found themselves with an extra set of wheels so they gifted us their 12-year old 130k+ mile, battle worn Honda Civic complete with bubbling window tinting and peeling paint. But my goodness that baby runs. And we are very grateful.
Combined Cool-Car quotient: 5 out of 10
Next to go was the SUV. We were rightly nervous to rely just on the well worn gifted Honda but reality was reality.
Cool-Car quotient: 1 out of 10
Once again, God has provided for us and I recently took a one-way flight to Seattle to pick up the newest addition to the family. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Hannah!
She's a 1992 Pontiac with 80K+ miles giving us a combined Cool-car quotient of 4 out of 10.
She is ENORMOUS. That baby can seat 8 easy and 9 in a pinch. That's right - this van has nine separate seat belts! Not since the days of youth work have I driven a car this size.
Added bonuses: DVD player and automatic sliding door on the passenger side. Which is hilarious to us because we never imagined we would find ourselves driving a "mini" van and we would have NEVER pictured ourselves with an in-car DVD player.
I got to spend two days driving solo from Seattle to San Diego so Hannah and I got a lot of 1 on 1 time to get to know each other. She rides like a dream. I was half tempted to just sleep in the back of her, maybe watch a movie on the little screen. But I had friends in Sacramento I wanted to see so the van camping has been postponed.
Life is so surreal. A few years ago the wife and I were childless professionals, paying the bills and taking the little zippy out for topless dates. In the blink of an eye we are now parents driving a beat up civic and a hulking hauler. Combined mileage: 240k (and we plan on keepin them for 240k more!), Combined Seating: 14. Combined payments: 0. Which gives a combined cool-car-payment quotient of 10 out of 10.
Oh, and the reason we call her Hannah?
That's right baby! She's a Montana. As in Hannah Montana. A fitting name for a combined cool-car quotient of 4, don't ya think?
BTW - we couldn't be happier about it all.
PS: I don't actually even know who HM is other than she is (or was) some pre-teen pop star so I figure there must be a pretty significant dork factor (ala our HUGE people mover). I hope she hasn't killed anyone or been busted for other nasty stuff lately. If she has, don't tell me - I want go on referring to our family van as Hannah in blissful ignorance of the nightly news.
It was sort of funny because the wife and I are not "car people" we just wanted cars that were reliable and ended up with a couple of car payments when all was said and done. Of course the bottom dropped out of my industry and we have spent the past few years dialing back the expenses and then dialing them back more and more. First to go was my wife's zippy little car. And for a short while we had to rely on just the SUV to juggle schedules and Dr appts.
Cool Car quotient: 4 out of 10
Fortunately for us, good friends found themselves with an extra set of wheels so they gifted us their 12-year old 130k+ mile, battle worn Honda Civic complete with bubbling window tinting and peeling paint. But my goodness that baby runs. And we are very grateful.
Combined Cool-Car quotient: 5 out of 10
Next to go was the SUV. We were rightly nervous to rely just on the well worn gifted Honda but reality was reality.
Cool-Car quotient: 1 out of 10
Once again, God has provided for us and I recently took a one-way flight to Seattle to pick up the newest addition to the family. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Hannah!
She's a 1992 Pontiac with 80K+ miles giving us a combined Cool-car quotient of 4 out of 10.She is ENORMOUS. That baby can seat 8 easy and 9 in a pinch. That's right - this van has nine separate seat belts! Not since the days of youth work have I driven a car this size.
Added bonuses: DVD player and automatic sliding door on the passenger side. Which is hilarious to us because we never imagined we would find ourselves driving a "mini" van and we would have NEVER pictured ourselves with an in-car DVD player.
I got to spend two days driving solo from Seattle to San Diego so Hannah and I got a lot of 1 on 1 time to get to know each other. She rides like a dream. I was half tempted to just sleep in the back of her, maybe watch a movie on the little screen. But I had friends in Sacramento I wanted to see so the van camping has been postponed.
Life is so surreal. A few years ago the wife and I were childless professionals, paying the bills and taking the little zippy out for topless dates. In the blink of an eye we are now parents driving a beat up civic and a hulking hauler. Combined mileage: 240k (and we plan on keepin them for 240k more!), Combined Seating: 14. Combined payments: 0. Which gives a combined cool-car-payment quotient of 10 out of 10.
Oh, and the reason we call her Hannah?
That's right baby! She's a Montana. As in Hannah Montana. A fitting name for a combined cool-car quotient of 4, don't ya think?
BTW - we couldn't be happier about it all.
PS: I don't actually even know who HM is other than she is (or was) some pre-teen pop star so I figure there must be a pretty significant dork factor (ala our HUGE people mover). I hope she hasn't killed anyone or been busted for other nasty stuff lately. If she has, don't tell me - I want go on referring to our family van as Hannah in blissful ignorance of the nightly news.
Health Care - Part 1
According to conservative David Frum, former official in the Bush administration, the Bush administration ended up with the worst performance on record when it comes to the rise of family wages over his 8-year run. Even though employers during that time actually spent 25% MORE on their workers on average.
So why did incomes not rise by 25% - because during that same period, health care premiums doubled. The additional 25% that employers were spending per worker was absorbed all or in part by rising health care costs.
I am looking forward to episode 2!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
I Take Umbrage
WHY DOGS ARE BETTER THAN MEN
Dogs do not have problems expressing affection in public.
Dogs miss you when you're gone.
You never wonder whether your dog is good enough for you.
Dogs feel guilt when they've done something wrong.
Dogs don't brag about whom they have slept with.
Dogs don't criticize your friends.
Dogs admit when they're jealous.
Dogs do not play games with you -- except fetch (and then never laugh at how you throw).
Dogs are happy with any video you choose to rent, because they know the most important thing is that you're together.
Dogs don't feel threatened by your intelligence.
You can train a dog.
Dogs are already in touch with their inner puppies.
You are never suspicious of your dog's dreams.
Gorgeous dogs don't know they're gorgeous.
The worst social disease you can get from dogs is fleas. (OK, the *really* worst disease you can get from them is rabies, but there's a vaccine for it, and you get to kill the one that gives it to you.)
Dogs understand what "no" means.
Dogs don't need therapy to undo their bad socialization.
Dogs don't make a practice of killing their own species.
Dogs understand if some of their friends cannot come inside.
Dogs think you are a culinary genius.
You can house train a dog.
You can force a dog to take a bath.
Dogs don't correct your stories.
Middle-aged dogs don't feel the need to abandon you for a younger owner.
Dogs aren't threatened by a woman with short hair.
Dogs aren't threatened by two women with short hair.
Dogs don't mind if you do all the driving.
Dogs don't step on the imaginary brake.
Dogs admit it when they're lost.
Dogs don't weigh down your purse with their stuff.
Dogs do not care whether you shave your legs.
Dogs take care of their own needs.
Dogs aren't threatened if you earn more than they do.
Dogs mean it when they kiss you.
Dogs are nice to your relatives.
Dogs do not have problems expressing affection in public.
Dogs miss you when you're gone.
You never wonder whether your dog is good enough for you.
Dogs feel guilt when they've done something wrong.
Dogs don't brag about whom they have slept with.
Dogs don't criticize your friends.
Dogs admit when they're jealous.
Dogs do not play games with you -- except fetch (and then never laugh at how you throw).
Dogs are happy with any video you choose to rent, because they know the most important thing is that you're together.
Dogs don't feel threatened by your intelligence.
You can train a dog.
Dogs are already in touch with their inner puppies.
You are never suspicious of your dog's dreams.
Gorgeous dogs don't know they're gorgeous.
The worst social disease you can get from dogs is fleas. (OK, the *really* worst disease you can get from them is rabies, but there's a vaccine for it, and you get to kill the one that gives it to you.)
Dogs understand what "no" means.
Dogs don't need therapy to undo their bad socialization.
Dogs don't make a practice of killing their own species.
Dogs understand if some of their friends cannot come inside.
Dogs think you are a culinary genius.
You can house train a dog.
You can force a dog to take a bath.
Dogs don't correct your stories.
Middle-aged dogs don't feel the need to abandon you for a younger owner.
Dogs aren't threatened by a woman with short hair.
Dogs aren't threatened by two women with short hair.
Dogs don't mind if you do all the driving.
Dogs don't step on the imaginary brake.
Dogs admit it when they're lost.
Dogs don't weigh down your purse with their stuff.
Dogs do not care whether you shave your legs.
Dogs take care of their own needs.
Dogs aren't threatened if you earn more than they do.
Dogs mean it when they kiss you.
Dogs are nice to your relatives.
39 Down, 34 to Go . . .
I had no idea I was past my middle age - I don't even remember appreciating my crises!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Quote of the Day
I am so regularly absent-minded that I actually get angry with myself about it. Cuss-out-loud angry. Sounds silly, probably is silly, but it’s true. Late for an event the other day, I left the car running, ran up to the office for something I had forgotten, then ran out and jumped in the other car and had it started before I realized what I was doing.
This morning I put up a post about my morning radio interview and made it look like I was going to be on for 13 hours straight (caught by alert Facebookers!). I like being on the radio, but 13 hours might be an FCC violation.
On the way home from the interview I made a flying stop at a home-improvement store to buy some miscellaneous things related to house and woodshed repair. Had to go to the bathroom. Found restroom, walked in, completely overlooked the fact that there were no stand-up facilities, went into a stall, got all situated and heard ladies talking. Man, I went all cold. I was standing in there already visualizing the headlines and the security camera footage, wondering how do I make my break without somebody screaming. Waited until I could hear only one lady remaining (she was brushing her teeth), bolted past her with my face burning red, yammer-stammered some apology without slowing down (she said, “Oh, no problem!”) shot out into the store and right back into the Men’s Room, where I had myself a little quiet time, because by then, man, did I need it.
- Michael Perry on Sneezing Cow
This morning I put up a post about my morning radio interview and made it look like I was going to be on for 13 hours straight (caught by alert Facebookers!). I like being on the radio, but 13 hours might be an FCC violation.
On the way home from the interview I made a flying stop at a home-improvement store to buy some miscellaneous things related to house and woodshed repair. Had to go to the bathroom. Found restroom, walked in, completely overlooked the fact that there were no stand-up facilities, went into a stall, got all situated and heard ladies talking. Man, I went all cold. I was standing in there already visualizing the headlines and the security camera footage, wondering how do I make my break without somebody screaming. Waited until I could hear only one lady remaining (she was brushing her teeth), bolted past her with my face burning red, yammer-stammered some apology without slowing down (she said, “Oh, no problem!”) shot out into the store and right back into the Men’s Room, where I had myself a little quiet time, because by then, man, did I need it.
- Michael Perry on Sneezing Cow
Apology
by Jason Whitmarsh
That last love poem I gave you, I want to apologize for that. It was
crudely put and several of the metaphors leaned too heavily on sea
life. I love you so much more than that. The best pan of the poem
was the beginning, and that had nothing to do with you, or me,
or how much either of us loves each other. It was just a line from
another, better poem. Most of the poem sounds defensive, like I've
been accused of not loving you, or you of not loving me. Not that
I think I don't love you, or you me. I don't. Still, one could read a
poem by someone else and it'd seem more authentic—you'd be more
likely to think that poem was dedicated to you, I mean, than to think
mine was. One could even argue, too, that by studiously avoiding
your name or any identifying traits, I was making this poem fit for
more than one person, like women in general, or a second wife, or
your very attractive sister.
That last love poem I gave you, I want to apologize for that. It was
crudely put and several of the metaphors leaned too heavily on sea
life. I love you so much more than that. The best pan of the poem
was the beginning, and that had nothing to do with you, or me,
or how much either of us loves each other. It was just a line from
another, better poem. Most of the poem sounds defensive, like I've
been accused of not loving you, or you of not loving me. Not that
I think I don't love you, or you me. I don't. Still, one could read a
poem by someone else and it'd seem more authentic—you'd be more
likely to think that poem was dedicated to you, I mean, than to think
mine was. One could even argue, too, that by studiously avoiding
your name or any identifying traits, I was making this poem fit for
more than one person, like women in general, or a second wife, or
your very attractive sister.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Fall Movie #11
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
Submit your fall / back to school / Halloween Movie recommendations in the comments or e-mail to matthew.m.linden@gmail.com.
The Munchkins + 70
My grandfather was a carpenter for the movie studios.
The story goes that he and his station wagon were sent to the airport to pick up some actors coming into town for the production "The Wizard of Oz". When he got to the airport, he was greeted by 12 "munchkins" who proceeded to pile into his car. They were a rowdy and belligerent bunch. Drinkers and smokers and an absolute comedic riot. My grandfather almost died from laughter on the drive back to the studio.
Now, the munchkins 70 years later . . .
Let Love Go, If Go She Will
Robert Louis Stevenson
Let love go, if go she will.
Seek not, O fool, her wanton flight to stay.
Of all she gives and takes away
The best remains behind her still.
The best remains behind; in vain
Joy she may give and take again,
Joy she may take and leave us pain,
If yet she leave behind
The constant mind
To meet all fortunes nobly, to endure
All things with a good heart, and still be pure,
Still to be foremost in the foremost cause,
And still be worthy of the love that was.
Love coming is omnipotent indeed,
But not Love going. Let her go. The seed
Springs in the favouring Summer air, and grows,
And waxes strong; and when the Summer goes,
Remains, a perfect tree.
Joy she may give and take again,
Joy she may take and leave us pain.
O Love, and what care we?
For one thing thou hast given, O Love, one thing
Is ours that nothing can remove;
And as the King discrowned is still a King,
The unhappy lover still preserves his love.
Let love go, if go she will.
Seek not, O fool, her wanton flight to stay.
Of all she gives and takes away
The best remains behind her still.
The best remains behind; in vain
Joy she may give and take again,
Joy she may take and leave us pain,
If yet she leave behind
The constant mind
To meet all fortunes nobly, to endure
All things with a good heart, and still be pure,
Still to be foremost in the foremost cause,
And still be worthy of the love that was.
Love coming is omnipotent indeed,
But not Love going. Let her go. The seed
Springs in the favouring Summer air, and grows,
And waxes strong; and when the Summer goes,
Remains, a perfect tree.
Joy she may give and take again,
Joy she may take and leave us pain.
O Love, and what care we?
For one thing thou hast given, O Love, one thing
Is ours that nothing can remove;
And as the King discrowned is still a King,
The unhappy lover still preserves his love.
Campbell's® Easy Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas
"A creamy filling of chicken, sour cream, and cheese gets an added kick stirred into it with Pace® Picante Sauce. Rolled up in tortillas and baked until bubbly, these enchiladas couldn't be easier, or any more delicious."RECIPE HERE
What are the Odds?
I can tell you.
I searched for odds of being stung by a stingray but I guess they haven't gotten around to that one yet . . . .
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
97 Years Ago Today
Theodore Roosevelt shot in Milwaukee
Before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Theodore Roosevelt, the presidential candidate for the Progressive Party, is shot at close range by saloonkeeper John Schrank while greeting the public in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel. Schrank's .32-caliber bullet, aimed directly at Roosevelt's heart, failed to mortally wound the former president because its force was slowed by a glasses case and a bundle of manuscript in the breast pocket of Roosevelt's heavy coat--a manuscript containing Roosevelt's evening speech. Schrank was immediately detained and reportedly offered as his motive that "any man looking for a third term ought to be shot."
Before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Theodore Roosevelt, the presidential candidate for the Progressive Party, is shot at close range by saloonkeeper John Schrank while greeting the public in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel. Schrank's .32-caliber bullet, aimed directly at Roosevelt's heart, failed to mortally wound the former president because its force was slowed by a glasses case and a bundle of manuscript in the breast pocket of Roosevelt's heavy coat--a manuscript containing Roosevelt's evening speech. Schrank was immediately detained and reportedly offered as his motive that "any man looking for a third term ought to be shot."
Remembrance
Lileks had a post about attending his Uncle Myron's funeral.
Teaser:
One by one, the menfolk and the daughters and granddaughters and longtime friends get up to talk, and it didn’t take long before I remembered the thing I always forget about these events: the laughter. Story after story, punchlines, chuckles, guffaws. A good life leaves laughter in its wake; these sounds are the last waves slapping the shore.
One of the sons of the men described a night when Myron, my Dad, and some other fellows from the Harwood side of the world decided to surprise his dad with a shotgun salute on his birthday. Shotguns! At midnight! (I filed that one away to ask my dad about later.) I watched men I’d known all my life totter up with difficulty, speak in voices that lacked the punch and brio of their early incarnations. My Dad stood with ease and spoke as always; he is a stone and time is a river. When it ended the mood of the room was merry and kind, sighs and tears in the margins for the moment.
We should all be so lucky to have lived a life that give our friends and family members laughter long after we are gone . . .
Teaser:
One by one, the menfolk and the daughters and granddaughters and longtime friends get up to talk, and it didn’t take long before I remembered the thing I always forget about these events: the laughter. Story after story, punchlines, chuckles, guffaws. A good life leaves laughter in its wake; these sounds are the last waves slapping the shore.
One of the sons of the men described a night when Myron, my Dad, and some other fellows from the Harwood side of the world decided to surprise his dad with a shotgun salute on his birthday. Shotguns! At midnight! (I filed that one away to ask my dad about later.) I watched men I’d known all my life totter up with difficulty, speak in voices that lacked the punch and brio of their early incarnations. My Dad stood with ease and spoke as always; he is a stone and time is a river. When it ended the mood of the room was merry and kind, sighs and tears in the margins for the moment.
We should all be so lucky to have lived a life that give our friends and family members laughter long after we are gone . . .
Little House on the Prairie
Just heard a great segment on This American Life. It was part of their "The Book that Changed Your Life" episode that ran on 10/2.
The "Fourth Act" was all about Little House on the Prairie:
Act Four. Little Sod Houses for You and Me.
Writer Meghan Daum goes to DeSmet, South Dakota, where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived and where many of the books she wrote in the Little House on the Prairie series are set. It turns out to be remarkably similar to what Meghan had pictured before she went: The people seem like they are genuinely trying to hold on to the values Laura Ingalls Wilder writes about in her books. (15 minutes) Two of the Little House books set in DeSmet are By the Shores of Silver Lake, and Little Town on the Prairie.
I just added the books to the list I want to buy for Annie.
I would link to the show but "Act 2" is so disagreeable that I can't bring myself to provide the link.
Their general link is HERE.
If you go searching for the episode, SKIP ACT 2!
You have been warned . . . .
The "Fourth Act" was all about Little House on the Prairie:
Act Four. Little Sod Houses for You and Me.
Writer Meghan Daum goes to DeSmet, South Dakota, where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived and where many of the books she wrote in the Little House on the Prairie series are set. It turns out to be remarkably similar to what Meghan had pictured before she went: The people seem like they are genuinely trying to hold on to the values Laura Ingalls Wilder writes about in her books. (15 minutes) Two of the Little House books set in DeSmet are By the Shores of Silver Lake, and Little Town on the Prairie.
I just added the books to the list I want to buy for Annie.
I would link to the show but "Act 2" is so disagreeable that I can't bring myself to provide the link.
Their general link is HERE.
If you go searching for the episode, SKIP ACT 2!
You have been warned . . . .
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Anniversary
by Jason Whitmarsh
She says he isn't as funny as he used to be. About fifty percent as
funny, maybe less. He thinks, but doesn't say, no, it's you, you're
depressed, you don't find anyone funny anymore. She thinks, but
doesn't say, I've always been depressed. I've never found anyone
funny—except you, once.
She says he isn't as funny as he used to be. About fifty percent as
funny, maybe less. He thinks, but doesn't say, no, it's you, you're
depressed, you don't find anyone funny anymore. She thinks, but
doesn't say, I've always been depressed. I've never found anyone
funny—except you, once.
Probably the Best Insurance Commercial You Have Seen
Teaser:
How can Doris Day, the Thailand Princess Mother’s Volunteer Foundation, and a Thai insurance company combine to bring national attention to a very special school for disabled children? In this article I want to share a story that has led me to learn about The Princess Mother’s Volunteer Foundation and the Srisangwan School.
More Info Here.
How can Doris Day, the Thailand Princess Mother’s Volunteer Foundation, and a Thai insurance company combine to bring national attention to a very special school for disabled children? In this article I want to share a story that has led me to learn about The Princess Mother’s Volunteer Foundation and the Srisangwan School.
More Info Here.
217 Years Ago Today
White House cornerstone laid
The cornerstone is laid for a presidential residence in the newly designated capital city of Washington. In 1800, President John Adams became the first president to reside in the executive mansion, which soon became known as the "White House" because its white-gray Virginia freestone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings.
The cornerstone is laid for a presidential residence in the newly designated capital city of Washington. In 1800, President John Adams became the first president to reside in the executive mansion, which soon became known as the "White House" because its white-gray Virginia freestone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings.
Pod Shuffle
I came across this article in College Crunch listing "15 Podcasts that will make you smarter"> and it occurred to me that I haven't updated my podcasts in a while.
Since it doesn't look like I will have the time to run anytime soon, I dumped the running podcasts and signed up for a few more. Here is what I have on my subscription list:
- Common Sense with Dan Carlin (Newly Added)
- The Writers' Block (Newly Added)
- Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!
- Keith and the Girl (Newly Added)
- BBC NewsPod (Newly Added)
- All In The Mind (Newly Added)
- TED Talks (Newly Added)
- This American Life
- Grammer Girl
- Nancy Pearl Book Reviews
- Car Talk
- Whadda' Know?
- Stuff You Should Know
- The Moth (Newly Added)
I haven't yet listened to any of the "Newly Added" podcasts so I can't vouch for them. What about you? What's on your podcast list?
Since it doesn't look like I will have the time to run anytime soon, I dumped the running podcasts and signed up for a few more. Here is what I have on my subscription list:
- Common Sense with Dan Carlin (Newly Added)
- The Writers' Block (Newly Added)
- Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!
- Keith and the Girl (Newly Added)
- BBC NewsPod (Newly Added)
- All In The Mind (Newly Added)
- TED Talks (Newly Added)
- This American Life
- Grammer Girl
- Nancy Pearl Book Reviews
- Car Talk
- Whadda' Know?
- Stuff You Should Know
- The Moth (Newly Added)
I haven't yet listened to any of the "Newly Added" podcasts so I can't vouch for them. What about you? What's on your podcast list?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Seeing is Not Always Believing
First of all, this is beautiful.
Second of all, do you notice anything missing? That's right. No strumming.
I had no idea you could make a guitar sing like this - even as I watch I find it hard to believe and I am reminded that there is a whole lot of stuff out there that I just don't know a thing about.
Enjoy!
Second of all, do you notice anything missing? That's right. No strumming.
I had no idea you could make a guitar sing like this - even as I watch I find it hard to believe and I am reminded that there is a whole lot of stuff out there that I just don't know a thing about.
Enjoy!
When Earth's Last Picture is Painted
by Rudyard Kipling
When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it -- lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew!
And those that were good shall be happy: they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets' hair;
They shall find real saints to draw from -- Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all!
And only the Master shall praise us, and only the Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They Are!
When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it -- lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew!
And those that were good shall be happy: they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets' hair;
They shall find real saints to draw from -- Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all!
And only the Master shall praise us, and only the Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They Are!
This day in History
517 Years Ago Today
Columbus reaches the New World
After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island, believing he has reached East Asia. His expedition went ashore the same day and claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, who sponsored his attempt to find a western ocean route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia.
199 Years Ago Today
The origin of Oktoberfest
Bavarian Crown Prince Louis, later King Louis I of Bavaria, marries Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The Bavarian royalty invited the citizens of Munich to attend the festivities, held on the fields in front of the city gates. These famous public fields were named Theresienwiese--"Therese's fields"--in honor of the crown princess; although locals have since abbreviated the name simply to the "Wies'n." Horse races in the presence of the royal family concluded the popular event, celebrated in varying forms all across Bavaria.
Columbus reaches the New World
After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island, believing he has reached East Asia. His expedition went ashore the same day and claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, who sponsored his attempt to find a western ocean route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia.
199 Years Ago Today
The origin of Oktoberfest
Bavarian Crown Prince Louis, later King Louis I of Bavaria, marries Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The Bavarian royalty invited the citizens of Munich to attend the festivities, held on the fields in front of the city gates. These famous public fields were named Theresienwiese--"Therese's fields"--in honor of the crown princess; although locals have since abbreviated the name simply to the "Wies'n." Horse races in the presence of the royal family concluded the popular event, celebrated in varying forms all across Bavaria.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
If I Gave Up
by Kelly-Anne Riess
I would have followed you
to Edmonton
found a job waitressing babysitting
even though I have three degrees
a temporary fix
while you finished school
near mountains where you climb
I wish I'd known you
when you didn't know what you wanted
then maybe you would've followed me to the Peg
I could never live in Manitoba you said
would feel bad if I gave up
anything for you
so you ended it
even so you couldn't stay away
visited me every summer
until she moved in
after graduation you went up north
how's that better than Winnipeg
you work 20 days on
fly down to her on days off
it could be me
I would have followed you
to Edmonton
found a job waitressing babysitting
even though I have three degrees
a temporary fix
while you finished school
near mountains where you climb
I wish I'd known you
when you didn't know what you wanted
then maybe you would've followed me to the Peg
I could never live in Manitoba you said
would feel bad if I gave up
anything for you
so you ended it
even so you couldn't stay away
visited me every summer
until she moved in
after graduation you went up north
how's that better than Winnipeg
you work 20 days on
fly down to her on days off
it could be me
Look out Spielberg
As I have mentioned before, the wife works out with Annabelle twice a day most days. They sprawl out on the bed and work on sitting up and rolling and crawling from one end of the bed to the other. The wife makes it hard but fun for Annie and there is usually a lot of grunting amidst more laughter than tears.
A while back the wife took some photos of Annie during a workout and I thought they were cute and wanted to post them but I couldn't think of any snappy captions other than, "Hey look at my cute kid". So I decided to try my hand at making a video with them.
I used whatever stock program came with the laptop (Microsoft something or other). It took me longer than it should have but I got it done quicker than I expected. I think I could slap it together in half the time next go-round. It was more fun than I expected so maybe we will be putting more of these together in the future.
Anyway, here is my half-baked-first-attempt at stitching together a video (I tried to test drive as many transitions and effects as I could - really, I was just trying to get the pictures to end the same time as the music). Oh, all the photos are from the same workout session but I dropped in a video from another workout just so I could figure out how to do it so that is why the outfits change (as if it matters).
Enjoy!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Winesh Country
The Temecula Valley is our local "Wine Country". It's not as well-known as Napa of course, it's not as nice as Paseo Robles and the wine isn't as good as Santa Barbara, but it is a two hour drive from home - which makes it the best Wine Country around!
Freshly crushed grapes!:
This winery cleverly wrote all sorts of little wine factoids on their barrels in chalk:
We claimed the table in the lower left for our grand picnic!
If you are interested in checking out our winesh country, go to http://www.temeculawines.org/
Friends of ours are members of a Temecula Winery wine club and they drive out every few months or so to pick up their latest shipment. We tagged along a few weeks back and had a great time.
We stopped in at 3-4 wineries but the highlight of the day for me was lunch! When I think of an ideal afternoon, not much beats a picnic lunch with sandwiches, good friends and a bottle or two of the grape.
We also found a couple of workable spots for a round of Bocce ball so we will have to bring the Bocce set along next time!
Picnic tables in the middle of the vines:
Freshly crushed grapes!:
This winery cleverly wrote all sorts of little wine factoids on their barrels in chalk:
We claimed the table in the lower left for our grand picnic!
Love and Marriage
In the past two years the wife and I have had three couples very close to us go through marital upheaval (that's not including the wife and I BTW so I guess that makes 4 total). One set of friends salvaged their marriage, one set divorced and the third set of friends appears to be headed towards divorce unless something changes.
When news of the last one hit, I found myself on my hands and knees on the back deck in tears. All six of the people involved are dearly loved by us and it hurts so much to see those you love go through such tremendous pain. There is no taking sides – and no winners.
Of course I haven’t written about it because it isn’t my story to tell. Goodness knows that in the past 18 years the wife and I have had our dark days so on a certain level, I am not one to talk.
Also in the interest of full partial disclosure, I am now the approximate age that my parents were when they gave birth to me and then my younger brother. My parents split when I was 9 years old and as I now stand beside my daughter’s crib, I am seeing my parent’s breakup in a whole new light – and it is not favorable - so I have an axe that is loudly crying out for grinding.
CS Lewis has a great book entitled The Four Loves. I will paraphrase one of his concepts: My friend Evan brings a certain element of my personality out that no one else does. When Evan and I are with a group of friends, they not only experience the me that they bring out, they experience the me that Evan brings out in me. Other people get a fuller me because of Evan. Should Evan disappear, our friends not only lose Evan, they lose the part of me that only Evan can bring out. That is one of the reasons the idea of heaven is so wonderful – everyone experiencing a fuller me-ness and you-ness by virtue of those gathered there.
All our intimate friends have that effect on us and I would go so far as to say there is a unique dimension of this that occurs between married couples. When a couple close to us splits, we lose that beautiful portion of our lives that only those two people as a married couple could bring out. In my opinion, when a couple close to us splits – it is no more a private decision and action than the wedding ceremony itself was. Divorce effects hosts of people and the pain is magnified by the love and sense of loss of the couple, their children (if any), their friends and family.
I am not trying to make anyone feel badly about anything.
Please understand, I am sure that someone "out there" who has experienced divorce will read this and my heart truly goes out to you for the pain and difficulty you have endured. I am just making a feeble attempt at giving voice to a side of divorce that I have never heard anyone speak of but which I felt so acutely that not-so-long-ago evening on the back deck.
Michael Chabon has a new book out entitled, Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father and Son.
In the NPR interview, he reads one of his essays that seems to capture a sense of what I am trying to say. It is a beautifully written piece and worth your time.
Michael Chabon has a new book out entitled, Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father and Son.
In the NPR interview, he reads one of his essays that seems to capture a sense of what I am trying to say. It is a beautifully written piece and worth your time.
The essay is what got me thinking about all this and prompted me to post about the subject.
While I may never understand how someone could leave a child, I do have a measure of understanding when it comes to the pain and difficulties of marriage. I am against divorce as a rule but I can certainly see how people find themselves there.
While I may never understand how someone could leave a child, I do have a measure of understanding when it comes to the pain and difficulties of marriage. I am against divorce as a rule but I can certainly see how people find themselves there.
I don't plan on writing about this subject again but before I hit the "Publish" button I am reminded of a story my father-in-law told me regarding his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. He asked his dad what the secret was – how did they stay married all those years. The answer:
“Son, sometimes we stayed married just because we said we would.”
Sometimes keeping a marriage together means saying, "We are unhappy right now - I hope we will once again be happy in the future - but I would rather be unhappy with you than happy without you."
Sometimes keeping a marriage together means saying, "We are unhappy right now - I hope we will once again be happy in the future - but I would rather be unhappy with you than happy without you."
And now if you will excuse me, I will take to heart to axiom, "Physician, heal thyself . . ."
Friday, October 9, 2009
Google Voice
So I came across Google Voice a while back and submitted my request to sign up. It took a couple weeks but today I received my new Google Voice phone number and so far, it pretty much rocks.
First of all, you get to choose your area code and then you get to search for a number you want. You can even punch in keywords to search for. After a number of different tries, I settled on a phone number that includes “Mat”.
Why google voice? Let me tell you all about it.
Let’s say you have a business phone(s) and a personal phone(s) – you don’t want to be getting business calls on one and personal calls on the other. Now you just give out one phone # to EVERYONE. You can set up GV to route all your business calls to your office phone. You can set it to route all your personal calls to your home phone. You can even set it to have calls from your family ring both you and your wife’s cell phones. The combinations are limitless.
Beyond that, if you don’t pick up the call, it will go to your Google Voicemail. You can customize the greetings that different callers receive. For instance your business calls will get your business voice mail message while friends will get your personal voice mail message. Again, the combinations are limitless.
You can mark certain callers to ALWAYS go to voice mail (they will hear a phone ringing but your actual phone won’t ring). You can also mark certain callers as "Spam" so that they can never get through to you and all their messages are deleted just like spam e-mail.
If you miss a call, you can dial in to GV to hear the person’s voice message as they are leaving it.
All voice mails are converted to e-mail and sent to your e-mail box where you can read a transcript or punch a button and hear the message on your computer. Of course you can dial in to get your messages like any other phone. This means you can also forward voice mails via e-mail.
Have a business website? You can import a call widget so that prospective customers can just click your webpage and call you (your phone # remains protected until you choose to provide the client with it).
So there it is – since I haven’t given anyone my # yet, I haven’t really got it running full blast but I did leave myself a voice mail to check it out. Works pretty good I think.
Oh, and the cost? ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Google Voice, man - I am pretty sure it is awesome.
UPDATE: That voice mail I left for myself? The transcript was automatically send to my phone as a text message. That's way cool.
UPDATE - DAY 2: So checking voice mails in an issue for me. When life gets busy, I have been known to go weeks without checking it. Anyone that really knows me is going to e-mail me anyway. With GV, all my vm are right there in my e-mail box so I am constantly checking my vm by default - and that's probably a good thing as well . . .
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Mr.Mom - Day 3 (Part 2)
So mommy is home now and all is set aright. But this past Saturday before mommy returned, Annabelle and I went to Sea World.
We took our seats in Shamu stadium for the show and one of the wet-suited whale trainers came out and proudly reminded the 3000 or so guests that Sea World salutes our members of the military and she asked all current or former members of the military to please stand along with their families. The place went wild with applause.
In fact, I gave in to my OCD tendency and did something I have never done at a theme park before because it is just plain crazy (but have always wanted to). I took out a pen and traced my route on the map so I knew exactly where I had been and what I had not seen.
You can barely see the black pen-line on the back of the map - I know, craaaazy.
UPDATE: I just heard on the radio that Sea World has been sold to the same folks who own Lego Land up the coast from here. Let's hope they keep some of the same policies of welcoming our men and women in uniform.
I didn't take a camera but I did have my cell phone with me.
It was a great opportunity since Annie gets in free and with the wife out of town we only had to pay for one ticket (mine) and for a half-dozen different reasons, my ticket was discounted.
We got to the park at about 8:45am and as I was standing in line at the ticket booth, the loud speaker came to life, welcoming all the guests and requesting that we all pause for the National Anthem. Then the music kicked in. "Nice" I thought to myself, only, "Where is the flag?" A lady in line in front of me with a US Marines sweatshirt turned towards me with her hand on her heart and stared over my left shoulder. The flag was behind me.
As we all turned and stood there paying our respects, it seemed sort of like a throw back. It reminded me of a time when TV only had 3 channels and they all signed off at the end of the day with the national anthem - a video of old glory waving and then color bars until 6am.
I was also reminded of Mrs Cunningham's (who I had my first crush on) 2nd grade class where the pledge was always followed by the entire class singing 2-3 patriotic songs.
Once the last strains of the national anthem faded, the ticket counters resumed business. When I got to the ticket counter, I saw a sign that said all active military members get in free. Seriously. Really. Cool.
Once in the park, first stop was the Shamu tank.
We took our seats in Shamu stadium for the show and one of the wet-suited whale trainers came out and proudly reminded the 3000 or so guests that Sea World salutes our members of the military and she asked all current or former members of the military to please stand along with their families. The place went wild with applause.
The cameras panned the crowd and images of men and women old and young flashed on the jumbo trons. One well built man in his thirties stood tall, cradling an infant daughter, as his wife stood next to him, her arms wrapped around him with tears of pride and gratitude streaming down her face. It seemed a small payment for all that this military family had sacrificed.
(BTW - I just stumbled upon this story - It's worth a look)
And the Shamu show was great too. Annie slept on my shoulder through most of it.
Annabelle is now old enough that she really clues in to the animals - especially the aquariums which are typically bright tanks of colorful fish in darkened buildings.
One of the great things about taking Annie solo to the park was I got to go and see and do everything I wanted without having to worry about this person being hungry or that person wanting to find a bathroom or the other person who wants to see this but not that. It was the first time I have ever been to Sea World and felt like I got to see the whole place.
In fact, I gave in to my OCD tendency and did something I have never done at a theme park before because it is just plain crazy (but have always wanted to). I took out a pen and traced my route on the map so I knew exactly where I had been and what I had not seen.
You can barely see the black pen-line on the back of the map - I know, craaaazy.
As we rounded the park, we came upon the Clydesdale stables. That's right, Sea World keeps a stable full of Clydesdales al-la the ad campaign.
The stables were beautiful. Fully functional and immaculate. Annie and I took a picture with one of the horses but the photo turned out far too accurate in terms of my mid-section so we saved $18 by not buying the 5X6.
Next to the stables is the beer hall. The last time I was there, they were giving away free samples. This time around, the beer hall was close to empty and the marble counters were manned by old-timers - 3 men and 1 woman, seemingly all over 70.
"Last time I was here, they were giving the beer away for free . . . " I inquired hopefully.
"Not since February" said one barkeep, "We couldn't make enough money!" Said another. They all laughed at the well-worn quip.
"Yeah, but you had customer loyalty!" I replied.
"Yeah, that was the problem!" another old-timer replied.
I bought a beer just because of the exchange and settled at a table outside.
Just outside the beer hall is a display of flags - all flags from military units in the Armed Forces.
Also just outside the beer hall was a Sea World guide giving directions to people who needed it. He was in a wheelchair.
Budweiser is not my beer. But as I sat there in the sun, and thought about the national anthem that morning, the fact that military people get in free, the honorifics bestowed at the start of the Shamu show, and the paraplegic docent, my eyes fell upon the AHB logo on my plastic cup of hops and barely and it gave me pause.
Sea World wasn't making any political statements. But everywhere you went they simply stated, "This is The United States of America, and we are proud." It made me proud to be there in a way.
Sea World wasn't making any political statements. But everywhere you went they simply stated, "This is The United States of America, and we are proud." It made me proud to be there in a way.It was a beautiful and wonderful day start to finish. Mostly because Annabelle slept draped over my shoulder during the Pet's Rule and Shamu shows - the most time I have ever gotten to hold her continuously. Secondly because the park is great. But the finisher was the Americana of it all. It wasn't a Disneyland main-street-theme-park-sort-of-patina-of-Americana (nothing against Disneyland). It was real-life Americana, unapologetically proud.
UPDATE: I just heard on the radio that Sea World has been sold to the same folks who own Lego Land up the coast from here. Let's hope they keep some of the same policies of welcoming our men and women in uniform.
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