Obama, the great orator...

D-day...

I forgot to post something about D-day on the 6th. This should make up for it. It kind of melds my love of the military with my disdain for the media. It is a news report on D-day from todays's media. A little amateurish but too true. At 7:00 minutes plus it is long too but worth the watch.

Good Saturday...

Woke up. Got out of bed. Dragged the comb across my head. (piano solo) Sorry a little Beatles there. Sometimes I can't help myself.

I did wake up though. Got a sample of pool water and was off to the pool store with Madison and Ian in tow. I had seen an advertisement for a water treatment that sold me on one picture alone. It was of 6 pools. 5 of which looked absolutely disgusting, green and slimy not unlike my bathtub in college...

relax, I roomed with an army guy and an ex football player. I don't think you could have found more testosterone in one area anywhere in the country. It was all bills paid. The AC was so low you could hang meat. Thanks to the army guy, my bathroom was so clean you could eat off of it. The two nuggets of wisdom I took from him were 1. use Mennens Skin Bracer to clean the grout in the bathroom. That stuff was lethal. And 2. Always iron your shoulders. You can tell a guy who knows how to iron by how his shirt shoulders look...back to the ad...

while one pool looked prisitne. The 6 pools had their pumps turned off for 3 months and no chemicals were added. I spoke with the rep of the company because I happen to work for a pool company so I had access and he said the pic was legit. Well, I was sold. So I picked some up. Reasonable price and relatively easy application. One problem. The stuff congealed in one corner of the pool and I for the life of me can't get it out of there. The sheet they gave me, this is the pool store my company owns mind you, said to add a gallon of acid and then 10-13 lbs of Endure, that's the name of the treatment, until the treatment was all gone. This was a total of 3 1/2 gallons of acid and 45 lbs of Endure. Just what they wrote on the sheet. I did just as the sheet said. I got the blob.

I'm sure I'm not the first one to get a blob. But this is my first blob so, I am none too happy. It could be eating away my plaster. It could be damaging my equipment. It could be plotting to steal my car. I don't know! It is just a little unsettling knowing there could be the makings of a bad '50's horror movie taking over the backyard. I am debating to call the store managers phone to ask if this is normal. Heck it would be nice to actually disturb someone at home on a Sunday without it being me. Being in IT, home calls at all hours are a bad side effect. I'll keep you posted.

Visited my parents last night. It was great. Madison and Ian blew bubbles. Grandma always has bubbles. Reagan was very good. Hung out until she got tired and went to sleep. Mom made a great meal of chicken and asparagus and potaotoes and her chocolate pie for dessert. That pie is awesome. The conversation is always lively especially when it turns to politics. I shudder to think what it would be like if Dad and I weren't both conservatives.

We talked of life and love and religion. Raising kids. Retirement. My weight. Their weight. Fun stuff. Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful night. And a wonderful life.

What the...

There’s a wind advisory today, which explains the italics. It’s difficult for letters to stand upright in the face of this sort of gale. The gusts will continue through the evening, eventually pushing the entire Metro area .000025 inches to the northeast. Adjust your

Ah. Temporary respite. Adjust your GPS locators accordingly.

Keeping a pool clean or an umbrella table upright in this wind is virtually impossible. So I've resigned myself to constantly sweeping out the pool while in it and watching the table so it doesn't fly over the fence and damage the cars.

I'm flicking through the channels last night, as men tend to do, and I come across a new show on CBS called "Swingtown". I pushed the info button and found out this was a show set in 1976...

Aside: Why is it all the shows not set in present day are set in the 60's or 70's? I mean come on. There were other eras that could be used for TV don't you think? The baby boomers need to retire and get out of the way. They look at the 60's and 70's as a time of nirvana where everyone lived free and did what was good for them. If it feels good do it, that's their mantra. Actually, I guess it was Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll which is pretty much the same thing as if it feels good do it. When are they going to realize they, the baby boomers and their ilk, were the worst thing to ever happen to this country. It is no coincidence when they started to marginalize the traditional family and its values the abortion, divorce and crime rate all started to increase. I digress. End of aside.

in an upscale Chicago suburb. A family moves in from somewhere, I don't remember, and they are pursued by another couple to become swingers. Swingers!?! I turned to Kelly and said "What the?" Shouldn't that be something that should be on cable not network television?

It is becoming much more evident that it's time to unplug the boob tube, except during UCLA football games, and start attending more dance performances. I hear there is an up and comer named Reagan who must be seen to be believed.

New pictures. Just days old...

Night night...

Going to bed around our house is getting to be a chore. Reagan is fine and Madison is OK but Ian, oy vey! The other night I put him down at 9:00 and he finally fell asleep at 10:45. He just keeps getting up form his bed. I will tuck him in and sit outside his door. He usually comes out 3 to 4 times and I keep putting him back in his bed. A side note: What he does when he sees me is very cute. Picture a movie where a guy needs to look around a corner at someone. He will peer out from behind the corner in a very slow constant motion. When that someone turns in the guys direction, he very suddenly pulls himself back behind the corner. A very quick jerky motion. When Ian peers out from behind the corner he is moving...very...slowly...our eyes meet...he retreats behind the wall...in the same...slow...movement. Funny stuff.

Where was I. Oh yes, after a few minutes he doesn't come out so I go downstairs. A few minutes later here he comes around the corner all smiles.

"Ian, back to bed please."

"Mi-mohw"

"No Mickey Mouse it's bed time"

"Na"

"No snack it's bed time. Come on."

"OK. Nigh Nigh Mommy"

Then it's off to bed again. At least though we don't have to go through his ritual again. It consists of holding his hand as we walk up the stairs so he can take the steps one at a time with only one foot like I do. Turning on his light. Putting in his music which consists of "The Wheels on the Bus", complete with hand gestures and "La Bamba" complete with dance steps. During the songs he will take his cars and run them along the top of the dresser. He will play the xylophone and yell out the colors and he will look at a Wiggles book. Now, we tried to nip this in the bud but tantrums commenced and picking your battles was our motto.

I'm sure the novelty of getting out of bed will eventually wear off and he'll just go to sleep. In the mean time, we are so freaking tired and it is so late we have no choice but to go to bed.

It would be nice to talk with my wife again. Anybody talked to her lately? How's she doing? She's a great gal. I hope she's OK.

And so it begins...

I took Madison to her first "practice" last night. I have it in parentheses because it wasn't really a practice but an introduction to soccer class. She had a blast. There were only 4 students in the class, 2 girls and 2 boys. They learned how to dribble the ball and play a little defense. They even played a little scrimmage with everyone scoring a goal. And not because they let everyone score, it just happened that way. Naturally. Imagine that.

This was a fine place to do some observing. I don't care what anyone says boys and girls are different. Sure you may get a few exceptions but as the old saying goes they just prove the rule. The observation behind this keen psychological perception happened when the ball dropped for the scrimmage. The boys took off running, kicking, grabbing; doing what boys do. The girls stood statue still and watched the boys run like wild men. With a little encouragement from the coach, they decided to participate. They eventually got into it and had fun. It's the initial response that tickled me. Boys jump right in with both feet. Girls wait to see if the boys get hurt then make up their minds. I have always said, and Kelly will attest to this, I think girls on average are smarter than boys. I don't think that changes much when they become ladies and gentlemen either.

I see the difference everyday in Madison and Ian. At least once a day, Madison will come to us and tell us Ian is hitting her. We will tell Ian to stop hitting her and they will continue to play. Of course, he doesn't and we eventually begin to take away privileges or separate them. I always think to myself, if Madison, who is twice as big as Ian, just hauled off and belted him one I'll bet it would discourage him from hitting her in the future. She doesn't do it. The demure takes back seat to the delinquent.

See she's smarter than I already.

Reagan continues to be the perfect baby. Honestly. She rarely gets sick. (Knocking on wood) She eats very well. She is happy most of the time. She sleeps through the night. Her one flaw is that she wants to be held all of the time, if you can call that a flaw. I'm guessing in about 13 years I will be looking back on this time and the flaw I so nonchalantly call it will become my most endearing memory of my little missy.

That and her smile. And her eyes. And her laugh. And the way she rolls on the floor. And the way she smells after a bath. And the way she grabs my beard when I feed her. And the way she smiles at me when I get home from work. And her babbling. And her drooling. And her hand when it squeezes my finger. And her little feet. And her crazy hair. There's more but you get the idea.

A night out...

Kelly and I went to a wonderful dance performance last night. It was quite eclectic in its interpretation. While mostly classical ballet, it had brilliant moments of modern dance, tap, some jazz-ish infusion and there was definitely a latin overtone that could be seen in the flashes of the Rumba, Mambo, Salsa and Cha-Cha.

I think the most striking aspect of the performance was the stark contrast of the two performers. One had grace and elegance, performing arabesques', jete's, plie's and soubresauts to rival the masters. She clearly had studied at the finest schools and it showed. She was refinement personified. At the end of the performance she asked the audience to name a ballet move and she would then perform it for us. It was quite helpful to us novices who did not know the vernacular.

The other performer had what can only be described as a raw energy. His moves were sudden and purposeful. Forceful. He commanded the stage when he danced. One particular move was quite unique; he would, during the course of his performance, fall to the ground at no pre-determined point and get right back up and continue his dance. It was very exciting to watch his interpretation of the music and watch how it took him places I wish I could go.

The music was mostly Vivaldi, Bach and Beethoven. The biggies. Yes. All in all it was one of the most enjoyable evenings I have ever spent. Spending time with my beautiful bride while watching two of the greatest dancers I have ever seen display their talents. If they ever come to your town be sure to make a date to see them.

Their names?

Madison and Ian Pfaffenberger.

Small ode to 2 legends...

The greatest thing about "The Carol Burnett Show" was Harvey never keeping a straight face around Tim Conway.

I saw Bo Diddley in Ft Worth on the U2 Joshua Tree tour. He was 60 and he was awesome.

RIP, gentlemen.

Same old same old...

We had a good weekend. Pretty uneventful. Kelly, Madison and Reagan went to Kelly's cousin's daughter's graduation from high school on Friday night. Fun was had by all. They didn't get home until about 12:45. It's all par for the course for her side of the family. If there are at least 2 of them in a room at one time, it is a rule they must go out to eat. Well, there were over 20 of them on Friday so you do the math.

Ian and I stayed home. Boys night in watching Cars and Monsters or as Ian calls them, "A Queen" and "Sully and My". We had a good time too.

I really want to get to know my son. He seems like a cool kid. Not unlike his old man. He will have none of it however. He likes to do his own thing. He'll give a hug and kiss when asked but as for sitting down and discussing the events of the day, not so much.

Saturday was spent in the pool. 3 times for Ian and Madison. Twice for me and once for Kelly. In the winter, sometimes I question why I had the pool put in. In the summer, I never do. It was a great investment. If you don't have one, get one. (Hint. Hint.)

Sunday I went to a movie with my Godson Craig, my brother Mike's boy. We saw Iron Man. It was good. You have to get by all of the liberal preaching but you have to do that in every movie nowadays. Robert Downey Jr is a good actor. Too bad his life was such a mess. He is making something of a comeback and good for him. I hope he put his troubles behind him. We could use another good actor.

All in all another fun, relaxing, enjoyable weekend in this greatest nation on God's green earth.