Happy Birthday

Today is Wifey’s birthday. If she wants anyone to know her age; she can tell you. I am not stepping into that pit.

So to my wife whom I love dearly:

Happy Birthday Dear One

Notice I did not type “Happy Birthday Deer One.” That would be Cernunnos the hunt master of the Wild Hunt. The antlered god collecting lost souls and wayward forest travelers in his endless hunt for the white stag of life. Relentlessly pushing his Wild Hunt to pursue the albine hart until all mortal recollection of a previous ephemeral existence is obliterated by the need to endlessly pursue. All matters mortal lost to the forced hunt. But that would be foolish to wish an endless one a happy birthday for Cernunnos has no birth or death, only pursuit. Eternal following has no beginning or end, Cernunnos was not begat on the 7th of May. Cernunnos hunts. Cernunnos hunted. Cernunnos will hunt.

Of course the Wild Hunt should not be confused with Ghost Riders in the Sky, for whilst the Ghost Riders will entrance wayward cowboys into their endless cattle drive across the sky, the Wild Hunt travels along the ground and not through the clouds. I can understand why one might make that mistake.

Ummm… anyway. Happy Birthday, Wifey. I wish you many more

To recap:
I still need to find a way to see Iron Man
Transcription from this morning:
Me: Gimme a hug and kiss before I go to work
Little Man: OK!
/hug /kiss
Me: You be good today, have a good day, Punkin
LM: Have a good day, Snakey
Me: ….?
Soooo much to do with sooo little time
Listening to Blur’s Song 2 their self titled album Blur

Three Things

Three Things--

Thing the First: Having Gaelic ancestry, I find it necessary to have something O’bligatory in the blog about Saint Patrick’s Day. The interesting thing about St Patrick’s day is that there weren’t really any snakes in Ireland before he got there anyway. His accomplishment of ridding the Emerald Isle of snakes* is akin to my glorious accomplishment of removing the hippos from Columbus, Ohio. While both statements are true, they are a bit misleading, well, except the one about me getting rid of the hippos in Columbus, Ohio. I can fuck a hippo up, yo!**

Thing the Second: Little Man is a flipping brilliant artist. Seriously, the stuff he paints is really really good. They would be artistic genius if what he put on paper was even remotely intentional. Seriously, if he were a 58 year old white artiste going by the moniker Bello, and his paintings were 4’ x 6’ he would be opening to sold out gallery shows every weekend.

Exhibit the First: Composition in Yellow

Exhibit the Second: Study in Contrast

Exhibit the Third: Gurple

Seriously, artist types would eat babies to be able to throw together compositions like these. If there were any intention behind his actions, I am positive that he could be considered an artistic genius. Even as a parent who is smitten by his excellence, I understand that he is just having fun and it happens to be with a brush laden with paint.

If he were an 85 year old woman with a 5th grade education, he would be rolling in the money with these paintings.

Thing the Third: SWEET JEBUS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER KID REALLY FRIKKIN’ SOON!!!!1111!!!elevnty one11!!

Every once and a while that thought just seems to creep into my head.

To Recap:
The U.C. T-shirt Shoppe is open and ready for business
I will have no idea what to do if I actually see one of these shirts on someone I don’t know
If you see something and would like it in a different format, let me know
I can modify stuff
Umm… I meant to say that sales are skyrocketing and you should all get at least 3 t’s before they have to shut down the shop for clogging up the Internet
I constructed a new filing cabinet system for Wifey
It was part of her spoils from the Ikea hunting trip
Wifey is happy when she is filing

*I understand that the serpents in Ireland were in fact the serpentine tattoos associated with druids. In this case “Ridding the isle of snakes” means “got rid of the pesky druids.”

**Proper equipment is necessary

Digital Thursday

Over at the Ten Ton Studios forums the most recent Sketch Challenge was a Spiderman nemesis. This nemesis is Kraven the Hunter. In one of the posts someone explained Kraven’s costume thusly:

It's like Siegfreid and Roy meets WWE in a gay bar bar for drinks!

That person is very correct. Kraven’s costume consists of an open vest, leopard print tights, and ballet slippers. Later on someone mentioned something about Freddie Mercury, and I couldn’t get the image out of my mind.

So for all of you who have ever wondered:

Well, here is your answer.


To recap:
I thought about dropping Queen lyrics all over the recap, but decided against it
Instead, tell me your favorite Queen song in the comments
Mine is Flash Gordon
He saved everyone of us Oh-Oh
Happy Valentine's Day
Have a great weekend everyone

MLK Day FTW

As the white father of a biracial kid, MLK Day has entirely more meaning for me now than it did before. I want my boy to be able to grow up with the only barriers presented to him being those barriers Wifey and I gave him or he created on his own. I don’t want cultural and societal barriers to give him a ceiling that cannot rise beyond. I do not want him to doubt his abilities because there is an inherent cultural bias against the genealogical make-up of the blood in his veins. I want him to doubt in his abilities because I never let him win a game of skill until he is 17. I have fervent hopes that he be disregarded for an opportunity because of his inordinate fear of spiders and not the color of his skin. When he crashes out of law school, I don’t want it to be because of racist professors who see him as “less than.” He should crash out because of his over developed startle reflex. Basically, I want his own sense of crippling self doubt to be his downfall, not the inferiority imposed upon him by bigots. As a father or a biracial child, is that so much to ask?

Luckily there is a bit of a turn in societal issues and cultural morays such that economic status now holds significant weight in the amount of ridicule and antagonism heaped upon children. I can’t say that it trumps race as an “ism,” but classism is definitely on the rise in the US. Sure this helps my little bi-racial middle class boy out, but it really fucks the poor black kids. I am sure they are poor and black for a reason though, so I guess all is how it should be. I have the self satisfaction of being able to look down on the mewling poor thinking (sometimes to myself, sometimes not) “At least Little Man isn’t one of those poor bastards.” Can you believe that I think that without even knowing the marital status of those kids’ parents? It really is a big assumption on my part, but I go with it, because that is the kind of guy that I am.

Anyway… the US Government has not recognized a martyr for the rights of the poor yet (but I do believe they have some targets, ummm… targeted {get it? “Martyrs?” “Targets?” I am incredibly punny), so I am going to refocus this post back to the issue at hand: How the southern states could only pass this day as a holiday by including Robert E Lee into the day’s celebrations. Yep, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississsisisiisisisisiisiisppii, could only pass the legislation to make today a holiday by having the Civil War Confederate general as a reason to celebrate. So in The South, this is an ambivalent holiday at best. While they celebrate fighting the established racist laws and society they also celebrate the fight against the tyranny of the federal stance on human ownership. The irony is kind of deliciously ironic in a moronic sort of way. One would think that the bigot legislatures could have just Jim Crowed up some lazy stereotypes and made it into a satirical holiday celebrating how the brown man needs extra time off whilst Whitey doesn’t. Something so nuanced as social satire is typically lost on bigots though. Unbridled irrational hate tends to blur the lines of sarcasm, and really that is where the sadness truly lies.

To recap:
Painted the new addition this weekend
Cabinets are being delivered this week
Appliances the following week
Now all we need is countertops
20 Questions Tuesday is tomorrow
More motivational topics
Too much sarcasm and satire?
Just enough?
Not enough?
Let me know

20 Questions Tuesday: 74 - Holiday Season Part 2

Here it is the long awaited return of the Holiday season 20 Questions Tuesday. Sure the season is mostly over, but that doesn’t mean I can’t answer questions about it.

Thanks this week go to Sassyfrass, jw, and Peefer. I came up with some questions of my own to fill out the 20.

Here we go:
1. Does the big guy give most of the gifts, or do you make it look like the parental duo ponied up for the cool gifts?
It goes about half and half for us. While we want the boy to be happy with what Santa brought him, we also want to be in his good graces presents wise.

2. Long or short needled trees?
Short and fake. Real trees are a bitch to clean up, and I have enough trouble keeping up with the typical mess of the house without adding pine needles to the mixture.

3. White or multicolored lights?
I like blue or green lights, but Wifey is all about the white lights. I think the multicolored are nice, but I just like single color strands better.

4. Which do you prefer, pine trees or palm trees?
Pine, I am not much of a beach person. I am not fond of sand getting everywhere.

5. How long do you plan to keep the Santa secret?
Until he smurfs it out. There is no reason to set a time-table for that one. Don’t get me wrong, I think he will know waaay before he lets us know that he knows. So in a way I will know that he knows before he knows that I know that he knows.

6. Egg nog with or without rum?
I like Barber’s Egg Nog without anything extra in it. That is one of the few things that I miss about Alabama.

7. Wear red and green during the season more than usual (underwear doesn't count, although socks each get a half point).
No more than usual, but green and red are kind of staples for my limited wardrobe, so that is unsurprising.

8. Battle Royale. Death match between Rudolph and Frosty. Who will win?
Rudolph. Dude the reindeer can fly and has a powered nose. Frosty is a mildly MRDD snowman reliant on a magic hat to get him to that low level of functioning. You do the math.

9. Why did everything go wrong for Clark Griswold on the days before Christmas?
He is a hopeless optimist who is oblivious to the world around him. He is a classic spend before earning American. The fact that this caught up to him just before Christmas is merely fodder for a comedic movie. What we don’t see right now is the movie “National Lampoon’s: Clark Griswald Gambling Addiction Intervention” wherein a destitute Griswald family confronts a boozing Clark about wasting the family’s finances on liquor, blackjack, and land speculation. Laugh that one up movie-goer. Clark is what you made him you fickle bastards! You laugh when the monkey dances and then walk away when things start to get real…. Ummm… I meant to type that he was a victim of bad timing.

10. How many times in succession have you watched Ralphie risk getting his eye shot out during the annual marathon run of "A Christmas Story"?
I think I have had it on in the background before for 3 straight runs, but I cannot say that I have ever watched it back to back to back.

11. What do you notice that changes in folks good and bad during the holiday season?
People are more willing to give greetings to a stranger as they go about there day. Many people are just, in general, more polite during their routines. These same people can become raving lunatics whilst shopping. Much more angst in the retail space (especially in the parking lots).

12. Do you know anyone that celebrates or has celebrated Kwanzaa besides me? (It's really a pretty neat holiday)
Sadly, you are the only person I know of who Kwaanzaa-ed it up this past year. I think people think that it is a festival holiday that has been manufactured from nothing but a disenfranchised group feeling left out in the cold. In many ways they are right, but the underlying message of Kwaanzaa is really nice. Who doesn’t want to celebrate unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperation, purpose, creativity, and faith?

13. What the biggest difference between the holiday season and hunting season?Holiday season = red and green
Hunting season = fluorescent orange

14. I knew a girl named Noel. This is a statement, not a question. Sorry. Feel free to discuss.
That’s funny, I know a woman named Noel, I bet they aren’t the same person.

15. Why is there a tree in my house? A tree! In my house! Really, now.
Well, I assume the tree got cold and decided it was warmer inside next to the roaring fire. Sure a tree warming itself next to the fire is tantamount to a cow eating a burger, but that is also why that particular tree came in from the cold. The other trees didn’t like it due to the tree’s lack of scruples.

16. When did you stop believing in ... you know ... the image of an all-powerful bearded male God?
Really, is the holiday season the time to get all religious? There is no call for asking religiousitous questions during the holidays. Just celebrate how the Baby Jesus helped Santa find Rudolph so he could deliver toys from Wal-Mart to all the good boys and girls (the bad boys and girls get gifts from crappy old “brick and mortar” retailers… poor suckers) during the winter solstice like the rest of us by buying your way to happiness. Sheesh, you religionauts make me tired.

17. Why are there no holidays until Easter?
Ummm… President’s Day dumbass. The day we celebrate George Washington cutting down a tree to make paper on which Abe Lincoln could write the Emancipation Proclamation, thereby allowing Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and T Roosevelt to join together and become Super Mecha-President Prime. … ah, wait, you don’t have that day up there, do you?

18. Best gift you got this year?
The gift of motivation. It was time and I needed that swift kick in the pants.

19. Have you ever had a White Christmas?
If you mean, have I ever had a purely Caucasian Christmas, then yes. I have had many of those, but I have to question why that is important, you racist bastard. If you are alluding to a Christmas where there is a nice blanket of snow covering the ground making the holiday picturesque, then no.

20. Is there anything that did not happen during the holiday season that you wished had happened?
Wow, that’s deep. Ummm… I think I would have loved a Frank Capra moment where Capt. McArmypants knocked on the door for Christmas Dinner (and not like Jacob Marly dropped by Scrooge on Christmas Eve). That would have, of course, meant that we would not have had left over prime rib though. So maybe it is good that didn’t happen.


To Recap:
Whew! Glad that one is over
It was a loose end that was just nagging at me
I am tired
I was up late last night
I am up late most nights
I consider it training for when the new baby comes around
There are a shit ton of the “I” statements in today’s recap
Five in a row, for those of you still reading
Hmmm I hear that 10,000 B.C. is about Egyptians enslaving cavemen to lead teams of mammoths in building the pyramids
How can that NOT be a mega-super-block-buster?
It has saber tooth tigers, Egyptians, mammoths, pyramids, cavemen, and big predatory land birds
A + B + C + D + E + F = CINEMATIC GENIUS
Oddly enough, without the big predatory land birds, the story was just “meh”

Resolutions

The topic at work today is “What are your New Year’s resolutions.” The other topic is “I am so glad that I don’t have to write checks anymore, because I would get the year wrong each time.” But we aren’t talking about the second topic, because it is just plain silly.

Resolutions tend to be a bit like self fulfilling broken prophecies. I think this is due to how people frame the resolutions. People tend to make them way too particular and typically unattainable. Therefore I will turn the old blogarooney into a self help styled blog today to assist with creating reasonable resolutions.

Number 1: Be vague. It is much easier to “be more healthy” than it is to “lower my cholesterol by 50 points.” Vague is the way to go because it is harder to miss a vague target. You only lower the cholesterol by 45 points… you broke the specific resolution, but the vague one is a winna!

Number 2: Do not associate a timeframe to the resolution. Give yourself the entire year, these are year long resolutions anyway. “I will lose 25 lbs by the summer so I will look good at the beach.” That is a 6 month resolution which means you need to lose 5 lbs every month during the dreary winter months filled with slothful heavy foods. Good luck. How about you lose the 25 over the course of 12 months? Or better yet, make the resolution “to look better naked.” 25 pounds? Highly unlikely. “Better looking nekkid?” Attainable.

Number 3: Stay away from addictions. Smoking, alcohol, heroine, gambling, World of Warcraft, porn (this is the Interweb after all), lip-balm, etc… these resolutions are destined to be broken… and fast. Fighting addictions is not something that should be reduced to a “resolution.” Addictions take lifestyle change, and lifestyle change does not happen because the calendar year went up by 1.

There you go! Three hints to make attainable New Year’s resolutions.

What are SRH’s New Year’s resolutions? You ask. Well, good reader, I don’t make resolutions. They are stupid.

To recap:
Still late posting today
But not sooooo late
Tomorrow is Digital Thursday
Here’s a hint: “OOkla has a friend”
Not sure what is going on for dinner tonight
I hope it involves my car starting
I drove Wifey’s car today and stranded her at the house
I am good like that
16° F (-8.889° C) seemed a bit too cold for my crappy battery
Hopefully 25° F (-3.889° C) won’t be
I knew I should have driven it around yesterday

20 Questions Tuesday: 72 - Holiday Season Part 1

Ah, the holiday season. Maybe I should type it “The Holiday Season.” Whatever. Anyway… what makes you think more about holidays than the holiday season? “Nothing,” that’s what I say!

So in honor of the holiday season, the 20 Questions Tuesday topic will be “The Holiday Season” for this week and next! Excited? Me too!

Thanks this week go to Dustin, ACW, Lord Pithy, and Themikestand.

Onto the questions:
1. Fruit cake: Is it really that bad?
It is worse than you know.

2. Egg nog: Is it really that good?
It is better than you can imagine.

3. Are you or Wifey a better wrapper of presents?
Wifey is by far the better gift wrapperer.

4. Dumbest Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
Hmmm… I have had some pretty bad ones. I will go with a green vinyl table cloth that wreaked of pipe smoke.

5. What’s the deal with stockings, anyway?
I know, they bunch and they run, and there is no way of wearing them without getting a sweaty crotch… you meant by the chimney, didn’t you? Umm… let’s forget I ever typed this.

6. Its important to have your own traditions - what would be one SRH-household tradition?
I will give you 2 for the price of 1.
Tradition the First: Christmas Eve we give each other one gift, and that gift is always some comfy sleepwear.

Tradition the Second: We have cinnamon rolls for breakfast Christmas Day.

7. Flocked or unflocked Christmas tree?
Flocks of Christmas Trees! Oh, God! It’s Happening. Get the saws, get the torches. We have to stop the Christmas Trees…

Wait, let me re-read that… flocked… unflocked… tree? I will go with unflocked.

8. Do carolers sing through your neighborhood?
Not good ones. Good = sober, Mimma!

9. What color are your favorite holiday lights (I like the blue ones)
I like green ones, but Wifey is all about the clear. Guess what color the lights are on our tree?

10. Have you been to The Train Station on Indianola? worth a visit?
It is okay. The really good thing about the place is that they carry some of the Wittle Wooden stuff that Little Man loves so much.

11. It's the holiday season, so whoop-de-do, or dickory dock?
Dickory dock

12. As a practicing Wiccan, do you find it hypocritical to encourage your child to sit on a stranger's knee in public?
Wiccans have no issue with stranger knee sitting.

13. What's the best gift you could ever hope to give anyone?
Perspective

14. Star or angel?
Star

15. Wrapping paper: mylar or wood pulp?
Shiny pressed wood pulp variety

16. What is your earliest Christmas memory?
Hmmm… I don’t remember much prior to what I have deemed the childhood home, and we moved there when I was four, soooo… I think it was getting a bendy Godzilla. I loved that thing.

17. Describe your perfect Christmas, right down to the weather outside, the dinner, and all those in attendance.
There is not time nor space to describe the nuanced Christmas of which you want me to envision. Suffice it to say, everyone there is in matching hats.

18. How old where you when found out the real deal about Santa?
I am not sure. In many ways I never truly latched on to the concept. I am sure I “believed” in it, but the idea was a bit ludicrous to me even as a wee one. I do remember that when the fact was “revealed” I thought something like “well, that makes more sense.”

19. Not wholly unrelated to the previous question, what do YOU think Santa really wants instead of milk and cookies?
Cheesecake and eggnog but I don't expect children to stay up the night before and make cheesecake. Cheesecake is difficult.

20. What is the latest that you've ever performed your Christmas shopping for Wifey's present?
Uh, I am not at liberty to say. You know she reads this, right? What kind of trouble are you trying to get me in?


To recap:
Little Man’s Christmas Concert thingy was today
He didn’t focus so much on his nose this time
That was positive
There were other issues that happened, but I will not go into them here
Unless they were picked up by the DVD videographer
Our street is getting new sanitary sewer stuff today
Whoopee!
That means we have to park far far away from the house
Far far away from the house does not make SRH happy
I think I will post in third person tomorrow
It will boost my ego

one... two... three... huh?

Hmmm… where to start about this past weekend. Three things to type about today.

Thing the first: I will start where most of you have most of your questions: The Family Drama.

The Family Drama seems to boil down to the ex-sister-in-law and the sister-in-law having the most craptastic abilities to communicate. It turned out being a big game of “she said/she said” where my parents automatically took the current in-law’s side. This taking of sides ended up making matters worse for us (Wifey, Little Man and me) because we had to listen to all sorts of crap from the parents. The drama went away by Thursday, so as far as drama is concerned, it wasn’t all that dramatic.

Thing the second: The holiday feast: It was absolutely lovely. Much food was consumed by all. I was able to speak with my brother who is currently in Iraq. He sounded good. He complained about his Thanksgiving meal in Iraq (2 rubbery lobster tails and some shoe-hide steak he reported). It was a nice day full of good conversation and better food. I was surprised at how long the conversations stayed away from the usual banal topics of weather or team sporting events. That was a surprising change.

Thing the third: Oh, my goodness golly goshness, my parents bought us new kitchen appliances for the kitchen remodel. I will wait here while you re-read that last sentence. Doot do do, d’doot doot, do do do doot …. Back with me? Okay, here is the deal. Wifey was looking through the Black Friday flyers that came with the paper. She came across the super-duper sale that was happening at Sears for appliances and said something like, “Hey, Sweetie? Should we buy the new kitchen appliances today since they are on such a good sale?” My response was something like, “That’s a great idea, but we just cannot afford them right now.” To which my mom said, “Get them and we will write you a check for them.”

Bwaaaa?!? So Friday during the Christmas sale extravaganzas Wifey and I got a new microwave hood, gas oven/range, dishwasher, and refrigerator… with my parents’ money. It was excellent, and completely un-expected. The motivation on my parents’ part seems to be based genuinely in affection and there aren’t any strings attached. Wifey and I still have a few questions as to how this motivation came about, but these are more about our own curiosity than a burning desire to know.

To recap:
Little Man has fallen in love with the game Tsuro
Wifey has a cold
She is pregnant and has a cold
She is pregnant, has a cold, and is exhausted
Interaction with Wifey beyond making her go to bed and making sure she has eaten is practically non-existent
Just an FYI for everyone out there
I hope to get her back in trimester 2
20 Questions Tuesday shall not have a topic

Digital Thursday

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and much food was eaten by all. My mom and dad, sister-in-law, 2 nephews, Mimma, Wifey, Little Man and me ate turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, ham, stuffing, stuffing caserole, cranberry salad, and someone put some yams on the table, much to my chagrin. For today the drama seemed to be left at the door, but I am sure that will change for tomorrow.

I spoke with my brother in Iraq. He seems to be doing well. I also saw a recent picture of him and I guess his could be used as a light repelling surface by NASA because, damn, them's some pasty legs. He ran a 10 k today, which I guess is just to give the insurgent mortar teams practice shots, but today is not a post about my borther in Iraq, today is Digital Thursday.

Today's digital feature is a Wonder Woman digital painting I like to call, "Please Don't Hit Me Again, Lady"

It took a fair bit of time to do this one because I have chosen for some odd reason to only work with weird perspectives. This one is for Bomber, she asked me to do a Wonder Woman a while back ago... and now my wife is pregnant... bu-dum-tish Heeeeey-oooo! Thank you! I will be here all week. Please tip your waitress.

To recap:
Food coma
Different than Food comma, or Food,
Little Man did great all day long
All should be proud of him
For that matter, all should bow before him on bended knee
ALL!
Have a great weekend

Wow, I didn't realize

Wow, I did not realize just how much drama the house could call upon by having my sister-in-law and nephews from a previous mom over for the holiday. Wow.

To recap:
Wow
Tomorrow is digital Thursday
I am Wonder Woman-ing it up by request
Have a great holiday if you are celebrating it
If not, I hope whatever holiday comes next for you is great
I am stealing a moment to post whilst my parents are downstairs
I feel like I am a kid again and I am hiding stuff from them
Crap! Someone's on the stairs!

20 Questions Tuesday: 68 - Thanksgiving

Here we are, 2 day prior to feasting. I feel like crap. The sinuses are well plugged up and I am being spared the sore throat merely because I am somewhat upright, but I have a post to write Damnit!

I am thankful to Nadolny, Dustin, Bomber, and JW for this week’s questions.

On to the questions:

1. Worst turkey day movie ever? (My vote is for “Blood Freak”)
I am unfamiliar with Blood Freak, but its description makes it sound horrid. There are not that many Thanksgiving movies and the only one I could vaguely recall of its existence whilst looking at IMDB was this one, but I only remember commercials for it.

2. a) Turkey chemical that makes you sleepy, fact or urban legend? B)Tryptophan – evil drug, or added turkey bonus? c)How does one fight the soothing, drowsy effects of turkey consumption? (And don't even THINK of telling me to not eat turkey!)
a) It is indeed a reality and called tryptophan
b) Added turkey bonus
c) Counter act the sleep induction with caffeine

3. Turkey or ham? (No! You can't choose both)
I choose you, Ham!

4. Stuffing in or out of the turkey?
Out

5. Prefer the white or dark meat?
Is this a trick question?

6. Stuffing with odd things (like nuts or cranberries in it)?
Well it is clear that you have an opinion about stuffing. I like pretty much traditional stuffings. The craziest thing I think of for stuffing is adding some sausage to it.

7. Should Christmas decor be held of vehemently until after turkey day? Maybe with a shotgun?
I think Christmas décor is fine for the day after and beyond. I don’t understand the house down the street that added the Christmas themed light up inflatable yard ornaments the day after Halloween though.

8. If the funny hats the pilgrims wore came back into style, would you be out shopping for one immediately?
Nope, I am not a slave to fashion.

9. Which doth thou lovest more, mashed potatoes or stuffing?
Oh, thou dost injure me to the quick with thine rapier question. Must I chooseth between the two, or mightest I combine the two victuals into some kind of culinary infusion of stuffing and potatoes for mashing? I choose betwixt the two, for it is in the tween that mine happy turkey gravy shall pour over ere traveling past my teeth to my waiting maw.

10. When was the last time you had to sit at the “kiddie” table
I think it was 2 years ago, we have had some very geriatric Thanksgivings.

11. Whipped Cream or Ice Cream on your Pumpkin Pie?
Whipped Cream

12. What side dish is a "must have" on your Thanksgiving dinner plate?
Mashed Potatoes!

13. What food item at Thanksgiving is a definite "ut-uh" in your book? (as in, "ut-uh, no way I'm eatin' THAT!")
I do not understand the role of yams in the Thanksgiving day feast. Yams have no business being classified as food.

14. Will you nap after feasting?
If I am allowed by Little Man.

15. Who gets the drumsticks?
Whomever wants them. I am eating ham.

16. Who carves the turkey and do they use an electric knife of the old-fashioned manual instruments?
We have an electric knife that I give to my Dad when he is here. He finds it some sort of honorific, and either I do it or Mimma does it the other times (typically Mim though)

17. I mean, WHO buys Tofurkey, and really, do they have any guests for dinner?
I don’t understand that either. I understand when someone is a vegetarian or a vegan, but I don’t understand why they feel like they need to make their non-meat dishes look and taste similar to meat. Relish in your non-meatedness or eat some frikking meat. I believe most people who visit the cookers of tofurkey know that is what will be on the menu.

18. Where can I get one of those wide end barrel muskets so's I can have an authentic Pilgrim Thanksgiving?
I think the wide mouthed guns pilgrims are depicted with are a bit of a fanciful notion. The Pilgrims came with standard Flintlocks and Match locks of the day with regular, non-flared barrels.

19. Are your hands tired from making all the "finger turkeys" with lil' man?
He luckily doesn’t know what those are at the moment.

20. Canned or fresh cranberries?
If I have to have them, fresh.


To recap:
Not working tomorrow
Wifey said, and I misquote, “There is no way in Hell I am staying home with your parents by myself.”
She didn’t think my response of, “Little Man will be there…” very funny at all
I thought it was hilarious
Zicam is amazing
I am not sure who is controlling the temperature in my area of the building, but I think they need to wear a sweater of something
I am burning up here
Wifey needs more rest
That is not just me “drinkin’ the Kool Aid” either
Oh! Yeah!

3 Main Things

Well the week of Thanksgiving is upon us. So, what does that actually mean? Well, that is for you to find out for your own personal philosophy, I don’t have the answers, Man! Stop hounding me. I am just one guy! I don’t have the… wait, I was going to tell you what Thanksgiving being upon us indicates to the Casa Del SRH, now with more cilantro! Being this close to this fine Thanksgiving 2007 basically means three main things.

Main Thing the First:
There will be an inordinate amount of food prepared this week in Chez SRG (Maintenant avec plus les faux fromages!). We will be eating like kings this week. It is truly the kick off to the Holiday Feasting Season (HFS). HFS consists of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, Christmas Dinner, New Year’s Eve, and New Years Day. Interspersed within those holiday meals there is fudge and cookies and breads, Oh My! Associated with that is the consumption of pre-made cartons of egg-nog and mulled cider. HFS is truly a wonder to behold. It is the time of year when you can often see the SRH fam doing a lethargic happy dance of full stomachy goodness.

Main Thing the Second:
Little Man is really getting into it this year. He is seriously looking forward to the Holidays. He understands that there are gifts to be given and more importantly, gifts to be received. He is excited to have big special meals and is looking forward to all the yummy treats that Wifey, Mim, and I have been jibber-jabbering about since Halloween. He is also really excited to see some of his extended family. This leads perfectly into…

Main Thing the Third:
Sweet giblets and gravy! My family is coming to town! Actually, my mom and dad could very well be in Columbus, even as I type this post up. They are arriving this afternoon, and not leaving until Saturday or Sunday. On top of that my nephews and their step-mom are going to be here as well. My brother would probably show as well except for the fact that he is in Iraq. Little Man is really pumped to see his cousins. In all honesty, I need to make more of an effort with my family. The nephews are good (if not emotionally needy) kids, and I feel that I should make some stronger efforts to spend time with them.

Well, those are the three things that are accompanying Thanksgiving for us this year.

To Recap:
I am sure I will want to strangle the ‘rents by noon on Thursday.
Has anybody ever heard of a JV Basketball practice held at 4 pm the Wednesday before Thanksgiving?
How about a follow up practice on the Friday after Thanksgiving at 9 am?
Something about that just seems fishy
Tomorrow’s 20 questions will be concerning Thanksgiving
In fact all week, I shall concern myself with the upcoming feast
Well, except for Thursday, that will be our regularly scheduled Digital Thursday
Oh, I am a big fan of the Irony

Halloween '07

Here it is being 3years and a day and I have absolutely nothing to write about. Hmmm… does one lose everything they want to talk about after 3 years of blathering on? Nah, the Internet couldn’t be so lucky. I have a few topics to consider today.

Firstly, I am sitting at my desk contemplating the whole NaNoWriMo phenomenon. Should I go for it, should I just flesh out a book idea? Should should should. I am not certain if I have the time allocation available to actually wholeheartedly go after this goal. I am thinking that maybe it would be worth a go if it were 2 months, but 1 month… Wow, that is some time commitment. The month endeavor starts up tomorrow, so I guess if I am going to go for it, I need to do some preliminary world building tonight.

The only issue with world building this evening is that there are all these street urchins in costume who will be begging me for candy with threats of egging the house in their back pocket. Well, that is not the ONLY issue. Supposedly Discovery Channel is also debuting a new show about cryptids tonight! And that is DEFINITELY on the must watch list. So, my world building exercise will be minimal at best.

Secondly, I have a hard time giving disgruntled 15 year olds candy when they don’t dress up and just expect me to fill their crumpled garbage bag with candy that should go to the more deserving kids who actually still enjoy the whole Halloween process. These 15 year olds are also the ones who will most likely egg the house if I do not relinquish to them a pack of smarties. I don’t understand the entitlement that these kids exhibit. If people don’t give them candy for not participating in the cultural norm of Halloween, they think they are entitled to vandalize property. I hate them and their smug sense of superiority… If that ball comes in my yard one more time I’m keeping it… Oh, Hell Nos! I have become THAT guy.

Thirdly, I am not sure of the exact moment I became a curmudgeonly old man shaking his fist at those damn kids with their loud music and weird clothes and lack of respect for their elders. Those kids who have it so easy with their technomological gadgetry. When I was in high school “lol” needed another “l” and was what your head did in Mr. Haynes’s American History class after the third anecdote about Calvin Coolidge. When I was growing up, if I wanted to call my best friend and he wasn’t in the same room as me, I had to wait until I got home and mom was done talking to her friend. I would have to watch something on one of the 4 channels that our aerial could actually pick up. There I was sitting on my parents 20 year old couch watching static in the shape of MacGyver try to disarm a bomb with a knife and some asparagus, waiting for my mom to finish talking on the phone with some lady who thinks that alternative music is ruining kids these days so I could let Pre-Capt McArmypants know that the newest issue of X-men Blue was out and Jim Lee had pulled out all the stops on this one… ummm….

To recap:
Have a great and safe Halloween everyone
I doubt Little Man will be into the whole Trick or Treat experience this year
Next year though
Tomorrow is Digital Thursday
I have a couple of things to bring out for it
By “couple” I do mean “two”…
At most
It will be interesting to see who is in a candy coma at work tomorrow

9-6-97

Hmmmm… since I have the Yeti post tomorrow, I will post about 9.6.97 today, even though today is 9.5.07.

On 9.6.97 Wifey and I tied the knot, jumped the broomstick, got hitched, wedded, married. **FYI: There really are not that many good euphemisms associated with getting married, and all the ones I could come up with sounded a bit… dirty. I was going to give a whole paragraph of euphemisms associated with getting married, but almost all euphemisms associated with marriage have to do with names for one’s partner, for example old ball and chain, the old woman, the anchor dragging me down to my demise, you know what I mean. Anyway… basically, 10 years ago I stopped being single. Good times ensued.

For the past 10 years I have been lucky enough to wake up next to my bride most days (sometimes I am away from home, sometimes she is away from home). Every morning is like Christmas morning for me, just without the lights, cinnamon rolls, the tree and the preponderance of wrapped gifts. She is definitely the best present I could ask for (“for which I could ask” sounds way too formal). Honestly, every morning I wake up next to her I am still a little bit surprised. What the hell is this woman doing with me? Is a thought that quite often goes through my mind.

In the past 10 years here are 10 things I have learned many a thing about my wife:

10. She cannot get addicted to anything. She says, “I’m so addicted to (for example) Poky.” But when I inquire if she would like me to get her some while I am grabbing my Mt. Dew at the grocery store she says, “Nah, I don’t feel like Pocky today.” Wifey, just so you know, that means you are not addicted. There have been a string of these “addictions” -- Take it from a DewHead, she doesn’t know addiction--

9. She abhors changing the toilet paper roll

8. I forget what eight is for

7. White meat fried chicken is just plain stupid

6. Watching her open gifts is better than getting a gift. Her eyes light up and she cannot hide her exuberance. This holds true unless she does not like the gift…

5. She has a hard time walking away from a sale on black slides (ask here for a pic, I don’t have any) at Nordstrom

4. The sound of soccer game announcers grates on her nerves like raking a lawnmower blade over slate

3. She does not handle headaches very well

2. She would rather clean, sweep, and mop the entire downstairs of the house than have to scrub the kitchen

1. She is uncompromising in her joy, unyielding with her affection, and unending in her love

Happy Anniversary, Wifey! Our Wedding

To recap:
GOJIRA KAIJU!
There used to be a blog written by Gojira Kaiju
It was funny
It doesn’t seem to exist anymore
That is too bad
Tomorrow, even though it is my anniversary, I will be posting about the Yeti
Don’t expect anything supremely eloquent
I haven’t really thought out what I am going to write about
Ham wrapping sandwiches tonight!
By the way, those knees arte sexsay!

Holiday post

Consider this my Memorial Day post.

Recap:
Even though it is Labor Day
20 Questions Tuesday hits the streets tomorrow
Exercising 3 days in a row is stupid
I don’t care what professional athletes say
Showers after exercising are nice
Very cleansing
My legs are sooooo tired
Thursday is a big day
Big big
Big big big
Big big big big

July 4, 2007

I have nothing to post about today. So I will not bore any poor soul out there who happens across this blog with any useless tales of nothing. I will however burden my existing readership (I believe there are at least 2 of you) with my inane blatherings. For those interested continue reading. Others.... continue at your own peril... oooooh ominous

On to the blatherings:
Thing the first: Little Man has re-iterated his disdain for fireworks.

Thing the second: Changes are afoot for this web log, but as to what changes.... I am not sure yet. It feels a bit stagnant and I think it needs some updating. Pay attention dear readers, things will change here.

Thing the third: I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT GET A SONG OUT OF MY HEAD!!! It is driving me nuts. Well, it is driving more nuts than before. The big reason for this driving me nuts is that it is not a good song in the least. I am happy in some way that it is not a kid's song, but Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf needs to be purged from my subconscious as soon as possible.

Thing the fourth: My right shoulder hurts like a bear right now. Not a vampire bear, (one cannot understand the pain a vampire bear might cause) merely a regular old Kodiak bear. I think I have been sleeping on my right side a bit too much as of late. Note to self: Sleep on back or left side tonight

Not this

This

Thing the sixth: I am Uber-Geeking out tomorrow, so expect to hear some tales of Ubergeekdom come Monday.

That's all the things I can come up with.

To recap:
Dark in the city, night is a wire
Steam in the subway, earth is a fire
Do-do do do, do do do, do do do, do do do, do do
Woman you want me, give me a sign
And catch my breathing even closer behind
Do-do do do, do do do, do do do, do do do, do do

In touch with the ground
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Smell like I sound, I'm lost in a crowd
And I'm hungry like the wolf

Straddle the line, in discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Mouth is alive with juices like wine
And I'm hungry like the wolf

Stalked in the forest, too close to hide
I'll be upon you by the moonlight side
Do-do do do, do do do, do do do, do do do, do do
High blood drumming on your skin its so tight
You feel my heart, I'm just a moment behind
Do-do do do, do do do, do do do, do do do, do do

In touch with the ground
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Scent and a sound,
I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf

Strut on a line, its discord and rhyme
I howl and I whine I'm after you
Mouth is alive all running inside
And I'm hungry like the wolf

(hungry like the wolf
Hungry like the wolf
Hungry like the wolf)

Burning the ground I break from the crowd
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
I smell like I sound, I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf

Strut on a line, its discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Mouth is alive with juices like wine
And I'm hungry like the wolf

Burning the ground I break from the crowd
I'm on the hunt I'm after you
Scent and a sound, I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf

Strut on a line, its discord and rhyme
I howl and I whine I'm after you
Mouth is alive all running inside
And I'm hungry like the wolf...

Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,make it stop, make it stop,

20 Questions Tuesday: 49 - July 4th - July 4th Celebrations - Patriotic Holidays, etc

Today’s 20 Questions Tuesday is all about the impending holiday of July the 4th. The topic for today is technically “July 4th - July 4th Celebrations - Patriotic Holidays, etc” I got an amazing amount of responses to this call for questions. I guess this is a topic that is near and dear to many folk. Thanks this week go to Lord Pithy, Tree Monkey, Bomber, ACW, Belsum, Dr Civil, and JW. I got more than 30 questions, but since the topic is soooo time sensitive I am just going to cull some of the Q’s instead of tabling the topic until next week. In fact in honor of the nation’s birthday, I will add on 5 extra questions. That is a celebration beyond compare.

On to the questions:
1. Could my hearing impairment be in any way connected to having a firecracker go off in my ear when I was 7?
Say again? I missed that.

2. Which would hurt more: a Roman candle enema or forced viewing of an American Idol marathon?
That is a tough one…. Unless it was watching American Idol contestants run a marathon then the answer would be easy. I still will have to go with the AI marathon just because my family has bestowed me with an amazing gift of tuning certain things out.

3. Favorite response: "ooooh" or "ahhhhhh"?
“You said WHAT?!?!” is my favorite, but in this case I will go with “ahhhh.” That is also the sound one makes when they put sore feet in a cold stream.

4. Would having a rocket in your pocket really intensify your lusty endeavors?
Not that I am aware of. In fact it is a bit bizarre and kind of sexually frightening.

5. Which of the Founding Fathers would you say is the yummiest?
I would have to go with Alexander Hamilton. That Scottish burr gets me every time. Not Aaron Burr mind you, although he is involved with Hamilton’s ultimate demise.

↑↑↑↑HOTTIE↑↑↑↑

6. Will you and the family be attending any fireworks this 4th? Does Little Man like fireworks? Will Little Man go to any fireworks viewings? Which fireworks display will you be viewing?
We are not sure whether or not we will go to the local fireworks display here in Clintonville. Last year we got Little Man ready and went but after the first explosion went off, he was done.

7. Is Red, White and Boom really as great as it is talked up to be? Red, White & Boom - I've heard "skip it." What do you think? Which is more interesting, the fireworks or the people at "Red, White and Boom"?
You have to seriously consider the source of your Red White and Boom information. I personally do not like people, therefore large gatherings of people is not a big draw for me. If you like festival type stuff and shoulder to shoulder people, this might be your thing. I don’t like people and am not overly impressed with fireworks, so Red White and Boom is not a good fit. I would (and am) personally skip (ping) it. As for the people v fireworks? I hate people, so I would only be there for the fireworks.

8. What is your favorite “picnic” food?
Hamburgers

9. If you could invite anyone to your 4th BBQ this year and they would attend, who would you invite? You're allowed two answers - one famous person and one not famous person (as in, you know, a friend).
Famous: Mathew McConaughey: We could charge admission to many a folk to come by, and I could be entertained by his folksy Tennessean humor. Plus, I would get lucky with Wifey later. She wouldn't be thinking about me, but I would still be getting lucky.
NonFamous: Capt. McArmypants – he would not be in Afghanistan then

10. Do you like North Carolina vinegar-based BBQ?
Not really, I am more of a Kansas City BBQ guy. Texas style is nice as well.

11. What's the secret ingredient in Bush's baked beans? And what's the secret ingredient in Chipotle’s rice? My husband and I swear it is some kind of sleep-inducing crack cocaine. It makes us simultaneously want more Chipotle AND want to sleep!
RE: the baked beans - Apathy and Brazilian brown sugar.
RE: the Chipotle - Cilantro is an odd beast of a flavoring. It is not a strong flavor but it is noticeable when it is there, and it makes you want more. The sleep is induced by the vast quantity of food.

12. Is it true that the Declaration was signed on July 8th and that everyone just agreed to it on the 4th?
Word on the street is that the resolution was adopted on the 4th and then signed by the majority of signers on August 2nd.

13. Was Dolly Madison an 18th century porn star? Come on, with a name like Dolly?!
Nope, she makes baked goods, doesn’t she?

14. Has there ever been a US war that the US public hasn't been totally feed up with by the 3rd year? I believe the answer is no.
I do not believe so.

15. Why is it called "flying the flag?" We don't fly it - it just stays there on a stick - not unlike a hot dog.
That is a very good question. A question, in fact, for which I have no ready answer.
16. I’m going to go ahead and rip off Jay Leno. Feel free to attribute The Tonight Show as the source of these questions. He asked them last week in a Jay-Walking segment and people did not know the answers. Sheesh. What the hell man?
A: What is the reason for celebrating on the 4th of July?
B: Who did America become independent from?
C: What did Paul Revere say when the British were coming?
D: Who was the general during the American Revolution?
E: What year did America become independent?

A: No other summer holidays that we can use as an excuse to drink.
B: From whom did America become independent? Be mindful of your grammar.
C: EGADS!
D: General Horatio Gates
E: We are still dependent on oil from OPEC, labor from Mexico, cheap goods from China, etc...

17. Is it true that only a man can properly operate a grill?
Are you saying that a woman cannot handle your meat?

18. Did our forefathers declare independence on the 4th of July because they were ready and it was the first step to international recognition or because it was hot and muggy in Philly and they were just feeling a bit pissy?
A little of Column A, a little of Column B.

19. There ain't no Question 19.
Why there no Question 19?

20. Did the Canadians just pretty much copy us with their whole Canada Day thing? And couldn't they have come up with a better name?
Well, I think it was a bit of a “Hey, I want a day too” from our northern neighbors, but as for Canada Day vs 4th of July? I am not sure either of them really wins a holiday naming contest.

***FIVE EXTRA QUESTIONS***

21. Independence Day...cool movie or dud?
That movie sucked baboon butt. God, it was horrible!

22. Will you be attending the Doo Dah Parade this year?
Nope. I hate parades. Too many people in one place for me.

23. What hunk/s of meat will be grilling for Wifey and Little Man for the 4th?
There will probably be some hamburgers, brats, hot-dogs and possibly chicken.

24. Have you blown any appendages off due to firecrackers? (Or at least come close)
I am the epitome of fireworks safety on the 4th of July. Now, on the 5th of July, my brother and I would attach the left over fireworks to some old models and blow them to smithereens (Stop weeping, ACW). In fact we joined the “snap-tight model of the month club” just for that purpose. On July 5th we would blow up 24 crappy snap together models with m-80's, black cat firecrackers, whistlers, and the odd roman candle or two.

25. Have you become the old guy in the neighborhood that always complains about "Those damn kids and their fireworks" when those said kids start lighting said fireworks?
Not yet, but if that ball comes in my yard again, it’s mine!


To recap:
Happy 30th Kim!
I am hungry
Lunch was tasty, but small
Not really small, but I am still hungry anyway
I mean, really, it was a significant portion of food
Not sure how the family will be celebrating the holiday tomorrow
ZingerZapper has decided to be an auburn haired vixen
Little Man ate 12 mini banana muffins yesterday
It is a good thing Wifey and he made 24
Little Man had a nightmare last night
I slept with him in his big boy bed from 4:30 to 7:30 this morning
His “big boy bed” is not really that big of a bed
And his Spongebob Squarepants sheets are like fine grain sandpaper
Hey, Wifey, we need to wash those sheets about a dozen times!

B: 2 of 26

Today’s installment of the Random Alphabet of SRH is not really all that random. I mean, come on, when I decided to do all 26 letters on Thursday’s and my birthday is on a Thursday. It only makes sense that Today’s letter is the second letter of the English alphabet, B.

Without further ado,

B: Big B, Little b, What begins with B? Barber, baby, bubbles and a bumblebee

Like I said earlier, the serendipity of the whole calendar thingy really made this one an easy one. B is for Birthday.

I have mentioned before that my birthday is bittersweet (here and here), but I am going to attempt to not dwell on this too terribly much because, well, I have covered the topic pretty thoroughly and I really don’t want to become repetitive in my posting repetitive in my posting repetitive in my posting repetitive in my posting repetitive in my posting

**SMACK**

Thanks… where was I? Oh yes, today I am going to belabor a point that my previous birthday posts haven’t touched on. Let’s see… ummm… what to write about? What to write? Ummm… some aspect of birthdays and how they have affected my life. Okay here we go, where I was on my Birthday, as far as I can recall.

0 - 2 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
3 Moving from Oklahoma City to Montgomery, Alabama. No really that was the day the family was driving to Alabama
4 Montgomery
5 - 17 Birmingham, but nothing remarkable. I know I had the requisite pool party (even though I hated the water), a few themed parties, but nothing sticks out in my mind.
18 I think Capt. McArmypants and I were in Edinburgh, Scotland for that birthday
19 The fateful day that altered my life
20 Kent, Ohio visiting some college friends. We went white water rafting and then had a party
21 I remember absolutely nothing about this day… and I can’t for the life of me think of why this day is completely obliterated out of my psyche
22 I seem to think I was in Columbus, Ohio for this one, but I cannot think of any details surrounding it.
23 I was working at RPS as a loader. This was the summer prior to the nuptials so many a day is blurred with wedding plan details
24 – 30 all in Columbus, Ohio with Wifey
31 Columbus, Ohio just after a trip to Colorado Springs
32 and 33 Columbus, Ohio

Well, that is the listing of birthday locals. All the same birthday angst and emotions apply as in the previous birthday posts, but those survivor guilt feelings and sadness of the loss seem to have been dulled by the passage of time this year.

To Recap:
I am 33
And yet only 14
US v Canada tonight on Fox Soccer Channel
It should be interesting, the US is not playing that great and Canada is
Luckily what seems to through the US out of its game is extremely physical play, and I don’t think the Canucks will come out studs up the entire night
Little Man and I will be watching the first half
Then it is bed-time for the little one
I will be getting some “Birthday Chocolate Chip Cookies” sometime this afternoon lovingly made by Wifey and Little Man
What can I say, the boy really loves baking
Mainly because he like eating the cookie dough
Since he is allergic to eggs, there isn’t any in the dough and he can eat as much of it as he wants
So can Wifey and I
That cookie dough is absolutely sinful
Have a great weekend everyone

It's a holiday, buzz off

Sheesh, what is it with you people. Can't a guy take a day off? If I get one more phone call or emial asking me when/if I am going to post today. It is a holiday! Go home.

To recap:
Nothing to see here
Move along
Move along

2 Things

Three things:

Thing the first: It is Wifey’s birthday today, so if you have not already expressed birthday wishes to her, please do so now. She loves her some comments. That being said, if you leave her a birthday wish, leave a comment here as well, for I too love the comments. For her birthday Little Man got her a blender so she can make her “smoothbies.” I am not sure why the extra “b” is added, but it is, so you have to kind of deal with it and move on. He was very excited to get her a present for the birthday. So excited that he was chomping at the bit to drag his sick self (more on this later*) to “The Target Store” for the birthday present buying trip. He made me buy a purple motif-ed wrapping paper because he wanted to give her a “purple present.” He is particular like that. She really likes the new blender, and I am sure that many a smoothie will be constructed with it.

I got her a Japanese Steakhouse dinner, a night of shopping, and some kitchen shears used in making chopped salads more chopped salady-er. She has yet to use the shears, but enthused to do so. I am sure that salad will be on the menu this week. She got herself a present, but it has not come in as of yet, so I will not spoil any surprise there.

Thing the second: Or *later: Yes, Little Man is ailing again and therefore on the Orapred. On Thursday he was a bit snotty, Friday he was in the throws of a cold, and on Saturday is breathing went south. So, we are on Orapred again. It is not soooo bad as it has been because the dosage is relatively the same as when he was a 20 pounder. He has more than a 3 rd more body mass to spread the Orapred side effects around in. He is still ouchy and grouchy and quick to unhappiness, but he is not nearly as nutso as he was when the stuff really whacked him out of his mind. He will be riding the Orapred highs and lows until Thursday morning when it all comes crashing down.

Thing the third: I only have 2.

To recap:
Much sleep was lost Saturday
I am tired of giving breathing treatments
Little Man is really tired of getting them
Orapred tastes horrible
It is the aftertaste that gets you
Tomorrow’s 20 Questions Tuesday is the continuation of Sound