Paranormal Activity

This is by far the most horrifying movie I have seen in a long while. The camera work is all "home movie" style, but they have done a good job not making it Blair Witch shaky-cam. The minor and downplayed effects add tons to the realism feel of the movie. Thanking them families of the deceased characters doesn't hurt either. I am the type of person who will start a movie later in the evening than I should, fall asleep in the middle, and then have to scene select in order to finish it the next day. With P.A., I was wide awake and occasionally glancing down the shadowy hallway behind me with cold chills. Folks, I watch a lot of horror and thriller movies. It takes quite a bit to get to me. I fully dare you to watch this movie alone at night...

Tom Waits - Let It Rain

I heard this song on WFPK tonight, and it was really good. Enjoy:

Mad Black Woman at Burger King

Last night was laundry night.  I was at the 'mat with Kathy and we had all the wash started.  I was pretty hungry so we decided to drive over to Burger King, pick up a quick bite and take it back to eat while we were waiting for the various cycles of the task.  We walked into the BK and straight into a pretty good argument with F-bombs and obvious physically threatening stances.  An African American gal was 'up in the face' of this guy working behind the counter.  I have never seen somebody this upset over a hamburger before.  He was telling her to step back, etc. and she was getting closer and finally she whips around like some sort of Tasmanian devil and rakes a bunch of stuff off the counter.  We're talking like the little rack that holds the cup lids, the cardboard display stuff...I even think she got the little clear plastic box that holds change for Crusade for Children.   I think I was hit by some debris from that.  Nothing that could hurt you, but just to say that's how close I was!

 

In short order, she decided this was not enough damage.  She lunged over and grabbed the ENTIRE cash register and picked it up over her head!!  You could see the electric cord and the wires that connect it to the order monitors in back and perhaps the credit card reader.  She was not a big girl, and seemed to have enough strength for me to think "there is some crack or meth or something involved here!"  Well, this is when I decided I needed to get Kathy any myself the hell out of there!

 

I stepped outside and thought for a moment....what if she pulls a gun??  The woman retreated back to the back of the dining area close to the little playland!  I could only think "What if Lexie and Logan had been with me???"  This is the same BK that is RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from an elementary school, a middle school and a high school...where my kids go!!   The address was printed on the outside of the building.  I called 911.

 

I told them what was going on, and it seemed to take them forever to get there.  Like 20+ minutes.  I know there is a police sub station right down the street and was wondering why it took so long...  We went over to Sonic which is next door to get something safe to eat!!  From the vantage point at Sonic, we finally saw the police show up.  The had the guy and girl outside talking to them.  We left to go do laundry.

 

I'm going to call BK corporate office today...

Why men should not write advice columns...

This has been shared by many before, but this is the first time I have
ever seen it "in print". Enjoy...

District 9 review

I thought his movie was pretty good. It gave you some things that were unexpected, plus some Starship-Troopers-type action and gore. Aliens as an item on the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet just never occurred to me before... It is well worth watching.

Toilets: a guy thing

I am gonna guess that its a guy thing that we can look at our john and say "its not that bad...considering what its used for." All that rationalization goes right out the window at 2am when your face is 6 inches or less from the porcelain. Then you quickly switch to "oh my God! Where's the scrubber!" Its a bad day today. I even lost a fight with a ripe banana...

Kelly eating with no hands!

This kid will do anything on a dare! He is so cool!

My friend Patrick

This my friend Patrick. He is brain damaged, but I mean that in a good way.

Little Kelly eating ribs

We went out to lunch with Patrick and his boys. Little Kelly looks like a zombie!

The Aftermath

My real Christmas is over. I spent yesterday with the kids and Kathy unwrapping gifts, playing with games and toys, hanging out with my wonderful sister Patti, and snoozing on the couch inbetween all those things. Today everyone will be gone. I will most likely snuggle up on the couch with the mega soft blankie Kat got me, and watch TV. I have "Last House on the Left" and the pilot and first episode of "Fringe". Tonight I get the kids back for the weekend, so I will enjoy a little me time...which is also a nice gift. I'm gonna grind up some of the bird, add mayo and pickle relish, and pretend its colder than it is. If I can't make myself believe, then I'll gear up and head out for a ride!

Lexie's Gift to Me

Lex made me a mobile. It has God's eyes and pictures of her throughout her life which she scavenged from her baby book (actually a box) which bothered me a little but I won't worry about it too much. It was the most thoughtful gift she's ever given me!

Kathy's Toy

The kids got Kat a waffle maker. That is indeed the gift that keeps on giving!

Logan Loves the Force Trainer!

He gave me the best gift this year with his "Its SO cool!"

Santa's Visit

Santa just popped in to sample Kat's baked goodies and drop off presents. Of stocking stuffers, I predict the diet coke with the reseal lids will be the biggest hit...

Splott with Powdered Sugar

Crumb catcher got too close and missed a bit of Potato Chip Cookie. It hit him in the snout!

Logan's Space Derby

He wants to make it look like a diet Doctor Pepper bottle.

Burnt Jambalya

I was running late and I asked Lexie to start the Jambalya. She had to cut up sausage, put water and the instant rice mix in a pot, and stir it to make sure it did not burn or stick. Guess which part she missed???

Sh*thead cut me off.

So much for good will toward men!

eRev

This stuff tastes like the mix I make with sugar free redbull and diet mountain dew. Well, it was buy 1 get 1, so... meh.

Moron

This guy almost ran the red light trying to go straight through the intersection using the green left turn only arrow. Good brakes though!

Death of a Brownie Man

The head was the best part!

Brownie Men by Doris

These were soooo good!

My Friend Judi!

The company Holiday Luncheon was awesome! I sat across from our lovely and talented Judi, the HR manager!!!

Hushpiggy

I made this at LJS. It is a bad example for my kids of playing with food. Its good to give them bad examples too, right?

Fried flour is the Bomb!

Long John Silver's is good because of the little fried crumbly things that make your coat all shiny and water repellant! Damn....now there are greasy prints on my qwerty...

This weekend...mission failure

Well, I looked all weekend for two of three items, and failed. Logan wanted the Mindflex game, but I could find it nowhere. For those of you who do not know, "Mindflex--featuring a headset that reads your brain waves and a levitating foam ball--is the kind of game that must be seen to be believed. Recommended for players aged eight and older, the game begins when you strap on the headset so you can use your powers of concentration to move the ball around the game console and through a mind-bending obstacle course. A dial-in console lets you to keep the ball lifted on a cushion of air, but raising and lowering the ball must be accomplished by alternating concentrating and relaxing your mind."  Everywhere was sold out.  

 

I got to talking to Logan about it a couple weeks ago and he admitted "I just want to make the ball go up and down..."  So, cool dad that I am, I discovered the Star Wars Force Trainer, which is similar. "May the Force be with you. The Force Trainer by Uncle Milton actually allows you to control a Jedi Training Remote with your mind, by tapping into cutting-edge brainwave technology. Utilizing dry EEG sensor technology, the headset reads and interprets your brainwaves. The deeper your concentration and mental focus, the greater your ability to move the Training Remote up or down the Training Tower. Progress from Padawan to Jedi Master as you master the use of "The Force" through 15 levels of training. Increasingly challenging sequences are aided by training cues and instruction from the master of all Jedi Masters himself, Yoda. Additional STAR WARS sound effects confirm accomplishment and provide encouragement throughout your training. Advancement and current level of your training is displayed on the Training Tower control panel."  Now this toy has been out for a while, so I thought it would be 1. easier to find and 2. cheaper.  Ah, not so.  I did see the Star Wars Force Trainer, but they wanted $100 for that thing (Lucasgreed?)!!!

 

After watching the videos for both of the "Logan toys", it was very apparent that the Star Wars Toy would be MUCH cooler.  If you don't believe me, just look at the kid's faces!!!  The Force Trainer kid looks like he could take you apart like Sylar!  The Mindflex kids look like they need medication of some sort...

 

For Lexie I wanted to get a friendship bracelet maker by Alex Toys. This is not just the book that gives you written instructions on how to make the knots or whatever, it has a little foam wheel that acts as a "loom" in order to help weave the bracelet. It looks easier and if its not easy enough, then she will get discouraged. Plus, they have a video of how to use it that she can check out online!!!

 

Well, this morning, in a last ditch herculean effort, still in my jammies, I got on Amazon and found the Force Trainer and the Friendship Bracelet Maker at a decent price that would get here by December 24th.  Well, they SAY it will be here by the 24th.

 

I did the thing I always do...I put my kids crap into piles and balanced out the number of items.  I still need to get a couple small things for Logan... 

Julie & Julia (aka blogging...)

This was a cute movie. I was worried the "Julia Childs" voice was going to get on my nerves, but somehow it didn't. The movie was good. Teaches those of us who are bloggers that life imitates blog, not the other way around...

Hunchback of Notreville

Kat and I are doing the Sunday routine-Laundry. I put my sweatshirt on her over her purse and she looks like Igor! Well, just her back...otherwise, I think she is beautiful!

Christmas Shopping with Kat

I am hoping to get some Christmas shopping done this weekend with my girlfriwnd Kathy. If you see us, wave and honk!!

Chili Cookoff

Last night I made Ms. Helen's white chili for the Cub Scouts Pack
meeting and Chili Cookoff tomorrow night. I like to have it set in
the refridgerator for a while before serving...it helps it to blend
the flavors together. I wouldn't not be 100% honest if I said it is
completely Ms. Helen's recipe. I add a "secret" ingredient. Last
year, I won the Silver Ladle of Awesomeness at this same Chili
Cookoff.

School Dance

Lexie got a ticket for dress down/dress up today. She also asked me
for some money so she could go to the dance after school. A friend of
hers didn't want to be there alone, so Lexie is joining her. Today is
the first day that Logan will be home before Lexie. He has the house
key of hers, and if he does not call me from home before 4:10pm, I
will call her on her cell, plus run home right away to check on him.
I think they will both do well. The dance is only until 5pm.

Good Info!

This was from yesterday's Worst Case Scenario a-day calendar. I felt it was my duty to my friends and family to post this. Why??? Because you just...never...know...

Adventureland

Kat and I watched a movie last night because @&#+!* Heroes is done for the season (until January 11th according to the website). It was Adventureland, and was actually pretty entertaining on several levels. It was set in the 80's so it was ammusing to see the period dress, hear the music, etc. There were some decent actors and it really did a great job as a sort of Neo-Caddyshack type movie. Kat and I both thought it was pretty funny.

Terminator Salvation

My opinion of this movie is about 2.5 stars (out of 5). I liked the actionm and the predictible twist, but the trademark lines seemed stupid. "Come with me if you want to live.", "I'll be back." etc. just don't have the same punch when not delivered in A.R.M. (Austrian Robotic Monotone). Still, it fills in some blanks between current time and 2018, but only enough to leave me wondering. After four Terminator movies, I was really looking for all to be revealed. Ok. Two stars!

First Snow

How appropriate! I get my tree up, then we get our first snow!! Still, its putting me in the cage instead of my bike...I need to move south...

The Finished Product

Here is Jay, all dressed up & ready for Christmas!! Logan put on most of the ornaments, Lexie did a few, and then I went in and filled in the holes (well, most of 'em).

Weekend without the kids

Kat and I had a fairly busy weekend. Saturday was errand-day. We did a lot of running around. I did manage to fix a decent meal at the end of the day: ribeye steaks, baked potatoes, and asparagus (which Kat had never tried). Sunday was chores...we got laundry done, my outside lights put up, a paper towel rack put in Kat's kitchen, and my tree up-all except for the ornaments which is the part the kids wanted to do. I got some stuff I had in cardboard boxes consolidated into plastic bins which looks a lot better. Kat and I watched a movie called Five Fingers which was pretty good. We also played this Scrabble card game she got for the kids. It seems like it will be fun. I did not get any shopping for the kids done yet. I have to wait for my next payday for that!

After "Fluffing"

This is Jay after fluffing up his branches a little.

Poor Little Tree

This is Jay, fresh from the box. This tree is ugly as heck.

Itchy!

For some reason, I got almost-dig-holes-in-your-skin itchy tonight. It started with my hands and moved to my arm then sides. Took generic Benadryl and its better...

Lexie 'stache

...of course Lexie had to try it on too. She asked "is this what it feels like to have a mustache on your face all the time??"

Logan's 'stache

Joe took the kids and I out for dinner at El Nopal (the kids choice). I got fish tacos, and had one left over for lunch today! (thanks Joe!!). On the way out, he gave the kids some quarters for the gumball machines. Lexie picked out some plastic-resin rings (which were actually really pretty) and Logan got what he calls a "Magician's Mustache". That kid really cracks me up sometimes...

Concert for Pawpaw

My ex-father-in-law Joe (which I usually just refer to as Joe, but he's a really good guy, and the only dad I've had for a long time) was in town with his wife Dana. She was not feeling too hot, so he came over to visit with us. Lex played her violin for him.

Already regretting

Today is one of those borderline days where I probably could ride to work. There is not much rain, but I have an excuse...I have to pick up something thay will not fit on the scoot. *sigh* its still a bummer.

The Irish Mafia

Where's me gold??!!??!?

The end of Noshavember

My girlfriend Kathy says I look like a member of the Irish mafia...whatever that is.