The Adventures of LatteMan....
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The Adventures of LatteMan.... |
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Thursday, November 30, 2006 Picture Perfect ThursdayWill return next week. Sorry.Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Shopping... It is just plain scary sometimesWell, TheWife had a change of heart yesterday and decided to use the time we had to get some Holiday shopping done, which I was loathe to do, and it was a dreadful experience. But not for the reasons I expected.We hit in our travels two of the three "Big Box" retailers in our area. Wal-Mart (not my choice) and K-Mart. (Sorry Target we will get to you soon) What hit me hardest was how empty these stores were. I fully expected hideous crowds and long register lines. Well the register lines were a little long but that was because neither store had more than 4 registers open. This is the holiday shopping season isn't it? So that made the shopping much easier to take. What did wind up scaring me was what I saw while shopping. Now I am no prude, and am more than happy to poke fun at people that consider this nonsense "appropriate" clothing, but people come on now. Some of this stuff looked more like it belonged in the back of a magazine that comes in a brown paper wrapper than something that any reasonable human being would put on their child. Now that set me back a bit, but not all that much, because there is always some level of tastelessness in clothing, and it really is a matter of opinion. The same way I view these clothes, I would assume is the same way that people who would actually buy something from the Wholesome Swim wear company would view what I allow my daughter to wear. But then we went over to the toy department. Now I am not going to talk about the "Worst Toys" such as those on the W.A.T.C.H. list, you can find that here. There are plenty of toys of questionable quality and safety, and I personally consider it the job of the parent to take those things into consideration. Can I ask a question here? Is there anybody that doesn't think Bratz dolls are the most hideous dolls in the world? I mean, I know plenty of women that for years have railed against the "horrors" of Barbie with her thin waist and unrealistic proportions, but when you compare poor Barbie to these micro waisted, frighteningly big eyed, dressed like street walker dolls, Barbie is a dream by comparison. At Barbie has some clothes that don't make her look like a hooker. And I am not buying any doll for my daughter where I will wind up explaining (and I heard this already from another child), "Why does this doll have a "earring" in her belly button?" Of course not to be outdone, Mattel has added a similar line of junk called "My Scene" which are equally ugly but (from what I saw anyway) a little less trashy in the clothing area. I guess I should feel thankful that Hasbro (under much pressure from parenting groups) pulled their planned "Pussycat Dolls" which was due out now. While I am on this, lets talk a moment about fashion heads, shall we? Do we really need our daughters "learning to apply makeup" to an over sized head? And again, what are they "learning" with all the "bling-bling" and out of style (I hope) horribly bright colored eyeshadow. I used to think that Polly Pockets was the bane of parents everywhere with their tiny parts and little plastic clothers. "How much worse could it get?" I wondered. Well it seems I got my answer in the "Littlest Pet Shop" series of toys. How much worse...uh... never mind... I don't want to know. Specialty TV sets now seem to be all the rage, and I see people buying them, for prices far more than a standard 13" set (since they are for "kids" they are all 13" sets). Disney of course started this with the Princess TV and DVD player a few years back, but now we have Dora, and Sponge Bob (a bright yellow colored set which is scary enough in its own right), Winnie the Pooh, Superman and more. Do any of these parents understand that these sets will live long past the time that their children will be willing to allow such childish things to remain in their bedroom? What do you do with it then? Oh, and just for the record (before somebody says it), I will not allow my daughter to have a TV in her room at least until she hits her teen years. Now let me preface this last one by pointing out that I actually do like a lot of LeapFrog products. But now let me ask... Do they need to make them ALL so darn noisy? Every one? And if they do, could they at least start adding a volume button (not a switch to "high" and "low")? I swear some of them are just bought by people to passively get back at a child's parents for something. And, no I am NOT being Grichy. I am not Grouchy (which is surprising after shopping last night), but I just think sometimes a modicrum if common sense could be applied. Is that too much to ask? Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Well trained...Every so often I stop, look around and notice something. The women in this house have me well trained. All of them. Even the dog.But I think TheWife is the most stealthy at it. The two of us will be going out to dinner tonight to celebrate her birthday (yesterday). Yesterday we went out (family style) to dinner. She enjoyed a birthday present of a 3 day weekend at the spa, and came home to a "wrapped present" of an iPod Nano. Before Thanksgiving, she was taken out to dinner by her Sisters for her birthday, and this weekend, we will have the traditional Birthday Cake and coffee. So, in reality, she has managed to turn her Birthday into a weeklong gala. This is not the first time... but it is the first time I actually noticed. She has me well trained. Monday, November 27, 2006 So it is not just me (or you)Today's article, For kids, is 10 the new 15? from MSNBC finally lets us know we as parents are not losing our minds, or just "turning into our parents." That teen/tween line has been breeched and kids are in fact doing more sooner.I guess it is in some senses not really all that strange, I mean my daughter is doing school work in the 1st grade that I didn't do, probably until the third grade (or later). We (society) learned that children are sponges that absorb knowledge at an exrtemely fast pace, so we encourage that. What it seems we haven't considered is where that acceleration could lead. (Now I am not advocating slowing down the learning process. I think it is wonderful that a child can absorb so much and we should feed that thirst for knowledge. ) Now as the Associated Press article states, some of it is currently attributed to nutrition. As an outspoken critic again hormone laced milk products, I of course will lay some blame here as well, though exactly how much is easily debatable. External stimuli is of course also a factor. I mean regardless of the fact that I control what and how much television my daughter watches, or what she reads, etc. Outside influences (ie. school friends, etc) still have an effect. So what do we do? How do we stop them from trying to grow up too fast? At least I now know it is not just me.
Brought to you by... Who?!?In a Sunday article that not many probably noticed (except those looking for such things... and I am not one of them, I just happen to read them), the Washington Post had what may, from an educationtional standpoint, be the scariest article I have read in some time.It would be easy to dismiss the article, Science a la Joe Camel as "just politics" on the surface. The initial points drawn out is how the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) turned down 50,000 free DVDs to screen An Inconvenient Truth in classrooms. In their e-mail rejection, they expressed concern that other "special interests" might ask to distribute materials, too; they said they didn't want to offer "political" endorsement of the film; and they saw "little, if any, benefit to NSTA or its members" in accepting the free DVDs. The key however is in that last little statement. "little, if any, benefit to NSTA or its members." Because, as Laurie David the author discovered, it is all about the "benefits." Exxon Mobile has given $6 million to the NSTA and holds a seat on the board (so much for steering free of special interests). Shell Oil and the American Petroleum Institute (API) are also large donors, and the API also produced the film "You can't be cool without Fuel" which was distributed by the NSTA. But this doesn't stop at just the oil companies, I mean the article goes on to point out Forestry Lessons that were, get this, written by Weyerhaeuser (a lumber and paper company) and Internation Paper as well as information in Biogenetic Engineering by Monsanto. I don't know about anyone else, but to me this makes about as much sense as the Roadrunner asking for a safe route of travel from Wile E. Coyote. He may give "information" but you have to question the value and motives of the information. Couple these things in with the all too well documented assault put forth by trying to pass off Intelligent Design as science, and it seems that today's text books are less like science, and more like science-fiction, or just plain fantasy. As the article concludes, "In the meantime, Mom and Dad may want to keep a sharp eye on their kids' science homework." Saturday, November 25, 2006 Lessons LearnedThey say you learn something new every day. Well, if that is based on averages, I am good for the next week or so I think. Some things I learned today.1. When you have a bum leg bothering you, it is probably not a good idea to take your daughter bowling. It will not "stretch out" the leg and help ease the pain, instead it will only make it worse. 2. Never try and catch up with an old Italian Mother, when going to her house for dinner, by bringing her the Thanksgiving Leftovers that she "forgot" to take home, plus cookies and more. You will only wind up bringing home more stuff from her house than you managed to bring her. 3. Never underestimate my daughter. While visiting today, my mother gave my daughter a book which she thought was practice lettering. Well it was, sort of... it was practice for cursive writing skills for 3rd graders. I figured she could just "hold onto it" until she was "ready" to start practicing cursive. Well, it seems she is ready. She finished half of the workbook... WELL. 4. Nobody in my mother's neighborhood has a wireless connection (that I can detect). 5. You cannot remember all the things you intended to blog about unless you write them down when you discover you do not have an internet connection, otherwise you will invariably forget them when you go to write about them later. So what have you learned lately?
Keepin' upIt should be easy to keep up with a six year old... shouldn't it? I have tons I had planned to write, but so far, I have been kept running by LatteGirl. Admittedly, she has me wrapped around her little finger, knows it and is using it to her benefit.Yesterday, was game playing all morning, in the afternoon she had a playdate with a couple of friends, which fortunately also game me a couple of hours of adult conversation. Once we were along again, she hung on me and "demanded" attention constantly. Any momment that she was left to her own devices, even if watching one of her movies, if I walked more than ten feet away, she reminded me (again) how much she is missing TheWife and feeling "lonely." Is it a ploy? Of course it is. But I fall for it anyway. 9:30 AM, we are now off to go bowling, and we are going to my mother's this afternoon, which will give me some time to breath, but also leaves me without an internet connection, etc. Aw well, I have a book I have been trying to finish for some time now... maybe, just maybe I will finish i off. Friday, November 24, 2006 The Day AfterThe "fancy" dishes have been put away, the people are now stuffed instead of the Turkey which is now relegated to nothing more than leftover slices of meat in tupperware, ready to made into an assortment of things (Turkey Sandwiches, Turkey Soup, Turkey Salad, etc).The annual "Run of the Insane" better known as "Black Friday" (or as they actually call it in Toys R US, "Green Friday") is already under way. In years past (Before Child) we used to partake of this particular brand of insanity, but that is behind us now, and the only Shopping I am doing today is here from the comfort of the living room sofa. TheWife has departed for her 3 days at the Spa, and LatteGirl and I are doing our best imitations of inanimate objects right now. Her with her Scooby-Doo movies and I with a few minutes of blogging. I will be back after some shopping and entertaining of the child. So how was your day? Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Prepin'Charlie Brown: We've got ANOTHER holiday to worry about. It seems Thanksgiving Day is upon us. So here we are again another Thanksgiving is upon us. LatteGirl and I have spent the evening making Pumpkin Pie "Gems" , "Magic" Cookies and Apple Crisp (pictures to follow when time allows). Tomorrow we will make Chocolate Chip Cookies, before I send her and TheWife off to go see Disney on Ice so I can get down to some serious cooking. If you find everybody under your feet awaiting the Thanksgiving feast I highly recommend this path to freedom while preparing. Find a theater that is perhaps open or some show of some sort and ship your significant other and the kids out. Even if it is just for a couple of hours. It makes getting things done so much easier. A Posthumous Honor for Latte Pop My mother was in attendance yesterday to receive a Posthumous medal for my father for his service during the Korean War. Obviously I am quite thrilled with it, although I wish I could have attended and I must admit, I can't help but wonder why it takes so long for these things to come around. I mean, wouldn't it be nicer if these awards were given while more of the men and women that served our country were still alive? Of my fathers group (more on that another time), out of the five of them only one member is still alive. I guess I am just a bit sad and perhaps bitter that my father could not be there to have received it himself. Bloggin' the Weekend away With TheWife away, enjoying her pre-birthday present trip to the spa for the weekend, LatteGirl and I will be bumming around, and I will back and blogging providing much needed material on what I would anticipate will be a rather slow period for blogging. So, as you slowly arise from your tryptophan coma, come on by and visit, leave a comment or two. Otherwise we will be lonely. To you and yours, I wish my U.S. compatriots a Happy Thanksgiving. To any terrorist type people, I would suggest you not try anything sneaky now, the last thing you want it to stir millions of people with upset stomachs that have consumed far too much food, the ensuing mess would be quite awful to contend with. Tuesday, November 21, 2006 Modeling?Like I am sure every parent thinks about their child, I think LatteGirl is absolutely gorgeous. And from time to time, TheWife and I have pondered the possibility of trying to get her involved in commercials or modeling.As TheWife and LatteGirl were leaving the photo studio where we get LatteGirl's Christmas photos done (yes, we are THOSE parents, that insist on sending pictures of our daughter for a card), a person approached my wife, and gave her a card. She said she was from an agency, and that they needed people like my daughter. They exchanged some information, and the person said they would be in touch. When told about it, I was immediately skeptical. (Not exactly a big jump for me). I said to TheWife how it sounded like a scam to me, one of those "modeling agencies" that are more interested in selling headshot packages, because they really have no "clients" looking for models. TheWife was quite annoyed, claiming I had no knowledge on which to base my suppositions. They called over the weekend. I took the call, and the lady on the other end wanted to set up an appointment, immediately... as in even on Sunday. She heard the questioning tone in my voice, and in trying to "reassure" me, she actually fed my skepticism. "Don't worry, Mr. Latte this is a no-cost or obligation meeting" Yup, there is was. Clear as day (to me). She wouldn't need to reassure me that their was "no obligation" unless she had plans to sell me something. I decided, I was just too sure that this was a sell you pictures scam, so I decided to defer it to TheWife and let her speak to the representative. SO TheWife, aware of my skeptical feelings asked what was to be expected and or discussed at this meeting. The lady said, it depended on the representative, and what they thought of LatteGirl, and of course what sort of Marketing Package we would need... TheWife is of course now feeling as skeptical as I had all along. I feel bad (OK, well I started to feel bad right after I said, "I told you so"). But she still has some lingering thoughts about it. Maybe we DO need to get a "marketing package" (even if it isn't from these people). Maybe we should be trying to get her face out there if we are ever going to be serious about her possibly getting into commercials or child modeling. It would be nice to have that to add to her college fund I just don't know. Part of me would love to see her do that sort of stuff. But of course part of me just thinks about that stupid over made up picture of Jon Benet Ramsey, and make me feel like even thinking about her doing something like that (even if it is solely for her college fund/future) is exploiting. I just don't know what to do. What would you do? Thursday, November 16, 2006 Picture Perfect Thursday X - Cold Day You know whereThere is no hiding the fact that I am a Democrat at heart. Though this wasn't always the case, and was at a time a self proclaimed "Alex Keaton Republican" (also known as a Ronald Reagan Republican). But those days are long gone, along with the Republican Party showing any sort of respect for our planet or the people of this country.Every time I look at this picture I took at the Bronx Zoo earlier this year, the first thing that pops into my head is Senator Inhofe (R-OK) and his brain dead remarks calling the EPA "The Gestapo", labeling global warming "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people." Or how he pushed so hard for Bush's "Clear Skies Initiative" which was nothing of the sort. I mean, when Polar Bears are drowning because of insufficient amounts of ice at the North Pole, I don't care how pro-business you are, it should at least give you pause to consider that perhaps something should change. This really shouldn't be a political issue. I mean, hell they may act like robots but these people have children too don't they? Don't they care at all what kind of a world we are leaving them with, or is that stock option really worth mortgaging their future for? I am not talking about about the whole world turning into a bunch of , "Wheat Grash Drinking, Hemp Wearing Hippies" (not that there is anything wrong with that), but taking steps to at least begin to curb the damage we are doing. More and more kids wind up (or are born with) asthma and breathing problems. Do we really need to wait until some Senator has a child die some horrible death before we start to act? Blue Skys, clean water. Is that so much to want for your children? Wednesday, November 15, 2006 41 years ago todayCost of a new home: $21,500.00Cost of a new car (VW Bug): $1,595.00 Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.05 Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $0.31 Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.53 Cost of a gallon of Milk: $0.95 The President of the United States was Lyndon B. Johnson (The last President to get us into a war we had no business getting into). Tops at the Box Office was The Sound of Music and Dr. Zhivago. On Television the Best Drama was The Fugitive and Best Comedy was The Dick Van Dyke Show. Also on this date, a child was born to a teenage High School Cheerleader in Oyster Bay New York. He is immediately given up for adoption so that the parents could finish High School. Little did anybody know at that time, he would grow up to be... Latte Man. Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Braggin' Man OK, so I admit it. When TheWife started pushing LatteGirl towards joining soccer I did not think it was going to turn out well. She enjoys playing games like soccer in the yard, but never showed much inclination to learn more. Attempt to teach her more were met with MUCH resistance. But as it turns out she took to quite well. She loved it. She had a blast. She payed attention. She (unlike most kids her age) actually stayed in position. Of course, I still think things could have fallen apart if she got bored. But she scored 4 goals in her first five games, and her team went 4-0-1 in those games. The only drawback left, is that I was banned from watching her play by TheWife. She fears my natural competitive nature would create too much pressure on LatteGirl, so I can only get updates afterwards. But, how could I not help but be proud. Monday, November 13, 2006 Tamiflu vs The FluI realize that Avarian Flu is still a major concern around the world, and that currently Tamiflu is considered one of the only (if not currently THE only) medicine that currently combats it, but until I hear of a major outbreak of Bird Flu in the United States, this article from MSNBC will make me think twice (or more) before I allow my child to take Tamiflu. Tamiflu takers: Watch out for bizarre behavior
Review - The Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseWe went this weekend to see The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, the latest and (hopefully) last installment of this series. This is a tough film for me to review. Mostly because, if I gave you a review based solely on what I thought of it as a film. It would... let's just say, I wouldn't be giving it a glowing review. And I have to keep in mind that this is a film geared to be "family" so that the kids can enjoy it as well. And LatteGirl loved it. So we have a mixed bag of review within the family.For kids, the action and eye candy is enough to keep them entertained. Martin Short as Jack Frost was soft enough a villian that the kids could dislike him, but not so much so that they feared him to the detriment of the film (much like the aliens were a bit too scary for a lot of smaller kids in Chicken Little). The 1-1/2 hour time frame might be a bit long for them, but should be just enough to keep their attention throughout. Now from an adult viewpoint (and for the record my wife disagrees... so as she puts it, "from my highly critical and unforgiving" point of view). They did some awful things to this movie. First of all, you immediately miss Bernard. The "Number 2" elf from the last movie becomes "Number 1" and he can't carry it. Charlie is nothing but an afterthought and side role in this film. The jokes... what few there are, seem either forced... or just plain unfunny. They obviously ran out of sweater and psychologist gags for Rheinhold's character and make him even more strange, but sadly less funny than previously. Tim Allen is as good as in this one as he has been in any of the films, but it is not enough to save this. The last 20 minutes of the film has all the action, and the first hour and ten minutes feels like an eternity. Too much setup for too little. Is it truly terrible? No. But I would really suggest waiting until DVD. There is nothing in this that you will miss in the conversion to the small screen. Friday, November 10, 2006 Picture Perfect Thursday IX - Washed Away Yes, I know I am a day late (and as always a dollar short), but hey I am trying. I am still trying to catch up after all the election day events and my lack of sleep. It seems like only yesterday, I was there for everything. Including "Tubbie Time." Sure I knew that this like everything would end. And to be perfectly honest, I wasn't all that upset when I could just "keep an eye" on her rather than having to bathe her. I managed to stay much more dry that way. But, I didn't expect to be tossed away quite as quickly as I have been. She has now reached the age where she needs privacy. Not only is Daddy no longer needed for bathing, showering, getting dressed, etc. But now, I am not even wanted in the same room during these events (nor is TheWife, it is not a male/female thing, she needs her privacy from everyone). Yes, I knew this day would come. But I never expected it to be so dramatic... or so soon. Isn't there a way to just slow 'em down sometimes? Do they have to keep growing up so dang fast. Am I going to be completely unneeded by the time she is 7? Am I "all washed up" already? I really hope not. I am so never going to hear the end of it if she ever finds out I put her naked picture here. Wednesday, November 08, 2006 MudThat is what my brain feels like. One great big ball of mud. I would love to have some profound post here about the events of yesterday's elections, the fact that asshat Rumsfeld got canned today, or maybe something witty about the Vice President managing to go hunting without shooting a "friend" in the face, or anything else. But the brain... it is mud.Turns out, apparently that I am not as young as I like to think I am at times, and still refuse to admit (until it is too late of course) that I can not stay up until 2 AM watching election returns when that alarm clock is going off at 4:45. I used to be able to just go about my day. Now. Not so much. I struggled through today, constantly hoping and trying to deceive myself that I would "wake up" sooner or later and that I would be able to post something worthwhile. Nope. Maybe tomorrow. Tuesday, November 07, 2006 He has a bright future....in about 12 years LatteGirl: I want to Vote with you tomorrow. Me: Well you can come with me, but you can't actually vote yet. LatteGirl: But I really, really want to vote this time. Me: Why? Who do you want to vote for? LatteGirl: John Kerry.
It is not a right.... It is a responsibility. Go Vote! I am sure everybody who reads this knows how important the democratic process is. Far too many people have become far too cynical about the whole process (and I can admit that I understand WHY they feel that way), but the fact remains that we live in a Democracy, and for that Democracy to work, We The People need to vote. Stand up, and be counted. Friday, November 03, 2006 More proof that men are just animalsThe decision handed down by the Maryland Appeals Court states that "No" doesn't mean "No" if it follows a "Yes".Where are the screams from the White House? Where are the Congressional Leaders screaming at the top of their lungs how this must be changed? {{ crickets }} Nowhere. That is where they are. Talk about going backwards. So in essence, according to Maryland Law (and I can't help but wonder what other states have this same flaw in their legislative logic), once a woman says yes, she no longer has the perogative to change her mind. That's it. End Game. Because after all once a man gets all "worked up" you can't expect him to just stop, can you? What just because the woman got cold feet. Baloney... She said "yes" and that is that. Is that really where we are? Really? I gotta say... that is really pathetic.
Life in New Jersey is a 'lotta BullEvery morning, I make my way through Newark on my way to work. Somehow, in the early morning hours, my brain still suffering from an insufficient caffeine reserve, and of course being so immune to shock and surprise anymore, apparently I find it hard to even notice a bull running around downtown Newark.Yes, a bull wandering the streets of the biggest city in New Jersey. I was there, and didn't see a dang thing. Thursday, November 02, 2006 Picture Perfect Thursday VII - "My little Patriot"You're a Grand Old Flagby George M. Cohan You're a grand old flag, You're a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave. You're the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave. Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue, Where there's never a boast or brag. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag. You're a grand old flag, You're a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave. You're the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave. Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue, Where there's never a boast or brag. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag. Despite being tired of much of the shenanigans that has (and is) going on, and the disappointment with the current administration (to put it lightly), I still believe in this country, and I believe that it is so great that it can and will overcome. Just watch. We survived the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, we survived the infighting of the Civil War, we survived FDR and all jailing of Japanese-Americans, and we will survive the current stupidity of G.W. Bush as well. But we can not become disillusioned, we can not become disenfranchiesed, we must do our duty and stand up for our democracy. We can not sit back and believe that "it doesn't make a difference" because it certainly does. One Person, One Vote. It is not a right, it is a responsiblity. Do not shirk it, next Tuesday, get out and vote. Set an example. Make a lesson out of it. Make your children proud of the country they live in and the freedoms it affords. And of course... Keep an eye on that Grand Old Flag. Wednesday, November 01, 2006 The Meatrix II 1/2 now showingIt has been a while (but not that long), but those that read this blog know my disdain for Factory Farming, artificial hormones in our milk, etc. You may have even hear me talk about TheMeatrix series of PSA announcements, cleverly done as a series of Flash Movies. Maybe, perhaps you might have noticed the logo for the last one over on the right sidebar. Well, I am happy to point out that they are back with The Meatrix II-1/2. This 1/2 edition was designed to coincide with the release of movie Fast Food Nation (coming to theaters Nov 17th).Of course if by chance you haven't watched them yet, you should go and watch the first 2 shorts in the series
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