The Adventures of Latte Man

Come Sail Away

2006-12-31T13:07:00.000-05:00

It is official. I have given up on Blogger.

Please come visit me at http://tripleventi.com

Under Construction

2006-12-29T16:16:00.000-05:00

Blogger has been buggin for 2 days now. Eating posts or just not letting me in.

I've been warning. Hell even CNet has an article about Blogger's sloppy stumble out of Beta.

So, I am currently prettying up my new home for your first visit.

Be back soon.

2006 Year In Review : Part I

2006-12-27T20:10:00.000-05:00

There are certain things that I will miss from 2006. Not many. And really I guess it is more about things that have changed more than things left behind. Any parent knows the feeling. The "where does the time go" feeling. It just seemed so accelerated this year.

Gone are the days of kiddie pools, or "having to" go swimming with LatteGirl. She can swim... well. No more inflatable arm bands, silly little inflatables or other such "baby toys." Now she swims on her own and those silly little toys have been replaced with diving sticks, underwater hoops for swimming through and other "big kid" toys.

Gone this year is the simple version of soccer that was just more like us kicking a ball back and forth. Now we run drills in the yard (her choice), have orange cones (her choice), and she sets up a goal so she can (try) to shoot it past me.

The Christmas wishlist also changed quite dramatically. Gone are Color Wonder Books, Wiggles Videos, Barbie Stylin' Heads and Play-Doh. This year the requests were things like a Pottery Wheel, a telescope, a Chemistry Kit ("My First Chemistry kit" not a real chemistry set), and Leapster Math Games. Where toys were requested, they were more mature, including (one of my old favorites) MouseTrap. She also got a FurReal Friends Chimp, but that was TheWife's idea and wasn't actually a requested toy.

I know they grow up, and we can't stop them. And I am sure I will lament this again many times in the future in a similar fashion. But somehow I think I will always look back at this particular year as the end point of my "baby" and the begining of the years I can call "my young little lady."

A Jell-O mold like Holiday Recap...

2006-12-26T11:50:00.000-05:00

(Sort of looks like a post, but is tenuous at best in its construction, with lots of odd things thrown it).

LatteGirl did not feel well, and was a bit off right up and through Christmas Eve. By Christmas Even she even seemed a bit depressed. By being ill for the past week, she sort of felt like she missed the "run up" to Christmas, and several times lamented how Christmas seemed to come way too fast this year. (What child complains about Christmas arriving too quickly? Really!)

By Christmas morning however, whatever has been keeping her down was gone. She was her bright chipper self. Full of enthusiasm, excitement and awake far too early in the morning for my tastes (and it should be noted... I am a morning person in general). I will go more into the specifics about present and such later (with photos).

When I was a younger lad (way back when), the running "joke" (meaning every parent had been burned by it at least once), was the dreaded, "*batteries not included." While I have been snagged by that once or twice myself, it is nothing that a quick run to the corner store, while other gifts are being played with that cannot be remedied quickly. No, that is not it. For me the bane of my Christmas Eve life as a parent can be pointed to three different little words. Words that seem to apply to at least one gift a year. Those words that make me shudder... "some assembly required."

Our car broke down on Saturday. The Saturday before Christmas. Water Pump and Timing Chain went. We needed a vehicle so we decided to rent on for the weekend. Have you ever tried to find an open Car Rental Place on a Saturday afternoon of a three day holiday weekend? 23 places need to be called before we found one open.

As it turns out, that event was almost a blessing in disguise. LatteGirl's haul from my mother's house (my mother, my aunt, and my sister) never would have fit in the trunk of our car, so at least we reaped that benefit from having the rental car. But I think I would have happily traded having to make an extra trip back to go get the remaining goodies rather than spending $600 in car repairs, and another $150 (or so) on the rental.

TheWife and I "agreed" no not buy presents for each other this year as "we" (read: she) wants a new painting for above the sofa in the living room. She got me CSI Season 6, and a Chiminea that I had my eye on for the deck. I bought her, a bracelet (which unfortunately did not arrive in time), a vegetable steamer (she wanted one), a Target GiftCard ('cause what woman doesn't enjoy shopping?), and a pair of diamond earring set in white gold (she is now on a kick where she doesn't want anything "yellow"). So obviously... we both broke our "agreement." As it turns out that probably was a good thing, because the money we would have spent on a print for the living room (She wants a "Kinkaide") is now going into her car for repairs.

I started baking on Friday evening when I got home from work, and didn't stop until around dinner time on Christmas Eve. I was exhausted by the time I was done (which was not a good thing to be, when I had "some assembly required" gifts to...er... assemble once I could get LatteGirl off to bed), but the house smelled fantastic. I was a bit behind because of LatteGirl not wanting to bake this week since she was under the weather, but I did manage to complete all the cookies I promised people here I would send out. In the end I wound up baking about 16 dozen cookies and a couple of cakes.

I took time out from baking Sunday, to go to church (it didn't burst into flames and burn down... who knew), so I could see LatteGirl and her Sunday School class perform a nativity scene play. LatteGirl was one of the 3 Kings. She was thrilled to be the one presenting Gold. TheWife however did not find it amusing when I kept referring to her as "the king presenting the bling."

Fortunately (for us), we no longer have any family members that actually still make the Jello mold for the holidays. (Although we still have a party with TheWife's family on Saturday, so I may be a bit premature). But I have to ask. Who the heck looks a Jell-O and thinks... "that needs carrot slivers in it"?)

I hope you got everything you wanted from Santa. (If not, the post-holiday sales start today :)

I must have wronged somebody, somewhere.

2006-12-22T15:22:00.000-05:00

That is the only explanation I can come up with. I did all my Christmas Shopping, late as usual but with more than enough time to get everything here for the holidays. Then, once those deadlines for shipping have passed, the e-mail start rolling in. "Sorry out of Stock," "Shipment Delayed," etc. etc. So now, to fill the void, the weekend before Christmas, I still have to go shopping!

This is so unfair. I swear this is some sort of Karma kickback for something I did to somebody. I even considered looking towards the Bible for some answers. What did I find? "...Latte Man the cross maker was the richest man in all of Galilee..." Ah... That explains it.

Oh well, a shopping I will go. Wish me luck. Oh, and in case this is the last time we see each other before then (or I get trampled at the mall) . Best wishes to you and yours for this Holiday Season.

Picture Perfect Thursday XIII - Happy Holidays

2006-12-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays
From Our Family To Yours

(I think that is really all that needs to be said for this one)

Christmas Meme

2006-12-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

OK, I don't have the picture handy I want for Picture Perfect Thursday, so I was tagged with a MeMe, and decided in the spirit of the holiday, I should do it... so allow me to use this to entertain you (and tag you... snicker) until I get to Picture Perfect Thursday later on.

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? I hate the waste of wrapping paper, and would use nothing if I could. I can't. TheWife insists on paper for Christmas. I get away with (reusable) bags the rest of the time. As a kid, we never had presents wrapped. It would be too hard for Santa to know who got what present if they were all wrapped I was told.

2.Real tree or artificial? Pre-lit Martha Stewart, because TheWife wanted "nothing to do" with a real tree "ever again" but now she is having second thoughts and we may go back to a real tree next year.

3.When do you put up the tree? With the artificial, right after Thanksgiving. With the live tree we generally waited until about Dec. 15th or so.

4.When do you take the tree down? On the 13th day after Christmas.

5.Do you like eggnog? Yup. And now I even like it without it being spiked. Who knew?

6.Favorite gift you received as a child? Is it awful that I say, I don't know. I can't think of one that was way better than any other.

7.Do you have a nativity scene? hahaha... uh... No. I have received several as gifts though. (See Number 14)

8.Hardest person to buy for? TheWife and my mother are a tie for royal pain in the butt.

9.Easiest person to buy for? I don't find anybody particularly easy, just some less hard than others.

10.Mail or email Christmas cards? Mostly mail, some e-mails though.

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Oh, there is a long list of items that tie for this honor. Many came from my MIL.

12.Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Vacation

13.When do you start shopping? January 1

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.

15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Triple Venti Gingerbread Latte of course. Does Coffee count as food?

16.Clear lights or colored on the tree? Color lights when I was a kid. TheWife only wants white. I settle for putting the color outside now.

17.Favorite Christmas song? Bobby Rivers: The Twelve Pains of Christmas

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, but only about 12 miles to Mom's house.

19.Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? Of course.

20.Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither, we have an Olde World Santa Claus

21.Open the presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning. I'm not done wrapping anything until just before the child wakes up Christmas morning.

22.Most annoying thing about this time of year? Cranky people that bitch and moan about all the work they have to do to plan for the holidays. If it is "work" you are doing something wrong (in my not so humble opinion). Yes, there is work to be done, plenty of it. But when we get family and friends together, I feel like it is all worth it. Updated to add: This goes Double for Bill O'Reilly and his Faux War on Christmas

23.Do you have Jesus in your heart this Christmas? I don't think so... It is probably just heartburn

24.What would you like for Christmas? A smile on my daughter's face. Everything starts there.

Now to find three people to tag with this, that I think will actually do it. How about:

Cathy (Feel Free to Tag Team with Doug)
Chicka (c'mon you know you want to)
and
CMHL (It will make a nice diversion for a couple of minutes... PLEEEZ)

Run Away!

2006-12-20T15:18:00.000-05:00

On the idea of leaving Blogger, figuring I would do it after the holidays when things slow down. However, apparently their new version is out of beta. Personally, I do not know a single person that is happy after they made the switch. So now I am very afraid. I may have to make a decision or move sooner rather than later.

I created a test blog on the new blogger, and while it is not as bad as I have heard some people complain... it still looks half baked. Many things were added to catch up with everybody with some long overdue features (like labels), but none of it seems complete. Just slapped on with a "we can fix it later" sort of mentality.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Timing is everything

2006-12-19T16:39:00.000-05:00

So far this year we have been very lucky. LatteGirl has (knocking on wood) been very healthy this year. She was even able to, for the first time in her life, cut her asthma medication dosage in half.

So naturally, it seems only fitting that she should wind up getting sick just a week before Christmas. I saw it coming. She was having meltdown (usually a sign she is tired) way earlier than usual the past couple of days, and I knew it was only a matter of time.

Of course she is not sick enough to get an anti-biotic script yet. Oh, no. We need to wait until she is full blown miserable before we can get the doctor to write one. Well, with a little luck, maybe she can kick it before the week is out.

A matter of perspective?

2006-12-19T12:30:00.000-05:00

OK, somebody explain this to me. The headline of the story says, " US students believe the First Amendment guarantees too many rights!" However, it goes on to say 33% of students polled believe the First Amendment goes "too far" in guaranteeing freedom of speech, press, worship and assembly.

Now two things bother me about the article that appeared in USA Today (besides the fact that it is a USA Today article). First is, do these 33% of students realize that the very rights they use to express their opinon is allowed because of these rights that go "too far."

The second, is the simple fact that if 33% do believe it goes "too far" doesn't it mean that 66% DON'T, and since twice as many don't believe it than do... shouldn't that headline read, "US students DON'T believe the First Amendment guarantees too many right"?

Or am I missing something?

Helpful Reminder

2006-12-18T11:16:00.000-05:00

If you still plan on buying Holiday Gifts online, for many (most? all?) today is the last day you can place an order and get it before Chistmas without having to mortgage your house for shipping charges.

Your welcome.

The Saturday Blog Reader's Bonus

2006-12-16T13:51:00.000-05:00

LatteGirl and I are baking chocolate chip cookies today. So, to make a typically light blogging day a bit more interesting, the first three (3) comments today requesting cookies will receive a care package of Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Update: Ok, I have 3... I think... but I am still in a giving spirit, so I will bump it to five (5).

Offer valid in the 50 States and Canada only. Offer may be expanded to include more commenters at the discretion of AoLM management. I do not put any nuts in my chocolate chip cookies, but my bakeware has been used for products that contain nuts and most of the products I use also carry that warning (Including a bag of cashews I bought... go figure), so if somebody in your household is allergic to nuts you may not wish to enter. Liars, cheats, theives, members of the Bush Administration and Employees of Faux News Channel (is that redundant?) and their immediate family are not eligible.

Non Sequitur Friday

2006-12-15T10:38:00.000-05:00

Timing is everything sometimes. I happened by a newly opened Omaha Steak store the other night on my way home from work, and decided to splurge and get a few items to bring home. When I arrived home however, I found on the porch a huge white cooler. My Aunt decided to send us a huge "sampler" from... you guessed it... Omaha Steaks. So now there is no room in our freezer for anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. As problems go, this is not a bad one to have.

I am probably a little late with this but if you haven't seen the 2006 Year in Review from JibJab, then go watch Nuckin' Futs. Requires sound. Just too funny.

andrew michael baron of Rocketboom "fame" is clearly bitter that Amanda Congdon has a new gig, and probably more so that it is backed by ABC (meaning she is getting paid).

At first I thought it was just a little pathetic when I saw there would be a new installment in the Die Hard Series, but I guess if Sly Stallone can still make new Rocky movies, then Willis can still try to be an action hero cop... again.

If you are anything like me, you have tried to get a nice picture of Christmas lights (whether on your home or elsewhere) but have struggled. Well, here is how to do it.

On the more personal front LatteGirl and I are spending the night along, with popcorn and a marathon of the standard Holiday Classic Movies on DVD, right after we watch the Grinch on Cartoon Network. Apparently, she is quite excited that she is getting to watch it "on tv" making it apparently much more important than the 17.4 billion times we watched it on DVD.

What does your weekend have in store for you?

Picture Perfect Thursday XII - Come and see the show

2006-12-14T16:55:00.000-05:00

If you could see me now
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

Last year at this time I was mad as heck. Why? Because I was unable to attend LatteGirl's School Christmas pageant. Why? Because it was held at 10 o'clock in the morning!

When I arrived home from work, TheWife and LatteGirl were getting ready to leave, and quite dejected she said to me, "We are leaving to go to my Christmas pageant."

I told her that I knew that, and that I was going too. Her face lit up. She started cheering and jumping up and down. She was as thrilled that I was attending as I was.

I know it may be more convenient for the schools to hold these events during the day. But I think both the parent and the child miss out this way. OK, last year I thought that was the case. Now, after having missed a year, and knowing how thrilled I was to be able to see her this year. I KNOW this is the case.

I can't get last year back. But I know damn well, I am not going to ever miss another one.

Funny / Not Funny

2006-12-14T08:48:00.000-05:00

Funny - Jib Jab is back with their newest video, the 2006 year in Review.

Not Funny - If you have looked at the prices on eBay you already know that the whole PS3 thing is completely out of hand. How Sony can be so late (a year after the Xbox 360 release), release it just before the Holidays and still have so few untils available is simply insane. But while they still have NO units to sell, the attempted (rather poorly since they have been found out already) to start a Viral Campaign with a "blogger" that promised to "spread the luv [sic] to those like j who want a psp! …consider us your own personal psp hype machine, here to help you wage a holiday assault on ur [sic] parents, girl, granny, boss—whoever—so they know what you really want.” Maybe if they spend a little more time in production they could actually have some units to sell. They full story from Next Generation is here.

Funny - I have often felt bad that apparently lawmakers in NJ are too dumb to be able to come up with a slogan for our State. First we paid an advertising agency, mind you the same braintrusts that were hired to come up with a new corporate image for the company that would be the merger of Sprint and Nextel, and came up with the incredibly duh, "Sprint-Nextel", we paid these idiots a quarter of a million dollars to come up with a slogan that was (rightly) rejected. They then decided to turn it into a contest and allow residents to come up with a slogan. Before they announced the winner, they hadn't bothered to check if it had been used before, and unveiled a "new" slogan that was actually old, so back to the drawingboard they go. But, I guess I should be relived that no slogan is better than THESE SLOGANS that other places have (read the comments for some additional "winners" as well).

Not Funny - Following up on the stupidity of the story from Waco, TX from yesterday, today I found this story about a teacher that rather than escort three students to the restrooms, instructed the students to urinate in a soda bottle. What almost made this story funny was that the school administration felt it necessary to explain that it was the teacher and not the students that were under investigation.

Picture Perfect Thursday will be around later (I hope).

I think the wrong person was suspended

2006-12-13T10:07:00.000-05:00

A 4 year old child was given an "in-school suspension" for what was termed according to this article on MSNBC.COM:

"inappropriate physical behavior interpreted as sexual contact and/or sexual harassment" after he hugged the woman and he "rubbed his face in the chest of (the) female employee" on Nov. 10.

Now, maybe it is just me, but if you view anything done by a 4 year old to be "interpreted as sexual contact" then you need to have your head examined, because you have some serious issues. Thus it should be the teachers aide that "interpreted" this contact as "sexual" that needs to be removed from the equation. Could it be considered inappropriate? Sure. A child resting or pressing their head against the breasts of a woman that is not their mother could be interpreted that way, but I think I would be hard pressed to find a well adjusted mother that would consider that to be the case. "Natural" or "Instinctual" are words that would more likely come to mind. But Sexual? I think that aide needs some serious time with a therapist, because there are issues there that have nothing to do with a 4 year old.

Oh, they are singing a different tune now

2006-12-12T15:50:00.000-05:00

When the Supreme Court ruling came down in Kelo v. City of New London, Real Estate Developers couldn't wait to start strong arming cities into forcing people out of their homes with the newly expanded powers of Eminent Domain.

Here in New Jersey, a recent State Supreme Court Decision stated that the municipalities could use the same powers of Eminent Domain in order to for Real Estate Developers to sell property in an effort to preserve open land. Is anybody surprised that the Developers Association is now upset? Seems they are not as happy when it is THEM that is having their lives ripped out from under them.

The case is "Mount Laurel Township v. Mipro Homes LLC.", No. A-85/86, Supreme Court of New Jersey. It will be interesting to see if they decide to try and appeal this further.

How dumb do you have to be?

2006-12-12T11:56:00.000-05:00

It never fails to amaze me just how stupid people are at times. I of course have talked about this stupidity before, but it is usually teenagers, and we all know how clearly they think at times.

But now comes the story of a 35 year old man. Smart enough to be able to escape from prison and avoid detection since last June. Until that is, he started checking his Myspace Profile, consistently from a PA. Library, which enabled the police to track him down and capture him there.

Let's run down the stupidity shall we?

1. He used his real name.
2. He consistently checked it from the same location
3. He didn't think to use an anonymizing web site to mask himself at all.
4. He was facing auto theft charges when he escaped, he is now facing aggravated battery, burglary, auto theft and entering in auto charges plus I'm sure there are some charges for the escape itself on the books somewhere.

Perhaps it would be best if we kept him behind bars for a long time so that we can remove him from the gene pool.

Start a blog... please.

2006-12-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

As I (and many others) often do, I was over visiting Busy Mom, and she had a post about those insipidly long, horrendously boring, "Family Christmas Letter".

I mean seriously, if you are going to attempt to keep people up to date on you and your family, start a blog. Write it down while it is still fresh in your mind, and share it... then.

Now, I will admit that I am quite imetuous, and may be overreacting a tad, but I have never quite understood them. (Can it really just be me?) If I really cared about you, I would have kept touch over the past year (or if you had followed the advise above you I would have read your blog) , so I would already know everything in the letter... if not, then what makes you think I am going to carve out the time to read about it now? Honestly.

On a separate Christmas "tradition" that people either love or hate... the "child" Christmas Card. Back when I was a single lad, I was never a big fan of the "Here is my kid as a Christmas card" thing. Then of course life happens, and suddenly I find myself having done nothing but use my child as a Christmas card. I started to ponder this again this year, and threw out some feelers to family members to get some input. I swear, I thought my mother was going to lose her mind at the thought of not getting a LatteGirl Christmas card. So once again we relented, and have the "Child Card."

So what do you think... or do? Do you turn your children into Christmas Cards every year? Is this just a cheap way out of sending some photos to family members (I read this somewhere, I just don't remember where)? Do you like GETTING them? (I admit, I now actually do enjoy receiving them, and seeing neices, nephews and friends kids growing up). What do you think?

Where I support an entire industry

2006-12-09T16:17:00.000-05:00

I swear, every year I need to buy my entire collection of extension cords for the Holiday Lights all over again. It is my belief that there is an extension cord eating monster in my basement. That is the only possibility. Otherwise, by now I would have enough extension cords to light the entire town.

Two quote for the price of one

2006-12-09T13:19:00.000-05:00

While waiting on line for Santa, LatteGirl had a notepad and pen. When asked by another child if that was her Christmas list, she replied, "No, I want to get Santa's autograph" (which I loved in itself but we were not done).

The other child turned to his father and said, "Now why didn't I think of that? Do you realize how much that would go for on eBay?"

Picture Perfect Thursday XI - Santa's Little Helper

2006-12-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

Santa's Little Helper
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

The magic of Christmas. Ever year as parents we work hard to keep that spirit alive in our children. We work to keep the belief in Santa Claus alive... if just "for one more year."

When this picture was taken back in 2004, it was a really special time. While LatteGirl had already shown an understanding of the holidays with the anticipation of toys. That was really as far as it went. But in 2004 it became more. The "anticipation" became palpable. Her thirst for information, first a bit concerning to me, because I was afraid she was "outgrowing" it already, was soon put at ease, as I discovered that simply more detailed information about the stories was really all she wanted. She also started to really understand the spirit of giving that year. That you got just as good a feeling (or in her case "almost as good") from giving as from receiving.

It was also that year that I learned something new. That as much as I was trying to keep it "alive" for her, she brought it all back for me. Christmas wasn't a chore, or a season to "survive" any longer. It wasn't about "dealing" with family. She had given me back the spirit of the holidays.

And now, a couple of years later, as I ponder once again if this will be the final year of Santa Claus "mystery", I wonder who I am more concerned about. Who am I trying to "save" Christmas for... her? Or me?

Because, now I feel like I am Santa Claus. Because after all isn't it the "job" of Santa Claus to spread joy? To Bring happiness? To Give? Well, I enjoy those aspects more now than I ever have. And I give her all the credit in the world. She is Santa's Little Helper. She helped MAKE me Santa Claus.

As parents we all have become Santa for our children. And if we can remember that, while the "belief" may fade, the characteristics that we learned through our children do not have to die. We can always be more cheerful, more giving, and more loving to others. And after all isn't that what the spirit of the season is all about?

Mother has boy arrested for Opening Christmas Present

2006-12-07T08:52:00.000-05:00

When you were young did you ever try and find your Christmas presents early? C'mon be honest now. Now... did you ever think you would get arrested for finding one? Well, apparently if you are the son of Brandi Ervin from Columbia S.C. that is the case as boy is booked for Opening Christmas Present.

The mother stated she did it to teach her 12 year old son a lesson because he has already been having so many problems. OK, so you have a child with ADHD that medication is supposedly not helping (by her own account), who took a swing at a security guard, and has been suspended from school pending an expulsion hearing, and your idea to straighten him out is to have him locked up and give him a juvenile record? Granted the child was only charged with petty larceny, but that is still going to be brought up in his expulsion hearing at school. And if he gets expelled, then what?

Sometimes I just wish I had the ability to dissect the brains of these people to see if we could identify some sort of flaw that turns off the logic in a person's brain.

No clear pattern... just thoughts

2006-12-06T10:36:00.000-05:00

For those that thought the house in the picture was mine, I am sorry to say it is not. That is the house from Christmas Vacation, which by storyline is in Chicago, but in reality is somewhere in Colorado (explaining the existence of mountains in the background of some scenes in the relatively flat midwestern city.

GenBetween has a good article on Shopping for elders, with links to some other similar tips. Saved my butt this year.

What is it exactly about "San Francisco Values" that has the collective minds of conservatives and the nitwits at Faux News all freaked out? Is it the somewhat oxymoronic fact that the people of the City by the Bay hate judgemental people? Or is it maybe that people from San Francisco know that Almond, Champagne, Mocha and Salmon are colors as well as food? Or maybe they are mad because somebody from SF actually knows the difference between the colors of Almond and Champagne.

Why does Joe Barton hate autistic kids? And what were the people of Texas thinking when they re-elected him?

An 11-year old boy is currently hospitalized, but fortunately stable after battling e.Coli. Do you really need another reason to stop eating fast food? Although New York City has now banned trans-fats in all NYC restaurants.

OK, how embarrassed would you be, if it was your flatulence that was responsible for making your flight make an emergency landing. Perhaps next time she flies, she could check the Facts On Farts Web Site.

Have a friend that is Secular Progressive (besides me)? Want to get in the absolutely last word? Well then sign up so you can send him (or her) a Post-Rapture Message. Of course I hope it is a Secular Progressive running the site, otherwise who will be here to send the message?

When will these kids learn? If you are going to do something stupid, or (maybe even more importantly) illegal. Do not put it up on YouTube! The latest is a case in Norway where the Police were able to track down a Reckless driver that posted his antic on YouTube.

This of course is what happens when a 41 year old with ADD sits down to write a post, without having a clear plan ahead of time. So what have discovered in your world today?

25,000 Imported Italian Twinkle Lights

2006-12-04T15:08:00.000-05:00

No, not really. But I do put up quite a few Christmas Lights, and TheWife every year draws the comparisons between me and Clark W. Griswald Jr. I spent 7 solid hours putting up lights, and such yesterday, and I am somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 finished.

Of course, if I had gotten to this last week, I would have been putting things up on a beautiful 60 degree day. But no, the rain got in the way. So this was the weekend for it. And of course the warm weather that has lingered here in the Northeast was nowhere to be found. Figures. It wasn't as bad in some years past where I needed to clear a spot in the snow to put the ladder up, but still, with the warm weather, my body was not quite ready for this cold.

The cold did help (I think) me finally getting into the Christmas spirit which has been somewhat lacking so far. Either that, or it was the fact that I finally made a pot of Starbucks Christmas Blend. In either case, it is finally starting to feel like Christmas.

The trip to the mall probably also helped. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I set foot in a mall at Christmas time for the first time in at least 4 years. Ever since my stint one year of working at Toys R Us at Christmas time, my desire to be any where near those kinds of crowds has been (I think deservedly) nil. But to be honest it really wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Oh sure it was busy. But certainly didn't have that "can't take two steps without bumping into someone" feel to it. But I am not pushing my luck. No more malls this holiday season. Maybe one or two stores... the rest online.

So... how was your weekend?

Yet another Holiday TV/Video Post

2006-12-01T13:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, BusyMom already covered how kids today rarely if ever will know the anticipation of waiting for a Holiday Special coming on Television. Mr. Big Dubya has already pointed out the insanity that TNT had How The Grinch Stole Christmas showing back on November 11th. And the ever thoughtful crouching mommy, hidden laundry has led the way to finding a list of all this years Holiday Movie Showing. So what is there left to talk about?

Well, being the oddball that I am, besides the standard Classics, of The Grich, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, and others, every year I have a selection of less that Classic...uh... Classics that I like to sit down and watch. Some you may know... most probably, but may not be the ones you think about pulling out of the Video Cabinet, or have just long forgotten about. So I thought I would share this set with you... if only to go down memory lane.

An American Christmas Carol (1979) - this is my favorite alternative variation of the true classic. It was a made for TV movie back in 1979, and only once have I seen it on Television again, so I was thrilled when it finally came to VHS (and now of course DVD). Thanks to its placement in the Depression Era, it is as timeless as the original, and I think it never really fared all that well because back in 1979, everybody was still viewing Henry Winkler as Fonzie and had trouble seeing him as the lead character. It is a truely inspired and well written variation that I enjoy as much now as I did when I first saw it.

The Ref (1994) - Going to the other end of the spectrum, when I need a bit of levity, there are two movies I watch. This is one of them. To be honest, I am not crazy about Denis Leary as a stand up comic, so originally I had my reservations about this film. But between him, Kevin Spacey and an excellent ensemble cast, this movie is funny from beginning to end.

Christmas Vacation ( 1989) - This one I am sure the most people will know, remember, or even potentially still watch this one out of my list. It is stupid, sometime quite predictable, brainless and downright hysterical. Beside all the standard Chevy Chase slapstick, in virtually each and every character, you can almost certainly recognize a particular family member or at least friend that you can associate them with. My wife to this day, when I go to put the Christmas lights outside the house says something along the lines of, "There he goes with his 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights."

Home for the Holidays (1995) - Technically, I guess this is also a Comedy, albeit more of a Dark Comedy, especially when compared with my previous selections. But that doesn't mean it is any less of a funny movie, just that this one makes you think a bit more, and has some more serious momments in it. Again, you can almost always find a member of your own family that fits each of the characters in the movie, and I admit that probably is what really makes it fun for me. Oh yeah, there is Uncle So and So, and she is just like Aunt AbsentMinded. This is actually a Thanksgiving movie and not technically a Christmas movie, and before I started to host Thanksgiving Dinner at my house, I used to watch it religiously on Thanksgiving night. Now it has to wait... but it is still certainly one of my holiday favorites.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) - Now I know what you are thinking. Why is this on the list? This certainly qualifies as a classic. But... BUT, look at the year. I am one of the very few (sometimes I feel like the only one), people that like THIS version of the film, with Dylan McDermott, Elizabeth Perkins, Richard Attenbourough and Mara Wilson much better than the original. I am not one that usually likes a remake, but I really enjoy this classic updated and in color. Mara Wilson is just fun to watch as Susan Walker as she comes to believe in Santa.

I will also give an honorable Mention to Jingle All the Way (1996), and The Family Man (2000) but then I am flirting with more mainstream popular movies.

So do you have any out of the ordinary movie you like to watch or offbeat traditions for to get you through the holidays?

Picture Perfect Thursday

2006-11-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

Will return next week. Sorry.

Shopping... It is just plain scary sometimes

2006-11-29T07:48:00.000-05:00

Well, 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?

Well trained...

2006-11-28T14:44:00.000-05:00

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.

So it is not just me (or you)

2006-11-27T13:09:00.000-05:00

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?!?

2006-11-27T08:44:00.000-05:00

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."

Lessons Learned

2006-11-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

They 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' up

2006-11-25T09:34:00.000-05:00

It 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.

The Day After

2006-11-24T10:53:00.000-05:00

The Spread
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

The "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?

Prepin'

2006-11-22T23:22:00.000-05:00

Charlie Brown: We've got ANOTHER holiday to worry about. It seems Thanksgiving Day is upon us.

Sally Brown: I haven't even finished eating all of my Halloween candy!

- A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) (TV)

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.

Modeling?

2006-11-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

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?

Picture Perfect Thursday X - Cold Day You know where

2006-11-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

Polar Bear II
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

There 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?

41 years ago today

2006-11-15T10:46:00.001-05:00

Cost of a new home: $21,500.00
Cost 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.

Braggin' Man

2006-11-14T18:33:00.000-05:00

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.

Tamiflu vs The Flu

2006-11-13T16:12:00.000-05:00

I 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 Clause

2006-11-13T15:20:00.000-05:00

We 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.

Picture Perfect Thursday IX - Washed Away

2006-11-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

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.

Mud

2006-11-08T22:30:00.000-05:00

That 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.

He has a bright future....in about 12 years

2006-11-07T13:07:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-11-07T12:34:00.000-05:00

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.

More proof that men are just animals

2006-11-03T16:34:00.000-05:00

The 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 Bull

2006-11-03T14:48:00.000-05:00

Every 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.

Picture Perfect Thursday VII - "My little Patriot"

2006-11-02T16:11:00.000-05:00

My little Patriot
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

You're a Grand Old Flag
by 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.

The Meatrix II 1/2 now showing

2006-11-01T12:43:00.000-05:00

It 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).

View the New Meatrix II-1/2

Of course if by chance you haven't watched them yet, you should go and watch the first 2 shorts in the series

The Meatrix I
Take the red pill and watch the critically-acclaimed, award-winning first episode of
The Meatrix Trilogy.

Our heroes Moopheus, Leo, and Chickity return in
The Meatrix II: Revolting
to expose the dark side of the dairy industry.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T23:59:00.000-05:00

Halloween Decorations
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

Regular Post will be below this one later, but I wanted to take this opportunity to say, From our Family to yours, best wishes for a safe and

Happy Halloween!

Now, I feel quite certain that most readers of this blog (I guess that would mean both of you), are already fairly well versed in being careful and attentive parents, but just in case somebody happens to stumble by here by accident, or would like to point somebody clueless towards it, here are some safety precautions to ensure Halloween remains fun and that the only scares are the "trick" kind.

1. Don’t allow children to trick-or-treat alone. Older kids should TAKE A FRIEND and young children should be accompanied by an ADULT.

2. Accompany children to the door of every house they approach.

3. Familiarize yourself with every house you visit and all people from whom your children receive treats.

4. Tell kids NOT to enter any home without permission from their parents or guardians.

5. Tell kids NOT to approach vehicles, occupied or vacant, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

6. Give children lights to carry – like a glow stick or flashlight -- along with reflective clothing.

7. Make sure that children can see and breathe properly and easily through facial masks.

8. Use only flame-resistant costumes and masks.

9. Warn children NEVER to approach any house that is not well lit.

10. Remind children to make note of suspicious incidents and report them to parents, guardians and/or the proper official.

11. Instruct children to run away, scream, and make a scene if anyone tries to grab them or force them, in any way, to go with them.

12. Inspect all of your children’s treats and dispose of anything that has been tampered with or is not wrapped.

The Fridge

2006-10-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

Last week the refrigerator deciding that it was going to just up and die. No warning signs, no little problems cropping up first, after 11 years it just decided it was going to work no longer.

So, after the mad dash around to find somebody that could get one to us immediately, and $1,000 later, we have a new stainless steel GE Profile Refrigerator. TheWife is happy in that we finally have a refrigerator that matches the stove. My bank account is of course none to happy about the whole thing. Then there was that one stupid little gotcha that you never expect (not a big thing just annoying).

As any parent with a little one knows, "Refrigerator Space" is at a premium for the displaying of school artwork, good test scores, schedules for things like soccer, dance class, etc.

Well, that shiny new "stainless steel" refrigerator threw us a curveball. The doors aren't actually "stainless steel" but are in fact, "brushed" aluminum. Now for those of you that didn't utter "uh oh" at that last sentence, allow me to point out the obvious pitfall. Aluminum is not magnetic! That means no magnets. That means artwork, schedules, calendars, etc are relegated to the side of the refrigerator.

Not as big a deal as actually having to replace the refrigerator... unless you are the six year old that wants all of your stuff on display.

This needs to stop

2006-10-28T20:54:00.000-04:00

Some ideas sound great on paper. This is one such idea. The premise is simple. Take the cars from "drug dealers" and use the proceeds to help fund the "war on drugs." But when you read stories like how a New Jersey County Seizes Family Cars, it becomes clear how these "good ideas" can go terribly wrong.

Unfortunately this is just the "latest" example that I have seen where overzealous prosecutors elect to "follow the letter" (but not the spirit) of the law, and seize three cars from a family because of the (alleged - remember he hasn't actually been convicted yet of anything) misdeeds of their son. Not one car. Not just the car he was driving (he wasn't even driving at the time, this was after a "raid").

Much like eminent domain (a rant for another day), it is power that needs to be dramatically curbed or stopped, because local government officials do not seem to understand how to wield this power judiciously and more often than not seem to only care about it in the sense of a profit center.

Picture Perfect Thursday VII - "Sharing"

2006-10-26T23:33:00.000-04:00

I got a spare
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

I pointed out an article on how many parents today spend more time with their kids than they did in the past. I have to tell you, for me, it is quite easy because, I can think of nothing I enjoy more now than sharing something with my daughter.

Just look at that picture (and please forgive the blurriness). How can you not enjoy that sheer enthusiasm? You know, most people feel sorry for the children when parents don't spend enough time with them (and they should). But, I also feel sorry for those parents. They are missing out just as much.

Chris over at Rude Cactus, has a very nice post about Legacies. And it got me thinking about how a child can change so much in you. How you see the world around you, and how while you are trying to help that little person grow into the person you wish him/her to be, they that they are in fact actually help you grow as a person as well.

If however, you never take the time to share, then both lose out.

Sure there are times, when I miss having a little more me time, and the chance to do more of the things I used to enjoy doing. But. There of course will come that day that my daughter will be less than enthusiastic about sharing her time with dear old dad. I dread that day of course, but rather than dwelling on what will happen then, I appreciate and savor the time we can share now.

Why is this called "Picture Perfect Thursday"? Well you have to go visit Liz over at This Full House for more details. If you do join in, please let me know)

Sorry I was so late. More on that tomorrow.

Court leans in Right...er... Correct Direction

2006-10-26T08:06:00.000-04:00

(Note: Picture Perfect Thursay has not be pre-empted and will be up later)

Yesterday's decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court left both sides happy and at the same time left both sides upset. It all depends on the point of view. But regardless of how you "interpret" the ruling based on your position, the New Jersey Supreme Court ultimately did (I believe) the correct thing.

While the ruling certainly opens the door for gay marriage in New Jersey, it also left the storm door in place for the politicians. New Jersey must according to the ruling (you can view the full ruling here [PDF]), decide how to accomodate the ruling, by either extending the current wording for marriage to include same-sex couples, or to create a Civil Union. (In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruling was similar and led to Civil Unions in that State.)

That last part about having the the lawmakers decide is what has opponents invogorated, and advocates feeling a bit dispondant over the ruling. From my personal point of view, I really couldn't care less about the "nit-picking" aspect. When TheWife and I got married, we did so outside the Church, in what at least used to be called a "Civil Ceremony" and to some sticklers, "in the eyes of" god we are not married, but by and large the vast majority of people will acknowledge that we are. So, along that same vein, who cares if it is called a "Civil Union" or "Marriage"? Honestly.

In the ruling, the Justices (for the majority of course) pointed out, similar to what I did yesterday, the financial inequalities afforded similar couples, simply because one is same-sex, and that the government has no legitimate reason to deny these rights to gay couples.

So once again, I have something to be proud of in the State of New Jersey, proving that we are far more enlightened than those that still think that exclusionary practices are OK.

N.J. Court to rule on gay marriage

2006-10-24T21:56:00.000-04:00

I have said it before. I love New Jersey. It can be tough sometimes living in the state that is the butt of so many jokes, but I more often than not am willing to defend her to anybody. Tomorrow becomes one of those litmus test days for me on how I feel about my State, as the N.J. court to rule on gay marriage .

I continue to be amazed at how, in a time of such turmoil, and so much wrong in this country that this is an issue that garners so much emotion from people. I mean let us be honest here for just a moment shall we? If the Insurance Companies were stuck paying the policies anyway, and Corporations didn't get away with ripping off or just plain out denying coverage for gay couples, this issue would have been long forgotten.

I still believe that there are enough Christians in the world that understand the message to love even the people that are "different" than you, or at the very least, "judge not, lest thee be judged" that the vocal minority that keep this issue afloat with hate would eventually wither away. It wasn't all that long ago, that "Good Christians" deried interracial marriage as a sin. Today, except for the racists, this "sin" is no longer. The cause was lost, and suddenly it was OK. Enlightenment. I can only hope that this enlightenment can continue.

But unfortunately that is not enough. Businesses, government agencies, insurance companies, and other monies are at stake here. So they stoke the hate to "defend" marriage from people that love each other. Not for any "holy" reason. But to save money. It is all about the money.

I hope that tomorrow that right wins out over "might" and the New Jersey Supreme Court makes the right decision. I love this State, and would hate to feel embarrassed to say that I live in a State with such intolerance.

Two days later, and still recovering

2006-10-23T08:46:00.000-04:00

3 hours. You wouldn't think it would be all that difficult to entertain children for three hours would you? We had Pumkins for decorating, crafts, games, toys, prizes, stories and food. At one point we wondered if we had gone overboard. I mean after all, how much can you fit in three hours, right?

Well...ummm... no. Wrong.

It turns out, without a staff in place so that you can wisk them from one activity to another having everything in place so they do not have a momment to pause, a group of 6 girls and two boys can in fact get bored, or out of control, or crazy in a matter of seconds of not being fully entertained.

We finally decided to, despite the slightly wet grass, allow the kids to just cut loose in the yard, and "run it off." This of course was not without its own ways to drive a person to drink. Every child wanted multiple chances to go across the monkey bars. This had two problems. One, the monkey bars on the swingset we have goes across the swings. You can not have one person on the swings, and another going across the monkey bars at the same time. Second, only one child could actually accomplish going across on her own, everyone else needed to "assistance" (OK, lets be honest here, I basically needed to carry them across, but just slowly enough so they could moves their hands from bar to bar so they could pretend to actually be doing it).

Now, to be honest, overall the kids were really good. Well, all but one. Not that this one particular girl was outright "bad" but she was always the one to instigate things, to rile up the others, to be counted on to do the one idiotic stunt (like deciding she was going to start pretending to be a ninja and kicking anyone and anything she could - not to be malicious, but "just because").

TheWife and I tend to disagree on this. I thought this party could have been perfect had this one child not been invited. TheWife thinks I over-react (perhaps it has something to do with this Migraine I developed by the time it was over), and that the girl is a "sweetheart" and we can't just exclude her (even though we have since Pre-School days known that she is ALWAYS this sort of problem.). I think, I do not need to have our events suffer, because she has some uncontrollable need to be the center of attention, even if she winds up being destructive to do it.

Her mother is a very nice lady, and tries very hard to keep her child under control. She threatened and warned her child about her behavior on several occassions, which would work briefly, only to start again.

What do you think? Would you omit a child that has a history of getting out of control?

Overall, despite the issues and pitfalls, everybody had a great time. TheWife thought the party was a huge success, as did LatteGirl who is already thinking about her "next party." Even I, migraine and all, thought things were good, although, I am not sure I can handle a "next party" until pehaps next Halloween.

Halloween Part II

2006-10-20T16:40:00.000-04:00

So, I am counting Hersheypark as Part I, and obviously Halloween itself will be Part III, but this weekend, I face Part II, the scariest part of Halloween for me this year. Why is this the scariest? Well, because tomorrow afternoon, I will have seven 1st graders in my home for a Halloween Party. Seven. Seven sugar-filled kids bouncing off the walls in the living room.

What the hell were we thinking.

Back in May, when TheWife and I were obviously still in control of our senses, we were wise enough to know that this was probably not a good idea, and had two birthday parties for LatteGirl. One for the family at home, and one for the kids that we held elsewhere. We knew plainly that having that many kids in one place was not good for the long term prospects for our home, furniture, etc.

But LatteGirl flashed us those baby blues, and said please in the sweetest way, and has show more enthusiasm for Halloween this year, other than the standard "can't wait to go trick-o-treating." So we melted. Melted like a Hershey Bar on the dashboard of a car on a hot Florida day.

I'm joking of course. Sort of. I don't mind the party. I am actually looking forward to it. But I am dreading what the aftermath is going to look like. Of course none of that is stoping me from baking cupcakes and cookies and coating things in brightly covered frosting (more sugar) and preparing it for the kids.

We purchased assorted games and crafts, we have music and munchies, will order in pizza, and we have more than enough to keep these little goblins at bay and entertained for the afternoon. I hope.

Stay tuned.

Eating Crow: IE7 Edition

2006-10-19T13:43:00.000-04:00

I have listened for quite some time now from bloggers, and technology pundits, how IE 7 wasn't going to live up to the hype. How it would still not be as good as Firefox.

Now I use Firefox, but I am not particularly in love with it because of its slow speed and rather sluggish performance. Sure there are some tweaks and Themes that help it load a bit faster, but there always seems to be some tradeoff involved.

So, I anxiously awaited the new Internet Explorer. And now it is finally here. I installed it, and after only about 10 minutes with this browser, I am here to say to all those naysayers:

All those things you feared, and mocked in the new IE7 Browser? Not only are they true... it is even worse than that.

IE7 is the most incredible piece of junk I have ever been stuck with. Because of security fixes and the like, and because it is so tied into things such as Outlook, Office, plus other parts of the OS, that I have no choice but to install it, and keep it.

But as my everyday browser? Microsoft has finally done it. They have made me a dedicated Firefox user. And at this point, if what I fear is true, this is only the beginning of the end with my relationship with Microsoft.

In what I can only assume is their idea to get users used to the idea of their stupid new ribbon idea that is set to appear in the Vista version of Office, Microsoft has not only redesigned the layout in a most horrific and unintuitive fashion, but they lock you into it. By default the Menu ribbon is turned off. Turn it on, and it appears BELOW the navigation pane (and relocated back and forward buttons). The command toolbar is on the same row as your tabs. And there is no way to change it! So if you have a lot of tabs open, you are forced to choose between having the toolbar fully visible, or being able to read the tabs which wind up getting small real quick because of the lack of space.

I don't know who did the usability study on this piece of junk, but they should be fired.

Internet Explorer is officially dead to me.

Picture Perfect Thursday VI - "Stuff"

2006-10-19T08:01:00.000-04:00

Old Box
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

As I looked at this box at the Hershey Museum, I couldn't help but be amused. At what? Well, at how perceptions taint things.

My father was born in 1928 right at the beginning of the Depression. Like many people from that time period he developed what could be considered most likely a form of OCD. He became a hoarder, a packrat. Somebody who if he could find some value in something would not throw it away, because that was wasteful.

Right up until his passing, it drove my mother absolutely bonkers. She couldn't understand why he needed to keep so much "junk" in the house. Admittedly I have picked up on some of those frugal tendencies from him, but TheWife never really lets it get quite out of hand the way my mother did. Cleaning up and clearing out some of this old "junk" is still going on now, a little more than two years after his death. There was that much to go through.

You may have noticed, I have put "junk" in quotes each time. Now of course the old adage goes, "One man's junk, is another man's treasure." But I have always thought of that as meaning, what is useless to one person is a valuable item to another. But as I looked at this box in the museum, I realized that it is more than that. That junk/treasure line can be quite blurry, and in some cases downright non-existant when you take perceptions into account.

Now, allow me a quick example. Every year throughout this country, there are millions of garage sales. At those sales are millions (if not billions) of pieces of stemware, glassware, etc. that people try to sell. Usually fairly unsucessfully, because "who wants that junk?" But allow those glasses to get a bit older, and put them on sale as techniques, those glasses that you couldn't sell for a dime a piece at a garage sale, are now hunted after treasures selling for good money. Sure you will say, "But that is because they are old. Antiques. From a gone by era." And you would be correct. However, to reach that stage, they were the 'junk" that somebody just never rid themselves of.

Now to a certain extent money plays a role as well. At least that is what I was thinking as I strolled through the museum. As I looked at old boxes, original chocolate molds, tattered briefcases, and such, I couldn't help but draw some comparisons. I saw, Mr. Hershey much like my father, never throwing anything out. He kept those old molds, and such because he couldn't see the point in throwing them out. Now, one day Mrs. Hershey demands that he start to clear out some space and get rid of that old "junk," but instead of throwing it out, he buys a building, puts it on display, and calls it a museum. People come then (and now) from all over to see Mr. Hershey's old "junk" because now it is not "junk" but "a piece of history preserved in a museum." So how does money come into play? Well, my father certainly could have taken his old stuff and put it on display. But without the notoriaty of being a weathly man like Mr. Hershey, who is going to come see, "some guys pile of junk." In this case, the perception of the value of the items on display, is directly attributable to the affluence of the person that owns them.

The opposite of course also is at play at times, and it is the affluence of the buyer that give the item its perceived value. Case in point, clothing. Go to a Salvation Army, Goodwill Store or other thrift shop. You can find things like 1980's style designer jeans, and maybe a suit or two from the 1950's that was donated when somebody passed away (or in the case of my father, 1970's sport jackets). Tags on these items will offer you to purchase them at prices ranging from a quarter to maybe, just maybe $5 (if it is a particularly good item). Now go to a "vintage clothing" store and look for those same items. "Rare, hard to find, 80's Pop Era Jeans" will sell for $50 or more.

As I thought about this, besides amusing in a way, I found it comforting. Because, as we sorted through that old stuff that my father kept all those years, some of... yes was junk. Not even close to that junk/antique line. But some of it. Some of it without any real "value" are like bits and pieces of his life. In a way, a sort of museum piece dedicated and always linked to him. And for me, that perception, makes them completely priceless.

The other side

2006-10-18T22:14:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed bragging yesterday about how Parents spend more time with their kids today than they did 40 years ago. But as Barry correctly pointed out, there are still problems. Problems that seem to start in the teen years, where I don't know why, but parents seem to lose control over their kids, and the parents seem out of touch.

There has been plenty of blame going on in the news, with the "dangers" of MySpace, so much so that places have actually taken to trying to ban it. Of course, plenty has been offered in the way of blaming the Internet for teen smoking. To prove their point, The American Cancer Society enlisted kids 11-15, according to this article, to go and buy cigarettes online. And of course the kids were able to get them because the site did not "verify their age." Back in August, this article points out that kids as young as 14 according to the study cited have purchased alcohol online. I will return to that age verification in a momment.

The latest today, is article about how Teenagers are turning to the Internet to buy Prescription Drugs. At least in this article the examples they give are teenagers that are 18 and 19 years old, so in theory at least, the parents can be given some benefit of the doubt because the kids could have possibly already had their own credit cards, and were of legal age. But of course despite the examples given, what the article is hinting at is again that underage teens are acquiring these items via the Internet.

Now wait a minute and think about that. Underage kids buying things on the Internet. (See I told you I would get back to it). How exactly does an underage kid go about purchasing something on the Internet like cigarettes or Prescription drugs? After all, they would need a credit card to complete their transactions. The Credit Card companies don't (generally, unless a mistake is made, but that usually only happens in TV sitcoms) give credit cards to minors. They are not of legal age to enter into the contract for a credit card. So are they using Mom and Dad's Credit cards? Hmmm. Maybe if the parents were paying attention. You think?

Somewhere along the line these parents seem to want to abdicate responsibility for raising their kids to legislators. Well we need to stop the sale of Prescription Drugs on the Internet because 11 year old Tommy is buying Xanax. Well, dumbass don't give a credit card (or don't leave it where he can get it) to you underage kid. And maybe it might be a good idea to take a look at the bill every so often and see what the hell is on there.

I don't know if this was nationwide or not, but around here, one television station use to run a PSA every evening. "It's 10PM, do you know where your child is?" I used to think it was a stupid ad (especially when I was a teen), but you know what? Most of the time, (hey I'm not perfect, and sure I fibbed once or a dozen times) my parents did know where I was.

Nobody is going to raise your child for you. You can legislate the world away. Even as a teen (and probably especially as a teen), your parenting skills and guidance are needed. It is easy to stay in your child's life when they are young, they really can't stray all that far away from you. But as they get older, their needs for you don't diminsh... they just change.

What we already knew

2006-10-17T15:27:00.000-04:00

Just read some parent blogs today, and one thing is actually quite clear. We, the "parents of today" spend more time with our kids than our parents did. I knew this, and you knew this. Only maybe the radicals that think a "woman's place is in the home" didn't think this was true. Because how could parents that both work, spend more time with their kids than the good old 50's model Stay-At-Home Mom did? They refused to believe it. But a new study in the New York times confirms what many parents today already knew, Married and Single Parents Spending More Time With Children, Study Finds.

So how could this be? Well we can take partial credit because parents today tend to be more involved in their children's lives by choice. But honesty dictates that I also admit there is a bit of "fear factor" that is involved that guilts us into it as well. We worry about, predators and crime, and careless people and tend to watch our children like hawks today more than ever before, not always necessarily because we want to, but because we feel as if we have no other choice.

When I was groing up, perhaps maybe my first year on Little League, my parents drove me to most (if not all) of my practices and games. But from then on, until game day, I was usually on my own. Hop on my bike, with my glove dangling from my bat which was over my shoulder, as I would ride across town to the park.

I can't even imagine such a thing today. Heck I can't even imagine my wife dropping my daughter off at practice, leaving and then returning to pick her up. Nope. She is there the entire time. (Why not me taking/picking up for practice is a whole other story for a whole other day. Suffice it to say that my wife thinks I am "too competetive" for the little kids, and I tend to agree).

But, as the story points out, it is certainly not all about the guilt and worry. Men and women both spend considerably more time with their kids than in the past. We spend more time getting involved in their activities, and trying to nurture them, rather than the old, "go out and play, and I don't want to see you back in this house until I call you for dinner"

So, overall I guess on a whole, we are not as horrible as Focus on Family and others would lead you to believe. Turns out that we can work and spend time with the kids. And despite baseless claims to the contrary. We are doing it. So grab a drink. Sit back. And Relax. Moms... Dads... This [insert beverage of choice] is for you.

Hershey - Round 2

2006-10-16T13:12:00.000-04:00

Reality. Man what a gyp that is. So we are back after spending "3 Days" in Hershey PA once again. The major hilights of this trip include the fact that I remembered to take pictures, and the fact that I managed to not break the camera this time.

I have to admit that I wound up a bit disappointed this time, but to some extent I guess my expectations were a bit too high coming off of our spring trip there. First of all, in case anybody but me didn't know it (fortunately TheWife did), PA in October is cold. Not freezing, but cold. This makes taking a six year old to the Amusement Park... in costume... at night (it is not open during the day in October, only at night for their "Hersheypark in the Dark") is a challenge.

LatteGirl of course did not want to be all "bundled up" because then "nobody would get to see her costume." Once we got past that battle, we headed over to the park, where it was "too cold" so we actually wound up spending more time "getting ready," waiting for the shuttle, and riding the shuttle to and from the park, than we actually spent in the park.

They made a big deal out of "Treatville" which was where kids 13 and under could go "Trick or Treating." They of course put this at the far end of the park, so you had to walk clear across the park to get there, only to be greated by a rather long line. When you finally made it through, you walked the path that would normally have been for the water rides, to gather about 7 or 8 pieces of candy. To me it was annoying. To TheWife is was not worth freezing over. For LatteGirl it was the best thing in the entire world. You must admire their ability to find the good in everything.

Armed with my camera, I got to take some pictures of LatteGirl with the Hershey Characters, which were donning "costumes" of their own. (Yea, so that probably doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense if you don't already know what I am talking about, so you will have to wait until tomorrow, when I get the pictures up into Flickr.) Taking the pictures, and her big smile made the trip all worthwhile to me.

TheWife. Ah, TheWife. In order to make the trip worthwhile to her, LatteGirl and I once again shipped her off to the Hershey Hotel for a Cocoa Massage. If (when) we go again, I am going to have to see if I can get TheWife to take us along (we usually send her off for some "Mommy time" alone) to the Hotel. We will still give her the time to herself, but I really want to get a look at this hotel. You see, the Hershey Lodge is where we stay because it is advertised as a "family" location. It is by no means cheap, but certainly looks that way when you see that a stay at the Hershey Hotel is twice the price. I just need to see for myself what could possibly make this place worth twice as much.

I think the one thing that left me a bit disappointed was that we did not get to do as many "new" things as well did last time. Of course everything was new last time. This time we had to do some repeats at the beheast of LatteGirl, and we promised ourselves that we would not miss this museum this time (We attempted to go on our return day last time and it did not open until too late in the day for us to hang around). When we got done with the "must dos" we were left with precious little time (and even less energy) to do much else.

Of couse that is the problem with any three day "vacation." Day One you spend on travel and arrival, and in places such as this check in time is not until 4PM, so by the time you get your room, get your stuff put away, and maybe have dinner. It is night time and half the time you will decide to "turn in early" so you can get an early start the next day. The last day of course checkout time is like, what 4AM? (OK, so it is at 11 am, but still it feels way to early) and you really have to pack up everything as soon as everybody gets showered and dressed, leaving little time to do much after having breakfast except perhaps spending some money in the gift shop for all the people that expect something when you go away.

So out of that you have one solid day. A day, I admit that LatteGirl and I made the best of (OK, TheWife too, but she spent time in the spa). After breakfast, and shipping Mom on her merry way, we strolled the grounds, looking at (and photographing) the Geese and Ducks, then climbing some trees (she does not really "climb" as much as she has me "place" her on branches in trees that are easy enough for her to stand on), then some miniture golf,and swimming before we met back with Mom for some lunch. On to the Museum, then Chocolate Work (that is the simulated "factory tour" that they have rather than actually taking people through the actual factory), shopping in the chocolate store (of course), return for dinner, getting costumed and on to Hersheypark.

When I look over that list it is hard to say what I could have changed to have not been disappointed this time. I mean heck from the time I was there in April to now they installed wireless internet in all the rooms, which I was thrilled to see but still managed to keep myself so busy that I never had an opportunity to actually use it. I guess without the "newness" it can never live up to that first time... at least for me.

LatteGirl still gives it her highest praises. She has even started working on us for a return trip. When she and TheWife made their trip to Sesame Place this year we noted that this would probably be the last year for that excursion since she was pretty much outgrowing Sesame Street. So she brought that back up already saying that this could "replace" her trip to Sesame Place, so that we "could come back every year FOREVER."

I don't think we will be coming back every year, but I am sure we will be back. Maybe next time we just need to try to find more than three days. And never again in October.

Picture Perfect Thursday V - "Nightmares"

2006-10-12T12:27:00.000-04:00

Nightmare
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

Like many people, I was to say the least unnerved on September 11th. It was 4 years before I set foot back in New York.

Becoming unnerved at the sound of an airplane can be a difficult think to overcome when you live not all that far from a major International Airport (In my case, Newark Liberty).

In a way it was quite odd. Those few days after September 11th, I remember how spooky it felt to not have the sounds of planes around. Nobody taking off, nobody landing. In the evening I can almost always see a tiny string of lights in the sky, the planes that are circling the area that lining up for their turn to land. But not on those days.

Then flights resumed, and I became consumed with anxiety. I nervously watched many planes taking off and landing. Watching for any sign that things were amiss. Is that plane flying too low? Too slow? Too Fast? Does it look like it is banking correctly? (As if I had any way of really knowing).

Not long after (and forgotten by most outside this area) was a second incident that occurred over Long Island. Immediately at the time of the accident, it was feared terrorism, but that was quickly deemed an accident, so most people just turned away and said, "Thank God it was an accident, and not terrorists." Of course that fact didn't make the people in the plane, or the people on the ground that the plane landed on (and their homes) any less dead or devestated from the events. After that, I never allowed LatteGirl far from me when I was home. Just in case something came raining down from the skys and we needed to evacuate the house. I often allowed her to fall asleep on the sofa in the living room, because I didn't want her to be upstairs all alone at night while I was downstairs. Only when I was ready to go up for the evening would I put her to bed.

It got worse after the company I was working for closed up shop the following January. I had less to keep me distracted. Plus now I was home more, with those "flying gas cans" circling all day long. Topping that off were funerals, or more precisely memorial services for people I knew. People that had their services put off, with the hopes of finding a body, or even part of one to put in a box. But by this time, recovery efforts were for the most part over, and the greiving went on without them. I attended several. Several more than I wanted to, but less than I perhaps should have. I avoided some, because I just couldn't handle attending them all. I made excuses, sent condolences, but had to just save some sanity.

Several years of anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety medication got me through and somewhat back to normal. As normal, as normal can be for me anyway.

In 2005, I found myself back in New York City. I managed to keep my wits, but everyday I had to remind myself that those were events of the past, and that I needed to move on. Fortunately my anxiety never really got the best of me, and by the end I didn't really realize how much that stress was actually still with me.

That is until I left there earlier this year. As much as I was disappointed at losing the position, I don't think I was ever quite as relieved leaving a job, as I was when I finished packing up the last of my things, and left the 42nd floor that day.

Which of course brings us to yesterday's events. No, it wasn't a terrorist attack. By the time, I had gotten wind of the story, it had already been deemed an accident. But that uncomfortable feeling returned. And last night, as the rain fell, I caught myself straining to listen against the background noise of the drops hitting the house, listening for the sound of a plane, that wasn't flying "quite right."

I amazed myself, when I was able to fall asleep and stay asleep last night (without any outside assistance thank you very much). But I guess, if you live out your nightmares in your head during the day, there is not much left for your unconscience can do to you once you fall asleep.

The funny thing. I am not afraid to fly. We are planning on going to Disney World next spring, and the thought of getting on that plane doesn't scare me in the least. I just don't want to be under one of them.

(Why is this called "Picture Perfect Thursday"? Well you have to go visit Liz over at This Full House for more details. If you do join in, please let me know)

The Book I would have written

2006-10-11T09:42:00.000-04:00

At first glance, "Brainless" looks like a book I could have enjoyed writing. If only I could find somebody that would actually pay my expenses to write a book (Hey, unlike Ms. Coulter, I would have facts to back things up... and research costs money). However, when Joe Maguire wrote the book, he certainly didn't think it was going to cost him his day job at Reuters. As a matter of fact, he even got "conditional approval" to write the book from his bosses. But now that the book is done Reuters has decided to fire him over the book.

Now, I am not one to often go and buy a book soon after it comes out. Why? Honestly, I don't know. But I suspect it has to do with me being cheap and waiting for it to go on sale, or to pick up a copy on eBay's Half.com.

However, this one I think I need to go and get now. I will review it when I am done, and see if it lives up to my anticipations (the "Lies" part). The Lunacy part is just obvious. I mean if you just go over to Joe's Blog and read her quotes, it becomes quickly clear how far "out there" she is. (In case you don't feel like clicking over, I will share my "favorite")

"I think [women] should be armed but should not [be allowed to] vote."
-- Ann Coulter on Politically Incorrect, 2/26/01

Of course if you had followed my suggestions in the past and stopped over at Sweet Jesus I Hate Bill O'Reilly, you are now thinking, as I am, that the second book in the series, "Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Bill O'Reilly" practically writes itself. Oh wait, I forgot... that would probably be considered plaguirism, since Bill put his own lunacy in print with his pathetic "Culture Warrior."

The Un-Weekend

2006-10-10T08:08:00.000-04:00

The weekend did not turn out as planned, and my quest for an over abundance of Apple Cider, Hay Rides and such had to be put off until next weekend.

Can you hear the disappointment? Actually TheWife and LatteGirl did wind up having an excursion without me yesterday, since it seemed like the whole world was off yesterday... except me, and after this weekend, I really needed to make some money yesterday.

This weekend became (somehow) about shopping. Shopping for winter clothes, shopping for "vacation clothes" (We are going away for a 3 day weekend. Does that really necessitate a separate shopping trip?), shopping for additional Halloween decorations (I think this one was to placate me). So this weekend became, in a word... Expensive.

Now I probably could have limited the damage somewhat by taking a bit harder line with budgets, but I am admittedly feeling the guilt of LatteGirl being stuck in a uniform all week long at school. So when she picks out a Coat and Snowsuit from L.L. Bean, I don't think twice about getting it for her. Could I find something similar, elsewhere for less. Most likely. But since we have taken away her ability to choose clothing for such a majority of the time now because of school, I figure if that is what she wants, then the least I can do, is provide her with the ability to choose her coat and such, that do meet her 'style.' When she wants to take a trip to the mall so she any Mommy can get her a few new dresses, I say 'OK.' Note how I don't even get invited to the mall... this way they just give me the tab later, without me spoiling the fun of reminding them of how much we have spent "so far" during the trip. This is usually (but not always) more about how long we have been at the mall, and not really so much about how much we have spent. But I guess either way, I am encroaching on their girl time fun. So I am left behind, to pray that the Credit Cards don't burst into flames before they decide to return.

I am however, still without a costume, with 3 days left before we depart to Hershey PA (again). One day is my bowling night, and one night TheWife works the last shift. That leaves either tonight, or stopping somewhere along the way on Friday. The pressure mounting, and I am sure to hear about it (my procrastinating). Of course it is 3 weeks until Halloween, so can not having a costume 3 weeks in advance really be considered procrastinating? When you need it BEFORE Halloween it does? Oh Shut up! I got some shopping to do.

As if you didn't know

2006-10-06T15:31:00.000-04:00

Well, I have been talking about it on and off for the past week or two, but the time is here. This weekend we will be off to "the countryside" (better known as 'Western NJ') for our trip for picking some apples and pumpkins, hay rides and petting zoos, and yes... apple cider, entirely too much (in my wife's opinon) apple cider.

It is supposed to be cloudy but with temperatures in the sixties for a change it should be an excellent weekend for it. Last year it was so warm, I was lamenting not wearing shorts (although I was happy I didn't once we hopped onto the tractor for the hayride).

We are heading out on this trip a little earlier than usual this year because next weekend, we decided to take a little weekend excursion out to Hershey PA (yes again... so what?). I mean what better place is there to go around Halloween season than that?

Oh, *&$&&*^%$# I just realized, I still don't have a costume yet! Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute I always say.

Pictures of course to follow. So what is on YOUR weekend agenda?

Picture Perfect Thursday IV - At the Farm

2006-10-05T10:02:00.000-04:00

I want all of these
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

Perhaps it is because I was raised by a man that enjoyed organic gardening. Perhaps since my grandfather was also a gardener, it is just the way I assumed everybody did things.

I have always enjoyed vegetable gardending. And although thanks to the overrun of toys from Little Tykes, and Step 2, and so on, that I have not been able to maintain much space for myself in keeping my own garden, I still have a certain affinity for... (lacking a better term) farm life.

I make no bones about supporting family farms... heck I participated with some wonderful folks this year at Blogathon to raise money for Farm Aid. I prefer shopping at Farmer's Markets whenever possible, and when the cold weather shuts most of the local farms, we gravitate towards places like Whole Foods, shying away from pesticides, Genetically Modified Foods, and the like.

It is a love that I have shared with LatteGirl and one she has really taken to. Despite the allergies she inhereted from me and Asthma from her mom, she has never let this interfere with her enjoyment of going to a farm, seeing the animals, picking fruits, vegetables, and finding just the right pumpkin for Halloween.

It really stuck with me, when the last time we got some fresh apple cider from a local farm, that after drinking some, LatteGirl commented, "It tastes like you are drinking an apple," and followed that up with the million dollar question, "Why don't all apple juices taste like this?" And as I searched for an explaination, it really hit me. Why doesn't it? Why don't we all demand better? Why have we settled for less, and accept it as OK? When I was done, the best I could answer her was, "I don't know."

What I do know is that I am happy that I have been able to share this all with her, and that she gets it.

(Why is this called "Picture Perfect Thursday"? Well you have to go visit Liz over at This Full House for more details. If you do join in, please let me know)

The sound of ID's fizzling out

2006-10-04T13:01:00.000-04:00

Despite what many people think at times because of my liberal views, I am not "anti-religion." I am however, anti-radical religion. And it is that sort of radical that attempts to take things like Creationism, rename it Intelligent Design, and try to force it down kids throats as "science." Well, now that a couple of Americans won the Nobel for big-bang study , perhaps the ID people will crawl back under their rocks and stop their shenanigans for a while.

New Jersey law to tax iTunes sales

2006-10-03T13:27:00.000-04:00

I don't like Apple (the company) because of their proprietary "own it all" nature. TheWife doesn't care, and currently purchases music from iTunes along with several other companies. I guess it really doesn't matter, and I am sure all downloadable music companies will be involved, but they specifically mention iTunes when in the recent article about New Jersey law to tax iTunes sales.

There are certain things that I agree with. With its $45+ billion dollars in debt, that New Jersey needs to start doing things to whittle that down. And with our property taxes being some of the highest in the country, they need to look elsewhere. Personally I support that if they have to raise taxes, to raise them on non-essentials.

However, Internet sales fall under Inter-State Commerce, which makes it (in most cases) prohibited from taxing. If Gov. Corzine manages to find a way to slip this through, it is going to be a damaging thing. First of course for consumers that will have to pay the taxes. (You can be sure that if this gets through, every State is going to make a beeline to this cashflow. ) But just as importantly to businesses, particularly small one, and even people who sell things on places like eBay, as you will now not only have to work as a tax collector, you will need to know the rates, rules, and proceedures from every State that you sell (or even potentially sell) products to. And that can be a real mess.

I still think Gov. Corzine was a better option than the man he defeated. But 10 months in office, and he has come with some real clunkers that are not endearing him to anybody. I have always assumed that he had long term aspirations on running for President, but if he is going to just keep throwing things out there just to "see what sticks" he won't stand a chance.

Too conceited to 'blog'

2006-10-03T12:06:00.000-04:00

Alright, this is a bit old... but it is still one of the 5 "top stories" on the page. If you check out Brian Ross and the Investigative team on the ABC Website, one of the five "prime" stories on the site, is this one. It seems that "blogging" is beneath Mr. Ross because he is a "journalist."

Apparently blogging has become popular enough and important enough that MSNBC, CNN, Faux News, and most other media outlets include blogs in some fashion or another. But apparently that is not good enough for Mr. Ross, that "instead" of a blog, as he describes it:

"It's meant to be our take on the old-fashioned police blotter, where events of note were recorded as they unfolded..."

If Mr. Ross had done some investigation, what he would have found that when you LOG events like this on the WEB, that is called a Web Log, or for short a BLOG. Of course to make this even funnier, when you follow the link to his "blotter" the URL is http://blogs.abcnews.com/blotter/ and is in fact powered by TypePad.

Call it what you want Mr. Conceited Journalist Man Ross. It is a BLOG. Get over it.

Let me beat this Uniform Dead Horse once again

2006-10-03T09:58:00.000-04:00

In the past week we have encountered, another spate of school shootings. "Only" one by a student. In light of these events, the United States Secret Service along with the United States Department of Education released (or more correctly re-released, since it is dated 2002) ,
THREAT ASSESSMENT IN SCHOOLS: A GUIDE TO MANAGING THREATENING SITUATIONS AND TO CREATING SAFE SCHOOL CLIMATES (required Adobe PDF Reader).

What you will notice (if you can make it through all 99 pages) is the absence of anything related to students wearing uniforms having any bearing in creating a "safe school climate." I mean, unless those uniforms are made of kevlar, they are not going to keep kids safe.

What will keep our kids safe? I wish I could say definitively what could be done. I don't know about anybody else, but these events are every bit as terrorizing (actually probably more so), than alleged plots by al-qada. Events such as these are far more random, and virtually impossible to guard against (with all due respects to the above Secret Service and Department of Education). I mean sure, once again you can read talk about metal detectors in every school. But if the person, like the man that killed those girls in PA, has plans to exact "revenge" and is determined to kill people, do you think an underpaid security guard working a metal detector is going to halt it? Or would that simply be the first victim as the perpertrator enters the school.

I fully expect to see my daughter every day after school. But I am sure that those parents in PA, expected to see their children again as well. I mean after all, that is Amish Country. Crime is so low that many people do not lock their doors, and several towns do not even have a police force. If it can happen there... it can happen anywhere.

Proof positive that it is all rhetoric

2006-10-03T07:15:00.000-04:00

Need proof that the GOP and their "cut and run" claims against Democrats is so much rhetoric that they just spout it out, regardless of whether it is true or not?

Well here it is. In a debate for a Congressional Seat from a retiring Congressman, the GOP contender, Peter Roskam decided to invoke the Rovian stategy to claim that his opponent, Tammy Duckworth was an advocate of the "cut and run philosophy."

The problem with that? Tammy Duckworth is a double amputee that lost both legs in Iraq. She served our country proudly, and certainly sacrificed of herself for our country. Roskam, was obviously not thinking when he made this remark, and just following the GOP Guide to "talking points" whether they are real or not.

From Bad to Worse

2006-10-02T08:29:00.000-04:00

Everytime I see something new on the Rep. Mark Foley scandal, it gets more and more reprehensible.

OK, the first e-mail came out in the press, and he resigned. It was in poor taste, and certainly questionable. He was right to resign, but I didn't think much about it.

Then I turn around again, and read about the IM conversations that he had, and am now absolutely aghast at the now blatent nature of it. It crossed that line of questionable, and went straight into clearly inappropriate and questionably legal ground (Questionable, only because it the transcription has not been independently verified as yet).

Then I find out that this Virtual Child Molester, was member of the Missing and Exploited Childrens Caucus! The blood is starting to boil.

Come to today, only to find that GOP leaders KNEW about this for some time... and not only did they attempted to sweep it under the rug (par for the course - and I expect no less from either party), but they did not even force him to resign his position on the Missing and Exploited Childrens Caucus! They left him there.

I like the following analogy from this article in USA Today:

Beverly Pepe, 67, of Lake Worth, drew a comparison to the Roman Catholic
Church's scandals. "That's the same as when the church knew about all those
priests molesting the boys, and they just kept moving them from church to
church," she said.

Of course no GOP scandal would be complete without some spin justification from Ann Coulter, Brit Hume and of course Bill O'Reilly. But the best (or worst depending on how you want to look at it) has to come from Newt Gingrich who justified the GOP sitting on the issue and not reacting to the Foley scandal in a timely manner because:

House Republicans would have "been accused of gay bashing" if they had
"overly aggressively reacted" to Foley's allegedly inappropriate email
communications with a 16-year-old male congressional page when House Republicans reportedly first learned of Foley's actions in late 2005.

If this was the plot for a Television Movie. I'd turn it off. After all... who would believe a story line like this?

Jumping the Gun?

2006-10-01T00:06:00.000-04:00

Well, we have costumes already for LatteGirl and TheWife, soooooo.... being in the Halloween spirit already, we have already pulled out the Halloween Decorations and started doing up the house.

LatteGirl had declared that "cutesy" is out this year and wants everything to be scary. Which is quite a departure from the norm for her, but I guess is in keeping with her making the switch this year from being one sort of Disney character or another to being a witch!

So... Are we jumping the gun, decorating a full month before Halloween? Seems OK to me, I mean what the heck, stores have had their Halloween stuff out for two weeks already, and by mid October you will probably start seeing Christmas stuff on their shelves.

Picture Perfect Thursday III - "Leaving Summer"

2006-09-28T09:35:00.000-04:00

Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

Autumn is once again upon us. A time for putting away the summer chairs and patio funiture, packing up the yard toys and the seemingly never ending task of raking leaves.

This photo that I took a year ago (a year ago? really? Geez) occurred during another one of those times that LatteGirl helped remind me to stop and appreciate what is around me.

She loves, picking up colorful leaves, making her version of decorations and center-pieces out of them. But just as important to her is her seemingly unabashed love for nature. No expensive toys needed this day, no huge plans or trips. Entertainment is as simple as jumping in a huge pile of leaves.

She is not alone of course in this. Kids everywhere love that opportunity to just dive into that pile of leaves. Unfortunately many times, the adults of the world, forget too easily the joys of such things, only concerned with getting chores done, or not wanting to have to "rake all those leaves again" to let these simple yet wonderful chances to take place.

Autumn offers many people, who do not give it a second thought most of the time to sort of get reconnected with this planet we live on. It is a time for Apple Picking, Pumpkin Picking, enjoying a warm glass of apple cider on a crisp autumn day and many other simple pleasures that we tend to ignore in our techno-rushed world we live in.

As I have gotten older, autumn started to lose some of this for me personally. It became the time of year for Antique Shopping (OK, TheWife was shopping, I was just the "bag man"), "winterizing" and other things that made the season dreary for me, as by the time I finished everything else, I missed it. Autumn was gone and winter was already upon us.

This year, I hope to take more of that in. Stop to see the color. Look at the world again like a kid. And maybe, just maybe take a leap into a pile of leaves. Won't you join me? I'll have the warm cider ready.

Scary People Part II

2006-09-27T08:41:00.000-04:00

It is only a bit more than a month right now until Halloween. Do yourself a favor. Get your kids to decide on a costume and go get it NOW! Don't wait until the last minute.

We have never, ever waited on getting LatteGirl's costume. In several cases, because we acquired it from the Disney Store (can you say overpriced?), we had her costume literally MONTHS ahead of time.

Back in the days before child, I often had to start on my costume early, because I usually made all or part of the costume myself. Those days are gone, unfortunately since it would now become a choice between making a costume and and the few hours of sleep I am actually managing to get. Obviously sleep wins. And the past couple of years due to work, etc I have waited until the last minute to try and grab a costume. Oh sure, by the time I went, they were "on sale." But the things that became obvious were, first the reason the costumes remaining were on sale, was because nothing that was left was anybodies first choice (things like Jar Jar Binks costumes, and worse), second they figured they needed to give you a couple of dollars off so that you could purchase some Aleve on the way out. It was a battle zone as procrastinators, fought for each and every one of these costumes.

Yes, I have added some links over on my sidebar, and if you happen to decide to click on one, and you wind up buying a costume, I will make a few pennies (see my Disclosures and Policies). But, please. Don't click if you don't want to. Shop at Target, Wal-Mart, whereever. Just stop procrastinating. I did not post this today as some ruse (ala PayPerPost [note lack of linkage there]). I put the links up now, and wrote this today, because looking at the calendar reminded me that I swore I would not go through that war zone again. And If I can save just one other person from that this year, I will feel as though I have done my job to make the world a better place.

Scary People

2006-09-26T13:51:00.000-04:00

Halloween is still more than a month away. But already I am scared. Very scared.

I found this article by way of Reality Me, and I must say, it sent chills down my spine.

What I can't figure out is which is worse. That people actually will stand up in front of a room full of people and make a claim like:

"Contraception is the root cause of the explosion of the amount of abortions in the world"

or the fact that people actually ever listen to these people again after this. No they actually FOLLOW them. It is amazigly sad.

I forgot what comedian said it, and at the time it was funny, but now it sounds more plausible than ever when you listen to this nuts:

"... What will they do next? I suppose if I masterbate at the same time
some woman, according to their computers is ovulating they will arrest us both
on 'Conspiracy to commit abortion' ..."

Do these people ever think about, maybe just maybe if they stopped shoving their daughters into "Virginity Pledges" and other such stupidity, and taught something in addition to abstinence (note I did not say replace it... "absitnence is best, but if you are going to ...") then maybe, just maybe they wouldn't have so many "pre-born" children that they would need to go and save?

Oh No! They Got Me!

2006-09-25T19:21:00.000-04:00

OK, so we handled the gas crisis. We are a one car family, and I take public transportation to and fro. Gas and Electric prices jumped. No problem. High efficiency light bulbs and new air conditioners reduced our Electric use almost 40% from last year. Heating Oil prices up? New digital thermometers and lowering the temperature a couple of degrees helped reduce the pain (I can't deny that is was still a bit painful... but not as bad as first imagined).

But now I have been hit where it hurts. You see, it was announced today that Starbucks has raised the price of a a cup of coffee by a nickel and .50 a pound for their beans. (See more here).

I guess sooner or later there are some increases that you just can't get around.

Goooooooooooooooooooal!

2006-09-25T12:40:00.000-04:00

We survived the weekend unscathed (for the most part).

LatteGirl got a bad case of nerves prior to her game, and didn't want to go. In trying to teach her to honor her commitments, we told her she had to go since she had already promised her team and coach that she would be there. Many tears were shed, but she went.

Well, not surprisingly she had a blast playing and even scored a goal in her first game, and her team won making her all smiles, and of course she now loves it more than ever and is looking forward to playing again.

By the time Saturday evening rolled around everyone was pretty well wiped (no big surprise there) so we put off the carnival until Sunday. So LatteGirl and I hit the carnival together (TheWife had other plans with her sisters for Sunday which is why we were originally trying to fit everything in on Saturday). Our luck was absolutely phenomenal. I expected to spend around $20 and maybe... MAYBE wind up with one stuffed animal from the games of chance. We stopped after spending around $15 because we already had 6 LARGE stuffed animals and we just couldn't carry any more. Sure these were cheap stuffed animals and the total cost of them was probably around $6 total, but we had a blast, and LatteGirl got a kick out of being the one getting pointed at by other kids, who wanted to win "that" particular item, or "that many" prizes.

So, I guess you could call it a win-win-win weekend.

How did this happen?

2006-09-23T09:24:00.000-04:00

In the six years that LatteGirl has graced us with her presence, I have learned a lot about being a parent. Probably, though the most important lesson is that no matter what your start out planning, pay attention to parents that come before you. No, not necessarily your parents or grandparents, because well, admittedly some things do change with time, so things are much different now than they were THEN.

But that parent that you know that has that kid a year or even several years older. The one that has already lived through the experience, and tells you what you will be up against. C'mon, I can't be the only one. You remember. The one that told you about certain pitfalls and traps that await you, and you being the starry-eyed perfect planner that says, "Well, I am never going to fall into that THAT trap!" or "I will never let that happen with my child."

Morph a few years ahead, probably after you have already forgetten the warnings and advise you had dismissed previously, when BAM! You find yourself in the exact same place. This has happened with LatteGirl more times than I care to admit, and probably more times than I actually remember.

The most recent example is today. We have always sworn we would not let her fall into "overscheduled child" symdrome. You know, where you have far too much going on at one time. Now to keep my pride somewhat intact I will say, it is not a daily or even weekly occurance that this happens. It is only "once in a while", but yet despite our best intentions and efforts we still wind up with days like this:

7AM - Rise and shine
8:15 - 9:30 Soccer Game
10:30 - 12:30 Seasame Street Live (we bought the tickets months ago)
2:00 - 4:30 Birthday Party
7:00 - ?? Local Parish Carnival

And we actually removed her dance class from this schedule (she will make it up later).

Add it the time for traveling to and from each event, throw in a little bit of time to perhaps actually stuff some food down your throat, and that is one heck of a schedule for a 6 year old to handle (hell, that is a heck of a schedule for a 40 year old to handle).

The whole soccer thing is new to the schedule (more on that in upcoming days), so that is something we will have to work in... but I still can't figure out... how the heck, despite our best efforts to plan otherwise, that we wind up with days like this.

To those that tried to warn me there would be days like this no matter how hard I tried to not overschedule. Sorry... You were right.

Please don't say it...

2006-09-22T12:32:00.000-04:00

When I was around 11 years old it started the first time. It seemed like at the time, my family was dying off at an extremely rapid rate. By the time all was said and done around 3 or so years later, I was on a first name basis with a number of people at the couple of funeral palors my family seemed to always use.

Then almost as quickly as it started, it all stopped. I guess I just ran out of old relatives. Although the frequent trips to the funeral palor have not started yet, it seems as though it is right around the corner.

Why would I think such a thing? Well, let me just say the signs are all there. Every phone coversation I have with a relative seems to include one of the following words or phrases. Phrases that if I don't hear again in my life, I would be very happy. Some of these are not neccesarily proof that the end is near with someone middle aged or younger, in that case there is of course still room for hope of recovery, but with the aging crowd, it becomes more dire.

The most recent is now my uncle (my mother's brother in law). My mother called to give me an update on his condition, because well, to be honest he hasn't been doing all that great for a number of years, although the doctors have never been able to pinpoint exactly why. So when she said "he's not doing very well," I didn't exactly blink, becuase like I said, it has been a while since he has actually been "well." But then she hit me with 2 of those dreaded phrases. Back to Back no less. He is in a medically induced coma, and the next 48 hours are critical. I of course hope he can manage to recover, but am more preparing for the worst.

So what are the other phrases that I could do without?

Inoperable tumor/cancer
Broken Hip (why is it always the hip?)
moved to ICU
"Now don't get upset ..." (anything that starts with that is guaranteed to be upsetting)
nothing they can do
try to make him(her) as comfortable as possible

No matter how good a day you are having. The utterance of one of these phases is guaranteed to kill your mood.

Hello Ms. Sarandon

2006-09-22T10:23:00.000-04:00

Hello Ms. Sarandon
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

I finally got around to adding the photos from LatteGirl and TheWife's trip to Madam Tussard's Wax Museum in NYC into Flickr.

I used to walk by this place everyday on my way to and from work when I was in the City, but never actually went it.

Some of these figures are amazingly lifelike. Others are well... obvious in their waxiness.

Picture Perfect Thursday II

2006-09-21T15:41:00.000-04:00

Statue of Liberty
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

... And Liberty for all

How convenient for me to have practically in my back yard the symbol of Liberty and Freedom. It helps remind me of why I spend too much of my "free" time paying attention and taking action.

(Credit to my wife for getting this excellent snapshot, from a moving ferry on the way to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island this summer.)

I am the son of a a very patriotic man. A man that forever held the spirit of freedom and respect for this country near and dear to his heart. While some of that certainly rubbed off on me, it was not until my daughter was born, that I decided that change didn't start by saying, "What are you gonna do?" or "That is just the way it goes."

It was in those days that I learned to understand the saying, "Freedom is not free." That in order to keep this country right, it takes the work of the people. It takes each and everyone of us to hold accountable those that would be our leaders for their actions. It is up to us to demand that which is right. We can not just expect it, we can not just shrug our shoulders and say, "oh well" when things are not going right.

No doubt, things have gone terribly wrong. In many ways. But so long as this country still stands it is not too late. When my time is done, I want the world to be a better place than the condition that I found it. The only way to do that is to participate in that change wherever possible. Which means litterally anywhere, not just in Washington DC but in the city that I live, the neighborhood that I call home. It is getting out to vote in elections. It is paying attention to what is going on in my town and school systems, and being ready to challenge when things go off course.

It is not what I would like to do with my time. But if I want this world to be a better place for my daughter and other children in the years to come, it is something I do not believe I (or any person) can afford NOT to do.

(Why is this called "Picture Perfect Thursday"? Well you have to go visit Liz over at This Full House for more details. If you do join in, please let me know)

Back to School?

2006-09-20T19:02:00.000-04:00

OK, so I am not really going back to school, but it sure as heck seems like it.

Back to school night just took place at LatteGirl's school, and really what it boiled down to was letting parents know what was expected of THEM for the upcoming school year.

Now, I am all for pushing students at a young age when their little brains are like sponges and can absorb so much, but honestly do these teachers believe that you (or your child) has absolutely nothing else to do on any given evening than to just dedicate the entire evening to homework?

I am not anti-homework (Did I really just say that? My mother would faint!), but they can really go overboard, and we are in week 2. I am seriously afraid of what is coming down the road.

To those of you that have 2 or more. I bow down to you. I can hardly keep up with one, I can't imagine having to corral and work with more than one on any given evening.

The Visit

2006-09-19T15:15:00.000-04:00

Last week, the mother of a friend of TheWife passed away. As she prepared to go to the wake that evening, LatteGirl in her usual inquisitive manner asked where she was going. TheWife explained the situation. LatteGirl showed empathy in expressing how sad that was. That empathy brought her to a decision... she wanted to go "visit" Poppie.

We pondered it for a bit, and decided that there should be no major psychological harm and decided to take her to the mausoleum, still quite sure how she would react.

It was, in a word... interesting. As we walked up to the location, at first she put her hand on the marble stone, waited a beat and then asked, "Poppie's IN there?" I replied "Yes." "Can I see him?" Oh boy. Here we go. "Um... no honey" "But why not?" How do you explain a 2 year old rotting corpse to a 6 year old in a way won't bring on months of nightmares. TheWife and I managed to wiggle around it as best we could until either she was satisfied with the answer... or she just decided we were idiots that wouldn't give her a straight answer. Either way... She stopped.

She sort of hung on the stone, keeping her hand on his name, and every so often expressing how much she missed him. But in general her spirits were OK, and she found some diversions in noticing what other people had on their markers, pictures, emblems etc. Everything was good until we said it was time to go. She did not want to leave. So the haggling began. She started off with "Can we come every day?", to which I countered with the non-specific, "We can come every so often." She retorted with, "Fine. How is every week?" We settled on once a month, "for now" to be reconsidered later.

That satisfied her (for the time being), we said good-bye to Poppie... until October.

I still can't believe how well she handles herself with this at 6 year old. She never fails to impress me.

I must have Alzheimer's

2006-09-18T09:06:00.000-04:00

There are certain things in my life that lead me to believe that I have some sort of bizarre early onset type of Alzheimer's. This weekend one of those things came up. A yard sale.

It has been a while since we have actually done one. And they say that "time heals all wounds," so I guess that could also be a reason that having a yard sale once again sounded like a good idea, but once the day came, I remembered why we stopped having garage sales.

Now, we didn't have a whole heck of a lot to sell to begin with, short of the toys that LatteGirl was finally ready to part with when the concept of "turning them into cash" made her "realize" that she doesn't play with them any longer.

We had a few large items, like LatteGirls toddler bed (that she NEVER slept in) as well, but by and large, over the years, anything that could be sold for any real cash value that we no longer wanted, TheWife put up for sale on eBay. But my women wanted to do this.
So the day came, I brought out everything as TheWife had to take LatteGirl to dance class.

Self-Reminder One: "Early Birds" will show up a full two hours before the stated time of the sale. Do not be shocked when you find one (or two) camped out on your lawn waiting for you.

Self Reminder Two: It is an awful lot of work pulling all the old junk out and putting it on display. It will inevitably take you longer than anticipated. Especially when you are beeing watched over by the "Early Birds" that wind up slowing you down.

Once the early birds leave, you usually have enough time to get yourself together, maybe even slugging down a cup of coffee before the next batch of merry shoppers comes along.

Self Reminder Three: Nobody want to pay for anything at a garage sale. Always ask for a bit more because no matter how much you ask for something, they will want it for less.

Look, I'm not fooling myself. I understand this is the "junk" that I (mostly) don't want, and I am not expecting "retail" or even "fair value" for this stuff, but come on folks let us get real for a minute. For example. For Christmas LatteGirl got the V.Tech V.Smile System, and we purchased a couple of extra games for it. As it turned out, she did not like it very much, and we instead replaced it with the LeapFrog Leapster which she enjoyed a lot more. So the game unit had been taken out of the box a grand total of once. Everything including all manuals and registration cards were in the box, along with two additional games. Now I didn't expect to get anything close to full value. Hell, I didn't expect to get half of it. But I didn't think $10 was too much to ask. I would have taken a couple of dollars less even, just so I didn't have to cart it back in the house and store it again. But when people start offering $1 for it, now I am nothing short of annoyed.

Look, I know there are plenty of people out there these days, either looking to get something for nothing, or trying to find gems themselves that they think they can resell on eBay. I don't begrudge that. But let us get real. $1? C'mon will you?

We had children's book. All in good shape (read: look like new or were new). Asking price? A quarter. Lady walks up and tells me how "outrageouos" that price is and offers me ten cents a piece. I think some of these people really need to get a grip.

The biggest sucess of the day LatteGirl selling Lemonade for charity. Rather than buying her a the Lemonade stand that she wanted, TheWife found something through some organization that would give you a lemonade stand if the proceeds went to charity. So LatteGirl spent the afternoon hawking Lemonade for Second Harvest. And even with that we got a couple of comments that a lemonade stand should't have the "audacity" to charge a whole quarter for a (16 oz) glass of lemonade, and should be charging no more than a nickel.

My wife complains that I live "in the past" plenty of times, but at least I am stuck in the 80's. Some of these people still must think it is 1955.

When all was said and done, LatteGirl raised about $20 for Second Harvest. She made $28 on the sale of her books and toys (which we told her would go to her bank), and TheWife and I cleared around $30. Figuring there was three of us working for 7 hours we earned (not counting the money going to charity) about $2.76/hour each. Suddenly that job a Wal-Mart sounds like big bucks in comparison.

But come next spring (I have already been informed that we will be doing this again in the spring), I like an Alzheimer's patient, will probably again think "A yard sale. What a great idea"

Picture Perfect Thursday (a day late)

2006-09-15T16:34:00.000-04:00

The Falls
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

This is the "main falls" at Buskill Falls in PA. As I mentioned with the vacation recap, we decided to visit here and take a hike along the trails before heading home from PA.

After beating myself up for a week playing volleyball, softball, swimming and more, the last thing I was looking forward to was hiking along some trails, but the wife and child were adamant and off we went.

As we looked out on this somewhat foggy morning and looked at the falls, the sense of tranquility that overcame all of us (yes, surprisingly me too) was quite palpable.

By the time we ended the trail, even I with sore legs, didn't want to leave.

(Why is this called "Picture Perfect Thursday"? Well you have to go visit Liz over at This Full House for more details. If you do join in, please let me know)

The Couch Potato Bets

2006-09-15T09:08:00.001-04:00

The Losers

'Til Death - Fox tries to pull out another "Married with Children"-esque clone with this series. Fox was able to get away with nurturing an audience for "Married..." because, well lets be honest, it along with "The Simpsons" was all it had at the time, so poor reviews be damned they promoted it and prmoted it until they had a following. Not sure Fox is that kind of station any longer. The show has a good cast, and the potential is there, but I have a feeling people will stay away... and the show will get canned before it can draw 'cult' status.

Happy Hour - 'Friends' go to 'Cheers' or maybe some sort of twisted 'Friends' vs. 'Cheers' (think videogame mashup). Regardless, it stinks the critics hate it, it has no real show around to support it. Dead, Dead Dead. And seems to deserve it.

Men in Trees - I like Ann Heche. Really. And it is because of that, I find myself wondering... "Why Anne, Why?" This show is gone by Christmas if not sooner. Nothing else really needs to be said.

Vanished, Runaway and Kidnapped - I put these threee shows together to avoid repeating myself. We already have Cold Case and Without a Trace, does every station need to try and come up with a "version" of it now? Certainly not all of these can survive. Cold Case and Without a Trace have set a fairly high bar, and from what I have read, I will be surprised if even one of these is still on the air come springtime.

Winners that shouldn't be

Survivor - Why won't this show die? Much is being made about the "tribes" being split along racial lines. "How could they?" the reviewers are crying. Brilliant move. It got people talking (and writing) about it for weeks leading up to the premier. People will watch... though I personally don't understand why.

Jericho - Think 'Lost' in Colorado. The few reviews I saw were good, but I generally dislike shows that rip-off their idea from another and this one is certainly nothing but a rip-off from 'Lost' It will probably survive the season though.

Dancing with the Stars - Why does anybody watch this?

On the Fence

Lost - I admit it. I am the one person in America that did not watch Lost. Not one single episode. But like Desperate Housewives (though not quite as much), lost a bit of its lustre and shine during season two, something I like to call the "Twin Peaks Effect." When a show comes off a huge as Lost did it is hard to keep up that pace and expectation level. It will be interesting to see if Lost can hold on.

Desperate Housewives - I already mentioned this, but after a HUGE first season, it was shocking (and somewhat surprising) to see this show fall so far, so hard, so fast. If this show doesn't start off with a bang, it could be all over.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigators - This is my favorite show on television. I am sure it will survive at the very least this season. But after seven season, I have to wonder how much is left in the tank. Plus at the end of the season they gave the appearance that Grisom and Sidle have gotten together. When two characters who's attraction and inability is part of the show finally get together it usually marks, if not the end... the beginning of the end.

Ugly Betty - The premise is week, but critics like it and the few people I have spoken to (or read) seem to like it so it may make it. Is it enough for a series though? Sounds more like a Lifetime, made for TV movie.

The Surefire Winners

The Wire - everybody has declared this show a hit and the single best thing on TV this season. Far too many rave reviews for this show to fail. Even if it sucks, people will pretend to like it because they will feel like they are missing something or just don't get it yet.

30 Rock - I intially thought of this as just another Suddenly Susan or Newsradio. But the feedback has been spectaular so far, and looks like this one is the real deal.

Place your bets

2006-09-14T13:03:00.000-04:00

It is that time year again. One that I used to look forward to desperately in an attempt to get away from summer reruns, but now which only entertains me really in trying to guess which shows will make it and which ones will not based on what I read.

Why based on what I read? Because while I am horribly picky and judgemental when it comes to what I watch on TV because honestly I am down to about 3 hours a week that does not involve The Disney Channel, Boomerang (part of Cartoon Network) or similar. I have, and will until the final show airs locked in one of those hours for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. That leaves me with about two hours remaining. And what I "waste" that two hours is a "critical" choice.

Now as I said, I am awfully picky to begin with, but it seems that most of the viewing world is NOT. Sure... even the hardest of the hardcore reality fans managed to stay away virtually completely from the incredibly dumb Apprentice: Martha Stewart, but somehow crud like Survivor have continued on. Why? I have no idea. (Disclosure: I worked at a web design company and the original Survivor Web Site, so my bitterness could be slightly tainted by that experience. I don't think so, but... full disclosure). The show to me was a one hit wonder. Especially when it became clear that "Reality" was far more scripted than CBS let on during that first season. But the lemmings continue to tune in faithfully.

So what I was really getting at is that I by myself am not a good judge of what will survive and what will live on. Last season for example, I would have been certain that Dancing with the Stars, along with the scandal ridden American Idol would have folded up shop and gone home. But no, not only did they survive... they are back. Desperate Housewives which after an initial blockbuster season floundered horribly last year. My guess is that this is the "rubber season" for that show, it either needs to bounce back now... or be designated to scrap heap. If it starts out flat (again) it may not even make it through the season (or so I am thinking).

So, what are you looking forward to? Dreading? What makes it? What gets replaced early like last years bomb, Commander-In-Cheif and what is the surprise hit (My name is Earl)? And what makes one stick and the other stink?

Tomorrow I will post my picks and pans for the new season.

The Future Bride

2006-09-13T13:11:00.000-04:00

Future Bride
Originally uploaded by JayMonster.

Finally got a chance to update and upload some pictures onto Flickr.

The one you see here was taken by TheWife one afternoon. LatteGirl went with her for her hair appointment and decided she wanted to get her hair done too (for no particular reason other than to get it done).

When they came back home, TheWife got her to put on her white Princess Nightgown, and took these photos. Do they look as much like a series of Wedding Photos to you (click on the image to see the others of course), as they do to me? Or is it just me having a case of Daddy Anxiety looking at his little girl growing up?

Just STOP

2006-09-11T08:45:00.000-04:00

It is now officially 5 years since the horrific events of September 11th. A day that affected so many people in so many ways, and we will never be the same again. But in the time that has past since then we have seen and been infiltrated by terrorists in ways we could never have conceived even in those dark hours five years ago.

One terrorist continues to taunt us from afar. Mocking the "Dead or Alive" comments made by our Commander in Cheif, he continues to be a threat, just by his mere existance. This is not however shocking or news to anybody.

No, the shocking part is derived from the enemy within. Those that have seized on these horrible events to own them, to justify their own agendas. To start wars laying claims to links to al-qaida, then backing off saying that wasn't the case. Weapons of Mass Destruction that certainly existed... and then did not. Quoting words of the terrorists in national speeches, and for all intents and purposes, making them the terrorists, spreading fear to gain their political goals. They have become the exact terrorists we claim to be at war with.

In the days and weeks (and even months) after the attacks, the message was clear. We must move on with our lives, we must continue to act the same way we did before. We must go shopping, and not allow the economy to suffocate under fear. "Otherwise... The terrorists have won." But then something changed. The message we were getting was different. The message became "Be Afraid, Be very afraid" and "be afraid or the terrorists win."

In feeding this fear, and telling us every single day how the terrorists are out there ready to strike the momment that George W. Bush doesn't get exactly what he (and his administration) wants, we will be "giving comfort to the terrorists" and they will pounce upon us and kill us all, this administration has in reality become a terrorist organization itself. It thrives on that fear, relies on it, and uses it at every opportunity.

Now, to be fair, I asked myself the question, "Is there any guarantee that if the Democratic Party was in complete power as the GOP currently is, would things be completely different?" The answer... the honest answer is, "I don't know" The Democrats may very well have seized on the opportunity if they had it, to to be known as the "Security Party" so this is not purely a GOP vs Democrat argument. What is however irrefutable is that the current White House administration has used this opportunity to far greater damage.

The staring of a war we had no business starting, losing more American lives than on September 11th, the unbridled stomping on the 1st admendment in the name of National Security. The simply ignoring of checks and balances in power. The unprecedented "Power Grab" taken by the White House. And all the while, anybody that stood in their way was branded a "terrorist sympathiser" or "soft on terror" when in reality they were simply fighting the terrorist that resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Five years later it is time to just stop. Stop letting the war mongers and fear spreaders to continue to whittle away at our lives, our liberties, our freedoms, and time to take it back for ourselves. It is time we moved on and continued to live. We owe it to all of those that were not as fortunate as the rest of us five years ago.

Latte Man Special Saturday Edition

2006-09-09T18:44:00.000-04:00

Special? Not really, other than it is an odd thing for me to be blogging on a Saturday. You know, the week worth of "Honey-dos" has built up, of course LatteGirl wants to spend time with me as much as I do with her. And all those little life things that get pushed to the weekends because work seems to consume more and more of the weekday that I care to admit.

This weekend however, LatteGirl and TheWife are up at SesamePlace, leaving me to accomplish the needed tasks at home. But it also allows that when I do take a break, I am for a change afforded the opportunity to blog.

I should of course be getting the pictures we took from the falls and vacation up into Flickr. Perhaps during the next break I will do that. (Procrastination is an art form... don't let anybody tell you any different).

Time alone is sometimes good, and I got quite a bit accomplished today, but I must admit, I am feeling quite lonely, and I can't wait until they get home.

Fickle Friday

2006-09-08T16:40:00.000-04:00

Well, the weekend is upon us and I am feeling... completely ambivelant.

Got a friend coming over to visit with her kids this evening. Yay!

LatteGirl and TheWife are gone for the Weekend. Boo!

LatteGirl and TheWife are gone for the Weekend. Yay!

TheWife left me a list a chores to accomplish while she is gone. Boo.

But the list is not long. Yay!

But I also need to go to client Number 1 and get some work done. Boo!

That means extra money next month. Yay!

It will probably only wind up going towards paying for LatteGirl's school Boo!

But LatteGirl loves the new school so far. Yay!

However it only took her 1 day to get in trouble for talking to her friend and got her seat moved. Boo!

Alright enough of that already.

Been living with the Skype phone for about a week now (Since My Big Fat Geek Weekend), and I have to tell you, it is pretty nifty. I invested the $38 US (approximate it is 30 Euros) for a year of having a separate phone number. I plan on using it for Clients and such, to help keep them off of my home phone.

Along this same vane, does everybody these days have way too many IM clients? I have people on Yahoo!Messenger, MSn Messenger, AIM (mostly work people), I haven't downloaded GoogleTalk yet, but have chatted with a few people threw the Chat interface built into GMail. I am sooooo glad that XP has that collapsable System Tray. On my Windows 2000 system, more space was dedicated to the System Tray than to the Taskbar section. I thought about trying one of the programs like Trillian that combines them, but I really don't like that idea either. Maybe someday we can have a single open standard. (Yeah Right).

Oh well, hope everyone has a great weekend.

Just Like Starting Over

2006-09-06T08:09:00.000-04:00

Another school year begins. For us, and more so for LatteGirl it is yet another beginning. Two years ago, she started the last of her Pre-K classes. Last year Kindergarten, new school new friends, etc. and this year with the transition to private school she gets another new start. She will have the benefit of having two friends from her old Pre-School and a friend she made this summer at camp in her class, so it may not be quite as daunting in some ways as Kindergaten where she had no carry-over. The classes are smaller which of course it also a nice thing.

She has held a pretty brave front, even singing and dancing about going to her new school. But last night, as we prepared for bed, she let it slip out. She was excited... but also a bit nervous. "Not scared" just a little nervous. Fortunately it is only a 1/2 day today and tomorrow, so I am sure she will transition in quite fine.

Still getting caught up

I feel like I have been perpetually behind since returning from vacation. Of course that has been helped along with the school change, the job location change, Ernesto knocking out power all over the eastern seaboard (despite not being a huge storm), etc. So if you haven't seen me around your blog lately, just know I am slowly catching up.

As pathetic as it may sound, I am so looking forward to my bowling season starting on Thursday. I probably would have been better off if it started in a week or two since I have been going at such a hectic pace. But then again, that may be exactly WHY it is good that it is starting tomorrow. It is my opportunity to focus a least a couple of hours on something enjoyable and take my mind off of family issues and/or work issues. No it is not the nightlife and fun I used to enjoy years ago. Then again, I do not recover nearly as quick as I did years ago, and the thought of going to work on an hour sleep (or less) is no longer something I can handle or even consider.

Some Unrequitted Link Love

Two things that I have caught up on and wanted to share. Cat has moved out of her "swamp" life, and now you can just call it Cat's Life. So update your Blogroll if you haven't already, or stop by and check her out.

The other blog, is one I have just added to my blogroll, even though I have been reading it for some time. Of course everybody in the free world knows about and reads Busy Mom. But what you may not know about is her OTHER blog, GenBetween. Having to deal with the tribulations of handling both kids and parents can be a daunting task, and if you are in that situation, I am sure you will be able to quite easily identify with this as Busy Mom gives herself to us as a "poster child" of the Sandwich Generation.

My Big Fat Geek Weekend

2006-09-05T08:48:00.000-04:00

Around these parts Ernesto was a big fat nothing other than some annoying rain, so not only did we not get water in the basement, I was actually able to get some additional waterproofing done.

We did have some family over Saturday, and some friends Sunday for end of the summer bar-b-ques which is always fun, although I still swear this summer went by WAY too fast for me. We had all sorts of plans for weekend trips and such, and now the time has already gone right by me.

LatteGirl starts her new school on Wednesday. Talk about easing into it, she has half days Wednesday and Thursday, the her and Mom will be heading off to Sesame Place for the weekend before she starts her full day sessions next Monday.

I am starting at my new client's today, so in between the bar-b-ques and waterproofing, I had to wipe clean and reformat my laptop. (Warning: if you are not the intensely geeky type, you may wish to skip the remainder of this paragraph). After being forced by my last client to remain on Windows 2000, I finally got to bring it up to Windows XP. Since I was feeling particularly geeky, I also dual-booted it with Linux (I went with OpenSuse for now, but that will probably change... at least once or twice). Then to top off my geekfest, I went and picked up the Linksys VOIP phone for Skype.

Too much food, too much drinking, and too many new toys (according to my wife). Eveything to make for a perfect three day weekend. Hope everybody had a good weekend. So are you ready for fall?

I guess I should have listened

2006-09-01T13:21:00.000-04:00

TheWife has been on me since spring to waterproof the basement. It is not like I have been neglecting it. Our basement is quite packed, and getting to the walls in each section is a project in and of itself.

So, I have been working on it, but it is far from done. Now of course, here comes Ernesto. Certainly not a huge deal as it is already nothing but a Tropical Storm and will likely be nothing more than a tropical depression (or less) by the time it reaches this area, but with the promise of between 2 and 6 inches of rain (could they be any more vague), I will certainly not hear the end of it if we start to take on some water.

Overall I am quite lucky. We live on the top of a hill, in an area that is at virtually zero risk of flooding. But water damage is water damage. Especially when your wife has been harping on you to get this project done all year.

Goodbye to Me Time

2006-08-31T23:14:00.000-04:00

There is a lot on the fiancial plate coming up. The decision to send LatteGirl to private school is going to set us back to the tune of $4K per year. Then there is the planned trip to Disney World in the spring. Of course, we lucked out last winter but to say that with oil prices where they are winter has me scared would be an understatement.

So, I did the only thing I could and took on a second client. The timing is pretty good because my current primary client is dragging their collective heels in funding the project and dragging things out. So, I worked out a deal to telecommute to client one and work "as needed" while taking on client 2. Oh, and Client 2 will be adding a couple of hours of commute time to my day.

That means I will be spending about 12 hours a day with client 2, between work and commute, to come home, spend some time with LatteGirl, and once she is in bed, logging in and working on tasks for Client 1. But I see no reason I can't get a solid 3 to 5 hours sleep a night. So everything should be fine right?

Battling Shyness

2006-08-30T12:02:00.000-04:00

I alluded to it in the vacation recap, but really I have been glossing over it. LatteGirl is shy in new surroundings. She easily (for the most park) makes friends when she warms up and lets her guard down. But the time it takes for her to "warm up" in any given situation seems to have gotten worse and not better.

Now, we finally got to the bottom of part of it. It seems that one girl at summer camp that happen to be friends with some of the same people as LatteGirl, was a bit of a bully to her. She didn't like my little angel and this girl did not have any problem letting LatteGirl know it. LatteGirl has not so far really encountered such a situation where a person she was willing to befriend, simply did not like her and there was nothing she could do about it.

After finally getting this information out during a discussion one day during vacation, she did warm up around some of the kids at the resort. So, I can only assume that her understanding that not everybody is going to like her (something she could only ask "Why?" to, but seemed to finally accept), put her a bit more at ease. But I fear the underlying problem continues.

Part of the problem I suppose is that outside of school/daycare she has very little interaction with other kids. This of course leads to the problem of Mommy and Daddy having to also fill the role of "friend" most of the time. Which leads to her depending and expecting Mommy and Daddy to play that role, plus it is one she knows and is comfortable with. So she shys away (at first) from others.

It is frustrating. It is a problem easily identified. It is a problem that is easy to find the root cause. But it is one that I am perplexed as to how to solve. I thought things like getting her involved in dance classes would help, since there were several girls that she already knew from Pre-K in the class, she built on her relationships with those girls and even with the recitals continued to hide.

Starting a new school in the fall may help a bit, but that of course depends on who or how many previous friends are in the same class. She will start dance classes again, but many of the same kids will be in that class, so I don't know how much that will change anything. TheWife has tried to get her interested in a few other things such as gymnastics and soccer, but we have to contend one with the fact that she has expressed zero to less than zero interest and two we do not want to wind up making her one of those "overscheduled" children that are always running somewhere, but rarely excel at any one thing because they have their hands in too many things.

Do you have a shy child (or one that has broken out of their "shell")? How do you deal with it?

Latte Man - Decaffeinated

2006-08-29T10:17:00.000-04:00

Expectations. We all have them. How they taint your experience has a huge impact on how you perceive things. I have gone plenty of places, with ammenities much more posh and elegant than are offered by Chestnut Grove, the location of our family vacation this year.

But with those ammenities comes a price tag. And with the higher price tag usually comes greater expectations. Now I had expectations when we departed for our vacation this year. In many ways these expecations were far tougher ones to meet. They were colored with fond memories of childhood vacations. Of happy family times. Distant memories that often are far more wonderful in your memory than the events actually were. This is a tall order to meet, and I tried to temper this as best as I could. But as it turns out, I really didn't need to do so. This vacation turned out to be everything that I had been dreaming of since we made our reservations.

If I however, had come in expecting accomodations as posh as say, when the wife and I went to Ceasar's Pocono Palace, or some expensive upscale hotel, I may have come away disappointed. If you only stay at 5 star hotels, this may not be the place for you. This is a basic family place. The accomodations are simple, comfortable, and bit understated. But this is exactly what I wanted and expected. This was not a vacation about staying in your room (as I will explain shortly), but your room was simply a place to get some sleep, a shower and refresh yourself to continue on with your vacation.

TheWife was concerned when we initially considered this destination that it would be boring. She scoured the Internet for nearby things to do and see. As it turned out, we left the resort only once, for a shopping excursion to The Crossings Premium Outlets and The Christmas Factory. Plans to hit places such as Camelbeach Waterpark and several other places got put on hold, at least for this year.

The only problem we encountered along the way, was LatteGirl's decision to be shy and clingy. She was reluctant to socialize with the other kids, preferring to spend her time clung to either mommy or daddy. So in an effort to keep her entertained and to get some relaxation ourselves, we essentially wound up taking turns in being the person she clung to. She would play with Mommy or sit by and watch as I played Volleyball, Softball, etc. LatteGirl and I would usually hit the pool as Mommy got her time alone to take a walk, or just some time to read one of the books she brought along etc. We also put her to work as our ball-girl for some early morning tennis. (It is times like this that I wonder about her whole allowance situation. When we started it, we informed her that "standard chores" were expected and that she was not going to be paid for them, but that things "above and beyond" would allow her to earn additional money. Thus I wound up paying her $2 per day for her additional task of being our ball-girl). If you have to run into a problem on vacation, and this is it, then I would say luck is on your side.

Evenings, brought their own entertainment. Each night they had something like Bingo or "Cruise Ship Horseracing." Those were followed by a DJ that was as much an entertainer as he usually had games and gifts for the kids, or a magician or karaoke. Things wound down usually by midnight, which was fine, because by then everybody was ready for bed.

I would say that I was very well rested on this vacation. But that would only be true of my brain. With no Internet access, and spotty connections from Verizon Wireless. I was truely unplugged for the first time in about 12 years. Physically however was a different story. I have not been terribly active since tearing a tendon in my ankle a few years back, and I pushed myself this week. I know I mentioned it earlier, but for an aging out of shape guy, my schedule of tennis, volleyball, swimming, softball, swimming and then "going out" that evening is enough for ONE day, but I managed to keep this pace up for 5 days (a bit slower on arrival day, and departure day is a story unto itself for tomorrow). So while the brain is fresh and rejuvinated, the body wants another week to recuperate. But I wouldn't trade the pain for anything in the world.

It wasn't the most classy. It isn't the type of place that sparks comments of "WOW." What it is, is a place that delivers exactly what it promises. It meeets expecations of a pleasant family vacation destination. A good time was had by all, and 51 weeks from now, we will do it again.

Back in the saddle

2006-08-28T09:01:00.000-04:00

Well, as is usual in such situations, I must make the time honored comment that the vacation seemed to fly by and was not nearly as long as I would like it to have been. Oh, and I can't forget the timless classic, I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

As cliche as these statements are, there is a reason they have become such staples that you can be sure you will hear them from anybody returning from vacation. That reason is, that they are usually true.

But the upside to that truth is, that the reason for it is usually because you had a good time. And that certainly was the case here. To say we had a blast would be a serious understatement. We had such a great trip, we booked the same room and same week for next year. This coming from people that have never done anything exactly the same twice is quite a testament to how great we thought everything was.

We were so busy enjoying ourselves, I have far too few photos to share (but will share what few we did take as soon as I can get an opportunity), because we rarely stopped long enough to think about spending time posing for pictures, or even bothering to bring the camera along.

I have lots of details to share, but precious little time as I attempt to get back to the grind of work, and the dozens of e-mails and meeting requests that have piled up while I was away, so details of the trip and more will follow as time allows, at least until I am back in the saddle.