Ever since we put our 2.5 year old in a big boy bed, his time to wake up has become earlier and erratic. When he was still in the crib, even though he could escape, you could count on him at least staying in the room until 8:00ish, not anymore. I was lucky that this weekend when he came strolling into our room at 5:00am I was able to get him back to bed for a couple more hours. Lately, during the week he has been coming into our room around 7:00ish. I think he hears the alarm/radio that I use to wake me up. Usually he crawls in bed with Jen and I and just lays there until I get ready to go downstairs. Usually when he comes into our room I end up being late to work since he "helps" me get ready and I have to wait for Jen to get up too since I don't trust him being alone downstairs after I leave. Why you might ask? Well, Jen left him alone downstairs for a few minutes yesterday and he proceeded to get into the pantry and tear apart a yellow box of a taco dinner kit thinking that it was a box of wheat thins (his favorite). Luckily the kit comes individually packaged so there wasn't a mess everywhere, but the box has seen better days.
That being said, this morning he comes strolling into the bedroom around 6:45 which is close to the time I get up to get ready, so no big deal. I get into the shower and he follows me into the bathroom to play with his bath toys and see what else he can get into. I look out the frosted window and see him playing with something. So I open the door and see that he is playing with my new electric razor. He looks at me sheepishly and tries to hand me the razor, since he knows it's mine. I tell him that I don't really need my NEW ELECTRIC razor in the shower and ask him to put it back. But just like a 2.5 year old he continues to play with it and finds the feature where the sideburns attachment pops out which is funny to him. So I finally ask him to give the razor to me and I was planning on putting the razor on the top of the shower door, when I realize that he had turned the razor on the whole time he was playing with it, so he basically ran the battery down to nothing... so much for being on time today. I knew the battery was getting a little low on charge, but I guess it couldn't make it the 6 or 8 minutes I was in the shower. So as soon as I got out of the shower I plugged it in, hoping that it would charge enough in the few minutes that I did my other bathroom duties. Nope.. I got halfway to my chin and it just stopped (of course with a few whiskers pulled in the blades). So the scramble begins to find my straight razor and gel which I haven't used since we moved into the new house and I have no idea when Jen put them. So scramble, scramble, shave, get dressed,grab my lunch, head out the door. I start the car and notice that my son has opened the door to the garage and it looking at the car. Time be damned, I got out of the car and told him bye and that I would see him later, which made him happy. I don't know how but I made it to work with a minute to spare. Maybe I should try and get up earlier, or maybe I should just make sure the razor has a full charge at all times.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
Beer is Beer..... sometimes
I like beer. I am by no means a beer snob. I have my usual brands (that are usually on sale) and some special occasion beer (the expensive stuff). I find myself sometimes at a party where my usual stuff isn't available and I drink whatever is available. Usually at Mike's christmas and Halloween parties is where I can get a taste of something that I haven't had before or that often. I even find a beer that I really like and put it into the special occasion beer selection.
That being said....
I was at a party last night where beer and pop was available. The beer that I see in the cooler is "old style". I am not sure if it was the ancient looking can or the years of kidding that that stuff was "pee water", made me think.
They still make this stuff? Beer is beer.. right? How bad could it be? They still sell this at Wrigley, so I should be alright, it's not Jones Soda... Just as I was getting ready to reach for my "old style" I saw a glimpse of the blue modern label for "miller lite" and quickly changed my selection.
Maybe I am a bit of a beer snob.
That being said....
I was at a party last night where beer and pop was available. The beer that I see in the cooler is "old style". I am not sure if it was the ancient looking can or the years of kidding that that stuff was "pee water", made me think.
They still make this stuff? Beer is beer.. right? How bad could it be? They still sell this at Wrigley, so I should be alright, it's not Jones Soda... Just as I was getting ready to reach for my "old style" I saw a glimpse of the blue modern label for "miller lite" and quickly changed my selection.
Maybe I am a bit of a beer snob.
Collection or Obsession?
I went to my wife's employee (Cast Member) party for the Disney store last night. It is annually held at a manager's house. Walking into this house, the sheer amount of disney stuff on the walls,floor,ceiling.. Basically every nook and cranny, is amazing. Stuffed animals,lithos,statues,pictures, etc., etc. to the nth degree. It is seriously sensory overload of the amount of stuff to look at in EVERY room of this two story house (even going up the stairs). I have seen people have collections that are basically kept reserved for the basement or curio cabinet (or a Christmas tree, thanks MR), but this collection has exploded all over their house (including the outside). They have even installed an upper shelf that covers ALL of the living room for stuffed animals. The collection is impressive.. but it is obsessive? Why would an older couple (50ish) go to such lengths to do this to a house? They don't have any children (which is why stuff is still all over the place and not "put up") and I ever doubt in a million years that he would ever sell any of this stuff. Granted some of the things he has are highly collectible and would fetch some good money, but he would have to sell them, and that isn't happening.
But I guess if it brings them pleasure...then so be it. Of course it could be the novelty of the "whoa" factor when someone new walks into their place. But now this person has been getting a little more selective about what he buys, just for the fact he doesn't have any more room to put anything.
It's a good thing he is a manager of the Disney store for the discount alone...
But I guess if it brings them pleasure...then so be it. Of course it could be the novelty of the "whoa" factor when someone new walks into their place. But now this person has been getting a little more selective about what he buys, just for the fact he doesn't have any more room to put anything.
It's a good thing he is a manager of the Disney store for the discount alone...
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Ghost Image
I came across this picture of a house while I was working on Real Estate and Homes magazine. It looks like there is a ghostly image in front of this house. I have not doctored this photo in any way. Just found it interesting.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The "Big Gun"
I remember from when I was a kid that there was a tone that my father used, where I knew he was mad and wasn't fooling around. Having two boys I figured that I better get working on my tone (aka. the "big gun"). I have been experimenting with the "Big Gun" with my 2.5 year old and it wasn't working out too well. He would get into the refridgerator and ask for milk just before bedtime and I would attempt to fire the "big gun" to say no, and I wasn't really hitting the mark since he would just leave the fridge door open and just stare at the milk or start to cry. Now granted it was just a glass of milk and not like he was about to run out into traffic so I guess the "big gun" was not really necessary, but like I said I was just trying it out.
His latest game with Jenny and I is to put things into his mouth like lint, dirt, or whatever he can find on the floor. Nothing that would hurt him, just stuff he shouldn't have in there. The game is when Jenny and I attempt to get the item out of his mouth. He takes great pleasure in having Jenny and I say "open", chase him down, and try to pry his mouth open to get the item out. Jenny is braver than I am since she will actually put her finger inbetween his teeth for the object and get bit. I won't go that far since the bite pressure of a 2.5 year old has to be the same as a great white shark (or at least it feels that way).
So along comes Sunday... I am out in the cold garage trying to organize our crap from the move, I have been up since 6:00am because of the 2.5 year old, Jenny had just done something to annoy me, and I am fighting a sinus infection, so needless to say I am not in a good mood. Jenny comes out to the garage and informs me that he has something in his mouth... again. That's it!! Time for the "BIG GUN"!! I walk into the house, slam the door, and say "OPEN"!!! The house falls quiet, he opens his mouth and spits out the item (a piece of lint), and has a look on his face like "wtf?". I turned right around and went back out into the garage. I few minutes later I came back in and gave him a big hug and played with him a little bit. I know now that the "big gun" works, but hopefully I won't have to use it anymore, since I didn't like the way I felt when I was using it. I am going to try and find a happy medium to the "big gun"... maybe "big slingshot".
His latest game with Jenny and I is to put things into his mouth like lint, dirt, or whatever he can find on the floor. Nothing that would hurt him, just stuff he shouldn't have in there. The game is when Jenny and I attempt to get the item out of his mouth. He takes great pleasure in having Jenny and I say "open", chase him down, and try to pry his mouth open to get the item out. Jenny is braver than I am since she will actually put her finger inbetween his teeth for the object and get bit. I won't go that far since the bite pressure of a 2.5 year old has to be the same as a great white shark (or at least it feels that way).
So along comes Sunday... I am out in the cold garage trying to organize our crap from the move, I have been up since 6:00am because of the 2.5 year old, Jenny had just done something to annoy me, and I am fighting a sinus infection, so needless to say I am not in a good mood. Jenny comes out to the garage and informs me that he has something in his mouth... again. That's it!! Time for the "BIG GUN"!! I walk into the house, slam the door, and say "OPEN"!!! The house falls quiet, he opens his mouth and spits out the item (a piece of lint), and has a look on his face like "wtf?". I turned right around and went back out into the garage. I few minutes later I came back in and gave him a big hug and played with him a little bit. I know now that the "big gun" works, but hopefully I won't have to use it anymore, since I didn't like the way I felt when I was using it. I am going to try and find a happy medium to the "big gun"... maybe "big slingshot".
Favorite Word or Phrase
The TV show two and a half men is one of the funniest shows that has been on for a while. While the humor is sometimes crude, I always smile. Which brings me to the quote from last night, when Allen describes to Charlie what he does in the absence of female companionship.
"Yank it like a Monkey in a Mango Tree"
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Close Call
I have found out that in the subdivision that we moved into basically becomes an ice rink when it snows even a little bit (Nice job city). So I have learned to take extra time and throw the car into neutral when coming up to all intersections. This morning I am heading to a 4-way stop and I notice a car come flying up to the 4 way so I started breaking early. Needless to say this car slid through the 4-way and to make things worse he was turning left (the direction I was coming). So out of control car, sliding and turning left, right where I was going. On dry pavement I have a few more decisions of avoiding the accident, when it's a sheet of ice the options are few. I basically was thinking there is no way of avoiding the accident and I was getting ready to brace myself. But then things kind of went into slow motion and I found option #2. Throw the car into neutral, take my foot off the brake and cut the wheel to the left to go into the lane that this yahoo should have been in, and it worked. He ended up in my lane and I ended up in his. Looking over at this yahoo I could see he was a kid and really showing no remorse for almost hitting me he kept going and so did I. Luckil the guy behind this yahoo approached the intersection correctly and stopped so I could turn.
I want to curse this guy out and call him all kinds of names, but I remember when I was that age and how stupid I drove a car. One day, late to school I was going way to fast on a snowy road and approached an intersection where the light changed. I panicked, hit the brakes hard and lost control on an icy road. I threw the car into neutral as my dad told me but in my panic I was not pumping the brakes and kept my fatal slide toward this busy intersection. I finally panicked so bad that I actually threw the car into PARK to try and stop the slide, but this just did nothing. Luckily I was able to have enough mental control to steer the car into a snow drift just before the intersection thus avoiding a really bad situation. I remember how I felt after that experience, my heart racing, thinking about it for the rest of the day. I don't know if it is my age or experience but today calmer head prevailed and I was able to think my way out of it. I am still mad at this kid for driving like that, but all I can do is hope that he has learned a lesson and that he gained some experience.
I want to curse this guy out and call him all kinds of names, but I remember when I was that age and how stupid I drove a car. One day, late to school I was going way to fast on a snowy road and approached an intersection where the light changed. I panicked, hit the brakes hard and lost control on an icy road. I threw the car into neutral as my dad told me but in my panic I was not pumping the brakes and kept my fatal slide toward this busy intersection. I finally panicked so bad that I actually threw the car into PARK to try and stop the slide, but this just did nothing. Luckily I was able to have enough mental control to steer the car into a snow drift just before the intersection thus avoiding a really bad situation. I remember how I felt after that experience, my heart racing, thinking about it for the rest of the day. I don't know if it is my age or experience but today calmer head prevailed and I was able to think my way out of it. I am still mad at this kid for driving like that, but all I can do is hope that he has learned a lesson and that he gained some experience.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Taco Hell
While spending a couple of hours putting together my son's dresser, (Sauder furniture.. some assembly required is an understatement) it was getting late and we couldn't really decide where to eat. Finally it was so late that ordering take out from a restaurant would have made it very late before we ate so we decided to "bag the bell". Usually when I eat there I can get stuffed for around $4 or so, but I wasn't 100% sure that my $7 cash would take care of the bill including Jenny and William, so I also grabbed $2 in change. Heading out the door with William, Jenny says that she only wants two things so I figured no problem I have tons of money and I was just going to get William a soft taco. So I am doing some figuring on the way over to Taco bell.... I am getting 9 items and I know for a fact that my soft tacos are under $1 so I should be fine. After ordering I am told my total will be $10.61 (I find out later that the two things that Jenny ordered are the most expensive on the menu) so I am a little short, but I notice that the Taco bell takes credit cards (whew). On the way to the window I also remember I have a $50 stashed away (Christmas money). I get to the window ready to pull out the credit card, but I ask if they could take a $50 knowing that some fast food places do not take anything over $20. The girl says that she can handle the $50 so I give it to her and then watching her through the window she seems flustered and is calling people over with keys to open drawers and stuff, but I figured that she just needed to put away the larger bill. After a little bit of scrounging around she presents me with my change... $9.39.... $9.39??? UH Wait a minute... I just gave you a $50....I know it was so long ago. She apologizes and more rustling in the cash drawer and she presents me with my extra $30 and says "have a nice day". Have a nice day??? I will if you give me my food. She sticks her head out the window and asks if there is anything else she can help me with and I said "Yes, I need my food" So she grabs the bag next to the window and says "You had the cinnamon twists and a pop?" (I had no ideas that cinnamon twists were so expensive..) No, I said and someone hands her the correct bag and I pull away from the window, but something still isn't right. Jenny ordered a Mexican pizza which I know comes in a box, and I don't have a box in my bag, and for the most expensive thing I bought, I want it. So I figured "crap" I will just run in and get the rest of my order, but then I remember I have William with me, so the whole process of parking the car, getting him out of the car seat, taking him and my order into the restaurant was a pain in the butt. Luckily there wasn't anyone inside so I went right up to the counter and told them of the missing pizza, which they quickly gave me along with FREE CINNAMON TWISTS.. woo hoo bonus (they are expensive you know). So back out again, load up William and head for home. This experience came close to a Keith and Lori restaurant moment, but the food was alright.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Clowns
Is this a logo for the Insane Clown Possie?
The logo for the movie Killer Klowns from Outer Space? (Good dumb film, I recommend)
Some Steven King Novel?
Nope just the logo on the cover of the children's coloring book for the Mizpah Shrine Circus here in town. Is there any wonder why some kids grow up fearing clowns????
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Pissed is an understatement
I just have to vent about my adventure getting my oil changed last night. I went to the all new Glenbrook Dodge/Jeep on Coliseum Blvd. I had a 6:00 APPOINTMENT to get my oil changed and to get a door lock looked at. What a Cluster (you know) that was. First of all I was there for over two hours... for a freaking oil change. I was the only person there, there wasn't a bunch of idiots like me waiting for their car. What's the point of having an appointment if you just get put in line like the other schmucks. I heard another guy say that it was and hour and 15 minute wait since they only had a couple guys working on them... excuse me? Why offer service after 5:00pm and then staff it poorly. The second issue that I have is they have this real cushy waiting room with this impressive 52 inch tv that DOESN'T FREAKING WORK and the most uncomfortable chairs that I have ever been on. When I wait for my wife's Saturn we have a nice TV, FREE refreshments, and nice chairs making me think about dumping the Jeep and buying another Saturn.
The third and biggest thing that I have a problem with is that my door locks make a buzzing noise when you unlock the door. When my wife set up the appointment she mentioned this to the guy at service and he told her that it was a common problem with Jeeps and then he proceeded to repeat the EXACT noise that the locks were making, but when I got to my appointment I was told that it would be $76 to diagnose the problem. I tried to argue that it was a common problem that they guy on the phone new about but they said there was nothing that they could do about that. FINE I said and went to the waiting room. After my 2 hours of waiting the guy from service comes out and tells me it's a door lock activator and would cost $295 to replace. I almost came unglued. I told him forget it and give me back the car. And what does this yahoo do?.. go immediately to my car to get it back to me?... no, he proceeds to start turn of lights in the waiting room and in the building and finally meanders back to the service area (ass). Less than two minutes later my jeep was sitting out front and I thought to myself... wait a minute.. I just paid $76 for a diagnostic and they never touched the door. So $110 for a 2 hour oil change and for them to give me an outrageous price quote.
I have since called and vented to the assistant manager who connected me with the managers voicemail.. we will see if he calls back. Also increasing my anger we called the other Jeep dealer in Fort Wayne and they knew exactly what the problem was with the door lock and told my wife that it would be a ballpark of $200 to fix. Needless to say I am either going to the other dealer on the other side of town or find a good repair shop in the area.
On the way home, I seriously wondered what my insurance deductible was and was trying to think if it would be cheaper to put the side of the jeep into a cement pole in a Wal-mart parking lot like my mother in law did. Visions of a baseball bat and the windows of the jeep were as clear as if I was actually doing it.
Pissed is an understatement.
The third and biggest thing that I have a problem with is that my door locks make a buzzing noise when you unlock the door. When my wife set up the appointment she mentioned this to the guy at service and he told her that it was a common problem with Jeeps and then he proceeded to repeat the EXACT noise that the locks were making, but when I got to my appointment I was told that it would be $76 to diagnose the problem. I tried to argue that it was a common problem that they guy on the phone new about but they said there was nothing that they could do about that. FINE I said and went to the waiting room. After my 2 hours of waiting the guy from service comes out and tells me it's a door lock activator and would cost $295 to replace. I almost came unglued. I told him forget it and give me back the car. And what does this yahoo do?.. go immediately to my car to get it back to me?... no, he proceeds to start turn of lights in the waiting room and in the building and finally meanders back to the service area (ass). Less than two minutes later my jeep was sitting out front and I thought to myself... wait a minute.. I just paid $76 for a diagnostic and they never touched the door. So $110 for a 2 hour oil change and for them to give me an outrageous price quote.
I have since called and vented to the assistant manager who connected me with the managers voicemail.. we will see if he calls back. Also increasing my anger we called the other Jeep dealer in Fort Wayne and they knew exactly what the problem was with the door lock and told my wife that it would be a ballpark of $200 to fix. Needless to say I am either going to the other dealer on the other side of town or find a good repair shop in the area.
On the way home, I seriously wondered what my insurance deductible was and was trying to think if it would be cheaper to put the side of the jeep into a cement pole in a Wal-mart parking lot like my mother in law did. Visions of a baseball bat and the windows of the jeep were as clear as if I was actually doing it.
Pissed is an understatement.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Wow... that Sucks
Thu Jan 5, 2:33 AM ET
LONDON (AFP) - An intrepid British oarsman's bid to row round Antarctica ended after just 30 kilometres (20 miles) when he unexpectedly collided with the Falkland Islands, British newspapers reported.
Colin Yeates was attempting to make history with the first solo unsupported rowing circumnagivation, expected to last 10 and a half months and cover 21,630-kilometres.
However, the "personal quest" to "push the boundaries of what is believed possible" hit the rocks after just 30 miles.
After four years of careful preparation, the 47-year-old father of seven fulfilled his prediction that his journey would "begin and end in the Falkland Islands".
But there was no predicting the strong currents which crashed his boat into the rocks so soon after leaving Port Stanley, the British territory's capital.
His state-of-the-art 30,000-pound (43,500-euro, 53,000-dollar) boat, Charlie Rossiter, was smashed to pieces.
He made a call by satellite phone to his support team from the shore, the police picked him up and were taking him to a local farm, according to the Ocean Rowing Society website.
"Unfortunately, Colin is back on dry land and his boat is wrecked," said project co-ordinator Simon Dyde.
"I took a call from him at 2330 GMT (Tuesday) to say he had abandoned ship on the northern part of East Falkland at Cow Bay. Colin had fought against the local currents but failed to escape for the last 30 hours.
"Strong local currents dragged him onto rocks and he spoke to me from the beach, watching his boat being wrecked by the waves."
"Colin is fine but the boat is wrecked."
Yeates had been planning to row round Antarctica clockwise and believed his experience in Britain's 1982 Falklands War against Argentina would be of enormous value.
His twin-cabin craft was packed with 200 kilogrammes of freeze-dried food to fuel him with the 6,000 calories per day he needed.
Yeates hoped the expedition would make a valuable contribution to the study of global warming.
LONDON (AFP) - An intrepid British oarsman's bid to row round Antarctica ended after just 30 kilometres (20 miles) when he unexpectedly collided with the Falkland Islands, British newspapers reported.
Colin Yeates was attempting to make history with the first solo unsupported rowing circumnagivation, expected to last 10 and a half months and cover 21,630-kilometres.
However, the "personal quest" to "push the boundaries of what is believed possible" hit the rocks after just 30 miles.
After four years of careful preparation, the 47-year-old father of seven fulfilled his prediction that his journey would "begin and end in the Falkland Islands".
But there was no predicting the strong currents which crashed his boat into the rocks so soon after leaving Port Stanley, the British territory's capital.
His state-of-the-art 30,000-pound (43,500-euro, 53,000-dollar) boat, Charlie Rossiter, was smashed to pieces.
He made a call by satellite phone to his support team from the shore, the police picked him up and were taking him to a local farm, according to the Ocean Rowing Society website.
"Unfortunately, Colin is back on dry land and his boat is wrecked," said project co-ordinator Simon Dyde.
"I took a call from him at 2330 GMT (Tuesday) to say he had abandoned ship on the northern part of East Falkland at Cow Bay. Colin had fought against the local currents but failed to escape for the last 30 hours.
"Strong local currents dragged him onto rocks and he spoke to me from the beach, watching his boat being wrecked by the waves."
"Colin is fine but the boat is wrecked."
Yeates had been planning to row round Antarctica clockwise and believed his experience in Britain's 1982 Falklands War against Argentina would be of enormous value.
His twin-cabin craft was packed with 200 kilogrammes of freeze-dried food to fuel him with the 6,000 calories per day he needed.
Yeates hoped the expedition would make a valuable contribution to the study of global warming.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Embarrassment Sucks
We were in Home depot yesterday and I decided to buy a 4 pack of light bulbs. A very nice Home Depot employee approached me and asked if he could help and I said "No thanks, I am just buying some light bulbs", and I proceeded to pick the cheapest 4-pack of light bulbs that I could find and head toward the cart. Needless to say the 2-pack sleeve that fits in the side of the box came sliding out and all I could hear was the loud pop of a light bulb shattering all over the concrete floor. I am not sure if the shades of red were from the embarrassment or the anger of why the heck they package bulbs like that. I have never in my life ever broke anything in a store, and I thought "well I just bought a 3 pack of bulbs", but to my surprise, the Home Depot employee, who tried to help me earlier, was standing very close and took the 3 pack out of my hand and handed me a fresh 4-pack. He took the 3 pack to the back room and went in search of a broom to clean up my mess. Still feeling embarrassed as hell and I wanted to slink away to another part of the store, but I felt obliged to stand over the broken glass so no one would step in it... thus prolonging my embarrassment. So, eventually glass was cleaned up and I apologized numerous times. We ended up spending over $100 in the store so I felt a little better breaking the .50 cent light bulb.
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