I emailed Anderson Cooper, of CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360°”, to let him know that I really enjoyed last night’s two sets of interviews: The first with James “The Amazing” Randi and the business manager for psychic fraud Sylvia Browne, and the second with CNN’s reporter Michael Ware regarding his experiences in Iraq.
I then emailed thedailyshow@comedycentral.com:
“Dear Mr. Stewart,
I've heard several people suggest that professional magician and professed skeptic James Randi would be an excellent guest on your show. I agree completely--as a fan of both your show and Mr. Randi, I would love to see you interview him. I think it would make captivating and highly amusing television.
Thank you,
Mark Tabler”
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Update Mishmash
It has been a long time since I posted, so I’ll just do a little stream-of-conscious bibbleblab.
I attended a coin club meeting the weekend before last. Not much to report on. That Jim guy (I think that’s his name) gave a presentation on collecting varieties and resources for identifying varieties. I bought nothing at the auction. I renewed my membership by paying ten dollars.
One of Kim’s mom’s clients gave us a small freezer, which we put in our garage. We got it for free, which is a pretty sweet deal, especially considering that it’s very new.
Before we could move the freezer in, we had to clear space in the garage. The garage was a wreck—like downtown Tokyo after a couple monsters had finished a tough man competition. Or perhaps a better metaphor would be junkyard jenga—it was impossible to pull out or move any item without at least two other items falling over. I therefore had to spend quite a while throwing out old boxes, rolling things up, stacking boxes wisely, and generally condensing the lot. Although I haven’t finished making the garage presentable—not by a long shot—I did manage to make room for the freezer, and give myself some very reasonable hope that I’ll have room to paint on my easel.
As far as actually producing artwork, the closest I’ve come recently is some sketching in my sketchbooks.
I’m trying to get my D&D game back up and running. I have so many old notes, many of which are simple ideas or musings that contradict one another, that simply sorting them is a job in itself. Now that I think of it, my condition of my D&D campaign bears a strong correspondence to my garage. I must endeavor to keep it simple. My players would probably be amused—and would probably also groan—if they saw how many variations on plot ideas and background and history were jotted down, elaborated on, connected to other bits of background or plot, changed again, then discarded. I haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions, but here’s one: Get my game going again, and streamline it.
We’ve played two games of the board game Puerto Rico so far, and it’s pretty good. The rules look complex at first, but game play is actually quite simple. Behind that simplicity, however, is a lot of subtlety. There are many little gears turning in that game, and it’s hard for me to think of strategies.
We also played Settlers of Catan again on Sunday. We had an expanded 5-player game. Kim won. I started slowly and remained behind the whole game. I had fun, though.
I watched “Little Miss Sunshine.” I approve heartily.
Now that it is nearing the end of January, verging on Spring, a young man’s (meaning mine) fancy turns to gardening. And love, sure, but gardening is what I do also. I bet there’s a good way to combine the two. I digress. What should I plant? My ideas are bigger than my garden space, at least for now. I foresee a time when that may be different. When the girls can play by themselves a bit longer in the back yard without eating sand or demanding to be picked up, I may enlarge my garden quite a bit. Presently, though, I think I’ll plant a small early Spring crop of…maybe cabbage? Radishes? I dunno. Later, I’m going to try watermelons. I’ll probably try to use a trellis for that. More tomatoes, of course. Hmm.
I attended a coin club meeting the weekend before last. Not much to report on. That Jim guy (I think that’s his name) gave a presentation on collecting varieties and resources for identifying varieties. I bought nothing at the auction. I renewed my membership by paying ten dollars.
One of Kim’s mom’s clients gave us a small freezer, which we put in our garage. We got it for free, which is a pretty sweet deal, especially considering that it’s very new.
Before we could move the freezer in, we had to clear space in the garage. The garage was a wreck—like downtown Tokyo after a couple monsters had finished a tough man competition. Or perhaps a better metaphor would be junkyard jenga—it was impossible to pull out or move any item without at least two other items falling over. I therefore had to spend quite a while throwing out old boxes, rolling things up, stacking boxes wisely, and generally condensing the lot. Although I haven’t finished making the garage presentable—not by a long shot—I did manage to make room for the freezer, and give myself some very reasonable hope that I’ll have room to paint on my easel.
As far as actually producing artwork, the closest I’ve come recently is some sketching in my sketchbooks.
I’m trying to get my D&D game back up and running. I have so many old notes, many of which are simple ideas or musings that contradict one another, that simply sorting them is a job in itself. Now that I think of it, my condition of my D&D campaign bears a strong correspondence to my garage. I must endeavor to keep it simple. My players would probably be amused—and would probably also groan—if they saw how many variations on plot ideas and background and history were jotted down, elaborated on, connected to other bits of background or plot, changed again, then discarded. I haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions, but here’s one: Get my game going again, and streamline it.
We’ve played two games of the board game Puerto Rico so far, and it’s pretty good. The rules look complex at first, but game play is actually quite simple. Behind that simplicity, however, is a lot of subtlety. There are many little gears turning in that game, and it’s hard for me to think of strategies.
We also played Settlers of Catan again on Sunday. We had an expanded 5-player game. Kim won. I started slowly and remained behind the whole game. I had fun, though.
I watched “Little Miss Sunshine.” I approve heartily.
Now that it is nearing the end of January, verging on Spring, a young man’s (meaning mine) fancy turns to gardening. And love, sure, but gardening is what I do also. I bet there’s a good way to combine the two. I digress. What should I plant? My ideas are bigger than my garden space, at least for now. I foresee a time when that may be different. When the girls can play by themselves a bit longer in the back yard without eating sand or demanding to be picked up, I may enlarge my garden quite a bit. Presently, though, I think I’ll plant a small early Spring crop of…maybe cabbage? Radishes? I dunno. Later, I’m going to try watermelons. I’ll probably try to use a trellis for that. More tomatoes, of course. Hmm.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Randi's Million Dollar Challenge Rule Change
I see that the James Randi Education Foundations has changed the rules in its Million Dollar Challenge, as discussed in this Wired.com news article: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72482-0.html?tw=wn_index_1
It looks to me like a great change. In the past, when I've read about the tribulations of dealing with applicants, it has seemed truly exhausting. Amusing at first, or in concept, like skimming the headlines of "Weekly World News" in the cashier's lane; but then, if you actually try to read it, it's a major chore. It becomes more sad than anything else.
Randi seems to be becoming more aggressive, and he certainly doesn't mince words. I, like Randi, have long been a fan of Carl Sagan. Sagan held similar views, but from what I've seen he was always very diplomatic and careful to be seen as explaining and describing rather than attacking. I'm much more Sagan-y than Randi-ish in my tastes, but I have to confess I get lots and lots of joy from watching Randi engage in skirmishes. I think the rules changes will lead to more (very deserving) exposure for the JREF.
It looks to me like a great change. In the past, when I've read about the tribulations of dealing with applicants, it has seemed truly exhausting. Amusing at first, or in concept, like skimming the headlines of "Weekly World News" in the cashier's lane; but then, if you actually try to read it, it's a major chore. It becomes more sad than anything else.
Randi seems to be becoming more aggressive, and he certainly doesn't mince words. I, like Randi, have long been a fan of Carl Sagan. Sagan held similar views, but from what I've seen he was always very diplomatic and careful to be seen as explaining and describing rather than attacking. I'm much more Sagan-y than Randi-ish in my tastes, but I have to confess I get lots and lots of joy from watching Randi engage in skirmishes. I think the rules changes will lead to more (very deserving) exposure for the JREF.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
A couple of nights ago I finished reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, and I thought it was quite good. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I expected a less earthy story, and thought it would be more offbeat in a cutesy way. Instead, I was treated to a convincing tour of messy human lives in a messy human world, but the tour guide was someone who has a harder time understanding it than I do.
Shortly after I started reading it, I asked Kim if the central character, an autistic teenager, reminded her of me. I asked because I’ve expressed some of the same viewpoints, and I recognized myself somewhat in that character. Also, in past conversations with Kim and other friends, we’ve discussed how autism in some ways just seems to be a more extreme form of being a man—like humans occupy the whole spectrum from non-autistic to austistic, with the typical woman being in the non-autistic range, and most men ranging from slightly to notably autistic, and the people diagnosed with autism simply being moreso. (Of course, as I said, this is just autism “in some way.” I don’t know much about autism. I’m not a psychologist, but I play one in book reviews.) We had good fun one evening with a test from a magazine in which we had to look at photos of faces and identify which emotions they were exhibiting. Kim, Helga, and Barbara got most or all answers correct, whereas the two Chrises and I faired poorly; my score was dismal, and I was forced to ague that the test sucked and I was right and everyone else was wrong and why couldn’t they see that and it was all pretty stupid anyway? And another night, or maybe it was that same night, I said I couldn’t understand why a woman would have been insulted by something that Pat had said, and Helga called me a Vulcan.
Anyway, where was I? I’m out of time. It was a good book.
Shortly after I started reading it, I asked Kim if the central character, an autistic teenager, reminded her of me. I asked because I’ve expressed some of the same viewpoints, and I recognized myself somewhat in that character. Also, in past conversations with Kim and other friends, we’ve discussed how autism in some ways just seems to be a more extreme form of being a man—like humans occupy the whole spectrum from non-autistic to austistic, with the typical woman being in the non-autistic range, and most men ranging from slightly to notably autistic, and the people diagnosed with autism simply being moreso. (Of course, as I said, this is just autism “in some way.” I don’t know much about autism. I’m not a psychologist, but I play one in book reviews.) We had good fun one evening with a test from a magazine in which we had to look at photos of faces and identify which emotions they were exhibiting. Kim, Helga, and Barbara got most or all answers correct, whereas the two Chrises and I faired poorly; my score was dismal, and I was forced to ague that the test sucked and I was right and everyone else was wrong and why couldn’t they see that and it was all pretty stupid anyway? And another night, or maybe it was that same night, I said I couldn’t understand why a woman would have been insulted by something that Pat had said, and Helga called me a Vulcan.
Anyway, where was I? I’m out of time. It was a good book.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Art, Coin, Garden Miscellany News
Art: A few days ago I created a lame sketch of Kim. It's nothing at all to brag about. I can, however, brag about Erin, who creates wonderful page-filling watercolors and encourages her sister to do the same.
Coin: I received a gift certificate for the Louisville Numismatic Exchange. The horrible thing about that is that it's so finite. I look at it and think, "I can spend this, and then it's all over. I'll be able to get nothing else." It makes it very hard to decide what to get. Over the past month or so, though, my coin-collecting obsession has ebbed, as it does from time to time. Now spare me-time goes to a few other Web sites, reading, and brushing up on various game rules. Numismatics will come back with a vengeance soon enough.
Garden: It's only January 11, but the warm mooshy weather gets me in the mood for diggin'. Due to said weather, my hollyhocks are sprouting, and the daffodils and crocuses (and perhaps some tulips) are coming up. That could be trouble. I'd sure like some bitterly cold weather to kill off both garden vermin and whatever is making me sneeze (besides my head cold). I've been talking big to Erin about my garden plans this year, but I need to remember that I tend to bite off more than I can chew. My big new plan for this year's garden: Watermelons.
Skepticism: The poinsettia didn't kill me, nor did I retch, hallucinate, or get the vile squelchies. I sat by my phone for hours and hours awaiting a call from those "Mythbusters" guys, but they must not read this blog.
Dreams: I couple of nights ago, I dreamed I was on the Moon with two other astronauts. I was collecting soil samples, and found a bunch of mud at the bottom of a crater. Inside the mud were greenish spots that looked like algae. It was amazing. We were very excited that we might have found both water and life on the Moon.
Games: 1) I got the board game "Puerto Rico" for Christmas, but I'm not up on the rules yet. Looks pretty cool, though, and maybe I'll get a chance to play it soon. 2) Also, after a three-year absence, I'm working on getting back into my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. We'd pick up right where we left off. I've mentioned it to my fellow gamers, and it was met with a very positive reaction, and now that I've brought it up I'm sure it's expected so I guess I better get cracking. 3) Kim and I played "Seafarers of Catan" for the first time last weekend. We played with Brooke and David. It was fun, and I'm looking forward to playing it again with some of the game board variations. David won. Kim had a remarkable showing. I performed very poorly, which has happened with alarming frequency in recent "Catan" games.
Movies: Brian, Kevin, and I saw "Children of Men" last Friday, and it was very good. Though I found the story engaging, I was equally impressed by how the movie was put together technically. It was a finely crafted film. Some of the sequences were very clever. And if you ever wanted to see a tense action/thriller movie in which most of the good guys never so much as touch a gun, this is it. (Spoiler: Actually, none of the good guys touch a gun, I think. But you don't realize this until half way into the movie. That's when you find out some of the good guys are bad guys.)
Coin: I received a gift certificate for the Louisville Numismatic Exchange. The horrible thing about that is that it's so finite. I look at it and think, "I can spend this, and then it's all over. I'll be able to get nothing else." It makes it very hard to decide what to get. Over the past month or so, though, my coin-collecting obsession has ebbed, as it does from time to time. Now spare me-time goes to a few other Web sites, reading, and brushing up on various game rules. Numismatics will come back with a vengeance soon enough.
Garden: It's only January 11, but the warm mooshy weather gets me in the mood for diggin'. Due to said weather, my hollyhocks are sprouting, and the daffodils and crocuses (and perhaps some tulips) are coming up. That could be trouble. I'd sure like some bitterly cold weather to kill off both garden vermin and whatever is making me sneeze (besides my head cold). I've been talking big to Erin about my garden plans this year, but I need to remember that I tend to bite off more than I can chew. My big new plan for this year's garden: Watermelons.
Skepticism: The poinsettia didn't kill me, nor did I retch, hallucinate, or get the vile squelchies. I sat by my phone for hours and hours awaiting a call from those "Mythbusters" guys, but they must not read this blog.
Dreams: I couple of nights ago, I dreamed I was on the Moon with two other astronauts. I was collecting soil samples, and found a bunch of mud at the bottom of a crater. Inside the mud were greenish spots that looked like algae. It was amazing. We were very excited that we might have found both water and life on the Moon.
Games: 1) I got the board game "Puerto Rico" for Christmas, but I'm not up on the rules yet. Looks pretty cool, though, and maybe I'll get a chance to play it soon. 2) Also, after a three-year absence, I'm working on getting back into my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. We'd pick up right where we left off. I've mentioned it to my fellow gamers, and it was met with a very positive reaction, and now that I've brought it up I'm sure it's expected so I guess I better get cracking. 3) Kim and I played "Seafarers of Catan" for the first time last weekend. We played with Brooke and David. It was fun, and I'm looking forward to playing it again with some of the game board variations. David won. Kim had a remarkable showing. I performed very poorly, which has happened with alarming frequency in recent "Catan" games.
Movies: Brian, Kevin, and I saw "Children of Men" last Friday, and it was very good. Though I found the story engaging, I was equally impressed by how the movie was put together technically. It was a finely crafted film. Some of the sequences were very clever. And if you ever wanted to see a tense action/thriller movie in which most of the good guys never so much as touch a gun, this is it. (Spoiler: Actually, none of the good guys touch a gun, I think. But you don't realize this until half way into the movie. That's when you find out some of the good guys are bad guys.)
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
This may be my last post.
There is a poinsettia on the table between my desk and my co-worker’s. In order to demonstrate the non-toxicity of poinsettias, I licked some sap (after some leaves had been blasted off in one of our innumerable rubber band battles.) My co-worker told me that the poinsettia came with a large label stating that the plant was highly toxic to people and animals. “That’s bull,” I said, and ingested some. It tasted like icky lettuce, with a hint of broccoli.
I’m confident that I shall be fine. But if I convulse and die, thank you for your time.
There is a poinsettia on the table between my desk and my co-worker’s. In order to demonstrate the non-toxicity of poinsettias, I licked some sap (after some leaves had been blasted off in one of our innumerable rubber band battles.) My co-worker told me that the poinsettia came with a large label stating that the plant was highly toxic to people and animals. “That’s bull,” I said, and ingested some. It tasted like icky lettuce, with a hint of broccoli.
I’m confident that I shall be fine. But if I convulse and die, thank you for your time.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Abducted
Our family tradition is to spend New Year’s Day in our pajamas. Monday morning I was able to sleep quite late (9:15) after an evening of year-end carousing. Well, it wasn’t so much carousing as socializing and eating lots of really tasty treats, though I did have a glass of wine. Kim’s mom watched the girls on New Year’s Eve, and she spent the night and watched the girls as we slept in. That was a very nice set-up for us.
So I got up and stayed in my pajamas, and after a while I showered and put my pajamas back on. Then Kim had the idea of going to the grocery to get something for the crock pot (something for which I’ve recently expressed a desire). She wanted to go to Kroger.
By now it was early afternoon. We worked on lunch, and then I called my parents to wish them a Happy New Year. My mom answered.
“Hi, Mom!” I said. “Happy New Year!”
“Well,” she said, “Happy New Year to you! Where are you?”
“I’m at home.”
Slight pause on her end of the line. “What are you doing?”
“We’re just hanging around in our PJs. I just was calling to say Happy New Year. Nothing much.”
Another slight pause. I could tell that my mom was making some kind of mental adjustments. She asked, “At home? Are you feeling OK?”
I thought for a second, wondering what was throwing her off, and answered thoughtfully,
“This is Mark. We’re just spending our New Year’s Day at home, not doing much…”
“Let me talk to Kim for a minute, and then I’ll tell her to put you back on,” she said.
At this point, as I handed the phone to Kim, I realized that something was up.
Kim and Mom spoke for a minute. Kim’s half of the conversation consisted of laughter and a stream of suspiciously vague comments: “All right. Hee hee. Yeah. Yeah. Hee hee. Oooh. OK. Right. Hee hee. OK. Yeah. Yeah.”
She handed the phone back to me. “What’s going on?” I asked.
“Nothing, I don’t know what I was thinking, I guess I just had too much to drink last night and I’m a little hung over. Hah hah.”
“Ooooooo-kay,” I said, knowing full well that the glass of wine I’d had the night before probably rivaled in quantity the entire amount of alcohol that Mom had consumed over the past sixty years.
I talked with her and then with Dad, and hung up. I asked Kim what was going on, and she just shrugged and tried to play it off, trying to keep a straight face while saying that she supposed Mom had just overindulged the night before.
“C’mon,” said Kim, “Are you ready to go to the store?”
Suspicious conversation by spouse and mother. Hmm. And Kim trying to get me to leave with her. Hmm. Kim’s mom had agreed to come back, after going home for a little while, to baby sit—arrangements for which I’d heard no discussion. Hmm.
We walked out to the car. Kim hurriedly got into the driver’s seat. “To the store, huh?” I asked was we backed out of the driveway. Just before Kroger, Kim changed lanes and got onto the Gene Snyder Freeway.
“Wherever we’re going, my mom almost spilled the beans, didn’t she?”
“What do you mean? We’re going to Kroger.”
Then we got on I-71 north, toward Cincinnati. And I noticed a packed gym bag in the back seat. “Are you going to take me out to the woods and shoot me?” I questioned. She just laughed. Then I asked, “Should I have done a better job saying goodbye to the girls?”
“Ohh, honey, no, it’s OK,” Kim answered.
So I just sat and watched the scenery as I wondered where she was taking me. Amy and Dan’s house? Someplace in Cincinnati? General Butler State Park?
It turns out that one of my guesses, General Butler State Park, was on the money. We exited at Carrollton—and pulled into the Kroger. Kim told me that we had a lodge rented for the night. We shopped in our pajamas at the Carrollton Kroger, then went to the park to check in.
Within two hours I went from lounging on the sofa contemplating lunch to standing in the rain in my PJs, scrounging for kindling, just outside Carrollton, Kentucky.
Our little cottage was nice and cozy. And Kim is so sweet. There is nothing in the world that can compare to being kidnapped by a gorgeous, sexy, thoughtful, interesting woman, dragged off to an isolated cabin with a fireplace, and forced to wear pajamas or nothing. I love my wife so much.
So I got up and stayed in my pajamas, and after a while I showered and put my pajamas back on. Then Kim had the idea of going to the grocery to get something for the crock pot (something for which I’ve recently expressed a desire). She wanted to go to Kroger.
By now it was early afternoon. We worked on lunch, and then I called my parents to wish them a Happy New Year. My mom answered.
“Hi, Mom!” I said. “Happy New Year!”
“Well,” she said, “Happy New Year to you! Where are you?”
“I’m at home.”
Slight pause on her end of the line. “What are you doing?”
“We’re just hanging around in our PJs. I just was calling to say Happy New Year. Nothing much.”
Another slight pause. I could tell that my mom was making some kind of mental adjustments. She asked, “At home? Are you feeling OK?”
I thought for a second, wondering what was throwing her off, and answered thoughtfully,
“This is Mark. We’re just spending our New Year’s Day at home, not doing much…”
“Let me talk to Kim for a minute, and then I’ll tell her to put you back on,” she said.
At this point, as I handed the phone to Kim, I realized that something was up.
Kim and Mom spoke for a minute. Kim’s half of the conversation consisted of laughter and a stream of suspiciously vague comments: “All right. Hee hee. Yeah. Yeah. Hee hee. Oooh. OK. Right. Hee hee. OK. Yeah. Yeah.”
She handed the phone back to me. “What’s going on?” I asked.
“Nothing, I don’t know what I was thinking, I guess I just had too much to drink last night and I’m a little hung over. Hah hah.”
“Ooooooo-kay,” I said, knowing full well that the glass of wine I’d had the night before probably rivaled in quantity the entire amount of alcohol that Mom had consumed over the past sixty years.
I talked with her and then with Dad, and hung up. I asked Kim what was going on, and she just shrugged and tried to play it off, trying to keep a straight face while saying that she supposed Mom had just overindulged the night before.
“C’mon,” said Kim, “Are you ready to go to the store?”
Suspicious conversation by spouse and mother. Hmm. And Kim trying to get me to leave with her. Hmm. Kim’s mom had agreed to come back, after going home for a little while, to baby sit—arrangements for which I’d heard no discussion. Hmm.
We walked out to the car. Kim hurriedly got into the driver’s seat. “To the store, huh?” I asked was we backed out of the driveway. Just before Kroger, Kim changed lanes and got onto the Gene Snyder Freeway.
“Wherever we’re going, my mom almost spilled the beans, didn’t she?”
“What do you mean? We’re going to Kroger.”
Then we got on I-71 north, toward Cincinnati. And I noticed a packed gym bag in the back seat. “Are you going to take me out to the woods and shoot me?” I questioned. She just laughed. Then I asked, “Should I have done a better job saying goodbye to the girls?”
“Ohh, honey, no, it’s OK,” Kim answered.
So I just sat and watched the scenery as I wondered where she was taking me. Amy and Dan’s house? Someplace in Cincinnati? General Butler State Park?
It turns out that one of my guesses, General Butler State Park, was on the money. We exited at Carrollton—and pulled into the Kroger. Kim told me that we had a lodge rented for the night. We shopped in our pajamas at the Carrollton Kroger, then went to the park to check in.
Within two hours I went from lounging on the sofa contemplating lunch to standing in the rain in my PJs, scrounging for kindling, just outside Carrollton, Kentucky.
Our little cottage was nice and cozy. And Kim is so sweet. There is nothing in the world that can compare to being kidnapped by a gorgeous, sexy, thoughtful, interesting woman, dragged off to an isolated cabin with a fireplace, and forced to wear pajamas or nothing. I love my wife so much.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
One highlight of this past weekend was a visit from Grandma Meki, Minimeki, Mekimeki, and Mrs. Meki. What an adorable bunch! Minimeki is especially cute when she looks at you, smiling broadly, then bursts into fearful tears when she realizes she has no idea who or what you are. We enjoyed her visit to our ogre cave more than she did.Photos
Regarding the first two photos: There was a shot of them that looked better posed--it's just a better picture of them--but I'm fond of the caught-in-the-middle-of-action appearance of these two. Lord knows, it's more realistic. Photo 3 is Big Sister dragging Little Sister into her dress-up game. It's scenes like this that provoked the invention of the camera in the first place, I think.
Multiple pictures: Gingerbread, Airplant
Christmas Eve. Erin was told she could pick out some cookies to leave for Santa. Naturally, she picked the most impressive work of art generated that day, my ramshackle ginger manger. She also left a cup of milk, and a note (written by Mommy) which Erin signed herself. The next morning, all that remained were a few sizable crumbs. I bet it tasted really good.
A gingerbread fellow by crafty Brooke. Note the scarf (gumdrop-knit).
...And one by Kim. Seurat-inspired underpants make him flashy; the Gummi Bear gift he brings makes him welcome.
...And by Son of Brooke. Long, long minutes of work went into this guy. I especially like his blood-red smile and black-rimmed, cicada-like eyes. If I work a gingerbread golem into my D&D game, I'll keep this in mind.
My gingerbread man. Far superior, in his dire menace and googly eyes, to my artsy-crafty competition. He has white razor claws used to fell trees.
Here's that airplant--when the buds first appeared, Kim and I were a little weirded out. I thought I was going to be turned into a pod person. But it turned out very pretty, bloomed for about a week, and then the flowers wilted.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
As a Christmas gift, Kim's sister Pam transferred to DVD many hours' worth of digital video that we had shot. Best gift ever! Now we can review lots and lots of proud-parent photage of our offspring walking, rolling over, screaming, staring at the camera, and eating as our voices coax them to "do it again! C'mon, do it again!" Great fun for us, and perhaps for some of our close friends and relatives (albeit to a lesser extent). Maybe not something we want to put on for any and all company. Erin falling asleep while eating corn, though, is classic Funniest Home Videos stuff and will be shown to everyone.
And on the topic of being cute while eating, on Christmas day Erin had to endure sitting at the table for dinner while the center of the table was filled to brimming with sweets. She ate a segment of cheese, broccoli, and carrot pizza that Pam had made, but then announced she was done. I beseeched her to eat a couple more bites, or to at least eat a piece of the broccoli. She consented to eat one more mouthful of pizza, but then said "All done!" she put her elbows on the table and leaned way over, her head dipping close to the gingerbread men that we had decorated. Glancing back and forth between them and me, she very cutely asked, "What next, Daddy? What next, Daddy? What next, Daddy?"
Christmas was all good. There is more to tell than I have time to type. It was great seeing friends and family over the weekend.
And on the topic of being cute while eating, on Christmas day Erin had to endure sitting at the table for dinner while the center of the table was filled to brimming with sweets. She ate a segment of cheese, broccoli, and carrot pizza that Pam had made, but then announced she was done. I beseeched her to eat a couple more bites, or to at least eat a piece of the broccoli. She consented to eat one more mouthful of pizza, but then said "All done!" she put her elbows on the table and leaned way over, her head dipping close to the gingerbread men that we had decorated. Glancing back and forth between them and me, she very cutely asked, "What next, Daddy? What next, Daddy? What next, Daddy?"
Christmas was all good. There is more to tell than I have time to type. It was great seeing friends and family over the weekend.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Jill's birthday party was a fantastic success! Kim did lots of work to get things in order, baked a cake, decorated, and even vacuumed up the seven or eight pounds of Cheerios, bread crumbs, and desiccated mixed vegetables that had been hoisted overboard by Jillian during her many recent meals at the table.
It was so nice to see family, and Jillian received many adorable gifts. I also think she had a lot of fun--she's a little bit of a party girl.
I just ate some Amish friendship bread that Beth gave us -- it was delicious.
When I have little time to post, I feel that everything I say is trite. Maybe everything I say is trite anyway.
It was so nice to see family, and Jillian received many adorable gifts. I also think she had a lot of fun--she's a little bit of a party girl.
I just ate some Amish friendship bread that Beth gave us -- it was delicious.
When I have little time to post, I feel that everything I say is trite. Maybe everything I say is trite anyway.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Jill's Birthday!
Today, the winter solstice, is Jill's birthday. Lately, she has been super-sweet in an attempt to wring more presents from us. But I keep telling her that she gets no additional presents until she learns to walk and stops crying whenever she gets hungry.
It's been weeks and weeks and weeks since I've posted, and I have a million things about which to post! But I have no time, so unless you come by to visit and speak to me personally, you won't get to hear about: 1) my involvement in a doomed bayonet charge on the Western front--damn the Kaiser!; 2) every single cute thing said or done by Erin and Jill; 3) how I successfully poisoned an enemy of my boss, Vladimir; 4) all the pretty presents I've received from heads of state and family members; and 5) other half-truths and lies.
My air plant bloomed. I'll post pictures later. I had no idea those things grew flowers on them. I've have it for three or four years, and suddenly, boink, purple flowers shoot out the top.
Have I ever mentioned that Kim is totally, scorchingly awesome? In every way I'd ever want?
It's been weeks and weeks and weeks since I've posted, and I have a million things about which to post! But I have no time, so unless you come by to visit and speak to me personally, you won't get to hear about: 1) my involvement in a doomed bayonet charge on the Western front--damn the Kaiser!; 2) every single cute thing said or done by Erin and Jill; 3) how I successfully poisoned an enemy of my boss, Vladimir; 4) all the pretty presents I've received from heads of state and family members; and 5) other half-truths and lies.
My air plant bloomed. I'll post pictures later. I had no idea those things grew flowers on them. I've have it for three or four years, and suddenly, boink, purple flowers shoot out the top.
Have I ever mentioned that Kim is totally, scorchingly awesome? In every way I'd ever want?
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Four Notes
1) My baby is an octopus monkey. We ate at El Tarrasco last night, and in a two minute period Jill grabbed and sucked on a bottle of the green hot sauce (cap still on it, thank goodness), a knife, a fork, the salt shaker, the pepper shaker, a napkin, and my coat. She actually paused briefly after sucking on the pepper shaker; she made a face, not an unpleasant one, and smacked her lips for a moment. I suppose that was the only thing that had flavor. I'm not saying any of this because I think that anyone with children will find this incident extraordinary in any way. I'm just saying it so that if you sit at table #6 at El Tarrasco, you'll know that every single thing in the booth was sucked on by a baby.
2) We watched two episodes of Survivor at a friend's house on Thursday. They have a big screen HD TV. I don't think I ever got the full effect seeing these things in the store; they never seemed that impressive. However, watching this mega-size, mega sharp contraption in a friend's basement was pretty, like, ultimate. As I later mentioned to David and Brooke: "I've seen eye candy, but now I know what it's like to have candy lick my eyes."
3) I watched the Rankin/Bass "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on TV last week. Erin got to watch it, too. I really like the elf who wanted to be a dentist. It had been many years since I had seen "Rudolph," and I enjoyed seeing it again. The quality of the animation was technically poorer, but more endearing, than I remembered. I'm thankful for this show; I've long felt that, in the song, there are many story elements that are omitted. It's like I can only remember every other verse. There are lots of blanks in the song that the Animagic TV special fills in nicely.
4) I realized on Sunday that "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is the only Christmas song to which I know all the words. In fact, there are very, very few songs to which I know all the words.
2) We watched two episodes of Survivor at a friend's house on Thursday. They have a big screen HD TV. I don't think I ever got the full effect seeing these things in the store; they never seemed that impressive. However, watching this mega-size, mega sharp contraption in a friend's basement was pretty, like, ultimate. As I later mentioned to David and Brooke: "I've seen eye candy, but now I know what it's like to have candy lick my eyes."
3) I watched the Rankin/Bass "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on TV last week. Erin got to watch it, too. I really like the elf who wanted to be a dentist. It had been many years since I had seen "Rudolph," and I enjoyed seeing it again. The quality of the animation was technically poorer, but more endearing, than I remembered. I'm thankful for this show; I've long felt that, in the song, there are many story elements that are omitted. It's like I can only remember every other verse. There are lots of blanks in the song that the Animagic TV special fills in nicely.
4) I realized on Sunday that "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is the only Christmas song to which I know all the words. In fact, there are very, very few songs to which I know all the words.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Xmas
Contrary to popular opinion - as well as unpopular opinions expressed by me - I don't actually hate Christmas. I'm actually rather fond of it, and I get misty-eyed when I reminisce about Holidays past. And now it's great having two little girls of my own around at Christmastime.
My Holiday sarcasm and biting comments are simply the way I punctuate my joviality. I consider the snide comment to be the comma in the Season's Greetings. I mean, "Season's, Greetings." Maybe it's just the apostrophe.
My Holiday sarcasm and biting comments are simply the way I punctuate my joviality. I consider the snide comment to be the comma in the Season's Greetings. I mean, "Season's, Greetings." Maybe it's just the apostrophe.
Sve the Vwels!
I am proud to say that I have started a vowel conservation program for our office. Employees are now encouraged to reshuffle, save, cut, and paste vowels (all letters, actually, but vowels are most important) when generating business documents, instead of simply backspacing over them or deleting them.
In time, we shall lessen out dependence on foreign suppliers. The Far East supplies about 60% of our vowels, and as China and India continue to swell into correspondence-generating powerhouses, we can expect their vowel exports to diminish.
Unfortunately, office management has ignored my urging to simply eliminate 50% of vowels from correspondence. They don’t think it looks professional to write something like, “Th reprtng of th totl numbr of unsatsfctory approches s a rqiremnt.” I’m still working on it.
In time, we shall lessen out dependence on foreign suppliers. The Far East supplies about 60% of our vowels, and as China and India continue to swell into correspondence-generating powerhouses, we can expect their vowel exports to diminish.
Unfortunately, office management has ignored my urging to simply eliminate 50% of vowels from correspondence. They don’t think it looks professional to write something like, “Th reprtng of th totl numbr of unsatsfctory approches s a rqiremnt.” I’m still working on it.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
New Presidential Dollars to be Released in 2007!
The U.S. Mint will be issuing a new series of coins, beginning next year, commemorating the U.S. Presidents. Similar to the State Quarters Program, the series will feature the faces of each President, not including those still living.
My initial reaction to this announcement was deep disgust. After mulling it over for a while, it is still disgusting to me. Deep down inside me, the noble numismatist is saying, "Those stupid motherf***ers! Those stupid, awful motherf***ers!"
Ten years from now, we will have circulating coinage featuring Richard Nixon. I find the thought of that fairly humiliating. Likewise do I find it annoying that we'll have coins featuring such noble leaders as Andrew Johnson and Warren Harding. If Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both drop dead of strokes next week, we'll have them on our coins, too.
I think we should rid our coins of presidents altogether and return of the Liberty motif that existed prior to the issuance of the Lincoln cent in 1909.
Think of it. You will be receiving and spending coins that are honoring Nixon and Reagan, and very possible both Bushes (the first Bush stated that a person of my religions beliefs should not be considered a citizen), and Clinton. There's something there to be reviled by everyone--Conservative, Liberal, Libertarian, Anti-Oval Office BJ, Anti-Idiot, Anti-Burglary, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life--everyone.
If we can't go back to Liberty, can we at least keep Sacagawea? She was nice. She's maternal. It's a pretty design.
My initial reaction to this announcement was deep disgust. After mulling it over for a while, it is still disgusting to me. Deep down inside me, the noble numismatist is saying, "Those stupid motherf***ers! Those stupid, awful motherf***ers!"
Ten years from now, we will have circulating coinage featuring Richard Nixon. I find the thought of that fairly humiliating. Likewise do I find it annoying that we'll have coins featuring such noble leaders as Andrew Johnson and Warren Harding. If Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both drop dead of strokes next week, we'll have them on our coins, too.
I think we should rid our coins of presidents altogether and return of the Liberty motif that existed prior to the issuance of the Lincoln cent in 1909.
Think of it. You will be receiving and spending coins that are honoring Nixon and Reagan, and very possible both Bushes (the first Bush stated that a person of my religions beliefs should not be considered a citizen), and Clinton. There's something there to be reviled by everyone--Conservative, Liberal, Libertarian, Anti-Oval Office BJ, Anti-Idiot, Anti-Burglary, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life--everyone.
If we can't go back to Liberty, can we at least keep Sacagawea? She was nice. She's maternal. It's a pretty design.
Chipper
This morning I wore my long underwear and wore my heavy coat, and I felt jolly and jaunty on the way to work. I was actually humming and whistling "Sleigh Ride" for most of my drive.
This contrasts with yesterday, when I wore plain old boxers beneath my work clothes and a non-heavy coat with a broken zipper. I also had to stop for gas yesterday, and had trouble with the gas pump, which prolonged my exposure to the unpleasant December morning air. I had avoided watching any weather reports that morning, and that was good, because had I known it was 15 friggin' degrees I would have been more miserable than I already was. That's why when I arrived at work yesterday I was cussing at people, Christmas, winter, cars, and everything that crossed my path.
This morning, I was skipping. Although Christmas still sucks.
This contrasts with yesterday, when I wore plain old boxers beneath my work clothes and a non-heavy coat with a broken zipper. I also had to stop for gas yesterday, and had trouble with the gas pump, which prolonged my exposure to the unpleasant December morning air. I had avoided watching any weather reports that morning, and that was good, because had I known it was 15 friggin' degrees I would have been more miserable than I already was. That's why when I arrived at work yesterday I was cussing at people, Christmas, winter, cars, and everything that crossed my path.
This morning, I was skipping. Although Christmas still sucks.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
I had a marvelous dream last night that I was with my dad (or Kim's dad--the identities were dream-shifty) in a painter's studio on Baxter Avenue. The studio belonged to this man I'd never met, but whoever I was with had business or social connections with him. We were picking up some kind of artwork that was to go in Jill's room. I was walking around the studio, and there were wonderful paintings. I was most struck by a few very large ones. They were painterly, full of rich and subtle hues, and elegant. It was exactly how I wanted to paint.
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