Happy New Year

Happy New Year! It is not quite time, still have a few hours to go, but happy New Year all the same. I'll be posting again on a more regular basis next week.

Cake: Showroom of Compassion

Well what have we here? It looks like Cake is releasing a new album with the single "Sick of You". I'm already looking forward to 2011 (That's when the album releases). See what you think...

Sleeping in The New Year...

My Pillow

My wife got myself and her and new pillow for Christmas. Now you might think that is a lame gift, but with things the way they are, it is a very responsible and much needed gift. If it is any good, I will have this gift around years to come. It is calling my name right now... as I'm writing this the night before (12/25). Yes, it really is the simple pleasures in life...

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas... I have a house full of people, lots of presents, we'll have food and whatnot later. I hope everyone has a pleasant Christmas, whether it is for "the reason for the season" or it is purely commercial (I myself like it somewhere in the middle)... Merry Christmas!

Classic Film Friday: A Christmas Story

You'll shoot you eye out kid! This film really is a true classic. I mean, I can't think of any other film that gets played in a continuous loop for 24 hours, can you?  

The Smashing Pumpkins - Freak

I don't know how I missed this earlier, but the Smashing Pumpkins have a new album. This came out back in July. Not bad I think, I'll always have a special place for the Pumpkins, see what you think.

Christmas Humbug...

Reflections

You know right about this time off year, just before Christmas, people start talking about the year... a look back if you will. So what has happened to me this year? I lost Thumper and it affected me more than I ever thought. That silly, ugly, and complete asshole being gone... it still hurts.We really don't play in the backyard much anymore. It is not that we can't, it just seems "wrong" to go out there now.  I miss you stupid dog....

But other stuff has happened. I got a 2 year extension at work, so I can keep paying my mortgage. Me and my mortgage company is glad for that. I also have another kid, but she actually came to us in October of 2009 but she is very comical and very sweet...besides those first two months she didn't really do much. She will climb up anything, jump off anything and pretty much do anything. A strong deviation from what the Songbird would do.

The teenager became a high schooler, though she stayed on the middle school complex. And try as we might we can no more understand her than her understand us. I think that is a teenager/parent enigma that I or anyone else can't ever find a solution to... other than wait.

My wife got bad sick and need her gallbladder taken out right at the beginning of the year. That was no fun, for her especially but for me too. Chasing after three girls is the way to make you gray. I do not want to do that again. Also since having the gallbladder removed, my wife makes frequent pit stops at the bathroom. It isn't all the time, but it is enough to be cognizant of, and it doesn't make you feel very good knowing that anything you eat could go through you almost as fast as you get it.

The one thing that remained the same was my Songbird. No strange illnesses, no change in looks or likes or anything. It is kind of a bummer that nothing special happened to her, but it is also comforting that nothing traumatic happened either.

What about me? Heck I'm happier than a pig in shit. I got my family, my younger brother, 3 sisters and my mom all coming out to spend the holidays with me. I know it will be a fantastic mess, no doubt someone will get their feelings hurt, some may not make it, or leave too soon or whatever. But that is you family (that is what mom always said anyway) you don't pick your family you just have to play the hand you are dealt.

So happy holidays to everyone, I may or may not be around for the next couple of weeks. It is going to get extremely busy around here. And that means my blog will suffer, but I will be back, that or you may not even notice I'm gone.

Turkeys!!!

The other day I was looking in my backyard... and a flock of turkeys paraded their way across my yard, around the pond. It was crazy, I know people who hunt for wild turkey, they have camo and various calls and whatever else... I know you have to be absolutely quiet if you go turkey hunting. Yet here we have at least 30 turkeys coming right by house...

And this is just what we got with the camera, there was even more, like some strange turkey version of the twilight zone. Crazy birds...

Dinosaur

I am just amazed by how creative a child can be... given the chance.

We have here a dinosaur (That was traced out of a stencil) the rest is all Songbird. The "foot prints" and the happy face, yeah I'm proud of her.

Drinking + Texting = Drunking? Drexting? Textinking?

You've seen those ads that say no texting while driving, because you may cause an accident same thing goes for drinking and driving. So I came up with texting while drinking at the same time, because there is no law in that, and it will save lives because you won't be driving while drunk or texting.

You can see from the above picture it is bad to drink or text while driving, it is also bad to talk on the phone or do anything else but drive while driving. A remaining vestige of my stroke, I can not do much of anything but drive while driving. Maybe adjust the mirrors, tune in the radio (at the stop light) turn the AC up... that is about it.

Now I need to come up with a name for this game. One benefit to this game is you do not have to wait for someone else to answer such as in drunk dialing, but you also may not remember anything either. That is ok though because we are shooting for fun, not memory. Which is a good thing, because I don't think anyone wants to remember being drunk while texting. I just need to work on a good name...


Anyways be safe out there. You just never know about the other guy...

Classic Film Friday: Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

 This is likely the only Christmas Special from my childhood. It has a sort of Gift of the Magi ring to it. Each individual hocks something or damages something... in order to get an even bigger reward. It doesn't quite work for either party, but in the end they get something even better. This is my wife's all time favorite Christmas movie... I feel it is a bit slow, but it is what it is. Groundbreaking puppetry methods, I mean it was Jim Henson. See how you like it...

Atomic Tom: Take Me Out

 To some this will be old news... others (myself included) will be simply amazed. I don't know much about Atomic Tom, but I'm sure I will after this video. Watch and wonder. Technology sure has come a long, long way.

He Thinks It Glandular, But Everyone Knows It Is Something Else

Robot Unicorn Attack

My eldest, the teenager, came home one day and told me about what an incredible game she played online. And this is a game that I played too. http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html You are a robot unicorn, and you must get through without hurting yourself. It is rather easy, you just press "Z" or "X" and you simply have to negotiate your way through, that or die a fiery death. Also it has some really awesome music (sarcasm). You should try it now...

First Christmas.... (In Bluffton)

With the passage of time, we need (or at least I do) something to mark our way. I could mark it by my critical event... the stroke happened 3 years ago, but that is becoming more and more distant, I'm still cognizant of the fact that it happened, I'm still living with the vestiges after all. But this time I wish to remember my first Christmas here in Bluffton.

It was kind of sad if you think about it, but I look back and then I look forward and I see I am in a much better place now... so you need a little bad to let you know just how good you have it. I didn't even have a place to live yet. All I had was a room at the Suburban Lodge. Which for the most part is not a place I would like to call home. I did have my daughter with me (the teenager... who was not a teenager at the time) who was 9 at the time. I didn't know my current wife, so it was just us two, and I bought I small Christmas tree (I call it my Charlie Brown tree). I had gifts from my parents and friends and I drove to the upstate to get them along with my daughter.

So there we are... having Christmas together, which doesn't seem very Christmasy. I guess because I'm used to big family events, not so much a 1 on 1. Also I should note that because of an incident where my daughter thought the conventional oven directions were the microwave directions, it kind of stunk in there. So we are stinking and opening presents, which lasted about 30 minutes at best. It was cold outside, so what were we to do?

I took us on a ride out to Tybee Island. Why? I don't really remember... Probably because our room smelled bad and I thought what is someplace reasonable that we could go, and Tybee is what I came up with. But it was no warmer down on Tybee than it was there in Bluffton. But we were out and about, though nothing was open, we "walked" the beach for maybe 5 seconds, and we decided against it. Still I remember the time together just the now 15-year-old, as a good time and maybe we were not where we wanted to be, but we had each other, and even managed to have a bit of fun to boot. Would I want that again? I don't think so, but it does put a bit of perspective on things.

Yet Another Nickname

My littlest has suddenly become very, very vocal. We thought we were raising a caveman with her grunts, but alas, she appears to have the gift of gab now. And if you tell her no, no, no... she go off muttering under her breath. Sort of like Muttley... You remember him right?

NSFW: ...If you don't like Christmas

This video is extremely funny and also has way too much cussing in it to be seen/heard by kids. Still it is funny... so look at it from your basement, or while everyone else is trimming the tree, or otherwise alone. It is not safe for work, but again very funny...

Classic Film Friday: Miracle on 34th Street

It's the quintessential Christmas movie... well one about Santa Claus anyway. I mean who are you... or anyone else to say this man is not Santa Claus? The movie originally came out in May of 1947, so they didn't want to come out and say it was a Christmas movie. It made more money than any other film that year. So here's the trailer.

Harlem: Hippies

What can I say about Harlem? Not too much, listen and see if you like them...

It's Cold Out There...

Busy Life

So you see, I went to the parade, from there we went to Barnes & Noble because my wife had a thing there, at that point my littlest had no nap, but needed one badly. she slept a good 2 &1/2 hours in the car seat, and since I am such a great guy I stayed with her while my wife and other daughters went book storing. The little one awoke right as the car door opened up (2 & 1/2 hours later) and we went out to eat for lunch/dinner. We then hit the mall, because what else could we do?

And so THAT is the reason I posted late, somewhat... That and I have way too much "other stuff" going on. Not that I wouldn't say or talk about the "other stuff" but it is surprisingly dull and not really noteworthy. Yeah, I have to slow down this 007 lifestyle I'm living... somehow. Maybe a trip to the pediatrician or even the grocery store could do it.

Photos of the Parade

It was a clear day, beautiful in fact...

She is looking, for the beginning of the parade...

Finally started, we see the ROTC contingent

The reindeer were out, and I forgot to take more pictures... But hopefully that is enough to get one in the Christmas mood...

Last Man Standing

I know this is a bit late, but still listen to this, if you want and see what you think... I think some of the same things, just wondering if it will ever change.

Oh The Holidays

So more and more "stuff" is going on lately. Beaufort's Night on the Town Friday night, the big Christmas parade (that my daughter is marching in), parties here and elsewhere, not to mention I have about a house-load and then some of people (my mother and 4 siblings and their significant others, plus one child) coming to visit. Things are busy. But I feel that is what this time of year is all about.

It seems like it is too much and at some times I think it is, but still it is what it is. And to think of the alternative, to have no family or things to go see and do... well that is even more crazy. So with that in mind, I feel like I am waiting in line to ride a roller coaster and It is just about my turn to get on. Maybe nobody will puke, or not... I'll see you on the other side. :o)

Classic Film Friday: The Vagabond King

Sorry to say, Leslie Nealson died this week, and though he doesn't have a main part in this movie, it was the only one that Netflix had that we could view instantly. And it was his Film debut so you know... this is a film from 1956 and the setting of the movie is 15th century France. François Villon (Oreste Kirkop) is a beggar extraordinaire. He doesn't like King Louis, he doesn't like the kings rivals the Burgundians either.

Much back dealing and side swapping takes place. Which is part of the whole problem. People think they can get a better deal elsewhere and that leaves the king vulnerable. Back to François, he falls for a princess... Catherine de Vaucelles (Kathryn Grayson) and he decides that maybe he should pick a side.

And so (after much singing, death threats, and whatnot) François gets the "common people" of Paris behind him, protects the city from the Burgundians, and maybe wins the heart of the princess?

Norah Jones: Featuring...

This offering of Norah Jones seemingly is the perfect purchase for someone that has everything. The headliners are everyone from Willie Nelson to Foo Fighters to Outkast and the recordings are from 2001 to 2010. Here is Norah Jones and Q-Tip playing the song "Life is Better"...

I Heard it Was Even More on Black Friday...

Everything is Finally Fixed and/or Replaced

So I am, through the power that is "Holiday Shopping" back up to full speed on everything electronical. I spent an entire day taking apart my old TV and surrounding bookcase/console. The electrics I sent to the dump, the wooden parts I burned. Why the heck would I do that? Surely it would/could/should be reused... why not donate it to Salvation Army or something?

It was old and broken and I could not justify having someone pick up my TV and surrounding console knowing that it was garbage. A projection TV it pretty much worthless. A broken projection TV is worth even less than worthless. And the somewhat broken console? Well, I already said that a projection TV is worthless... and so a console specifically designed for a projection TV, is equally un-good. Don't you just love technology?

Now these things were big... I mean had a 56 inch TV (replaced by a 46 inch, I know it seems like I'm taking a step backwards) and getting everything out and the new in was a monumental task. My back yard looked a bit like a scrap yard at first, but I chopped and the wood parts into more manageable parts and slowly burned away the remnants.

You might be thinking, why not just haul it all off to the dump? I would except that would required a trailer and backbreaking labor of which I had neither so it had to be this way. It is all set up or take apart. Out with the old and in with the new. I have so much more room now... which is just in time for Christmas anyway right?

The Gag

I don't know if you know this or not but I have a thing for the gag gift. I like the thought of it, the hilarity of both giving and receiving the gag, the search of just the right gift, which generally costs less than $5, and let's be honest, what gift are you really going to want or like, that only cost $5? $10? Hell I'll go as far as $100... I don't know about you, but I can't really say that there is anything that I get as a gift that I really, really like or want that I wouldn't have already gotten for myself anyway. There are rare occasions, but they are the exceptions not the rule.

So that brings me to a haul of some really good and pretty cheap gifts I got over the weekend. They are great and the some are the usual suspects. But one thing I had to buy for myself and my family is already wishing that maybe I didn't find it.What is said item?

Basically it is like the old Fart Machine... like this:

Except it doesn't take a remote to operate, which means so long as you don't mind being the one who farted or if you can blame someone else in your group, then party on my friend.

I can't tell you how much fun I've had and how much fun I will have later when my family comes over for Christmas. Cut one on the way to the checkout line in Barnes & Noble, or perhaps stand next to a kid in the middle of Publix. (Yep, both done already) the possibilities are limitless and I've apologized to my wife profusely, but I can't help but laugh... like in tears, knee slapping laughter when this thing comes out and makes it's presence known. And all it cost was a buck. I'm going back to get more...  

Your Moment of WTF!?!?

I bring you this moment in WTF!?!? Because it seems to find itself on TV at any and all hours of the day. And all this is somewhat tolerable until, they get to the potential groom, at what does he have to say about it? Watch and see...  

Growing Up

So my littlest can't decide on what nickname she likes more... Augustus is still in the running, the kid can put it away and then some. But with her walking, she has slimmed ever so slightly, and we were calling her Charlie, because she walked like Charlie Chaplin.



But that quickly turned into this kind of strut. The George Jefferson strut. I know this isn't exactly the right clip, but it is the closest I could find. Basically it is in the arm movement, though it is in the hips too.If you watched the Jeffersons, you know what I mean.



Before you know it we'll be calling her Fred Astaire or Greg Louganis... Why are they all men's names? I have no idea.

Classic Film Friday: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

 This is a classic in the sense that it has become a Christmas staple... and it is kind of weird because were it to come out today... I don't think it would be accepted. Nobody would shun Rudolph, or the misfit toys, or the "gay-ish" Hermey the elf. Even Santa himself shuns Rudolph.

What is a misfit to do? Well strike out on your own, find other "beings" that are misfits too, and somehow use your differences to your advantage? You betcha! And the world is safe again. (I know this was a special for TV, but still you can't help but watch it.)

Gorillaz: Plastic Beach

Something a little different. Maybe you like, maybe you don't. The idea is kinda neat. A group that only exists in the "virtual world". See what you think... and oh yeah, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Yeah He Does That

Sausage Balls

Sausage Balls are something so good, so delicious, I find myself stumped as to why they only appear this time of year. And you want to know a secret? I have not had these sausagey, cheesey, balls of goodness until I moved to South Carolina 10 years ago. Also you can make all kinds of witty or sarcastic sayings when you talk about making, eating, or anything else... because "balls" are in the name and when you add "sausage" well then it kicks the sexual innuendo into over-drive.

You need:
1 pound of Sausage the one pictured is a hot sausage from the Pig.
1 pound of finely shredded Cheese
1 1/2 to 2 cups of Bisquick

You mix the three together and form into balls, where you bake at 350 for 10 minutes. (You can flip them over and let the other side brown up too if you like for another 5-10 min.)

Then you enjoy your creation. Which is to say, at my house anyway, they don't last long at all. But all my kids are a slave to anything sausage. If it has sausage in it, then it must be ingested, over and over and over again... until it is gone.I mean, I made this with a spicy sausage and the Songbird and the teenager, ate this... and the don't usually like hot or spicy things. Make some, before I buy up all the sausage, Bisquick, and cheese!

Oh That Naughty School District

Maybe you've heard the news, that the district may close Shell Point. Why? Because they are looking for ways to save money as County Council did not approve the tax hike the district wanted. So what is a school district to do? Make the cuts where it will make the most impact... politically speaking that is. By doing so, or pretending to do so... they will make a large uproar (in concerned parents) and it will have potentially the most effect County Council. There by making a big to do about nothing at all.

Now I could be wrong, but that is the way it is looks to me. Playing with people's emotions is not really "clean politics" but it makes things happen or makes you get money you didn't already have. Yeah it is like that, around here anyway. So I see County Council giving the district the money it wants or some kind of "compromise" solution will be reached, it is very doubtful that Shell Point will close, but you just never know these days do you?

How My Daughter Has More Friends in 5 Minutes Than I have in My Entire Life

I really don't know how it happened. Well, I do know how it started. Basically me and my wife told the teenager, "You can have a facebook account if you friend us" well at first she balked at the idea. Because my daughter has a healthy suspicion of anyone in authority... myself included. She thinks we would actually be so sneaky as to follow her around on dates with friends. What she doesn't understand is we would much rather play "newlywed couple"... if given the chance, than to go off chasing her around.

Well it finally broke her down, she said "I will be your friend, can I sign up for facebook now?" And so we set out doing just that. And I was happy, she was happy, everyone was happy. Then it got weird. As she was adding all of her friends and they were adding her back, she is popular I guess. I asked her, "Do you talk to these people daily?" and she claimed that she did. And I can't help but wonder when the hell do you have time to do this?

I understand that kids will talk during class, lunch, between classes, on the bus, virtually anywhere and everywhere... but as her facebook fills up, my facebook is full of people I really don't talk to. Old high school friends, family, old army buddies, and some regular friends and co-workers thrown in and except for family, I really don't talk to much of anyone. And I can't help but wonder why. I have no idea.

I do know that almost all the people I would like to hear from/about either don't have a facebook account or they don't talk much... so what is a guy to do? Well I guess, I start posting a little more on facebook, and start looking for more friends... I can't be a wallflower while my daughter talks and meets everyone now can I?

Troll Hair

So here you can see what you get when you try to brush curly hair... it is not very pretty, it is kind of like treasure troll hair.

Yeah I can definitely seen the resemblance. And since she is too young to use "product" (as my wife puts it, she shares the same hair issues). All we can do is wet her hair and try again.

Classic Film Friday: The Blob

I saw this classic the other day on TCM, and for the most part it is Steve McQueen's coming out party. He is a teenager, Steve Andrews and he Jane Martin (Aneta Corsaut) witnesses a very strange thing. A older man is "attacked" by a meteor, in which he starts poking around and this ooze gets on him and he can not get it off. Steve spots the man on the road, as he and his date are out cruising.

Now Steve offers to take the man to a doctor, which the man agrees, but the blob only gets worse, kills the man and others as well. And it can not be stopped, as it grows Steve is trying to warn everyone but who is going to listen to a teenager? So he takes matters into his own hands.

Charlotte Gainsbourg: Trick Pony

This french woman teams up with Beck to release an album.That is about all I know about the album, but the song is catchy, very Beck-like in fact. (you can see Beck in the video)

He Doesn't Really Smile Though...

Friends of the Past

With Veteran's Day just past, actually at the time I'm writing this it is Veteran's Day, but anyway I thought I would share a "war" story with you.

There was a man named John, and he was my very good friend. He went to Korea, just like me, maybe a year or so before I did and he had ex-wife problems. Just like I was beginning to see for myself. My then wife left me and took my daughter, twice. the first time I went to go get her, the second I did not, and so John took it upon himself to come by, make sure I was ok, he was a true friend. There was a sense of camaraderie in the service that you just can't find very often in the civilian world. We worked together, we played together, hell, we got drunk together... It was a good point in my life. So we were out behind the military housing on a very cramped Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (the whole post was only 1 square mile)

From the picture if you look right, that was where the military housing was (yet to be built). And we had a thing for firing off model rockets. Which is no big deal, unless you have had a few to drink. Then it becomes "look what this drunk fool did" and that is pretty much what we did. On Christmas Day, we got the idea to "daisy chain" rocket engines, that is to have one go off right after another one has gone off. In theory, it works out great, in reality, not so much. The first engine worked no problem, however there was a delay in the firing of the second one, and in that delay, the rocket turned sideways so when the second engine finally did ignite, the rocket was parallel with the ground. And it was headed straight towards officer housing to the left (yet to be built) And the rocket was a 6 foot mean machine...

We never saw the mean machine again, we always snickered that it crashed into some old Colonel's wife's rose bushes or something like that.

But that isn't the only "rocket story", another time, it was during "Reveille" that evening and for whatever reason we were out shooting those dang rockets again...



We shot off a rocket and it looked ok, then a big gust of wind came by or something on rocket came off, and it sent the rocket on a crazy trajectory and came down right in front of the hospital (the big building in the picture). They were folding up the flag and all of that (a special detail that everyone gets do... I always got to fire the howitzer). Why didn't we wait until after? I have no idea... But we all got a bit of a chuckle out of that, And yes, through we were in civilian clothes, we still gave our respect to the flag. We christened that rocket "Rat on Acid". Nobody got hurt or demoted or anything else, the sergeant major of the post did see this particular rocket exercise. While he did not approve, he also did not disapprove it either. I think he was in utter bafflement as to what was going on. Which is always a good thing (right?... maybe) when you do something you might get in trouble for later.

News

I guess it is time to let the proverbial cat out of the bag. I will be staying at my place of business for at least 2 more years. That is a great burden off of my shoulders, I can worry about that later. I really didn't think we would come out on top, and it led to a downward spiral with the mortgage on my house and my wife's work. Plus my boss was really, really good to me when I had the stroke. I didn't want to leave him. But now all that is settled and I won't have to do any sort of thing like that... for 2 more years anyway.

And in even bigger news my wife got accepted to a Master's administration cohort sponsored by the district. Well, not fully sponsored, but they are paying for half, and we will have to come up with the other half. Basically the only thing more that my wife can do is get her PhD or move up in administration. This will let her do that. Even though she already has her Master's in Literacy, if you do the math it works out like this:

PhD in Literacy $40,000
Master's in Administration $6,000

Both will get you into a leadership role (vice-principal or principal) but the obvious choice is in admin. I think this is a great investment by the county in its future and it shows her that they value her, and that is great. Also that works out good with my two year plan because she will graduate in two years as well. So it is good news for us both on the work front. On to kids, animals, movies, music... you know the important stuff!

Skippyjon Who???

You may be thinking... "Who is this strange woman?" Well she is the author of the Skippyjon Jones series of books. Anybody who is a teacher... or a kid from say 4-10 knows all about her... of her cat Skippyjon Jones. Who is a Siamese Cat who thinks he is a Chihuahua. She was at the Savannah Childrens Book Festival. It was a nice day, with good (but a little chilly) weather down in Forsyth Park in Savannah. Good, cheap, fun. And a place where you can meet an author or two. What is not to love about that?

Yes! I Finally Got My Camera Back

It took 6 weeks to fix. Finally it is back. I am eternally grateful, seriously... having to wait 2-5 seconds between pictures... you have no idea until you try it. So anyway, here a few snaps of someone who would like to eat my camera very much... I told "no" but that is just a word. And words have little to no effect on Augustus!

I'm just glad I got my camera back...

Classic Film Friday: The African Queen

It has been awhile since I did a real, old movie... that gave this classic film Friday its name. Well I must tell you Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn have just  the right panache to get one back into these classic films.

Made in 1951, this movie takes place in 1914, in the middle of Africa. Rose (Hepburn) a British Methodist missionary with her brother Samuel. Charlie (Bogart) is a boat captain of the African Queen. He warns that Germans are in the area, but they choose to stick it out because they are missionaries after all. The Germans come in and take all the natives hostage. Leaving her and her brother, and her brother soon dies. Charlie comes back and helps Rose bury her brother and pack up.

Then it becomes a tad bit fantastic, but that is ok if you keep in mind, it is just a movie. They decide that they are going to get back at the Germans by turning the African Queen into a torpedo. And firing the torpedo at a bigger German ship. But first they must navigate an unnavigable river, go past a German fort, make repairs to their boat and deal with nature. It seems like so much, but anything is possible if your mind is right... right?

My Chemical Romance: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

I am posting this, because this song makes my teenaged daughter squeal every time she hears it. So it must be good right? I will admit it is catchy. See what you think.

I Think They Get Plastic Surgery or Something

A Trip to the Zoo

Over the weekend last week, we had the opportunity to drive up to Columbia and while there we went to the zoo. Well first we had to drop my wife off at a school, as the real reason for going to Columbia was for her to attend this meeting. So we went to the mall, scoped out a good place to get our grub on and generally played.

As you can see the kids were pretty hyped up about going to the zoo. I don't think any kid suddenly becomes disappointed but anyway... We went to Hudson's Smokehouse for lunch, pretty good. I really liked the collard greens, but the mac-n-cheese was a hit with the kids, but really everything was good to Augustus. (Notice the shiner is still there)

So with the meeting out of the way and with full bellies, we head for the zoo. And there have been some changes there since we last went. Mainly, that the sea lions are not there anymore, replaced by a kangaroo walk about thing. You can walk right up to them, however you must stay on the path, and the kangaroos are off in the distance (at least they were when we went through). We miss the sea lions, but we pressed on.

There was a new baby giraffe, and who doesn't like seeing some cute baby animals?

But the show stopper had to be the Lorikeet exhibit.The Songbird loved this, as did her mother and the teenager. Basically you get swarmed by these birds hoping you'll have the $2 cup of sugar water (or whatever, I didn't taste it) and if you did, then prepare to have the birds come out of the woodwork. 

Notice how I didn't include Augustus in the list, because while I was snapping some pictures with one hand and holding her in the other, a lorikeet flew up on my shoulder and she was not ok with that at all. She likes her wildlife at a distance I reckon.

Kind of like this, there is at least a cage between the two. Through she again started crying when that white goat got up on his hind legs and erased that comfort zone that she thought existed.

The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful, well that was until we got to Yemassee. The Songbird said she had to pee really, really, really, really bad. We took the first exit we could, but there was no actual bathroom available. Just an old abandoned gas station. Try as we may, we could not get the Songbird to just "go" in the woods. So we did make it to the next exit, and they had a much more "civilized" bathroom there. So we learned that she might say she has to go, but really, really, really? I think not!

Voting... A Look Back

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." Thomas Paine

I can't help but wonder, a week after election day, what all this means and if anything will really change. I mean half of the ballot I turned in there was only one person to vote for. So is that really a choice? We can say goodbye to Joy Logan, I guess that is a good thing, but I'm looking for more. I felt some of the other positions were a toss up... the State Treasurer? Superintendent of Education? Agriculture Commissioner? What do these people do? I mean really do? Earn a salary and that is pretty much it? Or am I woefully uneducated/uninformed? 

I think there should have been something in the newspapers about these positions, but at best I found either a press piece written by the candidate or an outright commercial for the candidate at worst nothing at all. I know we need government, but how much... that I don't know, and how I can affect any change in the government is also in question. Nobody came and talked to me and honestly if they did, I would write it off as lip service only anyway. So in a way, even though I did vote, I'm starting to wonder why... I really don't know and wish that I did. I hold about the same power as a non-voter. And I know that is not good.

Jack Johnson: At Or With Me

I know I have already "did" this review, but this video kind of makes fun of the fact that Jack Johnson is so likable and "mellow". So he mixes it up a bit with Andy Samberg. Enjoy...

The Shiner

Yeah, Augustus has quite the shiner on her forehead. Why? Because she is learning to walk, and falls with bruises are a necessary evil in the process of it all. Thankfully, for her mom and dad, she acts like nothing happened, and so we still get scared when she walks or "dives" off of the bed or sofa. It is good worries though, she is growing up after all.

Classic Film Friday:The Dukes of Hazzard

I know this flick is not a classic, but I have to believe it will wind up being one eventually. What does this movie have? Everything of course! An immortal car in the `69 Charger, fights, women, car chases, explosions, moonshine, jokes... this is a man's movie. I know none of the "movie critics" got it, but this movie is not intellectual or feel good... it is about a car making impossible jumps, winning a race that shouldn't be won, and a middle finger for the law. It is a fantasy and that is ok. If you like the TV show, than you will love the movie. Even though you won't recognize any of the players.

Cousins Bo and Luke Duke (Sean William Scott and Johnny Knoxville) along with Daisy Duke (Jessica Simpson) and Uncle Jessie (Willie Nelson) find a way to out fox the law and help each other out of sticky situations. Boss Hogg (Burt Reynolds) and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (M.C. Gainey) are trying to turn the whole town into a strip mine. It is on the Dukes to stop them...

Scissor Sisters: Night Work

I went hunting up some new music the other day and I came across this...



Now if Dave Grohl likes it, well I must at least give it a try right? Anyway this band appears to have a thing with the disco scene. That and I can't help but think they are all gay. Which is fine by me, really. Maybe they are a bit more out there than I would like, but hey to each his own, and maybe there are some readers who think "Man, why doesn't MadHatter post some gay music?!?" Well then, how about this? Your welcome.

Down the Hall to the Left?

Go Vote

It is that time of year again, voting day that is. I won't tell you who I think you should vote for, I try to keep this blog as apolitical as possible. But I do tend to lean more right than left. Well sort of... I like the be fiscally conservative, and socially liberal. Which seems rather strange, but that is the way I roll. What can I say? Go out and vote, vote early and vote often.... Ok that was just a joke, but really this is the one time you have to say which way or person you would like to see in office. So go vote already.

It is just the way it is…

Basically I work in a maintenance type field… kinda, sorta, yeah it’s like that. I don’t post about my job or anything to do with it because I feel I work here and I like it, there is nothing left to say. But every so often things happen. This is one of them.

I was repairing an item, a very sophisticated item. It would not be unheard of to call a man in that does nothing but repair these types of machines for a living. On top of that I was fixing the hardest thing on the sophisticated item. It took right at 4 hours to do, turn the machine on and “bam” it works like a champ. I am happy, the customer is happy, smiles all around.

Next comes a very unsophisticated piece of equipment, like very, very basic. You may even have one in your house it is that simple. And cheap, whereas the sophisticated item cost hundreds or thousands to fix, the simple, basic item costs less than fifty dollars. And it completely kicked my ass. I don’t like to admit that, but that is what happened.

In the end both the items were repaired, but one left me feeling accomplished and the other had me pulling my hair out, wondering why something so very easy has got to be so very hard? Because that is the way it is.

The Day has Arrived

My kids are all about being out west for Halloween. Well the Songbird wanted to be a cowgirl and my wife used the leftovers for Augustus... Isn't that the way it always is?

Haunted House

You know back when I was a kid, me and my brother and a bunch of neighborhood kids used to gather together and make a haunted house for Halloween. It got more and more elaborate each year, and we all split the money we made off doing it. Which was never much, like $5 was the most I ever took home. But it was fun, well it started out fun and then it would always end badly. Why? Well you see my father lived in a not so good part of town. It was a suburb of New Orleans, and in case you didn't notice, New Orleans is a crime-ridden city.

So anyway we had a kind of segregated community. Black folks lived over here, white folks over there, Vietnamese somewhere different. It was the way it was. Well my dad lived right on the edge of where all the black folks lived. Which didn't bother us none... except for a few miscreant youths that kind of ruined things now and then. So word got out pretty quick, about how these kids got a haunted house, and all the kids should come by and get scared for the price or 25 or 50 cents. Which was good... if you are the enterprising type. But they are also some more thuggish people out there.

Well that is when my father and my older sisters' boyfriends' and my uncle showed up, to protect us. Now this whole thing could appear racist and maybe it was, but at least for me, it was just a chance to have a haunted house and fun. But you will always have some that will try to take that away from you, and yet more try to protect you, and of course someone out to protect the "thugs" and on and on.

So every year, we would have a big fight, with people getting punched or kicked or smacked with some kind of foreign object until my dad showed up with a gun... Yeah that's right. My dad was old school, and he truly didn't care. Now he fired the gun into the air, never at anyone (that I know of) and that was enough to make everyone calm down.

Odds are that he was high as a kite when he did this (because he liked to smoke a lot of weed), but still it seemed to be his "make everyone shut up and go home" tool of choice. I don't think that would go over very well these days, but you never can tell. The cops got to know my dad, he never was arrested, and we eventually moved out of the city. But I can still vividly remember those days, the building with cardboard and visqueen crisscrossing the backyard. One year I was a mummy and we had a set up where I was in a "coffin" (made of cardboard) and I got to scare the bejesus out of everyone. Another year I was a gorilla/monster and I would swing on our big willow tree, not so scary but fun all the same.

I don't get why we couldn't just have the haunted house, without the people to get in a fight with near the end (because when those type of people came, my uncle would tell all the haunted house occupants to go home and announce to the rest "The haunted house is closed") while my dad got his gun and the older boys would fight. All for what? Free admission to the haunted house? Seriously that is what they would say. Maybe too much testosterone came with the costumes. But still I can remember part of the night anyway.

These days there is no friction, no neighborhoods like they had in New Orleans, no racial tension, and no haunted house. Seems more fun when we did have it all.

Classic Film Friday: The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

Here is a movie that finds itself near the beginning of a slew of giant monster movies. I think it is better than most, but that is just me. Basically We are testing some nuclear explosions in the north pole area. And an explosion frees a "Rhedosaurus" (not an actual dinosaur, but who is gonna' say?) that was frozen for millions of years. People spot the monster, but they are all taken as crazy.

That is until the monster starts wrecking New York City. Then it is a catastrophe. So the first man that saw the creature is validated but the monster goes on a rampage... and (at the time) kills 180 people, injures 1,500, and does about 300 million in damages.

So whats a guy to do? Bullets seem to have no effect on it and killing it seems like a bad idea anyway because it is infecting people with some prehistoric germs that is only made worst when they make the monster bleed.

Science is the answer, a radio active isotope, fired by a sharpshooter, into the wound already created is our only hope. So I watched this with the Songbird and I must say we liked the "campy-ness" of the movie and the fact that it was not too scary that a 4-year-old couldn't view it. Plus I got all kinds of tips for what I would/should do if I ever am attacked by a giant dinosaur. Which makes the film educational as well. Ok, not really. See what you think.

Weezer: Hurley

This was done with cast of Jackass. They have a new movie out right now, and yes I know that 80 something percent of the people who watch Jackass are men, but they are still funny. You know, crazy funny. Not like I would ever try anything that they ever did, because that would make me nuts too, but still, they made a video, why not watch it?

It's Almost That Time

I Endourse the Smokehouse

I don't really do this, mainly because the chance to review a place comes along just a few times. Basically The Smokehouse had a contest, and my wife entered it. The prize? Brunch for two... and she actually won. We were kind of dumbfounded at first, because we never win anything. Ok so throw that out the window, we won something now... we are over it.

So we take the two littlest kids with us, because we don't even try to find a sitter for a Sunday... too short of notice, besides, who would we pick anyway? The teenager has already got on our last nerve (She was supposed to get her report card on Thursday, we didn't see it until Saturday, teacher conferences were on Thursday-Friday... oh well partly my fault I guess). So we left the teenager at home and took Augustus and Songbird with us anyway.

Now this place is all the way on the island, so with that comes the expectation that it is for the tourists and it will be expensive. Well since it was almost the end of October (tourist season is pretty much over) and the meal was gratis those two things didn't matter at this time. But I will say that the Smokehouse made me willing to try it some other time.

I ordered the huevos rancheros, or ranch style eggs that was delectable and my wife had eggs anyway you like them and also claimed they were tasty. It also included were hash brown potatoes, a fruit bowl, and mimosas. I have to say there was almost nobody there (probably because tourist season was over) but that suited me just fine, and as far as bringing the kids, the place was very accommodating, it only cost us $5 a piece to feed them. Chicken fingers and mac & cheese, what more could a 1-4 year old want?

Yeah, we got a free meal, and hey I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, but more importantly The Smokehouse may have got me to drive out to Hilton Head or recommend them instead of some other place. A smart decision, I think, plus the food was awesome. Now we will have to see if they can cook more than eggs.     

A Little Miffed

I'm not saying I am for cancer or that I hate breasts, but come on people did we have to give the whole month of October to the ta-tas? I mean everyone is all about the boobs. Open the paper or turn on the TV, they're all out there saving the boobs.  NFL guys are wearing pink shoes, pink ribbons everywhere, "Save the Ta Ta's" bumper stickers and T-shirts... it is a bit much.

Again, I am for research and screening, but I think the whole breast cancer thing is really overblown. Now of course not for those who may have breast cancer, I feel sorry for you if you do, but I'm wondering are you seeing any benefit with the increased exposure? Any new breakthroughs? Anything at all? I think sex sells and boobs make a good cause. Women have them and men like them... it is a win-win for everyone. Meanwhile lung and colon cancer aren't nearly as sexy to "save" as the bouncing boobies can be. Which I think is a bit hypocritical...but that is just me.

My dad had throat cancer, the boss I have now had leukemia, my wife's side of the family had breast cancer, lung cancer and my grandmother died from colon cancer. Maybe instead of just dividing it up, we should just say cancer sucks, early detection is key, get check-ups regularly, and hope for a cure. Honestly, I've yet to be flashed by a breast cancer survivor, and that is ok, but that is what men think about when you say "save the Ta-Ta's" Which is kind of gross when you really sit down and think about it. Thankfully we don't have long in the month.

Back

Finally after what feels like forever... I get my computer and my camera back. Now this was not free, in fact it was $500 bucks, round about anyway. It was $250 to replace the hard drive on my laptop, and $219 (the main board went out on the unit) to fix my camera. I recommend if you have some sort of issue with your camera, and it is not something you can do yourself (and it wouldn't be cheaper to buy a new one) give this guy a holler. He is/was cheaper than anything I could find in Savannah.  I'm over over the price, I just want my stuff back.

I got my laptop back, my camera is in transport, and I got a bit of set back from my deep fryer (gone) as it tried to catch on fire and my roku just quit working. Weird how everything seems to go at once. I'm afraid this is how things have become. Buy a new one, who cares about the old one? So I got me a deep fryer at Wal-Mart (where else?) and I see roku now has some new stuff like 1080 and outputs/inputs that the old roku never had.

Birthday Time!

So it seems like it has been not all that long ago, but in fact it has been a whole year that my youngest came to be actually the 22, (but today we are having the party). She was rather big, the heaviest at birth of the three children I have, and there was the TTN that I have never experienced in any of my brothers and sisters or my own kids.  Even made my wife's gall bladder have to be removed, the seemingly endless ear infection of the summer. But we got through it all.

This child is more loving, more snuggle-bunny than any before her. She is also louder and more vocal in her frustrations and displeasure... if she finds herself in such a predicament. She is her own person, as all kids are, it is watching her navigate this world that simply amazes me. We all made it, but actually seeing it done by someone besides yourself really is a wonder. And so Happy Birthday "Augustus". We love you and know that you love us. This is just your 1st year, but a special one nonetheless.

Classic Film Friday: Garbage Pail Kids

This is probably the worst movie ever. I admit that I have a thing for really bad movies. But think about it. Most really bad movies want you to believe something so ridiculous, that you simply can't do it, and that is where the problems start. This movie stretches the imagination beyond anything you have ever seen. But if you can get over that and know that this movie is just for laughs, well then it isn't so bad... Well maybe...

I was going to list off characters and the plot but really, nobody is in this movie that is a "big star" and the plot? Good lord, who needs one of those?
 

B.o.B - Magic ft. Rivers Cuomo

The teenager turned me on to this song... And now I am turning whoever reads this on to it as well. Your welcome.

MH

I don't really have anything to say... But this is pretty awesome. I haven't a clue what it means, but "my" intials are on the street. Still no computer or camera... but soon.

Oh the Pain

Ok, it must be said, I am not as strong or impervious or anything else as I thought I once was. I'm talking about last weekend's 5K, which I did, I think I was in the bottom 10% or so, but that is ok... because I never liked running. Anyway let me break it down, because I can still feel my fingers... my toes or legs... not so much.

We started out me and the Songbird (who may get replaced by Augustus as the more musically inclined, but that is a different story) way in the back, she was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing... at first. My teenaged daughter was running up ahead (she found some friends). Right from the beginning i could feel my calf muscles seizing up. I'm not even out of the parking lot of my wife's school and already I am feeling the burn.

And this is just walking, yes I know I should have stretched before hand, but I didn't and now I had to go. Plus the Songbird really wasn't into the whole running thing. But we pressed on. I asked the Songbird if she remembered the story of the tortoise and the hare... She did, and she knew that slow and steady wins the race, or something like that.

We are just coming up on mile one of our little running race, when what do we see? My teenager gasping for air. At that point I said to the Songbird, slow and steady. It was also at this point that the Songbird left me and went with her sister for the rest of the race. Hmfp! Oh well, I was just glad she was happy and I had my hand free to concentrate of jogging/walking the rest of the way.

The first mile done, the rest of the way seemed to go by much faster, I would see-saw with my two children, because I guess I never read the tortoise and the hare to the oldest. My speed remained the same, but I was feeling it. Into my knees and my thighs even in my hips. This was not good. I mean I know I'm not in shape, but I didn't think I was out of shape so much that I would be feeling it three days later.

So my kids finished before me, and really, they should have because I finished in about 52 min or about 17 minutes per mile. That is pathetic. And I was hurting so bad. I ran 2 miles, as a part of my PT test in the Army, in 15 minutes some 17 years ago. When you look on it like that well, something needs to happen. But I'm not so sure. I have run exactly NONE since I got out of the Army, and I really don't think I will be in a job that requires running anytime soon. So I find myself doing a cost vs. benefit again.

Yes if I get into shape, I will be able to run, jump, whatever... for longer, harder, blah blah blah. But at what cost? Well number one I don't really have the time... I'm not saying that I couldn't, but finding time would be tough. My evenings are filled with cooking, rolling around on the floor with my littlest one, enjoying time with my wife, arguing with the teenager about anything and everything... you know important stuff. Then there is the pain. That I would not like one bit, but I could probably shift around, biking instead of running etc. The the big wild card in all of this I would need to adjust my insulin. But still doable.

So is it worth it? To be able to run without feeling like dog shit afterward? I really don't think so. I might be wrong, I mean if I needed to get in shape or I would die or if I was single and getting in shape would help me not be single... but that isn't the case at all. Maybe what I'll do is some form of exercise that will workout my legs but not running, but I don't know if that will help me run any faster/better.

Still you really don't know. Now I'm nursing my wounds and wishing it all away. I must say the event for the school went well, the way everyone cheered for me (they cheered for everyone)... bringing up the last of some 150 runners, well it made me wonder, "What the hell is wrong with these people?" but in gracious fun, I bowed, because I felt it was necessary. I am not made for 5K running races, but if one of my kids or my wife needs a body to run in one, to be in last, then I am your huckleberry.

Poop

I was told this story by my wife. I had no idea or inclination of any trouble but anyway here goes...

My wife notices that the Songbird was a little figgity while reading her a bedtime story. She thought nothing of it... but should have. So they go into her bedroom to change clothes. She is still wiggling, so my wife asks

"What is wrong?"

And the Songbird says, "Is there still poop there?"

My wife replies "Why would there be poop there?"

Songbird says, "I went potty."

While this conversation is taking place, the Songbird gets naked, gets on top of her bed and sticks her butt up in the air. And lord have mercy... Code Brown! Yes, there was poop in there, lots and lots of poop. In fact there was so much poop it is a wonder any made it into the toilet, because it seemed like it was stuck up in her crack.

It took three wipies and smelled really, really bad. Even the Songbird said it stunk, you know it must have been bad if the offender is offended. So she got a refresher on how the wipe her butt, and we hope this is the last time she needs the hygiene talk.

I'll Try

Still no change with the broke stuff. At least I don't think so. My car is fixed, my camera is not, my computer is at Computer Dynamics being fixed... and the TV... well we are waiting to see if we can get one on the cheap. You know Black Friday ads and what not. That is still a ways off, but I rather like having a living room with no TV.

I've been entered in a 5k, it happened yesterday (I'm actually writing this before because I have access to a computer now, and won't after... maybe), I haven't run or anything in 15 years... when I was much younger, disease and ailment free, and much more fit. Still I can walk the 5k it really is no big deal, plus I have my teenager and Songbird at my side. But still, it seems so far. But you never know how far you will go until you try.

Hoping for a Change

I already told you about my car's A/C going out... again. Basically the part that was fixed (the clutch) went out again, apparently it was defective before they put it in. At least that is what the dealership is telling me. But to make it good, they are fixing it at no additional charge (yes, because I have no money) and I get to drive around in a brand new shiny Honda Accord while they fix my car. All I have to do is put back however much gas I take. That seems fair, actually more than fair, since everything has been going to opposite way for me lately.

This was the first broken thing that can be fixed (even though I already had it fixed a month ago for $770) and I am putting a positive spin on things to make the rest of the broke stuff easier on me... Maybe. Now I have a camera that will cost $100-200 to repair, a computer that hopefully can be fixed on the cheap (haven't heard back yet) and the big ticket item, my TV, that I can't get fixed, or it isn't worth fixing because it is old technology stuff. but it was a 57" TV, and finding one that will fit where the old one went will be a shopping adventure, plus I need a stand/cabinet, because I have a huge projection TV going to a more manageable flat screen. There is always something...

Classic Film Friday: The Crawling Eye

Well with Halloween coming, I figured I might as well do a classic movie or so before it actually passes. This is complete "B-movie" material, but what horror movie from that time period is anything but "B"?

If you like "B-movies" then you love this movie, if not... well prepare to be let down. Allen Brooks (Forrest Tucker) is traveling in Switzerland to see a professional colleague of his when he encounters two sisters (who happen to be on the same train car as him). One of the sisters is a telepath. Anne (Janet Munro) is the younger sister (and the telepathic) while Sarah (Jennifer Jayne) is the older.

So they all get off the train and head to the hotel, where there is talk of disappearances of mountain hikers/climbers. It is from the aliens, but anyway. The film even has the aliens turning humans to zombies which is strange or not... it really kind of depends. Watch and see for yourself. I watched this on the Roku and it was actually a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode.