There is a Person in There

I have to gush over what my baby girl is doing lately. She is crawling, and crawling, and crawling some more. Which means you pick up a lot, and dig stuff back out of her mouth that you forgot to pick up. She started waiving "bye bye" and "hi" and for the first time I saw something, I don't know what it was, but while I was holding her, just me and her, I could feel, or sense, or something that she was learning me. She would smile, and give kisses... those open mouth kisses that babies give before they learn to pucker... and basically figure me out.

Yes it was learning time for me too, but I could see that she was learning far more from me than I from her... kind of. Because I could sense it, yeah, I know that puts me on a bus to "Weirdoville". But I could... I could sense what will one day be a person and she was giving me a glimpse (how ever small) of what she is going to be like. She is her own person. I know, it is strange, but it is also real. I could look into her eyes and she could look back, and there was an understanding there. It may not have been very long or complex, but it was there. It was nice, which may help me to remember moments like this when they hit the teenage years... I'm just saying.

Classic Film Friday: The Omen

So upon viewing this movie today, as opposed to when I was a kid, well it just kind of messed up. I thought Damien was evil incarnate in my youth, now, well not so much. This movie is a horror classic, but it has aged badly. But hey if you like to put on your leisure suit and defy the devil, this movie is for you.

Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) is a US ambassador and his wife Katherine (Lee Remick) is pregnant/having the baby. Well, it was stillborn. But in a strange coincidence there was another baby born that has no parents (mother died giving birth). The priest suggests Robert should take that baby as his own.

So he does and everything seems to go along fine for 5 years. Then not so much. People start dieing, Robert gets a strange visitor, things just don't seem quite right. The child IS the omen and there are people, animals, and nature itself turns under this child's whims.

Scary, but dated. Still it is worth a look...

Stone Temple Pilots: Stone Temple Pilots

Alright, if you are an STP fan, I guess Scott Weiland's drug habit is either in remission, or he is cured and they released their 6th album in May. Is it as good as it was in 1994? Well, I don't know as I haven't listened to the whole album... But it is nice to see an old band you grew up with back on the straight and narrow... for now.

Lord Won't You Buy Me...

Not many towns can claim the Lord over it is none other than Jesus himself. Try not to be jealous... I only spent my teenaged years there...

A Great 3 Day

Well, last weekend, I took a 3-day, wraps up my summer vacationing. We went to the Water Festival, Hunting Island, and finished it in Statesboro at Splash in the Boro! All in all, I have to say, it was better (minus New Orleans) than my trip to see my father... sorry dad, but it is true.

I already posted some pictures of the Water Festival, Hunting Island got cut a bit short as a big gust of wind came around and snapped my umbrella in two. But it was fun while it lasted, the kids got to play in the sand and water, we got a tad bit sunburned, and we even found a (dead) sand dollar.

Splash in the Boro had its ups and downs, mainly the down stuff involved one or more of the kids not wanting to try this slide or that slide... or anything at all. But we got through that, or not and just went on to something else. Why I have to drive an hour and a half for something we should have right here is beyond me. I mean I know we have enough kids, and with the tourists, you'd think it would be money in the bank... but for whatever reason, we don't have anything like it nearby.

They have a new slide this year (actually I think it came online late last year) and I would like to call it the nut shot... the official name is Mat Racer slide. You can pick 1 of 5 lanes (they all are equal) and race head first down the slide. That is all fine and and good, but when you get to the bottom the water is a smidgen deeper, and when you hit it, you are laying right on your nuts (if you are a boy) and thus it kinda feels... well it hurts actually. It isn't like a baseball bat to the man's nether region, but it definitely makes itself known.



Anyway, even though it was kind of messed up... the umbrella snapping, causing us to leave early or the nut shot, it was still a great 3 day weekend. And now I only have to work for four days this week, so it really is a win-win for me. And I know next week is a different story, but I will take it however I can get it. .

3-1/2" Nine LED Flashlights, 2 Pack

So my father-in-law gets me this flashlight. It is an LED flashlight. I have had LED flashlights before. But good lord. It is bright. And then I looked up the light on Harbor Freight... I really don't understand how they can offer it so cheap. I recommend them. Gone are the days of piss poor LED's. Check them out.

3-1/2" Nine LED Flashlights, 2 Pack

The Air Show

We went to the Air Show at the Water Festival. My wife says it really isn't all that unless you go in a boat... mainly because it is just so hot. Here are some pictures from the air show. It is hard to photograph, because it is all about movement. Still it was free, and it isn't everyday that you can see something like this, so here you go...

Who is Coming Over?

My father-in-law is coming and this picture is our baby's first impersonation of him. Ok not really, but the resemblance does strike us. He is here for a week. My daughter is here till she at least turns 18.

Classic Film Friday: Peter Pan

This post was written by my teenager. Why? Because I fell asleep and she absolutely loves Peter Pan. So anyway, this is her words, not mine...

This animated classic film is Walt Disney at his finest. Peter Pan shows the greatness of being a little kid again. With the songs (What Makes the Red Man Red, The Second Star, He Can Fly) , the characters (Peter Pan played by Bobby Driscoll, Wendy played by Kathryn Beaumont, and Captain Hook played by Hans Conried). This movie helps you remind you of the good times of your childhood. I like this movie because it gives a sense of creativity and it has its differences from all the other the Disney movies. Also, it is the first movie from Disney to have the main character as a human boy.

William Shatner: Has Been

Make no bones about it, I love me some Shat. In fact I found out that he made this album 4 years ago, but it is new to me... and it is the Shat, so it really doesn't matter. Anyway I got this for my mother for her birthday, because she likes her some Shat too. In fact she like it so much she gave it back to me (after making a copy of it). I recommend you turn the sound way up to 11 and rock like the Shat.

Where Did I Leave My Bike...

So this is a bike, in the French Quarter. It was at one point an expensive ($500) ride, now... not so much, this is the funniest and saddest thing I saw. No funny sayings or witty things to say, it is just a bike frame, the tires and seat apparently stolen.

What I Did on Vacation (part 2)

Monday rolled around, and it was time to drive to Covington to meet my cousin, 2nd cousin, and my aunt (who has really bad Alzheimer's) also to meet my mom brother and sister. We had breakfast, and took lots of pictures, and sat around just happy… (a big difference from what happened at my dad’s but anyway) we said our goodbyes and headed across the lake to New Orleans.

Our first stop was a bit of a disappointment. We went to Poncho’s the famous all you can eat Mexican restaurant. Back when Katrina went through, there was a sign saying it would not re-open. Well, it opened in a new location, years later, but all the tastes must have died in the storm. What used to be a cafeteria style, then you ordered from your table, kind of dining experience, is now just a regular go fill up on whatever you want yourself kind of thing, plus no piñatas, and the sopapillas just didn’t seem as good. A piece of my childhood is gone forever. Sad isn’t it?

But that is the way it goes… So we get to our hotel, the Hilton Riverside, only blocks away from the French Quarter and even shorter if you wanted to take a trolley, or as New Orleans folks say street car. We had a great time, all three days.

The first day was check in, Poncho's, and daiquiris, The second day was Cafe Du Monde for breakfast (Beignets and Coffee Au Lait), then lunch at Drago's and then onto the Aquarium of the Americas and finally we stopped in at Howl at the Moon on Bourbon St. to get drinks while we waited in line at Acme Oyster House. Everything there tasted great, and I didn't once leave a place thinking I got ripped off, or was still hungry. The last day was spent packing and then at the zoo and for lunch/dinner we went to O'Henry's. Then said our goodbyes, which is a lot more like see ya laters, and took one last ride around the city.

The rest of the trip was a wash, unless you count a trip to Flint Creek State Park in Wiggins, MS and/or a big blow out between my wife and my step-mom. We think we may just buy my father a plane ticket, have him spend time with everyone, have a much nicer time, and all will be well I think, it is just convincing my father of this fact. It was really hard to say goodbye to him this time, it has been 4 years since I last saw him, and he isn't getting any younger. Many a tear was shed, because I don't know if this was the last time I'll see him, that and the fact that my step-mother was a complete bitch the whole time I was there. Like I said, an airplane ticket for one would be better, and he can see how and where I live, the thought of that will have to be enough for now...

What I Did On Vacation (part 1)

On the first day nothing much happened. I mean I saw my father and he was the whole reason I drove 12 hours, though on that 12 hour trip, I did have a complication. We were on our way, my wife along with the teenager packed the car, (I did do a preliminary check and I thought everything was fine… I was wrong) So we got on to I95 and at 70 MPH my suitcase (and my wife’s as we were sharing) flipped over and was dangling off the roof rack, hanging on by one stray hook. Luckily I packed some extra tie down straps, so with only a 5-minute delay, we were on our way. No other incidents of note took place, and we were all glad of it.

Sunday I saw my father’s kids (he has 2 older girls, 1 older boy, me, and a younger daughter). It is kind of a happy/sad reunion of sorts… as I almost never talk to any of them at any other time; my dad says my two older sisters have found themselves in hard times. My older brother has married again, my little sister has moved away.

It was good to see my siblings again. But this started a troubling trend, that is, my step-mother’s alternate reality inhabited only by herself. She was accusing everyone that walked of taking her plates and doing so with a litany of curses. Why would she do this? I have no idea. She threatened my father with death if she found out he took them, accused me of feeding my dogs with them, insinuated that my wife let my kids take the plates into a room, and somehow lost them. While it was funny, at first, it got old pretty fast. It turns out the plates (the $2 Corelle kind) were in the dishwasher.

Later that night, my teenage daughter was watching Harry Potter, and my step-mother thought that was "Unholy". She said to me "how can you let your kids watch that?" I just looked at her stupidly. She doesn't go to church, spouts off curses like a sailor, but apparently Harry Potter is where she draws the line. She then goes on to lock my father out of their bedroom, and curse loudly so that everyone else can hear her displeasure. Yeah it was messed up

Anyway that is just two of many messed up things that happened, but as my dad said to me… “Remember the good times” and so I am, and a little bit of the bad. I can’t help it. Next time: New Orleans.

Late

I am so tired, so very tired. You know the old adage I need a vacation for my vacation? It kind of went like that. Hopefully, I can get it all to "paper" tomorrow, or at least some of it. It is like a three part vacation, except it really was not a vacation at all. Hope everyone had a good time.

Classic Film Friday: The Jungle Book

Yes, I'm talking about the 1967 Walt Disney classic. I prefer to think of it as a different story than the original book written in 1894. Anyway, this is the story of Mowgli, a young boy who is abandoned/orphaned and is raised by wolves. He meets characters like Bagheera (the panther), Baloo (the sloth bear), King Louie (the orangutan), Kaa (the python) and many others.

Basically Mowgli has been threatened by Shere Khan (the tiger) since he is a human and Shere Khan hates humans, so in order to save Mowgli his animal friends try to take him back to the "man-village." Mowgli does not want to go. He would rather fend for himself and stay in the jungle.

What happens next? You'll have to watch and see. Below are the two songs most prominent in the movie. My wife and rest of the family like this song:



While I like this one (and my wife says I'm a big baboon...)

Ozzy Osbourne: Let Me Hear You Scream

How long has it been since we heard Ozzy actually sing a song that was worthy? I think this is all that and then some. Listen to "Let Me Hear You Scream"...

Yeah, Be Smoove Man...

How About a Smile?

So here is my kid in a wagon, at the beach. We are in New Orleans, sipping daiquiris today, but I figured you needed something, and this is one of those pictures that makes me smile every time. You'll thank me later... if you look real close, you can see me in the far off distance, building a sand castle. It is the way I roll.

Crash `em Up Derby

What we have here is a disagreement. Somewhat. The big one (teenager) is trying to direct the Songbird to safer harbors. Essentially, she is trying to make sure she doesn't run into anything. Does the Songbird care? From the picture, I'd say no. She just wants to go, go, go.

I Can See You

I know every parent known has a picture with their kid wearing sunglasses just like this:

So do I. And she looks quite debonair if I do say so myself...

Airplane

So I come home from work one day and I hear and see the Songbird flying a airplane. Yep we got it like that. And I mean flying it hard. No holds barred, white knuckle piloting go on in the place. What is that you say? It is not much of a plane?


You got me there, but it was the creation of a 4-year-old. She came up with it all by herself


Yeah I know I think Krull when I look at it too...



But still, it is what it is. Flying around my house, in a take no prisoners kind of way... sweet.

Classic Film Friday: The Jerk

I think this movie is one of those defining moments. It is so crazy, so over the top, and yet in the context of the day, it seemed like normal. Steve Martin plays Navin R. Johnson, a complete imbecile. He goes from rags to riches and back again. Bernadette Peters plays Marie, the romantic interest.

Watch this idiot make his way in the world, and wonder how the hell he does it. A side and completely unrelated note, I start my vacation today, and internet access will be spotty at best. I'll update when I can and I have some things already in line... "See" you in a week.

Jack Johnson: To The Sea

What is Jack Johnson but vacation music? I can't think of anything but being on vacation when I hear him. And that is a good thing. Just sit back, relax and listen to him croon. I don't know why, but it is what it is. His latest offering does not disappoint. My wife got his CD from Amazon. Downloaded the whole thing. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I know there are some that that's the only way to buy, but I've also seen a resurgence of the vinyl LP. Then of course you have to have vinyl, and a record player and then you must be willing to flip over the LP. Yeah maybe doing the digital download isn't so bad after all.

Back to Jack, I highly recommend any of his albums, they are easy to listen to, make you want to beat/hum along with the songs, and it has to be the most unobtrusive music I have ever heard. Plus he lives in Hawaii, who doesn't want to visit Hawaii?

Yeah Old Man...

Damn Kids

I have a problem... and I'm really tired of beating my head against the wall (that is my teenaged daughter) trying to fix it. Her mother, my ex-wife, has not been there for her. She was (I don't know if she still is) a drug addict, and she lies about anything and everything. I try telling this to my daughter, but she just doesn't hear me, or she hears but just doesn't care.

Now I know it is hard, damn near impossible, to hate your mother. But she should. She should hate her for selling her stuff (and mine) for drugs, she should hate her for not being there when she needs her, hell, she should hate her for not getting my daughter a Christmas gift. It would be one thing if her mother got no gifts for anybody, but her other two kids had a stellar Christmas... her? Well she got from everyone but her mother so she had a good Christmas, but to get nothing from mom and then talk to your siblings and they got stuff from her... I would certainly feel left out.

But that is just one of a long list of shitty things my ex-wife has done. But you can't say much to my teenager. Maybe when she gets older... Maybe. And the problem is she is the spitting image of her mother, and I see many similarities and that is scary as hell. And so she (the teenager) wants to go spend some time with her mother, two weeks to be exact, and I just can't see me doing that... but it really doesn't matter, because she is old enough to decide where she wants to live.

So I guess she goes, but I did give her the ultimatum, that if for whatever reason things go sour while she is down there... she will not go back. We'll see how far that goes, I think something will go wrong in the first day, but that is just me....

I Endorse Letting Go

I have to say or at least I try to say that I'm not worried about my job. But everybody worries about their job, especially when just having a job is something to worry about. I try and try and try to not let it affect me. Because you start to let your imagination run wild. Did they like me? Could I have done this or that better? Maybe I could have worked harder or longer, maybe then I would still be there.

The truth is none of that really matters, at least not that much in my case. It is business, that is all and I shouldn't take it as anything else but that. But it is hard, when you put so much of yourself for so many years, not to take it personally. Still, you know it wasn't because you combed your hair a certain way, or drove a certain car, or any of that. It was and is business.

I continue to put forth my best effort, as a colleague told me... sometimes, you just keep swimming. (a Dori line out of Finding Nemo) And that is what I do, because I can't do anything else. So I just keep swimming, keep smiling, and keep being everything I think that the customer needs or wants... and hopefully at the end of the day, they will recognize that perhaps they want to keep me. Maybe, you just never know... nothing is guaranteed.

Happy 4th Everyone.

I will be holing up at my place, getting ready for the trip to my dad's house. I hope nobody gets stupid with the fireworks. I like them, but they are not very conducive with babies or dogs, and I have both. I hope everyone gets to BBQ or eat them a piece of watermelon or whatever happens around the 4th. Be careful, and remember what we are celebrating.

The Sweet Life

How good is life for an 8-month-old? Judging from these pictures taken at the watermelon festival last week... Pretty damn good.

Classic Film Friday: That Darn Cat

This story is hokey, but the kids seem to love it. It starts with a guy (who is with another and they robbed a bank) and he sees a cat. This is our hero, "DC" or Darn Cat. The guy is a lover of cats and that will be his downfall. So he lets the cat inside and the two crooks are trying to figure out what to do with a hostage.

Meanwhile the hostage puts her watch on the cat... remember, I said it was hokey, the cat's "owner" Patti (Hayley Mills) spots the watch around her cat's neck and goes to the FBI. Zeke Kelso (Dean Jones) gets the assignment of trailing the cat to see if this in fact the hostage they've been searching for.

From there we get laughs as the cat... like any cat, really will not listen to anyone. This movie is classic Disney live action. My wife had reservations about the criminals keeping a hostage, and them repeatedly talking about what they were going to do with the body (once they killed her). I guess with everything that has happened, it is not so cartoony to think about that. But the songbird loved it, and she didn't think twice about the bad guys. Besides, they get what's coming to them anyway.

Young MC: Bust a Move

I was getting ready to go somewhere, not really sure where, and my daughter (the teenager) was coming with me. I told her to "Bust a Move"... or hurry up. She had no idea what I was talking about, so I showed her this:



Now she knows...