Monday, September 26, 2005

Paint 'em green...

My youngest does not like green beans, but each time they are served must eat a few. Tonight, we had noodles and green beans for dinner. We also happened to be talking about getting the kids vision checked when the following exchange happens:

Me: You know, my vision is getting bad and I didn't see you eat your three green beans...
Youngest: Well, I did.
Me: Yeah, but I didn't see it, so you'll need to do it again...
Youngest: (Pointing to the noodles) See, here's a bean. (Proceeds to eat it while making a scrunchy face)
Me: I might not be able to see that well, but that was a noodle just based on color
Youngest: (Whispering to Mom) How can we paint these green?

Casual Conversation...

We went over to a friends house for a barbeque yesterday. While there, I asked whether or not she had any cards. Her response:

-I have cards, but I know I'm short of a full deck.

For those of you that know me, you realize how this little inoccuous comment provided me with lots of entertainment for the rest of the evening.

Friday, September 23, 2005

Thank you soo much Mr. Governor...

Our governor cancelled the next two days of the children's school due to an expected gas shortage after Rita hits...gee, thanks Mr. Governor.

Chopped Liver...

Youngest: There is no one to play with...
Me: Well, do you want to play soccer?
Youngest (whining): No! I want to play with a friend...
Me (tickle torturing): So what's that supposed to mean? I'm not your friend?
Youngest: Nope. You're chopped liver actually...
Me: (Beating the child within inches of life)

New Shows...

Just had to point out a couple of things about the new TV season and some new shows:

-Lost still rocks

-Everybody Hates Chris is truly edgy and hilarious. We'll see if they can keep it up, but for now, it is the funniest show I've seen in a long time

-Love, Inc., which appears right after Chris, is another bright and amusing show. I've always liked Holly Robinson-Peete, but it is the other girl who steals the show. Part of the charm might be that this girl reminds me in features, mannerisms and even some of the caustic comments and deliveries of KellBell aka Fronda (and soon to be newly crowned Denise). For me, that is just the finishing touch on the overall humor.

All hail the queen...

Those who know me know I love my puppy to death...however, death may come for her sooner rather than later.

Recent behavior issues:

-Jumping and scratching at the door to get in/out
-Snarfing food accidentally dropped without permission
-Yowling in the morning and evening for food (sometimes hours before time)
-Begging while other family members are eating snacks

Now, I realize that my family (including myself at times) reinforces these behaviors, but one recent happening really got to me and caused me to go nuts about all of these behaviors, all at the same time and her cuteness factor is all that is keeping her around right now.

Here is what happened:

The queen goes outdoors to use the facilities, finds another dog has been using her accomodations. Instead of smartly remarking her territory with her own leavings and to send the appropriate message to this other neighbor that the place is taken now and always, what does she do? Nope, doesn't perform Lassie barks to tell me to guard her area either. Nope, my brain child of a dog decides the best course of action is to camouflage herself WITH THE OTHER DOG'S POOP. Now, I don't know if she was planning to ambush this neighborhood mongrel or what, but she brought it in to the house, paraded around and then was left in total wonderment when I blew up after realizing what she had done. It is entirely possible that there many need to be a new queen if this keeps up...

How ironic that my dog, has built and will be shortly living in her own doghouse due to these wonderful behaviors.

Friday, September 16, 2005

Really?

Middle Child: Daddy, you're a freak.
Wife: Yeah, but we love this freak.
Middle Child: Really?

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Breakfast with the crew...

Every morning my wife gets up, gets ready and then makes the kids lunches. Every morning I help get the kids up, then go downstairs to check email and wait for the kids to come to breakfast. The two youngest arrive and the wife and I will get their breakfast and begin talking and joking to start the day off. Today, I offered to meet my wife for lunch since it looks like I'll have a fairly easy work day. She declines saying she doesn't want me to have to drive all that way. This begins a short tussle between the two of us where we start picking on each other and then start slapping each others arms playfully like we are really getting annoyed with one another (yes, we are still young teens at heart). So, while all of this starts to break out this morning the children begin chanting:

"Fight, fight, fight, fight..."

There are worse ways to starting a day off than with a laugh.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Gotta Love 'Em...

Cause it is against the law to physically hurt them...

Sitting at dinner tonight, I wanted to have a quick but serious discussion with the kids. Unfortunately, I was having trouble bringing order to the silly crew. In a last ditch attempt to get everyone's attention, I raise my voice above the foolish cacaphony and say "All right, stop, drop and use your ears!!!". At this point, everyone, including the wife actually decided to listen (a first for me); they all jumped off of their chairs, dropped to the floor and grabbed their ears to better adjust them for hearing. Unfortunately, our uproarious laughter kept me from being able to begin the discussion.

At this point, I guess I have to point out that I am just too pretty. I forgot the simple rule to be careful what I was asking for, as I might just get it.

Today's Technology...

Me: Hello?
Sister: Umm, Hi. Did I call you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to call you...
Me: Umm, I feel the love. How are you?
Sister: Good, but I was trying to reach my husband. I don't have his number programmed into my phone and it must have dialed you accidentally...
Me: Yep, everything is fine here. I realize you didn't want to talk to me but...
Sister: Yeah, I've got to call my husband. Bye!
Me: Bye!

Welcome to today's technology! When else could you make a minor mistake, causing you to call someone in another state and have it end up on the internet in about 20 minutes for other people to laugh at? Technology - making things (you didn't want) happen...

More Katrina...

I know many people have started to try and put Katrina behind. Fortunately, we are pretty close and can see and hear things being done to help. A radio station nearby put on a "Student Support Project" for all of the new student enrollees in Georgia from Katrina so those kids could have school bags and supplies as well as some new clothes and things to help ease the transition. Turned out pretty well and I'm proud to say that our family was able to get involved.

A new kid fresh from New Orleans just joined the youngest soccer team, so I know there is still more to do. In talking with them (a mother and her 3 kids), they have a car and the clothes on their backs right now. They have a house (still under water) and a car still in New Orleans. They've pretty much lost everything but each other. So, there's more to do, since we all know they aren't the only ones.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear Dubya took responsibility for the overall response (or lack thereof) to Katrina. I think it is a very impressive step; when was the last time you heard a President (or any politician) take responsibility for something going wrong? I realize that he wasn't the one making the decisions, but he put those people there and ultimately, he is the leader and the final person responsible for the good or the bad.

Speaking of the people making the decisions on the ground, I was ecstatic to hear that Michael Brown resigned. Definitely read the article - it is an eye opener. I tried to give the guy some latitude, but as things progressed, nothing was happening to help the people.

Lastly, there is a cameraman who has been blogging about things happening in New Orleans - sights, sounds, whatever. His first post details what was happening last week, shortly after arriving. His second post helps give some insight as to what is happening now. Both give you a pretty clear idea of the devastation that was brought on that region. It helps to realize that we are all very lucky and to appreciate the important things in life - family, friends, health and happiness.

Now, with things shifting to stabilizing and rebuilding, any further Katrina news from me will likely be much more upbeat, but I did want to pass these things along.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Remembering 9/11

It was a tragic day, and I hope everyone took a few minutes to remember thoughts and feelings from that day. This was a horrible day for most Americans. This day of fear, uncertainty and worry hopefully never comes again. It is important to remember that this day is why we are committing young men and women into Afghanistan. It is also why we have soldiers in Iraq.

Whether you believe in what the President is doing in Iraq or not, don't forget to thank a soldier/vet/policeman/fireman for all they do for all the rest of us. They get little enough in the way of pay or appreciation. I for one think this should change, but we all must realize that change takes time and in the meantime, these wonderful people are doing all they can for the rest of us. Remember the victims today, but don't forget the heroes - including those proving themselves today.

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me...

Yep, it's that time of year again. I must say, I have a great family and it really is fun getting older with my wife. She makes me laugh (with things like the previous post) and she and the kids keep me feeling young. Still not sure what I want to be when I grow up, but, hey, isn't that the fun in life?

Happy Birthday baby!

Happy Birthday hubby. Today you are 33. He was complaining all week about being old, but I beg to differ. AARP hasn't sent us one thing yet. And you don't need reading glasses. It's been a long time since you've used a cane. We won't mention the knee brace, wrist braces, and ankle brace....shhhhh.....it'll be our little secret. I think you are still young and sexy. Just remember you're still 4 months and 20 days older than me :) But seriously, you are the best and I wouldn't trade you for the world. If I had to choose a hubby all over again, I'd choose you! xoxoxoxoxox love your wife

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Feeling Misinformed?

I've been doing some more reading on Katrina and the fallout. I've been reading the differences between the "official" version from our government or FEMA officials, and what the various people on the ground (New Orleans mayor, victims, reporters) have been saying at or about the same time. Here's the link to the CNN report. For me, it just doesn't bode well when this many people who are supposed to be in charge of the situation are getting things so far wrong.

Friday, September 02, 2005

Unacceptable...

Another blogger has managed to capture some of my frustration here. Again, I want to point out that I believe the FEMA director was not directing the referred comments to those in the Superdome and Civic center who could not leave, but on the other residents who made the conscious decision to stay even though the New Orleans mayor called for an unequivocal evacuation of the city BEFORE Katrina hit. If this order had been followed, FEMA's job would be more limited to working to help those who couldn't leave the city and those who were thought to be outside of the immediate danger zone. Alas, hindsight is always 20/20 and if the storm had not been even more devestating than predicted, everyone would have been laughing at the over reaction.

So where do we stand? We have a government which has been very lax in responding to this catastrophy. Unacceptable. This is the same government which has decided to go to war in several parts of the world on the premise that their THEORY for building democracy in a region rich with historical precedence will work. Unacceptable. Why do we continue to make these same mistakes? Unacceptable.

I admit, I feel we are in Afganistan because we needed to be. I admit, I have felt since the first Gulf War that we would need to go back to finish the job, but I never felt that it was necessary to be there at the time our government committed us there. We weren't done in Afganistan; North Korea was (and still is) a bigger threat with their admitted building of weapons of mass destruction. Our troops are committed to an initiative fighting insurgents in a country that really doesn't want us there as a whole. The world is watching and we are failing - again. Unacceptable. If there is one thing I agree with our President about, it is that we are committed to this course of action now and that our troops are doing an admirable job. Unfortunately if feels as if they have constraints limiting what they can do in an effort to win a war that our government started and this is unacceptable. Our troops deserve better and we should have learned. Unacceptable.

Iraq must be brought under control and secured. Their new government and forces must be given the time to mature and learn. There can be no half measures. The people in Louisianna and Mississippi need help and support. They too need to have help getting the situation under control and secured. In this situation, there too can be no half measures. Anything less on either front is criminal and unacceptable at this point.

Katrina Thoughts...

I realize this post is coming very late in the game, but I am still shocked over the complete devestation which has struck Louisiana and Mississippi. It has understandably become a complete loss of civilization and I've been trying to think of what would/could change things. I find it difficult to blame the people in the thick of it, or to fault the FEMA workers who are trying to help. The FEMA director's comments are being misconstrued IMHO. I understand his frustration that so many people who could have left the affected areas decided to try to ride it out which has made his job so much harder. On the other hand, some of this is human nature and it happens with every catastrophic even of this nature. Even if they had followed direction though, no one could have predicted this much devastation and there was truly no way to prepare for it.

My thoughts go out to those still needing help. Excuses are not needed - action is.