Thursday, June 29, 2006

Sooooooo Quiet!!!!

The kids are all in MI with various family members until July 15th. While I am LOVING this time to ourselves, it is eerily quiet in our house. Very odd in fact. I am so used to doing 15 thousand things at once along with the conversations to go with it. It's kind of weird to just chat with my hubby. Though, so far, I have found I really DO like my hubby and enjoy his company. So I guess all is well in my quiet house. Cheers to the kids and cheers to being able to go wine tasting!!!

Monday, June 19, 2006

Fish bait

This one must fall under the already senile part for my hubby, because I cannot believe he forgot this precious memory from the same day. The kids were all enjoying themselves diving and jumping off the dock, when the son pops up off the ladder to announce to all that a fish just bit his nipple. After composing myself, I could then see that he indeed was bit by a fish on the nipple; it left a bite shaped bruise.

And so the nickname Fish Bait was born!!!

Happy Belated Father's Day...

I realize this is late, but I was off doing the "fatherly" thing...

The family was busy this weekend, and frankly, this was just fine with me. See, while being a father is a big reason for why I blog - primarily to keep a record of various family related things I'd rather not forget when I'm old and senile (like next year), I realize I still need to make time to make the memories.

Memories like:

Children going for a ride on a pontoon boat for the first time and the middle returning to say "It was fun, but they wouldn't let us stand up even though it was going ridiculously slow".

Mom helping the kids get me a Father's Day gift...which she'd already given me for Christmas...(hey, at least it wasn't a tie).

So many others, but this all explains why our life is a sitcom (as the neighbors describe it), and why we, above almost all else, enjoy each others company.

To my family - thanks for making me feel like the greatest Dad ever. To every other father out there - congratulations!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Happy Anniversary...

The wife and I made it 11 years as of yesterday (and we still kinda like each other). We celebrated by having a neighborhood party that was more impromptu than anything. We blocked off the street, played with the dozens of kids and just had a generally fun time. So, with basketball and water balloon fights, slip and slide and sprinklers, and let's not forget friends and adult kool-aid, it was a very nice time.

Now for the cleanup...

Overheard...

Neighbor: Honey, I've got ass-butter.

Yep, that was my take on it too...

Friday, June 09, 2006

The joy of teens...

While out at Six Flags with the kids, getting on a ride:

Mom: Teens! Sit! Good Teens...

(and the crowd goes wild). While back at home:

Me: Stop annoying the teens child...
Teen Friend 1: Yes, we have cell phones...
Me: What? Are you going to call and annoy us to death?
Teen Friend 1: Umm, well, we could poke with the antenae...
Teen Friend 2: (directed to Oldest and Teen Friend 1) You both are so blond...
Me: So, what were we talking about?

*crickets*

Me: Who should be blond?

Ahh, the joys of teenage angst...I mean, torture... ;)

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Detroit Sports...

Why do I dislike Detroit sports? For reasons like this year... How do both NHL and NBA teams lead their respective leagues all season and fall apart in the playoffs? I mean, the Wings are known for collapsing - and again, it was not for goaltending. Both teams decided they would win because it was owed them - which led to their respective collapse.

The Wings chose not to play the full game and Edmonton, due mainly to a ton of grit and hard work, defeated them. It is truly tough for me to say the better team went home when the better team decided it didn't have to play hard for the full 60 minutes. So, with that said, good luck to the Oilers in the Finals - a place you worked hard for and truly earned.

The Pistons? I am truly disappointed. This is a team which I started paying close attention to about 5 years ago - and not because they were elite, but because they were a gritty, hard working TEAM. That grit and hard work paid off with a title two years ago and an almost title last year. This year? 64 wins and a dominating season. With all of this, it must be the new coach's fault, right? No way. I cannot believe Flip wanted the Pistons, basically the only full time team in the NBA, to start playing one on four ala Kobe in the playoffs. Game 6, in Miami, you want Billups chucking unnecessary 3's with no other teammates even at half court? Or better yet, driving to the free throw, no one around and passing it out to the three point line for a similarly open shot out there? I mean, when did Detroit, known all season for driving to the basket become a jump shooting team? You wonder why their shooting percentages were so low, look no further. And don't even get me started on Hamilton's crying throughout the last two series. It is the playoffs and there will be contact. Deal with it; that is after all why you're getting paid. Their problem is strictly that too many of the Pistons feel that they truly are super stars like Kobe, Bron-Bron, D-Wade and Shaq (probably because they were voted
All Stars). The only consistent performer at both ends of the court all year long is the only Piston NOT voted to the All Star game - Tayshaun Prince. Go figure.

What does all of this lead to? I love this team, but I think Joe D. will see that the egos don't match the deeds and will be saying bye to some favorites. My choices? Bye-bye Billups and 'Sheed. Been nice knowing ya, good luck with the future and all, but the time has come. If Billups doesn't go, (and he should, because he is the on floor leader that orchestrated the one on four minimum matchups and mentality), then it has to be cry baby Hamilton. His defense has been wonderful, but you can't play D laying on the floor at what used to be the offensive zone crying about how you didn't get the call or flopping at the end of games or halves crying about the hack. The refs aren't changing their minds and would be crucified for making a questionable call at critical junctures (like halves and game ending buzzers). Stop whining and make the play.

In other leagues, the Tigers are playing just good enough to get interest to irritate people into believing...until the collapse and another playoff miss. The Lions? Still have Millen in charge, so they can't be going anywhere. I have trouble believing the Dolphins are ready for a Super Bowl ring, but within the contract they must be - I mean, look at some of the primary starters for the Lions and the good ones went on for rings somewhere: Rodney Peete - Dallas (and almost Carolina), Charlie Batch - Pittsburgh. Now is Harrington's turn. Go Dolphins!!!

Sometimes, it can be irritating to be a Detroit fan. You go from on high, to down low due to expectations. These teams all have talent and ability to play to potential, but there is little room for error at this level, which can crush that potential quickly. So, it'll be a long, slow wait until next year, when (at least in NHL and NBA) we should be back in the hunt again...

Kill the hostages...

Dinner time (as per usual):

The youngest HATES green beans, but per the household rule of needing to eat a single bite of all served, the green beans must be eaten...

Picture this, the youngest, face screwed for the worst, mouth open, green beans on fork (inside mouth), unable to chew. After minutes of this (you'd think the mouth would get tired, or at least want to be used, but I guess all the practice pays off...), I mentioned that the child should stop holding the vegetables hostage, the wife pipes up with...

KILL THE HOSTAGES!!! KILL THE HOSTAGES!!!
Youngest: Can't I just stick a fork in them and kill them that way?

Nope, they must be eaten. Not shot, not stabbed, EATEN. The child may still be at the dinner table trying to figure this one out...

Ultimately, the negotiations failed and the hostages were never found again (at least not on my watch...).

Clarification...

The wife was discussing matters of a medical nature with me the other night while in children's hearing. See, the wife has endomitriosis and has tried many different things in an effort to keep the pain in check. Lately, nothing seems to work, and the doctor has suggested having a full hysterectimy. So, while discussing this with me the other night, the following was the result:

Mom: So, the doctor suggested a hysterectimy...
Middle: What's that? What is a hystrectimy?
Mom: That's where they remove all my baby making parts...
Middle: Oh, you mean you're getting spayed? Like Dreamer the neighbor's dog?
Mom: Um, yeah - I'm getting spayed...

Welcome to my neutered world...