1. Positive Side Affects

    My family only hopes I’m “that” guy. Still going strong without ANY alcohol, not even a beer, since New Years. Who wants a hug?

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  2. The Animals of Richman Gordmans

    It’s 1980, the store Richmond Gordmans, I was eight. Gordmans was the best place to go with Mom when she needed to go shopping because of the entertainment. Cramer into the back corner of the store was a play area filled with colorful animals you could climb in and slide down. It seemed like hours we would play there. The pee odor didn’t hamper our excitement. What a time. A parent could leave there child unattended to shop in piece.

    The Omaha Children’s Museum brought back the animals with great fan fare. So I could share them with my kids. They are about the same age I was. They enjoyed them, just not as much as I did. Another sign of the times I guess. The Omaha World Herald wrote up an article of how these animals came to my Gordmans and rediscovered on….  wait for it. Ebay.

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  3. With The Holidays Over, The Basement

    We have had a lot of snow this year. In fact my daughter has yet to go back to school from Christmas break. Not helping other issues. We’ll leave that for another post. Back to the reason for this post. With all of our free time we have been able to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. While taking the decorations back down to the “Storage of Christmas Past” I had a thought; “Our kids have never had a disappointing Christmas.” 

    I brought it up to my wife. Never less I was accused of being a scrooge once again. Of course I continued with the thought: 

    “instead of only threatening, maybe the kids shouldn’t get shit for Christmas” 

    Graycen, my eight year old daughter, knew what was in each of her Santa gifts. As if she was The Great Houdini. This didn’t upset me. It made me happy, but I have to ask you: Is this the start of a spoiled kid? 

    Should I really be proud of getting her and her brother what they want for Christmas? Even though in 3-6 months they will find their finall resting place in the basement with all the other abandoned toys? Maybe I am just cranky, but I’m figuring out why my dad always threatened “you ain’t going to get much for Christmas his year”. 

    Hell it took him a month to clean out our basement when they decide to move.

    Update: Pic’s weren’t attached

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  4. Neighbors Bearing Gifts; Food. Priceless

    It should be a commandment you know, “Thy neighbor should come bearing food gifts”.

    Our neighbor, friend, Jay posted he was making sauce today on Facebook. Me being a good, helpful, neighbor offered my professional taste test talents (I got paid once in 6th grade to taste test a variety of snacks for a food company).

    Jay being the generous neighbor brought over enough glorious sauce, meatballs, and sausages for me and Graycen to have dinner. As you can see Graycen enjoyed it as much as I. No one was willing to take my picture. Graycen even made the comment she would watch your cat for sauce and meatballs.

    Jay’s sauce is the best. Neighbors are the best. Facebook is the best.

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  5. Disney’s A Christmas Carol in 3D

    We have the holiday spirit coming out our ears. So why not take grandma and the kids to a movie? We should go see a classic family movie with a good moral message. Let’s go see Disneys A Christmas Carol.

    The thing is the movie is not what we thought. Sure it’s the classic story but it is not Disney sweet not Jim Carrey silly. In fact it has scared each of my kids into our laps with faces buried into our chests. Cameron was out once the ghost of Marley, Scrooges dead [business] partner, first appeared to tell Scrooge about the three spirits that will be visiting him. Graycen made it a little longer. She was out once Death and his horses began chasing Scrooge.

    I have always enjoyed the story of A Christmas Carol. Each version has had a different take of the three spirits that visit Scrooge. This version, weak. I was especially annoyed by the Spirit of Christmas Past. I believe the character was a candle?

    For the record, Bill Murray in Scrooged is my favorite.

    What were we thinking. Why did I think I could take a 4 year old to see this. I mean my 8 year old barely saw more movie. I know the story. We are talking about ghost/spirits sent to scare the stingy shit out Scrooge! Think about it.

    Oh yeah. The movie was visually stunning. The 3D stellar. Our movie theater gave out horned rim 3D glasses by “Real 3D” that were much more comfortable than glasses in the past.

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  6. Holiday Lights

    My favorite part leading up to Christmas has to be all the holiday lights. It doesn’t matter the house or building if it has lights it seems warmer. It must be the comfort that they have the holiday spirit. Don’t get me wrong there are levels of greatness. For example, looking at too many houses that where professionally done. With their strands perfectly sized to match the roofs eves. It makes you overly critical and numb when you drove through a neighborhood like mine. Well take mine for example; mismatched types and lengths, randomly placed, extension cords visible. As soon as I was done I was beaming with pride.

    My wife and kids are happy too. However they did ask I would put some on the second story. “No way” I exclaimed. I’m afraid of heights. They don’t care, just called me “scrooge”!

    When I look at them I feel festive. Warm even, like I said before.

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  7. Get Back To Cruise Control

    Everyday seems like life is trucking by on cruise control. Job is good. The family is well. Checking off the to-do’s of your daily schedule. You usually have to look back to see how much life has changed. I usually feel guilty, because I have to take time to look back at what has changed; My daughter learning to read and now loves reading chapter books; My son never talking to asking every question that pops into his head.

    I’m not going to feel guilty anymore. I actually am going to find comfort in it. To me looking back is an accomplishment. It means that decisions were made. The right decisions, because I didn’t have to stress over them.

    Now we are looking at huge change.
    My wife is going to go back to teaching. Earlier than we originally planned. That means my son will be going to pre-school/daycare everyday. Our daughter will be joining him before and after school. They are both psyched. They are both eager for the change.

    What?
    Eager for the change?
    Trying not push my psychotic tendencies on to them.

     ALRIGHT! I am excited for you! But the psychosis is strong with this one.
    1. I am worried about the weekly bill.
    2. I am worried that my wife will not find a full-time position with the district and will need to substitute.
    Stop.
    Don’t tell me substitutes make good money.
    What do we do during the summer?
    The weekly bill to child care…

    It consumes me. Keeps me from doing all the geeky things that seem trivial; tweeting, posterousing (that doesn’t roll of the tongue. it’s hard enough to say posterous)

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