Lazy day

I spent this morning into early afternoon(before I went to work) just lounging around. Actually I watched 4 episodes from season 2 of the x-files. This has always been my favorite and I just felt like lounging in the best way I could think of. I had my wife right by my side and my baby boy yapping most of the way through it. It didn't matter. It's that good. I went to work and on the way heard an excellent piece by Wayne shorter. Tomorrow morning I'm taking out Steph to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Can it get any better? She likes watching x-files with me, and that is indeed an added pleasure and bonus. Tony is Tony and Liam just aced his spelling test. If Norman Rockwell were still alive, he'd paint me a picture man! Sometimes with all the crap that goes on in the world it's nice to just sit and spin.

Post-notes on last entry

My last entry on Katrina was a little rushed and a bit too sappy I think. You see, I sat down and spent about an hour writing an emotional and not so political entry. When I went to save it, it disappeared. I was so ticked. I was actually drained from writing it, and instead of taking a break, I decided to write on. That is why I feel it was rushed. The original piece was more on an emotional standpoint rather than a "what should we do?" piece.
If anyone reads it besides my few readers, take it with a grain of salt. I still refuse to be political. I would never stop writing.

A Katrina thought and idea

I just got done viewing the photographic slide show off of MSNBC. Normally I enjoy these. Not today. These pictures put a sick feeling in the pit of my gut. These poor, frustrated people. I cannot begin to imagine what they must be going through. I can only feel their frustration through the lens of a photo-journalist. The devastation is so widespread along the Gulf Coast. The main area in New Orleans, but it is everywhere else in that region as well. It is overshadowed due to media sensationalism.
Everyone is pointing fingers. Normally, I am very opiniated and would be very happy to point it straight to the top. I can't. The blame lies with nature. No one in their wildest imagination could have predicted this devastation on scale. Recovery is not immediate. It takes time.
I have an idea on this subject of recovery for these so-called refugees. Imagine that...America now has refugees. WE NEED TO HELP. Not with one-time donations, or telethons...(These are wonderful and show the true heart of the nation, but we must do more).
I think the Nation should raise taxes. I wouldn't mind if $1 came out of my check every week to go straight to a recovery effort of rebuilding land and lives. Don't stop there, how about an added 5% onto sales tax to go directly to the federal Government to disperse how they see fit. I know this sounds kooky but I believe that we are a strong and moral people. I put my faith in this notion. If anyone complains that it's not their responsibility, they need a swift boot in the ass, and then a personal escort out of this great nation. it's nice to sit back and breathe a sigh of relief that it didn't happen to me, or "our gov't will handle it". We need to help out our brothers and sisters. We need to show the world that this nation is a nation of spirit, hope and dedication to all who reside.

Jokes have consequences

Liam and I have had a little ritual of putting things in each others shoes. Normally this is very funny to the giver and the receiver. Not quite so this morning. I came home from work this morning and saw his sneaks' laying by the door. I then went to the table and saw one of his many rubber frogs. Even at that wee hour my synapses were firing. AHAH! I grabbed the frog and crammed it all the way up into the toes of his shoes, so he wouldn't see it while putting it on. This game has become very serious and very tactical. I went up to bed smiling, while at the same time thinking, "I bet he'll be running late for the bus and can't get the frog out". NAH, I didn't cram it that far up. I was right on course.
It seems this morning that he was running late. Mom was outside very quietly asking "Oh Liam, please hurry up" through the door, while walking to the bus. My wife speaks so quietly you can even hear her through exterior steel doors. Do you see where I'm heading with this.
Still no sign of Liam. I heard he did emerge from the house somewhat frazzled and crying. The only word steph says she could make out was "DAD". Oh how cute, he misses his dad so much that he is crying. I'd like to end the story there with this cute and cuddly ending, but I must be accurate and honest. It's kind of like in the movies while someone lays dying and they can only utter one word in their last breath. It takes the rest of the film to figure out whodunit. I'll take the shocking ending out of this story. I was the villain.
If this will be turned into a blockbuster, I will add the happy ending. Our busdriver called Steph to let her know that when he got to school he was fine. She gave him some bubblegum and that seemed to do the trick. I have the feeling that this has not quite ended yet. My little guy is smart and swift. I will be on the lookout for things in my shoes before I put them on, and I can guarantee they will not be squishy frogs.

Down from the mountain

Well, we are officially down from the higher elevation. Technically we are still in the mountains, but not quite as high. The move went well. The kitchen is now completed and functional, not to mention beautiful. Liam's bus picks him up right at our driveway, and his bus driver is about as nice as nice can be.
The only frustrating part of this whole adventure was with our cable "provider". And I use this term even more loosely than my last entry about them. I'm not going to go into specifics, but I will say that the term "incompetent Buffoons" came up quite a bit in the last two weeks. I will save the story for a later entry. I can promise y'all this though, it will be a most interesting story.
It's nice to be settled in and getting back to normality(You know I'm using this term about as loosely as my cable "provider"). Steph's enjoying her new kitchen. Liam's enjoying his new street in which to ride his bike and use his new speedometer. Tony just loves attention, although he still has this blank stare when we first moved in, almost as if he relocated to a different planet. What can we expect from a 4-month old. He's still a little angel though. As for me, I'm just enjoying life. What else is there!

Horsepower

Liam seems to be obsessed with horsepower. Anything that moves has horsepower and he needs to know just what that amount is. Yesterday we were traveling on the highway in my Chevy truck, which by the way is a muscle-machine with a 350 under the hood,,,, ohhh,ohhh.
I get the constant question as to how much horsepower I have by my little speed freak. I took the opportunity to show him on hgwy26.
With today's gas prices I normally wouldn't have done this. But with the help of "Wildside",by Motley Crue on my radio, I just couldn't help myself. He felt the jump and looked up from Nintendo and saw the needle slowly beginning to bury. He looked back and saw Steph's van, who was following us, quickly become a small dot. He was amazed when I mentioned that my pedal wasn't even halfway down.
Now, I am a responsible parent and adult. Just don't bug me about horsepower and play heavy-metal at the sametime. I just might explain the whole horsepower theory with visual aids.

Update

1 more day of vacation left. Tony is now baptized. Trip back home went really well. I survived 4 plane rides(although it was not easy with Steph talking to me and others about setting up a will before we left. No captain, don't stop at 35,000 feet, go higher.) Liam and I got a little sunburned yesterday when I finally had the opportunity to take him to the pool and went for it. The cabinets are being inspected by Phil and I tonight and we will begin to put them in on Saturday.
Tony received a gift from his Godfather(Uncle Mark), that was subject to search at the airport terminal. It is a really cool coin bank that is made of pewter or silver and it is in the shape of a little toy car with a winder on the back. It is really heavy because it is solid. The screener opened our bag at the airport and was tickled pink at this item. She was so delighted that she had to show it to all the other screeners.
It's off to the new house for some finish work and lawn mowing. Tony is next to me and chatting up a storm. I think I will leave this keyboard and do a little baby-talk.

Predictable Liam.

Liam is as predictable as he is adorable. As an 8-year old, he is getting himself dressed with the clothes he picks out with no problem.
There is a slight problem actually. This is where the adorable and predictable collide.
If he has red shorts, his shirt has to be red. If his shorts are black, his shirt can only be black. I could go on with all the colors, but you get the point.
The other day, after getting professional pictures taken with little Tony, Liam came home and changed so we could go to the park. He came out with the same black dress shirt and black shorts. I told him to go change his shirt, because it was too hot to wear outside. Now black shorts should go with pretty much any color t-shirt he can pick out of closet.
I hear "alright Dad I'm ready, let's go". I turn around and he has on blue shorts with a blue t-shirt. I ask him why he changed his shorts too. His reply-"I didn't have any black t-shirts".
This has become a game with Steph and I. Everytime he goes to get himself dressed, we wait with anticipation as he gets himself fashionably coordinated. It's like the runway walk at a fashion show. We give ourselves that look when our little man come out in his one color. It is like clockwork. He is very serious about his choices. When you confront him about, he claims that that's just the way he likes to get dressed.
It is these little things that make Liam so unique.
Adorable and predictability do clash quite a bit with him, but the adorable always wins the battle.

A special section in hell!

This has been a busy month for the cowards of the world. They're popping up everywhere from Iraq to England to Egypt. I hope the London cowards are caught and brought to justice here and after they are put down like the disgusting dogs that they are. I have always believed in good and evil, Heaven and hell. The only God that I know of has the final say in the matter. My only hope in this is that God will place these "cowards" in that special section in hell. No compassion or forgiveness should be given to the despicable excuses for human-beings. Their suffering should be eternal.
What is up with these cowards anyway. It seems that their problems lie in their own countries and ruling parties. Why do they come after the civilized section of the world. If they have problems, stay in your own countries and deal with them there. Even the other cowardly cowards in their "section" of the world look on these thugs as heroes with the courage of alah or whatever other being they choose to make up. I got news for these dopes. They are neither. They are cowards who either choose to be the most absurd being to ever walk the face of this planet, a "suicide-bomber". Or they bomb and then slither away under the rocks they entered this world from.
I remember when I saw Henry Rollins perform right after the coward attacked America. He said that instead of going after Afghanistan with bombs, we should fly over and drop RAMONES records for them. It was a humorous statement which now seems kind of depressing. How come human-beings cannot have fun. Why not pop on a RAMONES record and just rock out and have fun. Why is everyone so angry. We are on this Earth for a very limited time. I don't know why the notion of enjoying the moments sounds so absurd.
And I guess that JOHN LENNON doesn't sound like just another hippy freak now does he? He had it right thirty years ago and the message will always go on. PEACE. Why is this such an absurd notion? If you listen to IMAGINE now it almost sounds like a blue-print to solve these problems. Maybe I'm stretching it a little, but I have always held LENNON high on the musical shelf. I have, and will always, believe in his music as well as his message.
We have entered a new era in time in this world. Peace is the ultimate option. But if the thugs will not comply, we must be vigilant and swift in sending them to their own special section.

The project has begun

Spent today, with my good friend Phil, gutting the kitchen to make way for the new cabinets and appliances we are going to install. I bought a 5-gallon bucket of primer so Steph and I can begin the painting tomorrow.
I'm personally waiting for my favorite season-FALL. I can picture myself out on the deck observing the "grounds" in all that crisp weather. I hope it's crisp. Sometimes mother nature ignores my season and blends Summer and Winter together with no crispness. Oh the humanity of it all!!!!!
I've met some neighbors and they seem real nice. I also bought some cookies today from a door-to-door salesman. Well, actually he was about 12, but he suckered me right in. He's pretty good to get anything from the ole' tightwad himself. Well it seemed a good cause, so what the hey!
Time to go watch The Honeymooner's. Over and out.

The new house!

What a busy week. We purchased our new house on Friday. It's an awesome house with a great floorplan, but the yard is the key. I call it the "grounds". Of course mowing it is no day in the park, but it's all worth it.

The magic of fireflies

Well, after a week of frustration with our cable "provider"(and I use that term sparingly), we are back up with both our phones and our internet. I'm not even going to rehash this story because I'm finally over it.
We took a family ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway last week, and it was awesome. The perfect time of day as well as perfect weather. It's cool just viewing the incredible scenery of the mountains, but to actually cut through the mountain in sporadic tunnels was just as cool. Just ask Liam.
I finally can let loose the guilt of scratching up Steph's van. After stopping for a bite after our voyage over the mountains, I couldn't help but notice these 4 indentations on the outside of the passenger door just below the window. After closer inspection, I noticed another indentation on the inside of the door just below the window. Using my skills learned from my favorite cop shows, I figured out the cause of the damage. Steph's white-knuckle adventure over the mountains.
Last night after gathering up fireworks for the fourth, we came home and Liam hopped out all excited not at the fireworks, but what he called Firefly holiday. Our back yard was blinking like an invisible Christmas tree. He was catching them and showing me as well as trying to bring them in the house to show Steph. It was a magical scene and one of the memories of summer that would be called a masterpiece if painted right at that moment to capture the innocence and magic of it all.

PEACE!

The math question

The other day I was lounging around holding little Tony, when I asked liam to massage my feet. I told him I would give him $1 for 10 minutes. He said "How long?". I said "well how about three hours?". In about 15 seconds he said, "hey that's $18". I think that was pretty quick thinking for an 8 year old.
Speaking of feet; We both have this little ritual of sticking things in each others shoes. I'll get ready to leave for work and try to step into my shoes, only to find out they have been filled with gushy creatures or golf balls. He'll be hiding around the corner and then point at me with an "AH-HA, GOTCHA". I always think that I can outdo him. The other morning crawling into bed, I almost leaped out of my skin. He put his lifesized gushy bull-frog in the middle of my side. Don't worry folks, vengeance is mine and I will have my day. "HA-HA"

Natural Wonderland

Just got back from a little side trip with the family. We decided to explore Pisgah Forest, and man let me tell ya, it was breathtaking. The weather was perfect. A storm had just passed through and it smelled like fresh wintergreen. This is one of those sights that just makes one feel an overwhelming sense of awe. The higher up you get, the more "no picnicking" signs you see. It is bear country up there. I mentioned to the wife that we should try camping. She reminded me of little Tony in the backseat. Okay maybe not. I said Liam and I will go, and if we encounter any bears we'll fight em' off. Right son? Liam's response-"well I guess so". Not quite the 8 year old gladiator I had in mind when I posed the ridiculous question.
Little Tony was just sittin' back and sniffing in the crisp clean air.
Our next vacation is going to be investigating the forests around WNC. We all can't wait.
Pure Natural Beauty.

Tony and I in the wee hours of morning

I'm sitting here with my boy(actually he's in a bouncy staring outside) in the early morning. We're listening to AUDIO VISIONS on XM. I chose this station because it might soothe him and put him into a deep and long sleep. It doesn't seem to be working. When i first connected to the XM, a beautiful song came on that was by Anthony Miles. It was called "Sleep of the Innocents", off of his Songs for Children album. Listen to me calling it an album. Come on gramps it's a CD. Sorry, I come from the old school who still feel a passion for the album's. Anywho, it seemed like a sign that this is going to work. 1/2 hour later he is still wide awake and seems to find the outside really interesting.
Actually you know what?, with this soundtrack in the background, the outside does seem to have a certain draw to it. The light is slowly creeping into the day and the birds have just started singing. If this keeps up I'm going to have to go grab the Anne Murray collection and do it right. I don' t think so.
Actually Anne Murray(I hope it's Anne not Ann) will always hold a place in my memory. The year is 1991. I show up at my Aunt's house to pick my wife up after they threw her a bridal shower. We ended up staying for hours after everyone left. I remember cold michelob's and slow dancing with my wife to Anne Murray. I was with my future wife, my favorite aunts, ice-cold Michelob's,and Anne Murray. It was a night I will never forget and i thank my family for saving this for me.
As always LIFE IS GOOD!

PEACE

mariah who?????

Driving home this morning I heard a news flash that almost had me curtailing down the side of the mountain. It seems that there is a particular "artist"(and I use this term very loosely) who is making history. This "artist" has more #1's on Billboard than any other "artist" on the scene today. What made me almost careen down to my death was the reference that this "artist" may eventually surpass the only 2 other acts before her:THE BEATLES and ELVIS.
I don't know about you, but I feel very strongly towards these 2. They were true "artists" in the way they went about sharing the wonderful gift of music to us all. They are both easily recognizable, and a true musical treasure. I hold THE BEATLES at the top because they are the only TRUE act which wrote and performed all their own songs. Unreal in todays market.
For those purists out there who think rock is dead, check out Brian Wilson's SMILE. WHOAHH!
I can go on and on with this subject. I truly believe that music is not dead, just stagnant, and that there are glimpses of a pure light of brilliance that shine and surely make me smile!

Captain,set a crash course!!

Looking over past news articles this week, I have discovered that the road to hell is indeed paved with bad intentions. You really have to sit back and shake your head at these 2 items.
1:Paris Hilton advertisement for a hamburger:
A)Is it too racy?? I don't know if you've seen this but this is something that you would see if one subscribed to the Playboy Channel. My God!! Where are we heading Jude Cleaver? I am a male and I am also a father and role model and I think this is just plain smut from an industry that feels the need to cloud our youngun's minds with pornography that sells.
A recent pole on MSNBC. Over 13,000 people were asked if it was too racy. 61%yes/39%no.


2:Giving Viagra to sex-offenders:
A)unbelievable but true. And our government is paying for it. Finding out this information not only makes me sick, but can really piss-off me off when it is in fact the taxpayers that are footing this ludricous, unconscionable expense.


To sum both of these stories up. I hope I don't offend anyone in the 39%, but don't worry , just move to New York and your Viagra will be free.

Hitting the wall

Well, I've gone and done it. With steph's new mini-van that is. We are so careful when we take it out. We make sure we park miles away from any human or machinery contact. If someone parks right next to us, which seems to be the case most of the time with this metal magnet, we check to see if they left a ding or scratch on our vehicle.
To get on with the story, I, who is the infallible driver(hey, I always brag how on my job I drive heavy machinery all night without ever an incident), put not only a scratch or a ding, but both!!
This happened while I pulled into the garage. I knew I was cutting it close(I even mentioned out loud that I was) but I still went ahead with the docking process. You could hear the scrape along the wall as if it was playing through our speaker system in the van. I said "oh *#!%. Steph jumped out and looked at the front quarter of the ship. I though she was going to breathe a sigh of relief and then shake her fist at me. Instead she said something similar to my outburst, but longer. She didn't shake her fist at me either.
She disappeared inside, leaving me to carry in the baby and the other items we had to carry in. Imagine the nerve!?!?
I looked at the damage and I almost threw up. I felt my knees buckle and held myself up before I put anymore of my insignia on the van. I made it through without at least denting it. I wasn't about to do that with my skull. I was sure steph would appreciate that, and somehow forget the whole event. She did..........Eventually.
Many thanks to Honda for including the touch-up paint they gave us when we purchased the van. How did they know!?!?
EPILOGUE:
We were out today looking at land with our new agent. She asked me how I liked the van. I went on to tell her of the main event on Saturday. She saw the humor in the story(why can't my wife see it!?!?). Of course Steph had the last laugh when she informed me of my much developed ignorance when she said "YOU KNOW, SHE WORKS FOR OUR LANDLORD!!"


DOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

coffee & jazz

While Tony and the wife are catching up on some much needed z's, I'm sitting here in the sun-porch drinking java and listening to some jazz. It always seems to get my creative juices flowing. Java & Jazz-what a mix! I like to practice the bass to "beyond jazz" on XM radio. Some of the most interesting and flawless players can be found in this realm.
On a side-note, just bought myself a 4-cd package of Jerry's performance from his attack on Broadway in 1987 for a stint of 18 shows in 16 days at the famous Lunt-Fontanne theater. The performance I'm getting is the October 31'st(Halloween) performance. It is the complete performance, featuring both acoustic/electric-matinee/evening performances. If anyone is diverse in his musical tastes and styles, it is Jerry. Which makes this set a must have for the music lover in me. I cant wait to pop it in the portable, sit back and enjoy my favorite guitarist in action.
Tony is getting bigger every day. It's amazing this boy's milk consumption. Poor Steph. She is as proud as she is diligent in nurturing our boy as she has done with liam. She is the poster-child for the perfect mommy. I thank God every day for not only blessing me with 2 beautiful children, but also for blessing me with a wonderful, loving and giving wife. It all adds up to a recipe that is not only delectable, but filling as well.

Peace to Y'all!!

The system is really down!!

Just read an article where the band System of a Down used expletives while performing on a live broadcast of SNL. They were told not to use the words which are in their "new hit". What an oxymoron.. Or just plain, what a bunch of morons. SNL was able to bleep out 5 swears, but they snuck a fifth in. Where in the hell is the music industry going. They gave Elvis a hard time and Jim Morrison a hard time for piddly things. They, the sensors back then, would be rolling in their graves if they knew how far we have come. It's just disgusting that a band has to rely on vulgarity to get their "message" across.
This(the song listed below, not the crap from the system)is lyrics from a song that is true poetry in motion. This band has always been given a hard time(not because of vulgarity, but because of the counter-culture that followed them from their early roots and never let go. More power to them. This was taken off the back of a book I am reading on this band now. The writers are listed at the bottom. It should take no introduction.
This is where it's at, and where it should stay.

There were days
There were days
There were days I know
When all we ever wanted
Was to learn and love and grow
Once we grew into our shoes
We told them where to go
Walked halfway around the world
On promise of the glow
Stood upon a mountain top
Walked barefoot in the snow
We gave the best we had to give
How much we'll never know, never know


Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia, "Days Between"