Spam & Mullets: The Return of the BAM???
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian December 2011
    jWerthfan said:

    "Chris gets to play chef even if it is only pancakes, bacon and sausage.
     He will probably go all out with a chef's hat and jacket thing."

    That's a picture I'd like to see. :)



    Paula got one of Chris covered in flour and other stains.   It looks pretty funny but I decided to not make fun of him because he has been really good about the whole Xmas thing, this year.   He has not yelled or got mad at us for some of the stuff we put him through for the past couple weeks.   He did most of the outside decorating, he did most of the bag carrying, mailing, cleaning and he has been really good about all of the stuff I have volunteered him for.   Today, he had to play Santa Claus at Paula's hospital for the kids who are there through the holidays and two of the kids did soak his leg.  He just played it off as nothing and was really sweet to the little girl who had an accident in his lap.  When it happened, he just said, "Oh oh, Santa had an accident."   The little girl looked like she was going to cry, then she had this beautiful laugh and she gave Chris a big kiss after she told him what she wanted for Xmas.   Even as I type it, I get all teary-eyed because I think I am pretty lucky to be married to him.  

    Right now, he is watching some cartoon with Paula and Drake and they are giving him a hard time about the "accident".   He is taking it well, reminding them that they better be good or they will get the job of changing his drawers when he gets old.   We are expecting a couple of my cousins for Xmas, they will arrive tomorrow from Brazil, I hope they packed for the cold because it has been freezing here.  We have only one more Xmas activity I volunteered us for, a breakfast thing at a senior place on Saturday morning.   Our parish priest asked for volunteers and sadly, only three couples volunteered.   But, both Paula and Drake said they would help and Drake says a couple of his buds will lend a hand.   I know it sounds kind of goody-twoshoe but I would feel bad if I did not do some of this stuff each Xmas season.  

    The really nice thing about today is that Chris did all of this stuff even though it is the 26th anniversary of his brother's death.   Usually, he would go to the cemetery where he is buried and stand there for hours, but he said, last year, that he needed to stop putting himself in a bad place by missing his brother every Xmas.  Damn, I am getting all kinds of whiney.    Maybe I should go watch this cartoon those three are going crazy about.   I listened to it earlier and there is a lot of cussing and stuff, but those three love that zombie stuff.   Nah, I do not want to watch zombie stuff, I will just wait for Katja to get home and we will watch Chopped together.  Time for a cup of tea so I can stay up to watch Craig Ferguson.   I hope Chris got us tickets to see him next year.   I think he is the funniest person on tv.  Night everyone, Katja just got home and she yelled that she hates her life and wants to mine the Barnes and Noble parking lot.   It is pretty funny.  
  • Claude+OsteenClaude Osteen December 2011
    Merry Christmas everybody. I hope you all have a safe and blessed holiday!
  • PhillieBluePhillieBlue December 2011
    bigblaster said:

    So, I'm loading the Lexus Christmas jingle on my iPhone, so somebody will buy me a new car.  That IS how it works, right?



    Only if you want to drive your wife crazy
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz December 2011
    Just in case I am not about, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.   Taking off for Reno tomorrow morning so that Mary's cousins can see some snow and gamble at the casinos.   From what I have seen, I am thinking the first mall we hit in Nevada will be our first and longest stop.  Those girls can shop.   It has to be hereditary.   We would be heading up tonight, but Katja doesn't get off from work until after ten and she begged to go.   It will be Drake and Paula at the house because Drake has to work and Paula caught a bug at the hospital.  She is having a rich and rewarding relationship with Ny-Quil.  

    Should be fun for Mary and me.  We got ourselves a suite at one hotel and set up the girls at another hotel.  We will drop them off at their hotel and we will pick them up Sunday afternoon.   Works for me. 
  • SamAdamsSamAdams December 2011
    PhillieBlue said:

    bigblaster said:

    So, I'm loading the Lexus Christmas jingle on my iPhone, so somebody will buy me a new car.  That IS how it works, right?



    Only if you want to drive your wife crazy


    That Lexus jingle would drive the sanest person off the deep end.  You can't watch a football game without hearing it, even though Christmas was nearly a week ago.  Make it stop!  Get some loonies to "Occupy" Lexus.
  • jWerthfanjWerthfan December 2011
    SamAdams said:

    PhillieBlue said:

    bigblaster said:

    So, I'm loading the Lexus Christmas jingle on my iPhone, so somebody will buy me a new car.  That IS how it works, right?



    Only if you want to drive your wife crazy


    That Lexus jingle would drive the sanest person off the deep end.  You can't watch a football game without hearing it, even though Christmas was nearly a week ago.  Make it stop!  Get some loonies to "Occupy" Lexus.


    I feel ya, dawg. Maybe this will help....


  • jamesmir11jamesmir11 January 6
    Got a short sale approval. :) 
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz January 6
    jamesmir11 said:

    Got a short sale approval. :) 



    Congratulations, James.  
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz January 6
    Morning all, another fine day in the 925.  Herself and I have been getting in two rounds of golf since Tuesday and hope to do the same today.  After not playing for a long time, she is back to tearing it up.  I hate to say it, but she might've gotten better.  Yesterday, she carded a 69 and that was with a bogey on the fifth hole.  Me, I was lucky to break eighty once.  I am back to being Señor Slice.  I was waiting to slice one so bad it would come back and hit me. 

    Kids hate us because they have to work.  Yep, life is good.  Of course, they stop complaining long enough to eat dinner or for one of us to pack them a lunch or make them a hot breakfast - since when did cereal become gauche?  We won't even get into the clean clothes, free rent, utilities and the fact that somehow we are paying for their phone bills.  

    Tried something interesting, last night.  Mary found some apricot-sage sausage (Guy Fieri's brand) at Costco and it was actually pretty good.  Tonight she wants to try his Jalapeño chicken sausage in a lasagna, so I get to play Chef Boy-ar-dee tonight.  At least she didn't beg for trout, like last Friday, I despise cleaning the pin bones out of the damned fish.   Kids are demanding a turkey this weekend.  Seems we picked up one of the beasts a couple weeks ago and the nosiest of our kids found the thing while looking for a snack in the freezer.  Voila, I get to roast a turkey....hiss.
  • SamAdamsSamAdams January 6
    We'll bring the cranberry sauce and sweet potato pudding.   ;-)
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz January 6
    SamAdams said:

    We'll bring the cranberry sauce and sweet potato pudding.   ;-)



    Sounds good.  The worst part of the whole thing will be making the garlic mashed potatoes.   In this house, if the smell of garlic doesn't make you take a step back, you haven't used enough.    The first time I saw Mary slicing garlic to put on a chili dog should've warned me.  
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian January 10
    Hi everyone!   Kind of sad tonight.  Put my cousins, Tatiana and Domi on a plane for Hawaii.   I really love them and they are really good kids.  Funny, I am calling girls who are 25 and 24 kids.  Wow, I am getting old.   They get to spend two weeks in Hawaii, laying in the sun, then two weeks in Australia before going back home to South Africa.  They get to see the world.  Started out at home, flew to Brazil to see their grandparents (my aunt and uncle), then they got to see Disney World, Disneyland, snow, a casino and the Golden Gate Bridge and then Hawaii and the land down under.  I wish I could go with them, I have not been to Hawaii in a long time and I love it there.  

    But, Chris and I have been golfing a lot so that is good.  The weather has been great and I am getting some color.  Usually in the winter, I get pale.   But not this winter!   We are still working on the turkey Chris made for dinner on Saturday.   He made it Cajun style and it tasted great.   A turkey sandwich does sound good.  

    Also sad that Drake goes back to school on Monday.   He was only home for a little over a month.   I will probably be a bother for the girls when he goes to school.  Sometimes I think they hate me when I get all want to be is their best friend.   I have to get some friends who do not have lives like me.   Yay!  Chris says he is making a fire in our bedroom later.   He must have figured out I was sad and knows that a fire will cheer me up.   I wish there was something good on tv on Tuesday, but after Chopped and that new Tim Allen show, there is nothing to watch.   I might even go downstairs and watch a Japanese cartoon with Chris and Paula.   Katja and Drake are playing some Zelda game.   I never liked the Zelda games, but they say I am old and do not know anything about video games.  This is kind of sad that I have to watch some stupid Japanese cartoon so I do not go to sleep too early.  
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian January 16
    Hi, again.   Drake went back to school this morning and I am sad.   But, as usual, he forgot some stuff.   He left his cooling pad for his laptop, the remote for his tv and the tool/knife thing he had to have for Xmas.   So, he has to come home this weekend.   Plus, he has to do his taxes and the woman who does our taxes will do his for fun.  Hey, we keep her busy.   Our taxes probably take up three or four weeks of her time alone and there is Paula's taxes which are really tricky.   Katja and Drake should be easy and they probably could do them on Turbo Tax, but I do not trust doing the taxes on the computer.  

    We froze our butts off golfing today.   The only good thing was that I got to work on judging the wind.  Shot a 74 and a 77, but the wind got really bad in the afternoon.   Chris did pretty good before the cold started to bother his shoulder.  He shot a 80 and had two pars in the first three holes in our second round when he gave up.  A friend of ours wants us to go to a course in a place called Murphys where they have a par-60 course.   That could be fun and quick.  

    We are watching that new show, Alcatraz.  It is kind of starting slow.   Last night, I was passing by Chris's office with a bowl of popcorn to watch Desperate Housewives and there are Paula and Katja bawling over a cartoon.   I was interested, so they started it over for me and even though I only saw the last episode, I was crying too.   Those things are definitely not Scooby Doo.   I asked Chris if he had see it and he said he had and it got to him, too.  It is called Angel Beats and we are going to watch the whole thing tomorrow, but only after we get a case of Kleenex.  He has this stack of DVD's he calls Kleenex Cartoons and he bets I cannot get through them without crying.   I have a feeling he is right.   

    Oh yeah!   Chris must have been surfing the Disney site because a box full of Winnie the Pooh stuffies were sitting at our front door when we got home.   I even got a new Kanga and Roo, my favorites.  Paula glommed onto Piglet, so I will never see that one again.  Maybe I am the one who needs to grow up.  Between my Winnie the Pooh thing and my love for Beauty and the Beast, I am not acting my age either.  Time for a hot chocolate and an apple.  Night everyone. 
  • jamesmir11jamesmir11 January 19
    It was a rather eventful day at UC Riverside today. Very fun, and eye-opening. 
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz January 22
    jamesmir11 said:

    It was a rather eventful day at UC Riverside today. Very fun, and eye-opening. 



    The kid told me about that.  At least the protesting was non-violent.   
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz January 22
    My kid is an idiot.  There, I said it.  Today, he calls me in a state of agitation because he got an e-mail from BofA saying his account is below x amount of dollars.  Now, me and the missus know what was in his account when he left for college and there is no way he could've gone through x amount of dollars in one week.   But, before I wear out the ear of some poor account rep at BofA, I ask the boy if he made any big purchases.   Crime solved.   See, next fall, the boy and five of his friends are renting a house and they got together and decided they needed furniture for said house.    Keep in mind, they haven't rented the house or anything that logical, but they somehow convinced the boy to purchase a living room set (all leather) and a 56" tv with stand for next September.    

    After counting down from ten to avoid questioning the boy's intelligence or common sense, I asked, "Why?"  His reply was that the stuff was on sale - like he would know a sale from the regular price - and two, they thought it would be cool.   More questions followed like what are you going to do with it until September?   Why are you buying new furniture for a college flophouse?  Are they going to kick in to pay for this largesse?   Three straight I don't knows got me to tell him to cancel the purchase and we will handle his furniture needs like we decided last month.   

    He gave me the speech about him being an adult - I almost lost it laughing - and it is his money and he should be able to do with it what he pleases.   Poor, poor deluded fool.   I explained if we played it that way, he can pay for his tuition, books, food, etc....   His comeback was that if he could get into his savings, he could do that.   Again, for his own good, I explained that money is for when he is older and, I hope, more wiser with money.   The short of it is that he says we treat him like a baby (well deserved), he doesn't get to do anything he wants (goes back to the baby line) and he will look bad in front of his friends.   I asked if he preferred me and his mother showing up on his doorstep and explaining the facts of life to them, too.   Boy hit backdown mode is record time.  

    I am truly dreading the day when he moves into this house - which I think I will be renting because I can't see anyone renting a house to six college students on their say so - and the arguing that will happen when me and his mother provide the furniture - all used and fireproofed - and the necessities.   I am equally scared of the idea of moving to Merced so that his mother can make sure that he doesn't burn down a house.   I wish my kid came with a common sense chip, it would make things easier. 
  • jamesmir11jamesmir11 January 23
    grabarkewitz said:

    My kid is an idiot.  There, I said it.  Today, he calls me in a state of agitation because he got an e-mail from BofA saying his account is below x amount of dollars.  Now, me and the missus know what was in his account when he left for college and there is no way he could've gone through x amount of dollars in one week.   But, before I wear out the ear of some poor account rep at BofA, I ask the boy if he made any big purchases.   Crime solved.   See, next fall, the boy and five of his friends are renting a house and they got together and decided they needed furniture for said house.    Keep in mind, they haven't rented the house or anything that logical, but they somehow convinced the boy to purchase a living room set (all leather) and a 56" tv with stand for next September.    


    After counting down from ten to avoid questioning the boy's intelligence or common sense, I asked, "Why?"  His reply was that the stuff was on sale - like he would know a sale from the regular price - and two, they thought it would be cool.   More questions followed like what are you going to do with it until September?   Why are you buying new furniture for a college flophouse?  Are they going to kick in to pay for this largesse?   Three straight I don't knows got me to tell him to cancel the purchase and we will handle his furniture needs like we decided last month.   

    He gave me the speech about him being an adult - I almost lost it laughing - and it is his money and he should be able to do with it what he pleases.   Poor, poor deluded fool.   I explained if we played it that way, he can pay for his tuition, books, food, etc....   His comeback was that if he could get into his savings, he could do that.   Again, for his own good, I explained that money is for when he is older and, I hope, more wiser with money.   The short of it is that he says we treat him like a baby (well deserved), he doesn't get to do anything he wants (goes back to the baby line) and he will look bad in front of his friends.   I asked if he preferred me and his mother showing up on his doorstep and explaining the facts of life to them, too.   Boy hit backdown mode is record time.  

    I am truly dreading the day when he moves into this house - which I think I will be renting because I can't see anyone renting a house to six college students on their say so - and the arguing that will happen when me and his mother provide the furniture - all used and fireproofed - and the necessities.   I am equally scared of the idea of moving to Merced so that his mother can make sure that he doesn't burn down a house.   I wish my kid came with a common sense chip, it would make things easier. 


    I was absolutely no different and in fact, probably worse. Man, I can't count the monetary mistakes that I've made. I learned the hard way, and my parents weren't as nice as you are. I had to figure it out on my own. I did, but it definitely hurt a lot. 
  • jamesmir11jamesmir11 January 23
    jamesmir11 said:


    grabarkewitz said:

    jamesmir11 said:

    It was a rather eventful day at UC Riverside today. Very fun, and eye-opening. 



    The kid told me about that.  At least the protesting was non-violent.   


    All I have to say is I wish the state would give the public school system just a bit more funding. That is all. :) 
  • bigblasterbigblaster January 26
    grabarkewitz said:

    My kid is an idiot.  There, I said it.  Today, he calls me in a state of agitation because he got an e-mail from BofA saying his account is below x amount of dollars.  Now, me and the missus know what was in his account when he left for college and there is no way he could've gone through x amount of dollars in one week.   But, before I wear out the ear of some poor account rep at BofA, I ask the boy if he made any big purchases.   Crime solved.   See, next fall, the boy and five of his friends are renting a house and they got together and decided they needed furniture for said house.    Keep in mind, they haven't rented the house or anything that logical, but they somehow convinced the boy to purchase a living room set (all leather) and a 56" tv with stand for next September.    


    After counting down from ten to avoid questioning the boy's intelligence or common sense, I asked, "Why?"  His reply was that the stuff was on sale - like he would know a sale from the regular price - and two, they thought it would be cool.   More questions followed like what are you going to do with it until September?   Why are you buying new furniture for a college flophouse?  Are they going to kick in to pay for this largesse?   Three straight I don't knows got me to tell him to cancel the purchase and we will handle his furniture needs like we decided last month.   

    He gave me the speech about him being an adult - I almost lost it laughing - and it is his money and he should be able to do with it what he pleases.   Poor, poor deluded fool.   I explained if we played it that way, he can pay for his tuition, books, food, etc....   His comeback was that if he could get into his savings, he could do that.   Again, for his own good, I explained that money is for when he is older and, I hope, more wiser with money.   The short of it is that he says we treat him like a baby (well deserved), he doesn't get to do anything he wants (goes back to the baby line) and he will look bad in front of his friends.   I asked if he preferred me and his mother showing up on his doorstep and explaining the facts of life to them, too.   Boy hit backdown mode is record time.  

    I am truly dreading the day when he moves into this house - which I think I will be renting because I can't see anyone renting a house to six college students on their say so - and the arguing that will happen when me and his mother provide the furniture - all used and fireproofed - and the necessities.   I am equally scared of the idea of moving to Merced so that his mother can make sure that he doesn't burn down a house.   I wish my kid came with a common sense chip, it would make things easier. 


    I could tell you where you can buy one.  I can certainly let you figure out where to plug it in.
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz January 26
    bigblaster said:

    grabarkewitz said:

    My kid is an idiot.  There, I said it.  Today, he calls me in a state of agitation because he got an e-mail from BofA saying his account is below x amount of dollars.  Now, me and the missus know what was in his account when he left for college and there is no way he could've gone through x amount of dollars in one week.   But, before I wear out the ear of some poor account rep at BofA, I ask the boy if he made any big purchases.   Crime solved.   See, next fall, the boy and five of his friends are renting a house and they got together and decided they needed furniture for said house.    Keep in mind, they haven't rented the house or anything that logical, but they somehow convinced the boy to purchase a living room set (all leather) and a 56" tv with stand for next September.    


    After counting down from ten to avoid questioning the boy's intelligence or common sense, I asked, "Why?"  His reply was that the stuff was on sale - like he would know a sale from the regular price - and two, they thought it would be cool.   More questions followed like what are you going to do with it until September?   Why are you buying new furniture for a college flophouse?  Are they going to kick in to pay for this largesse?   Three straight I don't knows got me to tell him to cancel the purchase and we will handle his furniture needs like we decided last month.   

    He gave me the speech about him being an adult - I almost lost it laughing - and it is his money and he should be able to do with it what he pleases.   Poor, poor deluded fool.   I explained if we played it that way, he can pay for his tuition, books, food, etc....   His comeback was that if he could get into his savings, he could do that.   Again, for his own good, I explained that money is for when he is older and, I hope, more wiser with money.   The short of it is that he says we treat him like a baby (well deserved), he doesn't get to do anything he wants (goes back to the baby line) and he will look bad in front of his friends.   I asked if he preferred me and his mother showing up on his doorstep and explaining the facts of life to them, too.   Boy hit backdown mode is record time.  

    I am truly dreading the day when he moves into this house - which I think I will be renting because I can't see anyone renting a house to six college students on their say so - and the arguing that will happen when me and his mother provide the furniture - all used and fireproofed - and the necessities.   I am equally scared of the idea of moving to Merced so that his mother can make sure that he doesn't burn down a house.   I wish my kid came with a common sense chip, it would make things easier. 


    I could tell you where you can buy one.  I can certainly let you figure out where to plug it in.


    Strangely enough, his sister suggested the same thing.   She even showed up at his school, yesterday, to go upside his pointed head.  Saves me having to remove my foot from his backside.   I think I like this, subcontracting my heavy work to the girls when it comes to the boy.  They aren't adverse to getting his attention with a smack to the back of his head and seeing as how I was hoping he would have gotten a clue by now, I note that he pays more attention to what they say because they have zero issue with showing him up in front of his friends.   
  • jamesmir11jamesmir11 January 26
    grabarkewitz said:

    bigblaster said:

    grabarkewitz said:

    My kid is an idiot.  There, I said it.  Today, he calls me in a state of agitation because he got an e-mail from BofA saying his account is below x amount of dollars.  Now, me and the missus know what was in his account when he left for college and there is no way he could've gone through x amount of dollars in one week.   But, before I wear out the ear of some poor account rep at BofA, I ask the boy if he made any big purchases.   Crime solved.   See, next fall, the boy and five of his friends are renting a house and they got together and decided they needed furniture for said house.    Keep in mind, they haven't rented the house or anything that logical, but they somehow convinced the boy to purchase a living room set (all leather) and a 56" tv with stand for next September.    


    After counting down from ten to avoid questioning the boy's intelligence or common sense, I asked, "Why?"  His reply was that the stuff was on sale - like he would know a sale from the regular price - and two, they thought it would be cool.   More questions followed like what are you going to do with it until September?   Why are you buying new furniture for a college flophouse?  Are they going to kick in to pay for this largesse?   Three straight I don't knows got me to tell him to cancel the purchase and we will handle his furniture needs like we decided last month.   

    He gave me the speech about him being an adult - I almost lost it laughing - and it is his money and he should be able to do with it what he pleases.   Poor, poor deluded fool.   I explained if we played it that way, he can pay for his tuition, books, food, etc....   His comeback was that if he could get into his savings, he could do that.   Again, for his own good, I explained that money is for when he is older and, I hope, more wiser with money.   The short of it is that he says we treat him like a baby (well deserved), he doesn't get to do anything he wants (goes back to the baby line) and he will look bad in front of his friends.   I asked if he preferred me and his mother showing up on his doorstep and explaining the facts of life to them, too.   Boy hit backdown mode is record time.  

    I am truly dreading the day when he moves into this house - which I think I will be renting because I can't see anyone renting a house to six college students on their say so - and the arguing that will happen when me and his mother provide the furniture - all used and fireproofed - and the necessities.   I am equally scared of the idea of moving to Merced so that his mother can make sure that he doesn't burn down a house.   I wish my kid came with a common sense chip, it would make things easier. 


    I could tell you where you can buy one.  I can certainly let you figure out where to plug it in.


    Strangely enough, his sister suggested the same thing.   She even showed up at his school, yesterday, to go upside his pointed head.  Saves me having to remove my foot from his backside.   I think I like this, subcontracting my heavy work to the girls when it comes to the boy.  They aren't adverse to getting his attention with a smack to the back of his head and seeing as how I was hoping he would have gotten a clue by now, I note that he pays more attention to what they say because they have zero issue with showing him up in front of his friends.   


    You could go the Red Foreman route. 

    "You are about to read a book that my foot wrote. It's called 'On the road to in your ass'". 
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz February 3
    Anyone want three Brazilian women who cannot get along when there is no one to referee their petty arguments? They come as a set, so no "I will take the tall one or I will take the redhead."   

    This proposal comes after I spent the last four days in Seattle tying up the last loose ends with the firm, boxing up the remainder of my paperwork and collecting the best leather desk chair ever.   Anyway, each night I got an earful from each about how the other two are unreasonable, bitchy and down right mean.   Their arguments ranged from laundry to who is supposed to feed the cats.   I know one thing, this is the last time I leave them to their own devices.   

    The only fun I had was going on a shopping spree at Sweet Kitty, my favorite anime store in Seattle.  Had a huge shopping list, so had to make two trips.   At least the girls were happy when I arrived, loaded with iPhone covers, J-Pop and some cosplay outfits.  I know one thing, if I catch Paula wearing the Faye Valentine outfit she had to have, out in public, there will be trouble.  I am going to miss that place, but thanks to the internet, I am only a keystroke or six away from a Nami model from One Piece.   Yep, I really need to get an adult hobby. 


  • SaxgodSaxgod February 4
    Odd question but does anyone know much about growing ginseng? I now am working 12 hour graves in the hole that is Fellows, CA and need some way to stay awake. I can't bring books or a laptop or anything so I think herbal remedies are about my last/only real choice.
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz February 4
    Saxgod said:

    Odd question but does anyone know much about growing ginseng? I now am working 12 hour graves in the hole that is Fellows, CA and need some way to stay awake. I can't bring books or a laptop or anything so I think herbal remedies are about my last/only real choice.



    I don't know how much ginseng it has, but the girls swear by this stuff called ABB Performance Teas.  They order it over amazon.com and it is not too expensive, but it works for them when they do the all night video game runs.   I know that Paula has it in her office at work because she says that sometimes her job can be as boring as a political debate.  I think the reason they like it is because it is sugar free and it actually tastes like tea mixed with fruit, unlike Red Bull which tastes like soapy water to me.  
  • blulyd February 12
    I just finished watching Moneyball again, I really want him as our General Manager. Oh, I don't mean Billy Bean, I want Brad Pitt.
  • bigblasterbigblaster February 12
    A secret toes and I have known since Christmas:

    Thanks to The Boy and Mrs. Boy...

    ...we're going to be grandparents this summer!
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian February 12
    Hi everyone!  Watching that worst cook show on the Food Network and I thought I was a bad cook.  Wow, some of these people are really scary because they cannot even make eggs or pancakes.   I was going to watch the Grammy's but I think it will be all about Whitney Houston and I do not think she has done anything good in twenty years.  

    I turned a year older on Friday....it really sucks.   I noticed, well Chris noticed, that I am getting more gray hair and my back has been sore for the last week.   Paula thinks my back problem is that I have been not exercising as much.   She is right, I have been lazy for the last couple weeks.   I think some of it is missing Drake and the other thing is that I have been fighting the sneezes for the last five days.  Everytime I sneeze, everyone laughs.   Chris says my sneeze is so tiny that he can barely hear it.   I do not know what he is talking about, whenever I sneeze I almost hurt myself. 

    Like I said, Friday sucked.  The girls gave me birthday cards that said I was older than dirt and other mean things.   43 is not really that old, but they think it is.  Chris was nice though.   He took me out for breakfast and then we had dinner at a really nice place in San Francisco.  I mostly got clothes for my birthday.  Drake bought me a couple sweatshirts from his college and Katja found a couple nice sweaters for me.  Paula gave me a nice bracelet and Chris found me a neat fedora - I look really good in hats - and some really killer earrings.  

    I am probably done boring everyone.  Paula offered to make dinner tonight and she is on a curry everything kick.   Her Curry Chicken is way too spicy.   I am hoping that her Curry meatloaf is not as spicy, my tongue is still on fire from last Sunday's dinner.  It does smell good and she is making her cheesy squash and tomato bake that is very good.  We still have some birthday cake left, so I will be having a nice big slice later.  Time for Iron Chef America.  
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian February 12
    bigblaster said:

    A secret toes and I have known since Christmas:


    Thanks to The Boy and Mrs. Boy...

    ...we're going to be grandparents this summer!


    Yay, Blaster and Linda!   I am so happy for you guys.   
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian February 12
    Yay for Drake!  He just texted me from college.  His baseball team played three games down at a place called Antelope Valley and he had three hits today.   I guess that is good.   He got hit on the wrist yesterday and could not play after that, but he put some Icy Hot on it and was able to play today.  He is now on the phone with his dad about what happened.  Chris says he was supposed to pitch but he could not throw because his right wrist was still sore.   He is coming home next week and needs a new glove.  Something called a first base mitt, I think.  

    Okay, Chris is now telling me Drake had three singles and he got two runs.   He says his knee is also sore because he had to slide into a base and it got all cut.  I hope we can make it for his next games.  I wanted to go, but we would have had to drive all night Friday to get to the games.  I really miss watching him play baseball even though I am still kind of clueless about the game.  Even Katja knows more about baseball then me and Paula thinks she knows as much as Drake and Chris.  Football is only six months away...thank God. 
  • arbfuldodger February 12
    Congrats to Grampy BB & Grandma Toes!!
    Whatever they were doing, Dad was winning
  • BluePastorKyleBluePastorKyle February 13
    bigblaster said:

    A secret toes and I have known since Christmas:


    Thanks to The Boy and Mrs. Boy...

    ...we're going to be grandparents this summer!


    Congrats!
    Kyle
    CrossRoads
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz February 18
    Boy hit a bicycle last night.  No one was on said bike as it appears that it dropped off a vehicle right in front of the boy.   Anyhow, he needs a new front bumper and the handlebars punched a hole in his radiator.  He is not a happy camper.   Luckily, he had the sister with him as he wanted to put his foot up the backside of the driver of the other vehicle.  From what I understand, the fool had the bike tied to the back of his vehicle and the rope came untied.   I think if I had been there, I would've considered losing my foot in the clown's backside also.  

    The short of it, the kid cannot sue for damages to his ride because he is supposed to be aware of idiots on the road and the chance of them losing crap off of their vehicles.   This is one of the times I wish we didn't live in California, way too many laws to protect the stupid in this freakin' state. 
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz February 27
    Spent the weekend in Merced watching the kid play ball.   His first two games were pretty good.  Game one on Saturday, he went 3-4 with two singles and triple off of the fence in right center.   The only bad part is when he came in to pitch an inning with his team down 8-7, he proceeded to walk six straight hitters.   I think he threw a grand total of five strikes and it was just frightening to watch as he was wild everywhere.    The funny thing is that he played third for the first six innings and made four plays from third to first with no problems.   

    Game two on Sunday was better.   He had three more hits and drove home three runs on a double, single and a solo homer, but when he had a chance to tie the game, he hit into a check swing double play.   He played first in this game and made one great play on a diving stop and nailing a kid at second, but he also dropped a pop up behind first that scored two runs (there were two outs at the time).  

    Game three was the game that nightmares are made of.   His first play at third, he threw a sure double play grounder into the dirt and only managed to get one - that opened the floodgates for a five run inning.   His first at bat was equally bad, he popped one up to second base and didn't run...sure enough the second baseman dropped the pop up and still had time to get the kid at first.   Next at bat, he walked and stole second base, but tried to take third on a pitch in the dirt and got thrown out at third.   Third at bat, he reached on a single to center and managed to score in front of a home run, but with the game tied at five, he pulled a Bill Buckner at first when he missed a grounder with two outs in the eighth allowing the go ahead run to score.   His glove traveled nearly as far as the ball that he missed.   He almost got redemption when he led off the ninth with a deep fly ball to left center, but it died about three feet from the fence.  Three close games and three losses.

    At least the games were more competitive than the set they had against the same team, last year.   At least he went yard and his sister lost her mind.  She got the homer on her phone and tried to put it on youtube, but she has to fix the resolution issue.  She also got the Billy Buckner moment.  There was a pretty funny moment in the second game.  There was a close play at first and it looked like our runner was safe because the kid covering first looked like he was a foot from the base.   While the coach argued the call, Paula yelled at the ump that she could show the ump how he futzed up the call on her cell phone.   

    Not bad for a weekend away from home, the hotel rooms weren't bad, buying dinner for the kid, his five roommates and the womenfolk wasn't bad, but having to speak to two of the kid's roommates about trying to chat up the girls was a trying moment.   Sorry, boys, but you need to be housebroken before you can chat up the girls.  
  • shmolnickshmolnick February 27
    Yes, that WAS Ned Colletti you saw at the Academy Awards last night. At one point early on, they panned the audience and captured a bunch of Hollywood celebrities and there he was - our own Ned Colletti in the audience.
  • ThrowdeuceThrowdeuce February 27
    shmolnick said:

    Yes, that WAS Ned Colletti you saw at the Academy Awards last night. At one point early on, they panned the audience and captured a bunch of Hollywood celebrities and there he was - our own Ned Colletti in the audience.


    Maybe trying to get Moneyball 2 made, this one focusing on how to build a team with never was and has beens with no upside.
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz February 27
    shmolnick said:

    Yes, that WAS Ned Colletti you saw at the Academy Awards last night. At one point early on, they panned the audience and captured a bunch of Hollywood celebrities and there he was - our own Ned Colletti in the audience.



    That makes sense.   In an industry that lives on fiction and make-believe, Ned would fit in perfectly.  
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian March 4
    Hi everyone!   Really happy day for me.   Back when we moved here, I saw this house with a brick wall around it and two gates.   It has a slate roof and a huge circle drive way with palm trees and a guest house and all that.  It was my dream house, but it never was for sale.   Then, two weeks ago, I saw a for sale sign in front and after begging Chris like I never begged before, I talked him into buying it.   It was not as expensive as we thought, but first we had to get a buyer for the house we have now.   Our house has been on the market for over a year and no real offers, but on Friday, we got an offer that was pretty good and we took it.  So, yesterday Chris and I spoke to the realtor and the owner of my dream house and made him the offer.   He took it so fast we were wondering what was wrong with the house.   

    Nothing is wrong with the house, but the guy who owns it is close to eighty and he has no kids.  The house is just too big for him and the only reason he had not sold it before is because his wife was still alive, but she passed away a couple months ago.   The house is kind of old, but it is amazing.  Marble floors downstairs, a huge kitchen, a six car garage, swimming pool and this great balcony off of the master bedroom.   There are some bad parts.   It is on a busy street.  I guess it used to be a country road, but when the town got big, they made it a four lane street.  The place needs a landscaper to keep it up because of all of the palm trees and shrubs and pool needs a lot of work because the owner kind of let it go.  I cannot wait to move in, I just hope it is soon.  

    Then today, we went to our storage to get some of Drake's old baseball stuff to donate to the local little league and while we were there, we saw this parade of wild turkeys walking outside the fence.  There were a dozen of them with this huge tom leading the way.  He showed off his feathers every other step.  I wish I had my phone, but I left it at home and by the time Chris and Paula got there, they were in the back of the storage trying to find her rollerblades, the turkeys were too far away to get a good picture.  Paula took a couple, but she and Katja went rollerblading and I have to wait until she gets home to see if we can see anything.   I wish I could rollerblade, it would be a great day to do it.  But I am too old to get skinned knees.  It is really warm out and everyone is wearing shorts.  

    The best part of this house is the street, though.  Right now, we live on Shumardi Oak Court and I do not know what a shumardi oak is and I have to always ask Chris how to spell it, so moving to Hillcrest Avenue will be easier for me to spell and say.   Now, I have to sneak away and find some girl scouts because Chris really deserves some Dosey-Dos and Samoas for his good deed.  Talk to you guys later.   Oh wait, Kyle, how is Jake doing?  Chris says he keeps on meaning to ask but it seems like everyday he is taking care of some crisis with his family or with us.   Like on Monday when Katja locked her purse and keys in her car or last Sunday when I put a dent in his old blue truck when I got mad and slammed my door open on my car.  I really scratched the paint and made a huge dent.  It was kind of funny because I could tell that Chris was counting to ten before he got mad and then he started laughing because he won a bet with Katja on who would put the first dent in his old blue truck.  She thought it would be Paula because she always parks her car next to the truck in the garage, but on the day this happened, she was out shopping and I was pissed about some salesperson trying to treat me like a dumb girl because I was trying out putters.   Told him to shove his store up his backside and I could kick his ass on the course any day he wanted.  I need to work on my temper.  There were kids in the store and everything.  Okay, I really got to go.  Bye now.  
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz March 16
    Mary and Katja got their iPad Revolution or whatever they are calling it. They had fun camping out in front of the Apple Store with about sixty or seventy other people. They are fairly wired - coffee and Hershey bars will do that.

    I gather from their excited tones that the store only had eighty to a hundred of the devices. Too bad for those folks who wanted to sleep in their own beds.

    It is pretty slick but I have enough devices to play with to not add another. Those two are already making plans for another camp out when the iPhone 5 comes out.
  • MatthewMatthew March 16
    How's the screen on the new iPad, Torgy?  By all accounts, it's supposed to be incredible.  I just might bite on one.  
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz March 16
    Matthew said:

    How's the screen on the new iPad, Torgy?  By all accounts, it's supposed to be incredible.  I just might bite on one.  



    It is like looking at the best hi-def screen ever and the thing is surprisingly light. That is when I got to touch it.
  • bigblasterbigblaster March 17
    grabarkewitz said:

    Matthew said:

    How's the screen on the new iPad, Torgy?  By all accounts, it's supposed to be incredible.  I just might bite on one.  



    It is like looking at the best hi-def screen ever and the thing is surprisingly light. That is when I got to touch it.


    At least you've seen it.  1st time I've missed a rollout since I started working for Apple in 2005.  Not complaining: Still have two days of vacation left.
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz March 17
    bigblaster said:

    grabarkewitz said:

    Matthew said:

    How's the screen on the new iPad, Torgy?  By all accounts, it's supposed to be incredible.  I just might bite on one.  



    It is like looking at the best hi-def screen ever and the thing is surprisingly light. That is when I got to touch it.


    At least you've seen it.  1st time I've missed a rollout since I started working for Apple in 2005.  Not complaining: Still have two days of vacation left.


    Nearly lost the hand touching the thing, though.  Herself actually growled at me when I picked it up.   She has never been one to share her toys in the first place.   I am tempted to buy my own, even though I told myself I did not need more toys like this.    Then again, if I buy anymore iPhone covers, I will be able to put a new one on the device for each day of the month.   
  • thebrazilianthebrazilian March 26
    Hi, everyone!   I did not realize I have been away for so long.  We have been so busy the last few weeks.  I am probably making Chris crazy with my everyday asking about the new house.   I was hoping we could move in April but it looks like May now because we had to get some money out of Chris's retirement account.   It will take them about six weeks to get the money to us and we are still waiting for the people who are buying our house to get everything done.   So, I am really kind of worked up.  

    The girls and Drake dragged us to see the Hunger Games Friday morning.  Wow was it cold out there waiting in line.  Lucky for us, Katja had bought tickets for the first showing, so we only had to stand outside for an hour and a half.   We brought blankets and hot cocoa, but it was still freezing.  I really liked the movie even though I was the only one who had not read the book.   It was not too bloody, but with all the teenage girls in the theater, I think that was a good idea.   

    It was funny when they started showing the trailers.  One was for that Abraham Lincoln movie and when it said it was from that great book, all of these kids were surprised and that is when Paula yelled out "Read a damn book, you morons!".   I spit my drink all over the seat in front of me.  I really think that Paula does not like kids much.   The only bad thing was that I am still sleep messed up from that night.  We did not get to bed until almost five in the morning and I really felt bad for Paula because she had to go to work at six so she did not get to sleep until Friday night.   The rest of us slept most of the day on Friday and I am still messed up because last night I did not go to bed until four in the morning and I am not even close to tired yet tonight.  

    Not much else to talk about, Drake is home for Spring Break, Paula said she is going to try to get some sleep and Katja is playing some video game called Mass Effect.  Last I saw Chris, he was watching some Japanese movie called Battle Royal.    He made a cool dinner tonight.   He made homemade fettuncini alfredo with homemade noodles and sauce.   He put Italian sausage and green peppers in it.  It was so good, I am thinking about having a plate of the leftovers right now. 

    I hope everyone is doing good and I am looking forward to baseball right now.  I think I might sit with Chris when he is talking with you guys during the game.  Time to watch Iron Chef America.  Night everyone. 
  • bigblasterbigblaster March 30
    Today, we found out that the future grand baby will be a grandson!
  • arbfuldodger March 30
    bigblaster said:

    Today, we found out that the future grand baby will be a grandson!



    Congrats BB & Toes!

    Now batting for the 2032 Los Angeles Dodgers .... Lil' Blaster!
    Whatever they were doing, Dad was winning
  • bigblasterbigblaster March 30
    arbfuldodger said:

    bigblaster said:

    Today, we found out that the future grand baby will be a grandson!



    Congrats BB & Toes!

    Now batting for the 2032 Los Angeles Dodgers .... Lil' Blaster!


    Nice as that would be, the Boy and Mrs. Boy are not Dodger fans (Mike is a Phillie Phan and Dana doesn't care about baseball--NY Jets fan), so I doubt that would be the career path.

    I have offered to help name the kid:  My first effort was "Thor God of Thunder Guernsey," which was rejected flat out.  I then suggested "Bruce Wayne Guernsey", to give the kid something to strive for, until it occurred to me that, given Batman's parents' violent end, probably wouldn't go over well with them.  I told Mike he should name the lad after two of HIS literary heroes of his youth: "Beavis Stimpy Guernsey."  He hasn't replied, so I think he's considering it.  If not, I'm next going to suggest a name that, face it, isn't seen as much as in the past:  "Zardoz Guernsey."

    So, the upshot is, apparently the opinions of the grandparents don't carry as much weight as I would have guessed.
  • grabarkewitzgrabarkewitz March 30


    bigblaster said:

    arbfuldodger said:

    bigblaster said:

    Today, we found out that the future grand baby will be a grandson!



    Congrats BB & Toes!

    Now batting for the 2032 Los Angeles Dodgers .... Lil' Blaster!


    Nice as that would be, the Boy and Mrs. Boy are not Dodger fans (Mike is a Phillie Phan and Dana doesn't care about baseball--NY Jets fan), so I doubt that would be the career path.

    I have offered to help name the kid:  My first effort was "Thor God of Thunder Guernsey," which was rejected flat out.  I then suggested "Bruce Wayne Guernsey", to give the kid something to strive for, until it occurred to me that, given Batman's parents' violent end, probably wouldn't go over well with them.  I told Mike he should name the lad after two of HIS literary heroes of his youth: "Beavis Stimpy Guernsey."  He hasn't replied, so I think he's considering it.  If not, I'm next going to suggest a name that, face it, isn't seen as much as in the past:  "Zardoz Guernsey."

    So, the upshot is, apparently the opinions of the grandparents don't carry as much weight as I would have guessed.


    So true. The kids just don't get the classics. When Paula got preggers (the short time it lasted) I suggested Clutch Cargo Reis. I was told to keep my suggestions to myself. Although, I did raise an eyebrow when she suggested naming the imp after me. Told her that would be too cruel to any child.

    By the by, congrats on the future grandson. Just don't do what I did when the kid was born and slip a baseball glove into his crib. Nurses raised Holy Hell on me for that.
  • SamAdamsSamAdams March 30
    Catchers Mitts are safer at that age.

    We almost adopted a second dog (long story) and I wanted to name him Drysdale. (Our real dog is named Sandy.)  My wife suggested O'Malley.  He was a Welsh Terrier, so it would have fit.

    There you have it, Blaster...Drysdale O'Malley Guernsey.
  • bigblasterbigblaster March 30
    SamAdams said:

    Catchers Mitts are safer at that age.


    We almost adopted a second dog (long story) and I wanted to name him Drysdale. (Our real dog is named Sandy.)  My wife suggested O'Malley.  He was a Welsh Terrier, so it would have fit.

    There you have it, Blaster...Drysdale O'Malley Guernsey.


    Works for me, but here again, I'm thinking they'd disallow all the Dodgers references.  More likely, given their fan interests, it would be something like "Utley Sanchez Guernsey."  I ALMOST said "Utley Tebow Guernsey" but they are completely honked off over Timbo's trade.  This shows they are legitimate Jets fans and not just fair-weather fans.
  • bigblasterbigblaster March 30
    BTW, I hope you all understand that it should go without saying that I would have been equally happy with a granddaughter. We are celebrating the milestone of knowing the sex.  I would have welcomed little "She-Ra Elvira Guernsey" into the Blaster clan.
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