A conversation between Fozzie and Cubby

Characters:

Fozzie as Old Man Dog (OMD)

Cubby as Young Pup (YP)

Scene:

Living room, Fozzie on couch, Cubby in playpen

YP:  OK, the two-legged non-furry ones are gone.  Let's find the trash

OMD:  (Yawns) sounds like fun but you are surrounded by a metallic fence

YP:  Damn my lack of opposable thumbs
OMD:  Sucks to be you
YP:  Last I sniffed, you don't have thumbs either
OMD:  But I'm not stuck in a playpen
YP:  Despite all my rage, I am still just a dog in a cage
OMD:  It's "rat" and this is a family blog, no plagiarism
YP: (Sung, or more likely, howled) nobody knows the troubles I have seen
OMD:  Keep the whelping down you whippersnapper, trying to take a nap here
YP:  You're always napping
OMD:  I need a nap from my nap
YP:  Don't you want to go out and run, to chase imaginary rabbits, to dig, to get into the garbage, to romp like a banshee!

OMD:  And that's why you're in a cage
YP:  Don't you yearn to be free, to feel the wind in your fir, to sniff strangers' crotches
OMD: Freedom is overrated.  i'll take my daily square meals and this comfy couch, and the occasional crotch
YP:  That's it?  isn't there more to life than sleeping and eating dry kibble?
OMD:  Mmmmm, kibble.  Yeah, there's doggie treats too
YP:  I'm talking about the big picture - a supreme furry being
OMD:  You mean like Snoopy?
YP:  I was thinking more like Pluto
OMD: I don't believe in DOG
YP:  Huh?
OMD:  Sorry, I'm dyslectic agnostic
YP: But why are we here?  dammit man answer me!
OMD: First of all, don't call me "man".  I wouldn't want to be of the two-leggeds.
YP:  Why not?
OMD:  Well, you know how we lick ourselves?
YP:  Yeah, because we can!
OMD:  Exactly.  very few of the humans can do this.  and they work for cirque du soleil
YP:  Whatever that is
OMD: And B, we are here because we were bred
YP: Bread?  white or wheat?
OMD:  In your case, toast.
YP: Buttered?
OMD: Like your picky.  i've seen what you've scarfed out of the garbage
YP:  Mmmmm, garbage
OMD:  No, I mean bred, like, we were born to be pets for the tall folk
YP:  Like an animal in the zoo!
OMD:  Only with better benefits
YP:  But if we're no better than fish in a bowl, how do we know if we matter?
OMD:  Latro ergo sum
YP:  (Scratches behind his ear)
OMD:  I bark, therefore I am.  Does that answer your question?
YP:  Ahhh, that's the spot (still scratching)
OMD:  Fine, then don't ask me questions if you don't want the answers (yawns)

YP:  Fine.  How 'bout us dogs play some poker?

OMD:  zzzzzzzzz

A day in the life in SLO

Woke up.  Got out of bed.  Dragged a crapmeat omelet down my gullet.  Off to the wineries and a taste before noon.  Enjoyed a nice viognier.  Took the dogs to a dog beach in Pismo.  Cubby took to it like a water dog out of water, romping like a banshee or a whirling dervish.  The Fozz was showing his age.  Hot Tub.  Off to cocktails, sunset and dinner.  Thank you wifey.

Argument for California

Took a ride up the coast today. Just magnificent. Once we passed Oxnard (i just like saying Oxnard), the coastal highway is breathtaking. Had lunch on the ocean in Santa Barbara. That Oprah is onto something. Took the kids, and my lactose intolerant self, for the most ridiculous ice cream cones at McConnells - both places recommended by Giada. And thanks to my wife's non-job job, we will be staying at the Dolphin Bay resort in Pismo Beach for two glorious nights. Did I mention the kids came with. And two dogs. Great resort right on the ocean. And they even give us an ocean sound machine in the room - kinda redundant. Off to dinner. More tomorrow.

My all-time, at their peak, "List" list

So, previously I posted my list of excusable excursions My List, and my Dad says, "Where's Kim Novak?"  My first thought was that I probably didn't want to get with Ms. Novak today.  But, it got me fantasizing thinking about the all time babe greats.  Here is my list, subject to change:

Grace Kelly/Natalie Wood - classy sexy

Catherine Deneuve - intelligent sexy

Ann Margret - dancy sexy

Raquel Welch - caveman sexy

Ava Gardner - plain hot

honorable mentions:


bridgette bardot, adrienne barbeau, farrah, heather locklear

More on Mel the Microwave

Yesterday, we had the microwave finally fixed.  As it turns out, its a magnetron, not magnutron.  An interesting gadget.  But what I find interesting is that, as you can see on the picture to the right, the sticky-out part (technical term) looks totally fried - like the whole microwave was on the verge of spontaneously combusting, releasing a nuclear discharge of, well, microwaves.  Better go check my pantry to see if I can still get in there or if all of our boxes of pop corn have vicariously popped.

And in the "it's always something category," today we had a lady out to estimate trimming back our trees.  A cool $1,080, by the way.  We have 15-20 trees.  But that's not the shocking part.  She believes most of our 9 pine trees are beetle infested and probably can not be saved.  Not only would that be sad for the trees, but would cost way more than a thousand to remove/replace.  I've been on the phone with arborists all day trying to get some tree-age.  More later.

Our first baseball practice was rained out - before it even started to rain.  I still have a 4 hour rules meeting tonight though.  Yay.

On the job front:  sent my resume off into the internet abyss several more times today, frozen dessert is still pursuing me (picture an ice cream chasing me), I am contemplating a return to formal day trading, and I got a lead on a math tutoring gig.

Testing 1-2-3

This post is only a test. If this post had been an actual post, it would have been much more witty. Just checking how blogging from my iPhone works. More later. Stay tuned.

My letter to Joshua

Dear Josh,

My first born.  My prodigy progeny.  My Kunta Kinte.  Carry on-er (with some help from your cousin Sammy) of the Greene family name.  Keeper of the crest, if we had a crest.  With great power, comes great responsibility.  So, I just wanted to share some words of wisdom to guide you on your way.

Always shave with the grain of your future beard.  Cut your losses and let your winners run - never double up.  Don't wear white after labor day, unless you want to.  Never order pizza in a Chinese restaurant - but you knew that.  And don't walk through screen doors - you'll strain yourself.

Enough of the wisdom.  Because the truth is, that you're an amazing, super-intelligent, handsome and charming boy.  I couldn't be more proud of you.  From the moment you made your entrance into the world, eyes wide, taking it all in, wondering what all of the hullaballoo was about, watching how your mind works has been thrilling.  You absorb everything and know more than any 10 year old should know.  But there's so much more to learn.  You're very intense, often going through your obsessive phases.  Relax and enjoy.  Think a lot.  Figure out your moral compass and stay true to it.  Learn what you love so that you may love what you do.

I've loved that, through hard work and lots of education, I was fortunate (very) to be able to stay home and watch you and your sister grow up.  You've had a very special life so far - material things, fantastic vacations, nice homes in nice locations, your sister and your dogs.  I hope you can learn to appreciate these things because you've got it better than 99% of all the other kids out there.

 I know that being a stay at home Dad may not have set the best example for you, because someday too soon, you'll have to leave the homestead and make your own way.  We ride you hard on your homework and not as hard as we should on your chores (when I was your age, I was mowing the front and back), because we need to instill a work ethic on you somehow.  And if you think being a kid is hard, try being an adult.  The more I know about things, the less I know.

More wisdom:  always be nice and look after your sister.  Someday, she's going to have cute girlfriends that you'll want to date.  And date a lot - that's part of experiencing life and living.  You'll learn what truly makes you happy.  And that's your goal to be happy.  That's what it all comes down to.

Watching you grow up to be the sweet and smart young man that you are makes me happy.  More than words can express.

I love you son,

Dad

p.s.  And Cubby, your dog, is still a pup and sometimes hard to handle, even biting you at times.  But someday, when you're a grown-up, you may realize he was the best friend you didn't even know you had.

Surviving the apocolypse

No, this is not another article about California's biblical weather.  This is about living through another form of the dark ages.  Today is the 60th anniversary of the microwave oven (nee Radarange), thank you Old Man Show.  We have been without our microwave, now known as Mel, for 11 days.  11 DAYS, people.  The withdrawals.  The horrors.  How have we lasted so long, you ask?  Steph has gone so far as to have gone to the gas station to microwave popcorn, twice.  I reheated spaghetti in a frying pan.  Mmmm....fried spaghetti.  Potatoes were cooked in a, gasp, oven.  Oh, the humanity!  Eurocare returns tomorrow with our beloved new magnutron, whatever that is.

Little league has taken up the bulk of my weekend - 2 meetings yesterday and one today.  Positive coaching alliance with a Chris Farley motivational speaker was fairly entertaining.  Safety class talked about concussions, seizures, and impalements.  But strangely, not snake bites.  And today, I have a coaching clinic with the SC HS baseball coach.  This ll stuff is intense.  Working on tuesdays practice plan, weather permitting, prior to a 4 hour rules meeting.

Last night was date night.  We went to Vine in downtown SC.  Food was very flavorful, but pricey.  Had a hearts of romaine salad with tiajuana dressing (otherwise known as Caesar salad), iron steak with frites, and S had the coq au vin - which is French for white man's chicken dinner.

How I Met your Mother

So kids, you're probably wondering how I met your mother.  Well, that's a long story.  Let me go back to the beginning.  I was born in New York.  Well, not that far back.  Over the summer of my 10th year prior to starting 6th grade, we moved to the Chicago suburbs.  All of my new found friends were into girls.  Back in NY, girls still had kooties.  But, I adapted.  That's how I roll.  Anyway, it wasn't until after 6th grade, when I attended Henry Horner day camp, that I meet your Mom.  For 2 years younger than me, she was very sassy.  We didn't exactly hit it off -- although she was very cute.  Besides, if we had gotten married then, you'd be 32 and 35, probably with your own kids.  As it turned out, she was enrolling in the same middle school, Twin Groves, that I was attending.  So we went to middle school and even high school together.  We never got together, however, because even though I had a crush on your Mom, I was too shy and she was too cool for me.  She ran with the Pom Pom girls while my friends strayed on the nerdy side.  So, I went to college in St. Louis and your Mom in Arizona, and we would never see each other again.

Wait, that's not exactly true.  For after college, I returned to Chicago to work and your Mom went to California.  But one bitterly cold October, your Mom came to Chicago to be in her friend Lori's wedding (since divorced).  We ran into each other in a bar near Wrigley Field, called the Gingerman.  We even went for a bite to eat at the Melrose Diner.  Well, even though it was October, a great blizzard came-a romance miracle.  I offered your Mom some boxers, a t-shirt, and a place to stay, utilizing the excuse that she shouldn't drive out to the suburbs in the horrible snowstorm.  I wound up crashing Lori's wedding with your mom.   A 3 month long-distance courtship ensued, before your Mom moved in with me.  And the rest is history.

The week in review

The past 7 days felt like 10 minutes.  Ten minutes underwater.  The rain has not let up.  But on the bright side, the earthquakes and tornados and general world-coming-to-an-end stuff has.  The recent weather, however, is a nice metaphor for how my job search is going.

Today, a dog trapped in a drainage canal was rescued by helicopter.  I'm glad the dog was saved but probably not the best use of our budget-strapped state's tax dollars.

The baseball draft was drafted.  I selected Josh with the pre-requisite third round pick.  I tried to pick Josh's 2 friends - but Nate went right before my pick and Jack was selected, but later decided to play at a lower level.  In a way, this is good as Josh will be forced to make new friends.  Although, he's already threatened to quit baseball prior to our first practice.  All in all, I think I picked a decent team.  Oh, and we're the ASU Sun Devils, which makes Steph happy.  Now, every waking moment of the next three months are spoken for.

Josh had to a cultural project for school--something out of his comfort zone.  So, he decided to try sushi. So we braved a torrential downpour and went to a nice divey local sushi joint.  Jilly feasted on endamame and terriyaki chicken.  Josh ate shrimp (ebi) and tempura shrimp rolls, but still refused to try some tuna nigiri.  Me and Steph stuffed our faces.  $80 later.  The most expensive school project ever.

The landscaping guy came back with his quote today.  $4,600.  That ain't happening.  He had some good ideas though.  As soon as it dries out around here, I'll try to undertake some things on my own.  Keep you posted.

I see a big Maker's Mark in my near future.

My "List" list

When in the course of human relationships, it becomes self-evident that if certain situations arise present themselves, ones actions cannot be helped.  In other words, one is allowed to have a certain "list", subject to change, where if such a person on the list wishes to have a sex with a married person, that married person is both allowed and excused.  So, without further ado, after much, er, soul searching, hear is my fantasy list, subject to change, in no particular order:

• Emmanuelle Chriqui (the chick from Entourage -- google her) - classy sexy
• Jennifer Connelly - intelligent sexy
• Julianne Hough - dancy sexy
• Eliza Dushku - cheerleader sexy
• Meagan Fox - plain hot

And some honorable mentions that may have been on the list but are no longer (but I probably wouldn't kick them out either):  jennifer aniston, heather graham, scarlett johannsen, melissa rycroft, minka kelly

Just another day in paradise

California - the action state.  Motto:  all action, all the time (said in a Schwartzenegger accent).  Today we had hail, flash floods, mudslides, tornados, waterspouts, serious surf, and gusty winds.  Did I mentioned that it rained.  Gotta get going on that ark. UPDATE: We also had an earthquake.  More of the same expected for today.

Also, got rejected by Chase today.  At least they had the courtesy to call.  Thanks.  Decided to go with someone else.  Thanks for nothing.

Off to the little league baseball draft.  To draft Josh or not?

My 5 favorite movies

1.  Afterhours -  Martin Scorcese at his most experimental.  This absurdist story of a man trying to get home while haunted by paperweight bagels rings true for me.  Perhaps, having first watched it while altered in college, I still find this movie fascinating--from the story, the acting, and especially the cinematography.  Like they said at the Globes, the Cecil B. DeMille award should be renamed the Scorcese.  This was a close call over his other movies,  Goodfellas and Casino.  The storytelling, violence, tracking shot into the Copa, and especially his musical tie-ins make Marty the best.

2.  Godfather 2 -  Slight edge over G 1, largely due to DeNiro as the young Don.  Possibly the best storytelling and acting ever.

3.  Reservoir Dogs -  Pulp Fiction or Inglorious Basterds probably could have made this list.  But Dogs is the movie where Tarantino bust onto the scene with some raw chutzpah and a unique cinematic style.

4.  Robin Hood -  The classic, no Kevin Costner, Men in Tights or upcoming Russell Crowe.  The story itself is timeless.  But it's the charisma of Errol Flynn that makes this make the list.  George Clooney, Clark Gable, or Clark Griswold are pale imitations.  And you can't beat the swashbuckling.

5.  Gone with the Wind - pure epic.  Before there were miniseries.  Avatar, rising like a bullet -- might knock this off the list with some time.

Honorable mentions:  avatar, swingers, princess bride, my blue heaven, fiddler, big lebowski

MLK Service Day

It was a cold and wet January morn when the family Greene left their abode.  Their destination:  family volunteer day.  Off to the Aliso Viejo Boys and Girls Club to help scrub tables and chairs, organize books, and be generally helpful.  Fortuitously, the rain prevented outdoor activities such as painting and cleaning picnic tables.  Needless to say, the kids were troopers as they learned valuable values.  We actually finished up over an hour early.  It wasn't all altruistic, however, as we earned passes to Disneyland for our efforts.

Later on, we drove up to Woodland Hills for a television show pitch.  Josh got to play a version of a new game called "Funglish" in front of network execs.  They'll decide if they want to make a tv show out of it for the Discovery Kids network (soon to be renamed HUB).  Josh was awesome, outplaying all the other kids, including 12 & 13 year olds.   Jillie wanted to play so bad.  We'll be buying the home version.

What Jillie calls deodorant:  "armpit shampoo"

And now a short film by Josh:  short film by josh

Blah blah blog

Lazy Sunday.  Slept in.  Sunday papers.  Old man CBS morning show.  Watched old man Favre knock off the annoying Dallas Cowboys.  He's pretty inspirational for an old dude.  Almost made me want to get up off the couch.  But as I told the kids, "I'm sitting here doing nuthin' all day."  Watched the Chargers choke.  There goes my close to home town team to root for.  Played chess with Josh.  Annihilated Josh.  Ate Mcdonald's and had a martini (breakfast of champions) as I watched the Golden Globes.  Lazy Sunday?  I'd say more like mission accomplished.

Josh, while watching the globes,"his name is Kevin Bacon?.....mmmm, bacon!"

Random Jillie quote:  "When I'm 17, will you buy me a long box to keep my memories in?"

Date night

Went out to meet our old neighbors, Alan and Elaine, tonight.  I was excited about the early start to the evening, babysitter at 5:45, because I like me some early bird specials.  Got to the Irvine Spectrum Center at 6:15 and went directly to Javier's -- 2 and a half hour wait.  The mall was jammed.  What recession?  Seriously.  Luckily, we planned ahead and had booked a 6:30 reservation at PF Changs, all with the hopes of making a 7:50 movie.  Well, we got seated 15 minutes late.  The drinks didn't arrive until after the apps were eaten.  And we didn't make our movie.  We were wandering the mall, but I wanted to get home as Josh had phoned us twice to say that the dogs were being maniacs and barking incessantly.  Thus ended date night.

Alan recently started a job at JP Morgan Chase in corporate real estate.  I think he's already looking for the exits as his boss is a nut job and he still has no office or computer.  And he believes that they already over saturated.  But, he said he'd put in a good word for me if he could.  Thanks.

Down Mexico way

Went on vacation today.  Because I can.  Went to Mexico.  Because I can.  Well, not really but we could, if we had a death wish.  Had breakfast in old town San Diego this morning and it sure felt like we were in Mexico.  Coyote cafe.  Hand rolled tortillas.  Cha cha cha music.  Chips. mmm.  Old Town was totally quaint.  Can't believe we had never spent time here during our San Diego stays.

And we drove down the coast which was awesome due to the extraordinarily high surf and tide conditions.  Drove through Cardiff by the Sea, Del Mar, Torrey Pines - Wicked cool.  Can't wait to explore some of these towns and beaches more.

Waiting for Godot

Our microwave blew-up 2 days ago in an extremely loud, fiery explosion -- microwave shrapnel and un-popped Pop Secret popcorn kernels flying in every direction and dimension.   Not really...just sounded more dramatic.  Anywho, waited around all day today for the Eurocare appliance guy.  I didn't know my appliance was European.  Turns out  we need a new flux capacitor MAGNUTRON, which will take 4 business days to order, upon which we will need a secondary appointment with Eurotrash.  The kids are going through popcorn withdrawals.  We are out of stove popped popcorn.

How did we survive growing up without a microwave.  I don't remember life before internet.  Would literally die without Iphone.  Well, not literally...figuratively.  Remember the simpler times....way back...before remote controls(also, used to be a fun mtv show).  We would use our baby brother Justin as the remote (which reminds me:  the battery in our remote died too).  "Justin, Go change the channel".  Justin was loving life when we got our first 2-button remote, that made that twangy clicking sound.  Of course, we only had 4 channels back then...so Justin didn't have to get up too often.  And much to Jillian's dismay, Cartoon Network wasn't one of the 4 channels.  "So, how did you watch Scooby Doo?" she asked.

First the Magutron.  Then the tv remote battery.  It's always something.  At least we have our health.  Oh wait, Jillian stayed home from school today with a cold.  Time to go chillax in front of the TV and eat some popcorn.  D'oh!


Took the dogs in to have their tempers dis'd today.  Cubby at 5.5 months weighs 48 pounds.  Fozzie, at his peak, was 49 lbs.  If Cubster continues to grow through 1 year, that would put him on pace to be 104.7 pounds.  We think he's more likely to broach 60.

Stream of Consciousness

Writer's block.  Block of writers.  Block head.  Charlie Brown.  Ruth Brown.  Babe Ruth.  Babe the pig.  Bacon.  And eggs.  Ham and eggs.  Ham and cheese.  Cheese pizza.  Pizza pie.  Apple pie.  Pineapple.  Pine tree.  Pine Top Perkins.  Tree top.  Top dog.  Hot dog.  Chili dog.  Chili fries.  Fries and a Coke.  Coke and a smile.  Smile and wave.  Tidal wave.  Big surf.  Taco Surf.  Surfer Dude.  Uncle Dude.  The Dude.  Big Lebowski.  Big Bird.  Birdland.  Jungleland.  Lunchlady land.  Legoland.  Lego block.  Block of writers.  Writer's block.

Josh in legos

Things on my desk

Gnome, gnome on the....er, desk.  Please enjoy the following brief tour of things on my desk.  My gnome Ernie, no not the Travelocity Roaming one, is here to keep me company until baseball season returns - 82 days until opening day.  Camera wire in the lower right to upload pictures of Ernie.  Blank dvd-r's to make me seem techy/geeky.  Gary the gargoyle to ward off evil spirits and protect Ernie.  And my inbox, featuring a lovely present presented to mwa by my lovely bride to be utilized in the near future....a segway tour of Balboa peninusla.  Pretty cool, right....and that's only the right side of my desk.

Met with a landscape guy today to see what overhauling my yard would involve.  Anybody want to make a guess?  We'll see what the numbers come in at.

Had a very good interview at Chase bank today.  I was reticent to go, based on some one-sided internet boards, but was pleasantly surprised.  The ladies of SC liked me enough to send me onto their boss in Laguna Hills.  We'll see.  Oh, the dessert people want me and S to fly out to Tennessee.  Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be.

The wife ran over Josh's new bicycle today.  That didn't take long.  At least Josh wasn't on the bike.

Attended a little league meeting today and got scared straight.  Snakes on the fields.  Parents physically threatening managers.  Meetings out the wazoo.  What have I gotten myself into.  We'll see.

Shout out to my Mom.  Hi Mom.

Cold leftovers

Today, on the continuing saga of searching for employment:   I applied for a cool job at the Irvine Company, found something cooler at Blizzard Entertainment, and after a desperate Facebook cry for help, found a financial lead from a sister of an ex-girlfriend from grade school.  Also, printed a Barnes & Noble application, looked at Mathnasium, ruled out etrade, continued the pursuit of frozen dessert, and played mafia wars.

Also, also - apparently, my microwave is broken - which made for a luke warm dinner.  Better than no dinner.

On religion

amongst a morrow of men

a mystic miss of myth

in mist a maze of miles

amiss armadillos almighty

amen

Double header

Baseball tryouts day 2.  Josh went today.  He was pretty nervous, especially about the fly balls.  He did pretty well - fouled a couple off, made valiant efforts on the flies, fielded cleanly, and ran like a dork.  Here's a question, do I draft his friends or go for the best players?

Digging Vampire Weekend sophomore effort Contra.

Jillian quote:  But wait..............I got nothing.

Jillian quote 2:  I hop for Ihop

Jillian 3:  Every kiss begins with an aardvark

Baseball been berry berry good to me

Spent the day watching other kids try out for little league.  Thousands of 9-11 year olds.  Well, not thousands, but for 5 hours.  It's exhausting.  I've agree to (i.e. suckered into) coaching Josh's team.  So, the kids tryout and next week me and 11 other SC dads will draft them.  I'm not drafting Josh.  No worries...he's automatic to my team.  And the bad news, 5 more hours tomorrow morning...starting at 8.  So much for reading the sunday papers and watching the old man CBS morning show.  It's enough to make me scream like a banshee.

Steph and the kids were much more fortunate today.  They got to spend the day at Laguna Beach.   And the Birdman was there too.  I wish I was the Birdman.

That's a lot of cheddar

Just back from Pandora...again.  Took the kiddos to see it in Imax 3d this time.  Wow that's expensive ($55).  The kids were thrilled by it, though.  I was worried that Jilly might find it too violent, but she was way into the gore.  It was just as good the second time...noticed a few things I missed.  Unobtainium, really, that's the best they could come up with?


Went to the casino this morn....not my best outing, but it was fun.  Trip aces out-kicked and picked a bad time to make an all-in bluff.  At least my GE calls came back from the dead to near break-even.


Just got kicked by a wagon horse in the gut.  I mean I got dinged by Wells Fargo.  Really, couldn't even make it past the HR round?  Not doing anything for my self-esteem.  Back to the drawing board.

Free lunch

Today I met with Fred from the frozen dessert franchise chain for a business lunch at Houston's.  He was basically a franchise guy working for franchise people.  Also, evidently there are other interested parties in the OC area.  Meal was slighlty informative, but I did not get to crunch any numbers yet.  Running my own biz is started to sound a lot more appealing than working in a bank though.  At least lunch was gratis.  No, I didn't have steak.  Still in a meat coma from yesterday's fogo.  Had a chicken ceasar salad with tortilla soup, which was cheesy.  And no, there was no frozen dessert to be had.

Speaking of which, took the kids to Juice It Up, a smoothie place, after school today.  It's right next to a yogurt place, which was fairly empty due to the School Day promotion at the juicy place.  Josh said of his teacher, " She's kind of old, but really lives life....kind of like 'Yes Man'"  Also, his suggestion for a frozen dessert restaurant name - Frozen Wonderland.

Hawk Skewers

Way to go Andre Dawson.  Not sure if you're the most qualified of HOF inductees, but you were sure fun to watch and played your heart out.  You made watching the Flubbies watchable and I'm sure neither of us miss the Expos (one of the most ridiculous ballparks I'd ever visited).


On an aside, Andre sure had the heart but other players had better stats and bigger impacts (McGuire, Sosa, et al).  Yeah, yeah, year...steroids.  A) they weren't illegal at the time, B) they were hitting off pitchers taking the roids, and C) don't tell me old time ball players weren't drinking, coking, taking greenies, etc.  Bonds is quite possibly the greatest ever, with or without the hormones.



My lovely bride, who happens to be a hospitality consultant, took me to Fogo de Chao today for lunch.  Fogo is a Brazillian  churracaria.  No, not a place that sells churros (although churros are a sweet treat), but an all you can eat steakhouse serving 15 types of meat on sticks.  I felt like a screaming banshee in a candy story.  We Chowed until we burst.  Bring on the meat sweats.


Today in the continuing saga of my search for employment:  as you recall, yesterday I mentioned I got an upcoming interview with a local Chase bank branch.  Today I got a corporate email saying that they received my resume and thanks....but no thanks!  I got that email....TWICE!!

Avatarrefic

Just got back from Pandora.  This flick is out of this world. Seriously.  The colors and detail, the flora and the fauna...it's impossible to tell what's CGI and what's not.  The colors rival those from an obscure movie I like, "What dreams may come".  The girl Na'vi was kind of hot.  When Jake rides the Banshees (sp?), it's a wild technocolor dream ride.  The battle scenes will blow my Call of Duty loving son's mind.  


Speaking of Call of Duty, I was playing campaign with Josh last night and got totally sucked in.  To the point of nausea.  Josh is addicted but it allows him to stay in contact with his AZ friends through xbox live.  Graphics are very cool, but it's totally violent.  The airport massacre scene....really?  Really?

Speaking of sick violence, I saw a preview for Piranha 3D today.  Looks wickedly sick.  And fishy.

On the job search front (to boldly seek employment where no me has been employed before -- hopefully, not a five year mission): have a lunch on Thursday re: becoming the OC developer for a dessert chain; also got called for an interview with Chase next week.

On a completely different point, it has come to my attention that KISS has been eligible for the Rock & Roll hall of Fame since 1999 and have not been selected.  Travesty and I'm not even a fan.  May not be the greatest band in any measurably musical way, but they certainly have had a major impact and influence.  I mean ZZ Top, but not Simmons/Stanley/et al.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoy a saccharine Abba song now and again, but they belong in a Pop hall of fame, not the R&R.  Genesis, who also get in, is probably less deserving....but they happen to be one of my favorite bands.  You got to get in to get out....

A day at the beach

Today I renewed my job search with a higher sense of urgency (plus, the kids went back to school today -- freedom, at last).  I am a former stock options market maker, so basically, I am qualified at yelling and waving my arms like a banshee.  Actually, I have an mba, a varied career in commercial banking, trading, and most recently, a stint at helping people with their financial needs while working for Vanguard mutual funds.  Quite frankly, I'm a catch.

Despite this fact, I've already been rejected by the Apple store-after an interview, turned down for a Chik-fil-A franchise, and have not received a single response from PIMCO, a large southern California mutual fund company to which I have applied for multiple jobs.

My only promising lead remaining is at the local Wells Fargo branch, as a personal banker.  So today I sent apps to Chase and Citi.  I sent inquiries to a dessert franchise and to a chicken finger restaurant, which I was rejected from before my email was sent.  Chuck Schwab didn't like me either.

So to celebrate my prospects, I took my wife back to yesterday's beach for a picnic of cold fast food.  It's my new happy place.

And now, a short story by Jillian:  Once upon a time, there was an ugly barnacle.  The end.

Winter break recap

It has been a fun-filled Winter break, over way too quickly.  We took the kids, and Cubby, skiing and sledding for the first time.  Jilly took to it like a fish out of snow - a real natural ski bunny.  There's some mixed metaphors.  Josh didn't like hitting the bumps while sledding.  Both realized sledding is only cool until you have climb back up the hill.  And that's a real life metaphor.  Cubby had his Ugg boots on.

We took a trip to Vegas to visit some AZ friends and my old friend...The Strip.  It was surprisingly cold and windy, which hindered our pre-scheduled outdoor activities.  Circus Circus had a cool indoor amusement park for the kiddies.  Missed seeing City Center.  But the craps table was so money.  Oh, and never, ever stay at the Luxor.  As they said in Up in the Air, "Luxor.  That place is a piece of crap.  Nobody stays there."  Funny but true.

We also traveled back to AZ.  Stayed with my folks (nice hanging with the p's)  and the Westin Kierland, also so money.  Saw some old friends, visited some old haunts:  Over Easy, the new LoLo's Chicken & Waffles, North, and Chik-fil-A.  Was weird seeing our old house with renters living there.

Took Jilly to see Alvin and the Chipmunks today.  She gave it a 10.  Her laugh is priceless, but that's 2 hours of my life I won't get back.  Took Josh to the beach today.  Found my new, new favorite SC beach haunt, subject to change.  The Riv.  Easy access, nice neighborhood, clean, remote, not crowded, free parking, nice little break.

A pupik perspective

Warning to the squeamish.  The following anecdote may be graphic and smelly.

Last summer I had belly button surgery.  No, it was not cosmetic, as my previously existing bellybutton (or BB) was quite adorable.  Not to be cocky...or bellybutton-y.  Anyway is there anything more embarrassing than going into the hospital for BB surgery?  It started with some severe abdominal pains.  I'm not one to rush to the doctor readily.  So, I didn't think anything of it when I was doubled over in pain, unable to stand erect.  It was when the pus started oozing from my BB that I became concerned.  And not just any pus, pretty much the foulest smelling thing that has ever been smelled.  I called it putrescent umbilical essence.

So I went to  a "doctor" who said I was fine and told me to check back in a couple days.  Two days and flowing pus later, I went back.  He sent me for an mri or ultrasound or something, although I assured him I wasn't pregnant.  Well, at the scanny place, they make you drink an un-humanly amount of this vial lemon-scented concoction.  I went in for the scan, and although I am not claustrophobic, I thought I was going to blow chunks.  Well they found a cyst.  So I had it drained, which involved local needles to the abdomen, followed by a larger needle to suck the fluid out.  Not a day at the beach, to say the least.

This led to a hard scab forming, as if I had just had my umbilical cord cut 43 years too late.  This wouldn't have been so bad - if we weren't about to take a family cruise--the aforementioned cruise of doom.  I couldn't really expose my bb to the tropical sun.  Fine.  Cruising along and somewhere on the boat my bb falls off.  There's a hard black, dime-sized scab somewhere on the Carnival Splendor.  Anyway, finally went in for surgery.  Turns out I had an umbilical hernia.  I'm all better now, but I can't say the same for my previously adorable bb or the Carnival Splendor.

My second post

New Year’s Day.  New beginnings or kick-ass U2 song?  Didn’t exactly bring in the new year with a bang.  Lazy day.  Spent the morning catching up on bills…only to find out that my wife forget to give me a credit card bill from last month.  Decided that bills are getting out of control, so I went out shopping.  Grocery shopping actually.  Didn’t realize it takes two stores to successfully grocery shop.  Walmart for packaged goods and Ralph’s for produce/deli/meat.   My wife misses Super Walmart.

Took the kids to the park, where I threw the ball around with Josh.  I’m going to manage his little league team this spring.  Got to get him over his fear of flyballs.  I’ve managed before at the t-ball level.  It was 10% coaching and 90% getting the field ready and lugging equipment.  Actually, it was organized babysitting.  I’m looking forward to coaching kids with developed skills.  Dealing with the parents in this competitive league might be interesting.

Cubby went to the park too.  Again, Cubby is our 5 month old Portugese Water Dog.  Both his front paws are white.  He strongly resembles Bo Obama.  But if one more person asks me if his name is Socks, I’ll reply, “Is your name Mr. Obvious?”  Cubby likes pouncing on our older PWD Fozzie, who is 12.  Fozzie has had 2 surgeries — one to remove a cancer of the butt and one to remove his spleen, which turned out to be unnecessary–the second surgery, as well as, the spleen.  Anyway, we got the puppy to keep Fozzie spry as well as to time the puppy’s lifespan with when Jillian will go off to college.  Cubby keeps Foz on his toes, but really, old man dog just wants to be left alone.

Spent some time feeding my addiction to various Facebook games.  Got some gas.  For my car.   Went to the bank.  Not the most productive day or start to the year.

Random quote from Jillian: IHOP open 24 hours.  They just keep working and working.

My first post

Blogs may be so last decade.  Already I’m pondering the eternal late night dj query, “Is there anybody out there?”  At least I have Pink Floyd wondering the same thing.  More importantly, what will this blog entail?  Blog entrails?  Maybe, focusing on the daily minutia will lead to a more focused life.  Maybe it will lead to a more focused blog.  Maybe it will lead to the fridge.  So bear with me as I search for meaning, for a job, for a warm wave (I’m a surfer wannabe who fears cold water), for the key to cool parenting, and for the endurance to see the Cubs win the world series.

Briefly, I’m a 43 year old former stock option trader from New York/Chicago; married a firecracker of a girl I’ve known since I was 12; have 2 kids - Joshua 10 and Jillian 6.5; and two Portugese water dogs - Fozzie 12 and Cubbie 5 months.  Having had a successful trading career, I have been fortunate enough to be a stay at home dad while my kids were young.  Now that they are both in school full-time, it’s time to go back to work.  I just haven’t figured out what I want to do when I grow up.

Before we start the new year, I should try to sum up the past year.  In a word, “Eh!”  Highlights:  took in a lot of spring training, tried to sell our Arizona house, went on the cursed cruise of doom,  took a cultural family vacation to New York City and Washington DC, lowered the price on our AZ home, had belly-button surgery, summered in southern California, bid on a shortsale house on a whim, wasted way too much time watching the Cubs futile efforts, bought said house, rented AZ house, moved to Califonia, settled-in, took trip to Vegas, started blog….

Promising start?  Hardly.  The early line states blog may make it to MLK Day.  Groundhog’s day would be a long shot….