a short poem

Guess who
 went to the zoo?

And what did she spot? - 

An Ocelot

(you can't see him, 'cause he's on the tree limb)

Ocelot, Ocelot...

Ocelot, ocelot, where have you gone?
Morning is over and new slouch is on...
Your stripes could all fade in the poisonous day...
When you see the sunlight move out of the way...

You prance with the beast you berate every night...
And silently slouch through the forest by light...
Don't be the only one left on the block...
Come hide in the herd and float with the flock...

Ocelot, ocelot, where are you now?
You never listen to me anyhow...
You wandered and ambled you walk now you run...
Knowing you'll bake like a snake in the sun...
-  Phish

List Monday - Best of the '00's

Still digesting this past decade, but here goes nothing:

Kings of Leon - Bucket
Vampire Weekend - A-punk
Arcade Fire - Wake UP
Amy Winehouse - Rehab
Outkast - Hey Ya
Green Day - American Idiot
White Stripes - anything
U2 - Beautiful Day/Springsteen  - Rising (tie)
Flaming Lips - Do you realize
Shout Out Louds - Tonight I have to leave it

Honorable mention:  Kanye West

Like father, like son...

At least it's not her pupik....

Even better than the real thing...

If I can't go to Ravinia....I'll bring Ravinia to Talega.  Saw a U2 tribute band at our local park.  Sounded great.  Played all the hits and even closed with a cover of a cover:  Helter Skelter.  Good time was had by all.

So proud...

My daughter has embarked upon a new career path.  She is into designing cereal box fronts.  So far, her creations have included:

• Fish Flakes
• Cubby Bites
• Poppet O's
• Katzuma Crunch

mmmm....

Cubby is fine, p.o'd, but fine

Today in history...

June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 191 days remaining until the end of the year.

Events

• 79 – Titus Caesar Vespasianus succeeds his father Vespasianus as tenth Roman Emperor.
• 1314 – First War of Scottish Independence: The Battle of Bannockburn, south of Stirling, begins.
• 1532 – Henry VIII and François I sign a secret treaty against Emperor Charles V.
• 1565 – Turgut Reis (Dragut), commander of the Ottoman navy, dies during the Siege of Malta.
• 1611 – The mutinous crew of Henry Hudson's fourth voyage sets Henry, his son and seven loyal crew members adrift in an open boat in what is now Hudson Bay; they are never heard from again.
• 1661 – Marriage contract between Charles II of England and Catherine of Braganza.
• 1683 – William Penn signs friendship treaty with Lenni Lenape Indians in Pennsylvania.
• 1713 – The French residents of Acadia are given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia, Canada.
• 1780 – American Revolution: Battle of Springfield fought in and around Springfield, New Jersey (including Short Hills, formerly of Springfield, now of Millburn Township.
• 1794 – Empress Catherine II of Russia grants Jews permission to settle in Kiev.
• 1810 – John Jacob Astor forms the Pacific Fur Company.
• 1812 – Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon I of France invades Russia.
• 1865 – American Civil War: At Fort Towson in the Oklahoma Territory, Confederate Brigadier General Stand Watie surrenders the last significant rebel army.
• 1917 – In a game against the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox pitcher Ernie Shore retires 26 batters in a row after replacing Babe Ruth, who had been ejected for punching the umpire.
• 1926 – The College Board administers the first SAT exam.
• 1961 – Cold War: The Antarctic Treaty, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on the continent, comes into force after the opening date for signature set for the December 1, 1959.
• 2024 - Jillian Greene finds cure for cancer!

Births

• 47 BC – Pharaoh Ptolemy XV Caesarion of Egypt (d. 30 BC)
• 1894 – King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom (d. 1972)
• 1927 – Bob Fosse, American choreographer (d. 1987)
• 1929 – June Carter Cash, American singer (d. 2003)
• 1940 – Wilma Rudolph, American runner (d. 1994)
• 1940 – Stuart Sutcliffe, English musician (The Beatles) (d. 1962)
• 1941 – Robert Hunter, American lyricist and poet (The Grateful Dead)
• 1943 – James Levine, American conductor
• 1948 – Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
• 1956 – Randy Jackson, American music producer
• 1957 – Frances McDormand, American actress
• 1977 – Jason Mraz, American singer and songwriter
• 1984 – Duffy, Welsh Singer
• 1984 – James Thomas, Jr., Winner of Survivor: Tocantins
• 2003 - JILLIAN AVERY GREENE - SUPERSTAR

p.s.  Schools out for the summer!

The awesome adventures of Suuuu-per Cubby the Wonderdog

It was a very sad day in the world of super heroes.  Our puppy has lost his special powers.  Today, Cubby, goes in for the snippety-snip.  Please, a moment of silence for his lost manhood...(I think Fozzie is snickering).

(no, that isn't a two-headed dog monster)

list monday - sandwiches

1. Wreck - Potbelly's
2. Luigi - Bar Louie
3. Godmother -  Bay Cities Italian Deli in Santa Monica
4. Ribeye steak sandwich with carmelized onions - Capital Grill
5. Spicy Chicken Sandwich - AZ88

honorable mentions:  italian beef with sweet peppers from Portillos or Al's Beef and any sandwich made by the wife (seriously, she could open a sandwich shop)

Daddy's Day

Here's how my dad went:  Woke up to breakfast in bed - bagels and lox (lots) and a delish bloody mary.  Josh wanted to know why I was having alcohol in the morning.  Because I can.  I got cards from everyone and a jar of "Daddy-o-brand" kit kats.  Watched the old man show and read the paper.  Took the kids and dogs to Lantern Park and walked around Dana Point Harbor, which was cool because there was also an art show.  Had lunch at my favorite restaurant - McDonalds.  Because I can.  Took the kids to my secret beach where boogie boarding, surfing (1st time in like 6 years), and good times were had by all.  After squeezing into my sausage case of a wetsuit, I paddled out to the line-up....and was exhausted.  I rode one wave for a micro-second.  Spent some time on the hammock.  Because I can.  And now, I believe the loving bride is preparing a special Father's Day feast for mwa.  And, the Cubs finally won a game.  Great day.

Here's hoping all you Dad's out there had an equally awesome day.  I'm a lucky Dude!

List Monday - Favorite Beaches that i've been to

1. St. John's - idyllic north shore
2. Santorini - black sand beach
3. Cabo - luxury at Esperanza
4. Paradise Island, Bahamas - something for everyong
5. Laguna Beach - OC baby

And the birfday month celebration continues...

7

So, on Tuesday, we had an early birthday celebration for the Jillybean and her cutie-patutie friends.  First, they got picked up directly from school and driven to the Mission Viejo Mall.  There was no shopping, but they did go on a choo choo train ride.  Then, they all went to Build-a-bear, where they each made their own new furry friends.  Next, they waddled on down to Farrell's ice cream parlor where they shared a 30 scoop creation called "the zoo".  And finally, they came back to the house to smack a pinata, ingest more sugar, and open presents.

My baby is getting so grown up.

TJ's travels

TJ had been getting attacked on all sides, taking a pummeling from a plethora of pugnacious punks. He was in critical condition, on the brink of collapse. TJ, however, was not one to readily throw in the proverbial towel. Just in the nick of time, in swept Yoda and Kobe Bryant to provide aid and assistance. With their help, TJ quickly took down the leader of the mob, Gold Man, and a new monster named Seebo, as well. Our hero finally had a fine day in the fearsome fiscal canyons.

How I spent my anniversary night...

1. Sweating profusely because I had two hairy beasts (the dogs) lying on top of me.
2. Awakened by a 5.9 temblor out of Ocotillo
3. Re-awakened by the guest room clock alarm going off in the middle of the night
4. Up for good at 4:45 to go to work

HAPPY FLAG DAY EVERYONE

And a happy anniversary to me and the lovely bride, too.  Twelve years....

Today, I became my father...

So, I went out and bought myself an anniversary/father's day present:  a hammock.  A fabric slung between two points.  Sounds so geometrical.  That's a big word for a hammock.

I've been wanting one, because it's finally hammock season.  After the morning June gloom burns off, of course.  Nothing like coming home from a hard day at my secret beach (which apparently isn't much of a secret on a Sunday), playing many rounds of smash ball with Josh, and laying in a new hammock.

There was some trial and error initially.  My first attempt at mounting the slinged one found my butt solidly on terra firma.  I had to tighten up the links.  Now, we're good.

Hammock.  From the latin for lazy man lying outdoors.  Actually, it's from an Arawakan (Haitian) word for fish net.  Apparently the native Indians were fetishists.

Anyway, it's going to be difficult to keep my Dad out of it when he visits next month.

Update:  Jillybean has already done a 360.  But, thankfully, she's all good.  Cubby, too, likes chillin' in the sling.

Have a gouda day

How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?
Charles De Gaulle



Cheese.  Cheesey. Cheeeeese.  Third of all food groups.  After bacon and cereal, of course, but before dessert.  Like bacon, it makes everything better (except cereal):  burgers, omelets, sandwiches, pasta, fries, and even desserts (cheesecake, anyone?).   Who can forget the cheese steak?

Now, I'm no cheese snob.  I do appreciate a good gouda, a festive feta or a regal parmigiano-reggiano.  I can eat an edam, grub a gruyere, or partake of a provolone.  I can not however condone cottage, goat, toe, or limburger cheese.  I could take or leave your brie, mozzarella, chihuahua or mascarpone.  My favorites, however, are jarlsberg, bleu, port wine, swiss, and good old American.

My bride likes a sharp cheddar. You can take the girl out of the midwest....

Josh likes a tasty macaroni esconced in cheese (fettucini al fredo for kids).  And Jilly likes any and all cheeses in stick form.




I went into a French restaraunt and asked the waiter, 'Have you got frog's legs?' He said, 'Yes,' so I said, 'Well hop into the kitchen and get me a cheese sandwich.'
Tommy Cooper 

A few days before our anniversary:

I finally found our wedding album and was showing it to the Jilly:

Me:  What's prettier - Mommy's dress or her flowers?
Jilly:  Mommy
Me:  Would you want to wear Mommy's dress someday or would you want your own?
Jilly:  I want Mommy's hair.

Jilly:  Mommy is so pretty; she looks like a tween.


Mommy is still that tween to me.

Literary Tuesday - The Daily Trading Coach

Today at work:  I was having an OK morning, until the trading platform went down.  But that didn't stop me.  And then we blew an electrical fuse.  But that didn't stop me.  And then I was assigned homework reading by my boss.  But that didn't stop me.  And then the closing bell rang.  But that didn't...actually, that did stop me.  Should have read the writing on the electronic walls and quit while I was slightly ahead.

list Monday - Best of the '90's

Grunge.  It's like the anti-'80's.  What a musically bankrupt decade.  I had trouble coming up with 10 songs.  Although, some of the artists had multiple possible entries, but I just picked one each to represent.  The only good to come out of the 90's was re-meeting my bride, stock options on Yahoo and my first born.  Peeper, I'm sure you'll have some input.  Anyway, here's my list...


Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
U2 - One
Beck - Loser
Radiohead - Creep
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Stone Roses - I wanna be adored (technically released in July of 1989)
No Doubt - Don't Speak
Green Day - When I come around
Phish - Bliss
Pearl Jam - Jeremy

weekend in review

Jillybean had a sleepover at her friends summerhouse in La Jolla last night.  I missed the little bugger.  Turns out she had dinner at Joe's Crab Shack and then lunched at the Del.  Nice life for an almost 7 year old.

Josh had closing ceremonies for his little league team today.  For a long, crappy season...it was actually nice to see the boys one more time.  But then, I couldn't get out of there fast enough.  Josh didn't even get a trophy...just a medal.  I, on the other hand, got a nice gift card.

Rest of the weekend forecast:  more chillaxing ahead.

Cupcake withdrawals....

a poem by Josh

WINTER

The frosted part of the year,

Its snow gives your window a smear.

Be sure to have your heavy coat,

and improve your snow fort with a moat.

Build a snowman in the cold.

Sled down a mountain if you are bold.

And you can't escape the winter fun -

you must wait for spring for the warm sun.

Jilly's World

I left my $, in San Francisco...

Thanks to furlough days (all I had were freezing snow days when I was a kid), the kiddo's had a 5 day weekend...so, we decided to take a slightly spontaneous trip to the City by the Bay.  After a bucolic drive through Steinbeck country, we arrived at the Westin St. Francis and a fortuitously upgraded room.  After settling in, we cabbed over to the wharf, had some sourdough, toured a museum of antique mechanical games (e.g. pong), and watched the sea lions off of Pier 39.  We hiked back up the hill to North Beach and supped at our frequent haunt, Michelangelos.  Jilly particularly liked the wheel of cheese and the free gummi's.

Sunday, our  breakfast at Home Plate fueled our hike across the Golden Gate Bridge.  We then went to the park of the same name where the kids took in the Japanese Tea Gardens.  Drove down Lombard St. and had lunch in the Ferry Building at Gott's (nee Taylor's Refresher).  Took the kids to Zeum, a multimedia kids museum.  Dinner in China Town at Hunan Homes.  Not bad.

Monday, had breakfast at a cool dive, Dottie's True Blue Cafe.  Drove to Napa and took the kids to 2 wineries.  Castillo de Amorosa (?), a castle replica, and Sterling (mmmm), which features the tramway.  Basically, an expensive & boring day for the kids.  Also, had a picnic lunch (in the car) a la Dean & Deluca.  Back to the city for Blondie's pizza (eh).  And did I mention, we frequented Cako, a cupcake maker, three times!!!  Fun and filling trip.