List Monday - the Hanukah List

1. I wish Hanukah didn't come so early this year.  Still digesting turkey and stuffing.  This will make for a long Christmas season.
2. I wish Ipad 2.0 comes out sooner, rather than later.
3. I wish Cubby could pick-up his own poopie.  Speaking of poop, I wish for less Justin Bieber and more Vampire Weekend.
4. I wish the Flubbies would sign a left-handed first basemen who can hit 60+ homers next season.  I wish they unload Z.  And I wish for career years from Rami and Fonzie.
5. I wish to see Europe with my family ( I wish they appreciate it) in the new year, and possibly, Cabo.
6. I wish the housing market returns to pre-bubble levels.  Or I wish Michael Buble buys my AZ casa.
7. I wish to master my vocation, become closer to my wife, walk my dogs more, and to yell less at my offspring.
8. I wish for health and happiness and success for mine and yours....

Week in review

Beautiful weekend in Mammoth, despite the blizzard and driving into s snowbank. Relaxing visit with the P's. Delicious turkey day feast thanks to my awesome chef of a wife. Nice day at work. Beardface is no more.  And top it all off with date night.

The Cubby & Bubbe Show

Jilly: Bubbe, I think Cubby just drooled on your head!

Happy Hanksgiving

Let us take a moment to rejoice.  For on the fourth thursday of the eleventh month, we celebrate the Henry's of the world and all of the glorious gifts that they have given.  For without the following Hanks, the world would be a lesser place:

Henry Aaron, the ultimate Hammerin' Hank, gave us O'Henry bars;
Henry the Eighth gave Herman's Hermits a silly song;
Patrick Henry gave us liberty or death or something;
Henry Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, gave us the answer to a trivial question:  Wally Pip;
Kissinger gave us detente;
Fonda gave us daughter Jane in Barbarella;
Ford gave us the model T;
Wadsworth Longfellow gave us a melodic Neil Diamond serenade;
H. Ross Perot gave us a ridiculous presidential campaign;
Billy the Kid gave us a cool Billy Joel song;
Hank Moodie gave us Californication;
John Denver gave us a Rocky Mountain high;
Heimlich gave us an invaluable maneuver (especially on Hanksgiving Day);
Paulson gave us the great recession (well maybe he shouldn't be on the list)
Miller gave us one of my favorite authors;
David Thoreau gave us one of my least favorite authors;
and the most important Hank, Henry Winkler gave us the Fonz.

So, enjoy your holiday and give a toast to the Hank's of the world and to all that they have given....

Jilly's Favorite Animals

Pokey = King Charles Springer Spaniel

Waking in a winter wonderland

Wholly Mammoth

Cali never ceases to amaze. Enjoyed driving thru the belly of the state, along the perimeter of a perfect storm, passing Edwards AFB, Death Valley, forests of Joshiepoo Trees, eating bugles for breakfast, while doing Christopher Walken impressions. "Too spooky."


Jilly: Look at the snow. It's like Parmesan cheese.
Josh: The flurries are like a 3D movie.

Off to the snowball fight. Go go Greene's.

list monday - favorite fast food

1. Potbellies
2. Popeye's
3. White Castle
4. Wahoo's
5. Dunkin' Donuts
6. Fat Burger
7. Chik-fil-A
8. Chipotle
9. McDonald's
10. Arby's

honorable mention:  Sbarro's, Wendy's, Cousin's

AZ is...

Enjoying the big blue skies, purple mountains framing the saguaro laden valley, new casino, old dining haunts, older neighbors, lush resort of beautiful Scottsdale.

A naval coincidence?

Recently, the cruise ship Carnival Splendor had an engine room inferno and was set adrift in the shark infested waters off of Baja Mexico. My wifey blames the fire on my incendiary bellybutton that went MIA while we festively cruised on said ship a year and a half ago. Coincidence? We may never know.

The Awesome Adventures of Suuuuuuu-per Cubby the Wonderdog

Gifted with nuclear, electro-magnetic, and ocean-breeze powered strength, our hero loyally protects the homestead against threatening tyranny....especially lizards in the yard.  But, on occasion, a superhero may find himself with a lack of ferocious foes and, well, get bored.  Not knowing the full capacity of his own abilities, the Cubster, in a moment of weakness (and lack of a discerning palate), ate his Mommy's hand weights, a coke can, and a cardboard box.  Now, that's one tough (but cute) doggy.  Neither his toughness nor his cuteness, however, prevented him from landing in canine incarceration.  That's right:  puppy jail.  

Will eating weights make our hero's stomach stronger?  Will eating an aluminum can make a bowel movement worth recycling?  Will Cubby survive puppy jail?  Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of Suuuuuu-per Cubby the Wonderdog of intestinal fortitude.....

Portrait of the artist

At work

Sure, it looks like a video game.  And in fact, Josh could probably react to the market's gyrations faster than me.  

List Monday - Best Resorts I've stayed at

1. Esperanza - Cabo
2. Vedema - Santorini
3. El Conquistador - Puerto Rico
4. Atlantis - Bahamas
5. Delano - Miami Beach

honorable mention:  El San Juan, The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, Dolphin Bay Inn - San Luis Obispo, Westin Kierland

Principessa Jillian

Jilly says:

would you care for some beef jockey?

Beardface

I'm in the mood for a melody...

  Instructions:
   1. Open your library (iTunes, Media Player, iPod, etc)
   2. Put it on shuffle
   3. Press play
   4. For every item, type the song that’s playing
   5. When you go to a new item, press the next button
   6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool…

   …

THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE

Opening Credits: "Suburbs" by Arcade Fire (though I consider myself urbane, I seem sentenced to the sprawl)

Waking Up:  "Breathe" by Pink Floyd (a mellow wake-up with some sound advice)

First Day of School: "Hungry Heart" by the Boss (hungry for knowledge)

Falling in Love: "Dream a little dream of me" by Etta James/Louis Armstrong (right sentiment)

Fight Song:  "Wild Horses" by U2 ("you're dangerous...")

Prom:  "Homemade Love" by Journey (obscure but appropriate - I stayed home during my prom)

Life: "Closer to the Heart" by Rush ("...too mold a new reality...")

Mental Breakdown: "Save if for later" by The English Beat  (nice manic mood)

Driving:  "Power" by Kanye West (horsepower?)

Flashback:  "The Harder They Come" by Jimmy Cliff ("...as sure as the sun will shine...")

Getting Back Together:  "She bangs the drum" by Stone Roses (sounds good)

Wedding:  "She's got a way" by Billy Joel (not one of our wedding songs, but could've have been - "she's got a smile that heals me")

Birth of Child:  "Ecstasy" by Poi Dog Pondering (Happy, happy days)

Final Battle:  "Misunderstanding" by Genesis (well, I guess we know what the final battle was about)

Death Scene:  "Come on Eileen" version by No Doubt (I'm not dying, and don't call me Eileen)

Funeral Song:  "Life is Good" by Los Lobos (more of an anti-funeral song; oh, the irony)

End Credits: "Brilliant Mind" by Furniture (well, that goes without saying after reading this blog...)

Excerpt from a story by Josh (after his being grounded for the first time)

Epelouge (sic)

Life can be fun if you make it fun.  You can be too hard on yourself and be cruel.  The story of my life isn't nearly over.  This is just a small slump with some issues.  Elaina and I smile at each other.  The cop hasn't bothered us for days.  Me and my friends gamble for candy.  I get plenty of hugs from Tori.  The things I tried improve happened to improve.  I'm 99.9 percent sure Elaina would want to go out with me if I asked her.  Not ready for that though.  I need some more love advice.  The moral of this story is that some things are good for a bit, then they crash, burn, fall, and perish in a demonic fashion so cruel that you cry yourself to sleep.  But, things can only work out if you try.  You see, I tried towards Elaina and now we wave to each other when we leave everyday.  I kept getting down on myself towards school, and now , I'm on the student council.  Some things work out....

Jilly as a Penguin

List Monday - Favorite Restaurants

1. Club Lucky - Chicago
2. AZ88 - Scottsdale
3. Gibson's - Chicago
4. Dan Tana's - Los Angeles
5. Buddha Bar - Paris
6. La Mela - New York
7. The Office - Cabo
8. Javier's - Crystal Cove
9. Potbellies - Soon to be everywhere
10. Nick's - San Clemente

honorable mentions:  Joe's Stone Crabs - Miami, NOLA - New Orleans, Culpepper's - St. Louis, Everest Room - Chicago, Michaelangelo's - San Fran, Tru - Chicago, Edith's - Cabo, Cafe Absinthe - Chicago, Charlie Palmer's - Vegas, Twin Anchors - Chicago, Gates - Kansas City