the blog o'leaps

Leap day.  What is this albino abomination of an added day to the annum?  Why, it's just another excuse to post another entry to the blog. And why "leap" day?  Are we leaping into March?  Do we not leap into the next month on an ordinary ol' February 28th?  Or do we jump, stroll, sprint, dawdle, meander, slither, creep, or scoot?  And if frog's leap, is everyday a leap day to them?  Who came up with such a day?  I blame the mathematicians!  And why not add an extra day to a nice month like May?  Is it one more day to savor before the ultimate finale?  That's what I'm going with!  Carpe Diem Tripudio.

D

No, that is not the grade for the Cub's 2012 starting line-up.  That's the Roman numeral for 500.  That's right, baby - this is my 500th blog.  Quite the milestone!  A blog for each lap around the Indy, uh, 500.  One for everyone on Fortune's list.  And you said I only had 498 - 499 in me.  Well, here's the big Five-Oh...Oh.  5 honey by midnight.  Half a grouper.  The price of Apple stock as I write this.

It been a fun, draining, creative outlet.  Some posts were hopefully clever, others downright silly, still some barely posts at all - post wannabees.  Or even just pictures.  I've gone through maddeningly prolific periods and ever more maddeningly dry periods.  Hey, it's not the end of the world!

It ebbs and flows, just like life.  The blog has been viewed over 8500 times (mostly from Phoenix).  Seen in over 10 countries, with Russia having the second most visits.  My post on best cartoon facial hair seems to have been the most popular (and yet, the sequel "more best cartoon facial hair" - not so much).  Who knew inked follicles could attract so much attention?

So, anyway, below are links to a few of my all-time favorite posts.  That's right:  another list.


A pupik perspective

March comes in like an Ocelot...

And now for a segue...

Blog Prog

Transandentalism

List Monday - Top 10 Yiddish Words to Keep Alive

To Ipad 2 or not to Ipad 2?

I am not a labradoodle!

What's up with dat?

So, it snowed in the Sahara the other day.  I'm just saying...Things are getting kooky.

And speaking of kooky, the Flubbies have reported to spring training.  This is that ever-hopeful time when we say that this could be the year.  Not this year folks.  With a line-up in such disarray, even the eternal optimist couldn't bet on a post-season appearance.  Yet again, maybe this is just the extreme fake out we need to get us to the hallowed ground.  Could this collection of nincompoops actually get it together and make a run?  Maybe this is the year!

Yeah, and maybe it will snow in the Sahara.  Oh wait...

List Friday: Top McDonald's I've Digested

5.  Paris - Champs D'Elysees -  home to the Croque McDo

4.  Rome - near the Spanish Steps - full of marble columns

3.  Cabo - hey, it's in Cabo

2.  UK - across from Windsor Castle

1.  Chicago - Rock and Roll Mickey D's

Israel

Largest in Oklahoma

Most Unique in Orlando

Paris

honorable mentions:  St. Louis riverboat McD, Times Sq. NYC, Wiesbaden Germany

Blog o' blobs

Blog o' blogs

Rejected blog ideas:

• Apocalyptic children's stories
• In defense of McDonald's
• Everything I learned in college was wrong
• Recipes of mine
• Etymology of "raining cats and dogs"
• List Thursday:  80's fashion trends
• Onomatopoeias
• History of congruent triangles
• Genealogy of the Cohen/Sachs family
• Who invented liquid soap and why?
• How to win and influence people-like things
• Chicago Cubs as the anti-christ
• anatomy of a blog
• the ballad of Icky Picklebaum

Streets of San Francisco

Goin' places with Smilin' faces

• Made excellent time driving into the disco by the Bay, despite stopping for breakfast at Pee Soup Andersons...only to find that San Francisco was closed.  That's right - the Bay Bridge was shutdown.  We had to drive through Oakland, cross the Richmond bridge, pass San Quentin, (tried to see Muir Woods, but the traffic was too gnarley - like the roots of a giant sequoia), crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and stopped by the Presidio to visit Yoda.
• Checked in and went for awesome Chinese food at Hunan Homes.
• Seward Street Slides
• Lombard Street
• Cako for Cupcakes
• A nice little hike to Michaelangelo's
• Breakfast at St. Francis' Fountain
• Dog park
• Drove out to Half  Moon Bay to see Maverick's (mushy but fierce)
• Ate some fish and chips
• Passed a cool light house at Montara
• stopped at the nicest Taco Bell ever...on the beach at Pacifica
• Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park
• Sea Lions at the Wharf
• Tonga Room at the Fairmont with Jen and Adam, where they played Girl from Ipanema (the band, not Jen and Adam)

More signs

Not Mickey!

• Showed up to work and found a couple of visitors, one alive and one dead.  Vermin...isn't that one of the plagues?  So, I caught one-the live one- and released it outside.
• And then it began raining cats and dogs.  Literally.  Well, not literally, but isn't that another plague? And if the metaphorical cats and dogs didn't get my recently released rodent, he surely drowned.
• And then, Josh's grades came and he got straight A's, except for one B+.   Oh, the humanity!  Another sign that the end is near - for Josh!

Happy VD

Thanks Hallmark

Saint Valentine's Day, often simply Valentine's Day, is a holiday observed on February 14 honoring one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentinius.  It was first established by Pope Galasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.  Ergo, Valentine's Day has been cancelled.

Remember when...

Hey, remember that time when Josh was 12 and he cried because I wouldn't let him go see The Vow?....good times

Bacon Deluxe

Took the wife out for an early Valentine's Day dinner.  It was a hip new place in Dana Point.  Nice ambiance, decent food, and sexy sax man playing.  We shared several small plates including garlic bread, caesar salad, filet, ahi tartar, and a pasta.  Oh, and several martinis.  I'd go back.




So, I must be some kind of glutton for punishment, whatever a glutton is.  Driving home after dinner, we decided to make an impromptu stop at the Jacque in Ze Box, and partake of another shake....the Bacon Shake.  Salty smokey and sweet.  It was intriguing, yet repulsive.  An abomination, yet addicting.  In the end, it left me rather confused.  It was no chicken and waffles.  I guess, there are some things that aren't better with bacon.  Who knew? - my tummy that's who.

Cavities none, milkshake one

We actually have to Shooby Dooby Up to Ruby's

Took el nino out of school early for a trip up the coast to see his baby dentist.  Clean chompers (albeit one less, as a hold-out baby tooth finally wiggled free) later, we shooby doobied to the Shake Shack (or Shake Schwack, as we like to call it) for a celebratory lunch (no actual doobies were involved).  Burgers and a pineapple shake (muy tropical).  Although, the shake did give me a tummy ache - a shake ache (not to be confused with brain freeze/ice cream head).  It's good to have proper dental hygiene and to live in the OC.  Not so much to be lactose intolerant.

If Bacon and I had a baby...

Josh's Floating House...

...or, where we'll be living after 12-21-12...

Mas Math Humor

Speaking of which:  Recently, the girl child has expressed interest in becoming a therapist when she grows up.  And not just any therapist, but the doctor kind (they get paid more).  Hopefully, it's not a case of doctor heal thyself.  Anyway, if she travels this path, I couldn't be prouder and am looking forward to all the free psychological help.

Stupor Bowl

A little something the wife whipped up for the big game.

My third attempt of live blogging the super bowl.  Steam of consciousness away:

• Woke up to the Old Man Show, which ran a story on Pi that lasted 3:14
• Took Josh and his other brother to the skim boarding center of the universe, where the waves were impressive and the sun was radiant
• Me and the boys took in The Shwack for some pre-game gastro intake
• Watched a little Puppy Bowl VIII with the girl child
• The wifey and daughter actually went to Auntie Beth's boss' house to "watch" the game
• Josh going to Michael to hang out; so, just me and the Cubster watching the commercials game
• Dug the pre-game tribute to Walter Payton.  Sweetness still da man
• Blake Shelton's America the Beautiful would have put me to sleep, if not for Miranda Lambert's shiny purple microphone
• Kelly Clarkson knocked out the national anthem, per usual
• Heck of a coin toss.  Who picks tails?
• Cool Hyundai/"Gonna Fly Now" commercial.  Too bad they make cars, not planes
• Bud Light Platinum?  A fancy, crappy beer?
• Really, $3.5 million to advertise vampire killing headlights? 
• The refs must have seen Giselle in the stands, because they just took the game away from Brady.
• Really Pepsi?  $3.5 million to make Elton disappear.  Ok, that was worth it.
• Apocalyptic Big Boy.  And TWINKIES!  Raining frogs.  My fav commercial (Chevy) so far.
• All Giants so far.  I just said that.
• So, doing your taxes is like peeing in a pool?
• Waste of Clysdales. 
• Clumsy Polar Bears?  I don't get it.
• Another awesome Chevy commercial, set to "We are young"
• Gronkowski...sounds like he should be playing for da Bears
• Mr. Quigley!
• Second quarter...all Pats
• MadonnaBowl
• That guy on the wire was freakin' me out.
• And Uncle Cee-lo makes an appearance.
• Up With People who?
• Clint Eastwood for president
• 3rd quarter...meh
• Marry bacon!!!
• And then there was The Darkness.  I believe in a thing called love...
• I believe it's all Giants.

Hike above the homestead

Off-roading pooch

Ocean

Moment of Zen

Awoke in the darkness to take the male child to a pre-dawn surf squad practice.  While he was surfing, I surfed over to Surfin' Donuts and partook.  And then, I went to the gym.  And then, I had another donut.

Dia de la Marmota

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria! - Dr. Peter Venckman, Ghostbusters

Dunh, dunh....dunhhhhh

What? No National Squirrel Day?

This February 2, at 7:25 and 30 seconds...Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinaire, emerged reluctantly, but alertly from his hole in Punxsutawnewy, PA...and stated in Groundhogese, "I definitely see a shadow."  That's right people, six more weeks of nuclear winter.  Let's make this year a little bit  more apocalyptical, shall we?

And in more Signs of the Apocalypse:

• Newt Gingrich actually one a primary.  Sure, it was only South Carolina.  They're all a little daft there - from the humidity.
• The Cubs are still undefeated.
• Ferris Bueller has sold out.  Ferris...freakin'...Bueller.  That righteous dude!  See his upcoming Superbowl ad for a freakin' Honda.

Oh, the horrors...

  

Leap Month....or Feburritoary

The good news is...we get an extra day this month.

Yo no quiero Taco Bell!

The bad news is...who want's an extra day in February?  What would have been so bad about an extra day in May?

The good news is...I got a new job today paying $50 an hour!
The bad news is...they only hired me for half an hour.

The good news is...it was at Taco Bell, taste testing burritos.  I have been training for this my whole life.
The bad news is...it was tasting burritos.  Aye Caramba!  No more burritos...