Hooray For Saturday!

Amateur Night

We have two fired up young ones, in our children, two cooled down old ones, in the grandparents, and 20 party poppers.

It's going to get crazy!

Whooo!

See you...

Happy Christmas

The night before Christmas, only one creature stirring.

The stockings are all hung by the chimney with care.

Do you hear what I hear?

Me either. 

All is finally calm and all is bright.

Wishing you joy & laughter.

Lousy Season

All is quiet, because I'm alone in the house.

All is not bright, because I'm watching my New Orleans Saints stink it up.

All I want for Christmas is some defensive backs that can cover receivers and aren't afraid to tackle.

Please Sean Payton, don't think you are on the nice list.  Your play calling has been pretty lame lately.

I'm not real sure why I put myself through this every week, but it is mindless viewing.  I'm really starting to wonder why in the world I'm willing to drive up to Chicago, go sit out in the cold next Sunday at Soldier Field and watch two teams that have no playoff hopes. 

Ah, that's right, it's a guy's weekend and there will be a good steak involved.

Cheers!

Let's Get Random...Holiday Edition

Last night a friend came over with her daughters to play with our kids.  The night flew by and the children play so great together.  It was pointed out that our house brings out the poop in everyone, as one of her daughters always drops a deuce in our potty.  I agreed, because every time I have a play-date over here, it's flush central or I need to get a incinerator for the diapers.  She kindly referred to our house as "The Casa de CaCa" and I added "The Poop Palace".  I know, we're twelve.

Thursday night and this morning I had a chance to get out with Joe & Jane Public of northern Kentucky to do a few holiday errands, alone.  I love to people watch.  With that being said, I got to do some of it while out and about. 

It was wild being in a grocery store without a child.  I found myself walking up and down every aisle, even though I was going only to pick up a few specific things.  I crossed paths with a couple of folks that I knew while roaming and the first question was, "Where are the kids?", I replied "I don't know...produce, bakery, maybe frozen foods."  That was enough, they knew I was having entirely too much fun at the grocery store, alone.

People here in northern Kentucky love buffets.  I mean love em.  There are different types of buffets all over the place, featuring strap on the feed bag for one price all-you-can-eat specials.  A lot of different cuisines are represented, but for the most part it's Chinese food people seem to flock to.  I had time to waste while waiting for something today, so I went to a local pizza buffet for lunch, not only to eat, but for the most part to people watch.

I think people that wear their fancy blue light, cell phone earpiece at all times, even when not on a call, look like idiots.

For as cheerful and joyful as this season is supposed to be, I was amazed by the lack of talking going on while families were having lunch together.  I'm serious, I watched two tables at lunch where maybe 7 words were said the entire time.  It looked like you could just tell people wanted it to be 11pm on December 25th, so this could all be over and they could go to sleep.

I like my holidays during this time of year to be cold and right now, it's not.  I think that might be helping and hurting the hustle and bustle of the season.  It's warm outside, so people are really out and about, but since it's not cold folks might not be in that much of a holiday mood.

On Christmas Eve I am stopping by a friend's house, as Santa, to drop off a few Christmas gifts to their little children.  I've played Santa many times.  The first time I ever met my wife's huge extended family I was in a Santa suit and since then it's been, "put him in the suit he doesn't need any pillows", so we have a suit.  I was off last year, didn't play Santa to anyone.  In the past I've played Santa to Boys & Girls Clubs, non-profit organizations I've volunteered for, and youth groups I lead.  It is great to see the reaction of a child as Santa, it's cool.  Now I'm completely nervous about it because my friend says to me, "I hope they don't recognize you."  So today in the car, I was talking to myself as Santa.

We are having more people than I originally thought at our house on Christmas day, but it's going to be completely casual, come as you are.  I'm going to prepare some comfort food and the best way I can sum up the way the day will unfold is like this.

Question:  What time do we eat?  Answer: Whenever you want.

I don't know what's going on in your neck of the woods, but around us, it's baby season.  It's crazy how many people are pregnant around here.  I was talking with another guy from the playgroup, that recently became a stay at home parent, about all the baby making going on.  I said, "It's crazy, I know about 25 women that are pregnant right now!", he laughed and said, "I don't even know 25 women.".  I replied, "Keep with the current job and you will."  Here to wishing those ladies I know and don't know, some smooth, healthy deliveries in the upcoming future.

This year has been pretty good to our family.  The best gift I can get, is another year of living the life and raising some kids.  What gift would you like to get this year?

Shhh...I know the best kept traffic avoiding secret, that is in plan sight, in Florence, KY and I hope it stays that way.

Happy holidays people.  Thanks for sharing some of your time with me and comments are always appreciated on what I can do to serve you better.

Germ Free Humidity...I'm Not In Louisiana Anymore

Tis' the season for cold and dry air, which in our house means scratchy throats, stuffy noses and chapped everything.

So just in time, Vicks, the number one brand in humidifiers, has introduced a new Germ Free Humidifier that sanitizes the water for pure, clean warm mist to provide worry free, healthy moisture.  The patented germicidal UV chamber safely kills up to 99.999% of bacteria, mold and spores, impressive.  The latest in anti-bacterial technology, this humidifier is ideal for making dry indoor air easier to breathe, and is proven to help relieve cold & flu symptoms. 

I can really tell the difference between the warm mist that this Vicks unit produces, compared to the cool mist, evaporative type, humidifier we have used in the past and that's just with the humidity dial turned on a quarter of a turn.  I'm guessing if we really turned it to the max, The Little Man's room would become a sauna and some of the senior crowd from the neighborhood might be in there, hanging out in towels, talking glory days, politics and "The Price Is Right". 

The Vicks, model number V790, humidifier runs relatively quiet and has a blue colored light on the front control panel, which doubles as a night-light.  The light is brighter than what our son is used to in his room, but that's nothing a small piece of duct tape couldn't take care of.  It has two one gallon tanks, so it can run quite a while without refilling, and doesn't require a filter or wick, just occasional cleaning.  There is also a medicine cup for adding such potions as Vicks VapoSteam, to add the comfort of Vicks Vapors into the air.

The Vicks Germ Free Warm Mist Humidifier, model number V790, has a suggested retail price of $99.99 and is available at major retailers and drug store chains throughout the United States.

Additional information about humidification and caring for children with colds or flu can be found here.

Holiday Tunes

Here are a few holiday tunes the children have in heavy rotation.

• "Happy Holiday" performed by Peggy Lee
• "The Merriest" performed by June Christy
• "What Christmas Means To Me" performed by Stevie Wonder
• "Merry Christmas Darling" performed by The Carpenters
• "Holly Jolly Christmas" performed by Burl Ives
• "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" performed by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
• "All I Want For Christmas" performed by Ray Charles

My holiday season isn't complete without listening to the audio version of "Holidays On Ice" by David Sedaris and the tune "Fairytale Of New York" performed by The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl.

What are some of your favorite holiday tunes?

The Pigeon Man Of Lincoln Square

I just read some very sad news from Lincoln Square, our old neighborhood in Chicago.

"The Pigeon Man", Mr. Joseph Zeman, died yesterday, he was 77.

Mr. Zeman was a staple in our neighborhood.  He would sit on a fire hydrant, on the northwest corner of Western and Lawrence Avenue, and visit with pigeons.  Curious people passing on Western Avenue would strain their necks to get a look at the guy.  He was known as, "The Pigeon Man".

Everyday, prior to Doodlebug being born, I would pass him on my commute to work, usually seeing him in the evenings.  I would always wave and acknowledge him, "Pigeon Man!"  If he caught my eye, he would always give a wink, but never move, as to not disturb the pigeons.  He always had a kind smile on his face.

The Chicago Tribune did a story on Mr. Zeman back in 2004 where he said the following:

"I'm really advertising to the public how easy it is to be good without an attitude; it's just as easy to show decency as it is to hate today."

The pigeons, the neighborhood of Lincoln Square and the city of Chicago lost a friend, a good character and a great man.  I'm sure his legend will live on and he will be remembered as a friendly, loving soul.

This really bums me out.  May he rest in peace.

Blowing In The Storm

Snowblowers rock!

I used one for the first time ever, yesterday at my in-law's house.  It was bad-ass.

I don't mind snow.  I'm from Louisiana originally and never saw it as a child, so perhaps that is why it doesn't bother me so much.  I don't mind shoveling off the sidewalk and driveway when we get snow, because to me it's just part of the winter season.

However, with that being said, firing up the Toro and making quick work of a pretty good sized driveway, in a very short time, was really satisfying.

Too bad they cost so much.

Right Dorothy, There Is No Place Like Home

We made it home from our weekend trip to Chicago.  We took the kids up there to see their great-grandmother B, our sister-in-law with the twins and the cousins, that are now back from London.

I thought it might be fun to recap the night spent at the hotel on Friday, then the drive back to Indianapolis on Saturday night.

We got back at the hotel Friday night to put the children, that were just wiped out from travel and playing, to bed.  Once we finished getting them ready for bed it was around 10:30pm.  Usually in this situation, the light are turned off, all gets quiet and we lay with them in bed until they fall asleep, which usually doesn't take that long.  No one wanted to go to sleep because of the noise that was coming from across the hall.  It was a party!  I called the front desk a couple of times over the first hour and a half, then went down stairs to the front desk around 1am, then went back to the front desk around 2am to let them know we would not be paying for the room.  Every time I spoke with the people at the front desk they informed me they would take care of the problem, they didn't.  I asked if they could move the party to a different location in the hotel, if another room was available to us, anything that would allow me to try to go to sleep.  I guess the people that work there are people that are not into confrontation and they would rather just put up with me and not charge me for our room, instead of dealing with the party gals.

The Lady was sleeping right through this mess, as were the kids (finally), but they were tossing and turning, not really getting a lot of rest. 

So, finally, the party winded down around 3:40am.  I was pretty furious and remember looking at the clock before closing my eyes and passing out, it was 4:53am.

At 5:13am I was woke up by my wife, shaking my arm and telling me the fire alarm was sounding.  I did not doubt her as there were blinking lights and a loud alarm going off in a rhythmic pattern that was surely to annoy any sound sleeper.  That's right, put on your shoes, grab your coats, anything that is of value, put the kids over your shoulders and start heading down stairs, from six stories up, outside into the four inches of snow and into the freezing vehicle to sit in the parking lot, not knowing if your stuff was going up in flames. 

After an hour of huddled in the car with crying kids, we were told the building was all clear.  It was smoke smell coming from a furnace.  Our kids were awesome, or was it just plain tired?  They went back to sleep and I was actually able to fall asleep too, simply from being frustrated to the brink of exhaustion.

I just got off the phone with the hotel company to file a complaint about the guest services at that location.  Whatever.

Since it seems like I'm nothing but a crybaby in this post, I'll spare you the white knuckle driving portion of the story of driving back to Indianapolis from Chicago on Saturday night.  A drive which normally takes about three hours, took six and a half because of the snow and lack of Indiana plows going southbound on I-74.

It was a crazy, quick trip, but well worth it to see the kids with their great-grandother B on her birthday. 

Plus, I still owe my other sister-in-law a pot of chili.

Dan Fogelberg R.I.P.

Tunes by Dan Fogelberg were something I couldn't get away from as a kid. 

My mom was a fan and could see past the soft, subtle melodies into the hear-felt lyrics of tunes like "Leader Of The Band".  However, I always thought they were pretty lame tunes to fall asleep to and when they would come on I would immediately demand, "Turn it!  Turn it!", referring to the dial on the car radio.

As I grew old I would find myself in a grocery store, doctor's office, or somewhere else that I couldn't get away from Dan Fogelberg tunes, but this time around I would actually listen to the songs and could appreciate them, if anything, for the simple reason that they would bring me back to those years of listening to my mom sing them.

Dan Fogelberg ~ August 13, 1951-December 16, 2007