Hooray For Saturday!

This Just In...

The Lady and I will be LOST tonight.

It's back.  One of the two television shows I make sure to watch. 

I started watching it from the get go, The Lady did not.  I finally got her to watch the start the second season.  She's addicted, she is into the show more than I am.  I've created a monster.  She goes to all the different sites out there, trying to figure out what the heck is going on with those people, on that island.  I just watch the show.

As I check the weather, we might not be watching until tomorrow night because she might be late comiing back home from Chicago.  I doubt that, she will stay up to watch it not matter what time, simply because she wouldn't be able to go all day tomorrow without reading about it.

Shhh, just in case, don't tell me anything until after Friday.

Best Wishes John Edwards

I was sad to see John Edwards bow out of the presidential race today.  He was my guy back in '04.  I appreciate the fact that he did it in NOLA, to bring attention to the fact that stuff is still not right there, some two years and change later.

I was hoping it would be Obama and Edwards, not Clinton, in the race to the nomination.  Because if Obama didn't get it, at least my second choice would.

I caught myself today thinking A.B.C. as the daughter and I were going over letters.  Anybody But Clinton.  I just don't get it, I'm not a fan...and it has nothing to do with her gender or race.  I just don't find her truthful and she's the biggest glad hander I've ever seen.

She does have one thing going, it will be hard for me to vote for a grandpa that has to read everything.  McCain, I'm a fan, but I can't picture voting for him. 

Yep, The Lady is out of town, the kids are sleeping and here I am wasting time watching political junk again. 

However, I am going through tons of compact discs because I will be donating them to the local public library, but I'll be offering up some favorites here soon.

So what is your favorite band?

Stay Tuned

It's been almost a week and nothing from me.  Well, the rock and roll lifestyle can take a lot out of you.

Sick people can too, everyone has been kind of stopped up around here.

I've also been working on a couple of volunteer projects.

No one has been banging on the door or ringing me up to check, so I didn't figure I was missed.

The Lady found me some of this locally.  So while working on a project last night with friends, grown folks beverages were enjoyed.  She also leaves for Chicago tonight, for the rest of the week, to work, so maybe that was her parting gift.

Here are a few things that are on the little note pad for future conversation here at HFS:

• compare and contrast Costco and Sam's Club
• tax / stimulus money
• ear tubes
• book smarts vs. common sense
• what would you pay?
• cooking/recipes
• me on a podcast

So for the moment you can go here, to listen to a good interview with great dad, Greg Barbera.

Rusty Trombone & The Fat Mattresses

As of late, I've read all kind of blogs where people are talking about the game "Guitar Hero".  People across the country are becoming addicted.  Rightfully so, it's fun.

I'm not really that good on the guitar, although I have enjoyed the game.  Prior to playing at a friend's house in Chicago it had been a while since I last strapped on the tiny axe to grind.  Don't get me wrong, I always had fun when I played it, however I always wished there was a drum kit I could sit behind to play along with.

Last weekend I was able to spend some a lot of time playing the game "Rock Band".  There is a drum kit involved in this game.  Thank goodness I don't own this game and it's not at my house.  It was a blast!  A friend of mine has it for his XBox 360 and is playing it on a television the size of a drive in movie theater screen. 

So last Saturday night the game started around 6:30pm and we finally left the stage stopped around 1:00am.  For the majority of the time I was the drummer (getting wicked), which was awesome.  I did take a few turns on bass guitar and even once taking the microphone to channel a little Geddy Lee, on the tune "Tom Sawyer". 

Along with the rotation of seven different people joining and quitting the band from song to song, every band joke there is was dropped at one point by one of us, which added to the entertainment of the evening.  At some point during the evening the band was named.

Hello Cleveland!  We are, Rusty Trombone & The Fat Mattresses.

Democratic Debate Cage Match Style

Of course the debate I decide to not type along with is the most heated.  So since it seems like it is cold across the nation, if you don't want to read my take on the debate, go ahead and snuggle by the fire and relax.  John Edwards, fine job sir.

Between Clinton and Obama there was a lot "Girl you crazy!", "Oh no he didn't!", "You better recognize!" and "Your momma!"

I'll be the first to say, I don't want to hear this crap anymore.  CNN, the way you handled the debate was kind of dumb.  Wolf, I expected more out of you.  Edwards is right, if you open it up for people to just take the entire time to fight back in forth like a couple of 10th graders, we hear nothing on the issues.

However, Bill Clinton, in my opinion, has been an idiot with his words as of late and the way the Clinton's are ganging up on Barack Obama is silly.  Bill Clinton looks like a goofy old man that is just trying to get back in the White House for himself.  Let us remember, he had some good times there.

Here are some comments from this past Sunday's episode of NBC's, "Meet The Press", which was a round table discussion on the presidential primary races.  I think this is important considering the Clinton gang up on Obama.

(Videotape, Monday):  SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): I think it's fair to say the Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time there over the last 10, 15 years, in the sense that they were challenging conventional wisdom.

Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that, you know, Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it.

He tapped into what people were already feeling, which is we want clarity, we want optimism, we want, you know, a return to that sense of dynamism and, you know, entrepreneurship that had been missing.  (End videotape)

(Videotape, Friday):  Senator HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY): My leading opponent the other day said that he thought the Republicans had better ideas than Democrats the last 10 to 15 years. That's not the way I remember the last 10 to 15 years.  (End videotape)

No Hillary, read the quote, that's not what he said.  That's old school, good ol' boy politics that I'm sick of.  Continuing on.

MR. RUSSERT: Interestingly enough, the Salmon Press in New Hampshire, which endorsed Hillary Clinton, cited as one of the reasons that, when they talked to her in the interview, she listed Ronald Reagan as one of her favorite presidents.

Gee, go figure.

(Videotape, January 18, 2008):  MR. BILL CLINTON: Her principal opponent said that since 1992, the Republicans have had all the good ideas. It goes along with that plan to ask the Republicans to become Democrats for a day and caucus with you tomorrow, and then go back and become Republicans so they can participate in the Republican primary. I'm not making this up, folks.  (End videotape)

No Bill, that's not what he said.  Nice attempt to spin, but get your facts right.  I dig the fact that you think because you are an ex-president you can get up there and say whatever you want, but you also need to be thinking long term here.  What if Edwards or gasp, Obama, beats your wife in the primary?  Do your party a favor and think a little bit before you open your big mouth.

One last comment from the program that caught my attention was the following.

MS. NOONAN: Can I say, on the campaign trail, one of the things I find jarring the past few weeks is that Hillary Clinton is the first major party woman running for president of the United States. She is a woman. She's running for president. She's running for head of the United States, chief executive officer. And she has to send her husband out to yell at the neighbors? It's like she's, she's saying, "You go out there, you fight for me. My husband's going to tell you off!" There's something strange, jarring, unbecoming and even unfeminist about it.

MS. GOODWIN: I doubt that she's sending him out. I think he's going out on his own.

MS. NOONAN: You think he's just on his own. Oh, my goodness, it's her campaign. If she didn't want him out there wagging his finger, turning red and arguing with reporters and bringing a level of temper and heat to the proceedings, if she did not want that, I'm sure she would stop it. And if she cannot, we should all just stop and take a breath.

My wife, who's not into politics much, listened to that and agreed with Ms. Noonan very much.

Bottom line, if you get to see the video clips of Bill Clinton.  What's up with the orange tie?  Bill, Halloween is over.  If Hillary dressed you in that orange tie with that shirt, she should lose just for that.

I'll try and quit talking about this stuff.  I apologize if I'm turning off any of you nine readers.  Please comment, tell me to shut up and we'll get back to the basics.

I clipped some coupons for the first time tonight.  Tuesday is grocery day.

This Just In...

We lost Richard Knerr, co-founder of Wham-O, on Monday, due to complications of a stroke.  He was 82.  Mr. Knerr and Arthur Melin were responsible for the Hula Hoop, the SuperBall, and of course, the Frisbee.  Thanks to you Mr. Knerr for doing your part in allowing me to get out and chase a plastic disc around a golf course.  Rest in peace.

~~~

An interesting story about people and sleep was on NPR this morning.  There is reference to the sleepless badge of honor, meaning that those short sleepers consider themselves more productive or whatever.  People, I'm an insomniac, check out the time stamps on some of my posts.  Believe me when I say, I would much rather be in bed sleeping instead of wearing some silly badge, but I just can't fall asleep sometimes.

~~~

As a few of you can tell I'm wrapped up in this presidential election process.  That could have something to do with the tidbit of info above this one, too much quiet time on my hands at night.  So, today I was listening to Fred Thompson, who looks like death warmed over and I tell ya, he's about as charming as a box of hammers.  And his "trophy wife" as everyone is calling her, whatever, she's from Naperville, IL.

~~~

Oh, for those people that have been asking me what's the tune from the Cadillac commercial, with the chick from the doctor show...it's "Stars" by the band Hum.  They came out of Champaign, IL in the  early 90's and I consider their album "Downward Is Heavenward" one of the best albums of that decade.  They produced quite an intense wall of sound with great melody.  Leave a comment if you would like to win this album on compact disc.  If I have more than one comment, I'll have a child pick a name out of a hat and you will win it.

~~~

And for the doctor show that is always looking for the next hip music to fill the montage...I give you "She's So Lovely" by Scouting For Girls.  Go ahead and put this music behind the flavor of the month and her boyfriend pillow fighting with kittens in the snow or something.  It's all about the clap track and cowbell.  While we are talking Grey's, because that's what people call it right?  I watched like the first three episodes ever just because Sandra, Oh so lovely, is in it.  Those hospital shows are all the same formula, love...drama...someone's arm got chopped off...stat!!!! a bus wreck...love...sex...oh, no she didn't...love...do you follow?  Even the The Lady has stopped watching and she loves the geek that tried to buy himself some love long ago.  I guess Grey's is at least helping bands sell some records.

~~~

My, look at the time.

Just Being Nice

Doodlebug - Dad, why did you just flush it two times when you were in there?

Me - I was being courteous.

Doodlebug - What's courteous?

Me - It's just being nice.

the child walks into the bathroom, closes the door.  she reappears after going to the potty.

Doodlebug - Dad. 

Me - Yes?

Doodlebug - It stinks in there, that is not being nice.

the four year old child is a smart aleck

Democratic Debate, Vegas Style

OK, after spending the better part of the afternoon taking the majority of the stuff from our kitchen cabinets, cleaning the inside of them and rearranging stuff.  I'm going to sit down and watch the democratic debate.  So feel free to go and rearrange your kitchen if you don't want to read about politics and my thoughts on the yahoos that trying to be the democratic nominee for president.

They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.  Not tonight.  MSNBC has decided for me it's only a three person race, how nice of them.  Jerks.  Also, I have to admit, I am 30 minutes behind and watching it on the DVR as to remind myself to save it on here as I watch.  Here we go.

• "Down To Three", gee really?  What about the guy from Ohio and the crazy grandpa, that I like, Gravel?
• Brian Williams, why the long face?  Oh, you were born with it...but the hair, by goodness the hair is perfect.
• No outburst or applause from the crowd.  Ladies and gentlemen sit on your hands and shut your pie-hole.
• Q&A First
• Tim Russert is a badass, but he looks like kind of crazy.  Natalie who?  Nice dog chain necklace.
• Mitt gets Michigan.  Not much of a surprise there.
• MLK birthday...oh geez, here we go with race already.  This talk in the past few days has been pretty stupid.  Clinton talking about the truce.  Obama putting the issues up front and agreeing with the truce.  Edwards talking about the pain and struggle of the civil rights fight.
• Good grief Russert, give the racial stuff a rest!!!  It's done.  The media was just waiting for this thing to turn into a race issue and they got what they wanted, but now they are beating a dead horse.  This drives me crazy, because basically the school yard spat that Obama and Clinton got into over the past few days does nothing but fuel the fire for those old farts that refuse to vote for a woman or a minority for president.  What, is Tim Russert going to bang this drum all night?  I'm losing respect for you very quickly Tim.  Everyone wants to move on...how about some issues?
• Edwards over there writing like mad, while Clinton talking.
• Natalie asking Edwards a question from the rafters.  Not much difference in the policies between candidates.  John, this just in, we know you are from a poor mill family.  What is a white male to do running against these historic candidates?  Laughs..  He says it says really good things about America.  I agree John.
• Brian asking Obama about calling Clinton likable.  Ouch.  It's getting all mushy in the room, but Obama is focusing on issues.  Who's going to be fun to have a beer with!!!  That would be me. 
• The boys vs. girl?  Are they piling on.  Edwards has never taken a dime from a special interest.  Hmm.  Edwards talks with his hands, passionate.
• Uh-oh, someone is not keeping there pie-hole shut...outburst from the crowd.  Race based questions?  I'm guessing someone just got shown the door, perhaps taken behind the woodshed?
• Clinton asked about what all the sparring between her, Clinton, and Edwards will do towards the general election.  She says she is the best prepared to do the job.  Are the other two qualified, that's up to the voters.  Edwards throwing daggers at her with the eyes.
• Obama asked about when he stated a weakness of his as not being a "operating officer".  His answer is looking pretty weak here, green if you will.  That's why I like the guy though, he's talking about his strength to rally people to change.  That's were he has it right, but I just don't see it happening.  People are too complacent.  If everyone that was pissed off about something would write a letter to their public officials, meet with them, hold them accountable, vote them out of office for crying out loud if they weren't doing the job as they see fit, instead of just complaining for a few minutes then going back to normal, stuff would get taken care of around here. 
• The three of them look exhausted when answering their strength & weakness.  Clinton takes first shot at Obama about him not being an executive, just a inspiration.  Clinton now goes off on current administration and brings up Gulf Coast.  Go Hillary, go Hillary!  Obama gets a few laughs about Bush, then throws a curve-ball to Clinton about her war vote.  Sneaky.
• Obama gets to fight off all the rumors about him.  What!!!  He's black?  Holy moly.  He gave a good answer in saying that the American people are smarter than some give them credit.  Well, some of them Barack, just some of them.  There are still those folks that read the pulp up near the checkout at the grocery.
• Now they are going to talk economy and the candidates will be able to ask questions of one another.  Hmm.  OK, economy...am I the only person in America that connects what's going on with house foreclosures and interest rates to the the terrorist attacks of 9/11?  I guess I am.  Remember right after that happened?  Interest rates went to zero, money was falling off trees, rainbows were ending in everyone's backyard.  Not really, but Bush told us to go out shopping and interest dropped faster than tube tops in NOLA during Mardi Gras.  We bought a car with zero percent interest, unheard of at the time.  All of us that couldn't really afford a home yet, went out and bought one because we could get in a five year arm, then refinance later.  Well those arms have come up and people that were told to go out and buy stuff, can't afford their current rates now.  Is it their fault?  Sure, some of it, but were they not chasing the American Dream and being patriotic also?  Sorry for the rant, just kind of a way I remember and see them now.
• Edwards loves to give the thumb.  Obama and myself use the term "folks" a lot.  Great minds..whatever.  Edwards wants minimum wage $9.50 an hour...wow!!!  I'd like to get me some of that!  You hear that you crazy kids, I could be out there making bank, but noooo I'm at home trying to teach you some numbers, letters, and wiping your backsides.
• Southside!!!  Obama giving a shout out, well kind of.
• Natalie in the rafters.  Tax codes?  Tax the rich, duh.  Warren Buffet pays a lower tax percentage than his secretary.  I won't even comment, speaks for itself.  I often wonder how much money does one need.  I don't mean to sound goofy, but I just wonder how much money does one really need to live out the rest of their life in kind of a easy going way?
• Edwards gets to ask questions of Obama & Clinton.  He asks Obama about his campaign donations from drug companies & health care.  Edwards looking at Obama like the guy just knocked over his beer.  Whoops, only one question.  Gee, thanks long face.  Clinton gets her choice of Edwards or Obama.  She wants to ask Obama to join her in doing something.....she wants Obama to co-sponsor a bill to make sure Bush is reigned in as far as Iraq goes.  Obama says we can work on this.  All three want to end the war, with Edwards really wanting to pull the plug.  Obama gets a very big laugh when he starts to ask Edwards something then asks if it's using his one question.  Obama showing his youth and hipness, if you will.  A very nice light hearted moment for all three candidates. 
• When going into break, Obama leaves the stage quickly. Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now.
• All three are very supportive of veteran services.  Everyone in America should be.
• Talking about Yucca Mountain and nuclear waste.  All three are against Yucca Mountain now.  Edwards is not for nuclear power plants.  Clinton trades words with Edwards about his votes for Yucca in the past, but he gives her the thumb, says science has changed, something about forged documents and he's now against it.  Everybody wants to get green.  It's clear that Edwards has a strategy of pointing out who's giving to Clinton and Obama campaigns.  And he's going to have us reading by candlelight.
• Straight on to immigration.  Edwards believes people should learn to speak English if they come here, that would be good.  I only say that because, if I moved to France I would expect to have to learn French, if I moved to Germany I would expect to have to learn German, or if I moved to Mexico I would expect to have Dora and Boots give me more comprehensive lessons in Spanish. 
• Russert!!! Enough with the race stuff.  Good grief.  Let's go to the rafters, where's Natalie?  Tim go sit in some lake effect snow in your Buffalo, NY.
• There's Natalie!!  Asking Obama about education.....here we go!  This is why I love the guy.  Education, education.  Reward teachers with better pay, instead of just telling them they are doing a good job.  "Parents have to parent"  When I met the guy, this is the issue I spoke with him briefly about, educating and parenting.  He is passionate about education and for that I'm a big fan.
• Guns.  I hate them.  Just today, I was behind a truck that had a sticker on it that said, "Vote today, buy a gun."  WTF?  Dude, just go hunt, kill Bambi whatever, but that sticker is dumb.  I'm not saying people shouldn't have a gun, I have a gun, but I don't need to hear about it.
• Coming out of the last break, long face Brian Williams, says he's in Los Angeles instead of the correct Las Vegas and the crowd and candidates make him look stupid.  He calls Clinton out on playing the fear card right before New Hampshire primary.  All of a sudden she's getting all Giuliani on us.  C'mon Clinton, anyone wanting the job for president wants to keep the country safe.
• Last question, "When did you decide to run for president?"  OK answers, but Edwards is the one that strikes me the most.  I am what he just defined, middle class that came from a low income family.

Well, it was a big group hug for the most part, except for Tim Russert just beating the dead horse racial issue.

They all look exhausted.  It was a the friendly meeting after the schoolyard fight between Clinton & Obama.  Edwards making sure it's known he doesn't have the cash in the campaign fund, compared to the other two.  Edwards said some good things, but so did Obama.  I hear Clinton talking, but I just don't like listening to her, she just seems so old school politics.

Historic times here.

Let's Get Random

You might see that I'm messing around with the design of the site here.  I'm sure this won't be the final design, but I am liking the addition of the calendar up there.  I never know what the date is, so that will stay for sure.

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Tonight in Nevada is the debate between the democratic presidential candidates, or excuse me, the ones MSNBC invited.  I'm hoping to watch it with the laptop in reach to do a little commentary, while I watch.

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I'm going through a bunch of compact discs that I have from the 90's.  They have been away in the garage for a long while.  The stuff I really liked I converted to MP3 and put them on a hard drive long ago, but going through them again, I am finding albums or singles that I missed.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all these things once I'm done, but I'm ready to get rid of them.  They are in little plastic sleeves, because the plastic jewel cases just took up too much room, perhaps you want some of them?

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I'm about to take back my kitchen, it's been pretty messy since the holidays.  It's going down!

Survey Says

The University of Texas has published a story in regards to a survey they conducted of 214 stay at home fathers. 

I took part in this survey a while back and was curious to see what type of information they concluded. 

It seems like a the majority of us have a lot in common.