REST IN PEACE

"Brilliant on the race track, Barbaro always will be remembered for his brave fight for survival."

It Involves the Use of a Sawzall, So Why Isn't He Happy?

Dad said "Son, since you're home on winter break with nothing better to do than exponentially expanding my grocery bill and adding more muscles to your massive muscles, could you replace a couple of rotting boards in the front deck?"
"Sure, Dad."
A couple of boards turned into six plus a crosswise underneath supporting board (whatever the hell its called) which required ripping up all the boards. All that got done. The new boards have mysteriously not yet been stained. Probably a mommy-do list item for the summer. That's ok, I didn't really want to use the sawzall anyway...

Jigs: Guardian of the Ginormous Slumbering Manchild

Jigs was rescued by our family as a tiny 4 ounce just born babycat (along with three sisters who were placed in homes specially chosen by myself). This was long enough ago that her real name is Jigglypuff. You can see by the photos who she prefers to hang out with. But I ask you: Who bottlefed her every 2 hours?, Who wiped her little hiney with a warm cloth so she could go poo and not die of a bowl obstruction? Who convinced hubby to fork over $1200 so the vet could open her up from stem to sternum in order to dig out a piece of foam that she had eaten when she was 1 year old? Now, who does she give her love to?
Whata bitch!!

Guitar Heroine: This is Fun

I have been burning up the PS2 lately playing this game. I'm happy to report that I played "Freebird" today at 83% on 'easy'. Ha ha, that is so lame compared with all the young guys around here that play on 'expert'. Actually we have the latest version Guitar Hero II, which allows you to play with another person (either competitively or cooperatively). All I can say is that it is fun and does not involve shooting people, jacking cars and blowing the heads off creepy monster-killers in very creative ways. Most of the songs are great fun- classic rock mainly. All the kids around these parts are now interested in classic rock, so I cannot see a downside to granting permission to use your music. Watching the colored dots moving on the screen is oddly relaxing and hypnotic and because a lot of the music is good, this is not a background annoyance the way other video games are. You know, gunshots, explosions, chainsaws and screaming are not that fun to listen to when you are in the kitchen cooking dinner. "Shout at the Devil" , "Surrender", and "Carry on Wayward Son" - that I can do.

The Road

Over my vacation I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy and I cannot stop thinking about this book. (Diesel- I am NOT suggesting that you read this book)

On the face of it this book seems too dark and depressing (oh that's why I feel melancholy- dumbass alert!) But it is really a story about love/faith, good/evil and maintaining a meager civilization in a completely whacked out world.

It is the story of a father and son a few years after a major apocalyptic event. Cormac McCarthy is a minimalist who only tells you what you need to know without leaving major questions unanswered. This is a survival story; the struggle to survive in a hyper-harsh world.

"He sat by a gray window in the gray light in an adandoned house in the late afternoon and read old newspapers while the boy slept. The curious news. The quaint concerns. At eight the primrose closes. He watched the boy sleeping. Can you do it? When the time comes? Can you?"

The father is portrayed as having been educated and his son is an obvious sensitive soul, yet both are very tough.

"He rinsed the empty tin with water and gave it to the child to drink and that was that. I should have been more careful he said.
The boy didnt answer.
You have to talk to me.
Okay.
You wanted to know what the bad guys looked like. Now you know. It may happen again. My job is to take care of you. I was appointed by God. I will kill anyone who touches you. Do you understand?
Yes.
He sat there cowled in the blanket. After a while he looked up. Are we still the good guys? he said.
Yes. We're still the good guys."

Above all, this story, though awful at times is about the power of love.

Underdog Hell :(

Awww! Is Brady Quinn not the cutest college QB? Too bad his friggin' team got spanked. Total let down. Now my personal football sage- the middle son, who actually plays college football, tells me that ND was overrated this year. Bummer :(
Of course LSU was at home and there was that whole hurricane thing...
Can't help it-- I still love the Irish.
Wah! Wah!

Underdog Heaven!!

Way to go Boise State for beating Oklahoma! I have never seen such a fantastic college football game. They came out fighting and never gave up straight through to overtime. What a great freaking game!