Wednesday, February 25, 2009

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Speaking of characters, it is my "older" son-in-law's birthday today. The Professor is the "older" as he has been in the family longer (and he is chronologically more advanced than the other son-in-law). Happy birthday, Paul!

Continuing with the "character" theme, let's see the current president top the "Great Communicator". I'm watching "Dark Victory" (Warner Bros., 1939) on AMC, Bette Davis is the star and George Brent her male lead. However, two young up-and-comers are also featured, Humphrey Bogart and Ronald Reagan. What a cast. I love old movies.

Global warming has returned, albeit briefly. It was forty-six degrees today! Thanks, again, Algore, although rain, sleet and snow are expected. After all, it is still February.

My granddaughter, another character, is starting to sing. Her mama calls us when she's in the mood to flex the pipes. She is so precious to us. We will be going through withdrawl this weekend as she is with the other grandparents for her parents' birthdays (three days apart), an annual event on that side. We did not see her last weekend either. Time, at times, does not fly.

Friday, February 20, 2009

On my last post I bragged about completing my taxes. Well, they got rejected! It turns out I made a couple of errors. Luckily I was able to find and correct them. I refiled and, VOILA, they were accepted. I believe they were accepted, however, only because after revising them, I was found to owe money to Uncle Barrack instead of receiving a refund. WHERE IS MY BAILOUT?! It must be all that untaxed unemployment compensation I collected last year.

My wife is out with some "girl" friends tonight. Because of my mancave, I hardly know she is gone. I'll remedy that by going upstairs soon.

Spring isn't too far off, regardless of what Jimmy the Groundhog showed. The evidence is the beginning of baseball spring training camps. Go Brewers!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

NASCAR, COMPUTERS AND "BLAZING SADDLES". LIFE IS STILL GOOD!

Another fantastic weekend with the fam. I couldn't enjoy my precious Tizu more!

Congrats Matt Kennseth for winning the Daytona "380" (he was 48 laps short in a rain-ended race). By the way, the "greens" must have absolutely no guts to take on NASCAR. Either that, or the cars emit no CO, use no fuel of any kind, have no audience that needs to drive to the events nor have a carbon footprint of any kind (like Algore) or else it pays really big carbon credits.

TV has wrecked most movies. A great example is "Blazing Saddles", which I am currently viewing for the countless time. The "F" word (the one for effeminate males) and the "N" word, as well as the usual adult curse words are completely omitted, sometimes even the visual words, the actors' moving lips, are removed from the screen. The odd thing is that the flatulence has been allowed to be reinserted. Go figure.

I've completed my taxes! I e-filed them about forty-five minutes ago. Computers can be quite a godsend. They can also be a nuisance. Just this weekend we were without our wireless service on our two laptops. I called our high-speed provider on Saturday without a result. Then on Sunday afternoon after the family skedaddled, Sherri and I called the provider again and a nice young man walked us through the process on each computer, even updating the third one that is hard-wired to the cable, in a matter of about twenty minutes. I have a satisfied partner again. Life is still good!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

TAUNTING SQUIRREL

The squirrel is taunting me! When the window was opened to release the offensive vermin, I placed a single-serving cup of peanut butter outside by a tree near the property line hoping the varmint would be attracted to it and leave the basement. Sherri asked if I could locate the peanut butter the next day, but I could not. There is a nest in a large knot in our our 100+-year-old maple tree. Yesterday the cup appeared. The rodent placed it, empty, on the walk that leads from the driveway to the front door, and it was garbage day. There ARE no coincidences.

Tomorrow is the 19th anniversary of the loss of a good friend, my father-in-law, Ken. He was 62. He left us suddenly, quietly and painlessly, the way, I am certain, we all would like to go. He did not have to suffer, whether it be the ravages of age or watching friends and family suffer, age and leave ahead of him. He loved life, his family, his Savior and his Packers. We are alike that way as his family is also part of my family. He was a good father, person and friend. He's thought of frequently, fondly and often. See you in heaven, Kenny-boy!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

CLIMATE CHANGE - IN OUR FAVOR!

It's been 50+ degrees here this weekend. This is climate change I can believe in! Maybe it was caused by the president's jaunt on Marine One to Camp David for a night's stay. Are the Econuts upset about all the fossil fuel used not only for the chopper, but the staff and security trip(s) and "warming up" the residence? Regardless of the "cause", I liked it!

In filling out my tax forms today I found I may have to rethink my light bulb obsession. According to the tax software, we may deduct those goofy curly light bulbs as an energy-efficient home improvement, provided we saved the receipts. I still, however, don't like Big Brother telling me I must buy only "these" light bulbs. So, the jury is still out.

I saw a book for sale in a children's section about the our current president's presidency. Am I the only one how wonders:
  • What great accomplishment has this president to his credit that warrants a book in this regard?
  • Hasn't he been president for less than one (1) month?
  • Is the author some type of prophet?

GET A GRIP, PEOPLE!!!

Monday, February 2, 2009

SQUIRREL!!!

If you've seen my second favorite Christmas movie as often as have I, you will understand the title reference. I had the "opportunity" to have a real-life squirrel "fighting" experience. Upon our arrival home from our great overnight in Brew City, we continued the festivities with my wife opening her "goodie box" (see previous post(s)). Having completed the event (my wife is the leader of the guessing contestants for this birthday season), I descended to the mancave to watch the Superbowl. Then I heard some "rustling" across the room. Having experienced a bird in the basement previously, I anticipated that. As I approached the area with my manly electric drill battery-powered flashlight, I began making noise to let the suspected intruder know who was boss. The offender scurried at my feet. Startled, I screamed like a little girl as the squirrel and I departed the main area of the basement and I ran upstairs to collect myself and to inform the women as to what had transpired. I then called a professional for advice.

Our home has a small fireplace in the mancave which is not utilized nearly as often as we'd like. We believe this is where the rodent entered. I like to think the stupid thing fell in accidentally. It would have been better for all concerned (all right, me) if the animal had broken its fool neck in the perceived fall. Armed with the advice of the contacted professional, I opened the basement window and hoped the offending rodent would leave on its own.

My wife contacted me via email today that she believed the varmint did, indeed, leave on its own accord. Good times. I've heard nothing while writing this entry.

The Superbowl was entertaining and my perfect halftime record is in tact. I've decided that the post game interviews are more inane than even the worst halftime extravaganza (including any one with Brittany Spears, any of the Jacksons, or any Diva). Though I had no vested interest as to which team won, I appreciated the game as a good competition.

The weekend in Milwaukee was super also. We ate, we visited, we drank, like I stated, a great time!

If you have a moment read a commentary by the author, actor and economist Ben Stein in the "Patriot Post" regarding the Porkapalooza our grandchildrens' grandchildrens' gradnchildren will be paying for for the remainder of the millennium. He gives statistics regarding how MUCH this could actually "help" us if it were actually used as stimulus. In a nutshell, he says that all unemployed people could be given $74,000 and those entering "long term" unemployment could receive $300,00. If this were actually passed, I'd get myself fired tomorrow! I'm sure we all would.