A Month

Sorry for the long break.  This is gonna be quick but hopefully get back in the swing of things.   Julie returned from Ireland in one piece.  She liked it because she loves going to school but the school schedule was so rigorous that there wasn't a lot of time to actually see the place.  She has to return next Summer and may go a few days early so she can actually see the sights.  It'd be nice if the whole family could go but I don't see any massive cash windfalls in our future.

We've seen some movies. Saw "Kung Fu Panda" which was great and saw "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" in 3D which was awesome.  As far as I know it's been several years since Brendan Fraser has made a movie.  Good to see him back and looking forward to the new Mummy movie in August.  "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" is so family friendly, it's scary. Very entertaining but also very safe, never a single moment where you think someone might actually be in danger.  And no fart jokes, which is rare for a movie aimed at the 10 and under crowd.  3D technology continues to amaze me.  Julie thinks this was better than "Beowulf" but I'm still holding to "Beowulf" as best 3D movie so far.

That new Judas Priest album continues to suck. I listen to it quite a bit, hoping it will grown on me. It's too slow, too long, too many keyboards and strings.  We were at a used record store the other day and they had 3 used copies for 8.99.  Guess I'm not the only one who doesn't like it.   Anti-Flag came out with a new record last April but I just now got it and it's great. Sounds like Anti-Flag.  They've punched up the production quite a bit, some choirs and horns but still sounds essentially like they always have and still railing against the injustices of the world.

Sammy can pull himself up and climb on top of things.  Not walking yet but I imagine it's just around the corner. Corey starts kindergarten in like 6 weeks.  We've been trying to get into this charter school.  People from all over the metroplex bring their kids to it and it's first come first served.  We were 27th on the waiting list last Spring and Julie just called the other day and we're now 15th.  It's right around the corner from our house.  I'm kind of hoping that gas prices stay high and 15 more families decide it's not worth the drive so Corey can get in. 

That's all for now. I'll try to stay on top of this.

Brew Day

I'm brewing beer today for the first time in like 6 months. I've really got to do this more often!  I planned and prepared everything last night, woke up this morning at 7:30 and it's just now noon and wort is chilling.  With luck I'll have everything wrapped up by 1.  Okay, if you count cleaning and putting all equipment where it belongs, 2.  I had Sammy last night, fed him at 9 and he's been sleeping and playing with toys since then.  Parents are bringing Corey by any minute.  All this could delay my plans...  I forgot just how much I enjoy the process of home brewing and playing with all the toys.  Need to figure out a way to get back in the swing of brewing once or twice a month.

Update

 I had the kids on Saturday.  Really wanted to go see "Kung Fu Panda" but when I told Corey we were going to the movies she decided she wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese.   A few weeks ago when mother-in-law was in the hospital, Julie was gone most of the time and I was stuck for something to do that would get us out of the house but it was too hot to go outside, I made the mistake of taking her to Chuck E. Cheese.  I say it's a mistake because until that point she thought she Chuck E. Cheese was just a place for birthdays.  Now that she knows you can go to Chuck E. Cheese anytime, she wants to go all the time.  With a coupon from the paper you get a pizza, 4 drinks and 80 tokens for around 20 bucks.  We don't need 4 drinks but it's part of the package. Without the coupon it's like 28 dollars which isn't all that bad except that you then have to spend the next hour or two shepherding her around to the various games.  I don't mind doing it but not something I want to do on a regular basis and besides, I wanted to see "Kung Fu Panda".  She was fixated on Chuck E. Cheese.  I was like, "It's not a choice.  Either "Kung Fu Panda" or nothing".  She went with nothing.   Grandparents had kids on Saturday night and  I drank entirely too much.  Spent most of Sunday nursing massive hangover.  Happy Father's Day!  We all went to Mimi's and I got my children back for Sunday night.   Got the new David Sedaris book for Father's Day.  Just started it and it's good.  Never read a bad David Sedaris book.   Death of Tim Russert is upsetting.  I rarely watched "Meet The Press" but listened to the podcast regularly since I got my i-pod.   McClatchy, the company that owns our local paper, just laid off about 10 percent of their workforce.  Our local paper has downsized dramatically in past year yet despite all my bitching, the quality remains very high.  I don't kow how they can reduce by another 10 percent but wish them all the best.

Just got off phone with wife.  She's having a wonderful time in Ireland and is kicking ass at the college there.  I told her she had to drink a Guinness and she sent me this picture.

Her mentor is very enthusiastic about her writing and says he's surprised she isn't published already.  She'll be back in a week.

Another Week Another Post

Seriously, I'll try to post a bit more.  Wife left for Ireland yesterday.  I drove her to the airport and watched her go through the first security check.  She flew from DFW to Boston and was supposed to meet a connecting flight to Ireland there.  She called me from Boston airport.  She arrived at the gate for the flight to Ireland and she was 30 minutes before the flight was to leave, but they'd already closed the gate.  Even though the plane was sitting right there with her empty seat, they would not let her board.  She was all pissed off and had to wait 2 1/2 hours for the next flight.  I tried to be empathetic and gave her the stoic, "Well, if that's the worst thing that happens on this trip, you should be okay".   She e-mailed me this morning and she made it safely there and to the school.

I came home last night to an empty house.  The kids are with my parents.  Since I work 2nd shift and don't get home until midnight, it's not practical for me to pick the kids up on my way home.  I did see Sammy this morning.  Corey is in some kind of arts and crafts camp at the church.   Last night I came home, wondering what kind of cool stuff I was going to do with almost no responsibilities.  I fell asleep like 15 minutes after walking through the door and I slept all night which I haven't done in a long time.

Wife's colonoscopy and endoscopy went fine. They didn't find anything wrong which is great.  Now I'm afraid I have to go to bed.  Will write a much more fact filled blog ASAP.

Freaking Insurance