Things are crazy busy around the house and I got to thinking about why.
Then, I realized I'm making my son's birthday cake (instead of buying one) and I'm also making several Christmas gifts (can't tell you what!) this year instead of buying them. I'm sending out my normal slew of Christmas cards (many to folks I only communicate with once a year any more) even though it doesn't make a lot of sense to send so many. And I always have to do a fancy newsletter instead of just a normal holiday letter. And that took time.
So, the problem is: ME!
If I'd just give up on some of this stuff, my life would be a heck of a lot easier right now. All I'd have to work on would be cleaning our house for when my parents come next week.
But, I really love making birthday cakes and ... emmm ... other presents. And I like making a fun newsletter. And sending cards to long-lost friends.
The holidays are weird ... and so am I.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
One down
Of all the stuff we were focusing on in our house, the production of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" was a big one. But it's over now after a successful four-show stint this weekend.
Both Alex and Andy were fantastic. I'm just amazed at home mature they are now (usually).
But no kid production would be complete without some mess-ups so here are my favs:
* On the first night, the lamp post shorted out toward the end of the show and blew the circuit for all the stage lights so the end of the show took place under the regular house lights.
* During a sweet scene with Aslan, the sound effects for the fight scene blared from the speakers for a couple seconds. (The kids did a great job of continuing on).
* Alex's final scene was completely cut on one show because, well, nobody really knows why. Just happened.
* During the last show, Father Christmas was supposed to have a present for Edmund, but it was misplaced so when it came time to give it, he said, "Well, that's all I have." And then the Lucy character tried to remind him, "Is there a present for Edmund?" and Father Christmas responded, "Nope." Just classic theater IMHO.
So, now the only things on the agenda are: take picture for family newsletter, write family newsletter, address cards for newsletter, make and decorate Andy's birthday cake, work on special gift for parents (shhhh, don't tell!), wrap presents, get house cleaned for parent visit, make gifts for co-workers (shhhh, don't tell!), try to calm down Tracy who will be freaking out about cleaning house for parent visit, having Andy's birthday party and editing the video from that for thank-yous, and possibly feeding and bathing the children every so often.
I love the holidays.
Both Alex and Andy were fantastic. I'm just amazed at home mature they are now (usually).
But no kid production would be complete without some mess-ups so here are my favs:
* On the first night, the lamp post shorted out toward the end of the show and blew the circuit for all the stage lights so the end of the show took place under the regular house lights.
* During a sweet scene with Aslan, the sound effects for the fight scene blared from the speakers for a couple seconds. (The kids did a great job of continuing on).
* Alex's final scene was completely cut on one show because, well, nobody really knows why. Just happened.
* During the last show, Father Christmas was supposed to have a present for Edmund, but it was misplaced so when it came time to give it, he said, "Well, that's all I have." And then the Lucy character tried to remind him, "Is there a present for Edmund?" and Father Christmas responded, "Nope." Just classic theater IMHO.
So, now the only things on the agenda are: take picture for family newsletter, write family newsletter, address cards for newsletter, make and decorate Andy's birthday cake, work on special gift for parents (shhhh, don't tell!), wrap presents, get house cleaned for parent visit, make gifts for co-workers (shhhh, don't tell!), try to calm down Tracy who will be freaking out about cleaning house for parent visit, having Andy's birthday party and editing the video from that for thank-yous, and possibly feeding and bathing the children every so often.
I love the holidays.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Clerks 2
So, I don't know why I didn't see it in the theaters, but I just watched Clerks 2 on DVD (thank you NetFlix!).
I have no idea why this movie didn't do better in the theaters. It was funny. It was well written and the love story was actually touching (as opposed to Jersey Girl which was just lame).
The intros by KS are great and, of course, having Jay and Silent Bob back is great. You need to watch the deleted scenes because it does explain one plot hole that was bothering me.
In the opening, KS explains that there are outtakes on the DVD as well, but I couldn't find them. Anybody else had better luck? There's one part of the deleted scenes with Wanda Sykes that is close to outtakes, but I don't think that's it.
Anyway, if you haven't seen it, you should. I actually think I like this one more than the original and I can't remember the last time I said that.
I have no idea why this movie didn't do better in the theaters. It was funny. It was well written and the love story was actually touching (as opposed to Jersey Girl which was just lame).
The intros by KS are great and, of course, having Jay and Silent Bob back is great. You need to watch the deleted scenes because it does explain one plot hole that was bothering me.
In the opening, KS explains that there are outtakes on the DVD as well, but I couldn't find them. Anybody else had better luck? There's one part of the deleted scenes with Wanda Sykes that is close to outtakes, but I don't think that's it.
Anyway, if you haven't seen it, you should. I actually think I like this one more than the original and I can't remember the last time I said that.
Big show
So, this weekend -- after many, many long hours of practice -- the boys will be featured in the play "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" which is being put on by the Broadway Bound Theater School.
Alex will be Mr. Beaver and he's very excited to have such a big role.
Andy will be a Dwarf and an Animal on different nights. He is outstanding as the Dwarf being a power-hungry underling. He loves to yell at people and now he's being encouraged to do it.
Should be a lot of fun, but I'm mainly looking forward to it all being over after Sunday so we can get back to our regular lives again. It's been a grueling time and Tracy has been helping out a bunch, so she's really beat, too.
Alex will be Mr. Beaver and he's very excited to have such a big role.
Andy will be a Dwarf and an Animal on different nights. He is outstanding as the Dwarf being a power-hungry underling. He loves to yell at people and now he's being encouraged to do it.
Should be a lot of fun, but I'm mainly looking forward to it all being over after Sunday so we can get back to our regular lives again. It's been a grueling time and Tracy has been helping out a bunch, so she's really beat, too.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Tradition
Last night, we continued our holiday tradition and saw the Air Force Academy Band's holiday show at the Union Colony Civic Center here in Greeley. We have been going to this show ever since we moved to Greeley and it's just fantastic. Tracy's cousin's husband, Mark, is in the band which makes it really special, and all of the performers are top notch.
Alex and Andy love to hang around after the show and get autographs from the performers. And every year they mob the stage with the other kids to see Santa. It'll be sad when they're too old to do that anymore.
I consider myself a pretty cynical person, but I fall for the Christmas fuzzies in this show every year. We're lucky to have this here and such a nice place to see it.
Wow, that was a lot of sweet stuff for one of my blogs. I'll try better next time.
Alex and Andy love to hang around after the show and get autographs from the performers. And every year they mob the stage with the other kids to see Santa. It'll be sad when they're too old to do that anymore.
I consider myself a pretty cynical person, but I fall for the Christmas fuzzies in this show every year. We're lucky to have this here and such a nice place to see it.
Wow, that was a lot of sweet stuff for one of my blogs. I'll try better next time.
Friday, December 01, 2006
D'oh
So, now that NaNo is over, we can get to more serious issues...
TV Land is brilliant because it is doing the 100 greatest catchphrases ever list.
The only things wrong with the list of nominations: Paris Hilton is in there and "finger-lickin' good" isn't!
Here are my top 10:
1. "D'oh!" (Homer Simpson, "The Simpsons") – The fact this is now in the dictionary just shows how much it has taken over. I use this word daily (in my feeble attempt to decrease the number of actual swear words I say daily)
2. "Do you believe in miracles?" (Al Michaels, 1980 Winter Olympics) – For historical relevance as well as just the perfect summation of the event. Any time someone says “Do you believe …” you immediately think back to this.
3. “And that's the way it is" (Walter Cronkite, "CBS Evening News”) – Just classic.
4. “I know nothing!" (Sgt. Schultz, "Hogan's Heroes”) – Another one of those things I say pretty much every day. Anyone under 30 has no idea what I’m saying, but screw ‘em.
5. “Yada, yada, yada" ("Seinfeld") – I figure it would be bad form to have more than one line from one show so I chose this over “No soup for you” but it was tough.
6. “Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" (Arnold Drummond, "Diff'rent Strokes") – When I first say the name of this list, this was the first phrase that popped in my mind.
7. “Jane, you ignorant slut" (Dan Aykroyd to Jane Curtin, "Saturday Night Live") – Again I didn’t want two from the same show so this beat out “2 wild and crazy guys” mainly because I can’t meet someone named Jane without thinking about this.
8. “The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat" (Jim McKay, "ABC's Wide World of Sports") – Classic.
9. “If it weren't for you meddling kids!" (Various villains, "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?”) – You know that “meddling” was actually supposed to be a swear word!
10. “Say good night, Gracie" (George Burns, "The Burns & Allen Show") – This is one of my all-time fav shows and this line is just awesome!
Honorable mentions:
_"De plane! De plane!" (Tattoo, "Fantasy Island")
_"Good night, John Boy" ("The Waltons")
_"Here's Johnny!" (Ed McMahon, "The Tonight Show")
_"Holy (whatever), Batman!" (Robin, "Batman")
_"How you doin'?" (Joey Tribbiani, "Friends")
_"I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV" (Vicks Formula 44 ad)
_"It keeps going and going and going ..." (Energizer Batteries ad)
_"Mom always liked you best" (Tommy Smothers, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour")
_"Nip it!" (Barney Fife, "The Andy Griffith Show")
_"No soup for you!" (The Soup Nazi, "Seinfeld")
_"Oh, my God! They killed Kenny!" (Stan and Kyle, "South Park")
_"One small step for man ..." (Neil Armstrong)
_"Tastes great! Less filling!" (Miller Lite beer ad)
_"Up your nose with a rubber hose" (Vinnie Barbarino, "Welcome Back, Kotter")
_"We are two wild and crazy guys!" (Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as Czech playboys, "Saturday Night Live")
TV Land is brilliant because it is doing the 100 greatest catchphrases ever list.
The only things wrong with the list of nominations: Paris Hilton is in there and "finger-lickin' good" isn't!
Here are my top 10:
1. "D'oh!" (Homer Simpson, "The Simpsons") – The fact this is now in the dictionary just shows how much it has taken over. I use this word daily (in my feeble attempt to decrease the number of actual swear words I say daily)
2. "Do you believe in miracles?" (Al Michaels, 1980 Winter Olympics) – For historical relevance as well as just the perfect summation of the event. Any time someone says “Do you believe …” you immediately think back to this.
3. “And that's the way it is" (Walter Cronkite, "CBS Evening News”) – Just classic.
4. “I know nothing!" (Sgt. Schultz, "Hogan's Heroes”) – Another one of those things I say pretty much every day. Anyone under 30 has no idea what I’m saying, but screw ‘em.
5. “Yada, yada, yada" ("Seinfeld") – I figure it would be bad form to have more than one line from one show so I chose this over “No soup for you” but it was tough.
6. “Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" (Arnold Drummond, "Diff'rent Strokes") – When I first say the name of this list, this was the first phrase that popped in my mind.
7. “Jane, you ignorant slut" (Dan Aykroyd to Jane Curtin, "Saturday Night Live") – Again I didn’t want two from the same show so this beat out “2 wild and crazy guys” mainly because I can’t meet someone named Jane without thinking about this.
8. “The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat" (Jim McKay, "ABC's Wide World of Sports") – Classic.
9. “If it weren't for you meddling kids!" (Various villains, "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?”) – You know that “meddling” was actually supposed to be a swear word!
10. “Say good night, Gracie" (George Burns, "The Burns & Allen Show") – This is one of my all-time fav shows and this line is just awesome!
Honorable mentions:
_"De plane! De plane!" (Tattoo, "Fantasy Island")
_"Good night, John Boy" ("The Waltons")
_"Here's Johnny!" (Ed McMahon, "The Tonight Show")
_"Holy (whatever), Batman!" (Robin, "Batman")
_"How you doin'?" (Joey Tribbiani, "Friends")
_"I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV" (Vicks Formula 44 ad)
_"It keeps going and going and going ..." (Energizer Batteries ad)
_"Mom always liked you best" (Tommy Smothers, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour")
_"Nip it!" (Barney Fife, "The Andy Griffith Show")
_"No soup for you!" (The Soup Nazi, "Seinfeld")
_"Oh, my God! They killed Kenny!" (Stan and Kyle, "South Park")
_"One small step for man ..." (Neil Armstrong)
_"Tastes great! Less filling!" (Miller Lite beer ad)
_"Up your nose with a rubber hose" (Vinnie Barbarino, "Welcome Back, Kotter")
_"We are two wild and crazy guys!" (Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as Czech playboys, "Saturday Night Live")
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