I've developed my own connection to Roswell now. My Dad has been volunteering with one of the labs doing computer help which is cool. On the not so cool side, my ex's Dad who's still a father in law to me if you know what I mean (and I think you do) has been battling bladder cancer for six months or so. He's been going through a therapy regimen for sometime. Yesterday, there was an exploratory surgery to determine where the cancer stood. He's got a mid january date for his prostrate, parts of his bladder and one kidney to get taken because of things have progressed at such a rate. Basically, he opens his mouth and you'll be able to hear an ego. It's set for middle to the end of next month and one of the physicians said something about not being able to get a room till then.

I being me couldn't help but ask "You only have the one?" A little humor to lighten the load. I have good feelings about it. Aside from successfully quitting smoking, Dad-in-law is one of those folks stuck in time. My daughter showed me a picture of him that she thought was recent. Turned out to be from 91. Dude hadn't changed. He kicked smoking, doesn't eat red meat or drink any alcohol, so the omens are on his side. I've learned not to bet against him.

Same day as that was going on, I managed to make an appearance on Channel 4. I was having a day from hell, getting pulled in 9 different directions at one. It flat out wasn't good. With the cable price increases, the local media was all over the place. I got yanked up to the front counter to wait on customers (there weren't any) just as Channel 4 finishes their interview with one of my bosses and decided they needed background. I wasn't happy about it, and tried to pay it no mind. The TV guys couldn't acknowledge us, they just shot their footage. I didn't think much about till my phone rang and it was my daughter exclaiming how pissed off she thought I looked. Lil bugger was right.

Things are better on that front. I built a space for them at my place and the effort went a long way toward the 12 year old's concerns.

Christmas shopping is done. The eldest is getting hockey tickets and pregame meal at Fat Bob's. The younger terror is receiving a new stereo and the aformentioned number one son is hip dip in batman legos. My parents yearly tell me not to buy them anything. So, this year I said, I won't if you can pass on giving me the speech about buying anything. Although, if they pony up with a Red Razor, I'd be a happy camper.

Had the day off today and feel pretty renewed. Slept in, got dressed by the crack of Noon. Greeted tea time with a Coco Moco (large) at Spot and Artvoice & the News. Felt almost civilized.

Saw Matthew's post about the PMT New Year's and I believe I can make it. Yee ha, think I'll walk to it though.

Enjoy the holiday, peeps!

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Channukah, etc and mostly importantly, Good Festivus to us all.

Peace

Wanted to make my first link to youtube a worthy one. This has some miles on it now, but it made me smile anyway.

Everybody, snoopy dance!

Periodically, since my wife and I split, it's felt like I get turned into a human punching bag. Nobody did anything wrong yet the vicissitudes of life come down like bad plumbing.

I have daughters who asked my ex to ask me if they could pass on coming over for awhile. They want to hang, they just down want to sleep over. Ex also mentioned that her vibrator is missing and for the record I ain't got it. She (my ex) went to great pains to assure me I was doing okay on the Dad front. It's just the close surroundings were interfering with the kids being 15 and 12. Intellectually, I know all of this and understand it. I'd rather the girls pass then be here unhappy. But emotionally, it still reduced me to rubble. Your brain hears everything and is fine, but your heart stops listening after "We don't want to come over."

I kept it together as I went across the parking lot to my car. Once inside the lil red bus, I let it go. The pressures of doing 2 1/2 jobs at work and then hearing that from my girls managed to suck the fight right out of me. So, here I sits, man enough to mention I bawled most of the way home.

Sucks to try so hard only to get beat down again.

Knew it was coming, but you'd like a little praise for all the shit I've had to put up with in recent years.

I settled for the next best thing. Number 1 Son and I just repaired to Fowlers for shakes.

Chocolate malt to sooth the wounds.

Some different spins of Charlie Brown and a Christmas Story.



And a reprise of what if Outkast scored "A Charlie Brown Christmas."



Scroll down a little bit, it's on the right hand side.

Enjoy

A moment of parental pride to start with, dear reader, my lovely 8 year old had a "Belt Test" in his Tae Kwon Do class tonight. I raced out of work to see it and got there just in time to see him put his foot clean through a board. I know the board was made for that but it still gave a bit of a goosebump to see him nail it on the first try. Very cool.

Joshua was right. Imk and Jenks didn't need to try for sexy in the party photos. Ya'all nailed it.

I've been selected to dine with the president of Time Warner Cable on Monday. Don't know if I'm being tossed a bone or if it's just because I wear a suit well, but lunch at the Hyatt never disappoints.

My boss hollared at me today for not being present for an important assignment. What she forgot was that she was the one who sent me away on another fool's errand.

Sort of funny to see my previous job posted all over the place. The gratifying yet surreal thing is to see all the people from other departments who saw the same thing and are giving me the "Mike, see the Marketing opening....gonna apply?" Nice to be thought of, in that sense.

I was watching Sleepless in Seattle with the daughters on Friday night. We got to the scene where Rob Reiner and Tom Hanks were in the bar talking about how long it's been since Hanks had been on the market. When Hanks replied something about the 1980's, my eldest replied, "just like you, Dad." I couldn't help it, I laughed. Rotten kid, should have grounded her, but it sounded too much like a shot I'd take at somebody. Kid belongs on the stage, next one out of town.

Been about a week and half since I'd last had any kind of alcohol, but to come home and find a bottle of Molson Export to have with my pasta may have put me in a good mood. Comfort food is a good thing.

Sigh, onward and upward. Less than two weeks of shopping days left before the grand pagan ritual and three to the next PMT bash.

Who's my secret Santa, Imk?

As I write this, the ENknot-a-thon is in full swing. Thanks to a confluence of events, my young son called and asked to come over because his sister is having an overnight.

Can't say no to that, so the twister games, beverages of unusual origin and the intriguing goings on in attics will go on without my "lame" partaking. I am doing a good guy thing, allowing the ex to go catch up with some childhood buddies for a bit while manning the domestic front.
It happened sort of suddenly and hey, it ain't often you qet requests, so, I'll make the official bash.

Just wanted to say hope there is much fun being had, cameras a whirring and that Tony has a great night. You're a good dude and I wish I'd celebrated my 30th with as much style.

Have a great night, partyin peeps.

I'm not happy



I got a heap of more trivialities dumped on me at work, where a large scale layoff got announced.

I have to move my desk set up again and I don't even have a red stapler to boot.

My immediate bosses are lovely people but shitful administrators.

My resumes aren't getting nibbles of late,

Probably can't go to the party on Saturday.

Hasn't been a week for bragging....

I don't feel good

Show's over

Move along

Nothing to see

Some random thoughts from a strange day/weekend (aren't they all).

I belong to the Unitarian Church on Elmwood. Twice a year they host a "Music Sunday." An small orchestra teams up with the church choir. It's pretty great and turns more into a free concert instead of a church service. That's a minor gripe, but the attrtaction itself does reveal that the church does instead have its share of hypocrites and tight-asses, many of whom believe that the presence of a few violins make them think they are at a concert hall. I wasn't there because of my Bills committment, but My ex and number one son were in the front row. Preparations were under way, musicians were tuning up and my lovely boy was asking his mom a few questions about the instruments. You don't exactly see many bassoons daily on Elmwood now. Keep in mind people are still streaming in, chatting and whatnot. This old bitty sitting nearby thought she was at the Philharmonic because she was ssshing my son. "Is he going to be talking during the performance?" she actually had the nerve to ask. Much to her credit, my ex explained in a level, yet go fuck yourself tone that the performance hadn't started and since children were asking genuinely interested questions, shouldn't those questions be given respected and answered to encourage interest??

At this point, the old bitty mumbled her way into silence. The space between these two parties was broken up by a couple who sat down and TALKED through much of the service.

Made me smile.

Elsewhere, a friggin cold day of football themed activities. Through the magic of gift card, I took breakfast at Panos. The Panos I knew is gone. A chicken souvlaki breakfast and coffee used up the entire 15.00 on the card. It was great but I remember when 15 used to be enough to feed 3 people back when Panos was in the Falafel Bar space. mmmmmm.......orange milkshakes.

My long johns earned their money yesterday as it was brisk. Got to work in the lower portion of the stadium yesterday and it was fun to actually see the game. My position as a dugout usher made me stay till about 20 minutes after the games end, a new policy that ensured that the traffic jams were well established. It was a familar face day. A few old acquaintances drifted by. Had the pleasant encounter of directing (e:Enknot) to a seat. The birthday boy is a good luck charm. Shortly after that, I ran into woman I hadn't seen in sometime. She used to bellydance with my former spouse, and greeted me with something between a warm greeting and a tonscilectomy. "We should go out sometime," she yelled over her shoulder, heading back to her seat.

Pretty sure we nearly just did, our hero thought.

It started snowing on the way home. I'm not a big snow for the holidays kind of guy. It's a fairly long walk from my post at the stadium to where employees have to park. The Bills run shuttles for us, but I almost never take them. After standing in one spot for so long, it kind of feels good to stretch your legs with the walk. I cut across the main lot, snow is pelting me in the face, change direction to walk down Abbot Rd, snow shifts direction ( like barbeque smoke), I got to my car and made an old man noise when I sat down in my drivers seat. Good thing the season is almost over.

Getting a little old for this shit. Bowl of pasta at home a little later and I was out by 10.

Stay warm peeps, mondays are getting colder.

Reminded me of this story.

Two boys from Buffalo are playing street hockey when one of the boys is attacked by a rapid pit bull. Thinking quickly, the other boy takes the hockey stick, wedges it down the dog's collar and twists, breaking the dog's neck and freeing his friend.

A Buffalo new reporter hears about the incident and rushes over to interview the boy. "Young Sabres Fan Saves Friend from Vicious Animal," he starts writing in his notebook.

"But I'm not a Sabres fan," the young hero replies.

"Sorry, " replied the reporter "since we're in Buffalo, I just assumed you were." "Bills fan rescues friend from horrific attack," the reporter continues in his notebook.

"But I'm not a Bills Fan, either," the boy responds.

"I just that everyone in Buffalo was either a Sabres or a Bills Fan," replied the reporter, "Whome do you root for?"

"I'm a Toronto Maple Leafs fan," the boy answers proudly.

The reporter starts a new sheet in his notebook and writes, "Little Canadian Bastard Kills Beloved Family Pet."