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?