few tings

Got back from our nation's capital this past week and came home to a sick baby and exhausted wife. Hooray! The sick baby season seems to be back for another year! Back is getting better, although it took almost a full two weeks this time to heal up. Getting old is no fun.

never say never

I think this is what they mean when they refer to the "1,000 yard stare"

I love this event. I can't help myself. The mere thought of even attempting something so incredibly nasty, and coming out the other side in one piece, is irresistible to me. I think I will put in for the lottery on December 1 and see what happens.

aloha

Today the wife went to the Pitt game so I spent most of the day watching my daughter. It is a lot of work but, it is all worth it -- she rules. Here is a summary, based on what I remember (it was a busy day):

1. Got up and changed a wet diaper, tried to give her a bottle, which she didn't want. Had to settle instead for Cheerios, and little bits of chopped up bananas.
2. Rocked out for a while. We listened to:

• The Clash (Rudy Can't Fail, Let's Go Crazy, Junco Partner)
• Rick James (Pass the Joint)
• Blondie (Sex Offender)
• Aerosmith (Toys in the Attic)
• Big Rock Candy Mountain (song from the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou)

1. Took a walk with the dog
2. Ate again, more Cheerios, bananas, and mushed up apples
   
3. Took a nap (while the baby napped I cut the grass, and got an estimate to replace our side porch)
4. Woke up, changed yet another diaper, ate a bottle
5. Went for a walk in the woods, by far the highlight of my day (see pictures below)
6. Went to the playground and played for a while, she can't go on too many things there but she loves to be around the older kids. I seem to be the pied piper for little kids, who seem to think I am somebody worth befriending. Perhaps it is because they see an adult (technically speaking) who is acting pretty much like a maniac like the other kids. As a result, got befriended by a kid named Jordan as well as a few other kids who didn't tell me their names. As usual, the baby thinks it is so cool to hang out with the older kids.
7. Came home, changed a diaper, and ate again. This time it was mushed up sweet potatoes, and chicken. At this point the wife came home, so I was relieved of my duties.

The Urban Gentleman

I cant help it anymore. I've got to put this down in writing or I won't be able to get it out of my mind. Did you know there is a website, nay, MANY websites dedicated to male fashion, culture, grooming, decorating, etc???? This is the one in particular I am addicted to. It is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

Some of the topics on this website include "How to Fold a Pocket Square" (who cares?), "Interior Decor" (again, who cares?), "Manscaping 101" (which is dedicated to cutting, pruning, and yes, even waxing of male body hair), "Mens Hair Gallery" (there are only two real manly haircuts: flat top and shave the whole thing -- bald counts too I guess), "Murses and Manbags" (whatever guy makes this website, his dad must be ashamed of him), "Skincare" (in the winter my hands get extremely dry and start to bleed, so I put Vaseline on them.........I guess that counts), you get the picture.

Since when are these things that a guy should care about? I always thought that one of the benefits of being a guy was that you didn't have to care about any of them. I don't, never have, and never will. Is it considered not manly anymore to own, and wear, a toolbelt? I change my own oil, brakes, and radiator fluid.......I wonder where I fall on the manliness meter.

If this is the current state of affairs then I guess I'm glad I clearly do not fit in. I don't buy clothing, I just wear whatever happens to be in the closet or dresser........usually because my wife got thoroughly fed up and bought me some article of clothing. I shave my head as short as I can get it, because it requires literally no maintenance, and I can wash it with a bar of soap. By the way, that bar of soap that I have in my half bathroom downstairs is Lava.........now THAT is a manly soap.........takes that first layer of skin off! Interior decorating...........I still have fond memories of my last apartment where I lived by myself, where I didn't have ANY furniture. I guess I did have a futon, but that was it. No tv, chairs, table, or frills of any kind.....it was great.

Finally, I am proud to say that I have never eaten raw fish and don't ever plan to.

Websites such as this one really make me think of the speech that John Goodman gives to his football team in Revenge of the Nerds, right after they get beaten by the Tri Lams. I'm sure that whoever comes up with these ridiculous websites, they have a father who looked at them one day when they were a baby, and wished for him to become a man. Too bad it didn't happen.

loans

How can somebody call themselves a loan officer and NOT know how interest rates are set? I'm wondering if it ever crossed this person's mind, "How are these interest rates chosen? Why do the rates go up sometimes, and down others?" Frustrating for those of us who planned on using this as a negotiation tool.

In other news, listened to this on my big 10 inch this morning. Dig it.

ahoy, world

Despite not being a morning person -- as a matter of fact, I hate getting out of bed in the morning -- I went for a short run this morning. It was my first time I ran since the Wasatch Front 100 DNF 4.5 weeks ago. I will admit, the leg turnover was a bit.........slow. Dodging cars wasn't the most fun either. But it felt great to be out by myself in the dark, where I got to check out the full moon for a couple minutes.

Got home and listened to the Misfits Beware EP while I got myself ready. It occurred to me that this was pretty much the same way I used to start my days when I was about 14 or 15 (minus the running): throwing on dirty clothes and listening to punk at 7 A.M. The only difference is that now, I have to hurry up so that I can feed my daughter before we leave, where previously I had to rush to not miss the bus.

salad days

sometimes, you've got to know when something has run its course, and be able to adjust accordingly. the difficult part is being able to identify this, in real-time.

Wishing for the days
When I first wore this suit
Baby has grown older,
It's no longer cute
Too many voices
They've made me mute
Baby has grown ugly,
It's no longer cute

But I stay on, I stay on
Where do I get off?
On to greener pastures
The core has gotten soft

Look at us today
We've gotten soft and fat
Waiting for the moment,
It's just not coming back
So serious
About the stuff we lack
Dwell upon our memories
But there are no facts