Driving the Storm

Florida weather is quite interesting. I was driving back, from the south of the state, when the Emergency Broadcasting System interrupted my hits of the 80’s station. In the middle of Flock of Seagulls the announcer says that there is an extremely powerful storm cell traveling over the central portion of Florida. The report goes on about golf ball size hail, wind gusts up to 60 mph and severe lightning. The storm is moving at 15 mph and traveling east.

I am about an hours drive from where they reported the storm and I figured it would pass before I get there. I figured wrong.

45 minutes and 3 more emergency broadcasts later I was driving through the worst storm I have ever seen. I cannot describe the rain. It was so heavy that it felt like I was driving under water. Like I was in a Plymouth Submarine. My wipers could not go fast enough to clear the windshield. The lightning that I was witnessing was multiple (5 or so) strikes at a time. Not off on the horizon but directly in front of me. I realized that it was not safe for me to continue driving so I pulled off onto the shoulder. Since I was unfamiliar with the area I waited until I was close to an exit, just in case I had to exit the turnpike.

As I was waiting for the storm to pass, or at least lighten up, the radio sounded again with the beeping fax machine sound of the EBS. “…There has been a tornado sighted in Port St. Lucie. There are reports that it threw a police car 150 feet into the air. Seek shelter immediately….”. I was a little nervous. I look up at the exit sign I was idling in front of and it reads: PORT ST. LUCIE ½ Mile.

I was not going to sit and wait for a tornado so I decided it would better to continue driving. I figured I could beat the storm in a few minutes. I continued driving into the most ugly green as pea soup clouds I have ever witnessed. I was IN the storm clouds. My car was shaking from the wind. I still couldn’t see anything further than 15 feet in front of me.

I traveled about another 5 miles when I started to get scared. I do not think I was ever that scared in my life. (Except for the time I worked in a nightclub and a car crashed through the front of the building. Or the other time I worked in the same nightclub and there was shooting out front and an overweight lady grabbed me and used me as a shield. Or there was the time that one of my siblings found all the Christmas gifts in my mom’s closet and my parents threatened that there would be no Christmas unless someone confessed and I took one for the team, and said it was me, although I DIDN’T DO IT.) Anyway, I was scared. I pulled over again.

I sat for a minute or two and realized that I was about 15 feet away from a creek. I watched the creek rise. I could see the level come up to the shoulder of the road. I decided it would be best if I kept driving. I didn’t want to be swept away.

I was listening to the radio to check the status of the storm but I was in between broadcasting locations. I did hear the EBS in Spanish but since I failed Spanish in 10th grade I had no idea where the storm was going. I thought it best to proceed north to the first rest stop on the turnpike, 32 miles ahead. If I was going to wait out the storm I could at least have a Whopper and fries while waiting.

20 miles ahead the storm stopped. The sun was out. It was gorgeous.

I pulled into the rest stop to evaluate how many ways I could have perished. Besides the possibility of an accident with other vehicles, I could have been hit by lightning, swept away in a flood, tossed around in a tornado or possibly just driven off the road into an embankment or something.

The worst part of the trip; the toll was $13.70. I want my money back.

I miss you Mom Mom 

There is actually a lizard under the cup 

Haircuts and Hormones

I am at the Hair Cuttery the other day getting my monthly $13.00 cut. The people that work there are pretty nice and friendly. Sometimes, too friendly. Maria is cutting my hair and we are next to Sue the other hair cutterER, who is giving some lady a perm. This is the conversation I had to sit through.

Maria: So now she is on hormone pills?
Sue: Yea.
Maria: That’s crazy.
Sue: Yea she is so young.
Perm Lady: Couldn’t she just have surgery?
Sue: Not until they try the hormones. Something about opening her fallopian tubes.
Maria: Look Down.
Sue: What?
Maria: No I was talking to him.
ME: Oh Sorry.
Maria: I heard Hormones make you all grumpy and stuff.
Perm Lady: Oh, she don’t need any help with that.
Sue: Yea I know she is always bitchy.
Maria: Does our plan cover that? Look Down.
ME: Oh sorry.
Sue: I think.
Maria: It cover’s fertility stuff?
Perm Lady: I am sure companies would.
Sue: I know that hormone stuff gets expensive. My mother had a hysterectomy and she had to buy her hormones. They weren’t cheap.
Maria: I didn’t know you mom had a hysterectomy. Do you want the back squared or rounded?
ME: You’re talking to me right? Whatever you prefer. I can’t see back there.
Sue: Yea like two years ago.
Maria: I will square it. Well if she is getting her hormones covered by the insurance so she can have a baby I think they should cover my birth Control pills so I don’t have a baby.
Sue: Wouldn’t that be great?
Perm Lady: And they should cover Viagra too.
Sue: Hah. If they are gonna cover a girl to get hormones so she can get pregnant, they should cover Viagra so a guy can get her pregnant. Hah.
Maria: Heheh. Hee. What do you think?
ME: Are you talking to me?
Maria: Yes.
ME: Sure I think insurance should cover Viagra.
Maria: No. I meant what do you think about your hair?

Proud Moments

I was thinking of some of the moments in my life that make/made proud and smile. I don't know if proud is the right word to describe it but I think you get the point. Here is a list of some of my proudest moments.

Getting married and staying married. One of the best decisions I have ever made. The pride comes from the fact that she said "Yes" to me.

Having Maxfield. Granted, I did not do much in regards to giving birth or anything, but there is a huge unexplainable sense of pride that comes from having a child.

The time I hit the game tie-ing homerun in the 2004 brother vs. brother Americans vs. Nationals Stickball game. I know it was not the game winning home run, but without the tie-ing home run there would have been no set up for the Lawn Whisperer to hit the game winning homerun. So basically I won the game.

Last night, I talked my mother into phoning my brother to call him a pussy. My mom does not use language like that so I gave it to her in code. And she did it. My mom called my brother a pussy. That is awesome.

MooneyAngelo

After a month or two, finally a new poem by the great MooneyAngelo

Not Yard of the Month. Courtesy of JT.  

Pasketti 

No Comment

I want to thank everyone who reads Poop and Boogies. I really do appreciate the members of my family, my friends and blog buddies who take an interest in what is posted here. I love getting comments from everyone. However, I had to "turn off" the comments view because of some, what I would call, creepy comments as well as the fact that the more family comments I get, the harder it is to keep some type of anonymity. I love getting feedback, but, until I can figure a way to edit them, before the whole world (or more like 25 people) can see them, I need to leave them turned off.

Thanks and please keep visiting.

Key

The neighborhood (SUB DIVISION if you are a Florida resident) has a community pool. Only residents of the development are allowed to use it and must be issued a key for admittance. So we call the lady that issues the key. Lauren tells her about how we are new to the area. The Key Lady tells Lauren that she has three kids; two are teenagers. Lauren asked her if her kids babysat. The Key Lady says, “Was that your husband who stopped my daughter the other day while walking the dog?”

The girl still has not called.

Lessons Learned on Saturday.

1)There is nothing wrong with telling other parents at Gymboree that you are taking your son to the dog track, to bet on the Preakness, because your son needs a new pair of shoes.


2)Do not take pictures of the old guys at the dog track. They don't like it. They think it will steal their luck.

3)Bet on Afleet Alex. Of course I learned this one after the race.

Maxfield Needs a New Pair of Shoes 

Too Cool 

Thaaaat's Elmo's World.

For those who know Elmo’s World you may find this funny. The end of every episode Elmo sings the topic of that episode to the tune of “Jingle Bells”. So if the episode is about HANDS, Elmo sings:
“Hands hands hands.
Hands Hands hands.
Hands hands hands HANDS hands.

This is the call I got today at work.

Me: Hello, this is Bill, can I help you?
Lauren: Hey it’s me.
Me: Hey.
Lauren: You know I forgot to tell you earlier when I talked to you but guess what Elmo was thinking about today.
Me: Uhhh… Sex?
Lauren: Kind of (starts singing), Balls balls balls. Balls balls balls. Balls balls balls BAlls balls. I just thought you should know that. I love you. Bye.


Between that, and the tape I received in the mail today, from my brother, which I will refer to as “The Lawn Whisperer Sings”, I am having a great day filled with laughter.

Lawn Whisperinging 

A Swedish Light Bulb (above the head).

This conversation happened last night. I was in the bedroom and Lauren was in the kitchen.

Lauren: Hey Bill?
Bill: Yea?
Lauren: I just had an Idea.
Bill: Ahh Shit!
Lauren: Whaaaat?
Bill: What did YOU say?
Lauren: I said, "I just had an idea".
Bill: THANK GOD!
Lauren: What.
Bill: I thought you said, "I found an IKEA."

Seriously, I don't know if I would rather go to JoAnn Fabrics(see post from a few days ago) or go to IKEA.

The Little Stripper 

Barnes and Noble the Playground

We went to Barnes and Noble the other night. Lauren wanted to look for decorating magazines and book and my job was to entertain Max. Not that I needed to entertain him in a store full of things he has not touched, slobbered on or ripped to shreds yet.

I let Max explore. In and out of each aisle. If it was at Max level he grabbed it and I put it back. The metal detector type security alarm scanners in the music section fascinated him. He climbed. I took him off. They had brass stanchion poles in the music section as well. He wanted to tackle them. I picked them up. He was then grabbing the brass stanchions and spinning around them like a stripper.

When he got bored it was back through the aisles. This went on for 30 minutes.

After a near catastrophe with a cardboard display filled with Star Wars books, we went to find Mom. Lauren was standing about 30 feet away down an aisle when Max saw her. He started yelling. Not crying, but as if to say, “Hey Mom. You should see all the different things that are in this place. This is awesome. Did you see the train set they have in the kids section?” At the top of his tiny lungs he is babbling up a storm, stumbling towards Mom. As we get to the end of the stack of shelves I realize that Lauren is standing right next to the lounge area where there are about 15 people sitting in chairs and couches reading quietly.

Max of course now has an audience and has to tell them that he climbed the Dr. Suess shelf all by himself. We quiet him down and Lauren goes to pay for her purchases. Since Max was having a great time I let him run for a few minutes, as he has to tell every person we pass about his day. Babble, babble, babble. He approaches a guy in the Sci-Fi section telling his tale. The guy acknowledges Max and smiles. Max walks over and, puts his hands over his head, as if he wanted the guy to pick him up. Max stumbles and plows right into the guy’s groin. The guy groans and drops the book he was reading.

I gave the guy a mumbled apology, and we left immediately.

She has a back up plan. In case the the singing, acting being a diva doesn't work out.  

He Takes After His Uncle Mike 

Genius Is...

...separating the silverware, into separate sections while putting it into the dishwasher. When you take it out, you just grab the one section with the spoons and put it away. Forks, put away. Knives, done. It beats separating it while emptying the dishwasher.

Lauren has been doing this for a while and, one day, I figured it out. I was putting away the clean dishes and I realized that all the butter knives were in one compartment. I was actually floored with the genius of this way of thinking. It was like the greatest invention ever. My wife invented the greatest kept domestic secret on the planet.

A few days later we were at my friend Bob’s house for a dinner party. I was helping him clean up and noticed that he was separating the silverware before putting it into the dishwasher.

It was then that I realized I am just an idiot.

Lauren is still a genius.

They should teach this in Home-Ec.

Wanted

We need a babysitter. With no family or friends in the area we are becoming antsy to get out of the house without the kid. It’s not like “we need time for ourselves”. We had a kid. We made the decision to never have time like that again. But, the new Star Wars film is coming out. Batman Begins. Fantastic Four. These are movies that need to be seen on the big screen. Sure I could go by myself, but it is rare that I get to talk superheroes with my wife, without her giving me the “you are total geek” look. So these movies will bring us closer together. They will strengthen us as a couple.
But,you can’t really bring a 1 year old to the movies. So we need a babysitter.

Last week, I’m taking Luna for her evening walk when I see coming towards me, a teenaged girl walking a dog. Of course the dogs have to stop to size each other up. I ask the obligatory, “What’s your dogs name?”
Which the she responds through her braces, “Justin.”
I introduce Luna and then make some small talk and then I blurt out, “Do you baby sit?”
She kind of got a strange look on her face and I realized I might have scared her. So, then I am explaining to the girl that we just moved in, where we are from, where we live and how we are desperate for a baby sitter and that maybe she could stop by with her parent’s of course and talk to my wife and meet the kid and that I am not some lunatic on the street.
She said, “Mmm, ok. Uhhh. Yea.”

She never stopped by. But neither did the cops. So that is a good thing. I guess.

Max on the Beach 

Max Talkin  

1000 Rat's Ass'

Here is a list of my favorite sayings. Some are old or overused on a regular basis in probably every office or situation. Some may be original because I have never heard them before. I will try to provide a definition.

I’m having a Charlie Brown day-Lauren uses this when her day is not going the way she planned. When Max is cranky and the flooring guy never calls back and the dishwasher breaks. I say, “How was your day?” And she replies “I’m having a Charlie Brown Day.”

Shit the Bed- I use this often at work and in most occasions when someone or something messes up. Examples “ That would have been a great picture but the camera shit the bed.” Or “It was supposed be delivered on Friday but Fed Ex shit the bed. Now I wont have it until Monday”.

Thrown under the bus. -This is used way too much, but is the perfect description for when someone else gets you in trouble. “I can’t believe he threw you under the bus like that by telling your wife you went to a strip club.”

If you had a thousand rats ass’ (asses) could I get one? -To be used when someone says, “I couldn’t give a rats ass.” A guy named Eric used this on my brother Kevin years ago. Eric was telling him some problems at work that needed Kevin’s attention and Kevin said, “I don’t give a rat’s ass”. Eric, without missing a beat says, “If you had a thousand rat’s ass’ would you give me one”.

This is my personal favorite and I do not use it nearly enough.

My Wife Thinks She is Funny When...

....I am drifting off to sleep for the night and she starts asking me questions, knowing full well I talk in my sleep and I start answering her questions based on my dreams. (my brothers used to do this as well).

....I put Max in the Playpen (Pack-N-play to modern people), and while I am not looking, she lets him out, so I think he actually figured a way to escape.

...I take a nap and she wakes me by holding Max's dirty stinky diaper ass next to my face.

Blog Tag

I have been experiencing some technical issues with my home computer. COMPY 386 is just not working the right way. I will not be able to post for a day or two.
I was recently “tagged” by NIC to do a blog “If I were a (insert occupation) I would (insert what I would do)” There are bunch of jobs to choose from. But you are only supposed to pick 5. This will be my post for now.
The list of Jobs.
If I could be a Innkeeper
If I could be a Librarian
If I could be a writer-I could….ummmm let me think…I would…Damn wirter’s block.
If I could be a Pirate
If I could be a scientist
If I could be a farmer
If I could be a musician
If I could be a doctor-I would make appointments for a specific time and I would actually see those patients at that time instead of making them wait 45 minutes in the office and another 10 in the actual check up room.
If I could be a painter
If I could be a gardener-I would not need the Lawn Whisperer
If I could be a chef
If I could be an architect-I would make sure all buildings had Batpoles.
If I could be a linguist
If I could be a psychologist
If I could be an athlete
If I could be a lawyer
If I could be a professor-I would have gotten us off the island much sooner.
If I could be a llama-rider
If I could be an astronaut
If I could be a world famous blogger
If I could be a justice on any one court in the world
If I could be married to any current famous political figure

And I do not know enough other bloggers to pass this on. So I won't.

Conclave in the Tree

Since the move to Florida, we have not really gotten out much. We basically entertain ourselves by shopping, checking out playgrounds for Max, watching T.V. and walking through parks. A recent form of entertainment has been the Cardinals that have built a nest right outside our living room window. They have been there for about a month and have already hatched a few eggs.
I named them Bevilacqua and Kroll. Bevilacqua is the male bright red bird, which is the most visible in our backyard. We occasionally catch glimpses of Kroll, the female, gray colored bird. It has been fun watching them take turns feeding the baby birds and it was amazing that the babies grew and took off in about 10 days. 10 days from birth to empty nest. I figured down in Florida we would be seeing all kinds of exotic wildlife up close. But no, we watch Cardinals, which we could see up north.
We are old. We live in Florida AND we watch birds in our yard. I think I will price out AARP memberships.

10th Level

We went to hell on Sunday. Okay, not really hell but one of my versions of hell. We went to JoAnn Fabrics.

Somewhere in Dante’s description of the nine levels he forgot to mention JoAnn Fabrics. I rarely go to this place but since it was Mother’s Day we did what Lauren wanted to do. And if you asked Lauren, “Do you want to go to an all expense paid vacation to Hawaii, where there will be hot tubs, massages, and all the crab legs and steak you could eat, or go to Joann’s?”
She would probably say JoAnn Fabrics. The JoAnn Fabrics by our house is a JoAnn Superstore. Superstore hell. Super Hell.

My job at JoAnns today was to take care of Max, which is normally an easy job. Not today. Max wanted to walk. Not sit in the cart and smile at all the ladies that work there. He wanted to walk in and out of every aisle. Every aisle in Superstore Hell is a lot of aisles, with tons of bolts of fabric to throw on the floor. And they have tons balls of yarn and ribbons that can be tossed every which way. At some point Max needed to have his diaper changed.

We made our way to the men’s room where they actually had a clean and working changing table with a strap. A working strap is rare in public restroom changing tables. Hell has a pretty nice men’s room. Probably, because men rarely go into the superstore hell. I don’t know if it was the diaper or being in the bathroom but now I had to pee. What was I going to do with Max?

Being MacGyver-esque, I figured a way to use the strap from the changing table and the strap from the diaper bag to tether max to the wall. So I am standing at the urinal, Max is tied to the wall like a horse outside a saloon, and don’t you know it, theonly other man in the store walks in. I was so embarrassed because I tied Max to the wall.

After eternity it was time for lunch. We went to a sandwich/salad place called Crisper’s. Crisper’s does not serve any kind of food suitable for kids. So we ordered a roll for Max and I gave him half of the pickle that came with my Sandwich. Half a pickle, which he tried to shove into his mouth all at once. I of course take it out and he shoves it back in. I finally extract it from his clenched teeth and it falls to the floor. Being that there is no five-second rule in a restaurant or any other public place for that matter, we took it away from him. The shriek the emanated from his mouth was the loudest I have ever heard from him. He of course starts wailing and screaming. The other customers in the place were giving us dirty looks. Which pissed me and Lauren off. But I couldn't quiet him quick enough. I wanted to go back to JoAnns.

Mom's Mother's Day

Mom,
Happy Mother’s Day. You truly deserve a wonderful day. You gave birth and raised 9 kids. Everyday should be mother’s day for you.

I know I am your favorite child. Well, right next to Jim because he is the baby of the family, and after Sharon, because she is the oldest and the only girl and named her daughter after you. Oh and Patrick because he named a daughter after you. (I think they both did it to guarantee babysitting time from you). And I guess I am after Dennis, because he was the oldest boy and the first to give you a grandchild and he has three nipples. I forgot Kevin would be your favorite before me because after all he is Dad’s favorite so that pulls some weight. Oh and Dan would squeeze in there because he can fix all of your appliances and computer. Michael, I forgot Michael would come next in the line-up of favorites because he only lives a block from you and he still lets you mother him and he shovels your walk in the snow.
Then I guess it would ME.
Then John.

I know Max is your favorite grandchild out of the 19. You told me he was the cutest baby you have ever seen.

Anyway, from your 8th favorite child. I love you!

Mom, I know you laughed at this. Especially the three nipple part, because, c’mon three nipples is always funny.

For real. I love you and miss you. Have a great day!

Bike Test

When we, my 8 siblings and I, were growing up, before we could ride a bike in the street we had to take a bike test.

I learned to ride a bike I guess when I was 5 or 6. It was hand me down Big Wheels before that. But once we mastered the two wheel regular bikes we could only ride in the driveway or the sidewalk. We were not allowed to cross the street on the bike. We weren’t even allowed to walk the bike across the street. We were only allowed to go around the block, on the sidewalk. We had to wait until our 7th or 8th birthday (I can’t remember) for my father to administer the Bike Test before we could venture out onto the street. Going around the block for a whole year was quite boring.

Dad felt that if we were going to ride in the street that at least we would have to be safe. The bike test was the first step in being able to ride with your friends or even older brothers. It was the test to be somewhat free. It was hard, especially to an 8 year old.

The test started in the driveway. We had to make a right, heading North onto Street X. Make a right, heading East onto street Y. Make a u-turn without hitting the curb and head West, stop at the stop sign, cross Street X and head up the small hill. We then had to make another U-turn and head East again, stop at the stop sign make right onto Street X and then a left into our driveway. If we did this and we were not too fast or too slow (yes you could get penalized for being too slow) and we used all of the right signals and stopped where we were supposed to, we would pass the test. We would be free.

Not one of my brothers or my sister ever passed on the first try.
The second stop sign got me. I went right through it. I mean I was coming down the hill; I was making a right hand turn, I looked, no cars were coming, what’s the difference?

The difference. I had to wait another two weeks before I could take the test again. I had to wait 14 days before I could ride with my friends. I really should say friend. It was embarrassing. There go my brothers riding down to the park and I would have to walk. By the time I got to the stickball game it would already be the second inning. Not that any one cared because I sucked at stickball.

Now a days there are laws about kids wearing helmets. There are lawsuits when a kid gets hit by car, because he crossed the road without looking. There are lawsuits when kids get hurt by their own bikes. Where are the bike tests?

My dad turns 65 on Saturday. Happy Birthday Dad.

Mother's/Wife Day

We will busy this weekend, so I wanted to post this for Mother's Day/Wife Day (which is what it is since Max is only 1. Although I am going to garnisheed his first few weeks of allowance for the gifts).

Some reasons why my wife is the best mother/wife ever.
1.She has more patience with Maxfield than I could ever have. Even when he is flailing his arms and legs and doesn’t want to leave Gymboree. Lauren does not get embarrassed she just does her job and takes him home.
2.The fact the she can read “Barnyard Dance” 1000 times and read it like it is the first time, each time.
3.She has incredible will power. She can resist jumping my bones when I step out of the shower, when I am all done mowing the grass and I am all sweaty and even when I am sitting on the couch eating Cheetos. I tell ya it is an incredible show of strength and fortitude. I think I am hot. She does say that there is nothing sexier than me doing the dishes or laundry.
4.She humors me with ‘Snot Races”. When Max starts crying and the snot starts oozing. I say, “Pick a side, left or right.” And she does (the winner is decided once the snot reaches the top lip) She doesn’t say “that’s gross”.
5.She has Cobra like booger picking ability. She can snatch a booger from Max’s nose lightning fast. Even in motion. It’s like she sees the booger she postions her hand like a cobra in striking position. Snap! Booger gone. Max doesn’t even know what happened. I think they should make this a Rodeo type sport. I think Lauren could beat any mom in the nation. Mom Olympics, that could be cool.
6.She has the best taste in music. Even the stuff she listens to that I do not like, I like.
7.She rocks my world today as she did on the day I met her.
8.She actually will take the “shell’s off the peas before she feeds them to Max.
9.For her tolerance in letting Max do new things. For instance, we took Max for a walk in his wagon. He figured out that instead of riding in it he could pull it. Knowing full well that a 15 minute walk would become a 45 minute walk, she lets Max pull the wagon.
10.For allowing me to discuss my brilliant ideas with her. Such as the LID BIB. Which is basically a shower cap for Kids. Whenever Max is eaten something sticky ,gooey or liquidy after he gets it on his hands he always rubs his head. His hair then is always clumped together and gross. Then she says “a kid would never keep it on but it is a good Idea.”

Happy Mother’s Day Lauren. I love you. Thanks for all you do for me and Maxfield.

Ed Grimly I must Say! 

No Parachute Pants. 

Breakdancing Bogart

Our cats are supposed to be on a diet. I call it the Catkins diet because we are supposed to limit their carbs. We give them just the good old canned wet smells like dead mice cat food. That is what the vet recommended. They said the occasional dry food is okay but we should stick to the Meat and meat by-products.

Bogart the largest of two has been starving. He has been waking me up in the middle of the night because he wants food. If I don't get up, he knocks stuff over in the house. He actually breaks things until he gets fed. I am now to the point that I just fill the bowl with the dry food because I know I need my carbs. Plus Bogart is a cat. He chokes on hairballs, licks the other cats butt and kills and eats lizards. Him being overweight is the least of his troubles.

Anyway, Lauren said, "Bill I didn't know we were out of the canned cat food."

"I think there is a can or two left." I said.

She replied, "Not that it makes a difference, because you keep giving them the dry food".

"Well I just can't stand being woken up at night by him breaking things."

I guess she misheard me because she said, "By him Breakdancing?"

The Lawn Whisperer

I was speaking with my brother John yesterday and I was explaining life in Florida(Officially, I became a Floridian 2 months ago today). About what the major differences are between the South and Pennsylvania and what not. So we're talkin and I mention how the development I live in has a Yard of The Month Award. They give it to the Yard that has improved the most. I told John how my neighbors won. I have not cut my grass in 3weeks so compared to my yard they look great. I am not a yard person. The following is part of the email I received from John. Who, cuts his grass 3 times a week. Who enjoys yard work. Who loves the smell of mulch in the morning.
I edited it for content.

It is not about the money. It is about the pride of having the skills to maintain a well groomed lawn. You see, much like your silly pets, lawns need grooming too. You should just do it, for the sake of saying that you won. At the age that we are currently, the opportunity for competition does not come by very often. There is no more little league for us. There is no more highschool sports. We only have two forms of competition left.

First, we compete with our kids. Yes, we compete with our children, for the attention of our spouse. We basically get screwed here. My wife pays all of her attention to them, like they are helpless little kids or something. I am basically an ornament. I am the dinner table ornament. What I say has no bearing on anything.

He explains different ways that he competes for the attention of his wife and how he is an ornament in many occasions and then proceeds to this

The other form of competition is with the neighbors. You know, keeping up with the Jone's. Well, I like to kick the crap out of the Jone's. My lawn is the best. My trees are the best. Bill, my lawn listens to me. I am the Lawn Whisperer.

I can teach you things grasshopper. You should be able to compete for the Best Lawn award. Fertilizer, water, and TLC. Give the lawn some TLC Bill. You will make those neighbors hate that you live there. Your two neighbors will win every month if your ugliness is between them. The committee will always compare them to you. Don't have a messy lawn Bill. Let me be the Dr. Phil of lawns for you. We can beat those neighbors. You gotta believe. Step up, be a man. Be a competitor and grow that grass.

John is very jealous they do not have a Lawn award in his neighborhood. But I decided I will give this a shot. John will be the Obi Lawn Kenobi and I will be Young Skywalker. This should be interesting.

Turd Tag

I am new to the whole Blog Tag thing going on, but I was tagged to do a Turd Poem.(see comments in previous post). Thanks to "What Was I Thinking" (I do not know how to do links so just go to www.uhohnowlook.blogspot.com to see how this started it is one of my favorite blogs to read).

Turd in the punchbowl
Oh How Uncouth
Turd in the punchbowl
Ah, no it's just a Baby Ruth.


I am supposed to send this to three other people in the blogosphere but I do not know that many. Sorry.

Edited 5-4-05 I figured how to do some links. CLick here to see Susie's Blog

Thou Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Sippy Cup

Max and I went to church on Sunday. 8 AM Mass. I like to show up exactly at 8, because Max has a good behavior mode of about 40 minutes, which is what the service usually run.
We go into the back of the church where there is a "special needs" room (according to the Catholic Church "special needs" means "screaming kids"). We enter the sound proof room with the glass front so you can see the altar but not the big screen TV (see the post from March)and we sit down in an unoccupied row of chairs. There is plenty of space for Maxfield to play and pray. There are a few other families in the room a few rows ahead of us. Max is doing pretty good with his plastic tow truck, his stuffed dog rattle and squishy books when, in walks Andrew and his parents who sit in the empty row behind us. Andrew's mom spreads out his toys which consist of a stuffed fire truck and a Tupperware container.
The two kids make eye contact through the back of the folding chairs. They exchange baby talk and start to share their toys. They are crawling and stumbling and walking back and forth between the two rows of chairs. They are playing nicely until Max refuses to give Andrew the squishy book. Andrew starts to fuss and in order to calm him down his mom pulls out a sippy cup.

Hell broke loose in church.

Max had a fit. He wanted a sippy cup as well. I could not undo the knot in the diaper bag string fast enough to get his apple juice. Max starts screaming like a boy possessed. I am distracted rifling through the bag, Pepperidge farm gold fish are all over the place (Kind of like the fishes and loaves story in the bible)and Max goes after Andrew. Max is ready to steal Andrew's sippy cup and I know he will knock him over to get it. Luckily I grab him before he assaults 11 month old and I insert the end of Max's sippy cup into his mouth to quiet the demon within.

It is all calm.

Max is standing on the floor leaning against the seat of the chair with his elbow, the other hand is grasped to the cup. Andrew is standing right next to him in the same position. They looked like they were hanging out at a bar. It was just like a bar. Two guys being friends, they start a fight, drinks come out, they are friends again. So everything was cool.

I was a little annoyed with Andrew's mom though. Isn't there some kind of parent to parent signal that says "I'm giving my kid something edible. So should you"???

Sarasota

This past weekend we went to Sarasota to visit friends. We spent part of the day on Lido Beach. It was Maxfiled’s first visit to a beach. He had a blast. We went swimming, ate sand, it was fun. I think we spoiled him though with his first swimming experience. I mean, after you swim in the green/blue super clear Gulf of Mexico how could you ever go swimming in the black sludge that is the Atlantic Ocean, especially the Jersey Shore. We stayed at a hotel that was right across the street from the Maxfield Medical Center. How cool is that? He is only 14 months old (yesterday) and there is a Medical Center named after him.

Cool Sign 

Gator Encounter

We have been living in Florida for just under two months and on Saturday 4/30/05 we had our first Gator sighting. Lauren, Maxfield and I went to the park that runs along the Little Econlockhatchee River (say that 5 times fast). As we were strolling along Lauren kept looking over her shoulder into the river. I told her to stop because she was making me nervous. But she said, “I keep seeing something. I don’t know if it is a stick or a turtle, or, OH MY GOD it’s an alligator!”

So I turn around and I am like “Where?”
“Right there” she said, “In the middle of the river.”

Sure enough, swimming in the middle of the river about 50 feet away, was a 4 foot (give or take a few inches) alligator. We watched it for about a half an hour. It was floating along towards a bridge where there were guys fishing. The guys fishing left a cooler on the bank and they were afraid to go and get it. Being Northerners Lauren and I were all like “Let’s get a closer look.” We crossed the railing and walked on the bank to try and inspect the gator. It was pretty cool. Since our digital camera broke we could not zoom in to get a better picture. We tried taking one with a disposable camera but they did not come out. We got a nice picture of the river though. Hopefully we get a chance to see the Florida version of Bigfoot. It's called the Skunkape.

No Gator Visible.