The Carny

And as the company passed from the valley
Into a higher ground
The rain beat on the ridge and on the meadow
And on the mound
Until nothing was left, nothing at all
Except the body of sorrow
That rose in time
To float upon the surface of the eaten soil
And a murder of crows did circle round
First one, then the others flapping blackly down
And the carny's van still sat upon the edge
Tilting slowly as the firm ground turned to sludge
And the rain it hammered down
And no-one saw the carny go
I say it's funny how things go

Toy of the week

18" of Alien terror from the good folks at Kenner. I still haven't figured out why, exactly, they'd make a toy out of something from an R rated horror movie. Whatever, the thing is freakin awesome. The head glows in the dark, and the secondary jaw extends when you push a button on the back of the head.

Watchmen bits

I failed to mention earlier this random little fun thing:

Over on Watchmencomicmovie they had a Q & A session with Zach Snyder. I kind of, sort of, indirectly got to chat up Zach! Check the 4th question. You should recognize the handle.

10-4, masked vigilantes!

It remains a post 12/13 world. For me.

What a shit ass day, weather wise. Around 11 I asked my boss if I could leave work early, and got a negative response. Shortly after that, she left for our Braintree office. So, at 2 I left. Screw that, I will never again sit in my car for 8 1/2 hours to travel 30 miles if I can at all avoid it.

When I left, traffic was moving, and road conditions seemed alright. I actually made it to Quincy in about 10 minutes. Time enough to get coffee before picking up Izzy.

From there, things got worse.

When I pulled up to Izzy's daycare, the car went into a skid and I smashed into the curb hard enough to dent my rim. I just missed a telephone poll by inches. The rest of the ride home was treacherous at best. I usually don't have too much trouble in the snow, between having front wheel drive and a standard. Today I was sliding all over the place. Not good.

Made it home around 3:30. Not bad, not bad at all. KG left work shortly after that and was home a little after 5.

Now the kids are tucked into bed, I'm getting sleepy, and the sound of freezing rain is playing in the background.

They're coming to get you, Barbara

Most people who know me know about my deep seated fear of wild turkeys. I spent a number of years being stalked by a disgruntled herd of them in Marshfield, and I fear them almost as much as I do raccoons.

KG was delighted to inform me the other day that there were six of the bastards outside. Right next to the house. Perching on top of the church like gargoyles.

I haven't slept well since.

As a matter of fact, the whole thing is dark

So, tonight our little moon passes through our planet's shadow, momentarily obscured. I'm a lazy stargazer, truth be told. In fact, I was only aware of tonight's eclipse because it was on fark.

At any rate, I wandered outside a few minutes ago to take a gander. And there is the moon, bright in the sky and blood red. A menses moon.

Neat.

Toy of the week

ET, featuring an extending neck and a Speak and Spell.
I used to have a prosthetic ET finger with a light up tip. It looked like a big gray, shining cock. That appears to have long since disappeared.

Dysentery

You gotta have the stomach for it.

This week has been one long bout of one person or another in our house forcefully expelling liquids from one orifice or another. Whatever malevolent little bug has entered our abode ain't going away easy.

Izzy was home on Wednesday throwing up a storm. TKJr was sent home from school the next day with the same, plus the runs. He was home today as well, but seems to be on the mend.

I picked Izzy up, and she's sick again. Threw up once today and hasn't been eating. Unlike her brother, who is full of maniacal, pent up energy, she was listless and quite not herself this evening. I find it a bit unnerving. She'll be going to the MD tomorrow if it continues.

Now, it seems KG has the loose bowels as well. I already went through it last week, so here's hoping I don't get it again.

Toy of the week

Colonial Viper from the original BSG. The front and rear sections separate, and you can add pieces of other ships to "customize" it. At one point there were little orange projectiles that fired from the cannons, but I fear they are long lost to the ages.

Post party report

I forgot I was planning on taking pics last night until the wee hours. So, here's a couple of snapshots from the tail end of the festivities:


And finally, when the kids came home today they posed for this little heart warmer:

Happy Birthday to me

First off, let me say that turning 35 is really no big deal.

there's more than a passing chance that I've actually hit middle age. I figure at the rate I'm going, 70 is a long shot. A pleasant possibility. Should I make it, I'll be pleased. If I don't,

At any rate, a varied group of individuals took a break from their usual Saturday night routine to come down and help me mark the occasion. I feared all week I'd be hiding in my nicotine enshrouded den while fellow wish me wells gathered upstairs. Not the case.

Quite a few people took a tumor for me tonight. Both me and Phillip Morris appreciate your dedication to the Schultz Corporation and it's various subsidiaries. We appreciate your continued support. Your presence at the annual meeting was, and is, appreciated.

Thank you, Taco, for this loving tribute to Falco.

Now I'm starting to get a little worried

Toy of the week

Remote Control Jawa Sancrawler! The original commercial for this bad boy boasts about it's mult-directioness: Forward, reverse, and forward again!

Short week ahead

I found myself in work this morning before the sun had even come up. That's just wrong.

I'm leaving early today to pick the boy up from preschool. I'm looking forward to actually being able to drive the speed limit on 93.

Even better, I have Thursday and Friday off. We get to celebrate Chinese new year because the baby's daycare will be closed.

I love short work weeks.

Dispatch from The Land of Do-As-You-Please

Meet Dramatic Lemur

Can I go back to work? Please?

Ugh.

So, KG got a call late Friday morning that TKJr had a fever and needed to come home from school. He was a bit sick over the weekend, but more or less his usual self. Sunday he came out of the bathroom and reported that he was making stinky water (ie diarrhea). Still no fever, but he had the runs.

Izzy was fine all weekend. Sunday morning I noted she felt warm, but seemed OK. Around 5 she was running around naked as usual.

KG gave the kids a bath, and the baby started shivering. We bundled her up and sat down to watch AFV. Shortly after, she started puking and was hot to the touch. Fever of 103.7. We called the doctor, tried to cool her down, and pumped her full of drugs. At 10:30 she still had a temp, but it was lower.

I slept through the night, but she didn't. When I got up for work, KG asked me to stay home with her, as the baby's fever was back up over 103, and Nick, although seeming fine, was still having the runs. So I missed work. Again.

Izzy went to the doctor, they couldn't find anything wrong. Probably an intestinal bug that she caught from TKJr. She and KG napped most of the day away, while I attempted to entertain a cranky boy. I've never wanted to be at work more.

So, tonight the kids seem more or less normal. Izzy's fever was scary, but she seems to be bouncing back. I'd be happy and all, except I've noticed two things this evening. First, my bones ache and I'm really, really tired. Second, there is one hell of an ill wind blowing out of my ass.

I can work sick. I actually prefer to save my sick days for mental health use. That said, I will under no circumstances report for duty when liquid is coming out of my ass or mouth. No way, no how. Wish me luck, because I have a touch of cabin fever.

Toy of the week

Avoid the Noid! I have no idea how I managed to end up with this little guy in my possession, but I did. There he is.

Cleaning Update

Well, all in all KG and I got a good amount of work done today. We can actually walk around our bedroom! We have a lot of clothes between the two of us, and the 3 bureaus current in the bedroom just aren't cutting it.

I did 4 loads of laundry, we packed up 2 garbage bags worth of clothes for Goodwill, and I threw out all my torn socks and pants. We've made some progress. There's more to do, but I'm pleased.

On the agenda is a trip to IKEA to see about replacing all of our bedroom furniture. We have a miss matched set right now, and I think we're over due for something a little more grown up.

Also have to hit the Depot for some foundation sealer and storage racks. Need to hit Target for a record player and an ironing board. I have to straighten up the attic so i can continue to move stuff up from the basement. Need to re-do the office.

Sigh.

On a lighter note, I discussed with KG the importance of spending our tax rebate (not our return, but the economic bail out that should be coming out around May or so) on something that will help stimulate the economy. We wouldn't be doing our part for America if we saved or invested the money. No, we need to purchase something expensive and frivolous. I suggest an HDTV. I don't think I'm pulling one over on her, but she did like the idea.

I don't wanna

Well, KG and I are moving forward with her plan to throw a little bash here for my birthday. It'll be nice to have some people over and show off our homestead.

That said, I've got some serious cleaning and organizing to do before then. Not my favorite thing in the world.

We've got way too much shit, yo. Way too much. I've had some fun over the last week or so going through boxes and discovering all the junk I've held on to for 34 years. But seriously, what's the point? I do enough navel gazing as it is. I really need to just get rid of it.

If only it was that easy.