Naked Man In My Backyard Update...

The naked man in my backyard returned. This time he was actually over his fence into the creek area between our fences. He had the front of his shorts pulled up in an exposing manor - impossible to explain. Instead of calling the police again, Tony and I decided that he would go over and talk to the man's son to see exactly what we are dealing with. He apparently has some sort of brain damage and is obsessed with tanning. Yes, I said tanning. The son told Tony that his father thinks that every single inch of his body needs to be tan and that is why he has been exposing himself in my backyard. Now, I know you all are thinking that such things only happen to me and that I somehow cosmically attract these phenomena. Well, I fear you may be right.

NOW HIRING

I noticed a few weeks ago when I went to the High School to drop something off for one of the boys that all 4 branches of the Armed Forces had tables set up in the common area. Then tonight I received a phone call from a US Marines recruiter asking for Brett. I asked him what he wanted with my son and he said he wanted to talk to him about his plans after high school. I told him that he was planning to attend college. Evidently sensing my displeasure, he then said OK and that he would catch up with him at school. If any of my kids decide to join the military, I will support that. Am I alone in thinking that this is a tad bit inappropriate for them to be setting up camp at the high schools and talking to minors without the consent of their parents? I realize that we are in a time of war but until they institute a draft, the military is just another job. I didn't see anyone there from the local grocery or the local carpenters union or from the McDonalds. Do you want fries or bullets with that?

New Music Monday

Everlast - Folsom Prison Blues

from Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4eAHsaq-0&feature=related

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(Kris's new music today is Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire. Thought I would link it here too. Good one.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kn3iG9KMBk&feature=related

A Wise Man Once Said....

'Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste, they often hurry past it.' - Kierkegaard

'There can't be a crisis next week, my schedule is already full.' - Henry Kissinger

'When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.' - Jimi Hendrix

'Why waste money on psychotherapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass?' - Michael Torke

'Pain can inspire you to reach past yourself.' - Henry Rollins

'Politics is the art of controlling your environment.' - Hunter S. Thompson

'The difference between the almost-right word and the right word is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.' - Mark Twain

17 years, 2 Months and 19 Days Old.... Finally!!

L to R: Willy Jack, Chase, Magee Jayne and Erin.

Bi-Musical

Public Image, Ltd.

John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) - Sex Pistols
Keith Levene - The Clash

Jah Wobble

Jim Walker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NweRE8aeFKQ

My Turn!!

I am going to the lake by myself for a couple of days.... ahhhh. See you all back here Thursday night.

New, eh, Music?

David Archuletta - Crush

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsvbh4hNmcQ&feature=related

I don't know which is more pathetic, his voice or the lyrics. Not to be mean, he's a sweet kid with a horrible row to hoe with that jackass for a father but even if I had liked him on AI, I couldn't give this song a good review, even if I waited for my ears to stop bleeding. Wear ear plugs and read the lyrics, at least it is good for a chuckle.

Bet you didn't know either...

The opposite of nocturnal is diurnal. I did not know this. One of the kids mentioned the other night that you never see squirrels at night and it occurred to me that when something is active at night you call it nocturnal but when something is active in the daytime, you don't really give it a name. I decided to look it up. It is diurnal. Sounds like a colorful place to urinate.

Last Home Game of '08!

Didn't Even Need Photoshop For These!

Getting a Dose of Your Own Medicine

I have never been a conventional parent. I have always encouraged my kids to think outside of the box and to push the envelope. I have never 'sheltered' my kids the way so many parents today do, rather I have chosen that oh so difficult task of explaining things to them and letting them decide for themselves. A very good example of this is the fact that I have always let my kids read anything they choose and watch any type of movies that they choose, only avoiding the actual sex scenes. When they were younger, we used to sit and talk about how they make the fake blood and guts in the movies. As a result of that, none of them ever had nightmares or saw monsters in the closet. They knew from an early age that those things are just fun to imagine and be frightened by while eating popcorn. I honestly believe that this has created a level of common sense and intelligence in my kids that I rarely see in their friends of the same ages. When they were younger and had a friend over, I always asked the other parents what they were allowed to watch. More often than not, they weren't allowed to watch any of the scary movies that my kids liked to enjoy on a weekend night. I always thought this was silly but, of course, respected their wishes. I always thought that they must hate the fact that their kids would come home on a regular basis and say 'But my friend gets to do that -or- my friend gets to watch that.' I'm sure I was a pain in more than one parent's ass over the years. I am getting it all back now. My daughter has a friend whose Mom makes me look like June Cleaver. The kid is great and we love having her around and her and Magee are two little peas in a pod. She literally does whatever she wants, says whatever she wants - if you know what I mean- and tells stories of her Mom and brother getting into fist fights. They have an old couch in their front yard, for Pete's sake! Needless to say, I try to encourage them to be here as much as possible but the desire to go there and play or spend the night is always there. I am running out of activities (that I don't really care to do) to plan to keep them here. I honestly believe that Magee has a very strong sense of self and won't be influenced by these people but I still don't like it. Sorry to those more conventional parents that may have felt the same way about us. If it's any consolation, I'm getting mine.

Bi-Day

THE FIRM
Paul Rodgers - Free & Bad Co.
Jimmy Page - Led Zeppelin
Chris Slade - Uriah Heep
Tony Franklin - Blue Murder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Aq5cqjUFOo&feature=related

Still messing with Photoshop

Figuring out Photoshop

Chad and Kris in the fountain at Union Station....

I've Created a Monster

I swear that when I met my husband almost 15 years ago, the only reason he even knew the name of the current president was because he had just done two tours in Desert Storm. Now he watches CNN 24/7 and knows more about politics than I, quite frankly, care to. This would be fine except for his incessant need to share it with me! I told him that I wanted a night out free of any kind of political talk for my birthday!

Happy Birthday

To Sydney!

And Frank Page, who draws my favorite comic, Bob the Squirrel.

The Test of Time

The previous post got me thinking about albums that have stood the test of time. As I rapidly approach my 40's (did I really just say that out loud?) it amazes me how much music that I listened to 20 plus years ago is still a part of my everyday life - and, of course, now my kids lives as well. I will add to the list as I think of them, so check back to the post occasionally! (This list is just stuff that I was listening to around the time that my generation was coming of age and in no way reflects what I think are the all time best albums, though most of them are certainly on that list.*)

1. The Tragically Hip - Up to Here* and Road Apples
2. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses*
3. Bob Marley - Legend*
4. Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense*
5. Pearl Jam - Ten*
6. David Bowie - Scary Monsters
7. Live - Mental Jewelry
8. NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
9. RHCP - Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik
10. Beastie Boys - License to Ill
11. AC\DC - Highway to Hell

The Tragically Hip - Up To Here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc8fXaTqmWE

Boy, am I glad that I watched this video on MTV's 120 Minutes in 1989. It is still one of my favorite albums. Definitely in my top ten, Chad.

And I will repeat the question...

WTF???

ok now...New Music Monday

This is a video of him singing one of the songs that is on the new album on his tour bus. The song is not acoustic on the album but still very good. His last album was all covers, so I am looking forward to this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvNxWgbiCp8

New Music can wait, I've got a bone to pick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgX-hiQdfFw

Is this person really in charge of telling us which Americans have TALENT? If I were on that show and he was judging me I would probably laugh. WTF? Watch this video and you will be just as confused as I am.

(It's not the hamburger video. Give me more credit than that. Too easy.)

Mary Jayne bought me this tshirt for my bday...

Gotta love it!

My uncle was vandalized!

Hope they catch the little bastards!

My new camera rocks!

I've been messing around with the settings. This is Super Macro.

Pumpkin time again!!

Been trying to come up with new pumpkin carving ideas. Here are my faves from last year.

Air Freshener

What could this possibly smell like? I'm afraid to open it! I'm afraid that it's going to smell like Polo Green and Jim Beam. Good one, Chad. You big dumb ass. (Notice the Trans Am in the top corner. Sweet!)

Bi-Day

POWER STATION

Robert Palmer - Robert Palmer

John Taylor - Duran Duran

Andy Taylor - Duran Duran

Tony Thompson - Chic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pQJvinmsiI

Typical 80's video. Robert Palmer in a priest get up? ...meow!

Racism is just HILARIOUS, isn't it!!?!!

The Swedish Chef was my favorite Muppet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbs64GvGgPU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAsYwW7pt7o&feature=related

Interesting Afternoon

So I'm standing in my kitchen on the phone with my mom and I'm looking out into my backyard because my dogs are very entertaining. The backyards of the houses on the next street and my backyard are separated by a creek\drainage ditch and fences. I notice something that is quite out of the ordinary, so I went out into the yard for closer inspection... there was a naked man standing in the backyard directly across from mine. It is an older man and he has on only a pair of shorts, which he has down around his knees. I waited for just a minute to make sure that I wasn't seeing things or if maybe he was urinating but he just stood there looking around like it was a perfectly natural thing to be doing. So I said "Hey, what the hell are you doing?" His reply to this question is to quickly pull up his shorts and run towards his house. I went inside and called the non-emergency police number and asked them if this was something that someone would normally be allowed to do in their yard and explained that I have several kids running around. The police came, I showed them where to go and they came back with this - He is an older gentleman that is now living with his son because he is evidently losing his ability to distinguish between right and wrong. I think he knows right and wrong because he pulled his pants up pretty quickly when I said something to him! Anyway, I feel very sorry for the son. The police said that he was very apologetic. And I feel sorry for myself because I have enough trouble sleeping at night without that old man's ass burnt into my memory.

Twosday

Ryan Adams - Two Hearts
"Two hearts. One of them will break.
Like bad ideas on a beautiful day."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc-7i1XKLcg

The Carolina Liar Show Was Awesome

Me and Chad Wolf. Look, our eyes are the same color!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGmRdNemWU0

Rock The Vote

We are going to see a few bands that I have never heard of and Carolina Liar tonight at Rock the Vote. VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE!! Thousands of people have died so that we have the right to VOTE!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3GmxgJeg48

(The guy from Carolina Liar looks like Bo Bice.)

Friday Bi-Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODF2URUr2gk&feature=related
Mr. Big
Eric Martin - Eric Martin
Billy Sheehan - David Lee Roth
Paul Gilbert - Racer X
Pat Torpey - Uh, Mr. Big

Billy Ray has nothing on these guys when it comes to the Hair Mistakey!!

(Kris, you know these have been easy so far! They are going to get much more difficult!)

(Explanation to everyone else - We are coming up with artists that have performed with more than one act. Artists that are 'Bi-Musical'. This will continue every Friday until we can no longer come up with any!)

Wisdom - Carlin style

"People say that athletes should be role models. I never looked up to an athlete, did you? I liked them. I didn't copy them. Did you ever listen to one of those guys talk? Would you want your kid to turn out like that? Willing to completely subordinate his ego and individuality for the sake of a group whose sole purpose is to compare with other groups? Can't have a mustache? Gotta wear a suit jacket? Shit! If your kid needs a role model and you ain't it, you're both fucked."

RIP George.

Ode to the SOCK MONSTER...

Sock Monster, Sock Monster
Where are you?
You’ve been ripping me off
Since 1972.

Some socks were purple
Some made me itch
You owe me 400 dollars
You stupid Son of a Bitch!

Birthday Present from My Mother in Law...She ROCKS!

The Fuji Fine Pix S1000.

Not the camera of my dreams but a step up from my Kodak. I need to put my 35mm set up on ebay or something. I have alot of money wrapped up in it and never use it anymore. I could probably get a really nice digital with the money but I haven't been able to part with her, she's my baby! It's a Pentax with the whole set up, extra lenses and pro flash - all offers considered.

Wacky Wednesday...

Mojo Nixon is a big dork and I love him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtGb0lQovZU&feature=related

Great Birthday Cakes.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym_k8Q-jK9w&feature=related

Voting Advice....

Allow me to take you back to a year I like to call "A Season in Hell". It was 2004 and from about August on, conversations were all a-buzz about such topics as gay marriage and abortion. I know alot of people that submitted to this "Religious Blackmail" and actually voted for the candidate that they thought would - and I quote - "keep this nation under God". Funny thing is, we have never heard another word about either of these issues from said candidate. If you continue to be what I call a "single issue voter", they will manipulate you everytime. They are going to get you fired up about these subjects again this year and then they are going to "let the states handle it" after the election. Please believe me when I say that there are other issues, issues that are actually going to have an impact on your everyday life. Watch the news or pick up a newspaper.

Now for my personal opinion - this is my blog, I can say whatever I want!! Gay marriage is a civil rights issue. I have 3 children and if one of them is gay, I think that they deserve the same opportunities as the other kids in their personal pursuit of happiness. And I would be damned if I would spend 30 years building a life with someone only to have them go into a coma and their family treat me like a disease and the hospital tell me I had no right to be there or have anything to do with the decisions being made. They are called CIVIL RIGHTS people!! Look it up. As for abortion, I am Pro-Choice. That does not mean that I, or anyone else that holds this position, am Pro-Abortion. Let me simply state that I am Pro-Woman. I will not support a government that wants to amend the constitution to ban abortion. Teenage girls should not be forced to live in a world where they have to commit suicide because they are too ashamed to tell their family that they are pregnant or even worse, go to some back street sicko with a dirty butcher knife, only to bleed to death after they sneak back into their bed. A constitutional banning of abortion would make rape and incest victims have to go through a legal process to obtain an abortion... WTF?? Are you kidding me? I agree that the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country is an issue that needs to be dealt with but amending my constitution is not the way. Let's assume that your seventeen year old daughter gets pregnant and collectively as a family you decide she is going to keep the baby and marry the seventeen year old father - does this make your daughter's life better or does it just further your career?