Seeing the Rainforest Cafe through new eyes

So we took the boys to the Rainforest Cafe. It wasn't the first time for any of us (so I knew not to expect much of the food). Still, it felt special. That's 'cause the boys are in the Age of Delight, where a "talking tree" and moving elephants and, as you can see, a fish tank next to the table, make for a peak experience. Did I mention the food sucked? The clam chowder was worse than canned, and the calamari was chilly. But the giant butterflies flapped their wings and a star shot across the night sky above and I forgot all that.

Thinking of Mom on Christmas Eve

I'm remembering my mother in an unusual way today. I'm watching "Journey to the Center of the Earth," starring her little crush, Pat Boone. I remember us watching that movie together many years ago -- a rare intersection of my interests (sci-fi, such as "Journey" is) and hers (the aforementioned vanilla crooner). Funny ... I forgot that they did their best to make it into a musical. He's singing "my love is like a red, red rose" as I type this. I also forgot how much of the movie he spent with his shirt off. No wonder she enjoyed it so much.

Anyway, it's odd to think that mom's been gone for six ... nearly seven years. Hard to get my mind around the fact that she's never met and will never meet my boys on Earth, though Cheryl and I like to imagine that she's up in heaven shouting "They're ad-VANCED!!!" I miss mom, though in some ways her leaving was just what our relationship needed.

I wish I had a better memory sometimes. I'd remember more of the bad stuff, sure, but I'd have clearer pictures of Christmases past, at my grandparents' house, everyone together in clouds of smoke. It got tough toward the end, but when I was a kid, I have faded recall of nights spent in log cabins and houseboats. Such cool homes. They didn't have the warmth of love in the way I've come to experience it, though I don't recall feeling less than loved. But they had a certain richness. Our family wasn't large in numbers, but the room felt full of history, of stories, of dreams ....

I want me kids to have all of that, minus the smoke, plus the warmth. I think they're getting it. I wish Mom could be here for it, even though I know that her presence was never uncomplicated. I may forget a lot, but I can't forget that.

The car that barely missed us

We were driving home from a special afternoon in Seattle when suddenly an oncoming car - this car - smashed through one barrier and flew over another . . . right into my path. But not just mine: I had Cheryl and the boys with me.

Somehow, miraculously, I swerved and hit nothing (and nothing hit me, except a shower of coolant from the flying vehicle). But I will never forget the vision of the underside of that car filling my windshield. And the sound of the barrier turning to sticks and twisted metal.

I'd like to say it is my driving skill that saved us, but I will instead go with luck. Or maybe those angels Mom used to bully into watching out for me.

Classic holiday Seattle

We joined the Science Center today. The boys love it, and wanted me to see the 'Colossal Fossils' on display for another few days. Good times, until . . .

Robots and the questions that keep 4-year-olds up at night

So, last night I heard Eddie crying and went to the bunkbed to see what was going on with my boys (who should have both been sleeping).

"He won't let me sleep! Chas needs to quit bothering me!" Eddie complained.

"There is a question I have to ask. It is very important," Chas explained.

I told Chas to ask me, and that I would handle it. The question: "If Eddie was a robot, would he tell me?"

It was all I could do not to laugh. And it was all I could do not to freak him out by saying: "Of course not! He'd wait until your guard is down and attack."

I assured him that his brother would indeed tell him. And soon, they were asleep.

My wife, the Sunday-school teacher

This is what family values looks like. (Yep, family values can be gay and churchy and welcoming and all that good stuff.)

We remain conflicted about our church, largely due to choices around behind-the-curtain stuff (which is why I'm not on any committees anymore). But this last Sunday was all good -- it reminded me what I love about the place: a great sermon from our new pastor, some hymn-singing and some hugs. And I got to see my girl teach her class (she's a natural), then attend a class by a church member who's a big-time Biblical archeologist.

Meeting Santa in Milton

Our Christmas tree now has a wireless remote

I love gadgets. I like Christmas trees. But that like is moving toward love now that I figured out how to control the lights with a wireless remote. Yes, we can click a button and the lights turn off. Then on. Then off. I'm sure the novelty will wear off before the buttons do. Well, pretty sure.

Christmas spirit all over the danged place ...

The boys woke up the day after Thanksgiving and immediately started looking for snow. When they realized that probably wasn't in the picture, they turned their attention to Christmas decorations. 'Cause, you know, Christmas "year" (what the guys call Christmas season) begins before all the Thanksgiving pie is even digested.

So we're at Thanksgiving plus three days, and the tree is up and trimmed, and ... since Chas gave me his cute and expectant face, I've got most of the exterior lights up as well. And the boys have made several ornaments, 'cause I'm married to the Queen of Crafts.

Oh, and two thumbs up for "Fred Claus." It's sweet and funny and almost as good as "Elf." And that's saying something, 'cause I love "Elf." Vince Vaughn is good in "Elf," if a little precious when doing his "Rubberneckin'" dance. Actually, he dances a lot in the movie. What's best though, are the family dynamics and the well-observed take on family dynamics.

I used to have a rule against acknowledging Christmas before December 11 (aka, before my birthday). But I've since gotten over that. I now have a new hard line: No Christmas before Thanksgiving. And this time I really mean it.

Hanging out on the side of the side of I-5 is about as fun as it looks

My bus had a problem this a.m. ...

OK, so our bus made a loud popping sound and started pouring smoke. Did we really need to get out on the side of the interstate in the freezing cold? Then get in the 194 (aka a slow bus) for the ride in?

The funny thing is that I thought the bus sounded a little off before I even got on.

CPR class dummies have changed

Weighing in on the Writer's Strike ...

First, there's the dark side of Ellen, which you see laid out in its ugly glory here, complete with comments that provide insight not just into the passions on both sides of the strike issue, but (of course) anti-gay sentiment: http://dantobindantobin.com/blog/?p=3846

And then, for a giggle ('cause outrage only gets you so far):

Monday Night Football From a Bus-Eye Perspective

Yeah, But Do We Eat ANIMAL Chickens????

The boys came to a difficult and disturbing reaction tonight: That the meat they eat is ... gasp! ... animals. And when you think about it, it is really a tough thing to get your mind around. Their shocked little faces (particularly that of Mr. Sensitive Eddie) make vegetarianism almost appealing.

Our guys' insight was precipitated by last week's viewing of Chicken Run, wherein adorable chickens must liberate themselves or else become pies. I wonder what revelations tonight's viewing of Shark Tale will inspire?

The Kids Aren't Asleep Yet ... And Here's Why I Feel Extra Guilty About It

So, Eddie's in the hallway conducting a commentary-filled race with his little NASCAR cars ("Jeff Gordon's in the pits." "Denny Hamlin is passing Jeff Gordon!") and Chas is playing with his Cars cars (regular McQueen, and the new addition to our family, "cactus" McQueen). But they should be sleeping.

I say this not only because I wouldn't mind a teeny bit of alone time, but also because of this news story I saw on MSNBC:

Lack of shut-eye leads to fatter kids, study says

updated 5:53 a.m. PT, Mon., Nov. 5, 2007

Here’s another reason to get the kids to bed early: More sleep may lower their risk of becoming obese.

Researchers have found that every additional hour per night a third-grader spends sleeping reduces the child’s chances of being obese in sixth grade by 40 percent.

The less sleep they got, the more likely the children were to be obese in sixth grade, no matter what the child’s weight was in third grade, said Dr. Julie Lumeng of the University of Michigan, who led the research.

Too Much Information: Bright Green Poop Edition

Something strange happened to me today (more than once). I wasn't going to blog about it, but I've been emboldened because poop is a popular topic, and bright green poop is a VERY popular topic. Or so indicates Mr. Google.

Turns out, my favorite non-carbonated beverage (grape Kool-Aid) includes FDA Blue #5. Says poopreport.com: "Turns out that when metabolized in sufficient quantity, the blue dye combines with bile, and forms a brilliant green. The red, absorbing at a 595nm spectrum, is harmlessly eliminated."

And if you know me at all, you know sufficient quantity isn't a problem. I drink my grape Kool-Aid 54 oz. at a time, in a mug the size of many pitchers. That's how I roll. The weird thing is that I never had the bright greenies before today! Maybe it was the cold medicine ....

I'm Aragorn???? Really????

So I thought it would be fun to take this survey I found online, about which fantasy/sci-fi character you are....... But it decided that I'm frickin' Aragorn from Lord of the Rings! Yeah, I guess he's heroic and all, but I'm not sure I get it.

Anyway, you click below take it for yourself and see if you're James T. Kirk or Yoda or Voldemort. All of which are cooler than Aragorn.

Well, I figured out what I was pissed off about ...

So the other night, a very nice fellow from my church called. He had called a week and a half earlier to offer me an important volunteer gig, and after much soul-searching, I accepted.

And then I got all grumpy.

Imagine my relief when he said he offered me the wrong job. Then imagine five times what you imagined previously, 'cause that's what I felt. My relief shifted slightly when I started to think about what could lead to this strange situation ... why WOULDN'T someone want me in the originally offered role?

Ultimately, it's not worth worrying over. Suffice it to say, I'm in a really good mood (despite my cold). And I'm not going to accept the other job. I'm working through what my involvement witht the church will be, but one thing is clear: No politics for me. It messes up my tenuous relationship with God.

On Anger, Antidepressants, Chocolate Milk and Unblunted Words

OK, so for the past few days I have been somewhat grumpy. I acknowledge this. But apparently I've been more grumpy than usual, 'cause Cheryl jokingly suggested that I go back on antidepressants. You know, in that sort of "ha, ha ... if this really pisses you off we'll say it's just a joke" kind of way. So I've been thinking about it.

I am not necessarily against the idea. Anti-d's made me gain weight, which wasn't awesome, but I'm certainly capable of doing that with or without them. And they did have a somewhat quieting effect when my thoughts become a raging swirl. But I'd like to think, and maybe this is wrong, that my need for antidepressants grew out of my work life. Meaning, I had a job that really bummed me out (quite the opposite of now).


And if the issue isn't a transient situation involving work, then the issue is me. And that's something I need to think about.


Which brings me to the chocolate milk. The fam and I were watching TV the other day and someone knocked some chocolate milk into my chair. It was a goodly amount of chocolate milk, and it was cold. So Mama Chocolate Milk Butt jumped up, yelling a little, in shock. More like yelping, not so much with the words at first. And I think it hit Cheryl as a classic (not in a good way) overreaction to relatively minor circumstances. Which is easy to say when your ass is dry.


So what's going on? Is my brain carburetor running to rich on rage? Is there something bugging me that I haven't fully accessed yet? I've got things going on that can lead to upset: I'm turning 40 (which, even if you do it at Disneyland, still kinda sucks). Work is TV-centric (good) and still a lot of fun, but getting more stressful as the business grows. I haven't been exercising, though I did take a walk yesterday. And it's hard to be a superhero when you're not exercising.