"Murphy was an optimist!"
It’s amazing we lived February 19, 2007 3:53 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeI’m glad to have been lucky enough to have survived!
2commentsFirst, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes. Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints….
How do you and your spouse communicate? February 17, 2007 2:46 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeI woke up this morning with a three letter word written in bold, green letters on my forehead. I noticed it as I brushed my teeth. Being a blogger, I pondered photographing it and writing a lengthy essay about the hazards of living in a college town or how the effects of blackout drinking in the dormitory basement can come back to haunt you years later.
No. Simply, my wife has creative ways of telling me I am failing in my husbandly duties. Sleep lightly tonight dear!
11commentsBest thing I heard all week February 16, 2007 1:58 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cathy, Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesMom: "Sarah, Evan’s wearing your bra."
add a commentNeed a dentist recommendation February 16, 2007 7:44 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeI need referrals to a pediatric dentist in Knoxville. What dentist do you use for your children? What is their style? And what are their pros and cons? Thanks!
2commentsAt 10 there simply is no brain function February 15, 2007 10:20 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, Noah, Of Being DadEvan has an ear infection and sinus infection. He is taking antibiotics but a comedy of errors has left him without a decongestant so green slugs continue to pour from his nose.
No school tomorrow so Noah has a friend over. The boys have graciously allowed Evan and Amy to play in their room and it was so nice to hear raucous laughter from all 4 children. Until! I hear the laughing words, "He’s gonna lick it!" I bolt to the room to see a huge slug stretching from nostril to lip. I race to get tissue to nose but before I can reach him the boys have their victory and more. Not only has Evan tasted the horrid slime but he has spread it to his hands looking like something from You Can’t Do That On Television! And they cackle.
These guys are going to make great frat brothers.
add a commentHeroes txt msg February 15, 2007 7:11 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : UncategorizedPneumatic Needle schematic up on samantha48616e61. This is half the equation to how they track ‘us.’
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Cleanup on aisle 2 February 14, 2007 10:48 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeSo, you’ve been fighting a bad stomach for the past day and a half. You think you are finally on the mend and are nursing down a bowl of oatmeal. What’s the last, one word instant message you want to see? "vomit."
add a commentOf course people don’t want war February 13, 2007 6:50 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : History, Politics, Touchy Subjects, World Politicsadd a comment"Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
— Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
Heroes Txt Message February 12, 2007 8:05 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Heroes, Of Interest, TV / MoviesGot Bennet’s access code! Call 1-800-PRIMA16. Entr: 42307#. Tell em u r on 2 him. Just dn’t say wht we’re up 2. VMs may b mde
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Heroes text msg February 12, 2007 7:06 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : UncategorizedLast file 4 a while. Go 2 primatechpaper.com, find helix. Same place as b4. Usrnme: bennet pwrd: claire. Matt
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Heroes Txt Message February 12, 2007 5:28 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Heroes, Of Interest, TV / MoviesOn February 7 at 6:16pm I received:
reply HANA. i’ll be listening.
The reply brought:
add a commentAny leads or ideas about who this Primatech Paper or Bennet guy really are? Snd a txt beginning with LISTEN. Will post best stuff to www.samantha48616e61.com
Bad parenting – More thoughts on Blogfest February 12, 2007 10:02 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Of Being Dad, Philosophy"Kids, don’t ever arrange to meet anyone in real life that you’ve met online." Ummm. Unless it is a party with lots of people that you have only met online…
2commentsI woke as a prisoner in my bed February 12, 2007 7:04 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life3:30am rolled around and my eyes popped open. I was fully awake and ready to be productive! I could not move. I was laying on my right side and the dog was laying on my feet and leaning up against me. Dogs are like better than an electric blanket. So I have the blankets pulled up to my chin and I’m really warm but I can’t pull the covers back at all because on top of the blankets and snuggled up to my chest is a happy, purring kitty. Then comes the icing on the cake! Evan has his back completely pressed up against my back. I felt like the middle of a sandwich made with love. I could not move. I would wake all 3! Now that’s an excuse to sleep in!
add a commentThe Best Blogfest Write-up! February 11, 2007 8:35 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Blog, Daily Life, Of Interest, PublishingThe best Blogfest write-up goes to Barry with his perfect recap of a wonderful evening! East TN bloggers met in person to put name to url. Glenn Reynolds has the list of attendees. These events are a little strange to enter. For one, the children (except Noah) were with us and I have continued to fool myself into thinking that blogging is something we do unawares to them despite knowing full well they understand our blogs completely. I am sure that both Tommy and Sarah have visited each blog and declared them "boring and weird" since our blogs don’t use the word "cuz," don’t change the font size nearly frequently enough, and have no picture from Naruto. Also, we all read each other so…is there really anything to talk about? "Um..Post #1345." "Ha! That was great. I responded in comment #12768." "Read it! Excellent retort! Did you catch the Youtube video on that?" "Covered it in post #4491." Silence. "Check please."
In reality, we walked in 30 minutes later than intended and confused the hostess since we had no reservation, no call ahead seating and, apparently, had no intent to sit down. We made various attempts at figuring out if anyone was here: "Blogfest?" Blank stare from the waitress. "Inn of the Last Home?" A waitress goes to get a manager and whispers something about police. I didn’t know they already had a run-in with Mike Faulk. Sarah exits the restaurant in embarrassment and I stare blankly at a crowd of people that looks something akin to the prisoners on the train in The Wall.
So Rich Hailey approaches asking, "Looking for Blogfest? Someone identified you." For a brief moment I experience what celebrities must feel and I reply, "Good to read you!" 
After locating Sarah we fill the final seats at the blogger’s table. Lucky for Sarah, a girl near her own age was sitting right beside her. They ignored each other the entire evening. Tommy had the pleasure of sitting beside Mike Faulk who graciously tried to engage the nervous, bored teens until being drawn into adult conversation with Dr. Helen, Glenn Reynolds, Perry Nelson, and Lissa Kay. Amy sat on Sarah’s other side. Evan took the head of the table with Cathy and I on either side of him until Katie Allison Granju, Jon Hickman, Randy Neal and Mrs. Neal showed up adding yet another table. The early bird side of the table included Thoughts of an Average Woman, Barry, Michael Silence and his wonderful daughter, Rich Hailey, and Say Uncle. As some seats emptied, Les Jones and his wife, Melissa, filled in (I hugged his wife and he was probably packing!). Pulling up the rear was Mark Steel who enjoyed Tuckaleechee Porter until closing. [Hopefully I covered everyone. This paragraph should have links to ALL attendee’s blogs and their Blogfest review.]
In the realm of overt cuteness, Michael‘s daughter with a huge grin unabashedly bee-lined it to Evan, grabbed his hand, and led him through the restaurant to the vacant upstairs banquet area so they could run and play. Ah! My boy’s first date! Of course, little Casanova is in big trouble if he let’s the ladies lead him so easily.. ahem! They were adorable and thrilled beyond belief to have a playmate.
In the small world realm, Melissa and I go back a decade give or take. We met at a friend’s party eons ago. She recounted how I encouraged her to get into computers. The teenage girls who ignored each other in lieu of text messaging went to the same beach at the same time for a vacation this past summer. Perry Nelson worked with Lissa Kay.
In the realm of social ineptitude, I flashed our camera enough to make restaurant patrons think they were at a Hollywood movie debut, asked Mr. R Neil, "So, what do you do?" only to see everyone look at me like I was from Mars, 
and I got to blathering such a technical description of something that I myself became lost in my words! Guess I need to get out of the basement more often.
Overall it was fantastic event. Rarely do you attend something where no introductions are needed and the person sitting beside you possibly understands you better than your psychologist. It was definitely interesting meeting people face to face with whom you already have somewhat of a connection. I only wish we had more time for deeper conversation. The time flew by and partings had to come almost in conjunction with hellos. I look forward to the next Blogfest!
Update: As I re-read my post with Cathy I realized I left something from the "In the realm of overt cuteness" paragraph. I had intended to tell about Evan and Jon. Ironically, before I could return to update the post, Jon had commented about being left from Barry’s recap. Evan doesn’t always warm up to people. He even shys away from the grandparents from time to time. There was a moment at the Blogfest where Evan stopped running around. Planted his feet. Extended his left arm straight as an arrow and pointed his index finger at Jon. Then he reached his right arm out straight as an arrow and pointed his index finger at Jon. Jon was the chosen! Evan declared him, "The fun guy!" Then Jon, father to be, reached down and picked up the insistent Evan who proceeded to drool and snot all over him. Evan really liked Jon!
Update: Mark Steel came in as we left.
12commentsI covered the back door in plastic! February 10, 2007 4:17 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, HouseIt has been so cold in my office that I have taken to wearing layers and a wool cap just to work.
Happy wife: "Honey that looks great! It feels 10 degrees warmer in here already!"
Wife irritated that I am cutting, drilling and doing home improvement instead of getting myself ready and helping getting the kids ready for Blogfest: "You know the cat is just going to tear that down."
If you watch that, I can’t give you those 3 minutes of your life back.
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