Reality Me

A juggling technophile shares personal stories, challenges, humor and perhaps some political commentary.

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"Murphy was an optimist!"

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How weak are my glasses? September 30, 2008 3:46 pm

My glasses are so weak that I just wore them for 5 minutes before remembering that one of the lenses popped out earlier.

From the mouths of babes September 30, 2008 10:23 am

Evan poking me in my side hard enough to bruise: "Daddy, I want you come upschairs."
Dad: "No I have to work."
Evan: "I have to work too."
Dad: "Oh you do? What are you working on?"
Evan: "I work on compshure."

I wish I could live long enough to see a society where our "work" was solely the development and growth of our children and that our skills were simply contributed as needed to the community. Ray, where’s that Singularity?

The Cupboards Were Bare September 30, 2008 6:53 am

When the bedtime stories talk about bare cupboards, they mean ours. For the past 2 weeks, I have been saying, "We need to go to Sam’s. We need to go to the grocery." Time has not permitted. Somehow we have managed. Through creative cooking, every last crumb has turned into a child’s lunch for school, an afternoon snack, or a meal. When the stocks are running to nothing, resourcefulness and creativity kick in. This morning I looked in one cabinet and it was literally devoid of all but a single item! I could feel its vacuum trying to suck me in as if the Haldron Large Collider actually made its black hole in my kitchen cabinetry. The food shelves and fridge had barely enough to make Amy’s school lunch. I could have made pancakes or eggs and toast and avoided a trip to the store but this was looking bad. So for the sake of a happy family, I quested for food at Kroger before anyone woke.

I dodge boxes and employees while walking down the isles of Kroger for it was restocking time. The store is a bustle of activity and I feel like I’ve accidentally become privy to Disney’s afterhours magic. As I pull boxes of junk into my cart, knowing fruit rollups would please the children, I lament feeding them processed junk and ponder what I could do to send them to school with healthy snacks that they would still enjoy. Feeding a family is tough. Feeding a large family is more difficult. Feeding a large family healthy food on a tight budget and frantic schedule is nearly impossible! None the less, I make strides to improve. For instance, we have instant mashed potatoes in a fix but I prefer to make mashed potatoes from scratch.

The kitchen is a little less barren now. The children are happier. I still look forward to getting to Sam’s for we survive on bulk!

Congress Is Under Martial Law! September 29, 2008 2:10 pm

I said martial law was coming October 1st. I was wrong. Apparently the Speaker of the House declared martial law on Saturday night (September 27th) according to Rep Burgess.

Anyone have any clarification on Rep Burgess’ statement? Ah! Apparently Congressional Martial Law is different than Martial Law from the Executive Branch. Explanation:

Nobody knows what gas is worth September 29, 2008 9:58 am

Same street corner. Intersection of Northshore and Morrell. The free market is confused.

• Weigel’s: $3.489
• Texaco: $3.459
• Pilot:$3.399

I don’t know if it had anything to do with the price of gas or just being a Monday but Pilot’s parking lot was a clusterduck of activity and could barely fit any more vehicles. There was no order to it either. Looked like an intersection in Hanoi! The McDonald’s 18 wheeler was delivering supplies. The Waste Connections truck was picking up the dumpster. Landscapers were filling up their tanks. Between the huge trucks and trailers, cars were zigging and zagging and negotiating right of way by hand signals. And you know what! It worked. No accidents. No red light cameras. No traffic signals. Granted, it was just a parking lot.

From the mouths of babes September 29, 2008 8:41 am

Mom: "Do you want to go to school and play with your friends."
Evan, 3 years old and went to bed too late: "Nuh uh."
Evan then cocoons himself in the covers.

Save electricity without spending a dime, right now! September 29, 2008 7:52 am

Fall is upon us and the weather is beautiful! Are you stilling running your air conditioner? Why? For the past 2 weeks or more, we have kept our windows open most nights and through most of the day. Some afternoons get too warm and the air has to be run briefly. At night, the bedroom windows may be closed so the children don’t catch a chill but the rest of the windows are left open to enjoy the sound of nature, feel the breeze, and on those wet days listen to the pitter patter of rain drops.

We forget the sounds blocked by the windows. The melodious birds are relaxing. The crickets and cicadas are disturbing to some and calming white noise to others. The sound of the rain is a special treat. The open windows air out the house with fresh smells. Best of all, open windows mean less electricity which is good for the environment and pleasing to the pocketbook. Try keeping your air conditioner off for 3 weeks and see if your next utility bill is not surprisingly pleasing.

From the mouths of babes September 28, 2008 3:16 pm

Evan, 3 years old, one finger pointing to scrotum: "Dad, I have ball in this."
Dad: " mmKay."
Evan: "I have 3 balls in this."
Dad: "Three?!"

Dear Congress, Thank you for saving Internet radio! September 28, 2008 12:29 pm

Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 passes! Pandora, Last.fm, Slacker and other Internet radio sites are given another opportunity.

See also and also.

There is unrest in the forest, There is trouble with the trees September 28, 2008 10:30 am

Eek! I was just out speaking with a neighbor and we look up to see that the trees have started turning! The Battle of the Leaves is upon us. Fall is here!

Gas close to my $3.249 prediction! September 27, 2008 4:24 pm

Gas at Kroger $3.299 with plus card discount otherwise $3.399

Mobile post sent by djuggler using Utterli.  Replies.

Nick is great! September 27, 2008 12:42 pm

My television says get out of the house.

Mobile post sent by djuggler using Utterli.  Replies.

Of Grasshoppers September 27, 2008 11:38 am

Student: Who does the spanking hurt the most? The spanker or the spankee?
Master: They are probably the same.

From the Cafferty file on Palin September 27, 2008 10:35 am

My apologies for the barrage of Palin videos and political posts. The election nears and I feel this is the most important election of my life. At the time I posted this, the video had 2,593 views and 36 comments.

Newsweek says Palin is not ready.

Disney’s Hockey Mom President Trailer September 27, 2008 9:39 am

College Humor delivered an embed that was too large so I couldn’t post it when it first came out. I have no idea how BoingBoing got this smaller one but I hope it works for everyone. If the video doesn’t play, watch it at CollegeHumor.com.