"Murphy was an optimist!"
2011 is upon us January 2, 2011 11:55 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeThe year was 2011. And on the first day, the rains were heavy. The basement fortitude breached by water. A collapsed wall and a deflated basketball formed a dam in the trench intended to divert runoff away from the structure turning the ditch into a basin. Hydrostatic pressure built and the ancient concrete block gave way to seepage. $17 in new boots, $20 in slitted pipe, and much time spent sinking shin deep in a cross between quicksand and wet cement instead of typing ones and zeros, the water flowed freely away from the wall and God willin’ and the crik don’t rise, the basement will stay dry until 2012. As night fell, my body and mind shook with exhaustion and I did all that I could…I watched Torchwood.
add a commentWeekend Project – Day 26 January 1, 2011 9:46 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Birthday, Daily Life, Family, Holiday, House, Of Being DadDrip rail done. Step 17 of 27 complete. Next roof then windows and doors, fireplace and flooring.
For the 2nd movie, wait through the dull beginning to see children painting.
Of Being Dad – C cells January 1, 2011 9:29 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Family, Noah, Of Being DadWhen I was 14, I was using mnemonics to memorize the color bands on resistors. Today I learned my 14 year old son doesn’t know what a C cell battery is.
add a commentWeekend Project – Day 25 December 30, 2010 3:18 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Birthday, Daily Life, Family, Holiday, House, Of Being DadI had hoped to have the clubhouse finished by Christmas. We are so close! I have a new obstacle; One of the dogs has taken to chewing the extension cords. I lost a 100′ extension cord that had served me well for 20 years. And yesterday, I lost a 50′ extension cord that I had used once. Looks like I’m going to a totally 18v rechargeable workshop.
We are now officially done with step 16 of 27. Count Amy’s wardrobe changes.
And a brief night time attempt that failed to accomplish anything.
1 comment so farI do dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight December 20, 2010 3:32 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Science, TechnologyI know some of you get twitches in your toes with the weather is changing, or migraines when the storm is approaching. The full moon sets me off. Perhaps there’s a little werewolf in me. As Luna grows large, I am struck with insomnia, passionate energy, and animalism. Tonight promises to be quite sleepless.
This lunar eclipse falls on the date of the northern winter solstice. How rare is that? Total lunar eclipses in northern winter are fairly common. There have been three of them in the past ten years alone. A lunar eclipse smack-dab on the date of the solstice, however, is unusual. Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory inspected a list of eclipses going back 2000 years. "Since Year 1, I can only find one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is 1638 DEC 21," says Chester. "Fortunately we won’t have to wait 372 years for the next one…that will be on 2094 DEC 21." [Source, NASA Science, Solstice Lunar Eclipse]
Blessed be!
add a commentOf Being Dad – Where I explain life December 20, 2010 9:57 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Family, Of Being Dad, Philosophy, TommyThis morning I had the occasion to explain life to my 20 year old:
add a commentYou eat, sleep, shit, shower, contribute to society, and play. Live a simple, honest life. Basically, follow the 12 points of the Scout Law and you’ll be happy.
Weekend Project – Day 24 December 19, 2010 7:02 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Birthday, Daily Life, Family, Holiday, House, Of Being Dad
Weekend Project – Day 23 December 19, 2010 11:07 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Birthday, Daily Life, Family, Holiday, House, Of Being DadGingerbreading-
And now for 9 minutes of my posterior…with some guest appearances by Amy, Evan, Tommy, our neighbor friend and the dogs.
add a commentRevelations December 17, 2010 11:21 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cathy, Daily Life, Family, HouseLast night, my wife concluded that I’m trying to rebuild our house one square foot at a time.
I suppose having Life as a House and The Money Pit on my list of favorite movies may have subconsciously influenced me.
add a comment
From the mouths of babes December 17, 2010 9:33 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesEvan, 5 years old on the drive to pre-school: "beotch beotch beotch!"
Me, failing to contain shock and anger: "Who taught you that?!"
Evan: "No one."
Me, hypocrite, liar: "I get mad at lies not mistakes."
Evan, confessing and ratting out his friend: *he says his friend’s name. It starts with A but I won’t rat him out here*
Me: *relieved that he didn’t say my name, his mother’s name or any of his older siblings. I really expected it to be from Noah.*
Of Being Dad December 17, 2010 9:24 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Family, Of Being DadSometimes getting the children to school on time is not as important as those extra 4.5 minutes under the warm covers.
add a commentState of Me December 15, 2010 11:31 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeFighting a brain cloud today.
add a commentDoug’s Mantras December 14, 2010 3:19 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Doug's Mantras, Of Being Dad, Philosophy"Do as I say, not as I do."
add a commentLate night or early morning? December 13, 2010 2:01 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Lifeinsomnia – It’s worth staying up for.
add a commentWeekend Project – Day 22 December 12, 2010 11:04 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Birthday, Daily Life, Family, Holiday, Of Being DadThe next step toward getting the roof shingled on Amy’s club house is finishing the gingerbreading and drip rails. Gingerbreading has begun!
