I said "Yo,"

I said "Yo,"

I said "Yo, yo, yo!"

You be getting' older -

Who be gettin' older?

YOU be getting' older!

What?

What?

Even though she's back in Michigan at school, she's grounded.

Posted by: Ted at 05:03 AM | category: Family matters
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Wife and Mookie arrived safely home last night after their whirlwind tour of the great white north - Minnesota and Michigan plus all those states driven through to and from.

Mookie found some old horror movies on DVD in a used book store and got them for me.

Posted by: Ted at 06:09 AM | category: Family matters
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Sweetie, I hope you don't think I was mad at you last night. I am seriously pissed off, and this afternoon we're going to go take care of it, but I am NOT upset with you.

I really, really, really hate it when something disappoints you like that. We'll make it right and consider it a lesson learned. Ok?

PS. Call me at work.

Posted by: Ted at 06:44 AM | category: Family matters
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I'll be having lunch today at a local Mexican eatery, and it ain't Taco Bell. MmmmMmmm Yum!

Update: Sweetie, it's just as good, if not better, than El Charro!

Posted by: Ted at 09:26 AM | category: Family matters
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I'm not bragging, I'm just good at non-vegetable gardening. There are a few pictures of this year's work (so far - it's early yet) in the extended entry. more...

Posted by: Ted at 05:21 AM | category: Family matters
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I caught this exchange between Mookie and my wife.

Mookie: "What is dad's problem? He just chewed me out for nothing."

Mom: "He's grouchy. Hockey playoffs are on, so he'll be short of sleep for a couple of months."

Posted by: Ted at 07:51 AM | category: Family matters
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I interviewed for a new position Wednesday last, and have been waiting on pins and needles for word.

No real details yet other than that I'll be staying with my current company, but working in another location.

And I need to do some digging and learn about Web Services. This is going to be serious fun.

Thanks for all the support, my friends. You people rock!

Posted by: Ted at 11:35 AM | category: Family matters
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1 Congratulations!!!!!

Posted by: Blogeline at May 04, 2004 12:02 PM (O27QY)

2 AwwRIGHT! The good guys win one!

Remember that Web services architecture I was talking about? Start your research here: www.sysmanagement.com. Aquifer is a heck of a package, and if you can show it to your new bosses, it could impress them with your mad skillz as well as cleaning up their database compatibility problems. And it'll make your life easier too.

Congrats, dude. It's no less than you deserve.

Posted by: Doug Pratt at May 04, 2004 12:12 PM (D6ZyB)

3 CongRATulations, Ted!

Posted by: Victor at May 04, 2004 03:49 PM (L3qPK)

4 Great news. Congrats.

Posted by: Simon at May 05, 2004 01:53 AM (GWTmv)

5 WOO HOO!!! Just keep writing them kick-ass memos that the CEOs love and you'll be great!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at May 05, 2004 09:40 PM (9VAcu)

6 Sounds fun! We'll be waiting for updates! Yee haw!

Posted by: Dawn at May 05, 2004 10:27 PM (Ev/7m)

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They finished up the work on our house Wednesday. I had predicted two full days worth to complete everything, and they spent all day Saturday, Tuesday afternoon and then Wednesday morning to finish up.

It looks gooooood.

We had 9 brand new windows installed, and the frames and sills were completely covered with vinyl - no more painting. Ever. A new sliding-glass door to the backyard, all the soffits were redone with the same vinyl wrap, as were the fascia, roof rakes and some trimwork. We had a minor disagreement about exactly what we contracted for, but after talking to the salesman who originally took the order, they not only did everything that I thought we should be getting, but also did a couple of extra things at no charge. Now that's customer service.

Besides looking great, it'll be much more energy efficient and maybe best of all, I can probably now paint the entire outside of my house in about 3 hours.

Posted by: Ted at 05:19 AM | category: Family matters
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Walking through a shopping mall yesterday with my wife, we passed a store called “The Bible Outlet”. I wondered aloud who would buy an ‘outlet’ Bible. Liz said it would be the equivalent of buying “dollar store douche” and that they probably contained the "gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and Justin".

Posted by: Ted at 06:08 AM | category: Family matters
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Today is her birthday. Every day I give thanks for finding her.

Always Be Together

Pablo Cruise

When I look back on our early years
And how we spent so much time in tears
It's a wonder that we're face to face tonight
But something saw us through all those times
Something stronger than you or I
Here we are, and now it sure feels right

Oh I have seen
What your love has done for me
And I could stay with you forever
Oh I, I know
Love like this can't help but grow
That's why, we will always be together

When you left me all alone
I could have made it on my own
But part of me was missing
And when we had so much to say
All the words got in the way
Until we took the time to listen

Oh I have seen
What your love has done for me
And I could stay with you forever
Oh I, I know
Love like this can't help but grow
That's why, we will always be together

When I look back on our early years
And how we spent so much time in tears
It's a wonder that we're face to face tonight
But something saw us through all those times
Something stronger than you or I
And here we are, and now it sure feels right

Oh I have seen
What your love has done for me
And I could stay with you forever
Oh I, I know
Love like this can't help but grow
That's why, we will always be together

Always be together

(repeat and fade)

Posted by: Ted at 07:11 AM | category: Waxing Lyrical
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Another favorite song lyric that touches on my feelings for my wife.

God Only Knows

Beach Boys

I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
IÂ’ll make you so sure about it

God only knows what IÂ’d be without you

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what IÂ’d be without you

God only knows what IÂ’d be without you

If you should ever leave me
Well life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what IÂ’d be without you
God only knows what IÂ’d be without you
God only knows

(repeat and fade)

Happy Birthday, Liz.

Posted by: Ted at 05:57 AM | category: Waxing Lyrical
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It's my wife's birthday this week, and Munuviana just happens to share the 14th with her. She was born on Easter day, so the meticulously nosy could figure out how old she is.

This is a song that's special to us both.

She & I

Alabama

She and I live in our own little world
Don't worry about the world outside
She and I agree
She and I lead a perfectly normal life

Ah but just because we aren't often seen socially
People think we've got something to hide.
But all our friends know we're just a little old fashioned
She and I

chorus
Oh ain't that great
Aint it fine
To have a love someone that others can't find
Aint it wonderful to know all we ever need is just the two of us
She and I
So wonderful
She and I

She and I share with every body else
The same wants, needs and desires
She and I save
She and I pay on everything we acquire

Ah but just because we aren't often seen separately
People think we live one life.
Its hard for them to see how anyone could be as close as
She and I

repeat chorus

Posted by: Ted at 05:28 AM | category: Waxing Lyrical
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1 YAY!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 12, 2004 09:09 AM (+S1Ft)

2 Happy Birthday, Most Supreme Wife of Ted! ;-)

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at April 12, 2004 10:20 AM (Qaj69)

3 Happy Birthday, Mrs. Ted.

Posted by: Jennifer at April 12, 2004 10:46 AM (DdBLw)

4 Happy Birthday to your missus; nice lyrical sentiment there, too.

April's a good month in our house. My wife's birthday is on April 4, and mine is on the 13th.

Posted by: John Lanius at April 12, 2004 02:33 PM (YVul2)

5 I was expecting Me & Mrs Rocket Jones, but, this was good, too!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 12, 2004 09:21 PM (9beX1)

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I've been fighting the flu all week, and I'd have stayed home a couple of days except that I've had important stuff to do at work.

It's friday, it's beautiful, and I've had it. I'm going home. Look for more this evening, after a long nyquil-induced nap.

Don't forget that Rocket Jones is hosting the symphony next week, so keep the submissions coming. Scroll down for details, I mentioned it somewhere. Blah.

(heh heh, I said "submission")

Posted by: Ted at 11:49 AM | category: Family matters
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We got home last night after 1am, thanks to a 7 hour stretch at the ER. Everyone's home, everyone's fine. Everyone's still asleep, except for yours truly, who has to hit the pharmacy when it opens in about 45 minutes.

It's going to be a long zombie-like day. Maybe I can get a nap this afternoon.

Beal. It's what's for dinner.

Update: I've slept for a few hours, and Mookie and I are still going to a rocket launch tomorrow. Thanks for all the kind words and well-wishes.

Short version: Wife Liz has had a headache on the left side of her head since Saturday last, and it got bad enough yesterday to see the doctor (she doesn't suffer from migraines). Doc found a suspicious mass at the back of Liz's head and sent her to the ER for a CT scan.

Wait. Wait. Wait. See doctor, get CT scan. Wait. Liz has sinus infection on left side (all 4 - my dear overachiever), and the mass is a bundle of muscle that's spasming from the ensuing headache pain. IV with painkillers, then with antibiotic, and handful of prescription slips to take home. And that's the key, she got to go home. Most of the time a trip to the ER for her means automatic admission.

She's doing ok, not great, but ok. The doctor said it'll be a few days before she starts to feel better. With the Fibromyalgia that Liz has, the pain is not an uncommon thing, just the cause is different this time. I've said it before, if it's bad enough that she's complaining about pain, I know it's bad enough that I'd be on my knees begging to die.

Once again, thanks my friends, for your good thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: Ted at 08:15 AM | category: Family matters
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1 What the everlovin' H*LL happened?! And who do I pray for?!

Rest up, 'yall--and hang in there!

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at March 19, 2004 09:43 AM (aRpMC)

2 Nice to hear that everyone's fine but...

Mmm. Nice bit of roast beal. Beal and onions...

Posted by: Pixy Misa at March 19, 2004 10:23 AM (+S1Ft)

3 Hey, the Caps game wasn't *that* bad

I'm glad all is well. Having recently spent massive time in the emergency room myself, I know how scary and frustrating that can be.

Posted by: Victor at March 19, 2004 10:51 AM (L3qPK)

4 From my emergency room experiences it would be 6 hour 45 minutes of waiting and 15 minutes of medical attention.

I'm glad to hear that all is well. Hope you get that nap.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 19, 2004 02:35 PM (CSxVi)

5 What?!?! I want a full account! Hang in there, my friend!

Posted by: Dawn at March 19, 2004 04:10 PM (L6pam)

6 Yes, as an officially sanctioned busybody, I need details!

Seriously, do get well soon, or be well, or be more well. And if they gave you pain pills, be very well indeed.

Posted by: Scott at March 19, 2004 04:49 PM (zL4bg)

7 I hope she gets better soon! Sinus infections are the pits.

Posted by: Tink at March 19, 2004 08:28 PM (l4WXq)

8 Oh bless her heart, I didn't know she had fibromyalgia...I'll definitely keep her in my prayers, both for her current headache nastiness AND her continued strength in dealing with her muscle pains.

In a sense, I'm a kindred spirit with you, Ted. Only it's my mother, and she has malignant brain tumors. It's amazing, the amount of pain she shrugs off. She walks around everyday, going on with her life, with a continual migraine headache that would leave most people insensate and unable to function.

I could only hope to have a tenth of the strength that good women like my mother and your wife have.

--TwoDragons

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at March 20, 2004 10:21 AM (Q+yXx)

9 I hope your wife is feeling better these days.

Posted by: Cindy at March 24, 2004 08:28 AM (BAGuk)

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Our dog Sam has always been a grunter rather than a barker. But as he gets older, his voice is getting deeper, to the point that now he sounds like Karl, played by Billy Bob Thorton in Slingblade.

"I'd like me some of those french fried potatoes. Mm-Hmmm."

Posted by: Ted at 05:10 AM | category: Family matters
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Not for me (though I certainly need one), but for the dogs. A few times during the warm months, Liz and one of the daughters gets down on the floor and shaves Sam and Trix. It's a two-person job, and I only get involved towards the end when the dog has had enough and starts to really squirm.

The dogs do appreciate the results, but at best only tolerate the process. If Liz didn't do it, I'd probably just schlep them down to PetSmart or something and pay to have someone else deal with it. Liz soothes and talks and plays quiet music while she does it, whereas I'm the "Sit. Stay." kinda barber. She's also a lot more particular about results. To me, short is good enough, I'm not gonna worry about making a dog beautiful.

Sam is first today, and Trix (the younger) is clinging to my side, fretting and having mini-nervous breakdowns every time Sam whines or yelps. If I sit down, Trix the empath wants up in my lap and snuggles in, worried to death.

Liz just hollered down the stairs that we now have three dogs, the pile of hair removed from Sam being large enough to have it's own name. The birds are gonna love it when we put the fur out for nest building.

To compensate for not helping with haircut day, I take care of the crappy little chores that nobody gets around to around the house. This morning I've cleaned the aquarium, dealt with the houseplants and overwintered outside plants in the basement and might run to the grocery store later.

Liz calls it "guilt putzing".

Posted by: Ted at 11:05 AM | category: Family matters
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Mookie posted her report on Arsenic.

I chose Arsenic because it seemed to me to be the most sinister, and fun, of all 115 elements.

*sigh*

Posted by: Ted at 08:24 AM | category: Family matters
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Every time I visit the Smithsonian Museums, I am awed at the national treasures available for all to see.

These are rightly described as treasures, and they aren't hidden behind massive vault doors. It's emphasized often in each museum that the contents belong to the entire American people. You get the sense that you're not being allowed to see the items so much as that the caretakers are making sure that everyone gets the best view possible.

To say I don't like the city of Washington DC is an understatement. I believe that if they were to give Uncle Sam an enema, the nozzle would be inserted in DC. But I also think that everyone should spend a couple of weeks visiting Washington, because there is just so much history to see. I hate DC, but I also sincerely recommend it as a vacation destination for all.

We started our trip by driving to the nearest Metro station and parking there. The DC Metro system is excellent, it's much easier than trying to find a parking spot in DC, plus the metro fare is less than parking in the city. Plus, the metro took us to within a block of the National Museum of American History, our choice for the day.

We had a 5 minute wait to get in, standing in line as everyone went through security checks. When it was my turn, I handed over my car keys and pocket watch, walked through the metal detector, and buzzed it. Stepping back through, I realized that I was still holding my umbrella. I handed it to the guard and set off the detector again. Hmmmm... doing a quick pat of my pockets, I realized that I was carrying (as always) my Swiss Army knife. Wondering what kind of reaction I'd get, I pulled it out and put it on the table, then walked through the detector again. No problem this time, and the guard handed me my things without a second glance at the knife.

So let's get to the treasures, eh? We started on the third floor and worked our way down. First up were the music exhibits, including two really nice features on Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington.

A display case full of Star Trek stuff caught my eye, and when I wandered over to look I saw the really cool stuff. There were three more displays in a nook: one had the original ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, another had one of Dizzy Gillespie's trumpets. The third case held (get this), Muhammed Ali's boxing gloves, Sonja Heine's ice skates, a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth, a Michael Jordan Bulls jersey, a sweater from the 1980 Miracle on Ice US Olympic hockey team, and tennis racquets from Arthur Ashe and Chris Evert.

I'm going to quickly mention a few other nifty items, and then get to the real 'wow' stuff. There was a very impressive exhibit about the First Ladies. Money, clocks, transportation (many restored vehicles, I'd love to see what's stored in their warehouses). Archie Bunker's chair. The key to the padlock of rod 21, which is the one removed to start the chain reaction on the worlds first nuclear pile.

It takes more than "stuff" to make a museum come to life, and the Smithsonians are world-class. They use innovative displays and lots of hands-on, you don't just look at the exhibits. They use sound and touch as well, and it's consistantly impressive.

Ok, the 'wow' things:

The top hat worn by Abraham Lincoln on the night he was assasinated.

Everyone has seen that picture of the workers unfurling the American flag from the roof of the Pentagon when they began making repairs. That flag is now hanging in the second floor rotunda, and you don't appreciate just how huge it really is until you stand in front of it and look up and up and up.

The space suit worn by Alan Shepard on board Freedom 7, making him the first American to go into space.

The Star Spangled Banner. Not the song, but the original flag that flew over Fort McHenry that inspired our National Anthem. It's being restored, and just the glass walled room showing the restoration equipment is pretty amazing. Without a doubt, this was the highlight for me.

We just skimmed the museum today. Realistically, there is just so much to see and absorb that each building of the Smithsonian is a two-day visit. You really should make the trek at least once, you won't regret it.

Posted by: Ted at 09:38 PM | category: Family matters
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Wife is working today and our oldest daughter heads back to college in thawed Michigan tomorrow, so the girls and I decided to head into DC this rainy Saturday and visit the Smithsonians. I wanted to see something artsy, Mookie preferred something sciencey, and Robyn wasn't around to throw in her two cents so that's just too darn bad for her, eh? We compromised on the National Museum of American History.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm kinda sick of the Air & Space Museum and Natural History Museum. All out-of-town guests want to go see these two, and I was right across the street from Air & Space when I was working at the Department of Education. So I'm very familiar with it. Too familiar. On the other hand, it's been awhile since I've been to the American History building, so I'm looking forward to it.

Posted by: Ted at 08:44 AM | category: Family matters
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Mookie is at her best friend's house for the weekend, a couple of counties south of here. They're going to a Junior ROTC Military Ball, and she won't be home until Sunday. Not that that leaves us child-free, because oldest daughter Robyn made it home from Michigan yesterday afternoon.

We've raised a couple of chatterboxes. Sheesh.

I've been sitting here thinking about this house we live in. Fourteen years now. It's the only house Mookie remembers.

Tonight we signed the contract to have new windows and back door installed. I have no doubt that they'll pay for themselves in a year or two, but still, it's a lot of money. We heard from a neighbor that a house down the street sold for an obscene price, which I love to hear. The slumlord has been fixing up the house next door and supposedly he's selling too. Good deal, if it's true.

It's after midnight, the ladies are long in bed, and Freddy vs. Jason just finished on the DVD. No review coming for this one because I'm not a big gore fan. A friend lent it to me so I'm watching it. It's not a bad movie for the slasher genre, but it's not something I'd normally watch.

I also have the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre to watch this weekend (much more to my taste). Expect a review of this along with a comparison with the recent remake when it's released in the near future.

Posted by: Ted at 12:43 AM | category: Family matters
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