punk's new hobby

No doubt about it - the kid has an artistic flair - but he is branching out to computer art now, and we are amazed at what he is creating. The dinosaur picture is even better - but since it's not finished we won't post it yet.

He did the robot with no help from anybody - just some basic photoshop instructions and the kid was off and running.

seeing the world

So I am on my way to Timbuktu from wherever the heck it is that I live.

For my own extremely stupid reasons, I have decided to take the bus. Life is an adventure - you only live once - right?

So I am at the bus station. When my husband sees my travel companions, he refuses to leave until I board. There are several interesting characters - and I am quickly compiling a list of the most viable, least dangerous seat partners. At the top of the list is the guy who looks like Hootie typing on his laptop. Next is the Asian lady in the business suit. A close third are the two Dutch girls - but I assume they will be sitting together. And fourth is the German metrosexual with the fauxhawk reading a David Sedaris book. Fifth on the list is the amish couple. All six look like safe options.

Bottom of the list looks like this: The lady sitting across from us who continues to zip and unzip her pants - looking inside each time as though she is expecting to find something new. The guy that looks like a cartoon version of Bill Gates, constantly mumbling into his palm pilot. The woman carrying nothing but oranges in a walmart bag. She has not bathed for days - possibly weeks - and you can tell even from five seats away. The college age kid who is carting two gigantic rubbermaid tubs that are secured with screws and plenty of twine. Did I mention the tubs are soaking wet? Oh - and the proverbial lady with a screaming baby.

Aboard the bus - I am lucky enough to be near the front. Lady with baby sit near the front also - and is soon joined by "lunesta junkie" - who announces to the bus that she has just popped all of the sleeping pills she owns - which is great - but a whole bottle of vicodin ain't gonna make that baby go away.

The seats fill in and I am initially thrilled that nobody sits next to me. But wait a minute . . . somebody plops down next to pants zipper. Then smelly orange lady gets a seat partner. Final straw is when the mumbler is joined by a sweet elderly lady. WTF is wrong with me?! She would rather sit by the mumbler - than a girl with a sweet pink quilt reading a history book. I am a pretty good catch as far as a seatmate goes - way better than the zipper. And suddenly I am TICKED. Completely offended that myself and Fat Albert (self explanatory) are the only two without partners.

And it’s not even like I can enjoy my freedom, because Bosnian cell phone guy is sitting behind me kicking my chair, and talking in Russian for three hours.

What a way to see the world.

rock out time

Every day we do it. Crank up the ipod and just go wild - nothing but dancing and laughing for at least one whole song - sometimes two - sometimes ten. Today this one had them rolling on the ground - not sure why - but they thought the horns were hilarious. Hit play and share rock out time with us.

the great state debate

So I made this bet with Punk. Two weeks for him to memorize the state capitols, then we would square off in a competition. If he beat me - I would take both he and Kooka to the DQ - no holds barred - whatever they wanted. If I won, they both had to clean my room spic and span. It was a pretty safe bet for me - I get ice cream or a clean room either way. Being a bit of a geography and history buff I knew I had the advantage, so I even told Punk that I would not study at all - just rely on Mrs. Kinneman's 7th grade social studies skills to back me up.

The showdown was today. Kooka was the host. She reached into a box, pulled out a puzzle piece and read the name of the state. Punk and I had to flip over a cup before we could answer the question. I knew I was in trouble when Punk nailed the first three before I even thought to flip my cup. But it got worse . . . ten states later and I was getting my butt kicked. Twenty states later and it was 15 to 5. When it was all said and done I got served - royaly: 25-17. Yes I know that only adds up to 42 - but there were three that neither of us could remember (Maryland, New Hampshire, and Missouri - like they are important anyway) and another 5 ties.

Punk gloated all day and loved telling the lady at DQ how it was that he was there in the middle of a school day ordering a LARGE butterscotch-marshmallow shake. I begged for a rematch, to which he responded, "As much as I enjoy kicking your butt, no thanks."

coolest yard on the block

I know I was not the only one ticked off at the snow storm. Bad driving, a canceled (and much needed rehearsal), cooped up kids, and muddy dogs - I was ticked.

But I came home to this - two snow loving kids and a dad who loves graffiti more than any adult should. Until this stuff melts - we have the coolest yard on the block.

easter

It's an Easter tradition - bite the ears off the chocolate bunny, fill it with milk and drink up. (I always wanted to do that when I was a kid - nobody ever let me.)
Anyway . . . when the day starts out by drinking breakfast out of a candy rodent - you know it's all downhill from there. Needless to say, Punk OD'd - woke up to him shouting "I think I'm going to barf!" And he did. Discovered later he'd been doing Pepsi shots from said rabbit in order to wash down his jelly beans.

Something to be said for natural consequences though . . . he hasn't even finished his Easter candy yet - and actually said to me the other day:

"I just want a plain sandwich - no juice, no snack, nothing. I don't want any sugar interfering with my delicious lunch." Not exactly a resurrection of biblical proportions - but an Easter miracle nonetheless.

slacker

I know I have been one lately . . don't even have pictures from Easter up. BUT I do have this new tune . . . Buble' had his run, and now it is all about Marie Digby - she gets stuck in my head like the Partridge Family - but OH so much better. I love this girl absolutely love her - and this is my new favorite song:

commercial

Punk's commercial for Fairview clinics starts airing this week. Most likely it will be played on 94.5 102.9 and another I can't remember. Here is how it starts:

Mom: We're an active family
Kid: Mom - history paper?

Punk switched lines with the teenage girl - so we are not sure which parts they will actually edit him in with - but there are lines about the history paper, bike chain, lace for a hiking boot and then spilled beads for an art project. If you hear it let us know - we'll be listening too.

science museum

Grandma and Grandpa gave Punk a membership to the Science Museum for Christmas. Wednesday we went to break it in.

Both kids loved the new animation exhibit. We tried out the Foley Booth and made sound effects for a cartoon, did voice overs, stop motion animation, music effects and storyboards.

Kooka loved the weaving loom, and the dinosaurs.

Punk liked the animal displays, and all of the animation stuff. He said, "This all inspires me." Must have - because he came home and started drawing cartoons right away.

Kooka on the loom

Animation Station

Mississippi River Puzzle

health conscious

Punk just snagged a role in commercial for Fairveiw Southdale Clinics. It's a radio spot - shooting next week. We're pretty excited because the last one he did only aired down south - and we will actually be able to hear him on air in the cities with this one. It's also a union job - which is nice for him . . . we will post the script when we get it so you can recognize him if you hear it.

He was a bit contemplative the other day though. After Kooka spent some time being photographed with a chocolate cake, (again), Punk looked across the table, thinking about this hospital commercial and said, "Hey! How come I always end up with the healthy stuff like vegetables?"

Only one explanation . . .he must be a FABULOUS actor.

passed

I hate to run - don't know if I've mentioned that - but I do.

Nevertheless I do it on occasion, to get my energy out - to help me sleep.

The past three days have left me unable to run - my acl injury is acting up - hyper extending - just a very awkward, horrible feeling. So today at the gym I decide that I will just walk really fast - I am a fast walker as it is - and a pretty good sprinter when I get down to it.

So, as I am making my way around the track I am passed by an older gentleman.
An older gentleman with a cane.
An older gentleman with a little white cane.
An older gentleman with a little white cane and dark glasses.

HE IS BLIND! And running alone - with just the cane!

I'm just giving up now. When you are lapped by a 65 year old blind man - there's really no point running at all.

basic 1

Kooka passed her basic 1 ice skating test and was pretty proud of herself. All the teachers say she is the hardest worker ever. They love how determined she is - and how she never gives up.