wiz

I have waited forever to do the WIZ - I repeat . . . forever.

So now, I finally get the chance, and two weeks before the show - we loose the Lion to illness and the Tin Man to suspension.

We are scrambling to replace them - and I know we will make it work, but I better get another chance at this someday.

pinewood derby

You can actually see the circles under his eyes, but Punk would not miss the Pinewood derby for ANYTHING. He slept on my shoulder through a large part of it, but still had a great time. He had won the coolest car award for two years, and was shooting for three, so he was mildly disappointed when he won "the safest" car award (given to the car with the slowest time). His spirits picked up when he heard through the grapevine - that he was actually chosen as coolest car - but had to be dethroned - because you can only win one prize, and safety is based on stats. Anyway - here he is showing off the creation that he and his dad worked on:

linger

I knew this would happen - I really did. I used to think about it, years before she actually died. Riley will never really be gone.

I rented a DVD today, and when I was showing it to Kooka one, lone Riley hair was sitting on top of it. I was used to it when she was alive - everything was covered in her fur, but even now - on a rented DVD?

That dog is like cockroaches and Twinkies - she will truly live for eternity - in our hearts, and in the lining of our coats.

new day

I like Barack Obama. I do. Despite the fact that the general public let Oprah choose the new president - he is a likable guy.

But today, when I watched him become the new president, I could not help but think about the old one.

He will go down as a poor leader, a dim bulb, despised. But he is human.

He stood on the steps of the Capitol, next to the Obamas. They were laughing together, they seemed to actually enjoy each other's company. The announcer said something to this effect, "Even though these have been dark times for former President Bush, there is no denying that he is a genuine man. The Obama people have been so impressed with the graciousness of the entire Bush family during this transition. They have been incredibly supportive of the Obama people, and you will notice that never once has anything here been about the Bush family - it has all been about welcoming the Obamas and celebrating their arrival."

That is what the announcer said - some of the nicest words anyone has said about this man in years. And they happen to be true.

But the butthead woman announcer could not be gracious, and she says this, "Yes, well, gracious or not, he was ineffective, and there will not be many people sorry to see him go."

Just shut up.

When the new President thanked George Bush for his service to our country - not for saving the world, but for TRYING - for doing the best he knew how to do, when Obama thanked him for that, there was barely a smattering of applause. All of the lemmings were thrilled about unity - as long as they could look cool doing it.

Maybe they should have actually listened to the speech - "We will extend a hand, if you are willing to unclench your fist." Just let it go. He is human. Forgive - and quite frankly, ask themselves if they personally even have anything to forgive in the first place.

If our new president can get people to think for themselves and still work together, then I will shout it from the rooftop - GOBAMA - please, for the love of God - GOBAMA!

just another day in our so-called-lives

How can this even be?

Punk went to the doctor today. He has not been doing much but sleeping for the past week, so we had to get it checked out.

Whatever it is he has is not good.

The doctor said it may be mono as well - but regardless, it is aggressive, contagious and will leave him out of school for about two weeks.

Yeah.

Two weeks.

In addition, he needs to have another blood count in a week, just in case it is something even worse.

Worse?

Seriously?

Welcome to our world lately - where nothing is ever, ever what we planned.

bowling master

That was the name he chose - bowling master.

Since Punk was feeling a bit better, we went out for some special Punk/Mom time. We both need the bumpers up, but had a great time choosing the brightest, lightest, bowling balls, sipping scalding cappuccino, and secretly looking at other families scores to make sure that we were indeed, the best ones there.

kooka's invention

Kooka has kicked around many occupations - baker, dancer, horse trainer, fashion designer, teacher, vet. But lately, the vocation du jour' is "Inventor."

Last week she gave a presentation on sound waves to her class. She looked so adorable in her lab coat with her goggles and her "sound wave trap" invention. The picture is grainy - but you'll get the idea:

come ON

THIS is my new senator.

I have said before that I need to move out of this state. This confirms it. At least when there is a tornado they turn on the sirens . . . but giving Stuart Smalley a seat in the senate with no warning whatsoever?!!! This has GOT to be a joke.

And it's not like I am all down with Norm Coleman either. Just because he looks like a long-lost Osmond brother does not exactly make me a fan. (Though it is a definite plus).

I am just tired of the lemming-like atmosphere. I mean, as long as I'm living in the state of quasi-celebrities moving here just to force their foot into the door of Minnesota's star-struck, uber-liberal voting masses, why don't we get somebody good?

There are a dozen Saturday Nite Live cast members I would pick over this dude.

Adam Sandler - self-proclaimed moron, but at least he admits it.

David Spade - a complete jerk - just like Al Franken, but when he speaks it's clever.

Amy Poehler - if she could just do that Caitlyn thing to everybody on the house sub-committee - she could pass any bill she wanted.

Actually, when it comes down to it, I am not all that picky - we have plenty of local talent, and it would not take much to be an improvement. . . Bob Dylan, T.R. Knight, Prince, Loni Anderson, those skanky blonde triplets that were in Playboy, the guy from Pawn America, the dog from Minnesota Bound . . . need I go on?

why we are crying

It was the last day of 2008 when we lost someone we loved so very very much.

Our almost 15 year old, German Shepherd Riley, died in her sleep.

She was a therapy dog, the kind of dog who would never leave the yard - especially when the kids were playing in it. Baby Kooka stabbed her fingers in Riley's eyes on more than one occasion without so much as a wimper. She kept us safe, protected us, loved us, and it was her time to go . . . but that does not make this any easier.

how I survived

It is a wonder my brother and I survived past age 10.

This morning Punk asked me to teach him "more dangerous games that you and Uncle D used to play." So after a morning of brewing our own sodas (cinnamon twist and cherry vanilla swirl) I taught them Little Joey Carrot. If, like us, you have been cooped up for nearly a week, you really should get out a giant blanket and play.

Spread the blanket out on an open space on the floor. Take one person and roll them up diagonally like a burrito. Make sure they keep their hands down and legs straight - eventually the blanket will cover their feet and hands, making them pointy at both ends. You can use a few belts to secure the person inside the blanket if need be. Then sit back and enjoy.

Without using their hands, the person has to try to get up. They are bound, blindfolded, and trying to avoid sharp corners of coffee tables all at the same time. Add to this, the fact that the entire family is laughing hysterically at their predicament . . . the "carrot's" confusion, laughing spasms, and mild humilation, make for great family memories.

Trouble is, it's hard to stop at just one game. Punk has heard my list, and really wanted to follow up the fun with a rousing version of help I can't breathe. Kooka wanted to play Tom Sawyer, or help I'm falling.

Most of which are self explanitory.

I can't wait until the next family get-together when I can teach D's kids to play crash up derby. You play on real bikes, all crashes MUST be head on, and on the moment of impact you must sing out "crash up der-by" as loud as you can without falling off.

Considering everyone else in our family seemed to kick out prematurely, it begs the question . . . how are the two of us still alive? Without even taking in to account the fact that I often times walk barefoot in the snow, and D spends his days sticking his arms into giant, faulty electrical generators. I think we built up some kind of immunity from our dad, whose favorite game is allowing underage children to drive cars while pretending to supervise.

the cutest thing

I do not really like to brag, and at the risk of turning into one of those people who can't stop showing pictures of their prize-winning cat, or making your taste their blue-ribbon pickles . . . I have to show off these pictures of Kooka. Styling by mom, photos by dad, and attitude by . . . well, that is pretty obvious.

fair warning

Consider this your warning:

Kooka has mono.
The kissing disease.

Now aside from wondering who the heck my first grader has been making out with, you may have a few other questions. Unfortunately, I have too many answers. I have been down this road before, and really hoped she wouldn't be. But here it is . . .

•Mono is caused by the Epstein Barr Virus.
•Ninety percent of adults over the age of 35, have the Epstein Barr Virus in their system. Which means, if you are a grown up, most likely you can keep getting hugs and kisses from Kooka, but use common sense.
•In many people the virus will remain dormant, but many people will have flair ups, months and even years after their initial diagnosis.
•Mono can cause a very enlarged spleen, as well as liver problems, so if you have been around us recently and have a "tummy ache" you might want to get that checked out . . . apparently those suckers can explode.
•This is concerning to us based on what Punk likes to dub our "poor genetic material" on my side of the family.
•We had a mild scare with her two years ago, where the doctor suggested the possibility of another autoimmune disorder . . . needless to say, I won't sleep tonight.

Anyway, we will be laying low for a while, trying to rest, trying much harder than a six year-old wants to. Wish me luck.