From Tumblr

Here's a something that spilled out of my brain onto Tumblr that I thought kind of belonged over here:

March 19, 2007

Running O' the Green

Well, I survived St. Patty's day.

At our house it's an observed holiday of a sort, but not because of the Irish connection, even though my side of the family does bring the Irish.

Even though we're Christian we're not celebrating any religious aspect associated with any saint.
Even though we wear green, it's not about the green.

At our house it's pretty much entirely about. . . Pinch Avoidance.

The kids slink out of their bedrooms dressed in green, but not in a festive way. More out of the same spirit that a paintball warrior will wear body armor for protection.

Suddenly, as I'm brushing my teeth I feel a sharp little pain in my left buttock. I turn around to see a grinning little 8 year old face, filled with the glee that only comes from drawing first blood.

It's on.

Something new. . .

I'm trying a tumble-log in addition to my blogging.

A tumble log is a new style of informal blogging. Shorter bursts of thought. Simpler than a full on blog.

I'm hoping I can use this to let people know I'm still alive when I can't post here like I want to.

It's kind of like when I was writing in my journal. With the big blog here, I always want to sit down and so some real writing. Mainly about dad stuff or some story or thought or something. Sometimes that stymies me.

So the tumble-log is like a spiral notebook. Let's me be a little more off the cuff, and perhaps off topic. I'll be putting stuff there that's where my mind is. Maybe something that irritates me, something I'm contemplating, a movie I watched, a web link, or a brain spasm on something shiny.

Check it out at cyberjazzdaddy.tumblr.com.

Joy of Bears

My daughter went to state speech yesterday.

She was, I found out later, the only one from her school's team without family representation at the meet. I totally didn't know that fans were welcome. Nothing was said, and in my day having spectators wasn't a thing that was done for these events. Not unless it was someone else on the team watching you. Certainly not family.

She text messaged me: "If I make finals, will you get me gummi bears!"

I replied: "You're on!"

I guess things didn't go so well. Later that day I got a meek little text message:

"Can I still have bears?"

I arrived home late last night, long after everyone was asleep. I snuck into her room and put the bag of little squishy candy bears on her nightstand and kissed her forehead.

So big, but thankfully, still my little girl.

Climbing back onto the edge of the world

I'm still here. Honest I am. So long since the last post, I know. I've had to for go posting because I needed to schedule in things. . .you know, like sleep. As over rated as it is, I know.

I have finished up things that took up all my very minimal spare time, just in time to begin new things that will take up all my spare time. But it's good. Here's what's in the news:

We had a wonderful 40th birthday for my wife. That deserves it's own post. But she had a good time with local friends and people she hasn't seen in years. The party's theme: Life begins at 40!

Kitten took 4th in the District Speech competition, meaning that she will now be going to State. She's very excited. A snow storm hit just as the tourney was ending, and driving home in the crazy weather I had the thought, "well, at least she'll die happy". But we made it home safely and celebrated snuggly in our house. She got extra celebration as the storm caused school to be called off the next day.

This was a snow day that Robo was convinced he and his friends caused. He came in the next morning while I was still sleeping and said, "Dad, it worked"! Why they have to get up early on a day they don't have to get up early has always been beyond me. Without opening my eyes I mumbled, "What worked"?

Apparently when it looks like snow is coming, he calls up a little network of friends to begin the snow day ritual. He and one friend put on their P.J.s inside out and flush the toilet twice in a row, while the third friend runs around his house 5 times wearing only his boxers (not entirely sure how this last friend pulled that short straw, but that's his unfortunate wintertime job). This all is supposed to push it over the edge and cause a snow day the next day. Which he triumphantly sees working here.

I would just like to take a moment here to point out that this son is, in fact, doing very well in science. Even though it seems like he could at any moment be the subject of a National Geographic special on primitive tribal superstition.

While we're on the subject of the magic of the universe, I should mention that the little Bear is now potty trained! Somehow the planets aligned and he decided that he would allow himself to be guided by his mother and learn this new skill. Within a week he was waking up dry and staying dry through out the day. And he never really took to the training potty chair---he went right for the full size puppy. I guess he must have figured if he's going to do this thing, he going to do it full on. Needless to say, there was much more rejoicing.

And finally in the home front report, the Leemur's poem I put in the last post was partially quoted in the local newspaper along with a full size color photo! That caused some excitement, too, I must say.

And me, I'm onto finish casting a play I'll be directing. More on that later.

In other news, Omaha is getting a Mini Cooper dealership! We'll have an Apple store and a Mini dealership---we're just becoming one of the happiest places on earth here in the heartland!