The new Movabletype blog is up! You can find it here: http://www.mdswan.com/blog
Please adjust your browsing habits accordingly...
- posted by Mark @ 4/16/2004 10:41:07 AM |

 
The kids would all sing, he would take the wrong key
So they rode on his head on their furry donkey...

In the interest of keeping the one or two people who read this garbage HAPPY, this shall probably be my last post using Blogger. Alas, poor Blogger...I knew ye well...

I'm going to attempt to follow the masses to MoveableType. I messed around with it a long time ago, back when I was a virgin blogger, but couldn't seem to get it to install correctly. I eventually stumbled upon Blogger, and Blogger was good to me. However, it's (apparently) time for a change. My reader(s) practically demand it.

My wife and I are in the process of cleaning up the fenced-in backyard. She has been raking dilligently (it needed it bad), and I got the new garden-area cleared, framed, tilled, and planted. There's still a large pile of brush/weeds/roots left over from the project, including the two fruit trees I removed a couple weeks ago. I'll get some pictures taken and posted sometime. We cleared out some of the plants that had been poorly-spaced along the north and west fences, and have weed paper laid on about half of it. I think we'll finish up this weekend, and hopefully find a good deal on some landscape rock somewhere to fill it in. I really want rock as opposed to cedar bark. It looks better longer, and is easier to maintain. I'm all about easy maintenance, JACK. Now I hear it's supposed to get cold again Friday. I'm gonna go look for something to cover the freshly planted seeds/seedlings in my garden tonight.

So far, I have 1 spearmint seedling. None of THE peppermint has sprouted. Only 2 of the garlic chives are growing. I have about 50 marigold seedlings, tho...some of them are 6" tall already. And the parsley is growing at an alarming rate. The basil looks healthy, and I probably have 30 cayenne seedlings growing strong. Considering it's been 20 years since I've even assisted in gardening, I'm impressed with myself.

While making stir-fry the other night, I noticed that a couple of the garlic cloves I left on the counter have sprouted. I've done some investigating, and I think I'm going to try and grow some garlic in my basement. Supposedly, if you grow it indoors, you can plant and harvest any time. WHO knew?

Chance has 6 top teeth coming in, all at once. He's taking it pretty well. I feel bad for the little fella, man....that can't feel too well. He now prefers walking to crawling, and has started pointing. Now, if I can just get him to point and laugh....(bad daddy). He also talks in his sleep now. As if the constant tossing and turning, smacking me inadvertently in the face, etc. weren't enough to keep me awake all night...

The Braves are 0-1, but I'm not worried. "Beware Adam LaRoche", I say.

I gotta go pick Madelyn up from school now. Hasta, people(s).

P.S. - Thank you, Hummer, for reviving this song! What a great commercial!


- posted by Mark @ 4/7/2004 03:05:50 PM |

 
I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a they
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind...

(I'm not 33 yet, but I will be in a couple months. Shut up, Frank.)

Several of the marigolds sprouted yesterday morning. It's insane...they had only been planted about 36 hours! If they all come up, I will have 100 marigolds to plant outside soon. Some of the basil came up yesterday, as well. I got some more seed Saturday (green beans, broccoli, radishes, spinach and some sugar baby watermelon). Yesterday, I picked up a claw-type cultivator and some more topsoil. If it ever stops raining, I can start building the garden area. I need to move some plants to the west side of the back yard to make room. It's been YEARS since I have done any gardening. I hope it turns out well.

Tim is doing some server maintenance right at FIVE tonight, so I'll have to keep this short. Oh well, it means that my first day back from vacation, I actually get to leave on time!

I think I'll make some more stir-fry FOR dinner tonight. I made it twice this weekend with beef, and it was awesome. Heather was going to get some pork today, so maybe we'll try it with pork.

Well, I'm heading home. Hopefully the girls aren't FIGHTING, and it will be a peaceful and productive evening. Cheers!
- posted by Mark @ 3/29/2004 04:47:43 PM |

 
You tell me that you love me so, you tell me that you care
But when i need you baby, you're never there...

It's Friday, but it doesn't feel like it. Today is the 5th and final day of my spring vacation, and vacation days spent at home do not follow the "Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Etc." form. If not for bowling last night, I'd have never known it was Thursday.

What did I accomplish this week? Well, not much. I got my new monitor on Monday. It's pretty awesome...a 21" NEC MultiSync. It's not as flat as my old one. but the color is incredible. Plus, I'm accustomed to my 1280x1024 resolution. My old monitor struggled to run it at 60 Hz. The recommended resolution for this one is 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz. I've NEVER been so happy..

I did manage to get a few things done. I got some of the cabinets installed in the upstairs bathroom. I'm pretty proud of that effort. They almost line up straight. And they're not going anywhere. I managed to hit the studs in the wall with some 4" screws. Those babies are THERE to stay.

I made an experimental dessert. I baked a chocolate layer CAKE. I put chocolate pie filling between the layers, and chocolate frosting on top. I wasn't totally thrilled with the end result (it didn't turn out exactly as I had imagined), but I didn't get to eat any, either. That's usually a good sign around here. Heather and the kids gobbled it up.

I got some preliminary work done on the workshop/laundry room project in the basement. Ok, all I did was tear down the drywall under the stairs and cut a shelf in half, but it's all opened up now.

I installed some anti-virus software on my mom's computer, and ran some way overdue updates. I think I managed to plant the seed that it's time to think about a new computer. She doesn't use it that much, except for bi-weekly 20-hour Everquest sessions. Little joke there. She plays casino games and hearts, and checks her email. Still, I know she would be happier with a newer model.

I chpped down the crappy apple tree and the seriously ill cherry tree. I chopped them down with a borrowed hatchet. Not an axe, a hatchet. Two 8" diameter trees. It's the most physical excercise I have achieved in months. My shoulder and back are barking. Anyway, it really opens up the fenced-in yard. I left one apple tree for Madelyn to climb on. At least it grows straight.

Today, I planted some sweet basil, parsley, spearmint, peppermint, garlic chives and marigolds. I'm rather anxious to see how they turn out.

I bowled better last night, but our team still lost 3 out of 4. I had a chance to win the first game...the exact scenario I love...and blew it. We won the second game farily easily, but lost the last. It's pretty depressing, and everyone on my team is showing it. It's a long season (too long).

Well, it's time for dinner. Pasta la vista!
- posted by Mark @ 3/26/2004 05:56:51 PM |

 
And If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
And If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat...

When come back, bring pie! Thanks, 80! (Holy shit! Someone I don't personally know reads this!)

Apparently, Dayquil just doesn't do it for me anymore. I bowled horribly. I'd try Nyquil, but I imagine bowling while asleep is difficult. Maybe I should jump straight to the heroin overdose now and get it over with.

I'm concerned about my monitor shipment. The UPS website says that it's not BEHIND schedule, but the last entry shows it leaving California Wednesday morning at 1:30AM. One can only assume leprechauns are to blame.

I changed my blog template, I hope you like it. It's called BLUE something-or-other. The orange was making my EYES hurt. I may have inadvertently screwed up THE comments in the process, but there weren't many anyway. I mean, WHO really reads this shit anyway?

Gotta get to work now, hasta.

P.S. - Why did LB leave out this section, possibly the best written section, of the song in their remake???
- posted by Mark @ 3/19/2004 09:49:54 AM |

 
Hamburger cup of coffee lettuce and tomato
Two times a dime to see a man kiss the alligater
One more time around free on the ferris wheel ride...

Today's entry is brought to you by the fine folks at Vick's, makers of that wonderful concoction Dayquil. Long live Vick's! MY life would not be the same without you.

I'm taking next week off work. I need a break. We had planned to visit Heather's grandmother and UNCLE in Sheldon, but Grandma Rose and her new boyfriend are headed to California. Madelyn has spring break, so at least I'll get to spend some time with her. She's at that age where we don't connect like we USED TO. She's only 6, and it will get worse I know, but still...I LOVE that girl, dammit! Beats ME. We have a father-daughter banquet Friday night for her Daisy Scout troop, so we'll see how that goes.

Chance is walking! He likes to walk with his left foot a lot more than his right foot, which leads to some serious spinning and spills, BUT he's walking. Heather and I tried to get some video this morning of him. SHE sat on the floor with him, and I tried to get him to walk to me. He'd take two or three steps with his left foot and then fall. I think it was too early in the morning.

Middle Child Syndrome - Anyone out there with two kids, please listen. If you have another child, and I'm not saying you shouldn't, but...the middle child will change. Joli isn't big enough to do the stuff Madelyn is, and yet too old to get away with the baby stuff Chance does. I try to give her all the attention I can, but that just strains my relationship with Madelyn even more. Joli is pretty much a Daddy's girl anyway. But her little episodes of crayons on the wall and Barbie haircuts need to stop.

My monitor at home DIED. Well, it didn't die, but it has some terminal health issues. The middle of the screen is blurry. The outside 2" is crystal clear all the way around, but the middle is garbage. Oh well, it's over 4 years old...I guess it has lived a good life. I have a 21" NEC on the way; it'll be here Monday.

I'm looking forward to bowling tonight. There's something about the Dayquil-alcohol combo that usually equates to me bowling well. I might try it sometime when I'm not sick, just to see (I'm kidding, dear).

My mom and step-dad got back from their vacation Monday. And, bless their kind souls, brought me golf balls. They also brought Allie (my step-neice) back from Oklahoma for the week, as she is on her spring break. I didn't ask how she was getting back. I hope her parents come and get her...it's always a good time with Kevin around.

Work is going well. I learned how to program IADs, a job previously reserved for Chinese-speaking employees. I even picked up a little "Chinglish" along the way. For instance, when Yu, Zhang says "sixty-something", I now know he means "thirty-something". Fabulous. I have no idea what he says when he really means "sixty-something"....maybe it will never come up. Anyway, in honor of my newfound ability, I have taken a Chinese name: Eet Sum Pi. After all, who doesn't like pie?

Well, time for another Dayquil dose. First visitor to post the lyrical genius responsible for the song contained in the post gets props on my next entry.
- posted by Mark @ 3/18/2004 03:55:00 PM |

 
I've got a shrink I swear he's Elvis I think,
He wears the coolest suede shoes when I come in with the blues...

Saturday, we took the kids to Cedar Rapids for Disney On Ice - 3 Jungle Adventures. A friend (she used to be the manager at Walton) works at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel in CR, gave us 4 freebies. It was a good show. The Jungle Book was a little long (almost an hour), followed by a 10 minute intermission. Next came Tarzan (15-20 minutes), and The Lion King ended the show (15-20 minutes). I'm sure they have their reasons, but in my opinion, they could have knocked 20 minutes off of Jungle Book, and added 10 to the other two. Still, it was well worth it for the kids.

I think Chance had the best time of all. All the lights and people...all the clapping...he was happy as a clam. It took Joli a couple minutes to get over the volume (she's a FREAK when it comes to loud noises). She was clapping along, gasping at the jumps and twists and turns, and enjoyed it right up to the point when she took a spill over the seats in front of us. Madelyn seemed to have a good time as well, although she's at the age where I can't always tell exactly what her emotions are.

Heather instantly fell in love with Tarzan's 6-pack, while I snapped as many pictures OF Jane as I could. We're both pretty sure Mowgli is playing for the other team. The pictures didn't turn out too well. Our seats were in the balcony, but we could see everything from up there. However, the people in front of us stood up at the most inopportune times, it seems. I'll fire up Photoshop tonight, maybe, and see if I can doctor some of THE better ones and post them.

It didn't take long to figure out where Disney makes it's money on these shows. The girls wanted cotton candy when we first got there, so Heather (she was sitting on the aisle) got the cotton candy dude's attention. One bag of cotton candy, a stick, and a plastic safari hat...$10. The look on Heather's face when she told the guy "Umm...just one, then"...priceless. The couple in front of us bought sno-cones. A 3" diameter ball of shaved ice with some colored flavorings, in an unproportionately large Disney character mug...$10. Apparently, you could get the sno-cones at the concession stand for $8, but to have them delivered was an extra $2. Hey, even the vendor's gotta eat.

After the show, we stopped in Iowa City for dinner. We wanted to eat at the Olive Garden, but it was packed (there was a home men's basketball game Saturday). We drove by Chili's and Red Lobster, but they were equally packed. We settled for Applebee's. We had about a 5 minute wait, but got to peer down some college chick's poorly buttoned shirt for much of that time. Time well spent. The food was good, and we got dessert to go. Next time you hit an Applebee's, let me recommend the "Dulce de leche Cheesecake". Wow.

Last Sunday, we bowled the Team event for the City Tournament. Let me begin by saying I have never bowled well in the Team event. Never. This year was no exception, as I rolled my way to a 482. It was miserable. We placed 14th out of 18 teams, I believe. I don't know about the rest of the guys, but I blame me. I was depressed all WEEK. Thursdsay night in league, I rolled a respectable 618. I hoped this would bode well for Doubles this Sunday, as that is the event that means the most to me (and my father-in-law).

Well, we didn't defend our title. He bowled well, I bowled a MARVELOUS 556. Well below average, and even further below what we needed to win...even to compete. Six games into the tournament, and I hadn't bowled a single game over my average....let alone over 200. My fingers were beginning to swell, or I would have begun drinking heavily. Only 3 games left in the tournament, and I hadn't showed up yet.

Singles started much in the same fashion. I started off with a 193...still sub-par, still no 200. Let the Bud Light shine. With my hand swelling so much my fingernails seemed they could be easily detached, I kept cramming my fingertips into the ball and throwing hard. And drinking.

I finished with a 232 - 241. Not good enough to win (almost, but not quite), but good enough to keep me from driving my Jeep off a cliff. I think I finished 4th, and actually had a chance to win it in the 10th frame of the last game.

Now, I feel like if we don't win the Thursday night league, the whole season has been a wash. I really hope we do, and I hope I have something to do with it. I need to come through in the clutch again.

Thank you, iTunes, for this entry's lyrical theme. It's a cool song, check it out.
- posted by Mark @ 3/1/2004 10:19:49 AM |