Word Girl !

Our new favorite TV show.

Has to be seen to be believed. Some of the funniest writing this side of the Simpsons and old Loony Tunes. Go to the Adventures of Word Girl on the lowerish left to see some episodes.

In one episode, mild mannered 5th grader, Becky Botsford (secret ID natch) meets one of her nemeses (nemesises? nemesi?) who mentions that only a family of imbeciles would own a television. She angrily replies that she does in fact know what imbeciles means and that her family are certainly not. Besides, they only watch PBS.

We're so deep in that Lily's planning on being Word Girl for Haloween. Jacob wants in too, so he'll be Captain Huggy Face, WG's monkey sidekick.

I'm psyched too since I'll be to be the COOLEST villain - The BUTCHER.

IL-2

One tough WWII plane.

Wanted to make this one pretty banged up.

My first Soviet plane.

Pretty blue

Visit with Dr. Jake

Scene: Morning, dad is putting on clothes, getting ready for work. Dr. Jake arrives for a house call with his big plastic stethoscope.

Dr: Time to check you out.

Me: OK. Do I have to take my shirt off?

Dr: No just lift it up. (Puts stethoscope on my stomach)

Me: OK. How's that?

Dr: OK. Hmmmm

Me (DEEP BREATH)

Dr: HMMMM

Me (DEEP BREATH)

Dr: HMMM. (Shakes head)

Me: Are we done?

Dr: No. I've got to check your piko (bellybutton).

Me (thinking) pleasenolint pleasenolint

Dr: Uh oh

Me: Sounds serious...AM I ok?

Dr (stage whisper) : CAVITIES !

No....way.

WAY!


Follow link. Too funny.

A Good Day

Yesterday may go down as one of the best days of my life. No exaggeration.

1. Played hooky with my son.
2.Went to the beach.
3.Watched jet fighters zoom by 100' off the water.
4.Watched perfect late summer swell at the best south shore spots.
5.Went for a swim and played with my boy.
6. Ate tacos.
7. Repeated steps 2-5.
8. Picked up Lily from school
9. Afterschool/Dinner/bath/bedtime/bookreading routine
10. Hour or two of Half-Life2
11. Hour or so of Patrick O'Brian reading
12. Lights out

Totally happiness.

My X-Athlete Children

So we were heading over the Pali Sunday to plan this year's Halloween Garage of Terror (aka the Carhole of Scariness) at Dave and Kristen's house. We didn't go on Saturday since the Lemmonds were at Waimanalo for 3 hours of kids soccer between Olivia and Jack's games. This was 24 hours too long for my kids since the Lemmonds now have everybody's favorite rodents as pets: guinea pigs.

Lily: Why didn't we go to their house yesterday?

Me: They had soccer games....I wonder when you guys are gonna start playing soccer....

Lily: I'm not gonna play soccer...

Me (momentarily crushed): OK. What sports are you gonna play?

Lily: Well....I could play dodgeball.

Me (aside): *snort*

Jacob: Or we could ride our tricycles upside down !

Me: Um....

Jacob: NAKED !

Dad and Lily Racing

Lily and I racing at Ala Moana the other day. My handicap is that Jacob is behind me in a floatie ring attached to the leash. Actually a very close race. She won the first heat.

And yes. Those are nice waves in the back out at Bamburra's. I took Lily on my board out to Tennis Courts and caught a couple. She was totally stoked.

Librations

OK. I've been a nerd for a while and seen all sorts of cool astronomy pictures, but this one made me say WOW.

This is an image sequence that shows how minor wobbles in the Earth/Moon system allow viewers on Earth to see about 59% of the Moon's surface, despite the fact that the moon is synchronously locked in orbit about the Earth. Which is to say, we SHOULD only be able to see exactly 50% of the Moon's surface, but in fact there are wobbles that allow us to "see around the corner".

Better explanation here.

Such a month!

Lily's princess party - Slideshow above

Three birthdays, an anniversary, the beginning of school, graduation parties, weddings,and visits from the mainland friends and family...all in less than 30 days!

July and August are always exhaustingly fun, and this one is no different.

First Day, First Grade

 

Only...let's see....28 more years of school to go...

Uncle Bump's first Deep Fried Twinkie

 

The first of many, I'm sure.

Ya snooze...

 

You going lose that twinkie

Under construction

 

1 Red Velvet Cake = 4 layers o' goodness.

The best possible cake for the WORST BIRTHDAY EVER. Ok. Yet. I'm sure there are worse ones to come.

Sigh. I did NOT handle turning 40 well. Sorry to friends and family who were shocked and saddened by my less than positive reaction...but damn...

WATERFIGHT !

 

Summer days means it's time for waterplay!

Lily get's Uncle Bump

Retreat !

 

Uncle Bump thinks the better of it.

Calabash cousins!

 

And in a single container....

Isaac Shapiro, mad scientist

 

After going through the transporter with a fly in the chamber with him....

Kid logic

 

OK. We NEED to get that video from the top shelf....

I know ! Let's put the high chair on the bench....

Wait...that's not safe...well, it's not safe if you put it on the soft part...but on the hard part it should be fine!

What could possibly go wrong?

Always time

 

For a teaching moment.