...taken out of context, of course.

This weekend, the lovely jennyp5309 and I went to San Antonio for the commitment ceremony of jessica1978 and the fantastic Jen. I say commitment only because they can't legally get married in this bass-ackward state of ours, but truth be told, it was a wedding, and a lovely one at that. The minister was a good friend of Jessica's from years back, and much of the language used was right out of the Lutheran service Jenny & I used. So congratulations, Jess & Jen! May you always live as newlyweds!

So here are some random quotes from the weekend, all of which are taken out of context. Because that's the way God intended, yo.

 The lovely jennyp5309  and I have been together seven years today, and the only thing that itches is my beard.

Oh, how it itches!

Yes, in the week leading up to this date in 2002, I was calling every single woman I had the number for to see if she would go to the opera. Good friend MusicalAsh and I had bought tickets together for Porgy & Bess, and she had to back out so she could take on some paying percussion gig. Yes, I called every single woman I could find the number for. And some I couldn't. Until I called a church friend who just may have had Jenny's number... Jenny who I had talked to a couple of times on Sunday mornings and didn't know much about.

The show was a Sunday matinee, which meant we left straight from church. And did I mention the show was in Fort Worth? Yes, a potentially long, awkward drive with someone I honestly didn't think I would be dating. Luckily, she came prepared with all sorts of "getting to know you" questions. Favorite movies. Favorite songs. Colors. Stuff like that. 

After the show, we had dinner at a restaurant within walking distance of the Bass Performance Hall. The waiter got her order slightly wrong, which led to the comment that effectively "sealed the deal." Touching that third rail of the first date, that topic that no one should dare bring up, she said, and I quote:

"I blame the Republican administration. Those bastards."

So here's to you, my dear bride, on the seventh anniversary of our first date! May our conversations continue to be peppered with political diatribes!

...or at least I hope that's the case. In any event, HAPPY BIRTHDAY azurelion ! 

From a Q&A I'm editing:

WHY DID YOU ENLIST IN THE ARMY INSTEAD OF THE AIR FORCE? I always enjoyed walking in the countryside, which is what we did a lot of in Vietnam. After a few months, I realize that walking in that particular countryside was a really bad idea.

We sometimes get letters from the Texas Republican Party, addressed to one of the former owners of our house. We usually just toss them in the trash. Yesterday, though, I felt like a little light reading, so I opened it up.

It was a fundraising appeal from the party's state chairman. "Because you've been a first-class supporter in the past, I'm enclosing an envelope with a first-class stamp. We can't really afford the 42 cents, but we're hoping that you'll send us a generous donation." He went on to say how they need to counter Barack Obama's "lies," etc., but again mentioned how the 42 cents was an expense they didn't want to spend.

So I took a look at the envelope:



Look at that all-important, expensive stamp:

Yes, the text underneath it reads, "No postage necessary."

 Actual quote: "While you were on the computer, I saw a commercial for Sonic. $2.99 chili-cheese coney and tots. You should totally have one for lunch!"

I married well.

There wasn't anything in front of this sign, so I have no idea what it's selling.

Anyone know of a company looking for a talented writer/editor/talk-show host? I suddenly have a lot more time on my hands.

Thanks in advance for any leads.

Proof that Julie takes after her mommy just as much as she does me:

Last night, Julie insisted on taking her pink shoes to bed with her. She clasped them in her little hands and refused to let them go, so we put her in the crib, gave her the blanket, the stuffed Grover and purple dog and bid her good night.

Around 10:30, she started crying. I went into check on her and she had put on one of the shoes (on the correct foot! And fastened the Velcro strap!) and was trying in vain, in the dark, to put on the other one.

Our girl, she loves her shoes.

Also, a spelling update: In the back of my mind, I thought yesterday's spelling of "cheese" was just a funny coincidence since she saw mommy motioning toward the fridge. So when I came home last night, I said, "Julie -- Y-E-L-L-O-W."

She replied, proudly, "Yeyyo!"

Yeah, we're in trouble.

Our daughter likes cheese.

Scratch that. Our daughter LOVES cheese. She asks for it with such a reverent tone: "Cheeth?" It's irresistible.

On Sunday night, her grandma and grandpa ("Kit-Kat" and "Old Daddy") took us all to Fuddrucker's. I'm a big fan of their burgers, but Julie typically doesn't eat a lot of meat right now. Especially beef. So we ordered her a grilled cheese sandwich.

Fudd's has a condiment bar with Mustard, Ketchup, barbecue sauce, mayo and the Best Idea Ever, nacho cheese. Grandpa filled a little plastic cup with nacho cheese for his burger.

When he returned to the table, Julie saw this cup, reached across and dipped her grilled cheese sandwich. In cheese.

That's my girl!

In other news, Jenny & I were cooking eggs this morning* when Jenny said, "I'll go to the refrigerator to get the C-H-E-E-S-E."

To which Julie said, proudly, "Cheeth!"

Oh God, she can already spell.

*It's a team activity, given how Julie wants one of us to hold her, and she likes to move from parent to parent.

...your toddler daughter sitting in your lap, force-feeding you french fries.

Oh, and making sure to dip them in ketchup first.

So it looks like I dodged a bullet. Or Forded a bullet. (Thanks, troupatour, for that bad pun!) The car is running fine, and the check engine light is now off.

Jenny's stepdad recommended that I disconnect the battery for a little bit to reset the onboard computer. Voila! Looks like a new PCV valve (and affiliated hoses) was exactly what ol' Frieda needed.

Now, what to do about the mess o' kitty litter and oil in the garage...

So I guess it's safe to say I'm not a do-it-yourselfer. At least not when it comes to the car.

Since the lovely jennyp5309  has been out of work, we've been trying to find lots of ways to save money. One of those ways, I thought, would be for me to change the oil in our cars myself.  Never mind that after buying the oil pan, the oil, the filter, a new hydraulic jack and jack stands, there would be no cost savings at all. I'm thinking long-term here.

And I'd better keep thinking.


So I've officially given up on changing oil. I'm not going near Jenny's car with the oil pan and the filter wrench. All I wanted to do was save a little money. Instead, I lose five hours+ of a Sunday night, get oil all over the garage and potentially screw up the car's engine.

Let's hope that isn't the case.

Well, we knew it had to happen sometime. Our daughter has tasted the nectar of the gods... and she is, unsurprisingly, a big fan.

That means today, June 16, 2008, marks two major milestones. The first is, of course, my beloved jennyp5309 's 30th birthday. Happy birthday, love!

Who knew that we'd be spending both these momentous occasions at home? Jenny and Julie are sick, and I'm staying home today to try to care for them. We took Julie to the doctor around 11 this morning and stopped for tacos on the way home. I ordered my obligatory Dr Pepper. (Aside: if you "nacho size" your combo at Taco Bueno, they'll give you chips and queso... and a soft drink that must be gallon-size. It's ridiculously large.)

Anyway, Julie has long held a fascination with straws. Whenever we go to a restaurant, we ask the waiter/waitress to bring us extra straws just for her. She'll chew on them and wave them around, but she's never shown any interest in putting the straw in and taking it out of a drink.

Until today.

She went for my straw almost as soon as I put the drink on the table. She pulled it out of the cup and put it in her mouth. Then she gave us an enormous grin. She then put the straw back in the cup and drew it out again. Taste. Smile. Insert. Remove. Taste. Smile. Repeat.

Our daughter, she loves her Dr Pepper. She truly is Daddy's little girl!

Pics: (apologies for the smudges... apparently somebody put her sticky fingers on the camera lens. I wonder who that could have been?)

I'm in Alaska this week for work. How many people get to say they HAVE to go on a cruise for a business trip? Not many, I guess. This is one of the most beautiful areas I've ever seen, and the only thing that would make it better is if my beautiful bride were here with me.

I've never been homesick before. Not that I've ever been much of a traveler, but anytime I've been away from home, I haven't felt terribly depressed. This time it's different. I'm here in a gorgeous part of the world, yet I miss my girls terribly.

I'm jonesing for some good Internet access. Access on the ship is pretty spotty... and expensive. They charge 69 cents a minute for something that's maybe, MAYBE dial-up speed. Yuck. I'm posting this from a bar in Juneau with free wi-fi. By the way, the Alaska Amber they're selling up here is pretty good.

Anyway, I'm enjoying the sights and the company of the group we're with, but I still can't wait to get back home.