Cummings Park, near the Lincoln Park Zoo.Monday, March 1, 2010
Aches and Pains, Time and Space
Got the Census form done. Had some amusing moments, since I was filling out everything for everybody in the household. One last time. The Census is done every ten years. Weird to think about that, where I was this year, and 2000 (just started at the Press, no kids, yet), and 1990 (in college, a very, very fateful year for me, it turned out).
2010 is going to be so much better a year for me than 2008-2009 (although, bizarrely, I could probably trace the troubling years going back to 2001 onward -- just a dissonance that grew and grew and grew until things broke in 2008, and 2009 was a year of sorting through the rubble; 2010 is my year of rebuilding. I'm more than ready for it.)
I'm eating a "HUG ME" Valentine's Day lollipop B2 gave me. He had some kind of candy stash left over from Valentine's Day, something he got at preschool. Little scamp! I gave him a hug when he gave it to me.
2010 is going to be so much better a year for me than 2008-2009 (although, bizarrely, I could probably trace the troubling years going back to 2001 onward -- just a dissonance that grew and grew and grew until things broke in 2008, and 2009 was a year of sorting through the rubble; 2010 is my year of rebuilding. I'm more than ready for it.)
I'm eating a "HUG ME" Valentine's Day lollipop B2 gave me. He had some kind of candy stash left over from Valentine's Day, something he got at preschool. Little scamp! I gave him a hug when he gave it to me.
Swai? Census?
I pan-fried some Swai (aka, Asian Catfish) tonight, with broccoli on the side. Yummers.
Got the LONG Census form in the mail, so I'm going to try to get that done tonight and/or tomorrow morning.
B1 and I planted carnivorous plants in a special container, put it as the centerpiece on the dining room table.
I'm worn out and tired today. Some home front frustrations, delivered on the phone -- babysitting fell through, which is going to cause trouble. Forward March!
Got the LONG Census form in the mail, so I'm going to try to get that done tonight and/or tomorrow morning.
B1 and I planted carnivorous plants in a special container, put it as the centerpiece on the dining room table.
I'm worn out and tired today. Some home front frustrations, delivered on the phone -- babysitting fell through, which is going to cause trouble. Forward March!
Pulaski Day
It's Pulaski Day! B1 doesn't have school. They should serve paczkis on Pulaski Day. I bet Casimir Pulaski would totally have eaten them, if the opportunity presented itself.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Hall of Fame
I saw this while driving out to the western suburbs.I didn't even know such a place existed. Apparently, it's in Chicago!
Or, Elk Grove Village, if you want to be a stickler.
Movie: Zombieland
I saw "Zombieland" on DVD tonight. Mildly funny -- an enjoyable enough movie, although I wasn't (ar ar) blown away by it -- it wasn't the comedic multiple orgasm-on-celluloid that I was led to believe it was.
It wasn't quite an undead romantic comedy ala "Shaun of the Dead" (and, at heart, that's what that movie was, although it had some great comedic moments in it, likely because the Brits have that razor's edge instinct for comedy when they want to). Or maybe it was another undead romantic comedy of sorts, since the neurotic nerd guy does end up with the cool babe, the babe who'd be out of his league in a non-apocalyptic world, but now, somehow likes him (instead of the Woody Harrelson character, who a gal like that seems likelier to like). Wish fulfillment by the screenwriters?
The telegraphing of the various Zombieland Rules was overdone -- it's one thing to have them make a pass through, but for them to keep reappearing felt like the writers were looking down their noses at the audience -- "Look! This is what the narrator was referring to earlier!" The "rules" feels like a hook that sold the screenplay.
I think we survived the Great Zombie Cinematic Plague, if we're in the parodic place for it, now -- sort of like the "Scream" movies re: slasher movies, where it's all self-referential and what-not. "Zombieland" captures some semblance of humanity in its characters, which gives it something of the half-life of a Twinkie, but that's not saying too terribly much.
I can't hear the title of it without thinking of Terminal Mind's "Zombieland" tune -- a good song, offering a critique of American culture. They were a Texas band, and this story begins in Texas, so maybe the writers were inspired by that. Very likely.
I need to think a bit more about it, I guess. Or not.
It wasn't quite an undead romantic comedy ala "Shaun of the Dead" (and, at heart, that's what that movie was, although it had some great comedic moments in it, likely because the Brits have that razor's edge instinct for comedy when they want to). Or maybe it was another undead romantic comedy of sorts, since the neurotic nerd guy does end up with the cool babe, the babe who'd be out of his league in a non-apocalyptic world, but now, somehow likes him (instead of the Woody Harrelson character, who a gal like that seems likelier to like). Wish fulfillment by the screenwriters?
The telegraphing of the various Zombieland Rules was overdone -- it's one thing to have them make a pass through, but for them to keep reappearing felt like the writers were looking down their noses at the audience -- "Look! This is what the narrator was referring to earlier!" The "rules" feels like a hook that sold the screenplay.
I think we survived the Great Zombie Cinematic Plague, if we're in the parodic place for it, now -- sort of like the "Scream" movies re: slasher movies, where it's all self-referential and what-not. "Zombieland" captures some semblance of humanity in its characters, which gives it something of the half-life of a Twinkie, but that's not saying too terribly much.
I can't hear the title of it without thinking of Terminal Mind's "Zombieland" tune -- a good song, offering a critique of American culture. They were a Texas band, and this story begins in Texas, so maybe the writers were inspired by that. Very likely.
I need to think a bit more about it, I guess. Or not.
Curling
B1 was cute -- he said "You know why I like curling?" and I asked him "Why?" and he said "The stones are kinda special. They aren't some boring old ordinary rocks -- they are curling STONES. And it's kinda like a puck, and kinda like hockey, only with brooms."
Good Day
Had fun today -- the Zipcar went off without a hitch. The boys loved driving around in a Scion xB, and we hustled to the grocery store and got everything we needed, then I loaded it all upstairs and then took the boys on a playdate, which they greatly enjoyed. Then I hustled them home ahead of the USA/Canada hockey game. Overall, good day.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Feeling the Heat
Me on the thermographic imager, B1 touching the screen.
My glasses really repel the heat!
My glasses really repel the heat!
Me being filmed by a thermographic camera lens.
The seeming leer is simply the camera in front of my face.
The seeming leer is simply the camera in front of my face.
To Infinity (Shop) and Beyond
Had the boys down to the Adler Planetarium, and back. They enjoyed it, although the pricetag of that establishment makes me glad I only hit it maybe twice a year. Whew! Apparently they've opened it for evenings every third Thursday of the month, cocktails and what-not for human singularities (Get it? A little black hole humor, there). It was pretty crowded today, and the boys had a good time. I asked them what they liked best about it, and they both said "Everything!"
The bus ride home was typically amusing -- some real characters on the bus. The weekend is always a great time for people-watching on the CTA. I snapped a few covert pictures, just because it was too amusing not to.
Saw a drug deal on State Street! Probably crack, since it was something small passed from hand to hand by their nervous selves. The one guy had gloves with skeleton hands, and he saw me notice it (I was sitting on the bus with the boys -- thankfully, the boys weren't visible to the guy) and he gave me his Look of Death -- we just gazed at each other for a moment, me impassive, him threatening. Serious killer eyes, like a shark's. He and his pal split after the hand-off was made, one heading north, the other south.
There was a guy on the bus with a fur coat, serious sideburns, and just this look of an aged black boxer -- sky-blue mock turtleneck and black suit, a worn red cane, assorted bling, red sunglases perched on his forehead, scowling at nothing in particular. Great outfit! He looked like a middle-aged Black Panther dandy.
B2 often dozes on the bus -- I think it soothes him. It's very sweet, him laying his head on my shoulder. My shoulders lend themselves to that, I think, at least when I'm on the bus.
The boys and I gave up our seats to a trio of blind passengers who boarded -- we went further into the bus, toward the middle. Just being nice. Nobody else gave up their seats. That's usually how it goes -- I'm always the one who does it.
The boys travel very well on the bus. Exene makes it out like it's a big deal, but it's not -- they love to travel, and they are accomplished little city boys. They board and off they go, right into the bus. Very plucky, very cute.
Now we're home, I made them some lunch, and I'm going to rest and watch the Olympics while they play with some of the bric-a-brac I (of course) bought at the "Infinity Shop" (the Adler Planetarium museum shop). I took a bunch of pix, and am going to load them up and see if any are worth sharing.
The bus ride home was typically amusing -- some real characters on the bus. The weekend is always a great time for people-watching on the CTA. I snapped a few covert pictures, just because it was too amusing not to.
Saw a drug deal on State Street! Probably crack, since it was something small passed from hand to hand by their nervous selves. The one guy had gloves with skeleton hands, and he saw me notice it (I was sitting on the bus with the boys -- thankfully, the boys weren't visible to the guy) and he gave me his Look of Death -- we just gazed at each other for a moment, me impassive, him threatening. Serious killer eyes, like a shark's. He and his pal split after the hand-off was made, one heading north, the other south.
There was a guy on the bus with a fur coat, serious sideburns, and just this look of an aged black boxer -- sky-blue mock turtleneck and black suit, a worn red cane, assorted bling, red sunglases perched on his forehead, scowling at nothing in particular. Great outfit! He looked like a middle-aged Black Panther dandy.
B2 often dozes on the bus -- I think it soothes him. It's very sweet, him laying his head on my shoulder. My shoulders lend themselves to that, I think, at least when I'm on the bus.
The boys and I gave up our seats to a trio of blind passengers who boarded -- we went further into the bus, toward the middle. Just being nice. Nobody else gave up their seats. That's usually how it goes -- I'm always the one who does it.
The boys travel very well on the bus. Exene makes it out like it's a big deal, but it's not -- they love to travel, and they are accomplished little city boys. They board and off they go, right into the bus. Very plucky, very cute.
Now we're home, I made them some lunch, and I'm going to rest and watch the Olympics while they play with some of the bric-a-brac I (of course) bought at the "Infinity Shop" (the Adler Planetarium museum shop). I took a bunch of pix, and am going to load them up and see if any are worth sharing.
Row, Row
I really like my rowing machine. I got one for about $149 a number of months ago -- a cheap but well-reviewed one. It's good stuff. Usually about 30-60 minutes of it a day does the trick. I definitely feel it, and it's toning me up nicely -- a good, low-impact blend of cardio and strength. Although I am going to add some additional cardio to the mix, likely jump rope.
I remember reading that for big guys like me, rowing and swimming are some of the best things to do, in terms of biomechanics -- some of the worst are running and biking, just from the inertial costs of movement and wear and tear on the joints. I enjoy biking, will likely always do it, but I'm not one of those hardcore All-Season Chicago Bikers -- strictly a tourist! So, I need additional cardio in the winter to make up for that.
Blah blah blah.
Getting the boys ready for the outing today. They'll love the planetarium; they always do!
I forgot that B1 gets Monday off for Pulaski Day, a very Chicago municipal holiday! So, hopefully the weather will be good and I'll get them to the playground or something. Not sure, yet.
Driving my first Zipcar tomorrow -- a Scion xB! The boys will likely think that's pretty great. It's kinda surreal -- the way they do the Zipcar thing, it's like a secret agent mission -- you make your reservation for X car, and you get instructions on what to do, where to get it. You just go there and your Zipcard opens the car, and off you go. Cue "Mission Impossible" theme!
I remember reading that for big guys like me, rowing and swimming are some of the best things to do, in terms of biomechanics -- some of the worst are running and biking, just from the inertial costs of movement and wear and tear on the joints. I enjoy biking, will likely always do it, but I'm not one of those hardcore All-Season Chicago Bikers -- strictly a tourist! So, I need additional cardio in the winter to make up for that.
Blah blah blah.
Getting the boys ready for the outing today. They'll love the planetarium; they always do!
I forgot that B1 gets Monday off for Pulaski Day, a very Chicago municipal holiday! So, hopefully the weather will be good and I'll get them to the playground or something. Not sure, yet.
Driving my first Zipcar tomorrow -- a Scion xB! The boys will likely think that's pretty great. It's kinda surreal -- the way they do the Zipcar thing, it's like a secret agent mission -- you make your reservation for X car, and you get instructions on what to do, where to get it. You just go there and your Zipcard opens the car, and off you go. Cue "Mission Impossible" theme!
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