I'm so proud!

My oldest daughter Elizabeth got baptized Sunday at the church we attend.
I'm can't express how proud I am of her!

I'm so proud!

Shepherd Book hosts the Philharmonic?

I was going to post this at Whedonesque... but I've forgotten my log-in (if I ever had one).

Ron Glass, the actor who portrayed Shepherd Book on Firefly and Serenity, is from my home town and will be hosting the Peppermint Pops Christmas program for the Evansville Philharmonic.


(Interesting side fact: while getting the IMDB link for Ron Glass, I discovered Captain Sisco of Star Trek DS9 (Avery Brooks) is also from Evanspatch!

Shepherd Book hosts the Philharmonic?

Happy Turkey Day!

I don't where that pic came from - but it's crazy funny!
(and I love the Muppets and Sesame Street!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey Day!

mcfat quiz 2

M.C.F.A.T. Volume II
The second edition of the Mysterious Cloaked Figure's Astonishing Test.
From http://mysteriouscloakedfigure.blogspot.com/

1) Here in the U.S., Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. Name any one thing in your life that you were ungrateful for, and how you feel about it now. 

I think I was probably ungrateful for my expensive private school education that ran from kindergarten through 8th grade.  I'm extremely grateful for it now and I'm sending my kids to the same place.  I feel bad I didn't appreciate it when I was getting it.

2) What kind of superhero would you be? An inspirational icon like Captain America or Superman, or someone dark and tortured like Wolverine or the Batman? 

I wouldn't be an inspirational icon, but I wouldn't be dark and tortured either... more like - private.  Keeps to myself. Does the hero bit and keeps walking.  Doesn't stop for publicity.

3) What's the weirdest or freakiest dream you've ever had? Have you ever had a recurring dream? 
I've had some pretty freaky dreams... at least I remember waking up in the middle of the night and thinking "Whoah, that was freaky..." or thinking during the dream "whoah! This is a freaky dream".  I really can't remember any specifics right now... I have had several recurring dreams.  I can think of two specifically.  One that I had at least five times, probably more over the course of several years.  And another that I've only had recur maybe two times (for a total of three).  I can't remember much about the second recurring dream - but I remember the first one more clearly. 

4) If you were chosen to be among the first pioneers to settle in a space station orbiting the Earth, would you accept and if so, what role would you play in the community? 

Depends. If my family could go too, I'd absolutely go. And I'd obviously be the Emergency Services Dispatch Supervisor! As well as maybe the Media Relations guy. And I'd probably DJ on the side (to keep things interesting for the orbital crowd).

5) No! Not here! Anywhere but here! You swore you'd never come back, and now suddenly here you are! Where are you? 
There.

mcfat quiz 2

THINKS Vol.1

I'm coining a new term for certain blog posts (of mine). Am I allowed to do that?

"THINKS": Term combining the words Things and Links: an assortment of images, links, games, trivia, memes, minutia, and whatnot found while browsing and mentioned collectively in a blog or message-board posts. As in Phantasmic Links or Linky Goodness.

My Thinks could include: sites I've found while browsing but haven't had a chance to explore and intend to in the future, links I've found or been directed to that I've enjoyed and want to share, interesting pictures or cartoons, links to posts on other blogs that I find interesting, or whatever else I decide to throw in. I may post my Thinks weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or haphazardly (probably the latter).

Now, presenting - in Amazing Technicolor - this weeks linky g-- I mean Thinks:

I mentioned awhile back that my area was hit by a killer tornado November 6. Here is a slide show from the Red Cross with images of the damage set to music.

One of my coworkers found an Here's a website for doing just that. And in a similar vein, a site with "fantasy"-themed music.

I found two e-zines devoted to Christian science-fiction and fantasy! Now if I can just find the time to actually browse around them and read some of the stuff...

And because I'm a freak - I like to read about conspiracy theories. This site is a kind of clearing house for them.

I found an on-line community for Christian Writer, oddly enough called ChristianWriters.com.

That's all the Thinksing for the this week...

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THINKS Vol.1

Reviews of...

Comic Books?

...Yeh, I read comics book occasionally.

I have my local comic book shop pull a few select titles each month (or whatever) and put them in a file for me. Then, probably every three months or so I go and clean out my file (that's about often I can afford to do so).  Since I only get a select few titles, I end up spending maybe $20-$30 every three months or so.

I also grab some TPB collections from the library whenever see an interesting title while I'm browsing.

I recently made a trip to my local comic book retailer, as well as the library.

From the library, I grabbed Nightwing Year One. 

The comics I usually read are not mainstream by any means.  Every now and again I like to grab some mainstream stuff and see what's up.  Nightwing Year One was an interesting read.  I'm familiar enough with the comics world to know that Nightwing is Dick Grayson, ex-Robin, and works with the Teen Titans... That's about it.  I didn't know why he switched monikers (though I assumed it was because Robin was the Boy Wonder, and Dick had grown up).  Now I know it was because he was fired as Robin (how cool is that?!).  I also didn't know why he chose that specific super-hero name, other than it sounds cool.  This book also revealed his inspiration for that.  All-in-all: Good book.

I also picked up another TPB from the library: Superman: For Tomorrow, Volume 1

Yet another good book.  I had never heard about this story line, where somehow a million people disappear from Earth, including Lois Lane (on a side note: I think Diana is a better match for Kal-El than Lois... but that's neither here nor there).  Supes visits a priest to talk his feelings out, and the priest has problems of his own. 
This is just the first 6 issues of a longer story arc, and I didn't find the rest of the series at the library, but if I do find it there eventually - I'll pick it up.

 

Now on to my recent purchases.

 

My dear Rubi is a big Buffy/Angel fan, and she made me a fan too (and I've turned her into a Browncoat!). When those series ended, we were disappointed. Then comics publisher IDW picked up the Angel comics license from Dark Horse. Naturally, I picked it up.

Angel: The Curse recently finished its 5-issue run, and another mini-series should be starting soon.  I bought the last three issues on my recent shopping trip. Angel: The Curse wasn't very good, not bad in general, just kind of... boring.  It was like reading an average episode of the TV series, but with only Angel in it.  Basically, he goes to Romania to try to get the happiness part of his curse lifted, and obviously fails.  In between, there's much fighting.

 

Along this same theme, I also picked up the new Spike one-shot (Spike from the Buffyverse, not Spike from the Transformers-verse). Now this story was pretty good, and the art was also good.  Makes me look forward to any new Spike comics that might come out (I think I remember reading somewhere there will be - but I'm too lazy to look that up right now).  Also, it's written by an author I was familiar with from his Star Trek New Frontier novels.

(On a side note, I recently read on Whedonverse.com that Joss Whedon will be writing a new post-Chosen Buffy comic at Dark Horse.)

 

I also got the #0 issue of the latest incarnation of the Transformers G1 comic, also by IDW.  Can't really comment on it since it was a 99-cent issue "introducing" the series, and the title characters were lacking in it (on purpose).  We see Thundercracker (I think, I can never keep him and Skywarp straight) attacking in jet mode.  We see Ratchet in ambulance mode.  I think there were a couple of other minor appearances as well, but the new human characters were the main introduction.  I need to read more of the series (when it comes out next year, before I can comment further).

 

Another new series I started with the first two issues is Robotech: Prelude to The Shadow Chronicles. This series wraps up the "Sentinels" story-line from way back when and serves as an introduction to the new Robotech series/movie/thing supposedly coming out on DVD next year: Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.  I read the old "Sentinels" comics for a bit while in college, and read the entire novel series.. so this is mostly a retread of the end of that story line - but they've changed it a bit since they are introducing a new series with it.  Not bad in all for the first two issues; I'm looking forward the rest of the mini-series, and definitely looking forward to Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles next year.

 

More reviews of other things to come... sometime.

 

 

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Reviews of...

Rumors of my death...

have been slightly exaggerated. Yes, I'm FINALLY checking in post-op. Recovery is going much better than the pre-op horror stories have led me to believe, but slower than I'd like. I'm not used to staying at home, and bedrest is highly overrated.
Today the cabin fever overwhelmed me, and I begged Kev to take me to Super Wal Mart, just to get the heck out of the house. We needed boots for Elizabeth, a few grocery items, and birthday ideas for Catherine. And where better than Super Wal Mart to get everything under the sun in one obscenely huge building? Except. They didn't have the kind of boots we were looking for, so we wound up at Payless anyway.

I think I overdid it a bit, and set my recovery back a few days. I hurt so badly by this evening I broke out the Percocet, which I haven't had to do in three days. Phooey.

I still view it as progress. I NEED to get out and about again. I miss my twice a week workouts, and am getting what feels like restless leg syndrome. My muscles are going berserk from the sudden, and extreme, lack of activity, and I'm barely sleeping because of it. I plan to go back to work Thursdayish (That's the two week mark, when I'm cleared to drive), and hope to start easing back into working out next week. Just walking the track, though. I'll save the elliptical machine for the six week post-op doctor's okay. I've been doing some very light housework, and that seems to be okay. So I'm encouraged.

So, there ya go. That's me post-op. I know it's all terribly exciting, but try to contain yourself.

Other stuff? Not much. [shrug] When I can't go anywhere or do anything, there's just not much to report.

Rumors of my death...

A Short Meme

You get one wish of anything, what would you ask for?
--To win a 250-million dollar lottery.

What animal would you be?
--Squirrel

Something you want to do in your life:
--Bring my kids up to be faithful Christians.

One time there were these Ninja... (finish the statement)
--and their only skills were making Ham, Cheese, and Dorito sandwiches.  But they cut the crusts off with their swords.

One song you could listen to over and over again.
--One Vision by Queen.

Coke or Pepsi? 
--Diet RC. It's zero calories, has caffeine!! and is sweetened with Splenda instead of that evil Aspartame (I'm allergic).

Something you currently desire:
--I have a list... let me find it.

What's a "mastoid"? (Take a guess. No peeking in a dictionary.) 
--Isn't that a tooth?

One good deed you've done lately:
--Not giving in to road-rage.

A funny moment in your life: 
--Just watch.

A Short Meme

Two Things Meme

Two Names You Go By
1. Daddy
2. Calvin

Two Parts of Your Heritage
1. Short
2. Fat

Two Things That Scare You
1. Never getting out of debt.
2.

Two of Your Everyday Essentials
1. Rubi's Hugs
2. Sleep

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now
1. Clothes
2. Eyeglasses

Two of Your Favorite Bands or Musical Artists (at the moment)
1. Queen
2. John Williams

Two of Your Favorite Songs - at the moment
1. He Reigns (Newsboys)
2. One Vision (Queen)

Two Things You Want in a Relationship (other than Real Love)
1. Affection
2. Understanding

Two Truths
1. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can get to God except through him (see John 14:6).
2. God created the heavens and the earth (see Genesis 1:1).

Two Physical Things that Appeal to You
1. Free Stuff.
2. Thick, juicy steaks.

Two of Your Favorite Hobbies
1. Napping.
2. Reading.

Two Things You Want Really Badly
1. A Nap.
2. Time to read.

Two Places You Want to go on Vacation
1. My sofa.
2. Alaska.

Two Things You Want to Do Before You Die
1. Be debt free.
2. Provide for my children's future.

Two Ways that you are stereotypically a Chick/Guy
1. I have no fashion sense.
2. Steaks. Potatoes. `nuf said.

Two Things You Normally Wouldn't Admit
1. I'm pretty good at what I do.
2. I'm also making it up as I go along most of the time.

Two Things You Are Thinking About Now
1. I think I've done this meme before.
2. Is it time to go home yet?

Two Stores You Shop At
1. Wal-mart.
2. Barnes & Nobel.

Two Things Meme

What to do, what to do...

I have a lady who has been a good internet friend for quite a while. Recently, she was deeply offended by my expressing some political views that she disagreed with. Circumstances are such that we "bump into one another" (virtually speaking...) almost daily, and it's just darned awkward.

I understand that she was very emotional about something related when this blow up happened, so I really took her attack on me with a grain of salt. But I'd like to send her an email expressing my desire to be friends in spite of our differing views.

Part of me thinks this is a good thing to do. The other part worries that I'm just opening myself up to further attack. I'll probably waffle and go back and forth for a while longer, then end up emailing her. Or talking myself out of it. Or maybe not. Or...

Man, it's a good thing I'm so decisive, huh? [eyeroll]

What to do, what to do...

Mini-Review: At All Costs

At All Costs by David Weber, the latest in the "Honorverse" series featuring Honor Harrington: Admiral in Her Majesties Imperial Navy, first female Steadholder on the planet Grayson, empathic due to her link with her treecat Nimitz; and "the Salamander" to her enemies (among many other titles and duties).

This series reads like Tom Clancy in space.  There are the main parts of the story with Honor, parts of the story from the enemies point of view, parts of the story from other starships point of view, parts of the story from a third parties point of view, parts of the story from a player's-to-be-named-later point of view... you get the idea.

It's a twisting, complex architecture that makes up each novel, let alone the complex universe-building David Weber has undertaken in the Honorverse.  And while some of the more political passages in the novels drag - the action and character development and final payoff in the end more than make up for that - just like in Tom Clancy novels.

At All Costs is no different.  We get much changes in our protagonist this time around, not character changes, but life changes.  Things happen to Honor this time around that she'd never imagined happening to her because of her hectic life-style.

It's all for the good.

 

And the final battle is... huge. 

 

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Mini-Review: At All Costs

Stitches-Be-Gone

Rubi had her stitches pulled today!
She can now walk upright, and not stooped over like an osteoporosis advertisement.

 

She's still sore and tired - and she definitely overworked herself today.

While I was room-mommy at preschool, Rubi did the laundry!  She didn't carry laundry baskets full of clothes around, just handfuls.  But she did probably three loads... and now she's hurting because of it.

 

But she's trying!

 

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Stitches-Be-Gone

How Nice!

Rubi's sister Sara stopped by this afternoon and brought Rubi a "Sunshine" gift to help her feel better.

It was a gift bag full of Rubi's favorite stuff:

Diet Coke.

Vegetable Beef soup.

Clam Chowder.

Bubble Bath

A scrapbooking magazine.

A family creativity magazine.

Hot Chocolate mix.

And some kid of foot lotion thing...

 

That was very considerate of her.

 

 

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How Nice!

The McFat Quiz - er, the M.C.F.A.T

MCF again tests his readers!

1) There's good news and there's bad news. The good news is that, for a few brief moments, you've experienced a taste of a super power, a one-time only psychic flash of a future event. The bad news is that you're now the only person on the planet who knows that an asteroid is going to collide with the Earth in three days. People are going to have a hard time believing your story--what do you do?
1st choice: Call-in sick to work and get my entire family together.
2nd choice: Nap.

2) If you could be marooned on a desert island with any three sitcom stars, past or present, who would they be and why?
This Question is too difficult.
Okay I'll try...
Maybe Matthew Perry for comic relief,
The Scooby Gang (Fred and the gang, not Buffy and the gang) to investigate why we're marooned,
And Gavin MacLeod aka Captain Stubing, because he has a boat to rescue us!

3) Who and what was your first pet? Alternately, if you've never had a pet, feel free to explain why.
My first official pet was a black cocker spaniel/mutt mix named Ebony. My sister Valerie had a dog named Friskie when I was very young.

4) What's the worst thing you've ever tasted, intentionally or otherwise?
Cough Syrup.

5) After months of research, you finally perfect a cybernetic helmet that will allow its wearer to operate any vehicle with quick reflexes and unparalleled expertise. Such a device would have to be tested first, and you wouldn't risk anyone else's life but your own, noble scientist that you are. What do you drive/fly/sail first and where?
The Aurora. Everywhere.

The McFat Quiz - er, the M.C.F.A.T

New Community

There's a new online community for Godly people who are creative.
It's called Godly Creative People.
I signed up; though how I'm creative, I'm not quite sure.

I like to think of myself as a writer, but as I really don't write.... except for the occasional book review for Mind&Media. I'm not so sure. I did sign up for nanowrimo! I'm at just over 3k words... oooh.

I used to be really creative at radio production, but I haven't been in that biz for 7 years.

I make cute kids! Does that count as creative? I had help though - from my beautiful wife (she did all the actual work.)

New Community

Tornado Rips Through Evansville and Newburgh

But we're okay!

Local Media Coverage.
National Coverage.
International Coverage?!?

In fact... Since it happened around 2am, I'd have slept through the storm if Alexander hadn't come into our room because he was scared of the thunder and lightning, if Rubi had woke me saying "The weather sirens are sounding! Turn on the radio!" and if Rubi's sister hadn't called us to say "There's a tornado warning on your side of town!"

Thanks to all who called/emailed/posted,etc to check on us.

A friend of Elizabeth from school, her parents lost their house and a car. An acquaintance of a friend lost the second floor of their house...

I found a leaf stuck to the side of my car...

We're definitely ok!

Tornado Rips Through Evansville and Newburgh

Praise God for Private Christian Schools

This is one reason why my kids go to a Christian school.

 

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Praise God for Private Christian Schools

Adventures in Surgery

Here are a few snapshots from Rubi's Adventures in Surgery!

This first one is pre-op, Rubi speaking with her mom on the phone.
"They're slicing me open a half-hour early!"

This second pic is also pre-op: "Oooh. Comfy Chair!"
This pic is post-op. When they brought Rubi to her room after Recovery and said to me "You have to wait outside while we put her in her bed."
I got to watch the door for five minutes.This is after her surgery, later that night. Elizabeth came to visit. Rubi was sore, tired, and the anesthetic made her throat hurt, so her voice was raspy.
This is lunch the following day. "Mmmm.. grilled salmon!"

This one should be a "Photo Caption Contest", it's really Rubi putting some kind of girly face-lotion stuff on her face.
It's a girl-thing. I don't understand.


This one is Rubi checking out the plant my parents sent her.
A friend told her the one with the wide leaves is practically un-killable!
(so we should have no problem caring for it!)

This is Rubi... uh, trying to guess what that is on her table without actually looking at it?

And this one... again, not really sure what Rubi is up to here... But hey! Nice flowers there, from Rubi's best friend Susan!

Adventures in Surgery

More on the Rubester

She spent most of Wednesday evening and overnight alternately sleeping, moaning in pain, and uh... barfing. Except she hadn't had anything to eat for a day, so that was rather unproductive.

Thursday morning, after they had given her anti-nausea meds and switched her over to a different pain-killer, she was starting to feel better.

She had Jell-o and chicken broth for breakfast (not together, ew! just during the same meal).
Then they told her she could start real foods.

Lunch she had grilled salmon, rice, and carrots. She devoured it!

Then, they told her she was leaving at 4:30 that afternoon. So she ordered dinner about 3:45.

(This is a pic of her ordering dinner - look how great she looks already!)

For dinner she had grilled sirloin steak, rice (again), and green beans.
Again with the devouring!

Then we went home.

Rubi's parents again kept the kids overnight so Rubi wouldn't have them bouncing on her belly.
Rubi slept most of the evening, except when we watched Smallville... and were kinda sorry we did that...
Then she slept the night, not too well cause of the soreness.

Today she's been taking it easy.

As for the biopsy: yeah, not so much. Her doctor called her late last week and said they weren't going to it (after initially saying they couldn't because of his schedule, and then saying they could). They couldn't do it because, basically, they'd just be digging around for awhile trying to find the lump. They only know about where it's at, but can't get good enough pictures of it to know exactly where to cut. They told her they'd just instead do another mammogram in six months to see if it's changed any.
Again: not so much. Rubi told them emphatically "No, you'll do it in three months." If it was important enought to butcher her last time trying to find it, take a gazillion different mammograms of it from different angles, rush a surgery date to try to biopsy, and then change their minds? No, Rubi insisted on three months (good for her!)

Then she made them mail her an appointment card so she'd remember the date, even though they don't mail appointment cards. Rubi told them they would.

Oh, I forgot to mention: one of Rubi's friends works at our church in the office, and she had wanted us to call her at work right before Rubi went into surgery. I did. Also, on Monday I had emailed our church asking them to pray for her.

When we got to the hospital to check in, Rubi had pre-op for about an hour or so. While she did that, I got to sit in the waiting room and read a book. At one point, I looked up and one of the pastors from our church was at the desk asking a question. He turned around and came over to me, introduced himself, ask how Rubi was and how I was doing, then prayed with me. That was cool.

Thanks to everyone who prayed and kept us in their thoughts while she was in surgery. We appreciate it!

More on the Rubester

Rubi's Home

Rubi came home from the hospital today.

She's still tired and sore.

Her parents are keeping the kiddos overnight again so Rubi can get some rest without having them climbing all over her.

We're just taking it easy tonight.

 

 

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Rubi's Home

Rubi Post-Op

Rubi had her hysterectomy yesterday afternoon.
The surgery went well, she spent the evening in pain.
They had to switch her pain meds to something different and she finally started feeling better.
She wasn't really up to having visitors, but insisted on seeing Elizabeth. So I picked up Elizabeth from her friends house and Elizabeth spent an hour or two with us at the hospital - That made Rubi feel a little better.
Rubi's parents kept the kids last night and are taking them to school today.
Rubi is probably coming home today - she's still in pain, but nearly as much as yesterday.

More to tell later...

Rubi Post-Op