Back on Track

Yes, I'm back at work today and am starting to feel better. You know you're sick when the best looking and smelling food just makes you want to barf. That's where I was yesterday. I'm slowly getting my appetite back, but it's not quite there yet. The Culinary Basics class had some braised veal shanks that they wanted me to try this morning. I took a bite and couldn't handle any more. Usually I'll just chow it down, but I'm not quite up to choking two veal shanks down. I've got some pop and crackers at my desk, so I'm settling for that right now. I hope to enjoy a good meal later this evening.

A quick note to Mama Nabi about all of this flu and sickness stuff since LN is starting her preschool...one of the things that seems to happen with a high frequency is that kids come back from daycare and preschool with all sorts of germs and sickness. Preschool and daycare is a cesspool of germs that kids bathe in and then bring home with them. Then mommy or daddy start feeling ill...and the whole darn household falls into a state of disfunction. This is just a warning kiddo... It's not an "if situation" but just a matter of when LN and you will come down with something. Sorry this isn't something positive...but be ready for it when it comes...

A note on a previous posting...The movie quote on snakes was indeed Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Angie of "Barbed and Wired" (someday, I'll take the time to learn how to link crap up to different websites) answered the question correctly. Hey...when we go down to San Antonio in the future I'll get you a Snickers Bar or an ice cream cone. I'm big on ice cream cones...not just vanilla soft serve, but the real deal with nuts, chocolate, coconut, and a whole bunch of other tastey crap-mmm my appetite must be returning because that sounds really good right now.

I heard something disturbing from the Bun this morning. As I was changing her diaper and getting her dressed, she grinned at me and said "Hi stupid!" I really wasn't sure about what she had said, maybe my ears weren't really in tune with my little girl's words...but then she said it again plain as day..."Hi stupid!" I said in a stern voice..."Sami, we don't say that." To which she responded again with "Hi stupid!" I told her again in no uncertain terms that we don't say those things. She did stop at that time, but the little twinkle in her eye told me that wouldn't be the last time that she blurts those words out. She had said stupid once before and J told me that sometimes I use that word when I'm watching TV or describing someone else when she and I are in the kitchen talking...and little ears are tune in. I guess the bottom line is that I really have to watch what I say...

Is it normal for kids to want to sleep on the floor? Goobs is now wanting to sleep on the floor...I don't get it...maybe it's his inner asian coming out. He'd rather crash on his floor and then come into our room at about 4:00 am for a little snuggle time with his mom and me. Well...I've got somebody crawling up my butt to get something done here...so it's time to check out for the day.

at home and miserable

I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop and it has. The kids have been sick all week. J and I have been alternating taking care of kids this week. I had to take Tuesday off and I was scheduled to take today off as well to be with them. They've been pukey and had the runs all week long. I am home now because I've finally caught what they've had. They're here and running around like little wild things and I don't want to move. I've got some homework to do for my new class in grad school, but I'm putting that off too. It's the all too exciting Educational Law. Tooth extraction sounds more fun, doesn't it kids? The stomach bug and Educational Law...who could ask for more?

Mommy's are so much better at carrying on with life when they are sick. Basically, I fall apart and don't want to move. J still just fights on through things and everything gets done. Okay, I admit it...I am a typical guy who turns into a giant wussy when he gets sick. I am trying to be like her, but let's face it...girls are better at that crap. I don't get it...I've run long distances, jumped out of airplanes, been under the ocean, and done a whole lot of other crap, but when I get sick I turn into the worst basket case that exists...hey, I gotta run. Goobs wants to paint now and I don't want the kitchen to look like the a reinactment of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Snakes...why does it always have to be snakes...?

Ya read the news and this kind of thing pops up...A 16 foot brush python stalks a family's chihuahua and eats it in front of the kids...I just read the story and my gosh...people are dumb!!! The wild snake had been stalking the dog for a few days, in fact the python had even been found in the dog's bed. Come on people...You're not going to get the snake to move, so why don't you at least move the dog for a little while? You know...put the little guy in some sort of canine witness protection service...move him!!! Put him in a place where the big bad snake can't find him...and not just leave him there as the "entree of the month." Right now you've got traumatized kids and a snake who is just "doin' what comes natural" -and of course little fido...who is no more...

What the heck people???

"Snakes...Why does it always have to be snakes?"

Can anyone tell me who uttered that famous question??? It's a little movie trivia...

SCREW FEAR!!!

Monday and the beginning of another week

Saturday's competition was fun and filling. I think I had chicken coming out of every pore of my body...so many varieties that I can't even name them all. Culinary students from our school placed first and second, so I'm very proud of them. Everyone did a bang up job, so I was all smiles on Saturday evening. We also had a student place second in Design also, so it was a great time. We've got another higher level convention/competition coming up in Atlanta in the middle of April, so we'll se what happens next.

The Bun is at home today. She's been throwing up since Saturday...Poor Bun and poor J. Since I was busy with the competition, J's been home with the pukey little girl and a very hyper little boy. I took Goobs out sledding for a couple of hours yesterday and we got some energy out of the little guy, but he still seemed a bit hyper last night. They're all home today. If the Bun is still sick tomorrow, I'll be homebound with them.

I really don't want to be at work today. Honestly, I'm feeling like "anywhere but here", but there's nothing I can do about it. J has started thinking about a summer vacation for us in the Black Hills. She's been online checking out every activity that tourists with small kids can accomplish. She printed them up and put them in a small binder for me to peruse. I looked through them, and I admit I'm excited too. I'd rather go out west than go back to Detroit for a vacation...not that we didn't have fun...but it's Detroit for heaven's sake! J wants to see buffalo and antelope...and Mount Rushmore...and all that other stuff. She's even found an official western safari that ends with a chuckwagon dinner. That woman is now all gassed up for the Black Hills. I just hope that she doesn't die of boredom on the drive west on I-90. Hey, the kids will liven that part up...

Busy and Tired...

I'm at school today on a Saturday and I'm having fun, but the fun is coming at a price. I am completely wiped out. Part of my job at school requires me to have an outside duty. My duty is that I advise an organization. The organization that I advise is called "DEX"- Delta Epsilon Chi...sounds like a fraternity, huh? NOT... DEX is the actual older brother of the high school DECA program, which gets students involved with the professional world, networking, marketing, working in the community, and just having them get their feet with experiences that help them down the road. The state convention is in the twin cities this weekend and I've been involved...boy have I been involved.
Our school is holding the culinary portion of the competition. We are in downtown Minneapolis, but the rest of the convention/competition takes place in Woodbury at another school. The hotel that the students stay in and have all their fun events take place at is in the eastern part of St. Paul, so needles to say...this has been a bit of a logistical pain in the rear. We have non culinary students particpating and staying over at the other site. But, since we are doing the culinary thing here, I'm staying at school and popping in and out of the kitchen every 10 minutes or so to see if everything is okay. I'm basically the overseer, making sure things are running fairly. But, since it's havoc in that kitchen right now and I'm not a judging chef (I'm just the administrator in the way), I needed to get my happy butt out of there... So here I am. I am going to be putting pictures on here showing competitors and their food...so I'm excited about sharing what some of my students are all about.

I'll be going over to the hotel this afternoon for the awards ceremony/banquet. I really hope all of the students from our school, culinary or other, come out with some recognition. There is a graphic designer competing that has some really neat stuff, so I'm really pulling for him to come away with an award.

Last night was interesting. One of the big events that they had for the competitors was a "casino night." They rented blackjack tables, a poker table, a dice game, and a big money wheel and put them in a ballroom. The company trains volunteers how to run the different games, and then we are able to be "the dealers" as a couple of company "pit bosses" move around and watch us to see if we're doing it right. It's not real money and accumulated chips can be used to get more raffle/prize tickets. There's not a lot of pressure...you come there in a white shirt and black slacks...they give you a quick 15 minute training session and you've got a cheat sheet to help you. So...I wasn't too worried.

Samok Daddy was assigned to a blackjack table. I listened intently to the training session and had my cheat sheet strategically placed next to me, so I wouldn't appear to look like a complete dork of a blackjack dealer. I better tell you guys up front...I am not a card player. I am a person who will help out a situation if you need a volunteer to do something...they asked and I helped...but I suck at cards. I never really played them. I knew how to shuffle somewhat well, but I lake really decent coordination with my hands...There were a few times that while shuffling, I spilled my cards, so I didn't look that good doing it. I will have to say that I did get better and I had fun, but having ADD and dealing blackjack is also a bit of a treat. Too many chips...too many cards...too much stimuli...I had to breathe a few times when I forgot to give myself a second card...or I miscounted chips to give back to players. To make matters worse, the woman who was at the table next to me looked like a professional dealer. We had a few minutes downtime and asked her where she learned to do it so well...she said she had an old boyfriend who was a "blackjack hound" and she was always at the casino. It's never good when you have the blackjack dork next to the dealer queen. I got over my embarassment and had some fun...and I actually learned something. No, I'm not going to run out to Mystic Lake and apply to be a dealer...or actaully go play blackjack, but if asked to do something like this again, I won't be so hesitant as this last time.

I got home after midnight last night. So, I've worked my full time job on Tuesday, worked both day jobs and taught night classes on Wednesday and Thursday. I've done the convention from 7:00 till past 11:00 last night and will probably get home at 9:00 tonight. I am done...fried...frickaseed...my butt is kicked...my goose is cooked...and my daughter woke me up at 5:20 this morning when she was shouting at J to get up. So, when I get home tonight, I'm going to ask J to make me a heaping dish of ice cream with butterscotch on top...and I'll fall asleep on the sofa. Hopefully, my kids will understand if I'm a little groggy tomorrow...Oh well...life's still a dance...and I'll sign off with my new motto...SCREW FEAR

For Above Average Joe

I know I gave a shout out to Mama Nabi the other day, but I truly feel I would be remiss if I didn't do the same for Above Average Joe. He's also trekkin' through some similar mud that cakes Mama Nabi's boots right now. I just want to tell him that he is, indeed, doing the right thing by keeping the kids first and trying to walk through this thing calmly. Joe, it sounds really painful for you, but as long as you just do it for short 24 hour bits, you'll get through it. There's somebody upstairs looking out for you, who'll give you what you need. Like I said before...I'll be hanging around your blog to give you a bloggish shoulder to lean on if you need it. Feel free to ask...

And...Spring Training has begun for seamheads (baseball fans). I'm sure Fort Meyers, Florida is abuzz with activity with Twins fans and members of Red Sox Nation-Sorry Above Average...I'm sticking to my side of the tracks in Fort Meyers. I live and die with my boys from the Metrodome. Yeah, I know Torii Hunter and Johann Santana are no longer here to fill my household with hours of delight (yeah, J loves the Twins too!!!), but hope springs eternal, and as a baseball fan...I'm full of hope (or sh**, whichever you pick). I am fired up to hear "Play Ball" for the first time and smell the freshly cut grass.

You know...there is one thing that keeps human beings from realizing what they can really do and how high they can fly. Fear...it's all about fear. If I can live in the moment and just for today...and also do the footwork for tomorrow...I'll be okay, and I'll probably have fun doing it. Fear keeps me in my seat, with my face pointed downward. I'll stay in the status quo...just good enough to get by. I want more, but don't know what to do or how to get there. I guess the first thing I can do is banish fear for just one day. So, just for today...SCREW FEAR...LIVE PASSIONATELY...LOVE PASSIONATELY...THROW MY SHOULDERS BACK AND SMILE.

You heard it here again...SCREW FEAR!!!

For Mama Nabi

This will be another short but sweet post. This one goes out to Mama Nabi, who is wading through a rough patch in her life. You know you have my respect and admiration and prayers. God's got you in the palm of his hand. Even though it's scary and the pain is real... Those folks who get up and fight...those who refuse to lie down and just die...those who do it all over again, just to endure one more day...those are the ones who become strong. They are also the ones who know about trials and can share their experience with others who are lost in their tears and are knee deep in the mud. Remember you've got something to share...and it's going to help someone down the road who feels desperate and has no way out.

Today is a new beginning. LN starts preschool. I remember J that first day of daycare with Goobs and also with the Bun. There were tears...but damn...it's nice to have a child to shed tears of love over. How lucky we are to have that!

Now, go hug your kid...and as for the rest of the day...kick butt and take names!!! We got your back!

I ski therefore I am

Yes, it was a good weekend. We finally had our little weekend away together that was so badly needed. The kids had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa, although when we left them J had some big tears...and that combined with them going with the grandparents gave me a lump in the throat. I'm a lucky man to have such wonderful kids and a mom that has a world of love in her heart. Can't give her enough praise...nope...no I can't.

The scenery on the drive down to Wabasha is fantastic. Highway 61 skirts the Mississippi and weaves through trees and bluffs like a cement ribbon through the white snow. It was great just to talk to J and look at the world around us. Most of our conversation naturally revolved around our children and what we'd like to do on future vacations. The only thing that seemed odd was that there was no racket or din coming from the back seat. There were no battles for toys or screams or singing wars. It was just J and I and quiet. It was weird, but nice.

But, many of you are wondering what happened with the skiing. I have to say this about J...she wants to ski again. The fact that she didn't make it up the tow rope even once didn't matter. She got out and did it.

I suppose I should start from the beginning. We rented our skis and we got outside and to the bottom of the bunny hill. Coffee Mill has created a snowboard obstacle course on their bunny hill, so it did make it a little more worrisome. J put on her skis and really couldn't move very far. Her first chore was to move just a short way...from point A to point B on a flat, snowy surface. It was difficult for the first thirty minutes. She finally got it and then the next thing on the docket was moving up the hill. I must admit that I was a little impatient. I showed her a few times and she needed time to move up the hill sideways. She readily admitted that instead of just trying things, she thought about the activity way too much. I wasn't advocating having her going up a huge hill, but going up a little higher and letting her body figure things out. Snowplowing was difficult for her and she only climbed up the very small incline about twenty feet and then slide down the hill. She did fall down a lot and used the snowbank that separated the bunny hill from the parking lot as a natural brake. One of her big downfalls was that she would stop paying attention to what she was doing when she'd see some cute little four or five year old come flying down the hill, fall down and pop right back up...That's what I wanted her to do, but noooooo....she couldn't follow their examples. She told me, "Honey, I've got too much baggage to do that!" (which translated to fear...I think) She certainly got better, but refused to go up higher to get it. There weren't lessons at that time, so three hours of me trying to coach her was more than enough for her. She eventually kicked me out of her area and told me to go enjoy the chairlifts. I did get to ski and I had some fun, but I did worry that she'd get run over by some kid with baggy pants, a floppy hat, and shaggy hair on a snowboard.

The thing that was cool about J was that despite all of the falling and not doing very much, she's excited to do it again and get the kids involved. I am envisioning our kids just having fun on hills like that. I think the Bun will be a terror, but Goobs will be a cautious skiier or snowboarder.

That evening we went out for pizza. Part of the ski package is a free large pizza at the local pizza parlor, which was connected to the bowling alley. It was kind of cool because they had moonlight bowling. I'd never seen anything like that before...a darkened bowling alley with all of the glow in the dark stuff going on. J suggested that we take the kids bowling. Now to be honest, I have always been really embarrassed by my terrible bowling prowess. As a youngster, I was so sensetive about how dumb I looked, I wouldn't bowl in front of girls. I would almost fall over and would invariably throw a gutter ball. After all of these years I think I've changed my mind. I'll bowl with my family. Hey, if you can't look like a dork in front of your family, who can you look like a dork in front of?

We were so tired after the pizza, we were sleeping by 10:15. We wanted to ski on Sunday, but it was snowing so badly there that travel would have been a problem if we waited to pick up the kis. So...we had the finist continental breakfast that an Americinn could offer-J got cranky with me because I waited in the waffle line too long...and then we took off to pick up the kids.

J shed a few more tears when we picked them up. It was a good weekend...Grandpa and Grandma said they were angels. Of course, their behavior turned sour when we picked them up. What do you expect when mom and dad are around anyway?

I'm back at work now and busy, but relaxed and happy.

Batman revisited

I came home last night and I heard this excited voice coming from the living room..."Dad, Dad, Batman's on and he's got a really cool car!" I just got my shoes off and hung up my coat and he ran up, grabbed me by my sleeve and sat me down on the couch next to him. J was laying down and laughing. She was so relieved that I was home because Goobs couldn't keep his mouth closed during the movie. Now I could bear the brunt of his constant Batman and Batmobile questions...and let me tell ya folks...Goobs left no stone unturned when it came to questions about his new favorite hero and that hero's vehicle of choice. He was happy...he got to hang out with mom and dad for an extra hour...he got to see Batman...and now he's bragging about it in daycare today. I'm all for my son having a good time.

A Very Samok Valentines Day

It's not been a romantic day for Samok Daddy and J. I'm working basically from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm. I won't be back home until 9:00. J told me that she would sit and watch "Batman" with Goobs. I've got a nice card for her, but everything is on hold until we have our little "ski getaway" this weekend. I am really looking forward to that time just to kick back, have a little outdoor fun and just refresh things with J. I just have to get through this week and not daydream too much about the weekend. FOCUS!!!

It's been a nice day here at work. Someone left a flower on my desk...yeah I'm a softie, so it was actually nice that someone did that for me. But...I got a real cook valentines gift from one of my students. I have a young woman from Seoul, who is studying to be a chef here. She's working hard and I'm really proud of her. She's fighting a bit with comprehension in the classroom, but the effort she's put forth so far has been impressive. I sometimes help her with phrases and vocab when her chef-instructor uses a bit too much "chefspeak" and colloquialism, but she really has done a lot of the work on her own. I have to say that So-Hee has "rocked" in the classroom. I told her how proud I was of her...and what did she leave on my desk this morning for valentine's day???? I found a giant package of Shin Ramyun in front of my keyboard!!! That stuff will be good on a cold Saturday afternoon when I want a good snack. I've gotten cookies, a flower, and chocolate truffles...but the gift that, hands down, wins and makes Samok Daddy smile is the Shin Ramyun!

I am wondering how many students will show up for my class tonight. It's been fun the last couple of evenings. We've been playing this board game with various body parts on it. The students roll the dice and move their pieces along the trail. They land on spaces with pictures and words (body parts) and have to make a sentence with the body part in it. These are beginners, so they mostly use simple adjectives like "My ears are big" or "My ankles are thin." They really enjoy playing the game and asked to play it one more night. I don't know if they're just stalling because the game is fun and they don't want to go on to harder exercises, or they just enjoy the learning...Who cares...they're speaking and getting more comfortable. I'm having fun in a raucous classroom. Who says learning has to be serious????

Gotta run everyone. Hearts and kisses to all!!! Arrrgghhh, I suppose I don't sound that masculine saying that. Okay...I'll say it with a deeper voice...See ya!!!

Goobs and Batman

I love my little boy. He's great, but as it is with all humans, he's a pain in the rump...just like his daddy. We were watching TV last Sunday and he saw a promo for "Batman Begins" and asked me if it was on after the program we were watching. He liked the new fangled batmobile he saw in the trailer. I told him that it would be on Thursday night. He automatically assumed that we would be watching Batman together on Thursday.

J reminded him that he had to finish his valentines for his preschool party on Thursday. He told him mom this..."Mommy, I'm not going to preschool on Thursday to the party. Daddy and I are staying home and watching Batman!" Yes, he's cute...and he's determined to watch Batman. He doesn't know that I'll be at work and he'll be giving valentines to all of his classmates. I'll say this about the boy...A. He's got a memory on him...and B. He's stubborn. He will try to stay home and watch Batman (even though it's on TBS at night).

Valentines day in the Samok home will be put off until the weekend. Samok Daddy will be "bringin' home the bacon" teaching a night class and won't be home until 9:00. The cool thing is that our postponed ski weekend will happen on Saturday and Sunday. We are both so stoked. I can't wait to see my beautiful island queen fall on her butt repeatedly on the "bunny hill.!"

The ADD follies...why life is sometimes more interesting than it should be...

What's been on Samok Daddy's mind lately...everything...and that's no joke! Ya see...I'm one of those people who've been blessed with that wonderful affliction of ADD. You guessed it...that means that everything goes through my mind at any given time. It just doesn't slow down a whole lot. Life's been fun and difficult. I do find adventures, but my organizational skills and task orientation has been just a little on the wild side. This does lead to some situations that are fun, and yet others that are exasperating for those around me.

Usually, I think I do a fairly good job of holding things together and getting things done that need to get done. Granted, they get a little scattered. J often times has to say..."FOCUS!" That gets trying for her when I am supposed to empty the dishwasher, and in the attempt to be helpful, I start doing something else in the kitchen, which completely gets in her way. There are other things that bug her about being married to a guy with ADD. Yes, Samok Daddy is a space case and on any given day this leads to J rolling her eyes and walking in the other room so she doesn't strangle me.

Lately, I've been thinking about getting some help with this little affliction. I have decided that medication probably isn't the answer. I am starting to do some more research on solutions. I'm looking at different books with strategies and I've also gone to some websites offering coaching on how to live successfully with ADD. I don't know about the coaching yet, but I'm really hoping to make some changes in my daily life. I mean...things have gotten better in some respects. I haven't washed a cell phone in a year. I had a span of about a year and a half where I washed three of those bad boys... I can find my car keys on a fairly regular basis and I can find the remote control for the TV most times I look for it. I did get the Christmas tree out on time this year. That darn thing sat in the garage last year. I closed the garage last March, got a hand saw and cut up the Christmas tree into little pieces and put it in a bag. I had forgotten about the doggone tree for so long that I was embarrassed to carry it out whole. Yes, I cut up pieces so small that it could fit with the rest of my garbage...Yes folks...that is the extent I will go to to hid my ADD embarassment.

Oh well, within another ten minutes I'll forget this and start thinking about something else...And now you know the other reason I sit on a big bouncy ball at my desk in the office...

It's all about the hair

So...being a former military guy, I'm accustomed to having short hair. The minute my hair seems a bit shaggy, I'm compelled to run to Cost Cutters...or one of the other generic hair places that populate strip malls everywhere and chop off my locks. J has been complaining to me about my short hair. She says I look like I'm still in the military and she doesn't like it. She calls me "Joe". Joe is the term that filipinos use a a generic name for any American looking guy. Since the Philippines was heavily populated my men in the US military for so long, the greeting that most people give when seeing an American is "Hey Joe." That being the case, every time I return from getting back from a haircut is "Hey Joe!"

The other part of this is that she tells me that I look younger with longer hair. Even though I have younger kids, I guess you could say that I'm no spring chicken. So I guess she's right. If I can get away with looking a bit younger, I should do it.

Here's the thing. The Director of Admissions of our fine institution and I were chatting this afternoon and she said this to me "I don't know what you've done to yourself, but you look more dignified...your hair makes you look kind of stately." I'm confused...my wife thinks longer hair makes me look younger...another woman says it makes me look dignified...I'm lost and have no clue. I do know this though. J is the one that I go home to at the end of the day. If she thinks it makes me look younger...I think I should stick with her opinion. So here's the new plan...I'm not cutting my hair for the next two months. I'll keep using gel to keep it in place. Despite my urge to just hack it all off, I'm going to hold back and not make the trip to get my hair cut. It looks like everyone will get to see more of the gray that has sprouted in the last few years. Whoopeee...

Maybe this is the beginning of my midlife crisis. Does this mean I'm going to start wearing gold disco medallions and wanting to buy that little red sports car? Life's getting interesting folks. So...this is "Joe" signing off...

Super Tuesday and I'm at a loss for words

It's another one of those "my mind is completely blank" days. The only remedy for that is to start typing and see why flies off of the fingertips. This I do know...It's warmer now, so I'm grateful. We had that string of cold days that just absolutely sucked, and there was nothing anyone could do about it...Aw...you guys know how I feel about the cold.

You know that sad thing about that is my mom and stepdad are in lounge chairs on the beach right now in Ixtapa. Oh, cancel that thought...I love my mom dearly, but the mental picture of her and Bill in bathing suits getting tropical drinks from cabana/towel boys is enough to give me a serious case of the shakes. That much exposed puffy winter white skin, fresh for the burning Mexican sun just makes me cringe... Plus, who wants to think of their mom in a bathing suit, sipping on a coconut with a straw...EEK...save me (maybe the coconut juice is spiked with a little geritol). On to other topics.

It's Super Tuesday in the land of the frozen and unexcited Scandahoovians. After today, we'll have a better idea as to who the candidates will be for the upcoming election. I'm not sure I like any of the candidates at this point. Some seem to slick and political, others lack experience, yet others seem intolerant. Choosing a leader that works for the people and can hold his/her own in the international arena is exctremely important. I was thinking about who embodies the qualities I'd like in a leader and the only person that I could come up with was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Clark. Mrs. Clark was stern when she needed to be and uncompromising when she expected the best out of her students. She was diplomatic when dealing with all the children in the classroom. Everybody shared when Mrs. Clark was in charge. Most importantly, we all wanted to work hard for Mrs. Clark. She inspired us. We wanted to be the best we could possibly be...Okay, this is a stretch for my memory, since I'm in my forties now. I do want a leader that excited me and gave me hope like Mrs. Clark did. I know she has long since passed away because she had white hair when she taught me, but if by some miracle she were alive, I'd nominate Mrs. Clark to run the country. Run Mrs. Clark run...Give 'em hell, Mrs. C!

Weekend fun

It was an eventful weekend at the Samok abode. Let's see...where should I begin? Saturday, we discovered the guest bathroom (aka the kids bathroom) had a plugged toilet. After cleaning out toilet paper, we found one of the big hubs in the kids' tinker toys set was jammed down in the "bowels" of the commode. Goobs did finally admit to being the culprit. More art, seemingly disguised as early childhood cave etchings, was discovered in our daughter's room. There were also more attempts at beginning fist acuffs accompanied by screaming and crying. The Bun, despite her small stature, takes it right to Goobs. It's almost looking like an even match now. Now I don't advocate my kids getting in tussles, but I suppose they should be able to work out problems and hold their own when dealing with each other. All in all, it was a less than restful weekend with the kids.

We did get to the zoo on Saturday for about an hour. J, being the smart woman that she is, insisted that we buy a family pass to the zoo. The zoo has been a godsend for days when both kids just had too much energy for the house...and of course, they love going there, so who can complain. Plus, they learn whenever we go. Since it is winter in the great white north, we confine ourselves to the indoor "tropics"exhibit and the Minnesota Trail. I have to say, I love going to the tropic exhibit, for the big aquarium they have there. Each time I go, I find myself wanting to get back to the Philippines to be in warm water and swim with the beautiful fish. I'm getting that feeling on the bottoms of my feet again. It's been a year since we went back...and I'm itchin' to jump on the plane, forget it all, and just be a beach bum daddy. I know that you guys hear that whining from me all the time...but please...calgon...take me away...now!!!