Christmas '08

Well another one has come and gone. I don't know, if it wasn't for the kids, Christmas wouldn't mean a lot to me. I already had most of my presents. Or I buy my own. The kids already had their big ticket items, too. They wanted ipods. They were about the only kids they know without them. They don't always get really nice stuff or the best of everything, so I got them ipods. They loved them so much, I went and bought me one. I love it, too. It was buy that or a banjo. I figured I could take the ipod way more places. People frown at you when you travel or walk around playing a banjo, esp if you're just learning to play it.
The highlight of Christmas comes to us from Bill. Bill is kind of hard to buy for. A pain is the freaking ass really. Nothing you get her is ever perfect. Six months to 2 years later she'll bitch about every present she has got. Her reaction opening them is usually "Oh, ok. What else did I get?" So yesterday I got her. It made my whole Christmas. Bill has a HUGE crush on Sidney Crosby. She doesn't really like sports, but when the Penquins are on TV she is glued to it. So I wanted to get her a jersey. I hoped she'd like it, but with her you just never know. So I started looking for one. They are not cheap! Replicas are $160-$180 and authentics are $260! I already spent $200 ea on their ipods, so this was just impossible. Enter my friend K. She went on ebay and found me one for WAY less. We ordered it and it got here in plenty of time. My Mom put it in a plastic ice cream bucket and wrapped it. Yes, my Mommy wraps all the presents I give. I'm spoiled like that. At Mom and Dad's Christmas AM we get the presents passed out to everyone (Powrkitten, Bill, my neice, her son and my folks) I only have one package to open since I already have my stuff so I can just watch everyone. Bill picked the round present first. She took the paper off and said "wow, melted vanilla ice cream. How did you know I wanted this?" She laughed and took the lid off. As she pulled the paper out and saw the jersey she turned pink and started whispering "oh gosh, is it? oh my God, does it have his name?" and stuff as she pulled it out and looked at it. She turned red and was fighting back tears. It was incredible. She was so excited. She started going on and on to me thanking me and telling me how much she loves it. She put it on right away before she opened anything else. I think it's the happiest I have been on Christmas in years.
I got her a Joker t-shirt, too. She loves the Joker. I got Powrkitten an "Edward" t-shirt from Twilight. Mom put the wrong tag on the box and Bill opened it. She looked kind of stunned when she saw it. I said "Um, that's your sisters" and she laughed and said something about that being good and threw it at her sister. Powerkitten started squealing with glee and immediatly put it on. She LOVES those books and the movie. So they have their ipods, t-shirts and some other stuff and are pretty happy.
I have my leather jacket I got right after Thanksgiving and I got a new LP smoker. Yes I am a BBQ and smokin' fool. The smoker is going as I type this with some chicken thighs and a big pork roast. YUMMY!!!!! In case you didn't know, I love to cook and I'm pretty damn good. Esp with the outdooors grilling and smokin'.
I also got a little radio controlled helicopter for indoors. (think chasing the cocker spaniel around.) Well it doesn't want to leave the ground. Dad and I tried everything. So he finally told me to go in the spare room and get the backup. They bought two just incase this happened. The 2nd one was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for 2 minutes and then it crashed and burned. Well, it didn't burn but it is fucked up beyond repair. Damn it. It was fun while it lasted. I'm going to go out later and buy a better one. Wish me, and the dog, luck.

It's the 23rd and I'm done shopping!!! And randomness.

That's right, I'm done shopping on the 23rd. So there all you procrastinators. Ok, so this early for me. The sad thing? I really don't have too many people to buy for. Mostly the girls, and me. I can't spoil them most of the yr, so when i get my bonus from work, I spoil them. Me, too. They got their iPods, and so did I. These things are awesome! They will have a pretty good Christmas I think. I already have mine from mom and dad. My new leather coat and then Saturday they surprised me with a LP smoker. I LOVE BBQ'ing and smoking meats, so this is too cool. In case you didn't know it, I rock in the kitchen and on the patio. So I got a little spoiled this yr.
I spent my banjo money on the iPod. I could still buy one, but it will probably wait a bit. As soon as we get rid of the old piano, we have a new one coming. That will be fun.
So let's see if I can list all the instruments in our house right now:
piano
two electric guitars
one electric bass guitar
acoustic guitar
set of spoons
3 harmonicas
keyboard
3 clarinets
trumpet
alto sax
tenor sax (the schools)
bassoon (the schools)
bongos
dijerido (my spelling sucks tonight)
How's that?
So is everybody ready for Christmas? Is anybody else pissed about all the "happy holidays" bullshit at the stores? I'm not a religous guy, despite the 12 yr in Catholic schools, but man that pisses me off. It's Chritmas! Wish me a Merry Christmas or fuck off. Just once though I'd like to hear a clerk wish me a happy Festivus.
It is so freaking foggy and still here tonight. Very quiet and spooky out. I love it.First time it's been calm in days. It's 38 out which is hot compared to the last 5 days. Of course it's about to drop and the fog become freezing drizzle and my drive to work tom. will FUCKING SUCK! I hate this winter. When does tornado season start? I like it better.
Everyone have a Merry Chritmas or whatever holiday you celebrate. Tell your friends to start reading this blog! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peace out.

The Rowdy Beaver!!!!!!

Ok, I'm the first person on earth to admit that I am as mature as the average 14 yr old. Some days the girls would tell you that's even a stretch. So I find juvenile stuff to be pretty funny.
So it only is natural for me to find a lot of humor in the name of the new restaurant in town. The Rowdy Beaver. Yeah, that's some funny shit. Everytime I hear a radio cammercial for The Rowdy Beaver I giggle like a Japanese schoolgirl. I think it's just some funny shit.
So I was in a down mood driving to work the other day. This winter shit is sapping the life out of me. I had just dropped the girls off at their schools and was heading to work. Yippieee. A commercial for The Rowdy Beaver came on. I snickered a tiny bit. Then I started to think about little jokes about the name. Now I suffer from ADD or something. Some days I just can't focus well. The Rowdy Beaver started me off on a day of non-focus. I started texting and emailing my bestfriend, oldest daughter and our friend at college. (3 women for what that's worth.) I'm trying to remember all of them, but here's what I have:

The Rowdy Beaver is one place you sure as hell don't want to find a hair in what you are eating.

Do they clean The Rowdy Beaver with vinegar and water?

Does The Rowdy Beaver smell like tuna?

At The Rowdy Beaver do they call the appetizers "foreplay"?

Do you know why there was no bread at The Rowdy Beaver last week? Yeast infection.

So I had like 20 more, but it's late and I can't remember them all. So I was sending these things to the 3 ladies all day. I think one or two of the may have gotten a bit tired of it, but they humored me. So then like a week went by and I'd only sent the occasional one that popped into my head. Then Thur. I was at the dentist when I heard the commercial. I was trying not to giggle when the best one of all popped into my head. Once there I had no choice but to share it.
So I texted my friend K and told her I had a new one. She said "I was really hoping this phase would have passed by now and you'd have moved on to something else." I wrote back "Nope, I'm still coming up with them." So this is what I sent her:

"At The Rowdy Beaver, can you cum in the backdoor or is it an exit only?"

Now this made me damn near piss my pants. K didn't seem to find it near as funny though. Go figure. I'm going to go to dinner at The Rowdy Beaver soon. I did checkout their home place in Arkansas and they even have a gift shop! Guess what my fav thing they sell there is. Thongs that say "Rowdy Beaver" on the crotch!!!!!!!!! I can't make shit like that up.