Riding the horsey! 

Reading with Liz. 

We know she's sad, but she looks so much like Caitlin in this picture...we had to post it! 

The Dalai Lama

Well, I've seen Mother Teresa, and now we're going to see the Dalai Lama. He's coming in September to the University of Buffalo to give a lecture on promoting peace across the borders and performing an interfaith service with religious leaders around the area. Barb's friend, Marina, has a son that attends UB and he was able to get us advance tickets before they go on sale to the general public. (and they are expected to go quickly...) If you'd like to join us, tickets are available through UB's website and go on sale Tuesday.

Buffalo News...

I made the Buffalo News today with the posting about the Da Vinci Code. (See Below) You can access what they actually printed from the Buffalo News Online Link by scrolling down the page and looking on the left side. Once there, click on "Opinion," then "Everybody's Column." If you go today, I think mine is the first one there, if you go after today, look for the date (5/28) as you scroll through and look for the entry about the Da Vinci Code.

$316.81

Oh, Happy Day.

8:30 AM - Wake up refreshed.

9:00 AM - Scrounge for food. Find some fruit to eat for breakfast. (Maraschino Cherries in a jar...I poured the juice off, though.) I also had two pickles.

9:15 AM - Watch the three hour TV presentation of Stephen King's "Desperation" in 45 minutes. Fast forwarded through it because it stank, but I wanted to see the ending.

10:00 AM - Called the cable company about how much they overcharge us. Argued with them for about 1/2 an hour with no results.

10:30 AM - Went outside in the back yard to sweep off the back porch and straighten up.

11:30 AM - Hear Liz inside yelling for me to come inside quickly. I walk through the back door, hear my toilet gurgle, then watch is it begins to fill up. I notice my shower is full of a brownish water, and still am heading toward Liz.

11:31 AM - Walk into Liz's bathroom to see her toilet overflowed and her bathtub full of dark water.

11:35 AM - Call Barb and Doug to relay the tragedy and cancel our plans for X-Men 3. (The most tragic part of our day!)

11:45 AM - Talk to the good people at Roto-Rooter, who tell us someone will be there in three hours or so.

3:45 PM - The Roto-Rooter guy extracts what looks like gray, hairy glue from our pipes and comments on how this probably hasn't been done in years. (He also said there were no roots in the pipeline...thank goodness!)

4:45 PM - Everything is flowing normally except the bathroom sink, which the Roto-Rooter guy also has to snake. (For an additional fee of course...)

5:10 PM - I sign my name to a check to the Roto-Rooter man for $316.81, which includes $182 for the outside snake, and the rest for the inside snake.

5:11 PM - Decide to move back home to live with parents. Being an adult is too expensive.

Michael McCocker

We've decided that Taylor Hicks from American Idol is the perfect combination of Michael McDonald and Joe Cocker, thus his new name: Michael McCocker.

Last night's performances were ho hum, but we're hoping he wins tonight. We'll be watching "Lost" and flipping back to American Idol during the commercials. We're taking the phone off the hook, though, because last year we did the same thing and a certain someone called and ruined our moment. That certain someone should remember that Father's Day is just around the corner!

Also, the posting about "The Da Vinci Code" will be appearing in the Buffalo News this week. You can access the Buffalo News from the link in the menus on the left side of this web page. I don't know which day it's expected, but you can check it out for yourself. When you get on their webpage, click on "Opinion," then "Everybody's Column." Look for the one about "The Da Vinci Code." They said they were going to edit it because it was too long. I'm interested to see which parts they keep.

So Dark The Con of Man...

Well, we saw "The Da Vinci Code" last night.

If you've read the book, you'll like the movie, emphasis on like, not love. Most of the main plot points were there, but a few of them were somewhat diminished. If I had not read the book, the movie would have been a little hard to follow. The new twist at the end was well done and I was pretty satisfied.

The best part, though, was the folks demonstrating out at the street where you turn into the movie theater. (I'll post a picture later...) For some reason, people are having a lot of trouble distinguishing between reality and fiction. If one's faith is so easily undermined by a modern novel and movie, how strong is that faith? Zealots don't give the regular folks a whole lot of credit. I'm guessing the assumption (emphasis on "ass") is that unless you are against the whole thing, then you must be letting it infiltrate your beliefs. Two and a half hours of entertainment will hardly undo a lifetime of influence, but I guess weakness is an expectation. I would think the more passionate Christians would embrace this movie as a new way to dialogue with others about religion and its place in society, rather than reverting to the same oppressions and judgements that have started wars in the past. Fortunately, I live in a country where I can still make the decision to see movies like The Da Vinci Code if I want to. Unfortunately, those same freedoms extend to those who sit in judgement about my decision to do so. "Judge not, lest ye be judged," seems to have been overlooked by those that think their opinions are greater than my choices. You know what they say about opinions, though, don't you?

From The Internet Anagram Server...

Funny Anagrams of my name…

A CHESHIRE FILM
A FISH RIM LEECH
A CHISEL HE FIRM
HIM FISH CEREAL
HI LIFE MARCHES
HE FILMS I REACH
HIM FRESH ALICE
HE FISH MIRACLE
HIRE FISH CAMEL
I CLAMFISH HERE
FLASHIER CHIME
HE IS CHILE FARM
CHIEF LIME RASH

I Won The Kentucky Derby!

Well, the horse I bet on, Barbaro, won. Ironically, I won a very lucky $13. How do you like them apples?

Our family picture that we had made the day before Easter. 

Maureen cut Siobhan's hair, can you tell? We couldn't either. It's just as curly and poofy as ever! 

A little smile... 

Siobhan making a face. 

Siobhan giving a high five. See the partial biscuit in her hand? The rest is in our house as a trail to find her way back to the living room. The Grimm Brothers are thinking of rewriting their classic Hansel and Gretel to include Siobhan, as the biscuit dropping / trail making cousin. 

A better picture of our "Easter Bunny." Note the progeny in the next picture... 

We've got baby bunnies in our yard now, too. 

The teacher that teaches across from Liz appeared on our TV a couple of weeks ago coming out of the triple overtime Sabres Hockey Game. Luckily, we Tivo-ed the event and were able to rewind, pause, and photograph! 

End of April

Good afternoon!

Please accept my apologies over the infrequent updates over the past week and a half. Not much is going on, but I do have some pictures and info to add later this week. I've wrapped up my college courses this semester and we are on a downhill slope to summer at school.

Siobhan and Maureen were over today, along with Doug and Barb, and we had dinner and took some pictures of the baby. I've also been taking pictures of the baby bunnies and am awaiting a good shot of the duck chicks. I also think the squirrel in the attic has had some young 'ins as well, but they seem to all go out during the day and are only using our house as sleep headquarters.

Look for more as the week wears on, I'll try not to let so much time pass before the next post!

Have a great week!

-Mike

Celebrity Haiku

Brooke Shields has baby
Same day as Tom and Katie
Very ironic.

Scientology
Coincidence? Or is it
Just a miracle?

Katie’s silent birth
And Brooke’s second child – may bring
Postpartum despair.

Brooke gets medicine
Katie gets none – but Tom Cruise
Will get interviewed.

The Easter Bunny Came!

And he's still here!

While I was wrapping up the other weblog post, I heard a scurrying outside. I looked out to see that the Easter Bunny had shown up, albeit three days late. I took some pictures, thinking he would run away, but no, he's still there. I tried to get him to move to see if maybe he was hiding because he was hurt, but he didn't budge. I don't know what I would have done if he was hurt besides giving him some Captain Crunch and a little Diet Coke (we haven't been to the store yet). Maybe he's playing hide and seek with the squirrel in the attic, or better yet, the ducks may have hired him to guard the nest while they run over to the casino. I wonder if rabbit tastes anything like chicken? I could catch him pretty easily. Bernard, any thoughts?

Back in Buffalo...

Well, we're back!

We had a nice visit in Kannapolis and were able to catch up on the important things: Cheerwine, Barbeque, Grits, Deviled Eggs, and Sausage Balls.

Oh, and we got to see everybody too. We didn't plan a whole lot this time and just let things sort of work themselves out. We got to see a lot of people at both schools, but wish we had the time for extended visits. (Debbie, Anita, Bernard, Lipscombs, Wcisleks, etc...we owe you more time on the next visit!) We had a relaxing time, though, and that's what we wanted.

We had some nice surprises, running into the Browns at the Stag and Doe, Carol Corbin and Renae Collins at Wal-Mart, Benicia Morgan - a former student - who we saw at the Japanese restaurant, Cannon - my former college roommate - with his wife Yetta and their daughter Tori, and we also got to meet the guy who bought our house - who just happens to have a dog named 'Brody!'

We also saw what they've done to the mill. I wasn't nearly as shocked as I thought I'd be. I was more surprised at the view across Kannapolis without the mill in the way of the view. The major change, I thought, was in the horizon which offered a perspective I'd never seen before. It was cool.

We came back so that I could finish up my Master's Project edits and revisions as well as a final paper for my Monday night class, so I better get cracking! It was great to see everyone and hopefully we'll see you again soon. Some pictures below...

Grandma with Abby, our newest cousin! This is Melinda and Josh's new baby. (Melinda is David's daughter, David is my Dad's brother.) 

Ryan Graham giving bunny ears to Chris Daughtry - this year's favorite on American Idol. I'm singing "Walk The Line" as I write this. 

When we got to the Middle School on Thursday, a teacher/student basketball game was going on. It was a great opportunity to see a bunch of people in one spot! Although, it was a little disappointing that Chip wasn't wearing his blonde basketball wig. That's what really makes those games special! 

Another pic of the game... 

First, there was the movie "Breakin'." Then came "Breakin' 2: Electric Bugaloo." Now it looks like a third installment is in the works: "Breakin' 3: Clones of Adam." 

Chicks and Ducks and Geese better scurry...

Bernard's house or a live action "OKLAHOMA!" set, you decide. I said before that we had to go and visit because Bernard was telling Liz about the kittens. I took pictures of Liz holding all of the different animals while I hummed "Surry With The Fringe On Top" the whole time we were there. We played the quiet game with his kids and ended up losing $1.67. Jenna is the supreme Quiet Game master, unless Ian or Kayla passed gas or tried to stick their toes in Jenna's mouth. Kristin sat in the background, I'm sure wondering what in the world we were doing to her children, but Bernard totally participated. When it was time to go, Liz went to visit the remaining pigs at which time Bernard pointed out which pieces of the pig were going to different people at the Middle School. Liz's excitement waned, but she still went into the pig enclosure and petted the little pork chop. It was a proud moment for me. I took a picture, but fear of divorce prevents me from publishing it here. However, were I to ever be a famous photographer with a gallery show of my favorite photos, the title of that picture might be "Wife with Walking Bacon" or something to that tune.

Fan Club...

Liz and I are in Kannapolis this week visiting everybody and discovered that the Blog has quite a following. Janice Carty, Unofficial Blog Fan Club President, informed us that she looks at the Blog daily. Well, in the vein of Anheiser-Busch...Janice, "This Post's For You!"

We went to both Kannapolis Intermediate School and Kannapolis Middle School to see everybody and we also got to see a lot of the kids. They're so OLD now...we hardly recognized them. I asked if they were behaving themselves and making good grades and they said yes, though I think some of them weren't telling the whole truth! (Janice, maybe in your new role you can get the real truth out of them and shape them up before our next visit!)

Liz and I have decided to rename both schools. Something around "The Jenny Craig School of Excessive Walking" should do it. I'm sitting now with my shoes off from the miles of miles of walking we did at both schools. One of my toes is in critical condition and will have to be observed overnight. I'll let you know if we need the paddles.

We've also got to go up to Rowan County now because Bernard Waugh whispered magic words to Liz: KITTENS. They also evidently have a baby duck with a mohawk because they let their wild children pick wild pets. The last pets they got, the pigs, are now in the freezer in parts, and I'm fully expecting that come our summer visit, we'll be at the Waugh's enjoying Kitten Duck Pie. These people have a nasty habit of eating pets and other wildlife. I'm sure there's a haiku in there somewhere. (No offense Bernard...we're just not the "Raccoon Lasagna" type, no matter how much ketchup you have. Although, it just dawned on me that if you come to visit us, you can have ALL the meat trolling around our attic and backyard...FOR FREE!)

We took some pictures, which I'll add when we get back. I forgot to bring the cable that hooks the camera to the computer. You'd think with all the money we spend on technology that SOMEBODY would fix it so that cables are just attached. I can barely remember to bring clothes and a hairbrush when we travel, so peripherally valuable cords are absolutely out of my mind, and thus beyond my control.

When we get back to Buffalo, I'll also be loading pictures of the amorous Ducks that were making out in our front yard when we left. It's not enough that these animals live there, but now they're making a brothel out of our evergreens. The feathers were really flying, though, ABSOLUTELY NO PUN INTENDED! I'm thinking of opening up a branch of Mutual of Omaha...because we live IN the Wild Kingdom!

Take care...it was good seeing everyone. We'll have new stuff up again in a few days!

New Siobhan Pics...

Siobhan was over on Sunday and we took some more pictures with an Easter theme. We tried to get her to "hunt" for eggs, but all she wanted to do was run into the street. What is it about kids and an attraction for streets?

Our Gig At The Mall!

We played at the Boulevard Mall in Amherst tonight after the kids' Jazz Band. It was AWESOME and we had the best time! (The party afterward was pretty good too!)

Holiday Humor...

My friend Donna emailed this picture to me. I thought it was too funny not to share! (Thanks, Donna!)