Monday, June 22, 2009

Calling All Prayer Warriors

We arrived home last night from a visit with Grandma Issa and Bill aka Cod. Toddler O wowed them with her "ring around the rosie" and "London Bridge" skills.

In the past Cod and Issa have been great to come around the B'ham area knowing that it's tough to travel with a baby/toddler, but things have changed and Cod is undergoing a battle with leukemia and we've made the drive their way instead.

First considering he's already completed three rounds of powerful chemo-therapy, Cod looks awesome. Check out his new do. I think he has more of a Bruce Willis thing going on than Mr. Clean.

This weekend Cod didn't skip a beat and that means a lot with a two year-old running around! But this week he'll be going back to the hospital for another round (no. four) of chemo-therapy to keep him in remission.

I know that you all have been so loyal to me and my Hep C treatments and I am calling you all to continue your faithfulness for Bill. Like I said, he'll be in the hospital again this week. Please pray for his comfort. Trust me, Bill's much more comfortable with a driver in hand and a mile of grass in front of him than the four walls of a hospital room. Never the less, he is completely focused on beating the "beast" as he calls it. Also, pray for the doctors and his health to be restored soon.

Hopefully after this round of chemo, he'll be set up soon for a bone marrow transplant. If not soon, he might have to have yet another round of chemo.

We are proud of Cod and he's such an inspiration. A fighter is always inspirational because he does what others don't. He shows up against an enemy who at times seems greater than himself and yet in a foolish confidence continues on.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Where's My Refund

It's been over four months now since I submitted my State of Alabama Tax Return. Actually, I sent the form in February and Uncle Bubba (since Uncle Sam is taken) owes me a few thousand bucks. I consider it pretty nice that I've let them use MY money over the entire year. You would think I'd be first in line to get a refund. Nope!

I just checked the status of my refund and the message I got was, "Your refund was approved 5/29/2009. Refunds are issued from the Education Trust Fund as fund balances allow. Thank you for your patience and please be assured the ADOR is doing everything possible to expedite your refund's approval and issuance" What? Those crooks ain't got no money!

First I ask, what does the Education Trust Fund have to do with anything? Is that the same thing as the PACT fund that went bankrupt. Yeah. I "donated" to that "contract" too for my young daughter's education. Maybe they aren't related, but does it mean that the kids won't have books this year if their education fund is broke?

I am reminded of the classic Jerry Sienfeld episode at the car rental agency (below). So basically, they don't have a problem taking my money. Any government can TAKE my money. Alabama just has a problem returning it!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Size matters



It's warmed up and the rain has slowed and the garden is beginning to prosper. The beans and peas are starting to bloom while the corn has recently tasseled. The second planting of okra is germinating - a point that was never reached by the first planting - and the tomatoes are starting to produce green fruit. Then there is the squash and zucchini. We get new squash every day and the zucchini... Oh the zucchini... Well, hmmm, lets just say that it has grown to embarrassing proportions.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Dora Live

If I were to tell you that Dora Live was crazy awesome, I wouldn't be completely lying. The show was nice. Nice like bubble gum icecream. I don't like bubble gum icecream - it makes my teeth ache just thinking about it - but little tikes think it is the best thing in the world. Even thought the show wasn't made for an adult, trust me watching your daughter's reaction was to the show takes the cake.

Toddler O, the Dora fan, has been pretty pumped about Dora Live. If not anything else, her excitement was a result of the Dora Live Countdown Calendar that has been a fixture on her bookcase for the past month. And today was the big day, the one she's been waiting for, the grand poopa, the big cheese, the cat's meow. Yep, Dora Live time. All day O's been hyped up beyond her own ability to cope. I'd put her up against the post-raccoon bite Old Yeller as far as crazy goes.

All was not peachy though. Just before the show, in her craze of uncontrollably, O reared up her Dora car (designed not to pop-a-wheelie) and fell back on her head. Not a good start to the evening.

O recovered, and we trecked over the mountain to the BJCC (5 min from the hizzy - thank goodness). She was pretty reserved and I could tell that she was unsure about the events before us. Upon arrival, we got a souvineer Dora light wand, popcorn, and a few drinks and headed to our seats like a little family of Dora lemmings. In a sea of very happy kids and very sad kids, Toddler O kept a pretty even-keeled temper. She doesn't have this dispositoin often, but she clearly understands when she should act like a responsible little girl.

Our seats were awesome! We were so close to the stage, Dora herself could see us wave, clap, and stomp. I think Dora would have appreciated a little crowd interaction but O just sat there chewing on her tongue in a very pensive stare trying to savor every move of Dora, Diego, Tikko, Benny, Boots, and Swiper. Finally in the last act, O loosened up enough wiggle her hips and clap her hands a little.

That's the DL on the show. Now the Harry Reeder "Take Away"... What does one learn from Dora Live.

  1. There is serious profits in consessions and souvineers. The Dora Light Wand was fifteen smack-a-roos! The stale popcorn was three-fifty - we got two - and a can of soft drink was two-fifty.

  2. If you are a young girl (three to four years) you believe that showing Dora your program from your seat will help her find the way.

  3. Too much happiness can lead to sadness. Like I said, O was very steady through out the entire night, but I noticed many kids who went from high to low in the blink of an eye.

  4. Dora's crew can make even an adults clap like a Pentecostal worship service.
The Miracle Ticket


The Walk to Dora Live



Grandparents at souvenier stand.


Happy Dora fan with her light wand


Happy little girl

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

All In One Day

Venezuelan Chaves says, "Comrad" referring to Pres. Obama's nationalization to General Motors. ARTICLE LINK

If that's not enough, Hussein Obama says that we are one of the largest muslim countries in the world. Try around 24th. That's okay I guess one can have goals right? ARTICLE LINK

Oh, but that's not all folks. Your highness is okay with Iran's neuclear expansion. "Hello McFly". These guys aren't our friends. ARTICLE HERE

That's just one day in liberalville. Wait maybe it's crazyville.

Anyway, thanks Matt Drudge for the layup.

Monday, June 01, 2009