Lost in Translation

Every once in awhile you come across things that leave you wondering. Take the following store front in Japan. With so many English speaking people in Japan, I guess they wanted to make their point? The only thing I can think of is they tried to use a Google Translator!

 (Yes this is real. lmao!)

How NOT to be a good parent....

Breast Cancer Awareness

If you don't already know, you should. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My wife is a survivor of this horrible disease. I know a number of others who have also suffered the scare. A local tattoo parlor is doing their part to help spread the word by offering free pink ribbon tattoos. My wife decided she wanted to get one. Her mom got one yesterday. Her aunt and 2 cousins got them earlier this week. I think it is a good cause. In fact to help show my support I got a tattoo as well.

I have thought about getting a tattoo many times over the years. This is not what I had in mind originally but, what better design to start off with? Now that I know what it feels like, I will go back soon and get something artistic done. As for the rest of you, please please make sure to check your breasts regularly! And get those mammograms done. SAVE THE TA-TAS!

I survived.

Another school year down. All of the crazy running I do is finally over until September. This year was extra crazy since I had a lot to do in preparation of Kevin's graduation. Yesterday was that big day. The ceremony was at 10 AM out on the football field. It was sunny and quite warm. In fact, too warm! But, we made it through it.

From there it was back home for his party. We had a number of relatives there and a group of Kevin's friends came over as well. Plus his friend Julie came down from Rhode Island to see him graduate. They met last Summer while he was working in the Summer Camp. She worked there as well. Since she was one of the very few girls in camp (It's a Boy Scout camp) she was the fantasy of many teen boys that Summer. She and Kevin bonded and have remained close ever since. Much to the envy of the rest of Kevin's scout troop. Even his brother was on Cloud 9 since "OMG! Julie is going to be sleeping in the room next to mine?".....Simmer down Tyler, she is 9 years older than you. I have to say it was wonderful having her here. She is a sweetheart and truly cares about Kevin. My wife and I commented about how we wished he would date a girl like her. She is welcome back anytime.


With everything done, I can pretty much relax this week. The only pressing thing I have to do is pack for a week long camping trip. Tyler and I are headed to Rhode Island next Sunday to spend a week in that Summer Camp. Sadly for him, Julie is not working there this year. LOL Just like Kevin, she got a real job.

It's Official!

Kevin and Julie    

She ran over and gave him a big hug afterward.

I can only guess that when she drinks, she gets beer muscles.

This is a little bit more normal.

It amazes me what they can create these days. 

Yes the picture is edible.

Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. This cake weighed a ton!

Can you see me blushing now?

Ok, so as you may or may not know, this Saturday is the long awaited dance recital. Several of us have agreed to slip into a tutu and dance swan lake. All for the sake of giving our daughters something to remember later in life. Probably in therapy or in dreams that wake them up screaming in the night. As you can tell, I really don't mind doing it. (If I did, I would not be posting this picture). We have had the best time laughing and joking as we rehearsed for our performance on stage.

So, as promised, here is my recital picture:

I am in the back on the far left. Two of the group are missing from the picture, but you certainly get the idea.

Random Pic of the Day

This guy was big enough to make my wife scream like she was being murdered. 
While to many of you, this is not very big, here on the island we typically do not get them this large.

Santa used to be a gun slinging, chain-smoking, pervert

These are actual ads from years ago. I am old enough to remember these types of ads appearing each year at Christmas time. I am happy to say that Christmas is a lot safer for the children now that Santa has been to therapy!

We can see here why Santa is always looking to see where the bad girls live!
I can't really blame him since Mrs. Claus only let's him come once a year.
(Looking close at this picture, the skirt starts at the top of her thighs, and yet her butt is shown a lot higher.
What sort of legs does she have in between her butt and thighs?)

Correct me if I am wrong Santa, but doesn't smoking actually cause scratchy throats?

I guess if I was surrounded by perpetually happy midgets, I would smoke too.

"You'll shoot your eye out kid!"

Trees trees every where but, none to chop I think!

So yesterday was the day to go out looking for a Christmas tree. Since I am working today (and it's raining) and next weekend I will be camping, yesterday was either find a tree of be stuck buying a precut one and praying it doesn't dry up and die before Christmas. This is only the 3rd year we actually went out to cut down our own. I really enjoy it. Despite the inevitable incidents of aggravation that comes with it.

The day was sunny but very windy and very cold. We don't get weather like this until February typically. We all bundled up to face the elements and set out for the tree farm. We arrived at about 2 PM and the place was mobbed. Cars parked along the street as far as the eye could see. I lucked out and got a space almost directly across from the gate. We walked in, paid our $5 deposit for the bow saw and headed out into the field in our quest for that perfect tree. We walked and we walked and then we walked some more. Passing all sorts of trees. Of course none of them were perfect enough to be our tree. The problem here being we each have a different idea of what the perfect tree looks like.

The next 90 minutes or so were full of all sorts of comments. Things like, "It's too skinny" "It's too fat" "It's too tall" "It is bald on that one side" "It leans funny" "I do NOT want a Charlie Brown tree!" Then of course we have to toss in, "I have to go to the bathroom!" This being none other than my daughter who seems to feel the need to use every single public bathroom she can find. Even the porta potty she eventually was able to waddle to with her legs crossed. I kept hoping that I would turn a corner and see "The tree" bathed in glowing sunlight with birds singing and angels playing harps around it. It never really did happen that way. Maybe next year?

The highlight of the afternoon occurred when my middle guy decided to be a wise guy. My older son had spotted a tree. My wife commented it was too short. Since she is 5'2" and my older son, Kevin, pointed out to her, "You are too short." Well, the middle guy, Tyler, heard him and chuckled. Since everyone else chuckled too, I guess he figured this type of humor is acceptable. His mistake came about 10 minutes later. Katie found a tree she thought was nice. I think she would have settled for anything since she still had to find a bathroom. My wife looked at the tree and ruled it out saying "It's bottom heavy" Tyler not missing his chance snaps back, "You're bottom heavy!" Well, I choked, Kevin froze, and Katie paused in her pee-pee dance. We looked at each other and walked briskly away leaving Tyler with his mom. I have a feeling it will be quite some time before they find his body. I just wish he had made this mistake before we started buying his gifts. I could have saved some money!

We did eventually find a nice tree. The kids took turns trying to cut it down. They blamed the saw a lot for it not working so well. So after they had enough, I crawled under and finished the job. Katie did eventually get to the bathroom and we managed to get the tree tied to the car and home. I am really gonna miss Tyler though.

This is the tree I tried to convince Kaity we were getting.
She was not amused.

This is the tree we did end up bringing home.
I will try and post a pic of it all decorated.

Random Pic of the Day

We just returned from spending a couple days in Pennsylvania. Monday we were in an amusement park called Knoebel's and Tuesday we went to Camel Beach which is a water park. The picture above was actually taken Monday. My daughter had the best time. She is a daredevil and will try pretty much anything. But, the best part of the whole trip for her was having her oldest brother back after a whole summer without him. She dragged him on many rides with her. When I saw her reach up and take his hand, I just smiled and snapped this pic.