» Turning into your parents

My dad
My dad came back from Viet Nam in '71 and decided that he was going to kill himself. He didn't actually succeed until '88. His liver couldn't stand having anymore gin poured on it and his lungs had had enough of the Pall Mall filterless.

He'd left my mother and me in '72. I last saw him the following year. They wouldn't let me open the coffin - his Army benefit covered a minimal embalming.

I promised my first son that I'd always be there for him. He was too young to remember and hopefully also too young to remember that his mother kicked me out (we were overseas and I was the dependant 'stay-at-home-dad') so she could the alcoholic loser she later married and divorced. When they finally returned to the US, I was there and have been there for him ever since.

I remarried - the missus, our son & daughter still live in the same house. I never had to convince myself that I wasn't going to leave them - I'm not my father.
(Sat 2nd May 2009, 2:43, More)

» Family codes and rituals

nicknames
The missus and I were explaining atoms to Rowan, who was about 5 at the time. Somehow, in the course of Protons, Neutrons and Electrons - said child got addressed as Roton.
Five years on, the name has stuck.


Except when we call him MiniWolf - but that's another story.
(Sat 22nd Nov 2008, 15:38, More)

» Terrible food

Pot-Luck Chili
When Larry's mum annonced that she was moving out of state, she told Larry to take all the canned goods in her pantry.

About 15 cans, most of whose labels had come off in the move, ended up at Larry & Jody's swinging bachelor pad.

Every weekend, we would end up over there to play D&D or Morrow Project or somesuch. We'd make chili and had been commanded by Larry to incorporate a nude can's contents in said chili.

Chili with sweet corn is perfectly acceptable.
Chili with sting beans is tolerable.
Chill with peaches is just plain weird.

************************

While on my "starter" marriage, the missus was stationed in Wales. Having come from an English family, I was quite ready for anything that British culture might throw at me...

Except for Sweet & Sour Chicken made with Malt Vinegar.

****************************

Red meat isn't bad for you.
It's the blue furry meat you have to watch out for...

*
(Sat 19th May 2007, 21:28, More)

» How nerdy are you?

More than some - less than others...
Our dining room has been converted into a library - Zelazny, Anthony, Herbert and Dr Who rule. The children are allowed to keep only their TARDIS playset in there, the TARDIS zipperobe sits in the den. (Keep in mind, we live in the US, so DrWho paraphenalia is rather hard to come by).

Against the wall of our living room, are the missus' and my desks. Each has it's own computer, with the printer and the Wireless Router on the filing cabinet between them. More often than not, I'll have to email her to remind her to check dinner or to go to bed as she'll have the headphones on while surfing the YouTubes.

The eldest boy has a computer in his room on which he surreptitiously surfs for pr0n. I usually browse his Internets history to see if he's found anything I haven't seen yet.

There's an old laptop connected to the telly so that I can watch streaming vid from Netflix on a proper screen.

85% of Weird Al's 'White and Nerdy' applies to me.

I listened to Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy when it was first broadcast on US Public Radio (following the Star Wars radio program!).

I haven't let anybody else cut my hair since I got out of the Navy in '87 (I was a barber) - I cut it myself. I wear a mullet, that makes it easy.
(Mon 10th Mar 2008, 21:27, More)

» World's Sickest Joke

What's the diff?
What's easier to empty?
A truckload of Bowling Balls or Dead Babies?

Ya can't use a pitchfork on the Bowling Balls...
(Sun 5th Feb 2006, 3:39, More)