Its really been a week?

I find it hard to fathom the fact that it has been an entire week since my last posting, but I guess it just illustrates how busy this week has been.

I have several things on my mind I want to "talk" about, it seems I have been saving up for a bit.

First: Why does everyone like Natalie Portman? I am really confused about this one, because I have seen her in several movies and even a little guest bit that she had on Sesame Street. She played Queen Amadala the exact same way as she acted on Sesame Street, which was the same way that she acted in Garden State, which was the same bland, monotone speech vomiting that she acted in Mars Attacks. If she wasn't kind of cute she would never be where she is now. And I guess she should be kissing George Lucas' ass, because if it wasn't for him she would never have been cast in movies as an adult actress.

Second: I just watched About A Boy again, because I am reading the book, by Nick Hornby. It is such an enjoyable movie, I wish that I was more like Hugh Grant's "Will". Maybe not as entirely "in the moment" as he is, but definitely more able to cope with free time, and more able to be relaxed with people. The book is great, and I'm looking forward to reading Hornby's other books High Fidelity and How To Be Good.

Third: I finally watched the "Making Of" features on the movie "Hellboy". I wish that more DVD's (except the Star Wars prequels, which are ad neausum) included such in-depth features about the creative process of the making the movie and how what the director's intentions were. I guess that sometimes I need a little help with some of the subtle things the can be missed.

Four: Normally I am turned off by even the name "Aston Kutcher", but I heard a little story on NPR about a new movie coming out called "Guess Who". I was really taken by the fact that a black director would remake the classic (which I have never seen) "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner". With the idea of switching the racial makeup in such a racially charged, and timely movie, from 1967, of "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" I am interested, and I think I'll have to make it out to this film. Plus, I like Bernie Mac, he is an incredibly funny comedian, and he has such funny observations about parenthood (a little more funny, and more realistic then someone like Bill Cosby).

Five: I have been having problems with my internet connection lately. I'm getting somewhat frustrated with it, because since November every once and a while my internet connection disconnects. I used to think that it was the router. I normally leave my computer running at night to complete downloads, and then check the progress in the morning. But it has been happening that in the morning the computer has, at some point disconnected from the internet. I think what frustrates me the most is that the Roadrunner tech help don't seem to listen to what I am saying. I had the problem beginning in November, and have since purchased a new computer, AND a new router, and I am still getting disconnected, AND I have had a third computer experience the same phenomena. So, in my mind it is pretty clear that the only common factor between all three systems having the same problem is the cable modem. With the exception of the Ethernet cables (it would have to be the one from the cable modem to the router) that is the only thing that is the same thing on all the separate systems failures. I was surprised to hear the tech tell me that we would have to disable Norton Personal Firewall (which I only got last week) and Norton Antivirus (which I wasn't running for a few month while I was having the problems on my old system), because they might be causing it too. I like to think that I communicate pretty well......


That's about it.....I have run out of fingers too type with.....

Ryan's turn.

So I came upon a decision today, came upon it, picked it up and put it in my pocket.

Since Holly's turn of potty training was actually rather painless, I figured I was up for more of a challenge. Me.

No, I'm kidding, actually last weekend we bought some little boy underoos for Ryan, and today, using the promise of a piece of chocolate I managed to lure him into them. He was very resistant about getting into them, then I uttered the phrase "For some chocolate." And he immediately stopped wailing, and practically jumped right into them.

I kept reminding him of our family motto: "Alert before you squirt." But he never seemed to want to run to the potty chair.

He seemed to be pretty uncomfortable with the accidents that he had, and he would quickly alert me to the wet front of his pants: "Accident!". So I seem to think he was catching on quick. He had two accidents in the span of an hour and a half, so I think he might take a little more time then Holly. But I guess we got luck with her.

We just need to buy more underoos for him, we only bought three, but if we motored through three between 2:30 and 4:30, then I think we might need just a few more. It is important for him to get to the point where he dislikes the feeling of wetness on his front, so he can make the choice to hold it.

Perhaps I was not clear.

After lunch today, Holly and Ryan asked me if they could do a little painting. I had no problem with this, of course, seeing as how that was perfect for them to do while I was attempting to catch up to with the neverending chore of dishes. (Dishes and Laundry, no matter how much you do them, there will always be more to do within a few hours.)

So painting away they were, I finished and sat with them for a while. I watched Ryan stick the paint brush in the murky water (they were using non-toxic watercolors) and poke the bristles in his mouth. I watched Holly paint her whole paper a solid green. I watched Ryan pain on one side, then turn the soaking wet sheet over (like he does with pencil and paper) and begin to paint the other side.

So I got up to water some of the plants, I went and got the watering can and watered the flowers that were on the table where they were painting, and then on my way back to water the Ivy plants (they aren't the poisonious English Ivy, don't worry, or else we would only have Ryan) when I suggested over my shoulder: "Hey, why don't you guys paint the flowers."

Well, when I returned ten seconds later, without missing a beat, they had both climbed up on the dining room table, and were trying to paint the leaves, and flowers.

Deep breath, Tim. "I meant why don't you paint some of the flowers on your papers, kids."

Scrubs, I need you!

I am seriously missing this show, I can't wait till the next new episode is aired! Damn mid-season break!

Another quote.....

Holly was being somewhat naughty today, and when I got down to her level and asked her why she was acting out, she looked up at me, squinted, and said: "Dare to be different."

I think I need to cut down on the amount of PBS that child watches.

And it isn't that Ryan doesn't say much during the day, for me to write about here, but it is just that he can hardly get a word in, with Holly talking ALL THE TIME.

I'm not going to say potty at all.....

Me: "I don't feel that good today."

Holly: "What's wrong, Daddy?"

Me: "I think I have a cold."

Holly: "I will warm you up." *hugs me*

Me: "I feel better already."


(potty, potty, potty)

Check out the Doctor Who site.

I'm not going to say potty at all.....

Me: "I'm not feeling too good today."

Holly: "What's wrong, Daddy?"

Me: "I think I have a cold."

Holly: "I will warm you up, Daddy." *hugs me*

Me: "I feel much better, Thank you, Holly."



(potty, potty, potty)

And check out the new Doctor Who site.

This will be my last potty entry for at least 1 whole day.....

Something happened this evening that completely surprised me. We had all just finished eating dinner, and Holly announced that she had to go "Potty!" I have been very proud of her. The first time that she used the potty was 7 days ago, and the last time that she had an accident was 6 days ago. She has been super-fast learning.

Well, this evening as we were walking towards the bathroom, she turns to me and tells me she wants to go by herself, because "I'm a big girl." She went in the bathroom, and closed the door, with me on the other side. She then took off her bottoms, and got the stool that was in there, and climbed her butt up to the adult toilet. She went, got down, wiped off, and then flushed. I was getting the commentary through the door, so I knew how she was doing....then I had to remind her to wash her hands. But she did everything!!!! She is 3, and has only been doing this a week, and it is awesome. Just another reason why I'm one of the luckiest men in the world.

Rebates and stuff.

Earlier this week I bought a new computer (really nice, if I do say so myself). So I have been filling out the 5 different rebate forms and envelopes. I don't know if it is a reflection of my fears, or to many business exposes, but I'm so nervous that I will forget a tiny little detail, like not dotting the "i" in my first name, that I will get a little note back saying that I didn't satisfactorily complete the requirements of the rebate program and I will loose out on some of the $360 that I am expecting to get back.

I just figured out that the sales guy at Best Buy gave me the wrong PC. I was given and charged for the next level up: the 3200 (the one with the 200 gig hard drive), instead of the 3100. I only wanted the lower one, but I guess he wanted the commission.

Try to guess who this is....

There is a country that was exposed for taking prisoners during a conflict, and intentionally failing to give them a prisoner number, and intentionally failing to report their capture to the International Committee of the Red Cross (both of which are required by the Geneva Convention and numerous international laws). Officials of the military for this country estimate that it may have had as many as 30 "ghost detainees".

Have you guessed yet? It's the United States of America. What confuses me, though is that in the months after September 11th, 2001, there was a lot of talk about how we can't let the terrorists change our country, about how we will find out who did this, and bring them to justice, and we wouldn't stoop to their level. But, uh, according to that talk, the terrorists have won. Our country is taking away some of the liberties and freedoms, the legal protections and guarantees that make this country beautiful. If I remember correctly, it was those freedoms and beliefs that were supposedly the target, or the focus of the anger of many extremist groups that are "out to get us".

Oh, and if you want sources......
NPR.
Reuters.
And plenty of others, this isn't so rumor mill.

And perhaps the most enlightening fact is that very senior officials of the Bush Administration were aware, and even authorized this behavior. It sure amazes me that the American people seem to not care, because they are afraid to seem unpatriotic. I love this country, and I support our troops, but in my opinion a ethical line has been crossed, and we shouldn't be afraid of talking about it.

Potty update:

If anyone is as intensely curious as I would be, Holly's potty training is going fantastic. She hasn't had any accidents since Monday morning, and she is having far fewer "false alarms". I'm rather proud of her, although every morning I need to remind her that she is going to be wearing undies, and she resists a little, but we eventually get all sorted out, and she runs around in her little Winnie the Pooh underoos. (This paragraph nearly made the spellcheck cry.)

Gotta love it!

Oh, and if anyone is wondering, the new episodes of Doctor Who that the BBC is putting out are really good! The first episode (Season 27, Episode 1) is entitled "Rose", and I loved it. I liked that they appeared to have changed the format from a multi-evening stretch to a once-a-week hour-long show. I heartily recommend it!

Ghosts, no, just Ryan.....

The strangest thing happened this morning. Michelle and I were lying in bed sleeping (amazing, I know) and then something woke me up....it took me a few minutes to realize that the TV was on in the living room, Ryan was watching The Early Show on CBS (something about Survivor, I think). After about ten minutes, Ryan went in a woke up Holly, and then they both came in to see us.

Normally, our walking alarm clock (Ryan) comes straight in to see us anywhere between 6:45 and 7:30, but for some reason he didn't come right in to us.....pretty weird, this little person has ideas and plans of his own.

Pain

Have you ever punched your fists together to make sure that you could still feel pain? Then experience a pain comparable to star formation?

Censored talk.....

I kinda made a promise to myself when I started this blog, that I was going to limit the amount of talk about bodily functions (pee, poop, etc). And to be honest, with the amount of diapers and, lets be honest, 11 year old humor, there is a lot of that in my daily life, but it is filtered on this blog!

That leads me to this proud announcement. Holly went pee on the toilet (not the potty chair) twice today. She has been wearing undies a lot this weekend, and she has been awesome about not getting them wet, but today we have been encouraging her to "Alert before you squirt." And she said "Ok, I need to go." So she went into the bathroom, and took care of business. Then she also went before her nap! I'm so happy, it seems that the amount of diapers that I have to change is going to drop by 50% and that is fantastic! I have a feeling that it won't be long before Ryan follows right along. Oh, Happy Day!

Tugboats and Arson. That's all I ever get from you guys!

I want to take this opportunity to write a little about some of the TV shows that I frequent. It just seemed like all the good stuff happens at once, or perhaps it is the fact that no kids have woke me up during the night, so I might be a bit more rested......

1) Scrubs - I watched this episode last night before I went to bed (don't ask me how I watched it a day late, without having used the VCR, I'm not talking), and again this morning while the kids were watching Caillou. It is a real measure of the quality of this comedy to be able to make me laugh outloud, and then make me sit there in stunned silence, visually digesting what my eyes just saw. I love the fact that I feel that I get more out of each episode having really appreciated the character development ever since the pilot episode 4 years ago. J.D. appears to have broken up with his girlfriend, good old Molly Clock (Heather Graham) came back into town for a visit, and even though J.D. stayed faithful to his girlfriend, she still interpreted what he did as a betrayal. And Turk and Carla are having more problems. I really like the fact that there is a great show that doesn't portray marriage as some blissful garden of eden: It is hard work. I guess we should have known that the marriage would be rocky with the way the marriage ceremony went down in the Season 3 finale. With divorce rates ranging from 50% to 75% (depending on who you ask or where you look), the view that most popular media portrays is usually way wrong. I read in TV Guide that something pretty major was gonna happen to shake everyone up, and I can't tell if it is gonna be Carla and Turk seperating, or if it has to do with Elliot dating the janitor......

2) The Amazing Race - This has been one of Michelle and my favorites ever since the first season, and on Tuesday Season 7 started off looking very promising! Michelle and I are still hoping that the very annoying Rob and Amber get knocked out early, and were pretty dissappointed that the two very entertaining guys from South Carolina's backwoods country were the first ones eliminated. It was a very close finish, and it pretty much came down to a foot race to the Pit Stop in Peru. I can't really think of many other reality TV shows that are as decent and (I don't want to use this word, I really don't but it is the only one that fits) wholesome. There may be some trash talking between teams, but this is not a TV show that rewards devious teams, or routinely makes them eat bugs or swim in cow testicles or try to fall in love with strangers, or any of the other concepts that really offend my senses of what I am comfortable watching with a 10 year old next to me.

3) Star Trek: Enterprise - The show is on its way out. The Series Finale is set to air in May. The only reason that it made it to this season is that Paramount (who produces the show) gave UPN a sweet deal, in order to make it to a total of 100 aired episodes. I guess this is the magic number for being able to get a show into syndication. There is talk of people trying to rally and get UPN to keep the show on longer, but as someone who was interviewed on NPR said, "In this day and age, every show that gets cancelled, has a group of people that try to save it." There are murmers that the Sci-Fi channel either is interested, or might be getting requests from people to try and pick up the show after it finishes on UPN. I guess that would work as long as they don't blow up the ship in the finale on UPN.

Well, I was gonna write more, about my other shows, like Kevin Hill, and Lost, but I have to go put on some lunch.