Boy, it’s been really busy over the last two weeks.  My aunt Sandy passed away, and so Aaron had to perform his Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) solo performance with Bubbe watching while Marla and I were in Albuquerque, NM for the funeral.  The great news is, that Aaron placed in Division I, the top division of the IGSMA, which is an honor reserved for the best grade school musicians in the state.

We are, of course, all thrilled with Aaron’s achievement.

I rounded first never thought of the worst
As I studied the shortstops position
Crack went my leg like the shell of an egg
Someone call a decent physician
I’m no Pete Rose, I can’t pretend
Though my mind is quite flexible, these brittle bones don’t bend

I’m growing older but not up
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck
Let those winds of time blow over my head
I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead

Sometimes I see me as old manatee
Headin south as the waters grow colder
Tries to steer clear of the hum-drum so near
It cuts prop scars deep in his shoulder
But that’s how it goes, right to the end
Though his body’s quite flexible, that barnacle brain don’t bend

I’m growing older but not up
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck
Let those winds of time blow over my head
I’d rather die while I’m livin’ than live while I’m dead

Now don’t get me wrong
This is not a sad song
Just events that I have happened to witness
And time takes its toll as we head for the poll
And no one dies from physical fitness
So what the hell, we’ll take it right to the end
As the days grow more complicated the nightlife still wins

I’m growing older but not up
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck
Let those winds of change blow over my head
Id rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead
Let those winds of time blow over my head
I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Better late than never…

LATKES! 🙂

Latkes!

We went to Bubbe and Zayde’s place, and a good time was had by all – the kids, playing and the parents, eating.  Pictures are HERE.

Editors comment: This post is by my brother, Kelly.

It is December 31st, 1988, and still I have no ticket for tonight’s New
Year’s Eve Grateful Dead show, the final night of an abbreviated
three-night run.

Having figured that two shows are better than none, I hopped in the
communal Ford van and (after a detour to a hot tub in Eugene, Oregon) came
down from Seattle for the festivities of the 28th and 29th.  One of the
guys who came down with us (RIP, Daniel) had an extra New Year’s Eve
ticket, but he seemed intent on bartering it in exchange for as much money
as possible.  I had since relegated myself to the possibility of a New
Year’s Eve spent dancing outside while cleaning up bottles and cans in a
vast asphalt jungle.

(more…)

First and foremost, good fricken riddance to 2008.  It was the year that was… and I’m glad it’s over.  2009 isn’t going to magically change things, but at least the year that saw 40% of my retirement fund and equal numbers of my coworkers go away is behind us.

We ate cheeses, meats and drank some desert wine at the hour to ring things in, and surprisingly every kid stayed up this year to watch the fireworks on our HDTV.

Here we are.  Eeyeore hid under the hockey table:

Eeyore Hides In The New Year

Justin actually stayed awake!  We consider him “Baby New Year”:

Baby New Year

And here we are, all ringing in the new year:

Us

After the fireworks, we listened to Blue Man Group ringing in the new year with Auld Lang Syn on the BMG Tubes.

Happy New Year to all!

Tonight is the last candle lighting.  This is always a bittersweet evening,  because it means Hanukkah is almost over (it goes until sundown tomorrow) but it’s also the night that we have nine candles blazing in each menorah.  It gives true meaning to the “Festival of Lights”.

Hanukkah - Festival of Lights

The kids even have their own menorah to “light” – they push a button!

The Kids Menorah

The full set of pics are HERE.  We hope everyone had a happy Hanukkah, or whatever December-themed holiday you celebrate!

Sigh.  Today was supposed tobe the day that we did our Hanukkah party, but due to a scheduling problem, we didn’t.  🙁

So, no Latkes this week.  There is going to be a party at Marla’s folks place next weekend (after Hanukkah is over) so hopefully I will get my latke fill then.

Anyway, so today, in honor of our failed attempt to host a family party, we sat around and did nothing.  Eventually, the frenetic un-busynesss got to us and we had to take a break and go eat pizza at Edwardo’s.  Then we came home and lit candles.  Hurray!  More Blue Ray movies for our PS3!  I’m gonna watch Wall-E tonight.

Here’s the pics.

Having just gotten back from our little winter outing, we were exhausted.  We lit candles and then watched T.V. and later went to bed.  Pics are here.

As I previously posted, we spent the last two nights at Key Lime Cove in Gurnee, Illinois.   This is an indoor water park, hotel and resort similar to waterparks in Wisconsin Dells, only closer.   I’ve got a review of our stay, and some pictures.  This is going to be a somewhat long post, so click below to read it all.

(more…)

We are, as they say, blowing this popsicle stand.  For the next two nights, we will be hanging out at Key Lime Cove, an indoor water park near Gurnee Mills.  You won’t see posts or pics updates until we get back, but we will have our camera there.

Happy 25th of December, for those who celebrate that!