Rainy Quirkee Thursday

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is...

drinking coffee and getting Quirkee!

Are there any picky eaters in your family? Do you like frog legs?

Did you answer yes and yes? Yes and no? No and yes? No and no? Well, then I have a story for you! Kick back and relax while the boss is out of the office and read today's edition of Quirkee.com!

Online Poker Addiction

Now that summer has arrived and all of the shows we usually watch after the kids are asleep have had their season finales, I am finding myself in front of the computer playing poker more often. When I told my wife the other day that I just lost a few grand playing poker online she paused for a second and waited to hear me say that is was pretend money. She asked that from now on I use finger quotes when talking about online poker money so she is clear that I am gambling with "play dough" and not her paycheck.

Last night I entered the poker room with a little over 13,000 in "cash" and after losing about 5,000 "dollars" in one room I left for another. I eventually found a table to my liking and racked up another 10,000 "greenbacks" before calling it a night. Not bad for 50/100 tables.

This, of course, is the exact opposite of how I end up after a "Dad's Night Out" poker game for real money. I usually come home $50 lighter in the wallet and a pound heavier from the beer.

I like my odds better playing online for fake "cabbage."

In The Newspaper

Some of you reading my blog at this location may not be aware that I have an extension of it at the Austin American Statesman. It is called Daddyshack: The 19th Hole. I started it last month in hopes of gaining new readers and to post some of my previously published articles from Quirkee.com. Well, I am happy to say that it worked and in just over five weeks I have had more than 10,000 hits! I want to say thanks to all of you readers out there (Thanks!) and I hope I can continue to provide you with entertainment from the land of Daddyshack!

In yesterday's Sunday paper my Grandmother noticed this little tidbit of info about me in the Metro & State section on page two. I'm glad she called me because that newspaper almost went out with the recycling this morning and I would have never known it was there. I always read that page so I'm not sure how I missed it! Here it is.

No, I'm not an escaped inmate. Look underneath that entry. Click to enlarge...

Toddlerspeak

Little Mr.: How do you get this damn thing out?


Me: What did you just say?


Little Mr.: I can't get this damn thing out.


Me: You are not supposed to say that word.


Little Mr.: (confused) But Daddy, I'm trying to get this damn thing out!


Me: I know I used that word yesterday and I shouldn't have. You can't say that word.


Little Mr.: (even more confused) Then can you help me get this stamp thing out?


Me: Oh. Were you saying stamp?


Little Mr.: Uh huh. Do you want one on your hand?

I'm Not Really a Mysophobe...

but I am curious if others wonder about this.

Many places now are switching to automatic flushing toilets and urinals in their restrooms. This is great because who really wants to touch a public toilet that may or may not have been pee'd on by the previous visitor. Some establiments are even adding automatic sinks with sensors. No handles needed! To finish it off many even have automatic paper towel dispensers or air blowers with sensors for a complete sanitary hands free trip to the john!

Until you get to the door and you have to pull the handle right after the guy who took a #2 in the stall next to you skipped the hand washing and bolted out.


Where are the automatic doors?

Weekend Haikus

A free trampoline
That came with a full night's sleep
For two worn out kids

------------------------------------------------

Some landscape timbers
And a dozen bags of mulch
Make mud disappear

Macro Photography

Lately I have become very interested in macro photography after spending time reading through Daniel Sroka's website. He makes incredible art out of macro photography using things he finds outdoors on walks like seeds, leaves, acorns, tree bark, etc. He brings them home and discovers the unique character in each of them.

He creates all of this art without any Photoshop techniques, only what he see through the lens. His work is inspiring but I don't have the studio equipment or macro lens yet to create like he does. Since I like manipulating stuff in Photoshop anyway, I thought it would be a fun way to start playing around with macro for now. So I took this photo of a windchime outside our back door...





and cropped that photo into this. I adjusted the levels to hide some pixelation in the black area and lighten up the lighter areas to create more sunshine on the rope. Because of the huge crop factor, this photo probably won't print well above 5x7. With the right lens and lighting it would be printable at poster size or larger.




It's not a Daniel Sroka but it's a start!

It's Quirkee Thursday And I Have No Coffee

I'm not sure how I let this happen. I always have coffee in the house. This morning I went to the kitchen to start a nice warm pot of Texas Pecan coffee and I didn't even have enough beans for a cup. Trying to think through the fog in my half-asleep head, I remembered we had some of those coffee packs that we brought home from a hotel room in case of emergencies. Two decaf packets (no thanks) and one regular (oh yea). A big cup of joe and I would be on my way to standing up straight.

Well, as luck would have it, I didn't realize the packet of coffee was meant for a smaller pot and I made a full huge pot. So, my coffee looked like tea. I managed to choke down half a cup and will be making a run with Little Bit to grab a Venti Mocha Latte. If I'm going to pay $4.00 for coffee I'm going to get my money's worth.

It's Quirkee Thursday and my article about ways to curb thumb sucking is right...... here.

Now if I can just remember where I left my daughter, umm...I mean my keys, I can go get that much needed giant frothy cup of java.

Please Watch Out For Motorcycles

I grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with millions of other people. I grew up in a church with a few hundred people. Our families have all been very close friends my entire life.

One friend was in a bad motorcycle accident last Sunday, Mother's Day. This is a guy that I went on many Mission Trips with as a kid where we made a humble attempt to improve the lives of others not as fortunate. He has an incredible soul and we are all praying for his body to recover.

I know some of you reading this may not know him, but please keep Clint in your thoughts and prayers. Every thought and prayer helps.

Thank you,

James

Weekend Haiku: Mother's Day

Finally Friday

A rest for the weary soul

Mommy's soul, not mine

Quirkee Thursday

It's that time of the week again. Time to get your laugh on!

Because I believe in shameless self-promotion, this link right here will take you to my article titled, "My Children Will Never..."

Don't forget to read the others since laughing is the best medicine and strengthens your core muscles. That means not only is Quirkee fun, it's healthy, too!

If you register with Quirkee you are eligible for prizes! Tell your friends because if they don't hear it from you first they will be mad. Quirkee doesn't like mad people.

A Fun and Busy Weekend

Last week my parents moved into a new house after selling my childhood abode. I only spent twelve years there, but they woke up almost every morning in that house for twenty-eight years. It was a little sad to see all of the furniture gone, my Dad mowing the yard for the last time, me taking home the old wooden tree swing with the rusted chain, and taking one last family photo with my parents, my sister and her family, and my wife and kids.



Twenty-eight years of memories. All of those memories make up who I was, who I am now, and who I aim to be. There were many happy times in that home. My parents are wonderful people who always made sure we knew what was important in life - faith, love, kindness, honesty, and compassion to name a few.

We are all comprised of more than just the DNA we are given. We are the end results of two people who decide to bring life into this world. We should all want our children to be wiser, stronger, and capable of doing things we only dream about. My parents are no exception. Thank you for all that you taught me over the years and for always being there when I needed you most. And thank you for the great childhood memories. I'll sure miss that house.



But I am definitely ready to go down the slide again into your new pool! Wahoooooooo!

Not That I'm Counting

I'm moving up in the Technorati ranks! As of now I am ranked 899,529 with Technorati. Thank you to all who link here and those who don't, link me now! I will link to you, too! Help me help you, help me...help you...