Wordless Wednesday: Winter apples

Hi-def rabbit ears

Ladies and gentlmen, I am now proud to say that I have 50" of the biggest, baddest hi-def rabbit ear TV on the block. And a charcoal couch that will be delivered in approximately 8 - 12 weeks. C-man couldn't comprehend why we couldn't turn it on and have the Disney channel today.

I'm working on it, buddy.

Gone Farmin'

I love farm photos...

Buying a couch shouldn't be like this

So we need a new couch, because ours are ridiculous. We got ours from friends who moved away years ago. Are you picking up what I'm putting down? We are using used, castaway couches that were our friends' basement room couches when they gave them to us. And we've been using them for years. And they're terrible.

So take that into account, and add in the fact that I want a new TV. A big sucker. Plasma. One I can hang on the wall. And you've got a recipe for couch + TV shopping.

We went to just two stores, and I'm exhausted. I hate shopping. And I really hate furniture shopping. Those swarmy places that have the guy following you around. "My name is Mike. If you need me I'll be right over here." Wait 45 seconds. "Hi, my name is Mike. Let me know if you need anything."

After 2 whole stores of that, I'm ready to buy any of them just to be done with it. But how can there be so many couches all costing so much money, and they're all just mediocre? Why can't I find a couch that's beautiful AND comfortable? Why? Why? Why? I ask!

So I think I'm going back to store #1 tomorrow to get the mediocre charcoal microfiber sectional couch that comes with a 50" plasma. Because I just don't have the stomach for this.

The good news? Beerman has mentioned getting a Playstation to go with it twice now. I've declared Beetlejuice rules on this - if he mentions it a third time, I'm all in. Because talking big screen and Playstation to me is like waving bourbon in front of someone only up to the second step. Hell, you'd think I was the dude in this house...

Dilemmas

My Christmas shopping has begun. And I've come to the painful realization that my kid has everything a 4 year old could need. And then some. I'm not into getting him a Wii as many have suggested. Because both he and I would get addicted. And that would be bad.

When he goes through the catalogs, everything he wants is superhero-related. Because the kid's latest obsessions is superheroes, and he lives, eats and breathes superheroes now. I'm not into the superhero thing. Because A) He goes through obsessions like water. (Star Wars, Dinosaurs, Handy Manny...) and B) There's no way in hell the kid is getting something weapon-related. He's gotten a few gifts from others in the past that have been weapon-related, and it has gotten him in so much trouble, it's not worth even trying.

He likes art stuff. But a whole Christmas of Bendaroos? There's no snow, so my bright idea of snowshoes and snow related stuff is out. Yes, I know we'll get snow eventually, but at this point, kind of hard to predict when. He loves Legos, but wants the cool sets of them, and they are only the tiny ones that are just too tiny for his chubby fingers yet. Maybe I just need to break down with the Leapster or something similar that will help him learn something.

He's 4 and likes everything. It shouldn't be this stinking difficult. Sigh...

Ass-ups

We went to the farm yesterday to make merriment and eat turkey and watch football and stuff. And while everyone else was doing the football thing, Harry and I made our way out into the cold to have some fun. His version being the chasing barn cats kind. Mine was the see how many photos I could shoot before my fingers went numb kind.

The farm never disappoints for great photos. But my surprise came with the shots of a few of the three-bazillion (no exaggeration at all) birdhouses Grandma has around the farm to feed and house the Cardinals and Chickadees and Ass-Ups. That's because not only do I really like how they turned out with the light and the angles, but last night over dinner we all had a great giggle remembering that Grandpa used to call the Nuthatches Ass-ups. That's because when they eat, they're, well, ass-up. And the man was nothing if not literal. So these shots come with a little more meaning than some of the others I took.

So here's to feeding and housing the Ass-Ups for the winter.

Happy Tofurkey Day Post*

In no particular order, this year I'm thankful for...

My marriage,

My awesome, smart, funny, incredibly messy son,
who in more ways than I can count is an exact carbon copy of his dad...
A newfound love for Switzerland and all things Swiss,
Having taken the time and energy to lose all that weight (even if I have gained back 5 lbs),
Harry the Dirty Dog,
Silliness,
A top-notch slick-ass camera,

And, of course, you. (There, now I don't have to endure the "what about me?" phone calls after this post because I didn't.forget.you!)

*PETA is asking we say Tofurkey Day instead of Turkey Day. So I'm saying it, not in reverence, but because I mock. It's what I do, people. Judge if you want.