Time to register

The summer festivities we are interested in have started opening their various registration periods, so we have be clicking, faxing and in some cases, getting relatives to hand-deliver forms.  So far, so good.  Looks like the summer will be fun all-around. 

While we were looking for activities for the kids, this gem popped up:

2011 Ballwin Triathlon

I think this can fairly be categorized as a 'fun run' level triathlon, but I'm excited about participating.  I've wanted to get into triathalons but there aren't very many in my neck of the woods.

glub glub

At the beginning of 2010, I set a goal to learn to scuba dive.  Unfortunately, for various (somewhat illegitimate) reasons, I never accomplished that.  Mrs. co-parent surprised me with the gift of a pre-paid open-water course.  This Saturday, I'll have my first class, with dives to follow. 

I'm really happy about this, particularly because I have been told that there is a sunken submarine off the coast of Beirut.  I can't wait to go dive down to that!

Ummm, yes?

One of my projects at work is a custom developed piece of software which involves the input of a consultant.  During the last round of testing, I noticed that one of the user prompts has been changed:

I think we may need to open a ticket on that one...

Yes, I am aware this only serves to confirm my archetype.

Which is an awesome power

I was doing some light sparring with kid #2 the other day, when she busted out an awesome little dodge.  The following dialoge ensued:

***

Me:  Wow, that was a really good move!

Her: (said with much chipperness and glee)  It's my power of duckness!

***

"Power of duckness" has now become a running family joke. =)

Where's Waldo?

Mrs. Waldo is also present.

Also, the keen-eyed might notice my music stand is unnaturally low.  Jr.s #1 and #2 broke it the day before.

Christmas

Given the logistical challenges around here, I need to get Christmas well in hand significantly before December, or things don't go well at all.  At this point, I think there is a moderately good chance that things will go well, even though there are a few stubborn items that are requiring some difficult arrangements.

I've noticed that my kids really enjoy toys that help them act out extemporaneous adventures and role-plays.  Also, this year, my kids have really been enjoying the wide range of movies available from Hayao Miyazaki .  Therefore, the answer is clear:  Merchandizing!

Since the theme is obscure and foreign (BTW, the observant will notice a Totoro in the background of Toy Story 3 (at the nice little girl's house)), I am free to get on the merchandise wave while still feeling smug and superior to all those other parents who buy Dora, Disney and Barbie.  They just don't take parenting as seriously as I do, obviously.

Fortunately, I can point and click my way to successful parenting.  The mission is the fairly cuddly fox-squirrel from Castel in the Sky, and Nausicaa:

Through the power of ebay, I am presented with the following two options:

I think I'll take the one on the left...  Who knew good parenting could be so cheap?  Of course, it will be shipped from China to Washington, and then DHL-ed to Lebanon, so this stuffed animal will have the carbon footprint of a medium-sized hippo.

TMI

In recognition of the fact that I have not posted for far too long, I shall follow grand blogging tradition by posting too much information, in the form of a letter to my wife:

Dear Wife,

Now that we have finished moving to a new house, there are two small, scampering secrets I should tell you.  First, about three months ago, I found your most hated bug of all time, the silverfish, in our apartment.  It was hiding behind my cello case.  Fortunately, I was able to kill it, hide the destructo-bugsmears and dispose of the evidence without you finding out about this hated intruder.  Watching Dexter has its benefits.

Second, about a month ago, while taking a shower, I was joined by a cockroach about two inches long.  This is one of the larger roaches I have seen.  You were already asleep at the time, so my options were limited, and I didn't have access to the supplies at the time to properly kill and dispose of it.  I trapped it in the bathroom trashcan with the lid securely fastened and took the trashcan outside.  As soon as I set the can down, the roach ran out.  I have no idea how that happened, but it got out (not in our house).  I did check the trashcan to make sure this wasn't a second, decoy, hitchiker roach.  It wasn't.  It was the same individual, can-pass-through-solids roach from the bathroom.  I think it is now living at our former neighbors apartment.

As you would find the discover and dispatch of these bugs highly unpleasant, I thought it best to keep it under wraps at the time.  I only tell you this now, because we have moved out of that apartment, and the bug risk is much lower. 

Therefore, I present you with a choice.  Do you prefer me to continue to stealth-strike bugs you would not like, or do you want me to tell you when I dispatch interlopers?

Love,

Me