OUT WITH "THE GIRLS" ALREADY

I have to share this with you - another classic involving my, now, 10-year old daughter.
Yesterday, she, and her neighborhood friend, asked if they could go out and ride bikes around the neighborhood. Sounded pretty harmless to us (and to the neighbor's parents) so we all said okay. The neighborhood child's mom gave her little girl a cell phone so they could "check in" with us, periodically.
First call came in and they were in another part of the neighborhood - about a half mile away - and acquired two more of their "girlfriend" companions on bicycle. Second call and they were over one of the companion's houses. Third call - over at another companion's house. Now here comes the 4th call - the one from our daughter - and I quote - "Just wanted to let you know we are at the Mexican restaurant at the end of the neighborhood having lunch". WHAT?????.....Do you have money? Yes.....Are there any adults with you? "NO". Now the restaurant is about, maybe a half mile away. We, then, come to find out that our neighbor child called her house and told her Dad that she was out "with the girls having a few drinks" at the Mexican restaurant. ("Drinks" being a Shirley Temple, Iced Tea, Sprite and water). Then, maybe about 10 minutes after that, our daughter and the neighborhood child show up at our house as if nothing special had happened. My daughter told me that it was just the 4 girls and the employees at the Mexican restaurant thought nothing of it. My daughter always has some money with her, just in case. Turns out - the big order was cheese dip, chips and a couple of cheese quesadillas. I did ask her if she left a tip and the answer was "What's that?". That was a whole other conversation about that.
We all had a good laugh about the little "adventure" and, of course, told the kids to check with us BEFORE they do something like that again (chuckling under our breath the whole time). Fun story.
The moral of this is that this was business as usual when I was ten years old. Gone from 8am to dinner time, with my friends on my bike. No fear of anything from mom or dad or me, for that matter. Yesterday, after it was all over, we wished those days were here again but realized they never will be. Sadly that is probably the last adventure of that kind for my daughter and her friend until they grow up.

THE CASE OF THE FLYING SHOES

I'm sure, by now, you've seen the video clip of that Iraqi newsman hurling his size ten shoes at President Bush during a news conference in Baghdad over the weekend. First of all, watch out, the New York Yankees may want to sign the guy as another pitcher. (They've signed just about everyone else!). Secondly, and really, the most troubling thought - how did the second shoe even get out of that man's hand? Here is our President in the city where we have been fighting for close to 5 years. Lots of folks in that city have their ideas as to what they would like to do to Mr. Bush. So - you would think security would be pretty tight. Look at the clip again when you can on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8GOrc0-Ygg). Note how long it took anyone to react, let alone the Secret Service agents. Have they (the agents) mentally checked out already? Let's hope not!

THE GRAND ILLUMINATION AT THE SHOMBY'S

Can someone please tell me who invented the "icicle" outdoor lights? Had to be someone with a sense of humor. On top of that, I found out, the hard way, that you can only light 3 sets of connected lights. We have a long house.....okay so I had 6 sets of 3 spanning the house, garage and the side. By my calculation, I would have had 6 extension chords hanging down from the house. My wife was so no NOT into that decorative idea. So - what I thought would take an hour or two...took two days. I had to take the lights over the garage and the side of the house down. Considering the landscaping we have in the front of the house, my neighbors must have had their camcorders out watching me go up and down that ladder.
Ok - finally yesterday, I finished the job......then one set of lights didn't work....had to go back up and take down that set and move another one (and, yes, I did check them before I hung them). Then I finished....using only two extension chords and finally past the wife inspection last night. She likes them. Merry Christmas everyone!

Putting Up Christmas Decorations

How much I've learned since my bride and I got together 3 years ago!!!! Especially around Christmas time.........especially, when it comes to decorations and pictures. We, of course, wanted to put together our usual picture of the little one for our Christmas card. The little one is about over getting dressed up (as she puts it "in a scratchy dress") and posing in front of a tree. So, I had this idea that we take a picture outside with the little one and our dog - and, hey, put Santa hats on them. After that suggestion, I get the "um" answer. (For you single guys, "um" translates to "no way"). Then, of course, the pictures were all bad (I thought some were good but, again, the "um" answer to my suggestions).
What did I learn from this? Step away. Be an "employee' and do what you're told. I did and the second set of pictures were perfect........to the right person, of course! Next comes putting up outside lights. That will be a whole 'nother blog, of course.
Merry Christmas!