In my head I'm already gone

Okay, that's it for me. I'm off to my parents' place to help run my dad's big barbecue contest this weekend.

Should be a good time, with lots of food and (especially) drink. So you probably won't see much from me until next Wednesday (you poor bastards).

Anyway, in the immortal words of Dennis Miller...

"That's the news and I... am... Outahere."

tagged: weekend, Labor Day, barbecue, Dennis+Miller, Saturday Night Live, parents

Sunshine and butterflies

About the end of the first or second year into the first job out of college, most people realize that the default status of life is suckiness.

Work is hard (that's why the call it work), and you're more likely to be blamed for the mistakes of others than rewarded for your own excellence.

Life is not and never will be easy. Most people recognize this. Those who don't, become Liberals and expect the government to make everyone happy. Of course, not every day can be all sunshine and butterflies.

But some days can. And it's important to carpe those diems when they happen. Which brings me to about two weeks ago.

We were doing some light work in the 110-degree heat of the back yard when my Supermodel Wife found a flashy-looking caterpillar. It was yellow, black and white striped with a pair of "horns" on either end.

We showed our daughter who was fascinated and immediately put the thing in her bug box. Over the next few days, we fed the voracious creature leaves similar to the ones it was on when we found it. Every day after school we would find lots of leaf stems and caterpillar crap in the bug box.

Then one day it was a cocoon -- a green cocoon with gold glitter.

Fast forward to yesterday. A beautiful, sunny, 80-degree day. We get home and hear fluttering coming from the bug box on the desk where we've been watching it daily.

The Monarch butterfly had emerged from the chrysalis to the amazement of all of us. It was now our sacred duty to take the boxed butterfly outside to set it free.



The poor little guy had some trouble finding his way to the opening at the end of the box. His tiny insect brain couldn't figure out how to climb sideways.

So we tipped the box up on its end, and after a minute or two of trying, he finally emerged from the opening.

In all his glory.

He tested his wings tentatively a few times, then took off and was in the neighbor's tree within a few seconds. From there, we lost track of him.

Sharing these kind of moments with your kids really does cancel out a lot of the crap life hands you. This, along with Boulevard Wheat, is what makes life worth living.

tagged: science, Monarch, butterfly, family, meaning of life, sunshine, photos

Friday Blogthing: Personality goes a long way

I don't think any additional commentary is needed. Yes, I do. Wait, just what are you getting at. Shudup and read!

You May Be a Bit Schizotypal...

A bit odd and socially isolated. You couldn't care less of what others think. And some of your beliefs are a little weird. Like that time you thought you were Jesus.

What Personality Disorder Are You?

tagged: Friday, test, personality, Schizotypal, Kramer, meme, blog

Headlines: Chimp on your shoulder

This news just in from that wellspring of scholarship Atlanta - Gestures May Come From Chimps

Gesturing is one of the oldest forms of human communication, and now researchers have discovered that apes and chimps use the same motions humans do when asking for things.

The study indicates that hand gestures, much like Democrats, evolved from monkeys.

I know, I was skeptical at first just like you. But then I saw some of the pictures that were published with the study and now I have to admit, they may have something here.

tagged: headline, news, science, evolution, monkey, chimp, finger, the bird, gesture

3A.M. Poll: What is your favorite thing to say to a cop who has pulled you over?

This was ganked from an email I recently received, but still worth considering.

I haven't had a traffic ticket in at least 10 years (we'll not counting parking tickets). I attribute that to my Rico Suavé-esque way of talking my way out of trouble (without offering sexual favors, you cheeky monkey).


tagged: police, cops, ticket, Barney, Andy, poll, vote

Headlines: Void where prohibited

In case you haven't been keeping up with current events in science, astrophysicists have discovered the largest yet totally empty region of space.

Radio astronomers have found the biggest hole ever seen in the universe. The void, which is nearly a billion light years across, is empty of both normal matter and dark matter. The finding challenges theories of large-scale structure formation in the universe.

The void has nothing in it. No thing. You can't believe how utterly empty this thing is. It's like Paris Hilton's resume, or any song by Maroon 5. We're talking devoid of content here.

I read about this the other night and immediately went outside to see it for myself. Sure enough there it was, right there in space where they said it would be.

I took a picture to share with you. My little Nikon digital camera got a pretty good shot.



tagged: space, science, void, Paris Hilton, Larry Moore, Maroon 5, humor

Eewww, someone just schmoozed all over me!

Shea at ACGIK, named me the supreme winner yesterday of the Blogger Schmooze award.

I proudly accept.

I know there are others, like The D, Chimpotle, KCSponge and Erin who have made claims to the Blogger Schmooze award. And to be certain, they are definitely schmooze-worthy in their own right.

But I hereby accept the honor of the supreme Blogger Schmooze award. To illustrate my supreme blogger schmooziness, I am leaving it up to my (two) readers to choose who they think should be nominated next for the Blogger Schmooze award.

So leave your nominations in the comments. It is okay, indeed encouraged, to nominate yourself.

tagged: Kansas, blog, blogging, blogger, schmooze, award, meme

YouTube Tuesday: Underdogs RULE!

It's finally here. The end of summer.

Because with the beginning of college football on Saturday, summer is officially over for me.

Oh sure, there are those smartypants scientific types who will tell you that the "official" last day of summer is later in September. And yes, at least here in KC we'll still have hotter-than-balls days. There will still be leaves on the trees for several more weeks, and the grass will still be green (or in my case, brown).

But with the first kickoff, summer is over for me, replaced by football season. And what better way to begin football season than this choice video about the greatest turnaround in college football.



tagged: movie, YouTube, video, sports, football, KSU, K-State, KU

Random photo IV: Campanile

I started following Shane's travelogue about his recent European vacation at I, Shane, and it's left me feeling nostalgic for my previous two trips to Italy.

Like Shane I loved Paris and Venice. But unlike Shane, I'd have to say that Florence was my favorite European city. The sheer ratio of art per square foot was amazing. I remain envious of the Florentines who live within the history created by Giotto, Brunelleschi, the Medici and other historical figures who are responsible in large part for the way with think today.

Anyway, it's all left me with a serious jones to return to Tuscany for a few more weeks (don't even get me started on the wine). But, the best I can do now is a mind trip through my photo albums.

Here's a detail of the Campanile of Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo of Florence. The campanile was designed by Giotto in the 1300s and is part of one of the most recognizable architectural compositions in the west.



tagged: Florence, Italy, Europe, campanile, Santa Maria del Fiore, duomo, Renaissance, Brunelleschi, Giotto, Medici, photo, photography

Friday Blogthing: They call me mellow yellow

I'm posting this today, even though I dream of a day when people are judged by the content of their character, not the color of their crayons.

You are Yellow

The clouds part and the smell of daffodils and daisies fill the air when you are around. Your sunny disposition cheers most, and makes others (the jealous and bitter ones) wish you'd never gotten out of bed.

Take this quiz: Which Crayola Box of 8 Color Are You?

Visit Toys For Your Blog.com for more blog quizzes

tagged: Friday, test, color, crayon, Martin Luther King, Jr, meme, blog