Son of a Thomas

Random Stuff about Grade School

2010-12-16T13:18:00.003-05:00

I went to catholic school with the same 60 some odd kids for 8 years. (9 if you went to kindergarten.)

Recently, a former schoolmate mentioned something on Facebook about St. Agnes so I decided to toss out 10 random thoughts.

I didn't spend more that 10 minutes thinking of these thoughts.

Unless you went there this may mean nothing to you. I also may be wrong about some of this. Old age you know.

Feel free to add yours.

1) Kristen played flute, Julio played trumpet and Dawn played guitar. I don't think anyone else really played a musical instrument. Maybe Hugh.

2) Lunch chips were green and milk chips were red.

3) Mr. Miller drank diet soda.

4) At some point in time, Nuria became Lisa and I missed it.

5) Almost everyone teased Mike Martin.

6) Sister John was scary!

7) Jose was the smallest guy in class. Every year.

8) I have never seen anyone with more freckles than James Wonderlich.

9) There was this thing where you could put 3 pieces of chalk in it an draw lines across the blackboard.

10) Nuns kept tissue up their sleeves.

Piece of Crap # What????

2010-10-16T16:58:00.002-04:00

O.K. so I did it again.

I went and made another guitar playing video although this time it's different.
I'll get to that but first, let's get some of necessaries out of the way.

I started recording myself because I was bored with the way I played and wanted to change and add to my technique. My playing may seem similar to the previous videos but there really has been a difference.

Second, The song is simple because it's best to start simple so I won't really say I wrote it. It's a pretty common riff.

Third, I played all the parts. No! Seriously, I did. When I finally had the realization that the recording software I had, My computer and my ability to "hook shit up" could make a better video I did it.

This should explain the sound quality but I assure you I am playing the drums, bass and guitar.

I did rip off the drum lick though.
It's the drum lick from Van Halen's"Little Guitars" off of their album Diver Down.

Remember when.

2010-10-09T16:21:00.002-04:00

Hey I am sure everybody remembers this;

http://sonofathomas.blogspot.com/2009/02/its-so-dark-in-there.html

or this;

http://sonofathomas.blogspot.com/2009/03/piece-of-crap-no-2.html

Well guess what??????

Another one is coming your way. Only this time crappier and more convoluted than ever!

You're telling me.

2010-09-25T19:57:00.003-04:00

I know.

I haven't posted in a while.

But you haven't been reading either let's be fair.

Anyway, I will have some cool post soon so stay tuned.

In the meanwhile, Here is a picture of my oldest making one of his six tackles of the day, helping to take the Coatesville Kid Raiders to their 4-0 record.

Enjoy!

Dog Days!

2010-07-26T20:35:00.002-04:00

Not every dog is for everybody and not every breed is for everybody. Each breed has it's own particular temperament and within that, each dog it's own quirks. With that said; allow me to introduce Mr. Barkley. I can't tell you what he weighs but what ever it is it's solid.

Barkley is up for adoption (my wife runs a rescue) and we found out about a month ago Barkley LOVES water. Particularly the swimming pool. Unfortunately, the pool has a vinyl liner and one tear was enough to decide Barkley can no longer go in the pool.

But not to worry. My wife has a pool in the dog yard and it's now up and running.

Enjoy.

I hope whomever adopts him loves water too.

Like funny Ha! Ha!

2010-07-21T18:50:00.002-04:00

A mother is bathing her 4 year old son.

Boy: "Mommy?"

Mother: "Yes."

Boy: (Grabbing his junk) "Is this my brain?"

Mother: "Not Yet."

Now I am fully confused.

2010-07-21T09:36:00.007-04:00

So how's the job hunt going? Bizarre. Completely bizarre. I would have never expected job hunting to be so tough and frustrating but it is and now it's just plain weird.

You want an example.........here ya go. One month ago I found a job posting about a broadcasting job in Virgina.

The job announcement headline stated "Seeking Host with News & Sports Experience for Mornings"

and I thought to my self this seems interesting read on.

The body of the of the announcement states " Our idea candidate is experienced at delivering news, information and local content."

And now I say to myself "I have done exactly that, this may be the job for me."

Further more, the announcement stated "Individuals with News/Talk experience strongly encouraged to apply. EOE"

Holy Crap that's me, that's exactly me. So I went about sending my resume, cover letter, picture (don't ask, but many broadcast employers want a photo) and necessary links to my web pages etc.

About a week goes by and I hear nothing but the job is posted again. I reapply.

2 more weeks go by and I hear nothing and the job is posted again and this time I'm like WTF.

Now in situations like this, the majority of broadcasters wanted ads clearly state "DO NOT CALL". This particular ad did not state that directive but I wondered if I should be so bold.

I decided against it but did the next best thing. I emailed the party who was in charge of hiring. We will call her "Lady DI." In my e-mail I let her know that I was curious about the status of my resume and what may or may not have sparked her interest.

I left her with my contact info once again.

She called me a half an hour later. This is a brief part of our conversation.

Lady Di: Your resume said you wrote and announced news by conducting interviews, gathering police reports, press releases, the Associated press wire and breaking news coverage.

Me: That is correct.

Lady Di: Well that seems pretty small market.

Me: How do you expect the news to be gathered?

Lady Di: Well, The AP wire and we have several LARGE news papers in this area.

Me: So you want me to report other peoples news?

The conversation gets better.

Lady Di: You sent me a link to you web site where you had done a bunch of interviews. That did nothing for me.

Me: Your ad said you wanted someone with talk show experience. The web site is a sample of my talk show.

Lady Di: We won't be doing interviews.

Me: I also sent you a link to my opinion and caller interactive material.

Lady Di: I don't plan on having a lot of that on this show.

Me: Then I don't believe I understood your ad. You requested someone with news and talk experience but you won't be using any of those talents in your morning show?

Lady Di: No. I am kinda creating this position and I need someone who can flow seamlessly from music to news.

Me: Be honest, did you just think my stuff sucked and you want to let me down easy?

Lady Di: No you are very good I just don't think you fit what I am looking for.

Me: So 15 years News and Talk experience doesn't fit what you are looking for. I will have to re-read your ad.

And there you have it. I wish I could say I embellished the story or wrote it in a way to make my self seem like the wiser yet victimised character in this little life play but after 15 years of News/Talk, I am pretty good a remembering conversations and their content.

I guess Virginia will never know.

Oh No !!!

2010-07-06T19:43:00.001-04:00

I think my blog died.

Introducing.................

2010-06-29T18:56:00.002-04:00

Samantha Mohr

She is a Meteorologist on The Weather Channel.

The other day I was watching for storms in my area when Sam (I call her Sam) appeared doing the "describe the weather while standing in front of the satellite picture" deal as she is doing in the above picture.

The difference between the above picture and the other day is she was wearing this orange blouse thingy which was open to her belly button and when she turned to the side...............you guessed it. Total side boob action. The most I have ever seen on T.V. and that includes the corpses on Law and Order and CSI.

Now the thing I really found funny about the whole event (besides the amount of boob which was showing) was that I needed to share the experience, so I called my buddy Johnny B. He didn't answer so I called my buddy Drewcifer. No answer so I start thinking to myself "Who else would get a kick out of this?" So who was the next call to. Dr Zibbs of "That Blue Yak."

Now the Dr. was able to answer his phone but he was not around a television. Too bad but I was glad to share the experience with someone. He advised me to take a picture but I was unable to do so.

The weird thing was, even though I didn't have time to watch her stand in front of the satellite again, when they came back from commercial and she was at the desk, her blouse was still wide open. Nobody bothered to say " Hey, boob showing."

Or maybe they didn't want to.

Ya'll Remember ????????

2010-06-24T13:26:00.005-04:00

The fat guy who took his family to the beach last year. He looked like this:After seeing these pictures I had promised myself that I would do something about it. Not that I worked too hard but I remained consistant.

So my son snapped photos this morning and this is where I am.

I'm not quite where I want to be but that is because I have not changed my diet But I have put on 10 lbs. of muscle so I am a happy 210.

I am shooting for 220 by September before I start to lean out.

2010-06-23T16:36:00.001-04:00

This is Prince Albert II of Monacco.

Happy to live a life out of the can.

You write the caption.

2010-06-17T13:52:00.002-04:00

I don't have the heart.

And the winner is...........

2010-05-26T15:41:00.003-04:00

This guy!Remember my last post where I was all pissed off about not getting yet another job. Well this is the guy who got it.

Now I wish him the best of luck and have nothing against him but I will say look at this:

http://www.knewsradio.com/podcast

If you look at the right hand side it says:

"COMING SOON
Podcasts of the new afternoon show on KNews Radio beginning May 3, 2010."

Which is great but they are not yet available.

This may be a little nit-picking but that wouldn't happen on my watch. I was (am) an anal-retentive when it comes to work.

But hey...I'm sure everything else is just right.

2010-04-10T10:20:00.002-04:00

I am so fucking pissed off right now that I am surprised that I haven't started breaking shit. Throwing and breaking shit is definitely not my normal m.o. but my frustration level has reached such a point that I wouldn't put it passed me.

So I applied for yet another job. I was selected as one of the 15 candidates to be interviewed. This was out of 100 applicants. I believe the interview went well. I answered all of the questions honestly and openly. Why wouldn't I? I have nothing to hide and I want you to know and understand who you will be working with.

So the selection process was made and the field was narrowed. Did I make the cut? NO! Why? I want too much money.

Now considering that this is not the first time I have hear this, you would think that I would be smart enough to lower my price. I would if I could afford to but considering that I live at the bare minimum now, I don't know how much lower I can get.

I am not the money motivated type. It's never been that important to me. I only worry about having enough to support my family. Most of my things are held together by spit and wire. I get furniture off of craigslist and have been able to learn many things so I have the ability to do them myself. So I find it incredible that the amount of money I need has become the issue.

Now in the several interviews and applications I have had, the discussions always talk about how my job is not a "9 to 5" position or how "being available" is of primary importance. How having a "flexible schedule" is a job requirement. I understand these things and my family understands them because we have lived them for the last 15 years. I have missed birthdays, anniversary's, weddings, plays, sporting events and holiday gatherings because this is the life we have chosen. What I don't understand is how they expect to pay part-time wages for a more than full time job.

I saw some fucking congressman on CNN the other day saying Americans who aren't working just don't want to work. I wish I could punch him in the fucking head. I don't have a 2000 square foot house. I don't have a car younger than 10 years old. I don't have credit card debt. I didn't buy my house with less than 10 percent down. So how many fucking jobs do I have to have to keep from living on the fucking street? How many fucking times do I have to go back to school to get a job that barely pays off the student loan?

Fuck piss shit fuck motherfucker bitch fuck.

Just so you know.

2010-03-10T13:56:00.003-05:00

(CBS News)

Actor Corey Haim Dies at 38
Drug Overdose Eyed as Possible Cause of Death; Actor Reportedly Taking Medication to Battle Flu-Like Symptoms

The 38-year-old Canadian-born actor, who broke into films as a child, died in Los AngelesFormer teen idol Corey Haim, best known for his role in the 1987 hit "The Lost Boys," has died after a well-documented battle with drug addiction and a string of B-movie roles aimed at returning to the spotlight. He was 38.

The Toronto-born actor died at a Burbank hospital early Wednesday morning, said Lt. Cheryl MacWillie of the Los Angeles County coroner.

Shouldn't BOTH of the "Corys" Have died?

Now I DO want to hit someone!

2010-02-23T14:23:00.002-05:00

Today CBS News reported that the "Leaders" in Washington D.C. have been working on a jobs bill. Good deal right? I'm unemployed. I want to work. So let's hear from the Senate.

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested Monday -- it could bring down the rate of domestic violence. "I met with some people while I was home dealing with domestic abuse. It has gotten out of hand," Reid said on the Senate floor, the Hill newspaper reports.

"Why? Men don't have jobs." Even though women are losing jobs as well, "women aren't abusive, most of the time," Reid said. "Men, when they're out of work, tend to become abusive."

"It (domestic abuse) has gotten out of hand." Is the senator suggesting that there was a sufficient amount of spousal abuse before the economic down-turn and with Americans returning to work we can go back to a much more agreeable amount of spousal abuse?

Although there is a connection, are there degrees? I need a flow chart.

Unemployed = Wife beater

Under employed = Verbal abuser and kicks dog.

Employed but not in your field = Punches walls, drinks to excess.

Decent Job = Decent to spouse but masturbates to hot chicks on Univision.

Good Job = Happy, happy, happy. Fights with umps at kids sporting events.

Great Job = Excellent person. Non-violent. Get mistress so you don't accidentally bang your wife.

There you go. I feel better. I'm going to look for a job now.

This probably isn't funny.

2010-02-22T15:35:00.004-05:00

I probably shouldn't joke about this but Viagra could make a mint off this story:

Andrew Koenig Reported Missing
Actor Andrew Koenig, who starred on Growing Pains back in the day, has been reported missing, the Vancouver Police say. He has not been seen in a week.
Koenig, who played Mike Seaver's (Kirk Cameron) pal Boner, was supposed to be on a flight back to the United States on February 16, but did not check in.
He was reportedly last seen a week ago. His parents have described their son as "suffering from depression" and "not doing good" in the last few weeks.
Judy and Walter Koenig (who played Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek series) say they last heard from Andrew February 9. They also say his cell phone is off.

All Viagra has to do is hire about 100 detectives, find him and then run an ad campaign saying "Lost your Boner....Viagra can help."

On a side note, his dad was Chevkov from Star Trek. Great acting runs in the family.

If this don't do it........

2009-11-24T20:07:00.002-05:00

So I was interviewed by All Access.com about being unemployed. In the radio profession they call it "on the beach."

It's weird, but a lot of people seem to be very interested in what it's like to be out of a job.

You can find the interview here.

I think I do a better interview that being interviewed.

I just hope it gets me a job.

I want to thank the Academy

2009-11-24T18:50:00.004-05:00

Wow!!!!!!!!

I never expected this.

To be nominated for Funniest Commenter at Candy's Daily Dandy was an honor enough. But to actually WIN!

Well I can only say I am shocked and it will probably take a couple of days for it to really sink in.

When I comment, I never really think funny or not funny. I just write whatever comes to mind so to be at the top of this elite class......really I'm honored and remain in awe.

If you are sensitive don't look.

2009-11-11T21:13:00.003-05:00

If you haven't seen it yet then here it is.

Before chimp attack:

And after chimp attack: ( Once again I am warning you.)

I'm done.

2009-11-02T22:45:00.004-05:00

If you have a limp penis then take _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

(Side effects: May cause limp penis)

If you have a heart murmur then take _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

(Side effects : May cause heart Murmurs)

If you suffer from depression then try _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

(Side effects: May cause depression)

I am getting away from the T.V. and crawling into a book.

Morons.

Hey...I'm famous. Wait...No I'm not.

2009-10-29T21:37:00.004-04:00

So I just did an interview for an online broadcast magazine All Access.

It was a 20 questions sort of thing. They will use 10 of them. I hope I don't come across like an idiot. I mean I am an idiot but I don't want the industry to know.

They say it will be published around Turkey-Bird Day.

I just hope it gets me a job.

What???? Why????

2009-10-26T21:58:00.002-04:00

So I am reading the news tonight at CBS.com and this is the headline that grabs my eye:

DENVER, Oct. 26, 2009
Blind Man Adopts Son He'd Been Looking For
Blind Boy Spent 5 Isolated Years in Indian Orphanage Before Denver Couple Gave Him a Home

I guess they did their job because I noticed the headline but come on. Was this really necessary.

I didn't read the rest of the story out of spite.

It's not that I'm avoiding you.....

2009-10-20T16:36:00.002-04:00

So I haven't blogged since my birthday......big deal.

Some would say "You're unemployed so you must have time." But that, my dear and hopefully nude reader, is not the case.

Rummaging through garbage cans for scraps, collecting cans and bottles for the deposits and getting the kids to do the "please sir, can I have some more" face for loose fries at Micky D's take up a lot of my time.

Otherwise I have been watching a lot of documentaries thanks to Some Guy's Blog. The latest was on Monty Python. Great.

Since I made fun of Some Guy's Blog and his personal demon's ("Don't mind if I do.") I have resumed working out after a ten year week off. If you read the previous post you can see the before pictures I have let myself go. Maybe I will show you the after pictures sometime around Christmas but only if you ask real nice.

I have turned down a couple of positions in radio. (That is what I used to do) I know beggars can't be choosers but the offers weren't right for the family. This doesn't mean that your friend, brother, neighbor, cousin, acquaintance in radio, public relations communications, shouldn't contact me.

I am open to all offers. (Hint hint CBS)

Not the last Vacation post ????

2009-09-08T21:07:00.018-04:00

So guess what????? I went on vacation.

My kin folk and I went here.

This is Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes Delaware.

It also looked like this.
Camping so close to the beach that you could hear the waves at night.

They has some cool stuff.

During WW2 the beach was used to watch the sea in case the Germans snuck up on us. They used these:

There are 11 of them but you can only go inside of 1.

Now the reason we went here was because this person

Master Elias celebrated his 4th birthday and he wanted to go camping and the beach. So things unfolded like this:

Camp

Beach:

Camp:

Beach:

The beach was really beautiful and was never really crowded.

It is located at the mouth of the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic so there was some cool landscape and water features.

They are even pet friendly:

So a good time was had by all although I can now proudly announce that at 40 yrs old today, I am officially a load.
Training starts tomorrow.

P.S.

Here is my wife in a bikini.

How I spent My Summer Vacation: Addendum

2009-08-18T15:05:00.003-04:00

Real quick.

A request.

Por Vous.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation Final

2009-08-17T20:27:00.003-04:00

I am a fan of the summer time including the heat. So far the summer had been a pretty big disappointment weather wise.

This week, Mother Nature did not disappoint.

Surprised????

2009-08-07T18:37:00.003-04:00

You can't make this up.

Cocaine Tied To TV Pitchman's Death
TV Personality Billy Mays Died of Heart Attack in Sleep; Autopsy Shows Mays Used Cocaine Before Death

(AP) An autopsy shows that cocaine use contributed to the heart disease that suddenly killed boisterous TV pitchman Billy Mays in June, officials announced Friday.

The 50-year-old bearded TV personality died of a heart attack in his sleep after going to bed at his Tampa condo the night of June 27.

His wife found him unresponsive the next morning.

The Hillsborough County medical examiner's office Friday said Mays had last used cocaine days before his death.

The report said that although Mays died from heart disease, cocaine use was a contributing cause of death.

How I spent my summer vacation Part 2

2009-08-07T14:33:00.008-04:00

So we went and visited the Amish at Dutch Wonderland.

These aren't the REAL Amish although they pretty much act the same way when they get mesmerized by bright lights, buzzing motors and colorful clothing.

The Amish are into large pretzels like this,

It's rumored that on the weekends and the entire community gets together and constructs them.

Here is a little video of the day. I wish it was better but it's not.

How I spent my summer vacation

2009-08-06T21:41:00.003-04:00

I was running out of battery.

The kids decided that the 2 minutes of battery I had left was best spent filling pool toys with air.

The dogs wouldn't shut up.

Enjoy.

Holy Crap

2009-08-02T15:08:00.003-04:00

Why would anyone think this is good or helpful.

Click here to watch!

This is not a good time.

2009-07-30T11:21:00.003-04:00

So it's around midnight and I am sitting on that ledge between awake and sleep. I am happily leaning towards the edge, arms stretched, ready to take that plunge that will rejuvenate me for a new day when my wife shouts, "There is a bat in our room!!!!"

I shake myself into wakefulness as my wife dives deeper under the covers and sure enough, there is a rather large Brown bat doing circle dives around our room.

Now it's O.K. for my wife to build a barricade of blankets and pillows to protect herself from this night intruder but for me, I have to face this creature head on.

This action, in most households, would be a pretty simple task, but at the SOAT house, no killing is allowed so the winged rodent must be captured or forced out.

Due to these circumstances, I have become afraid of bats.

Sure they are fine as they swoop the pool light in search of their nightly morsel. Yes they are o.k. as they chirp from the trees waiting for the sun to move westward allowing them to once again partake in their nocturnal dinner date.

But when I cannot take my old nylon string guitar and do my best "EL Kabong" impersonation, I am a little lost.

Now this is the 3rd bat we have had (first of the season) in out home. Without the ability to just smack them down and shovel them out, I have grown unaccustomed to their hissing and swooping.

It took about 3 hours to get this guy cornered, caught in a towel and thrown from the premises.

Of course, my children slept thru the entire thing. Screams and all.

My new word

2009-07-28T21:22:00.005-04:00

Nigalicious.

It's when I look or feel too good to be true.

I don't know if I am going to stick with that spelling.

Any suggestions?

(IknowtheNwordisabadwordthatwecan'tuseanymorebutIdon'tgiveash**IamgoingtouseitwhenIwantandIsuggestyoudothesamewiththiswordoranyotherofyourchoosing.)

Been a long time

2009-07-10T14:44:00.002-04:00

Alright.

I'll say it.

I've been busy.

You will hear all about it soon.

Meanwhile, enjoy this Michael Jackson tribute.

I know you may be sick of them.

But this one is fitting.

Tribute.

Urkel

2009-06-23T22:03:00.002-04:00

O.K. Time to blow my own horn.

I was never picked last for a team.
I always had a date to the dance.
I always asked the "big" guy to leave the "little" guy alone and it happened.
I have always been asked "How'd you do that!"

and so on.....

I'm not bragging I am just stating my life to this point.

So........................................

Why is it that I currently have some ability to re-enter my Blog Life ( I may get that tattooed across my belly) you know, write some/read some and someone who was kind enough to follow this little ole blog hasn't invited me to hers yet.

Namely The Dizzy Life of me.

That's correct.

Click it.

Click the link.

That's what I get.

Wha'd up with that? (I don't know if that's how you spell it because I am horrible at Urban.)

Mc the Man part 2

2009-06-23T16:33:00.003-04:00

This is the second part of the McMahon interview. Enjoy.

Mc the Man part 1

2009-06-23T14:30:00.006-04:00

This is part one of the interview because at 11 minutes long, it wouldn't load.

It was my pleasure to interview Ed McMahon last year about one month before his monetary issues really became public.

He had just released his book "When T.V. was Young."

Here is the story:

I called his publicist and we scheduled the interview for 3 weeks from our conversation.

When the day came I called the phone number and it turns out to be his home phone. Yes, I have Ed's home number. ( I also have Clive Barker's, Richard Kiel's and Robbie Benson's)

Low and behold, his "House Boy" answers and tells me the interview is not for this day but another and the McMahon's were getting ready to entertain for dinner. I disagree and asked him to check and see if Mr. McMahon could do the interview. Sure enough, Ed was available.

Hosting with me is 1520 WCHE morning host J.T. Morgan. He is a huge fan of Carson.

J.T. and I talked to Ed about his early career, the start of t.v. in Philly and what it means to be an Icon.

Ed Dead

2009-06-23T11:10:00.004-04:00

So Ed is dead. That's sad because, like him or not, he was an Icon. I had the opportunity to interview Ed last year. If I get a chance today I will post it.

It was Father's Day

2009-06-22T09:37:00.003-04:00

And I qualify.

I don't have any good pictures of my 3 currently but here is a video of my middle child and me talking nonsense.

It's Alive!!!!

2009-06-16T18:27:00.007-04:00

Well....not yet but it is back together.

This is my 1975 Honda cb750 K-5 although it also has parts from a Super Sport and a Honda 500.

I did a minor rebuild on the engine and painted it myself. You can't tell from the pictures but the paint is not that great. But for a first time it is a great way to learn.

Now I just have to adjust the carbs and set the timing and Va-Rooooom. I'll be speeding to an unemployment office near you.

Where are I ?

2009-06-08T08:50:00.019-04:00

I've been doing stuff I enjoy but it will probably bore you to death.

First, my wife runs an animal rescue and so my back yard looked like this;

After some muscle and sweat, it now looks like this;

I have also constructed a new fence around another part of the yard so the dogs have a new home;

Besides fence construction, I have also built a monument to my unemployment;

Now, many of my flowers are in and with the amount of rain we have received in Pa. things are looking good.

And finally, the fruit and veggies are coming in.

Peaches

Pears

Cherries

Apples

and of course the veggie garden

Finally, I had built a pond in the early spring and now it has some inhabitants.

So that's it. maybe something more interesting will be happening soon.

None

2009-06-05T09:42:00.001-04:00

That is all.

Piece of crap No. 2

2009-03-18T20:38:00.006-04:00

So I previously posted a video of myself playing my guitar and I am going to do it again.

Why. I guess I like torture but it is an easy way to see how I progress.

Last time I wrote of how I was trying to change my style of playing, so after a couple weeks of practice I will admit, I am like a baseball player trying to learn a new swing or a hockey forward trying to learn a new shot, it's uncomfortable but I'll see if I can push thru it. According to those in the know, I will improve.

This time I tried to do a variation on a theme. In other words, come up with a melody to fit the music, expand on that melody, stay in theme. I tried to do something a little more progressive than bluesy and failed an all counts.

For what it's worth, I am going to keep with the training. I figure I should give it an honest 6 months.

This time the light is better and for those who may care, the guitar is a 91 Fender American fitted wit a 59 reissue at the neck and a Jeff Beck stacked at the bridge. Unfortunately the amp is a piece of junk Peavy Trans-Tube so you cant really hear it.

No effects were used besides the gain on the amp.

Here I am.

2009-03-18T19:50:00.006-04:00

Some or you may have noted that I haven't written a new blog entry in some time. Well I'm back but it is with a grim posting. The tale I am about to tell is not for the weak of heart, but the evidence I present will help this tale come to light.

Let me start from the beginning.

As many of you know, I live next door to the city of Coatesville where things are flame broiled never fried.

Although the rash of arsons have stopped (more or less) tragedy still looms large in our area.

I guess you never really realize it until it happens to you.

I awoke Monday morning of this week to find this in my side yard:

Looks a little like a garden doesn't it.

Let's look at it from another angle.

Without a doubt. A garden.

Now who would perpetrate a garden on an unsuspecting family. After some soul searching I remembered this post done by another blogger let's just call him TBY.

Done reading? Good! Now if you are asking yourself "Just how can I be so sure that TBY would start a Garden of Hope West in your yard?" Let me tell you ladies and gentleman, the evidence is overwhelming.

As you can clearly see, the beast has left his mark.

I end in tears but with the will to fight on.

Dr. Zibbs, If you think even one bum YES one bum will feast on the natural goodness of this garden...........then think again.

Tiki God gives good luck to all who worship!

2009-03-11T21:06:00.005-04:00

Check out this bad boy. I found him in a dry river bed in Afton NY. Me and my oldest strolling along and there he was staring at me. I wish my camera wasn't so crappy. You would then be able to see the contrast in the stone.

Anyway.......

Still unemployed so I decided it was time to open the pond I built last year.

After pulling some leaves and adding fresh water ta-da.

A job well done. Stay tuned, I may have something interesting to say tomorrow.

Just because

2009-03-09T20:50:00.003-04:00

I wanted to post a picture of my 2 youngest.They may never understand how their laughter, play fullness and pure joy get me thru.

They have blessed me.

Welcome to garden club.

2009-03-09T20:02:00.015-04:00

So I haven't blogged much lately because we have had temperatures in the upper 60's and I have to get outdoors.

In a previous post we talked about my daffodils coming up early. Well here they are now.

I also moved 9 rose bushes. Long story short, my wife runs a dog rescue; Helping The Helpless, and because I am giving up another portion of my back yard, I had to move them. I hope at least 7 survive.

These are some of them since they have been clipped.

For those of you who are rose gardeners, it is a popular belief that roses get pruned in the fall before they go dormant. I do not adhere to that belief. Since rose are non-fruit bearing and pruning promotes growth, I find it best to leave the roses at length in the fall and prune in the spring. I have only been using this method for 4 years but it has not failed to reward me yet.

*Note: I pruned these roses earlier than I usually would due to the warm weather to help promote root growth. I wouldn't recommend pruning to much before Mother's Day.

Besides the flowers, My youngest son/middle child Elias

and I started our garden

I let him pick all the seeds so this year we will have Tomatoes, Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, Zucchini, Broccoli, Yellow and Red peppers and Water melon. My surprise for them is that I planted pumpkins again for fall carving.

Besides all that, my neighbor Jon was throwing away his boy's Power Wheels toys. He said they may not work and he was correct. But with a brand new 12 gauge wiring harness and a couple of 12 volt car batteries, my kids will soon have the quickest Ford F-150 and Barbie Jeep around. And they make a nice addition to the playground.

Complete side note, Diane I can no longer go to Cooking Blind........anybody else having an issue??????

Now....Here's the news.

2009-03-06T07:55:00.006-05:00

According to CBS.com

The world's heaviest man still can't walk, but he will soon be able to roll.

Manuel Uribe said Thursday he is having a 1989 Chevrolet Astrovan outfitted to support his record-breaking weight, giving him mobility after more than six years of being confined to his bed.

Uribe earned the Guinness World Record as the world's heaviest man in 2006, when he tipped the scales at 1,230 pounds. He claims to have since shed more than 500 pounds after making a public call for help. Uribe, known as Meme to his friends, even has a name for his new ride. "My friends call it the Meme-Mobile, just like the Batmobile," he said.

The minivan is being converted into an open-air, flatbed pickup of sorts. Manuel says he will put a bed on the back of the van to drive around town, with his new wife at the wheel. When at home, he will hang out in a remodeled garage that will include a forklift to help raise his regular bed up to the level of his car bed, allowing him to switch locations from time to time.

Uribe said that, with the new car, he plans to start up an auto parts business. And Uribe's wife, Claudia Solis, said the two are even thinking about making a trip to the beach in May.

Uribe married Solis in October, and the wedding was one of the few times he has left his home in recent years.

With all that said, lets compare and contrast:

Son of a Thomas

215 LBS

Vehicle 1987

Guinness Drinker

Unemployed

Shed and tractor with 2 flat tires

Google results = 0

Manuel Urbie

1230Lbs

Vehicle 1989

Guinness record holder

Starting auto parts business

Garage with working forklift

Google results = 739,000

Is it just me or.....

2009-03-04T12:41:00.004-05:00

You may not be familiar with this man,but this is mayor Michael Nutter mayor of Philadelphia.

Doesn't he look a lot like this man.

Yes, Squidward Tentacles.

O.K I'm Stupid.

2009-03-02T14:08:00.009-05:00

So we get about 7 inches of snow around here and I am out shoveling when my mail man arrives.

We exchange pleasantries and before he leaves he says "Anything going out today?" I respond in the negative and that's when I realize that I have not yet sent out the prizes to the first 5 subscribers to my blog.

I promise to do it this week.

In other randomness, here is my dog Montana.

Yes he is an American Staffordshire Terrier with a hint of Bulldog. He is obedient but not very well mannered. It's like living with a frat boy.

He is 85lbs and a little over 1 year old. The person he listens to most is my 2 year old daughter. Go figure.

Miss Orie.... A Fictional Love Story

2009-03-01T15:08:00.013-05:00

I would love to say I knew then what I know now, but that would be a lie. Sure she was young when I met her,

but soon we had to part.

I moved away from the old neighborhood.

It wasn't until years later that I would see he again. It was at a college party.

She hadn't changed a bit. She remembered me and we picked up where we left off. We said our hellos and later, our good-byes. I knew I had to see her again. So I called her.

I told her I wanted.....no needed to see her again. She seemed o.k. with the idea.

So a date it was. One turned to 2, 2 into 4, and before we knew it, we were in love.

Things were great for a long time. But then she became distant.

She lost interest in where our lives were going.

She became a different person.

We stopped talking and began to argue all the time.

Finally, she packed her things.

She said the pain was too much.

I said I still loved her and she reached for me.

But no matter how much we still cared or felt, I knew her career would always come first.
The End.

It's so dark in there.

2009-02-27T16:19:00.004-05:00

Let's start with the excuses.

There are certain things that I do that I take a particular pride in the amount of time spent organizing and executing. This is not one of them.

Before I tell you my tale and show you my video I will say, the light was bad, the sound was adjusted incorrectly and I did not try to make this look or sound pro in anyway. The back ground music is over modulated and the mix is horrible.

Now......

You may have noticed that I talk about being unemployed a lot. Well If you have never been unemployed and a closet type "A" personalty like myself, then you would not understand what it is like when, since the age of 17 you have worked 14 hours a day, a minimum of 13 days every 2 weeks and at the age of 39 find yourself with no job and a lot of extra time. Eventually, you run out of things to do. (I was walking thru the house tightening up all of the knobs today. Dressers, doors, cabinets, sinks you name it...it's tight.)

Anyway, my wife found out, after 8 years of knowing me, that I play guitar. She is encouraging me to pass the time by playing again. I have decided to take her up on it.

Now here comes the somewhat interesting part. I have mostly played the blues or things that stem heavily from the blues IE; Zeppelin, The Who, Sabbath, Clapton, Jeff Beck etc. I have decided that since I am going to play again, I am going to change my style and learn to shred or play things more in the vein of Steve Via, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen. You may not like there music but like it or not, these guys can play.

So what I put forward today is an example of how I play currently.

I am setting a goal of one year for my ability to shred decently to start to emerge.

Once again, I know the video is crappy.

Enjoy.

Is it spring ????

2009-02-26T14:08:00.004-05:00

Here is what's going on on the East side of my house.

Tulips and Crocus are pushing up like it's April.

Now I already know that besides the heat given off by the house and the reflective heat, the east side of my house gets sun all day.

My question; do I try and cover these guys again or do I just let them go? I get a ton of them when they come up and they are great at coloring the yard until my roses get blooming.

Day Dreaming

2009-02-24T20:13:00.005-05:00

Like many here in the great Northeast I am done with winter. Groundhog or no groundhog I have had all the cold, wet and grey I can take.

Then, while working at the computer, a friend e-mails me about a job opening. (For those of you who don't know I have been unemployed since October 1st.)

I was once in radio and have been looking to continue on that front. There have been some opportunities but I no longer get that excited about possibilities because the economy is in the crapper, the radio business is in the crapper and there are a whole lotta radio people looking for fewer and fewer jobs.

Well the job opening turns out to be in the Florida Keys. Yes the Keys! Now I'm excited. Will I get it? Dunno. Do I want it? Yeah. I don't really want to move but if I have to then that's the place for me.

I spoke with the wife and she said go for it.

Now I'm keeping it positive but there are a hell of a lot of radio folks out of work in Florida so I'm not holding my breath. But still.

And for Dr. Zibbs. They even do a swap shop.

It's Alive!!!!!

2009-02-23T13:37:00.004-05:00

Thank you for you concern and yes I am alive. After a bout with the stomach flu (or whatever it was) I helped in the battle with my wife's flu, then my oldest, then the next, then the next. It's was more vomit and poo than anyone needs.

Soon after, my brother came up from Texas, my cousin from N.C. and a few of the family from Germany for my Aunt's wedding. Good times had by all. So I have been in between my home and Philly for 5 or 6 days with rehearsals, party's and playing tour guide.

Here is a picture of me and the guys hanging at my aunt's before we ventured into the nightlife:

I am the second from the left.

So that's about it. Thanks for checking in and I will soon be reading and commenting on your blog soon.

Ugggggg!!!!

2009-02-13T13:16:00.004-05:00

My belly hurts. My belly really hurts. It's like a big knot that someone keeps pulling tighter and tighter. My head hurt yesterday. It stopped today. I used to never get sick. Now I do. I am going back to bed. My belly really hurts. I am going to crawl back into the fecal position. That's right fecal. I feel like S***!

What do ya do?

2009-02-10T14:56:00.002-05:00

When you still can't find a job and are getting bored out of your mind??????

Number 1: Thank Some Guy's Blog for a great movie to watch.

Number 2: Make your own video.

* warning; some people may be offended by the lyrics, the music, the use of Eddie Cochran and Snoop Dogg or this particular use of my daughters dolly.

I'm sorry to say.....

2009-02-06T08:56:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately I am sad to announce that today's contest has been postponed due to a lack of participation. Although there were 3 lovely, talented and sexy beyond your wildest dreams, contestants entered. 3 was not enough for the contest. We will attempt to run this contest again in the near future.

Maybe with prizes.

Random Todayness

2009-02-04T11:51:00.007-05:00

So today is my wife's first real day out and back on her feet since she had surgery. Sure it's just a doctors appointment but it's good to see her up and around again and after about 3 months of bed rest she is happy too!

She hates this picture I took today but I don't care.

Schools were closed today and all we have to show for it was 1 inch of snow. My 7 and 2 year olds were happy about it.

My youngest boy decided it was too cold to be outside. He gets that from mommy.

That's it soon it will be nap time.

Here is an idea.

2009-02-03T20:33:00.003-05:00

This is probably dumb and has probably been done before but.......

1) Go to a blog that follows you.

2) Then go to a blog that follows them and doesn't follow you. ( I know that's hard for you Dr. Zibbs because EVERYBODY follows you.)

3) Go to a blog that step # 2 follows. (And once again doesn't follow you.)

4) Read blog entree and write small blog about it. ( Nothing negative there is already enough of that in the world.)

5)Leave comment saying you are in a race and need them to comment on you blog about the post you wrote about their blog.

6) First one with a response wins. What? I dunno!

I say we start at noon on Friday.

You can let me know if this is just dumb or too much like homework. I'll take my meds now.

Ohh I know. The losers have to all write a glowing entree about the winners blog.

Are we scared yet?

2009-02-03T19:36:00.005-05:00

Hi ya'll I'm from Coatesville Pa. To be more precise, I live about 5 minutes from Coatesville Pa. Where and what is Coateville Pa. Well you must not be keeping up with the news lately. Here is the latest.

Lights distributed to deter arsonists in Coatesville, Pa.
by Associated Press
Tuesday February 03, 2009, 5:28 PM

A Philadelphia suburb plagued by arsons is giving away free motion-activated lights in an effort to thwart the fire-setting.
Firefighters in Coatesville have battled 15 arsons so far in 2009, including one that gutted 15 townhouses and left more than 50 people homeless.
In response, City Hall gave special lights to about 200 residents Monday, and plan to distrubte another 800 on Thursday morning, Coatesville spokeswoman Kristin Geiger said.
Authorities in Coatesville have warned residents they must clear porches of flammable materials. A trash task force is slated to help residents clean up on Wednesday.
The city has also banned parking on more than a dozen streets to improve emergency access.

That's right 15. That doesn't include the fires now being set in neighboring communities like mine.

Now my house is mostly stone but I have taken in and down everything that I can that is flammable.

Other than that, it's a great place to live.

Congrats

2009-02-01T09:20:00.004-05:00

Let's start the new month with (as the kids would say) some shout outs!!!

Congratulations to the smart, funny, sexy, capable, loyal, genuine, imaginative, and adventurous Gwen at Everything I like Causes Cancer.

Congratulazioni to the great at picking up chicks (when he was single), really honest, creative, great multi-tasker Dr. Zibbs at That Blue Yak.

Gratulacje to the in love with her husband, knows how to pole dance, not ready for kids Tova Darling at Secret Life of Tova Darling.

Gratulationer to the lawyer who works too much but not enough, lets me be the judge of that, mad skills at picking football games LegalMist at LegalMist.

поздравления to the Wealth of Knowledge and Experience, obviously obsessed with this cloche thing, 30 year old photo Diane at cooking blind.

They are the first 5 followers to this here blog and have written their names in history. To them I will soon package and ship prizes and adornments that will shock, amaze and boggle the mind.*

And to those lucky 5 I say Thank you.

*There are no guarantees expressed or intended that you will actually be shocked, amazed or boggled.

It's different.

2009-01-30T20:16:00.003-05:00

I don't wear jewelry except for my wedding ring which I wear on the wrong finger of the wrong hand.

Until now.

Soon I will have a little silver cross that I will wear around my neck.

It looks like this.

Now I know this may not be very exciting but the cross comes from the Batesville Cremation Catalog. I believe they purchase them from the Funeral and Cremation Emporium.

If you are trying to figure out why I am buying something from Batesville then just read this previous post.

These are the features as stated on their web site:

FEATURES:
-Discover an elegant way to hold loved ones close
-Sleek designs offer a form of expression that is both fashionable and loying. (This is not my type-o)
-A fresh twist on traditional style touches the heart and pleases the eye.

I don't know if I am buying their sales pitch at all but before 2 days ago I did not know these things existed and my wife was very shocked that I wanted it after she suggested it.

Here is what I told her, no matter how much we talk, I will never know what she was going thru. Weeks of ultrasounds, and heart beats, growth measurements, and movements. Prenatals, bleeding, cramping. I watched it all. But as close as I was I was still a step away. She doesn't know how amazing she was and is thru the whole situation. Not jus with me but with our kids and with herself.

I want this to remind me of the person I sleep with every night. I want this to remind me of the person I wake up with everyday. I am willing to admit that sometimes I forget how great she is. I hope this helps.

To old for this .

2009-01-29T21:12:00.004-05:00

First I would love to steal the words of the great Dr. Zibbs and congratulate all 3 of you good people who have subscribed to this blog. I hope these words console you in your times of disappointment which will happen because you are now following this blog.

And in conjunction with this congratulatory announcement, I will soon announce that the first 5 subscribers will be receiving a special (and certainly not from the back of my closet) prize.

Now on to bigger and different things.

I just got into a fight.

Well let me re-phrase that.......I just dented the hood of my Jeep with another individual.

I feel weird and can't stop thinking "What the hell, I'm not 17!!!!!!"

So here ya go:

It's a little past 8:30 EST and I'm taking my daily trip to the local mini-mart. I look forward to this trip because being unemployed, it's one of the few reasons I have to get out of the house.

Not many cars were in the parking lot so I got to park relatively close to the door. There is a man standing if front smoking. Not uncommon but less common when there isn't a line of cars in front of the store. When I step out of my Jeep, the man makes a bee line and steps into my path before I am past my front bumper.

(I will admit her that all of my sensors are at full tilt.)

Man: Where you going?

Me: (Dumbest answer I've ever given) Into the store.

Man: You got time to gib (Yes GIB) me a ride somewhere.

Me: Nah man, ain't got no time.

(I usually don't speak in an urban vernacular and when I do it's really, really bad. I start to walk past him on his right but he kind of steps in front of me so we both kinda turn and now I am almost facing the front of my Jeep.)

Whiny pleading Man: Come on Man.

Me : Nah.

So I walk into the store. The guys in there tell me they told him to leave the store because he was acting inappropriate. I asked them why don't they call the police and have him nudged off the property. They all shrugged.

So I make my purchase and head for the Jeep. As I walk out of one of the two glass doors I noticed "Man" was back to his original smoking position. Sensors are still on full but I proceed to my vehicle. Three steps into my walk back to the Jeep I get grabbed on the back of my sweatshirt and It's like I'm being pushed forward. I don't push so easily.

Here is where I skip the bull****.

I don't know what this guys problem was.

I have made assumptions on what new medical issues he may be suffering currently but here is the weird part that makes me kind of uncomfortable.

I get in my car and my cell phone rings. It's my wife. She asks if I can pick up 2 of those strawberry crunch covered ice cream things she likes. I say yeah and get out of my Jeep, walk past the "Man", go back to the store and purchase said ice cream . I come out and he is still in a submissive position. I get in my car and drive away.

I can't quite wrap my head around how I feel right now except "What the Fuck!"

Simple but dumb.

2009-01-28T18:33:00.003-05:00

The Setting:

Three children in living room, T.V. on in the background.

7yr old boy: "Nationwide is on your side, Nationwide is on your side, Nationwide is on your side."

Turns to 3 yr old brother.

7yr old boy: "Nationwide IS on your side."

3yr old boy: "No it's not!"

7yr old boy: "Yes it is!"

3yr old boy: "No it's not!" (Tears forming)

7yr old boy: "Nationwide IS on your side!"

3yr old boy: (Crying) "NO IT'S NOT!!!!"

7yr old boy: "Nationwide is on YOUR SIDE!!!!!"

Sounds of a physical skirmish followed by a siren style cry and hard footsteps across a hardwood floor. 3yr old enters kitchen, arms outstretched, fake tears in eyes.

3yr old boy: "Daddy Nationwide is not on MY side it's on HIS side!!!"

Father accepts boy into open arms.

O.K. I'll say it.

2009-01-28T12:52:00.003-05:00

I have been a little out of the loop so excuse me while I catch up.

We have a new president.

Now the papers and the t.v. may be discussing the ramifications of this, that and the other thing but has anyone brought up the fact that historically, this president may have the largest presidential penis ever.

It's possible that not since the time of Lincoln has America been led by a guy this well hung.

What does this potentially hold for the country's future?

Well I'm no Psychic but let's look at the history:

George Washington: average but apparently had like 30 dicks according to sources.

Abe Lincoln: Stove pipe hat and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. He wasn't the creator of the Mason Dick-son line and the Lincoln log for nothing.

Warren G. Harding: Erectile dysfunction. Irony, even at the highest levels.

FDR: Polio my ass. His shit was so big he had to wheel it around.

JFK: Surprisingly average but the ladies say he was a great orator.

Richard M. Nixon: Was the original "Little Richard"

William Jefferson Clinton: Average but well skilled with toys.

So we will have to see what the future holds for us boys and girls but I'm willing to bet that the next time we hear "OH God" coming from the White House, it will be from Michelle Obama and will have a whole different meaning.

I am back......sort of.

2009-01-27T14:51:00.002-05:00

For those of you who don't know I was once Anonymous or better yet anonymousandloving. I left that blog for this one. That's a whole boring story but I won't bore you with that when I can bore you with this.

I know you are asking yourself (all 2 of you) " Where have you been?" I have debated whether or not I was going to tell this story and decided it may be good for the soul.

At the end of September I lost my job of 14yrs. I didn't see it as too much of a problem until the economy went totally ape shit and now finding a job in my field seems more and more like a long shot. Anyway, if being unemployed wasn't enough, my wife was pregnant with our 4Th child. She was not doing well and bleeding everyday so she had to go on bed rest. So being unemployed turned out to be a positive. I could take care of the house and the 3 others (7,3 and 2 yrs respectively) while she took care of herself. (In a manner of speaking)

Fast forward to January;

Without giving you a bunch of medical stuff, the baby was growing and doing what it was supposed to do but everything else was going wrong so my wife was hospitalized. And then, after a week there was no amnio fluid around the baby. My wife's water didn't break there was just no fluid and after a few days we learned the baby wasn't making more.

Fast forward more;

My wife began to hemorrhage.

23 weeks old, not good. No amnio fluid, not good. Low fluid since week 9, not good.

She was born in January. She couldn't take a breath.

10 stubby fingers. 10 stubby toes. 2 eyes, 2 arm 2 legs.

She was cremated on Monday.

We called her Grace Ann.

No S*** he's the bad guy

2008-12-09T13:10:00.003-05:00

I let my kids watch "The Lion King" at lunch today. I like the movie but I realized something.

Recognise this guy. Yeah it's Scar, The Lion king's brother.

He does all the bad stuff in the Movie. No S***! His freaking name is Scar! Who in the hell names there kid Scar then expects more that a dastardly villain.

Nobody else saw it coming either. Morons.

Christmas is over

2008-12-09T13:01:00.003-05:00

Alright, so much for the "Son of a Thomas" 25 Days of blah, blah, blah. I've got other things to think about. Not right now mind you but other things all the same. There will still be some holiday related posts I'm sure, but 14 some-odd more days of googling candy cane pictures and I am going to throw up.

Later for now. I have (what I hope to be) a million dollar idea brewing that I can't talk about and I really need to work on.

I have been unemployed for a little over 2 months now and so I better come up with something soon.

My wife doesn't think I should tap savings to buy beer. Where in the hell did I find her?

Not so Christmas

2008-12-07T11:58:00.005-05:00

Alright. I know I said I would offer the "Son of a Thomas" 25 days of Christmas Holiday spectacular or something like that but today is December 7Th.

..........Anybody.............Anybody..........Here, this may help.

Today is recognized as Pearl Harbor day. 1941, the Japanese attacked American forces at Oahu. I am not going to give you a history lesson but you are probably aware that most people don't remember or recognize the day. Don't worry, I am not about to give you some "how bad we are" or "how much do I wave the flag" speech I just wonder, will the same fate happen to September 11Th.

On a similar note, if your into history check out EarthStation1.com. There is some great and weird stuff here.

Holiday lights

2008-12-06T18:16:00.004-05:00

As you can see I am not talking about the lights you use to decorate. It was the second snow of the season tonight and it turns out to be what I call "real snow". It's real snow because it sticks to the paved surfaces as well as the yards, rooftops and cars. While tonight's snow is minimal and I guess unexpected (I don't watch the weather) I am sure the line of cars in front of my house comes from one thing. Moron drivers. For some reason people in the North East where I live, will never learn to drive in any weather event. Ever. It is like a brand new experience for them each and every year and "HOLY S***" (WHAM) "How'd that happen?" repeats the cycle.
There must have been and accident on the highway and everyone is being routed past my house. And I bet a bunch of there poor bastards were on their way to the mall to shop.

Oh well. The circle of life continues.

At least they get to see my 8ft Santa.

Here it is

2008-12-05T19:26:00.003-05:00

Here is my rickety old (122 yrs) house with my hillbilly Santa. Since my children wanted it up I decided to make it as obnoxious as possible.

As I mentioned before, I have a snowman:

You can see him in the far left picture.

My children are happy. My mother-in-law said she almost cried.

Jesus.

Subtle

2008-12-04T19:36:00.006-05:00

Ya ever see on of those. I have one. I also have an 8 ft. inflatable snowman and an 8ft inflatable Santa. I grew up in a traditional suburban setting so I was not originally accustomed to such things. My wife the same, traditional suburban setting. So where did the love of gaudy, obnoxious, hillbilly lawn manifestations come from? I believe my wife inherited it from her mother. See she was born in Binghampton N.Y. And although it's not completely backwards, let's just say there are more than a few trailers there for my liking.

My wife and Mother-in-Law wait until the day after Christmas to purchase these beauties then I get the pleasure of putting them up and taking their cold, wet, sloppy asses down only to pray for an entire season that the following year they won't work.

Well this year is different. This year my wife has a condition that is keeping her on bed rest. So all of the holiday decorating is being left to me.

I'm taking it slow. One box a day. If I don't like it. It don't go up. Pretty simple. My oldest has talked me into inflating the snowman so we will see where that takes us.

I'll have some pictures tomorrow.

Short but sweet.

2008-12-03T19:56:00.002-05:00

One of the finest things ever created was 24 hours of "A Christmas Story". During the holidays it works out great because no matter how busy you get you eventually see the whole thing 2 or 3 times.

Gotta go. Still trying to get the lights going down my railing to work properly. Pictures soon to follow.

Right the first time

2008-12-02T11:37:00.004-05:00

So, due to my condition (I'm a father) I had to watch "The Grinch who Stole Christmas" last night with my 6 year old. Now when he first said "Daddy, do you want to watch the Grinch?" I was all excited. My oldest, my boy. Falling in love with one of the Seussian classics. I couldn't have been prouder. Much to my chagrin, it turns out that what he wanted to watch was not the said classic but the Jim Carey rip-off. Now I have nothing against Jim Carey and like some of his movies. But really! Where do he and Ron Howard get off trying to redo something that was already done right.

All of this got me to thinking about the first holiday classic I watched that wasn't the original and how badly it turned out.

"It's a Wonderful Life." We all know it. I love this movie. And yes, it makes me tear. The part where George Bailey is on the bridge praying to get his life back....and then the snow starts to fall. Cue the water works.

When I was about 13, the family and I were sitting around watching t.v. when "It happened one Christmas" comes on. About ten minutes into the movie I'm thinking this is a rip-off. Marlo Thomas plays the part of George Baily and Wayne Rodgers plays his wife. What a piece of crap. At least compared to the original. (Which most people thought was a piece of crap when it was released.)

So sitting there last night with my oldest, cringing every time Jim Carey did (or didn't) do something like the original, reminded me that rarely is remake better than the original.

Any remakes you really hate?

Leave me a note.

For all of Yule

2008-12-01T16:50:00.008-05:00

Today, I make my first installment of the "Son of a Thomas" 25 Days of Christmas Spectacular.
It's a simple but good one.

With the children all snuggled all nice in their beds and visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, you and yours can settle down all snug in front of the fire. What? Don't have a fireplace? No prob.

Nothing says Christmas like the crackle of a warm fire.

(If you burn a small piece of furniture in the house, it will give you that realistic smell but remember, your on your own.)

TODAY IS WHAT?????

2008-11-30T20:17:00.005-05:00

Crap, it's like the 30Th of November. If I have this right, "Thirty days has November, April, June and Montana. Yeah that's it. Tomorrow is the first day of December which means....
(Da-da,da,da-da-da-da-da)

Welcome to the "Son of a Thomas" 25 days of Christmas Holiday Spectacular."

For the next 25 days, you will be shocked and amazed with post after post of holiday wonderment (not to be confused with wondermeat) that will shock and amaze. Some of them will be personal anecdotes. Some of them returns to holiday classics. Some will be phoned in. But all in all this will be the daily (I hope) gift that keeps on giving. And as a "Son of a Thomas" 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Spectacular warm up, I offer this.

Great!!! Thanks!!!!

2008-11-26T20:36:00.003-05:00

So here is another place I can't go!

(CBS/AP)

Teams of heavily armed gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant and a crowded train station in coordinated attacks across India's financial capital Wednesday night, killing at least 78 people and taking Westerners hostage, police said. A group of suspected Muslim militants claimed responsibility.

An explosion followed by a raging fire struck one of the hotels, the landmark Taj Mahal, early Thursday. Screams could be heard and enormous clouds of black smoke rose from the at the century-old edifice on Mumbai's waterfront. Firefighters were spraying water at the blaze. The attackers specifically targeted Britons and Americans, witnesses said. Fires burned and gunfire was heard for hours. Officials said at least 200 people were wounded.

Sons of bitches! Look, I ain't passing over the loss and injury to life or the lives that have been changed because of this horrible incident but.....I planned on doing some travel when my kids get older and this self-righteous sons of bitches aren't leaving many options.

On the brighter side,

(CBS/AP)

President-elect Barack Obama pledged on Wednesday to have an economic plan ready for action to deal with the nation's financial crisis on his first day in office. "Help is on the way," he declared.

Good. Help. I need someone to move all this furniture out of my living room soon because I know my wife will want that tree any day now.

Hell of a place

2008-11-26T11:39:00.002-05:00

No time to blog today or for the next couple. Not that I've done alot anyway. So for you hungry little monkeys........

I give you Turkey. An entire nation, bonded together, by the crispy goodness of a bird.

If I ever win the lottery, I am going to by Turkey and rename it Chicken. That will make them happy.

Python

2008-11-24T20:28:00.003-05:00

Monty Python's Flying Circus cracks me up. Still. I remember stumbling across it when I was like 13 or 14. Here's the story. I used to take some of my mom's smoke and do a few hits after she went to bed. Then, I would watch late night T.V. This was still in the day of 4 mainstream channels (ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS) and whatever we could pick-up on UHF. The Million Dollar Movie, Late Late shows and Carson. I loved Carson. The show moved in slow motion so I think I got his subtleties. I think that's why I get Carson and most of my friends don't. Sure, they were getting high like me. They just weren't watching Carson. Anyway, one night, I turned on PBS and there were these guys slapping each other with fish. One little man, bouncing up and down with 2 fish in his hands criss-crossing and slapping another, larger man in the face. When this stops, the larger man, takes out a big-ass fish and slaps the little man who proceeds to fall into a near-by river. I probably didn't have to bore you with the sketch (especially if you are familiar with it) but I'm laughing now just thinking about it.

So why the diatribe about Python. First- BBC America is showing it again so I can get it on Comcast's On Demand whenever I want to watch, Secondly, it's because I am starting this blog. The way I see it, there are few original Ideas. There are definite innovators of ideas, but few originals. It's like this, the original idea grew into a tree, dropped some acorns, and sprouted some other ideas, some so much like the first tree that the first tree is thought of as best. Some, retaining the great qualities of the first tree but branching out to something spectacular in there own right. That's what I'm wondering about this blog. Will it have anything interesting to say or will it just be another part of the damn Internet.

I guess we will have to see.