My family and I went to Monkey Joe's last night. Lots of inflatable goodness. I ended up with my three year old son, my two year old daughter, and my three year old niece in some sort of inflated ring with a pole in the center. We were running about and tackling each other. At some point two other kids came in, maybe four or five, and they just joined the game. (I looked and couldn't see their parents ... so just figured the heck with it, hopefully they won't sue me for being gleefully tackled by their kids.)
It turns out that having five kids tackle and jump on you is actually surprisingly enjoyable.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
Frank again
Xander's favorite stuffed animal is a little cat he calls Kitty. We like Kitty. We have several spare Kitties in a drawer so when Kitty gets dirty we can clean it and Xander doesn't know it's been swapped. And if one gets lost we can find another one. Kitty has been his favorite for a very long time now. But Bolt (from the Disney movie) has been sneaking into the picture, and in the last week or so Kitty has been replaced by Bolt.
I like Kitty better. Well, actually I somehow just dislike his favorite being a marketed named animal, I find I just preferred his stuffed animal being more uniquely his. Or, to be really honest, I guess I just preferred the UNnamed marketed animal. I dunno, I can't justify it, I just preferred Kitty.
So in an attempt to rectify this, Kitty has been in the Frank stories lately I tell Xander when he goes to sleep. So this is where I have failed in something. The point of a bedtime story is to get the boy quiet and calm and restful. Frank stories don't do that well, but he demands them and doesn't want to be read to afterwards, so it's the last story. And the Frank song helps but still, I think we need to figure that out.
So to tie all this together. Last night Kitty went on the offensive and attacked Frank, which I demonstrated with Kitty who basically attached himself to my face Alien facehugger style and then proceeded to completely demolish me in many other ways. This made the boy laugh so hysterically he collapsed on the bed unable to breathe.
I totally stink at getting him all calmed down and ready to go to sleep.
I like Kitty better. Well, actually I somehow just dislike his favorite being a marketed named animal, I find I just preferred his stuffed animal being more uniquely his. Or, to be really honest, I guess I just preferred the UNnamed marketed animal. I dunno, I can't justify it, I just preferred Kitty.
So in an attempt to rectify this, Kitty has been in the Frank stories lately I tell Xander when he goes to sleep. So this is where I have failed in something. The point of a bedtime story is to get the boy quiet and calm and restful. Frank stories don't do that well, but he demands them and doesn't want to be read to afterwards, so it's the last story. And the Frank song helps but still, I think we need to figure that out.
So to tie all this together. Last night Kitty went on the offensive and attacked Frank, which I demonstrated with Kitty who basically attached himself to my face Alien facehugger style and then proceeded to completely demolish me in many other ways. This made the boy laugh so hysterically he collapsed on the bed unable to breathe.
I totally stink at getting him all calmed down and ready to go to sleep.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Frank
So a while ago, around St. Patrick's Day, instead of reading a story to my son Xander I made one up. It was St. Patrick's Day, so I told the story of St. Patrick and his snake removal service. I can't remember if Frank was in the first story or not, but Xander wanted to hear it again the next night, and sooner or later Frank showed up in the stories. Frank essentially carries snakes around and throws them at people. St. Patrick stopped him. The snake throwing thing made Xander laugh, so now the stories pretty much just revolve around Frank.
So now Xander won't let me read to him any more, though he will listen to Piper's stories. But every night he runs to bed, climbs in, and waits very eagerly for his Frank story. So I make up a new one every night. Xander is in a lot of them now which he likes, and I'll ask him questions and take the story wherever it goes based on what he says (he tends to want to shoot Frank with a gun a lot. Frank blocks the bullets with a snake, usually.) The stories really aren't very good, but they make the boy happy. And now they get followed with the Frank and Xander song which also changes every night.
It's kind of challenging to come up with a story every day, but fun - sure they are terrible stories I'm sure, but it's fun. The only problem is that they get the boy worked up and excited, so I'm trying to figure out how to do this without getting him worked up. That's how the Frank and Xander song started, which helps but I'd rather he not get so excited.
On the other hand, for however long this lasts, it's really wonderful to see how much he loves having me make up a story for him every night.
So now Xander won't let me read to him any more, though he will listen to Piper's stories. But every night he runs to bed, climbs in, and waits very eagerly for his Frank story. So I make up a new one every night. Xander is in a lot of them now which he likes, and I'll ask him questions and take the story wherever it goes based on what he says (he tends to want to shoot Frank with a gun a lot. Frank blocks the bullets with a snake, usually.) The stories really aren't very good, but they make the boy happy. And now they get followed with the Frank and Xander song which also changes every night.
It's kind of challenging to come up with a story every day, but fun - sure they are terrible stories I'm sure, but it's fun. The only problem is that they get the boy worked up and excited, so I'm trying to figure out how to do this without getting him worked up. That's how the Frank and Xander song started, which helps but I'd rather he not get so excited.
On the other hand, for however long this lasts, it's really wonderful to see how much he loves having me make up a story for him every night.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Library Show
I'll be at the Smyrna Public Library this Thursday at 7 if anyone wants to come see a free magic show! I'll be in the community center. The library address is
100 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, Georgia
I think this is my last library show for the summer. It was fun doing them, I really enjoy library shows!
100 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, Georgia
I think this is my last library show for the summer. It was fun doing them, I really enjoy library shows!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Star Wars Insider
I'm in the Star Wars insider with my son!
My son loves R2 and my stormtrooper armor. He's three and pretty small, so when I was repairing R2 one day I just stuck him inside. He helped. It was fun, and I took some pictures of it. And later, he saw the Stormtrooper armor and was fascinated by it, so I put it on him which just made his DAY. We sent a picture of him in R2 and another of him in the armor to the insider, and this month they printed them! We're on page 74, in the fan section, of the issue with Yoda on the cover.
My son was rather interested, but when everyone started making a fuss over the pictures he got really excited and proud. That makes me happy.
My son loves R2 and my stormtrooper armor. He's three and pretty small, so when I was repairing R2 one day I just stuck him inside. He helped. It was fun, and I took some pictures of it. And later, he saw the Stormtrooper armor and was fascinated by it, so I put it on him which just made his DAY. We sent a picture of him in R2 and another of him in the armor to the insider, and this month they printed them! We're on page 74, in the fan section, of the issue with Yoda on the cover.
My son was rather interested, but when everyone started making a fuss over the pictures he got really excited and proud. That makes me happy.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Museum event!
On July 11th, the Southern Museum is having a "Night at the Museum" event, based on the movie, for a fundraiser. Everything in the museum will be coming alive. It should be fairly cool.
Here's the web page:
http://www.southernmuseum.org/se_night_at_somu.html
There will be (among a LOT of other things) a pretty good Star Wars presence there. I know there will be several Stormtroopers, and if I can work out the logistics of it, R2-D2 will be there - that's the fully drivable remote controlled one I built. So come see us!
Here's the web page:
http://www.southernmuseum.org/se_night_at_somu.html
There will be (among a LOT of other things) a pretty good Star Wars presence there. I know there will be several Stormtroopers, and if I can work out the logistics of it, R2-D2 will be there - that's the fully drivable remote controlled one I built. So come see us!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
R2 repair
This picture amused me ... R2 burned out a foot motor at a charity event. I finally got it fixed, and have tightened the chains to boot so he drives much more evenly now (I hope!)
This picture is after the foot has been rebuilt and remounted, and I'm preparing to solder the wires back in so the remote system in the body will control the motor ... I think it's the nerd equivalent to working under the car.
This picture is after the foot has been rebuilt and remounted, and I'm preparing to solder the wires back in so the remote system in the body will control the motor ... I think it's the nerd equivalent to working under the car.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Fanboys
The movie Fanboys is finally coming to Atlanta! As fanboy, I'm pretty thrilled.
Several of us are going to be doing things at the UA Northpoint Market movie theater (6500 Northpoint Parkway, Alpharetta, GA) tonight, I think from around 5 to 7. There will be several R2 units and multiple stormtroopers.
So come see us!
Several of us are going to be doing things at the UA Northpoint Market movie theater (6500 Northpoint Parkway, Alpharetta, GA) tonight, I think from around 5 to 7. There will be several R2 units and multiple stormtroopers.
So come see us!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Antinomy
A while ago I got published in a magazine, and was bragging about it in this blog. Well get ready to hear it again about the same magazine. Just deal with it. I'm all excited still.
WEB LINKS!
http://www.antinomymagic.com/issue14.htm
Plus this one says it's articles from "some of the sharpest minds on the magic scene". They probably were not thinking of me at all, but I choose to believe they DID.
http://www.magicproshop.com/antinomy-magazine-book-p-12161.html
WOOOO! I'm all psyched!
WEB LINKS!
http://www.antinomymagic.com/issue14.htm
Plus this one says it's articles from "some of the sharpest minds on the magic scene". They probably were not thinking of me at all, but I choose to believe they DID.
http://www.magicproshop.com/antinomy-magazine-book-p-12161.html
WOOOO! I'm all psyched!
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