Rosie working on her social skills

Happy Father's Day

 

The Human Fly

Marisol's poncho

Dough Boy

Feliz Cumpleanos, Boots!

Today was Boots' birthday.

Dora was there along with Tico the squirrel, Bennie the bull and Isa the salamander.

They celebrated with a pinata and a cake sporting a banana shaped candle (delicioso!).

But, one character was conspicuous in his absence -- Swiper the Fox.

Every neighborhood has a character like Swiper. He's the kid who spray paints an obscenity on your house after you've finished painting it or takes a crap in your pool. He's miserable, and he wants everyone else to be miserable too.

So, I don't blame Dora for not inviting Swiper.With a killjoy like that around, the banana candle and the pinata just wouldn't be safe.

But, I can't help thinking that, if just once, someone invited him to join the fun, he wouldn't feel as if he had to ruin it. Maybe if someone gave him a toy or a gift, he wouldn't think he had to swipe it.

So, feliz cumpleanos, Boots! But, this time, save a piece of banana cake for Swiper the fox.

Poor Rosie

Sung to the tune of: "Nestor, the Long Eared Christmas Donkey"

Rosie is a doggie

Who never laughs or plays;

'cause all day long she finds herself

locked inside a cage.

Rosie's heart is broken

and she doesn't know the answer.

if only her first owner

didn't go and die of cancer

Marisol -- a budding artist

Lauren & Rosie

I was in a band once....

You would think that the hardest thing about being in a band would be learning the songs and setting up the equipment.

Well, it isn't.

The hardest thing about being in a band is choosing a name.

My band finally settled on "Romper Room".

In our defense, every band name sounds queer until the band is famous. It is well known that Eric Clapton told Jimmy Page that he thought the name "Led Zeppelin" was "gay" (his words).

Of course, there was nothing gay about the name "Cream".

Anyway, if you think "Romper Room" is lame, check out our rejects:

- The Bone Blankets
- Brown Trout
- Pink Taco City
- The Hi Men
- Tastes Like Chicken
- The Balls
- Pap Smear
- Witch's Tit
- Funk Bomb
- Disco Inferno
- Closed for the Season
- Tallywacker
- Angel of Torture
- Blica

As Tres Marias

 

"Sir, we want to see Jesus"

A committed Christian, sometime in his or her life, must wonder what it would be like to live in Jesus' time and meet Jesus face to face.

Of course, that's because we expect that meeting Jesus would be a deeply moving experience. We would be like little Zacarias whom Jesus calls down from the tree to have supper with or like the blind man whom Jesus cures. At the very least, we'd expect to witness a miracle.

But, not everyone who met Jesus had a deeply moving experience. Just ask the guy whose pigs Jesus sent flying off the cliff or the money lenders at the temple what their experience of Jesus was like.


I wonder alot about those money lenders. One of them had probably just gotten laid off at the matza factory and landed this gig in the temple. And along comes Jesus who knocks over the tables and sends him packing. When he explains all this to his boss, not only does he get fired, but he has to pay for the damages. Then, back at the temple, the worshippers have no one to borrow money or get pidgeons from, so they have to go to the money lenders outside the temple who are charging more now that Jesus waylaid their competition.

Anyway, with my luck, if I were to meet Jesus he'd probably call me a "viper" or a "hypocrite". Or, my experience of Jesus might be very ordinary, and I'd be stuck having to spend the rest of my life in first century Palestine.

I got a chance to meet Mother Theresa once, and I expected it to be very moving. But, she just looked at me and moved on to the next person. Don't get me wrong -- she was polite, but not moving. I imagine it must be hard when everyone expects you to give them a moving experience.


So, I think Jesus made a great point to Thomas when he said, "You believe because you see me. Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe." Two thousand years after the historical Jesus I can know Him through the Bible, through the teaching of the Church and through the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, I have the benefit of two thousand years of interpretation of the Scripture both by those who have taught it and by those who have lived it. And I don't have to wear a toga or eat camel meat.

That's good enough for me.

Let's Play "Puta"...it's easy and it's fun

Here's a fun variation on traditional 7 card stud.

Deal out the 7 cards to each player in the traditional way (2 down, 4 up, 1 down).

When the Queen of Spades (the puta) is dealt down ("in the hole") to any player, it becomes a wild card. Only the Queen of Spades is wild in this case.

When the Queen of Spades is dealt up to any player, that player must fold.

To build up the pot, have everyone fold when the puta shows up. Re-ante and start all over.

Also, to build up the drama of 7 card no-peek, try playing it puta-style.

So...when the dealer button comes your way, show some balls and call out, "Puta!"

http://www.pagat.com/vying/poker.html

Do you think the Rolling Stones Suck??

Do you think the Rolling Stones suck because they haven't put out a good album in over 30 years?

Or....are you tired of hearing "Satisfaction", "Start Me Up", and "Jumping Jack Flash"?

Well...here's a list of the best Rolling Stones songs you have never heard or haven't heard in a long time.


1) "Little T & A": I don't even know which album this is from. I think it was the B side on the "Start Me Up" 45'. Anyway, it's their last good song.

2) "100 Years Ago": This is from the Goat's Head Soup album in the early '70's. The hard driving guitar licks throughout this song make it worth getting the whole album just to hear it. While you're at it, take a listen to "Why do you hide your love?".

3) "You've Got the Silver": While not as good as "Gimme Shelter" which gets alot of airplay and while definitely not as good as "Monkey Man" which at least gets some airplay, this song is among their best. Though I'm not a fan of their country style songs, this is still among their best obscure songs. When you listen to Let it Bleed make sure not to miss "Live With Me".

4) "Hand of Fate": Like "100 Years Ago", "Hand of Fate" is a great song on a shitty album (Black & Blue). But, it is still worth getting the album for the song. And, like "100 Years Ago", the guitar solo makes the song. Check out, "Memory Motel" since you shelled out $17.

5) "Stray Cat Blues": I am tempted to say that this is the Rolling Stones best song. It has a driving riff, a pounding piano, heavy percussion and great guitar work. You cannot play this song enough. You'll recognize "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Street Fighting Man" when you listen to Beggar's Banquet, but be sure not to miss "Prodigal Son".

6) "Loving Cup": For some reason, critics rave about Exile on Main Street. In my opinion, it is one of their most average albums. It would have been their worst album up to that point if it hadn't been for Her Satanic Majesty's Request. Since most people cannot name two songs on the album, I'm probably right. "Torn and Frayed" and "Ventilator Blues" are other good cuts on this album.

7) "Sway": It's easy to overlook "Sway" with so many great songs on Sticky Fingers like "Can't You Hear Me Knocking", "Bitch" and "Sister Morphine". But it's among their best songs, nonetheless.

8) "Respectable" Some Girls was the first Rolling Stones album I ever bought. And I thought it was great until I heard the others. "Respectable" is good, but it's not worth buying the album for.

I suppose I could come up with a couple more songs to make this a list of ten songs, but why? We've already mentioned all the great ones. There are a couple of older songs which may be worth mentioning like "Stoned" and "Sad Day".

Nonetheless, I can promise you this. No one would be able to put together a list of eight good Rolling Stones songs from the last twenty-five years.

Tryclops

Jack Russell Terror

Rosie on a rampage!!!

My daughter & Me -- July 4, 2005

NOTHING LIKE LOBSTER & CLAMS IN THE GARAGE!

My family at Downtown Disney, August 2005