Monday, May 31, 2004
More Phil Pix
For good measure, here are a couple more pix.
- Playing Bus
Phil enjoys climbing in the lockers in the conference center kitchen. He calls it "playing bus." Go figger. - Lazy Boy meets La-Z-Boy
How big is Phil these days? Here he is in the recliner at age 10 weeks
Sunday, May 30, 2004
At Long Last ... Another Review
Why you should read my review of The X-Files: Goblins: There's no reason to read it. Just follow the link and click the "Yes" button after the review.
Friday, May 28, 2004
New Camera, New Picture
Here's a sample photo.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
A Few Phil Pix
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Weblog Confession (plus DVD Review)
Why should you read my review of The Terminator: I recommend four "Tech-Noir" movies from the Eighties (one of them is this movie). What are the other three? Read the review. (Plus, I might include more Weblog Confessions like this one, and that one, if they help generate good reviewage.)
Two New Reviews (oooh, that rhymes!)
I also finished reading Five Red Herrings by Dorothy Sayers. Naturally, I wrote a review of that, too.
Why you should read my review of Hi-Tec Scramble Low Boots: In a salute to our great white neighbors to the north, I used a phrase I first heard in Bob & Doug McKenzie's Strange Brew. See if you can identify it, and then start using it yourself. It'll come in handy when you're "oot and aboot."
Why you should read my review of Five Red Herrings: Let's see: Baseball metaphor, authentic Scottish phraseology, and I offer a helpful tip on how the book could be made better (now to steal the Way-Back machine from Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman so I can return to the 1930's and implement it).
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
What's New in Philville?
The Puzzler: For his birthday last year Aunt Julia gave Phil a set of six Thunderbirds mini-puzzles (I'd show you the puzzles, but they don't exist anywhere on the Internet, even eBay). He hadn't shown much interest in them until about a week ago. Now he's doing them all by himself. What a guy!
New Shoes for Phil, Too: About two years ago we bought Phil a pair of Nike sneakers and set them on top of his dresser for use when he grew into them. I was getting something off the dresser this evening and saw/remembered them. He tried them on and, lo and behold, they fit! Another month and who knows, but for now he's stylin'.
Where's the Pix?: When my folks were up here the other week they took some photos. When we get them, we'll put them up here. Maybe I'll take a picture of him and his puzzles (to prove they exist) in the next day or two. Is that good enough for you? We should have some next month for his birthday, too; so take it easy, don't give yourself an infarction.
Changing My Shoes
Today that changed. I bought these*.
*I did not buy them through Amazon (I got them at Freddy's for $25 less than shown on the link), but the color and style are as shown. Look for a review soon.
Monday, May 17, 2004
And Now for Something Completely Different: A Gadget Review
Why you should read my review of Hulk Hands: I describe the one thing worse than a visit from Child Protective Services. What is it and how can you prevent it from happening to you? Read the review.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
New DVD Review
Why you should read my review of Jeepers Creepers: I suggest that the movie has borrowed liberally from several other films, specifying half a dozen. Which six films can you skip by watching this one? Read the review and find out how to save yourself a boatload of time.
I'm Finally In!
Of course they also say Pageant Hair (v. Beach Hair v. Flat-Ironed Hair) and Bedding (v. Bathrobes v. Blankets) are in, so who knows.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
If It's Tuesday, It Must Be a Book Review
A few years back I bought a book called Scam School by Chuck Whitlock. This past weekend I stopped by a St. Vincent De Paul's and bought it again. I wound up giving a copy to my folks as a going away present (it's an Oregon tradition: "Welcome to here, now go home"), re-read the book (I realized what I had done when it started sounding familiar around the second chapter), and now I've reviewed it. So go read it already.
Why you should read my review of Scam School: Help me remember that I've read this book already. A lot of positive reinforcement will help it stick in my mind. And we thank you for your support.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
2 for 1 DVDs at Freddy's
The selection at the W. 11th store in Eugene includes:
Romantic Comedies
Overboard
When Harry Met Sally
Return to Me
Benny & Joon
The Cutting Edge
Legally Blonde
Movies I Don’t Recommend
Moonstruck
Mystic Pizza
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Sci-Fi
X-15
SpaceCamp
Spaceballs
War Flicks
The Great Escape
The Alamo
Red Dawn
Khartoum
Battle of Britain
Westerns
Hang 'em High
Support Your Local Sheriff
Quigley Down Under
The Clint Eastwood “Man with No Name” Trilogy
A Fistful of Dollars
For a Few Dollars More
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Kid Movies
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Ring of Bright Water
The Secret of NIMH
The Care Bears Movie
The Black Stallion
Little Monsters
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Hamilton Mattress
Movies with Singing and Dancing
West Side Story
The Cotton Club
Sports Movies
The Jackie Robinson Story
Hoosiers
Bull Durham
The Pride of the Yankees
Oldie Moldies
Sword of the Valiant
Jack the Giant Killer
The Barefoot Contessa
Yours Mine and Ours
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
Classic Lit Flicks
Nicholas Nickleby
Much Ado about Nothing
Crime Comedies
Get Shorty
Without a Clue
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Bandits
Crime Dramas
Ronin
Dark Blue
Ned Kelly
Other Comedies
Easy Money
Carbon Copy
The Birdcage
Barbershop
Movies I Probably Wouldn’t Recommend If I Had Ever Seen Them
Take this Job and Shove It
Road House
Oooooh … Scary
Jeepers Creepers
Unofficial James Bond
Never Say Never Again
***
Other stores may have different titles available, these were just the ones on the big display (I think I hunted through the main DVD section and found The Fog and Wargames in there before).
If you don't have a Freddy's near you, shoot me an e-mail and I'll see what I can do.
Monday, May 10, 2004
New Book Review
Why you should read my review of Dead to Rights: Back in my university days I had to read Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club in a Women's Studies/Literature general education course. A little too angsty for my taste, but my Liberal Arts experience paid off as I was able to reference JLC in the review. Actually, it only pays off if people rate the review positively, so get at it. Please and thank you.
Major Points for Me and Dina
Out of nowhere, he suggested that "it should be Boy's Day."
Neither of us commented that "every day is Boy's Day," so major points to us for not yet becoming our parents.
(I'm saving up my points for a set of mag wheels. Man, that'd be sweet.)
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Busy End of the Week
Dad picked up a new PDA (Sony Clie PEG-TJ27) - it has a built-in camera, so if/when he figures out how to send the photos up here, I'll put them online for you to enjoy. Other exciting activities included shopping for used books and Hot Wheels, doing the Mongolian BBQ, getting a haircut for the boy (his new 'do is in the Clie pix), and a surprise visit from Uncle Chuck (mom's brother) and Aunt Jayne.
This weekend's guest group is holding a silent retreat, so it should be quiet around here for the next day or so.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Amazon Reviews Bump
Looks like I'm with 222 people in this ranking, so I skipped the 6059 tier entirely this time (I was there for a week a couple weeks ago before getting sent back to the minors for awhile).
Still a ways to go before I get a Top 1000 (or Top 1) graphic beside my name, but back in November '03 I was ranked at 297,934 (see here), so progress is definitely being made.
4-Star Triple Feature
Why you should read my review of Alfred Hitchcock Thrillers: I left a typo in it for you to find. Sort of a Where's Walbo? challenge.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Read the Review ... Skip the Book
Why you should read my review of Bill the Galactic Hero: On the Planet of Bottled Brains: It's my snarkiest review ever. I haven't ripped into something this much since decimating my sister Julia at the dinner table as a teenager (<sigh> ... good times). Maybe I'll make a habit of reading only really bad novels just so I can tear them apart on Amazon. Maybe I'll save time and just give my sister a call....
Ten-Star Double-Feature
Why you should read my review of Journey to the Center of the Earth: I tell you what scares Philip (I refer to him as a 4-year-old, even though he's 3-5/6 ... sue me for rounding up - he still has to wait until the end of June for his presents), I warn you about a Sean Connery movie, and I alert you to the presence of one of Gotham City's most trusted citizens in the film.
Why you should read my review of The Big Sleep: I tell Hollywood how to make a classic film even better. Such chutzpah!