Kristina's sister, Lauren, was married last weekend to Alex Armstrong. We are generally happy about this union.
The only downside is that weddings make some people do strange things. For instance, some weddings make people hire Whitesnake cover bands or the limo driver from The Wedding Singer. Mostly, weddings just cause white people to dance. We've all become numb to our typical dance moves, like the head bob (my personal favorite), the lawn mower, the sprinkler, the grocery cart and any other sort of domestic chore that can be somehow applied to music. But without a doubt, the contrived line dance is the worst of all white people dances. You know the ones I'm talking about: The Macarena. The Electric Slide. Any country line dance.
My least favorite is the Cha Cha Slide "song" (term used loosely). Though, I will give it up for the guy who wrote it. He is a genius. His formula is a gold mine: create a hip hop beat, give some simple instructions, and white people at weddings will go crazy.
I'm currently working on my own wedding song called "The Elite WASP Slide." The main steps will include: Look at Rolex, Reach for wallet, Snap fingers at hired help, Turn up nose, and Take cell phone out of pocket to call your broker. This will definitely catch on. Watch for it at reception near you.
Despite my obvious disdain for these dances, my family did something pretty cool at Lauren's reception: they danced to Thriller. Here it is for your enjoyment. I apologize for the eerie Bombs Over Baghdad-like camera footage.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Truth or Dare
Truth: I really felt the baby for the first time yesterday! Kris obviously feels his antics all the time but I always seem to miss them. Last night we were in our birthing class and he was really active. I looked over at Kris as she grimaced from an arm/leg to the stomach. I could actually see her belly moving! So I reached over and could feel him moving his little limbs all around. It was pretty neat for me. He's going to be a little stinker, no doubt!
Dare: I dare any frisbees to come near Allie. She will hunt you down. She will find you. You have no hope around this doberman!
Dare: I dare any frisbees to come near Allie. She will hunt you down. She will find you. You have no hope around this doberman!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
UPDATE: A Meaningful Surprise
I an amazing surprise in the mail today, something that was completely unexpected and that says so much about the sender.
My favorite contemporary author is Jeff Shaara. He writes fiction novels that are based on major historical events. He has written about the the American Revolution, the Mexican War, the Civil War and World War I. His most recent book, The Steel Wave, came out this week and is his second book in a trilogy about World War II. And even though I have not read any of it yet, I encourage you to check it out. If you like history, you will not be disappointed by any of his novels.
His work has been a big part of my life. I studied history in college because I was so fascinated by the world that he created. I continued studying history in graduate school because of the passion that I discovered inside myself for research and writing. And I know it is not very romantic, but my first date with Kristina was to a Jeff Shaara book signing in Charleston (we went to Fort Sumter too). Unfortunately, by the time we made it to the store, Jeff had already left to go visit the Hunley (Putting a torpedo on a stick? Seriously? Come on guys!). So, as you can see, he has been a part of my life since college.
A couple of years ago I contacted Jeff via email and mentioned that if he was interested, I would like to send him electronic scans of my grandfather's letters home from Europe in '44-'45. He said that he would love to take a look at them so I sent them on. My grandfather, Pa, was just like every other GI: humble and scared but brave and bound by his duty. I thought that Jeff might be able to use them as a source for his WWII novels. As it turns out, he did.
Jeff sent me an autographed copy of The Steel Wave, personally thanking me for the use of Pa's letters. I am even acknowledged in the research sources section of the novel. For a fan of Jeff's and a history nerd, this means so much to me. It will probably be hard to tell what he was able to use from the Callaway letters but even if he was only able to gain a small ounce of my grandfather's character, then that is enough for my dad and me. It is cool for me to be mentioned in his book but all I did was mail in a cd. William H. Callaway really deserves the recognition. I am honored that his story can be a part of a book that millions of people will read. It is very cool for my family.
Thank you, Jeff. I hope to see you on June 7 in Chicago at the book signing. I can't wait to dive into The Steel Wave!
UPDATE: When I first got the book, I rushed through the intro and saw my same at the end of the Sources section. Yesterday as I gave the beginning a thorough read, Shaara had listed the key Americans, Germans and British whose works had impacted the book. Lt. William H. Callaway is listed with the likes of Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton. That's pretty awesome. Thank you, Jeff.
My favorite contemporary author is Jeff Shaara. He writes fiction novels that are based on major historical events. He has written about the the American Revolution, the Mexican War, the Civil War and World War I. His most recent book, The Steel Wave, came out this week and is his second book in a trilogy about World War II. And even though I have not read any of it yet, I encourage you to check it out. If you like history, you will not be disappointed by any of his novels.
His work has been a big part of my life. I studied history in college because I was so fascinated by the world that he created. I continued studying history in graduate school because of the passion that I discovered inside myself for research and writing. And I know it is not very romantic, but my first date with Kristina was to a Jeff Shaara book signing in Charleston (we went to Fort Sumter too). Unfortunately, by the time we made it to the store, Jeff had already left to go visit the Hunley (Putting a torpedo on a stick? Seriously? Come on guys!). So, as you can see, he has been a part of my life since college.A couple of years ago I contacted Jeff via email and mentioned that if he was interested, I would like to send him electronic scans of my grandfather's letters home from Europe in '44-'45. He said that he would love to take a look at them so I sent them on. My grandfather, Pa, was just like every other GI: humble and scared but brave and bound by his duty. I thought that Jeff might be able to use them as a source for his WWII novels. As it turns out, he did.
Jeff sent me an autographed copy of The Steel Wave, personally thanking me for the use of Pa's letters. I am even acknowledged in the research sources section of the novel. For a fan of Jeff's and a history nerd, this means so much to me. It will probably be hard to tell what he was able to use from the Callaway letters but even if he was only able to gain a small ounce of my grandfather's character, then that is enough for my dad and me. It is cool for me to be mentioned in his book but all I did was mail in a cd. William H. Callaway really deserves the recognition. I am honored that his story can be a part of a book that millions of people will read. It is very cool for my family.
Thank you, Jeff. I hope to see you on June 7 in Chicago at the book signing. I can't wait to dive into The Steel Wave!
UPDATE: When I first got the book, I rushed through the intro and saw my same at the end of the Sources section. Yesterday as I gave the beginning a thorough read, Shaara had listed the key Americans, Germans and British whose works had impacted the book. Lt. William H. Callaway is listed with the likes of Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton. That's pretty awesome. Thank you, Jeff.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Move over, Iron Man...Chicken Dog is here!
Many of you have heard about the random chicken that is running around our neighborhood lately. The appearance of this mysterious farm animal has created a new superhero...Chicken Dog.
Chicken Dog is like most other superheros: video evidence is rarely captured. But in this case, an amateur photographer managed to snag a few frames.
Chicken Dog: Protecting middle class neighborhoods from farm animals since 2008.
Chicken Dog is like most other superheros: video evidence is rarely captured. But in this case, an amateur photographer managed to snag a few frames.
Chicken Dog: Protecting middle class neighborhoods from farm animals since 2008.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
When "don't like" isn't strong enough.
My parents raised me to never use the word "hate" and I generally abide by their instructions. Except in the case of "I hate the Cardinals" or "I hate Clemson," I rarely use the word. But I did think of three instances this weekend where I either hate a tangible thing or I hate an action that people do, so I thought I would share them with you.
Of course, things like terrorists, dudes on To Catch a Predator, cigarettes and carnies are a given so I don't need to include them here.
1. I hate it when people stand directly in front of the baggage return at the airport, blocking the view from everyone else. Would it not make more sense to stand back 5 feet so that everyone could see their bags? Undoubtedly, you're just going to have to move out of my way when I have to pull my bag off the little luggage car wash. Just move out of the way because I'm ready to go home!
2. I hate it when people don't return shopping carts to their proper place in parking lots. This weekend I saw someone leave their cart on one of those little parking lot medians even though there was a cart return about 20 feet away. Would it kill this idiot to do the minimum wage worker a favor and return the cart like a member of society? Drives me nuts!
3. I hate bamboo. It is in my back yard. I spend several hours at least once a month in warm weather digging that crap up out of the ground. It never stops growing. It never dies. It is of the devil. I hate it so much that it makes me wish that I never bought this house...almost. What possessed the previous owners to plant it, I'll never know. They must have had their Bad Idea Jeans on at the time. If anyone has some super bamboo killing tips, please share!
What do others do that drives you nuts?
Of course, things like terrorists, dudes on To Catch a Predator, cigarettes and carnies are a given so I don't need to include them here.
1. I hate it when people stand directly in front of the baggage return at the airport, blocking the view from everyone else. Would it not make more sense to stand back 5 feet so that everyone could see their bags? Undoubtedly, you're just going to have to move out of my way when I have to pull my bag off the little luggage car wash. Just move out of the way because I'm ready to go home!
2. I hate it when people don't return shopping carts to their proper place in parking lots. This weekend I saw someone leave their cart on one of those little parking lot medians even though there was a cart return about 20 feet away. Would it kill this idiot to do the minimum wage worker a favor and return the cart like a member of society? Drives me nuts!
3. I hate bamboo. It is in my back yard. I spend several hours at least once a month in warm weather digging that crap up out of the ground. It never stops growing. It never dies. It is of the devil. I hate it so much that it makes me wish that I never bought this house...almost. What possessed the previous owners to plant it, I'll never know. They must have had their Bad Idea Jeans on at the time. If anyone has some super bamboo killing tips, please share!
What do others do that drives you nuts?
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