Cat Stevens Moonshadow

Hellooo??? Remember me

Wow, I haven't posted here in a long time! Glad to see it's still going kudos to you all for keeping the posts rolling. I'd say I am just busy with everything but that seems like a cop out, so I will just blame it on being lazy.

So here is a quick update in the land of Phats. I am pretty good right now, my wife and I are expecting our first child here in late late november, I pretty much told her she wasn't allowed to go into labor on the day of the Old Oaken Bucket game, we'll see how that works out. For those that don't know that's the big Purdue/IU game. We're pretty excited we're having a little boy, any name suggestions are welcomed as we haven't come up with anything we both like. She vetoed Phats Jr, not sure why?? I offered to do a name our kid contest on the blog but she didn't go for that either oh well. I think I am ready to become a parent, I mean I have had a dog since 02 and he's still alive kicking that has to count for something right? This Christmas ought to be pretty cool, at least I think so anyway.

Well, I just thought i'd give you an update and let you know I am not dead, just lazy. I don't usually share much private stuff in my life but this is pretty cool news so you got a glimpse. Don't forget on my main blog I do college pick em for football games every Thursday they are up. I try my hand at picking games of schools who my blogger friends either follow or went to school there. If I am leaving your school out let me know! I will gladly add them

Have a great week everyone.
Phats

Cancelled Shows

Many of my favorite shows have already shown their season finales and the networks have already begun listing the shows they were bringing back.

I was sad to see that some of the shows I liked aren't coming back. Many times this has happened. I've tried to analyze why some of my favorites have been canned (sp?). Maybe it's because I have a weird sense of humor. Maybe it's because the things that I find amusing or interesting fall left of center. However, I have noticed that a lot of a show's lack of audience viewing has to do with the constant shuffle of a show's air time. There are interruptions and rescheduling due to a network special, a sports play-off or something of that nature. Show's get shuffled to a new night to make room for what a network hopes to be another super sit-com or drama.

Who can keep up with the shuffling? Whenever I tune in and my show isn't on, I assume that it got canceled mid-way and don't look for it. Another few favorites bit the dust!

Superbowl 2010

Who are people rooting for this year?

The Colts right?

We are all rooting for the Colts, correct?

In Boredom, I Turn To The Television

So when I'm bored, which happens to be a lot of the time these days, I turn to the television. Lots of pretty good shows this time around.


I've got some of my new favorites. What are some of your favorites?

New for me is Flash Forward and Modern Family!!

Autumn

So autumn is almost here. It's my favorite season. It reminds me of football, especially college football. I always loved watching the Mountaineers on those Saturdays, when my friends and I would forgo studying and just be football fans for a day.

What sort of memories does the change in season elicit in you?

Happy New Year

What are your New Year's resolutions?

I am trying to come up with something that I am not going to break. I thought about eating more fruit and vegetables, less chips and fast food. But that was quickly broken. I also thought about exercising more...and with that I've had more success (such as taking the stairs rather than the elevator) and using the treadmill. I have also thought about ways to make myself a better person.

I will try to keep these resolutions. I do know that by the end of February, most of them will have been forgotten, only to resurface again with the stroke of midnight next year (and then I will feel some remorse or regret).

So tell me, what are your resolutions?

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello everyone. Happy Thanksgiving...

And why is our post entries so far below the title page? I'm not computer saavy enough to fix it, so someone that is part of group please fix it!! Please....please...please...please....please!!

And have a Happy Thanksgiving, while you are fixing it...anyone? anyone? anyone?

Thanks and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

my first post

INTRO: My name is Chad I'm from Ohio I just turned 37 and I have a lovely wife and 7 year old daughter. For those of you who don't know me I'm friends with the "Design Goddess".

OK I've been lurking for months now and figure it's time for me to post since I'm 37 years old and I tried something new today.

Of course my first post would have to be about food! Today I tried Pad Thai for the first time. I have two words for it "SIMPLY INCREDIBLE". I can't believe as much as I like Japanese, Chinese, and food in general that I haven't tried this stuff before now. Generally I get some sort of chicken dish (General Tso's) when I go to restaurants that serve Chinese and Thai.

OK that pretty much sums up what I did or didn't do at work today. I ate. That is pretty much always the highlight of my boring, mindless, unrewarding days at my workplace. They do however pay me so I suppose I'll keep showing up to my might as well be stealing from the State of Ohio job.

So you're comment homework is to tell me your favorite Japanese, Chinese, Thai or for that matter any type of dish.

The younger man dream, revisited

I had a version of the "younger man" dream again this morning. Good Lord, the things this dream reveal about me.

I was in university attending a molecular biology forum and party. I felt like a little bit of an imposter being there - though I had been invited by my thesis advisor - because I was not doing the type of research being discussed there. After a while I wandered off for a breather: food and drink was being given out while the discussions were progressing and I didn't feel I had a right to them.

I wandered into a class on lyric writing and music composition. Students were allowed to walk around and to interect - to get feedback on their particular musical piece and lyrics, for example - so I didn't look out of place. A former boyfriend was there, doing well as usual, even though music wasn't his known forte. I made it a point to steer clear of him because I felt he routinely outshined me, and I had nothing to contribute to this class in progress.

I saw a somewhat handsome, engaging young man who looked slightly dejected. I looked over his shoulder to glance at his notes: What exactly was the nature of his problem? Instead of being about music, the notes were regarding attempts he had made to interact with various girls who appealed to him. "Asked her about the assignment and if she wanted to discuss it over coffee, but she said no" - type thing. My heart went out to him. Another socially maladjusted person ( - like me?!). I felt somewhat accomplished and big-hearted at that particular moment, so I asked him, "Can I give you a hug?". He instantly came alive, but not without a look of extreme shock and surprise first. A female was addressing him first!

I hugged him, he liked it, and he became my puppy dog. I didn't mind, but was wondering if the ex-boyfriend would think I was hanging out with a loser - I wasn't sure. (I remember the odd looks that ex would give me when I showed up somewhere with someone new.) I walked the young guy to parts of campus that I didn't think the ex frequented. He seemed really stuck on me, like all of a sudden he was putting all his eggs in my basket. (I was a little concerned, because my basket was wobbly and threadbare.) I said, "You do realize that even though we are alike in several ways - like being at university while still technically younger than traditional age students, that I am older than you? I'm in ninth grade." He said it was not that big a deal, and that he was in eighth, not seventh. Somehow we both seemed relieved and the matter was dropped. (Okay, I don't understand how it was that I had an advanced degree in biology in the dream already. Hmm.)

We had a nice time walking around the campus, and I pointed out some notable areas he might not have discovered yet, like the map collection on the eighth floor of the Sciences library. The more experienced older woman showing the younger guy some of the ropes. He seemed glad to be introduced to everything I showed him, and the moods were good - friendly, cheerful, lighthearted, hopeful.

I eventually felt brave enough to ask if he wanted to spend the night in my room with me. I wanted the good feelings to continue. He about dropped dead from heart failure - the horrified scared look on his face was priceless - so I thought I should immediately soften my statement. I said, "Uh, not for ... we'd just be near each other for the comforting presence of another human being is all", and he said, "Oh, yeah, yeah, I know!" and seemed relieved. Then he said "First I have to stop by my room, though. You can come along if you want".

When we got to his room, things started to disintegrate. There was a sink there that I wanted to wash my hands at. He saw my intention and said, "Make sure you leave the sink completely tidy. That's the way we like it." I asked, "We?", and he said, "Yeah, me and my mom". Then he told me to mind where I put my stuff down so it wouldn't become either wet or get into his way.

I thought, uh oh!!! For one, every time someone reminds me about something I'm sure to do anyway, I quietly seethe inside. I am a vigilant and careful person on my own, after all, and I don't take kindly to being reminded to do things I always do anyway. I am particularly fastidious with bathroom etiquette - I always leave the bathroom cleaner than I found it. And I almost never leave possessions behind, so for example, I hate to be told not to forget my purse or sweater somewhere. And another thing, who ruled his life, he or his mother? And even if his mother didn't rule his life, I didn't need to take on a fastidious, meticulous person. I am fastidious in my own ways but I don't need the added burden of living by another prissy, overdemanding person's rules. It's enough of a burden to live inside my own self.

I asked, "Where is your mom, anyway?" He said, "Well, I don't think she's here, but she could be. She kind of skulks. So be on your guard."

Immediately I thought, how do I get myself out of this situation? He intends to shower, right? I'll ditch him while he's showering. Good thing he doesn't know exactly where my room is. He might be able to look it up in the directory - did he get my last name? - but by the time he finds out, I'll be mentally and physically prepared. I don't need a little boy. Let his mother comfort her boy. I hope I don't run into the mother as I flee this place!

My take-home message from this dream is that getting involved with a youngster might be more of a drag than it gives you in pleasure! And: eventually the fun ends, and the unfortunate personality traits of a given person make themselves known so as to make your time together a lot less fun, so that you want to flee.

© April 30, 2008 Ribonuff All Rights Reserved.

Grill Magic

Why is it that anything grilled taste amazing? I have never had something that was grilled taste awful, even cheap hotdogs (the ingredients of which I can't even spell) taste good.

Today on some food show, they were cooking various things on the grill--bread, mushrooms, corn, chicken, beef, even some desserts and everything looked frickin good. And what's even better is that it didn't even look like they prepared anything, just threw it down on the grill and it came up with a five-star feel to it.

The best part is you use that scrubber brush thing to clean--while the fire is still going and than spray some magic gleem stuff and it's all clean!!!

What if You Are Wrong? (1 minute 20 seconds)

A student asks Richard Dawkins (an Atheist), what if he is wrong.

For Angel, Jr

sOmEthInG

Wake Up Authors

Hi, it has been quiet here at A.A.

Someone write something.

April's Fool

I completely forgot that yesterday was April's Fool until some girl at my gym announced that it was her birthday and that she was an April's Fool baby.
Did anyone get any cool tricks played on them or was anyone fooled by anything. I don't remember being fooled by anyone. However I did watch some CNN this morning and one of the tricks shown was an office desk being covered by aluminum foil.

Yummy

I got to eat potato chips now that Lent is over. I waited till midnight on Saturday night to eat them. It wasn't as good as I thought it would be, but good enough.

How was everyone's Easter? Did you fill up on anything good(chocolate bunnies or those awesome Cadbury Easter eggs). I love the Cadbury eggs--even the syrupy melted and colored sugar filling!

I took some goodies from my nephew's and niece's baskets---I don't think they will miss them. They were more fascinated with the stuffed animals that came with the baskets, then the actual candy.

One Week Improvements

I watched an episode of that nanny reality show today. Not sure which one it was, or even if there are more than one. The beginning had this woman descend upon the household dressed like Mary Poppins, which is one reason that I stopped on the channel (is this for real).

So this nanny goes into this home where the children are the absolute leaders/kings/rulers of the house. The children are actually spanking and hitting their parents. I don't condone violence in any form and to see these grade school kids acting like their parents are punching bags makes me uncomfortable.

The nanny starts changing the rules. She sets boundaries, not without resistance, but sets them up anyway. And like the ending of any good fairy tale, leaves the home in one week, and the problems are resolved. No more hitting. Bed time is promptly kept and no food from the dinner table ends up on Daddy's shirt.

I don't have any children myself. I do have younger cousins, grade school and toddler aged children who I frequently babysit. Would a nanny be able to completely resolve behavior issues in a week? I was amazed that these children transformed from terrors to well behaved people in such a short time.

It's Almost Easter!!

In less than a week, I get to satisfy my chips craving!!

I gave up chips for Lent. And now like some freak, I am craving them every day! In the clinic the other day one of the other workers was eating some chips and just hearing them crunch made me salivate.

So next Sunday my belly will be full of Ruffles (all different flavors), Doritos (mostly nacho cheese and buffalo wing flavors) and Funyuns!! Has anyone else ever heard of Funyuns? The Egg says she keeps looking for them, but never finding them.

Anyway, if I forget to wish everyone a Happy Easter, here it is now: HAPPY EASTER!

Spring?

For reasons explained over on our Life on Delaware blog, I'm just now getting the images from the "Blizzard of 08" posted. I think the official total was 20.4 inches. The first is the deep snow drift right outside our back door. Good thing it was a sliding door, or I'd a-never got the door t'open.


And here's how deep it was when I opened the garage door. Let me tell you - I have some buff biceps after shoveling 8 inches of snow!

Ohio weather is just great! Can't wait to see what spring brings!

The Easter Countdown

For Lent, I gave up eating chips/dips. This is good for me because for the most part (since I don't know how to cook that well) it has been a staple of my diet. It's probably the reason I haven't lost weight even with my work-out regimen.

The bad thing is, I'm craving it more than ever. This is unlike the time I gave up cigarettes. Within a few days after my last puff, I was pretty much over the nicotine need. No mood swings, no cravings, nothing! But this chip craving is driving me up a wall!! The favorites that I miss are barebeque chips!! And of course onion flavored snacks (you know the kind that are shaped like onion rings--not good for your breath, but very tasty).

On the bright side, I've lost a couple pounds!!