2017/04/28 18:30 Last night after I checked into the hotel I met my friend Insanitiki (Mark) and his wife at the Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao. We sat at the bar all night drinking caipirinhas. The Chicago Area Tiki Tour kick-off party starts now.
After Home Depot Alice had 'zoo camp'.
It is finally nice enough to sit outside. A bit chilly maybe but not cold enough to keep us inside.
2017/05/31 08:30 Today is the last day of May. More showers in the forecast for today. The old saying 'April showers bring May flowers' no longer seems to apply. I think climate change has moved the weather a month or so. March no longer seems a Spring month but just another month of Winter. The rains that used to come in April now visit us in May. And Decembers have been very mild. Just my observations.
After about 4 hours of work.
2017/04/24 11:00 Alice had a very poopy birthday party yesterday. That was her request. Poop hat, poop pillow, poop pen and pencil set, poop drinking vessel, poop key chain, poop diary, poop lanyard, poop stickers, and a poop sound generator. You can imagine what sound it makes.
2017/05/28 17:30 Karen and I had a wonderful afternoon with our friend Michelle. I made frozen daiquiris, char broiled wings, bar-b-que pork, and key lime pie.
The last couple of days the cat has been sleeping in the bathroom laying up against the tub. Trooper the Cat is a strange agent.
First time grocery shopping since I got back from Chicago. Checking up on the construction.
2017/05/09 11:45
2017/05/08 12:00
2017/05/07 16:30 Riding the carousel at Destiny.
Birds at the zoo.
Sometimes we dance in the mall when there are super danceable tunes on the loudspeakers. This morning three Madonna songs in a row followed by Vikki Sue Robinson "Turn the Beat Around".
It's all fun and games and then your buddy craps his pants... Sigh.
2017/05/02 10:00 Back at home and back to my day job. Watching Sesame Street with Elliott.
2017/05/15 17:00 I had the two Robs working for me today.
2017/05/28 09:00 The last two nights I have fallen asleep sitting on the couch. I was so sleepy that I almost felt like I had been drugged. With great effort I dragged myself off the couch and made my way upstairs to crawl into bed. Too tired. And then I lay in bed unable to fall back asleep.
After the birthday festivities I went to SubCat Studios for the latest Sub Rosa session. The Dupont Brothers were the featured performers.
Latest construction photos.
I took Alice to Home Depot this morning for the kid's workshop. She loves those. We had to take an arm full of her dolls for the ride there in the van. One of her dolls is Wonder Woman. I learned that Wonder Woman had to get a new invisible plane. The old plane didn't have enough seats. Wonder Woman travels with a pretty big posse that includes Barbie, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Elsa and Anna, Rapunzel, among others. I think Wonder Woman might have an invisible 747.
2017/04/26 14:00 Yesterday when Adison got out of work she and Elliott met me at Destiny. Elliott and I rode the carousel.
2017/05/14 11:30 Our hotel had a complimentary breakfast. Alice was the only one that would come downstairs to have breakfast with me. I felt all the eyes in the room on us as we entered. I feel that everyone was thinking, "What an absolutely adorable little girl". Alice had pancakes and sausage which she ate like a feral cat while squatting in her chair. I think people were adjusting their first impression, "Yeah, maybe not so much".
2017/05/13 22:00 Our first stop after we registered at the hotel was Buttermilk Falls State Park. Robert, Tristan, Alice, and I are staying at the hotel tonight. Karen and Michael are here but they are going home tonight.
2017/05/13 13:00 Road trip today. On our way to Ithaca.
The contractor came this morning and cut down the trees. It took them about an hour and a half. I didn't pay to have them haul away the debris so now I have to clean up the mess.
It is time for me to go get Elliott.
2017/05/20 19:00 Adison and I took Elliott to Burnet Park for Big Rig Day.
We got all the tree debris cleaned up and got the first post set in the fence upgrade.
2017/05/11 17:00 Worked today on cleaning up the downed trees.
Rainy day at 'zoo camp'.
2017/04/27 17:45 The windy city is windy. I forgot to pack a jacket. My bad. Landed in Chicago. It was headed towards 80 degrees in Syracuse when I left. It is 42 degrees here.
2017/05/29 09:00 It is Memorial Day and another rainy day. It didn't rain yesterday but it did the three days before that. Last night Karen and I finished binge watching "Riverdale" on Netflix. The final season of "Bloodline" is now available and I think we will watch that next. Because it is raining again today I guess I will be working inside. I may do a little art project that I have been wanting to do.
2017/05/25 18:00 I am feeling a little sad today. Sad and unhappy. Don't know why. I can't think of any reason. But it can't be giggles and grins all the time because then we wouldn't appreciate the laughs when they happen. It might be the weather. Rainy day here. Mondays don't get me down anymore. Just the rainy days maybe. Now I am thinking of Karen Carpenter. Ohana in Lake George soon. That makes everything better. I could use a trip to Florida and the Mai Kai. Peace.
2017/05/04 14:00
2017/05/27 19:00 I took the kids to see "Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2" today. It was my second time seeing the movie and their first.
2017/05/01 14:00 The ladies working the desk at American loved my hat. They were especially impressed when I told them my wife made it. The TSA agent here in Chicago not a fan. "That hat has metal in it" Sitting in food court waiting for my flight i just talked to the second guy interested in buying my hat. Came to Chicago wearing the hat and a Tiki Terrace shirt. Going home with a new Tiki Terrace shirt.
Selfie at Robert H. Treman State Park.
2017/04/29 09:45 I scored this uber cool Bachelor Pad mug in the CATT silent auction last night at the kick-off party. The auction raised money for charity. The mug was made by the super talented Danielle Mann of Black Lagoon Designs.
2017/04/25 15:00 Went grocery shopping at Wegmans yesterday.
2017/05/30 08:00 The forecast is for more rain today. Another rainy day. One more day in May and then it is June and the first month of Summer.
2017/05/03 23:00 Adison and Karen took Elliott to Sesame Street Live! at the Landmark Theater. Luckily Elliott was over being sick and had a really good time.
The Food Truck Festival was not as crowded as last year and the weather was better. I think attendance was down because they changed the day from Saturday to Sunday at the last minute because of weather concerns.
2017/05/02 07:00 I guess it rained a lot here at home while I was in Chicago. The forecast for the week ahead is for more rain. Elliott doesn't seem to mind the rain as we can see in these photos that Adison sent me.
Eating lunch at A&W.
Who has this much fun eating yogurt?! Elliott does!
After about 2 hours of work.
2017/05/01 22:00 My seat mate on the flight from Charlotte to Syracuse is named Mongo.
I had contractors that were supposed to come yesterday to cut down some trees. They canceled because of the rain. There is one large tree that is broken and leaning against another tree. They are going to take that down and two trees nearby.
We enjoyed the cake that Alice had made.
My life is mostly done. That is just a fact. I have less time ahead of me than I have behind me. Whenever I reflect on the life I have lived I am forced to acknowledge that I have never been a success at anything. That fact alone doesn't cause me any great discontent. I am not altogether unhappy with where I have been, where I am now, or where I seem to be heading. I was in therapy once and my therapist said one of my problems, and there are more than a few, is that I have a fear of success. Success is more complex than failure. And so failure is easier. Creative people have more trouble with success. One doesn't want success at the expense of one's integrity. And if you don't play the game you can't lose. I love sitting in my backyard with a fire in the Tiki fire bowl. Maybe with friends, family, or the dog. Some tunes playing and a super delicious cocktail or a cold brew in hand. At those moments accomplishments or achievements add nothing.
2017/05/16 09:30 Me and my bubby. Breakfast at Panera and then goofing around in the mall.
This latest iteration of my rants and rambles will still be much like past versions. I will continue to share way too much information. I will continue to be as weird as always. I am most likely still incredibly boring.
Elliott is a little subdued. Karen thinks he is a little warm. Might be coming down with something.
2017/05/06 23:00 I gave Tristan some of my swag from CATT (Chicago Area Tiki Tour). He got some Pusser Rum sunglasses. He approved.
2017/05/12 13:00 Karen and I are watching the little man Elliott today.
2017/05/14 19:00 Karen, Adison, Elliott, and I went to the Food Truck Festival at the Great NY State Fairgrounds. Karen and Adison got in for half price because it was Mother's Day and they were mothers.
After we left Buttermilk Falls State Park we headed over to Robert H. Treman State Park.
Adison took this picture of Elliott and I on the carousel. The picture quality is horrible. It looks like it should be a picture of an alien sighting on "The X-Files".
2017/05/02 22:00 Elliott woke up from his nap crying. He never does that. He was burning up - running a fever. Karen gave him some medicine for the fever. We took him home and left him with his Dad. I guess he threw up on his Dad right after we left. Karen and I went to Solvay for a Craigslist item. We got a desk for Alice's room.
Karen refused to do a selfie with me so I said I would photoshop her in later.
khan tiki mon's rants and rambles v.11.31
2017/04/27 13:00 On my way to CATT (Chicago Area Tiki Tour). Wearing my new hat. Big hit with the TSA. "Did your wife make that?" "Yes she did." "She's a keeper!!" "Yes she is." And I am wearing one of my Tiki Terrace shirts that I got on the last CATT.
A happy little girl surrounded by her 'poop' haul.
Tristan wore his Rocket Raccoon shirt. He was thrilled with the movie and not so much with getting his picture taken.
Uncle Michael and Tristan in front of the falls.
While we all were south in Ithaca Adison, Mark, and Elliott had gone west to Rochester and the Lilac Festival. There was a phone in the room and Elliott wanted me to call him. I did. Adison sent this picture of Elliott talking to me on the hotel phone.