Monday Self Portrait

So Cian and I traveled through time today. 1970s to the present.

Before:


After:


Give us enough time to travel to the sixties and the transformation will be even more obvious!

Hidden messages for DVRers

Thought this was interesting. While watching TV I have seen some GE ads that seem to have a barrage of images at the end. SO today I figured I would use the powers of my DVR and pause and watch it frame by frame. And in fact, that is exactly what the advertisers intended. The kids and I learned of the story of the Frog Prince from the frog's point of view. You can try to catch the commercial yourself, or click this link for it (listed as "The ugly princess").

President day portrait

Thank you, Presidents, for the day off!

Zero to Hero

For a late Valentines day gift (and because I had a coupon for Best Buy good this weekend) Rose bought me Guitar Hero II. So I have spent most of last night and this morning going from Zero to Hero. Done all the training...beat easy mode...beat medium mode.

The songs get more difficult as you go along... go figure. My fingers are not used to being used. Eye-hand coordination was supposed to only include thumbs and forefingers.. no more. I complain about my fingers now, but it is probably nothing compared to having to actually mess with strings.

Cian was really excited to see it when mom brought it in. Instantly wanted to play it (kinda tricky). Much harder than his demo he kept watching (played a movie of the gameplay). His favorite song is "Shout at the Devil" via Motley Crue.

I've been enjoying the older songs... from names as Kansas, Cheap Trick, Heart, etc. Good mix.


I'll probably start buying the other songs (in game buying) and outfits and characters as soon as the kids are out. All they want me to buy with my hard earned cash are different guitars.


Back to the concert, or (as Jamie now says) "Let's Rock!!"

Simple pleasures

SO... Rose had gotten a recipe that we have tried a couple of times. It's pretty damn good, and really easy.

Ingredients:
1 Box cake mix
1 can pop
1 tub of cool whip

Instructions:
1. Open box and empty cake mix into bowl.
2. Open can and empty into cake mix in bowl.
3. Mix with mixer.
4. Pour into baking dish.
5. Follow manufacturers baking instructions.
6. Let cake cool.
7. Cut a piece out and top with Cool Whip.
8. Enjoy!

I had been referring the kids requests to mom for the past couple of days, because I didn't know how to do it. "Hey dad can we make cake. Remember we got cake mix?" "Yes...lets wait for mommy... she knows the recipe".

I was trying to work the Diet Coke in with the water/oil/eggs, but you just substitute the pop for those 3 things. I thought... "how can this be? Eggs bind the stuff together... this will be some sloshy mess", but LO it is not! And it is (as stated before) pretty damn good!

Weeee!

Yesterday, Rose and I were able to have some 'us' time. A friend graciously watched the kids for us and we cut out. Downtown we went... to the John Mayer concert.

Until I figure out how to get my pictures off the camera phone...here's a pic of my phone with a picture of us in the stands:


I have a picture of John Mayer too, but the double edged sword of light foiled my image. Alas... I needed light to see and for him to show up, but the stage lights end up blending and make a huge blur of light where the stage is. Or perhaps that was the aura of the band blinding my camera phone.

I still like my phone (free upgrade and much better than the last), but I have developed cellphone envy as I was at the concert. Some asian girls below us had a kick ass phone. There I was trying to take pictures that ended up being a washed out stage, but they were taking movies. And while I was struggling with connecting to my email she was browsing a list of what I suppose was email. While I struggled to type my email password in using the number keys, SHE had a mini keypad to quickly type messages.

The music was good too! :) Cool lights... good jam sessions... good singing.


Would definitely like to do more of this kid free stuff.