Oh yeah!
Operation: Whatever The Fuck Crazy-Ass Name They Come Up With For The Iraq War is in the house!

Like with everything else we do, my perfect wife, Alpha, and I have different styles in parenting, although we agree on most things, like kids need love, and structure but don’t overdo it etc. Like with everything else, it boils down to her being more successful at coping with this matter of being human and living in a society, whereas I tend to get freaked out, or be forgetful.

This morning, for example, she reminded me numerous times not to forget Gamma’s bag when I took her to daycare (I leave for work several minutes before Alpha does, and drop the kids off). I assured her that, yes, I would not forget the bag.

Who was standing in the doorway as we drove out the driveway, naked, waving a forgotten bag? Alpha. “Don’t forget to tell them at daycare that another parent is picking her up to take her to ballet class,” she reminded me.

Later, after dropping the kids off, my cell phone rang. It was my wife. “Did you tell them someone else was picking her up?” she asked.

“Feh,” I said. “Could you call them and tell them?”

Sometimes I remember this stuff, sometimes telling me is a pure waste of information.

On the other hand, I nearly have Gamma convinced that she’s gradually turning into a mouse.

I heard it on the radio. Bush said something like, “blah blah blah bad governments should not have nor imploy bad weapons blah blahdiblah read my lips” and I thought, first, hey that’s “employ” monkey-boy and then I thought, “what’s bad, like you mean, a government that’s not democratically elected? A government that denies its citizens rights guaranteed in its constitution? A plutocracy? A…”

[BANG!!]

Dead Horse: [Blowing smoke from barrel of Colt .45 revolver] Jesus Christ, enough is enough, dude.

If, upon arriving at work, you go to ride the elevator, which has a history of breakdowns, and a loud, shrill screeching sound is coming from the machinery in the ceiling, do you still get on?

(I couldn’t get the “review this castle” form to work at that site linked below, so I’m just reprinting here what I submitted…)
Hochosterwitz is a wonderful castle, and I make an effort to visit everytime I’m in the vicinity. I’ve been there numerous times, most recently last weekend with the family. The approach is unique, passing through 14 fortified gates; it is also quite steep, which is a disadvantage if you are carrying a stubborn 5-year old. From a distance the castle, especially in brilliant autumn light, is just fantastic to look at, like something out of a fanciful hollywood movie about dragons. The view from the castle itself is just as striking, as the surrounding landscape is quite beautiful. Minus: the interior of the castle does smell quite musty in places.

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