7and8

I achieved a new level of geek. Today I went to REI to spend my gargantuan $19.26 dividend. The granola-munching, still-lives-in-mom's-basement, cross-dimensional-reflection-of-myself sees the wallet and says with the awe of seeing the lost ark prop, "Is that a paper wallet?"
"Why yes. Yes it is." I fill him in on where I found the instructions and feel that I have done my part for the human race today. I now share this with you.

I have been meaning to make a duct tape wallet for sometime but just hadn't gotten all the way to the basement. Then I found these instructions for a paper wallet. All of the cargo space and none of the getting up to go down to the basement to get the duct tape. The first picture is what caught my attention. A thinner wallet. I shuddered. Surprisingly sturdy. I quivered. I've been searching for the minimalist wallet for a number of years. But I had also shunned wallets for business card holders because I thought "billfolds" were dumb (don't ask why I only have half a reason and that half doesn't make any sense).
What the hell, an 8.5x11 paper, two small pieces of tape and scissors (shit the scissors are down in the kitchen -note to self put pair of scissors in office to eliminate walking. I read through the directions once and then actually did it. The whole process from finding the link to loading the wallet took 10 minutes. I learned what a hamburger fold and what a zipper fold is, these tidbits might be useful one day.

No more guilt from having a wallet taken from a cow's hide. Gotta go sit on the leather sofa and watch the Sox.

http://www.instructables.com/id/S9331VJF3DES9J73YS/

What is your identity? The easy answer is that one is a sum of their experiences. No one knows how much genetics, SES (Social economic status) or any other variable influence us. Generalized profiles can be created but we are the only ones who know. There may be a few marketing companies who know but they are spamming bastards. How much do you try to hide, or try to show? Why are there guilty pleasures? Why can't someone just like to sip girl drinks and listen to Air Supply and that be OK?
I've been given a certain complement a few times in my life and I always held it above all others. The complement that was "Gerard is....well Gerard." Validating, and dare I say celebrating, my uniqueness. Everyone should be this lucky. Of course one time was after an interview where I tried to show myself out and promptly walked into a supply closet.

BTW:"You're a great Dad." is a close second complement. But it has to be the one said for no reason rather than the one after I've purchased the biggest LEGO set I could without risking divorce.

7 is in little league now. There have been a few practices and a lot of e-mail but so far so good. One thing mentioned in the e-mail that I didn't expect was: "They need a cup if they want to lay catcher". Makes sense I guess. Wouldn't want the boys manhood to damaged before it is officially manhood.

So we get one in his size and I explain what it is and how to wear it. He's been parading around asking everyone to smack his junk reporting how much it didn't hurt.

7 is turning 7. So we are taking 7&8 +4 other kids to see TMNT at the theater. We've also been reading the novelization. In the initial craze of TMNT I was impressed and thought it cool but it didn't really captivate me (don't tell anyone but I think I was out of the cartoon/action figure mode, thank God I've returned to my senses). I wonder if Pat still has his #1 issue?
Well, now I'm in to it. I've made Turtle masks, ordered cakes, we are giving action figures out as party favors. Today we went to the video store (see I don't do everything digitally) and picked up the original movie and volume of cartoons. It's torture I tell ya. boy the things I do for my kids is amazing.

Now the question of the day......Which Turtle are you?
I really wanted to identify with Leonardo but now that I think more about it I'm more Michelangelo than any of the others. Maybe Mikey with a Leo slant.

Actor Bill Pullman (President from Independence Day) has had many roles where he played a nice guy but just couldn't get or keep the girl (Harry met Sally, serpent and the rainbow, While you where sleeping in Seattle). I don't know if that is still his schtick but I'm guessing he has passed the torch t0 Greg Grunberg. Sure his character on Heroes is married and had some hot 'mind reading' nookie, but even in that role the relationship was bad and isn't looking healthy anytime soon. They killed him in Lost (or did they?) they killed his wife on House (they really did, took her heart and everything). He was always C-blocked on Alias (hell, Marshall the tech-ops guy got some before his character did).
He always marches on, does the right thing (by saving Dr. Johnny Fever, might save the world but didn't do much yet to save the cheerleader). Ok, so he crashed the plane but really, he wouldn't be able to work in Hollywood at all if he was able to pull up.

Have you ever been paralyzed with fear? Have you ever jumped head first in to something only to find out it is a pit of quicksand?

I can't seem to find a middle ground with a certain decision. I understand calculated risk, a fools errand and over-analyzing. Am I postponing because it's not a good idea right now or am I sabotaging myself with procrastination in a clever disguise?

Being honest with one's self is though sometimes. My problem is, I don't usually have this problem nor regrets for whichever action I take. What has changed? Old age, wisdom, chicken shit, laziness, insight?

Remember way back a few minutes ago when I posted how 8 landed on his head? Here is more of the story.

So 8 lands on his head and walks around holding his shoulders funny for awhile but winds up bouncing the rest of Saturday away. The next morning he is holding them funny again but not really complaining. I go for a nice Sunday morning bike ride with the neighbor and come home to an empty house. "YES!" I get to shower without everyone flushing the toilet. Oh, and maybe they are out getting post ride carbs. (a.k.a. Donuts). Joy, rapture! Could this day get any better?

Then I see the note. "Gone to the ER to have 8 X-rayed, 7 is at the neighbors" I dial the wife's cell and hear her calm and that calms me down. Nothing big happened but we want to make sure the collar bone isn't busted. Doctors say X-rays are negative, just a strain, but he'll be slowed down for a few days...riiight. They don't know the will of the young when the weather is nice and EVERYONE in the neighborhood is flying kites. We are at full cartwheel status again and a little more careful on the play house.

I understand it is no longer cool to like the T-Shirts with witty sayings on them. Knowing how plugged into pop-culture I am; this probably happened years ago.
But, damn there are some that make me chuckle. I even like the irreverent t-shirts, I just wouldn't wear them.

The one over used t-shirt I'm thinking about is "I do all of my own stunts" with a picture of a stick figure tripping. I believe Adam Savage (Mythbusters) made this t-shirt popular even though it is standard stock at Target.

8 is unstoppable. Saturday he was climbing on top of the play house and fell off...onto his head. No spinal injurGy, just a strain. Guess what 8 is getting in his Easter basket.

Gotta go, the dryer is done and I don't want "My kid kicked the s**t out of your honor roll student" to wrinkle.

I've had to load three freakin' browsers but I'm finally able to post from a windows install now.

Good stuff to come, I just need to remember it.