Life in Chattanooga: Ramblings of a stay-at-home dad, pastor's husband, brother, son, all around silly guy, schmuck, and whatever else you’d like to call me.
Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter Theme Song
This movie has everything to make a great movie; Jesus Christ, vampires, Kung Fu, Musical (as in genre), lesbians, Mexican Wrestler El Santo, God talking through a bowl of ice cream and cherries, revenge, bad acting, bad audio dubbing, and made by Canadiens. What more do I need to say except, “Thank you, Netflix!”
Check out other reviews of this . . . ahem . . . film:
I made the realization the other day, as I was preparing a grilled shrimp over black bean and corn salad for the farm adventure, that I really miss cooking and baking. The Elder Extroverted Holy One and I used to cook a lot before the Young Extroverted One made herself known. When we were doing the vegetarian thing (up until the polish sausage incident during pregnancy) we made some extravagant meals. Heck, I used to bake bread every week!
I’m not blaming the YEO for our lack of homecooked meals. It’s just that now the dynamics are a little different. In order for a more reasonable bedtime we need to have dinner at a certain time. And I am usually wiped out from work. That leaves the EEHO, who is usually wiped out from schoolin’, picking up the YEO and keeping her entertained with snacks and whatever else fits her fancy at the time. So, lately it’s been boxed prepared meals and Schwan’s(which is surpisingly good, by the way).
You see, I’m just a little more domestic than the EEHO. If I were a stay-at-home dad like I was for YEO’s first year of life I’d be all domesticated. The dishes would be done, laundry washed, dried and folded and our house would be clean (either that or I’d be wearing pearls, drinking wine, watching soaps and eating bon-bons. Hmmm . . . that sounds kind of cool too). Of course, in order for our house to be clean I would have to shave our two dogs and two cats but I’m up for that!
I guess I find some sort of meditative properties in the acts of domesticity. Kind of Zen and the Art of Archery but I wouldn’t be shooting stuff. It’s the process of prepping ingredients that go in to a meal or washing dishes by hand or even folding laundry. All of these activities seem to center me. It just seems I can find more meaning (?) in these things that I can do for my family and friends than I can in hanging chain motors, wrapping truss and raising said truss to show height for a Wal-Mart corporate gig.
I guess the EEHO needs to find some wealthy church to pay her so she can support my homely habits of housekeeping.
This is pretty old news but worth writing about.
All of which would have been forgotten if it had not been for my trusty Moleskine Pocket-sized Ruled Notebook. Yay for pens, paper and no short-term memory!
The Young Extroverted One’s spring break was a week later than the Elder Extroverted Holy One’s. So, we had to scramble to line up some ways of childcaring while we were working. Luckily, I was off on Days Three and Four!
Day One: Hanging out with her bud Griffin at Natural Fields Farm. Then over to her grandmother’s house for the night and most of the next day.
Day Two: See above.
Day Three: Off we went to the Nashville Public Library for Story Time. After story time we browsed the stacks for a little while and found some books and a DVD. When we were done there we decided to hit the Mellow Mushroom mainly because I wanted a beer with lunch but also to try to have lunch with EEHO since it was near the divinity school. My cell phone calls were ignored so YEO and I had a lovely lunch.
After a little digestion at home we headed out to Shelby Park and Shelby Bottoms for the YEO to ride her bike. Considering that we’ve never been to Shelby Bottoms we just decided to walk it orI walked it and she rode on my shoulders. It’s pretty nice out there along the Cumberland River. Plus, they’re in the process of building a nature center.
After my lovely, laden walk we hit the new ice cream joint in East Nashville called the Pied Piper Creamery . All I have to say about this place is MMMMMmmmmmm . . . me likey. I think the YEO liked it too.
Day Four: We went to the Nashville Zoo ! Unfortunately, so did everyone else. Beside the crowdedness, which I LOVE, it was very fun and the weather was, in YEO’s words, “AWESOME!” After zoo time we went home waited for EEHO to get home and we took her to the Pied Piper Creamery. Another convert was made that evening.
Day Five: Was spent with the EEHO and they went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts . I had to go back to work so I can’t report on that trip.
Day Six: Was a Saturday and we had planned a cook-out and general family/dog fun time back out at Natural Fields Farm with the Say crew and a couple of other families. Good food, good beer, creek time, good beer, bratwurst, dogs, ticks, good beer. I’m pretty sure it happened just like that. Really, all that I remember were the bratwurst and the beer and, I believe, nobody got hurt.
No zoo animals or naturally grown foods were harmed during these adventures.
I know I should be working or at least writing about the topics in my last post but I found this little thing so I thought I’d share.
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to Joel.
I have a backlog of things to write about. I just need the time to do it. So, here’s a little teaser:
Soon to come:
Enjoy the day! But please be careful out there. This is one of those holidays (like New Years) where the amatuers are out in full force. If you are a pro be careful and avoid that green beer crap (real professionals wouldn’t mess up a fine brew with food coloring). Any of you amatuers out there reading this should not drive drunk.
Everyone should have a designated driver no matter what your status!
I’m very greatful for the decision by Nashville’s Metro Sports Authority to approve the proposal* by the Nashville Predators to drop the name that has caused people all over Nashville to spew spittal in my face when pronouncing GEC(H). I have always had a problem with that abbreviation since before I moved here. Even more so lately, when the Elder Extroverted Holy One is working on her Hebrew pronounciations.
When working for the, what was once, Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena (now the RBC Center) we never called it the RESA (reesah). We just simply called it the Raleigh Arena or the arena. Affectionally also known as ‘hell hole’ because it seemed like that the first year we opened but now I reserve that nickname for my current place of employment.
Hopefully, the nice residents of Middle Tennessee won’t resort to shortening the Nashville Arena down to NA (nah). You could even just say ‘arena.’ Because, hey, it’s the only real arena in town. At least the only place the Preds play.
So, I wish I could say I’m running down to the Nashville Arena to watch a hockey game tonight but I have to work. Sigh. In honor of the most appropriate, even if it’s temporary, name I’m going to say that I am going down to the arena to catch a hockey game soon!
It’s turning out to be a woeful day isn’t it?
Someone explain to me that with a team of three riggers and one of them on vacation for a week gets to do all of the time sensitive related work. The lone, just-off-of-vacation worker is now more stressed than before he left.
You have two guys who saw the beginning of this project and me, who was leaving and thus not involved with the planning, CAD drawing, bidding and buying of supplies needed. I’m going to be here to help with the rigging of this monstrosity but wasn’t here for the planning.
Today I was going to come in later because of a 10:30PM load out. However, I went in much earlier than anticipated and had to put together an order of stuff that I had no clue of quantities for a project that I had barely even seen the first draft drawing of that HAD to be ordered today! Ugh. The co-workers are going to get an earful when I see them because this kind of behavior is not right. Now our boss, whom I consider to be a decent friend, has to deal with this issue as well when he didn’t have to because it should have been done.
He’s stressed, I’m stressed. Someone’s gettin’ punched square in the neck for this one (figuratively speaking that is).
After dealing with printing frustration this morning as the Elder Extroverted Holy One tried to print an assignment I have made the decision to get a new printer. I have only experienced this problem on a few occasions. EEHO, on the other hand, seems to have daily problems with this thing. I’ve always, absently dismissed her complaints with a wave of the hand and a trip up the stairs. This morning was the paper jam/ink stain/malfunction that broke the camel’s back! I had visions of seeing how far it would fly out of the second story window!
We’re going laser! And networked! The current piece o’ crap wasn’t networkable so I had to share it through my iMac. When the iMac was asleep the printer was incommunicado. Back upstairs to wake the old guy (maybe that’s why I’ve been moved upstairs . . . to get some excercise!) so she can print. NO MORE! We are getting a networkable laser printer so I go upstairs when I want to not when the printer is being stupid.
Take that Epson Stylus photo 825!
I’m sitting here in the fine home of our dear friends, currently stealing someone’s wi-fi (thanks whoever you are!) and enjoying the scenery here in Black Mountain, NC. I have certainly missed this quaint town on the verge of being surrounded by gated communities spoiling the ridge tops of these Blue Ridge Mountains. I’m not really sure if it’s B.M. or just the area because we really enjoy Asheville too. Whenever the Elder Extroverted Holy One graduates I’d really like to be back here.
It’s not that we don’t like Nashville. We really do enjoy being there. I think it’s the community feeling that we miss the most. As we pulled into the Ingles parking lot to pick up some wine* for our host family the EEHO saw and greeted three or four people she knew. I only see one person that I know when I go into the Inglewood Kroger every couple of weeks and that doesn’t guarantee they’ll speak to me (or me to them . . . what can I say? I AM an introvert!).
Just driving from one place to another in this place we have seen people that we know going about their business. It’s comforting to experience that kind of thing. In East Nashville it’s more like, “Hey! There goes that kid who broke into my car last week!” Definitely not the warm and fuzzy feeling that one gets from a small, mountain community.
I guess the one thing that’s going for Music City is that we wouldn’t have to pack and move again. Plus, the hockey team. Oh and the museums and concert venues. Add to that the fact that I have a job that is year round. Oh well, maybe we’ll stay. I swear to you out there in the blogospherical universe I will have seasons tickets to Predators hockey if we stay!
*It is SOOOOO nice to be able to buy wine at the grocery store and not some nasty liquor store.