Tag Archive for AT

AT | January 3, 2012
No comments

Playstation 3 repair and everything else

Earlier today, when Bell was wanting to pop in a CD for WeePT (Christmas present from our best buddy Tina, woot) she found that the house CD player, our PS3, wasn’t working.

Properly speaking, the controller wasn’t working, which, unfortunately means that essentially it isn’t working.

So when I got done working today, I took a peek at it.  The four lights on it were blinking when it was plugged in, meaning that it was charging, but it sure wasn’t controlling the Playstation, whether it was plugged in or not.

I reset the thing, and did a little dance around it, and it still didn’t work.

The innards of the PS3 controller

So, I took that bastard apart.  Why?  Because that’s what I do when things are broken, and in my experience there’s a 50/50 chance that it’ll work, or that it won’t work.

Ever again.

Anyway, my thinking was that the battery might want to be jiggled around, or there was a wire loose, or a gremlin that I can shake out.

WeePT, entertained by Pigpen

At this point, let it be known that Bell was at work for the evening, I was on tap to make supper to arrive at around 6, and WeePT is hiiiiiiiigh energy and will be expecting her dinner soon.  I tasked Pigpen with entertaining the baby temporarily while I fixed this thing.

So, now that I’ve got the circuitboard exposed, I found what seemed to be the problem, one of the L/R triggers was stuck in the downward (mashed) position.

Fixing it basically meant taking everything off, and these triggers are housed in a little plastic assembly, connected to a foam trigger pad, connected to a little offshoot of the circuitboard that turns your fumbly clicks into the guy on the screen failing to do what you want him to do.

Once I removed all the little plastic bits, I was able to slide the evil little plastic piece back on.

The offending trigger

Sliding the trigger back on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cue theme to Jaws

 

 

 

By this point, young WeePT was becoming bored the the attentions of her brother,and started inquiring after her dinner.

Time was running out.

I was able to get the triggers back on, and fitting the circuit pad under them was a pain, lemme tell ya.  I started fitting the two halves of the body back together, and..

Let me step aside for a moment.

Deep breath, Theres a reason these bastards aren't joining, and it's not because the world hates you.

I have a tendency, in moments of pressure and at the climax of a project, to try to brute force my way towards completion, completely throwing out the window any delicacy and finesse I possessed earlier.  It doesn’t work, not on electronics, not on cats, not on cars, and not on the ladies.

When the two halves of the body refused to connect, while WeePT was counting down

Success!

her fuss clock, I was tempted just to squeeze those suckers together and MAKE them fit, but I resisted.

After a little bit of wiggling and jiggling, everything connected together peacefully.

I plugged it up, and hallelujah, it worked.

Just in time to make dinner.

And it was good too.

Mmmmmm ricey chicken!

 

Category: DIY | Tags: , , , , ,
AT | December 9, 2011
2 comments

So I was working from home the other day, and…

WeePT was helping me work from home a few days ago, and we had just finished breakfast and a little bit of play time (play time being that she plays on the floor while I sit behind her and supervise my laptop and my baby), and it was getting on time for the 10:30 bottle.

Alas, I had no clean bottles.  We are modern people (please), and use a dishwasher and two children to clean most of our dishes, but the bottles Bell and I hand clean with a cute little bottle spongy thing so they don’t get cloudy, and it hadn’t been done in a few days.

Alas, the dishwasher and two children had apparently been off the previous day, because the sink was full of dishes.  Ah well.  So was the dishwasher, except these ones were clean.  It appeared that there were obstacles in our bottle path.

So, WeePT saddled up for a daddy ride, and we started emptying the hell out of the dishwasher.  I was almost done, had just stacked the pyrex bowls in the pantry, when there was a crash like the scalded banshee of 14 hells from behind me, and glass was suddenly all over the floor.  And I’m not talking about “oh, no, I broke a glass”, I’m talking about solid pounds and pounds of glass.  If I had a smelter, I would be able to make the greatest lifesized glass buddha you’ve ever seen.

I don’t know about you, folks, but when metric shit tons of glass falls 3 feet behind my back and disintegrates all over the pantry floor, I like to stand there and gawk at it for about 15 seconds, just so my brain can fully process exactly what happened.

WeePT, on the other hand, is of a different sort.  She gave it about the same 15 seconds I did, and then let loose with an most impressive display of chest tied baby enthusiasm and foot kicking.

Long story short, the glass got cleaned up (we think it was a vase that one of the aforementioned kids placed precariously on the shelf 5 feet above the ground), the floor got swept and mopped, the sink got emptied, the bottles got washed, and the baby got fed.

And nobody got cut…

Until about 20 minutes ago, when my finger found a tiiiiiny piece of glass on the top of the dryer.  Which is situated fully 4 feet over and 3 feet above ground zero.

Crazy…

Category: Work | Tags: , , , ,
Bell | November 28, 2011
2 comments

Sharing a bathroom with BOYS

Today, WeePT is 7 months old. Wow… time flies.

I want her to stay this way…. and at the exact same time…I want to do all the rest of it. I can’t wait to see her grow! Such a strange feeling.

Last night, we introduced WeePT to the big bathtub. Her infant tub is good…but just not enough room for her to wiggle and play. Not to mention that the whole kitchen gets soaked from her splashes.

So- I filled the tub and climbed in with her so she wouldn’t slide all over the place.

She loved it. She splashed and kicked. She threw her water toys and watched them float back to her. I think she would have stayed in it all night…but Mommy was getting cold, so I know she probably was, too.

Kind of a milestone. She’s getting so big.

WeePT after her bath

 

Anyway… I’m rambling.

When AT and I were discussing bathing her in the big tub, the “cleanliness” of the tub came up. We have 2 full bathrooms in our house, but only one actual bathtub. It’s in the bathroom that the boys use, exclusively.

Pigpen and MastaG clean their own bathroom weekly as part of their chores. That being said, let me say it again….”THEY CLEAN THEIR OWN BATHROOM.”

It’s ok. It isn’t scummy or black. There is no mildew. They do a decent job. But now…they have to share the bathroom with their SISTER. I’d say the standards are going to change some. (Well…maybe).

Before taking WeePT into the bathroom. I checked it out. Not bad. I did, however, have to do some cleaning. With bathroom soap and the scrubber.

After I cleaned the tub, I came into the living room and the following conversation occurred:

Me: Hey boys? We’re going to start bathing WeePT in the big bathtub now that she’s outgrown her baby tub. I’d like to make a suggestion.

MastaG: ok..

Me: After you take your showers in the mornings, do you mind to make sure that the hairs and snot-wads are rinsed out of the tub?

Pigpen: ewwwww…Mooooommmmm (little boy giggle)

Me: I’m just saying. You two are the only ones that use it…and they have to come from somewhere. Just make sure to rinse out the tub and get the hairs off the drain. I really don’t want to touch them. Hairs… I understand. I lose hairs in the shower, too. And Dad and I have to clean them off the drain. Snot wads? You won’t find those on my shower walls. Just please clean them up if you felt the need to blow them out of your nose in the shower.

(From the other room) AT: Are you sure it’s snot?

=====   : /

All I can hope is that the fear of MOM having to clean up all those “embarrassing,” personal things out of the bathtub will prod them to clean up after themselves, so I don’t have to. Fingers crossed. But I have my tub cleaner handy…just in case.

I’m not afraid for my daughter. It’ll make her tough. Sharing a bathroom with boys is not for the weak stomached. It’s not always bad. But it’s definitely something all females should have to endure before they move in with the love of their life when they find him.

I grew up with 3 brothers and we all shared a bathroom. Here are some of the things I learned:

  • Get out of bed and into the shower as soon as your alarm goes off. That way, you can have hot water for your shower. I don’t know why boys take so long in the shower. But they do…
  • Blowing boogers into the sink is the best way for boys to get the snot out of their noses. (Better than seeing them pick their noses)
  • Use the fan. It’s there for a reason.
  • Don’t use washcloths or towels that you find laying on the floor to dry your hands. (Various reasons for this)
  • Don’t be surprised to find condoms hanging from the shower head. Evidently this is the best way to fill the “water balloons” that you buy in the gas station bathroom.
  • Tampons can be used to soak up water that overflows from the potty. They are absorbent …gotta think outside the box, people.
  • Girls “spritz” their perfume. Boys bathe in their “cologne.”
  • Use PINK razors. That way, they won’t use them. : )
  • Boys take things to read into the bathroom. I’ve never actually contemplated doing this, as I head to the potty…But I can say I’ve enjoyed some of the reading they leave them behind.

I’m sure there are others. The best thing to remember is > they do things differently in there… so DON’T BE SURPRISED BY ANYTHING.

I’m happy I can give/share this experience with my daughter.

: )

 

Category: Kids, Ramblings | Tags: , , , , ,
Bell | November 6, 2011
2 comments

Lazy Sunday Haiku

 

I thought I slept in
Clocks going back messed me up
Got up normal time

Coffee with AT
WeePT had her breakfast
Boys woke up later

Worked on a project
It’ll be awesome when done.
We will let you know.

Loaded into van
Headed to Ktown to shop
Left the boys at home

Groceries and stuff
Piled into the big red cart
It adds up so fast.


Diapers, formula
New baby foods for lil girl
Fell asleep shopping

Got home, unloaded.
House smells of burning pasta
Pigpen tried to cook.

Leftovers dont need
Ten minutes in microwave,
Burnt spaghetti stinks.

Dishwasher running.
Laundry is lined up to go
Time to crash on couch.

No plans made from here
Gonna spend the lazy day
Doing nothing else.

Category: Haiku, Kids | Tags: , ,
AT | November 2, 2011
One comment

Current status: Its totally Wednesday

So this week’s been the kind of week that likes to set fire to your trash can when nobody’s looking.

Right now, everybody but poor Bell is sitting in the living room.  MastaG is playing a video game, Pigpen is supposed to be reading a book but peeking over to watch the video game, and WeePT is currently eating my knee and occasionally marveling at the fact that she has a voice capable of loud, animalistic outbursts.

I love the fact that a kid can get so loud and excited over the fact that she’s loud and excited.

Lets get back to poor Bell, tho… she’s at work today, on her day off, because she’s da boss, and that’s what bosses do, when they’re good bosses and the shit’s hit the fan.

She rocks, and if shes lucky she won’t have a passed out husband and baby when she gets home tonight again :)

Category: Ramblings | Tags: , , , , ,
AT | November 1, 2011
2 comments

Hard day at work

image

Category: Kids, Work | Tags: , ,
AT | October 29, 2011
7 comments

Saturday morning

How many other folks out there are listening to Mary Jane’s Last Dance while breaking down SQL tables and trying to learn how to query and import them to a new database, as the baby sleeps in the carrier at your feet, and the wife is opening up the petshop?

Everybody?  Cool, then you know how things are going over here.

Saturday mornings are a fantastic time, except when the gal you’re smitten with is at work.  I do my best not to have TOO much fun that she misses out on, although I’m sure she’s jealous of the SQL stuff.  Can’t get enough of those CREATE TABLE import errors, right?

These days, my mind finds a weird satisfaction in playing with years.  Reflecting on the fact that this record came out 20 years ago now, but yet I was fully cognizant and can remember the impact that it had on it’s life is an interesting game.  I’m not sure why this humors me, or at least interests me, but I think it has something to do with the fact that, nearly 15 years after my first baby, there’s another one squirming around on my lap (or sleeping peacefully in the carseat, as the case may be).

This round of fatherhood is sublimely awesome.  They were all great, mind, but to have a child that was so intently planned, but yet in the macro lens picture of life, so amazingly random and surprising, floors me.  I’m old enough to remember the things that I wish I held onto with the boys at this age, and young enough to have the time to watch her grow up.

Wise enough to know it doesn’t last, and young enough to be impatient for the next step in her life.

She’ll wake up in a little while, and we’ll change a diaper, and play on the floor.  She’ll grin at me when I tickle her ribs with my nose, and might even give me a giggle, and I’ll cherish every minute about it, because even though I’ve got 20 years of adultish history in my mind, I’ve also got a RIGHT NOW that’s better than all of it, and constantly getting better.

Hows that for a Saturday morning?

Category: Kids, Ramblings | Tags: , , ,
Bell | October 28, 2011
2 comments

Happy 6mos Birthday!!

WeePT is 6 months old today. Wow.

Just wow.

She’s growing so fast.

This time last year, I was wishing anticipating the 12 week pregnant mark…hoping maybe the evening ‘morning sickness’ that I was experiencing would subside. I’d spend the evenings in the bed…or on the couch watching AT play whatever new PlayStation game he had at the time. Closing my eyes and taking deep breaths was the only way to make the nausea go away. Never actually went to throw up though….well, unless you count absolute rejection the Bean had with my dinner from Cancuns. But it wasn’t morning sickness related. My pregnant tummy did NOT want the Mexican food. Anyway, it was noted and we never had the same problem again : )

Six months ago, I had no idea how awesome this was going to be. I was very much anticipating the experience. And it’s everything I thought it would be.. and sooooo much more.

Sweet girl.

WeePT has taken each of our hearts and cuddled right up to them.

Pigpen loves playing with her.

MastaG is absolutely smitten.

And AT? He is soooo much loving having a little girl. It’s awesome. He glows when he plays with her. And she loves him so much.

Luckily, she is a very good-natured baby.

She is always soaking in her surroundings. Weary of different, but interested. She loves being at home around all of the things she knows. You can see her relax as soon as we walk into the house.

She’s getting better about riding in the car seat. She still doesn’t LIKE it, but she fusses herself to sleep more than she used to. I think she’s given in to the idea that we can’t do anything about it. We tried a pacifier. She wouldn’t take it. We bought 3-4 different kinds and finally just stopped trying. I gave one to her the other day…and she just plays with it. Oh well.

She is still breastfeeding. But she has no problem taking a bottle (never has…cuz she’s a “greedy eater” according to the pediatrician). She gets formula or pumped BM when I am at work. She’s cool with that.

She eats real food twice a day. Baby Oatmeal and a couple ounces of whichever Stage 1 baby food we pick for breakfast. She gets an entire 4oz cup of baby food for dinner. We made it through all of the cereals, green, orange, yellow veggies and all of the fruits without any signs of allergies or sensitivities. And she is sooooo good at eating with the spoon. So, we’re hoping to be cleared to move to stage 2 foods after our doctor visit next week.

WeePT is stingy with her giggles. But they do exist. Something has to be the funniest thing she’s ever seen… and she laughs and laughs. But the next day…when you try it again? Nope. No laughs. That’s OLD NEWS. Try again, Mom.

Regardless of whether she laughs for you…you will get a grin. She hands them out. Big ol’ toothless grin.

Well..toothless for now. She has the signs that she has teeth coming in. Drool. Wakefulness. Gnawing on everything. Low-grade fever. But the days seem to come in sets of 3…3 good, 3 bad. We are hoping they break through soon. I hate to see her so uncomfortable.

She can roll over. Both ways. Either direction.

She loves to “jump, jump, jump.”

Her favorite thing to do right now is “thump” her feet…. She likes to do it mostly on the diaper changer…she rocks the whole thing. Feet up and then she slams them into the ground. She thinks it’s awesome and funny.

WeePT is intrigued with the dogs and cats. She “found” them a few weeks ago. When they come around her, her eyes light up, her feet and arms start flying in all directions. Sometimes she talks to them. They still disregard her, mostly. But when they do decide to acknowledge her (tail wags and sometimes she gets kissed on the head), she loves it.

Sleeping isn’t a problem. She’s pretty good about her naps. They range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Usually, she takes one big nap a day…then 3 or 4 little naps. At night, she falls asleep between 8 and 9…and sleeps soundly until about 4 or 5 am. She eats and falls asleep again. I can’t complain at all.

I’m looking forward to her being a little more independent as far as entertaining herself…but I know that’s coming. I don’t want to hurry anything.

I treasure every day. Days that I am home, we spend the day playing and napping. Days that I work, I get big ol smiles when I get home (smiles makes it all better), and then we settle on the couch for mommy and baby time. I love it.

WeePT is 14.5 lbs now. She has officially doubled her birth weight (7lbs 2 oz). She’s still a petite little thing. At her 4 month appointment, she was 15% in weight, 70% in head size and 54% in her length. I’m curious to see what her new “stats” are.

She’s staying right with the clothes sizes…except for her long legs. The 6 month clothes fit her body…but the pants are too short (it looks like she’s a fan of Capri pants). Mostly, we have her in 6-9mos and 9mos outfits. I’ve found that it’s fun to shop for her. I, personally, am not a fan of clothes shopping for myself. But I can predict that shopping for her might get a little out of hand. Good thing there is a kids’ clothing “resale” store really close to the house. : )

Oh, sweet girl. I can’t imagine how we ever existed without you.

Happy 6 months, little one.

Mommy loves you.


 

Category: Kids | Tags: , , , ,
AT | October 26, 2011
No comments

Adventures in the school parking lot

So yesterday I was picking up Pigpen after school from his math club meeting, as is my Tuesday wont.

I arrived at the school, parked and unloaded WeePT, and as I walked toward the building I heard the distinctive sound of a drill instructor calling forth no end of rage and righteous fury on the delinquent piles of filth that he has the misfortune of having to turn into a soldier.

Loud, angry, dark tones reverberated around the parking lot, which struck me a bit out of place at a traditional elementary school setting.

I looked around for the source of the voice, now quite clear, and shouting:

“You will not joke with me!
I am not your friend!
I do not want to talk to you!
I was in the military for four years and they did not issue me a sense of humor!”

It was when I was waiting for the bit about removing eyes and doing things to one’s ocular socket that I realized I was hearing the bus driver talking to the kids that just loaded up on the bus.

The little math club kids?

I signed Pigpen out, and as I was doing so asked the guidance teacher there if they’ve got new bus drivers.

Category: CrazyAssPeople | Tags: , ,
AT | October 24, 2011
27 comments

Hey, internet, how’re you doing?

Dear Internet,

I hope you have been well.  I have had a nice vacation.

Here are some things I’ve done while I was away, in no particular order

  • I stopped wearing my hat
  • We bought a big TV and a nice sectional sofa and moved our general sitting around from the den to the living room
  • Built a bar in the den and put nice cork flooring down.  That was, like, a long time before we bought the sectional and the big TV.
  • Had like 4 birthdays or something like that.  Maybe 3.  I don’t remember.  Point is, I’m older.
  • So’s Bell.  But I don’t mention that.
  • I mean, I know, it’s kind of a well DUH thing, people get older, you’re probably older too, I guess.
  • Anyway
  • Shaved off my beard
  • Tried to sell the house.
  • Decided we like the house and will keep it
  • Until we can sell it. Freakin bear market.
  • Went to Europe.  That was sweet.  Bell and I went to Rotterdam, Manchester, Glasgow, and Pisa/Florence/Tuscany.  Hell yeah.
  • Work paid for it :)
  • Gave the boys separate rooms.  MastaG got a cave room, and Pigpen got a pirate ship room.
  • Moved the boys back into one room.  Its pretty cool too, with a sectional divider between them.
  • Got a nasty staph infection.  You probably don’t want to hear about that.
  • Was the foreman in a jury.  Exciting.
  • Had a daughter.  Well, obviously, I didn’t, but I’m convinced she’s mine.  Still, who saw that coming?
  • Bought a minivan.  Traded in the ol Mazda.  I’m content with this.
So, I think that’s about all I can think of, but I’m sure somebody around here will remember something I didn’t.
Nice to be back!
Category: Ramblings | Tags: , , , ,