21 Years - Whoa

2 reasons I love you for each year we have been married

1. I love your soul
2. I love your face
3. I love your faith
4. I love your mind
5. I love being married to you
6. I love you body
7. I love your optimistic personality...even if it annoys me at times
8. I love that you homeshool our kids
9. I love that you have faith in me
10. I love the taste of the salt on your skin
11. I love waking up in the morning with your hair in my face
12. I love your smile
13. I love your hair...even though you cut it short
14. I love you during labor
15. I love how hot you look when pregnant
16. I love that you stay home with the kids
17. I love that you support my working out
18. I love that you feel safe in my arms
19. I love how you cuddle up next to me in the winter for warmth
20. I love your laugh, the nice one, not the witchy cackle one
21. I love that you don’t like to go shopping
22. I love when you wear blue jeans and diamond stud earrings
23. I love you when you cry
24. I love that you can’t balance a checkbook and might not even know where we bank – that’s trust
25. I love to watch you sleep
26. I love that you don’t call me at work 20 times a day
27. I love how you can nurse a baby and coach a soccer game at the same time
28. I love when you make my lunch for work and put notes in it
29. I love when you rub my shoulders
30. I love when you hug me from behind
31. I love that you are the pick of the litter
32. I love when we pray together
33. I love that we are BFF’s
34. I love your eyebrows
35. I love your warmth
36. I love when you try and do new things on the computer
37. I love that you are more beautiful at 42 then you were at 16 when we met
38. I love how you are selfless
39. I love that I love your more today than the day we were married
40. I love TTN
41. I love that you take care of me when I am sick
42. I love that you are trying to cook better

And a bonus reason:
I love this wedding photo of you

Demotivational Monday

Because the weekend is over and Mondays are just horrendous

Yo Mrs Half-Dozen Productions

I think someone had you in mind with this t-shirt. Tell that WingNut Dude to get ya one.

Today's Workouts

3.8 Miles at a quick pace - for me.
Hip is slowly, really slowly, improving.

THE BAPTIST WHITE LIE CAKE

Have you ever told a white lie? You are going to love this, especially all of the ladies who bake for church events:

Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa, but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and, after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix. She quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack up for Scout camp.

When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat, and the cake was horribly disfigured. She exclaimed, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!" This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church, and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of the cake. She found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect. Before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money with specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30, and to buy the cake and bring it home.

When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. Amanda grabbed her cell phone and called her mom. Alice was horrified! She was beside herself! Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back.

The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake. She would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend because the hostess was a snob who, more than once, had looked down her nose at the fact that Alice was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa. But having already RSVP'd, she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home.

The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust Old South and to Alice's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, "What a beautiful Cake!"

Alice, still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself.."

Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is good"

What's a Parent of a LC Seminarian to do?

Wait out the reforms, whatever they may be, that are coming? Try and talk them home? "Force" them home? Sigh....

That idiot Maciel really screwed up and caused a lot of pain and suffering across this world (understatement I know). And when are the others in the Legion and in the Vatican who knew what the sociopath-pervert was up too gonna get the hammer dropped on them? Seriously! I'd be more than happy to do it.

Maybe I'm so bitter and p!ssed because I trusted them and let my son go when I could have prevented it (when he was still a minor). I should have known better. The questions about the fruitcake founder have been around for years. Personally my son is doing just fine and his faith and vocation seem as strong as ever...but still...what kind of future will he have in the Legion? If the name is kept they will always be treated as outcasts and lepers by many. And yet there are many good and faithful priests and seminarians in the Legion - which given who their founder was is quite incredible and proof of how the grace of God can function in any place at anytime. It would be a shame to throw away the wheat with the chaff.

I've been reluctant to write about because every Tom, Dick and Harry have been mouthing off about. And a lot of the so called Catholics writing about seem to take great glee in all this and see it as a way to not only kill the Legion (which may be needed) but also to "reform" the church in general and the papacy in particular. And I don't want any part of those different groups of loons...Voice of the "Faithful". National Catholic Reporter etc....

There are no lack of suggestions of ways to reform the Legion (see below for an example) but this is of little comfort or use when you have a son already 2 years into the process of becoming a priest.

Next Acts in the Legionary Drama
May 5, 2010
George Weigel

Over the past year, members and friends of the Legionaries of Christ and its affiliated lay movement, Regnum Christi, have worked hard in trying to “save what can be saved” from the wreckage created by revelations that the founder of these communities, Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado, lived a vicious and duplicitous life of moral turpitude for decades, during which he fathered several children; sexually abused seminarians; violated the canons respecting the Sacrament of Reconciliation; deceived popes, curial officials, bishops, his brother Legionaries, and the lay members of Regnum Christi; and funded all of this by the misdirection of contributions given to support the religious work of the communities that called him Nuestro Padre or Nuestro Padre Fundador.

Read the rest of the article

Today's Workouts

5 mile run at lunch time. Lovely weather out. 80 and sunny with a nice breeze. After 8 weeks with a strained right hip I am finally back running a little bit.

David is Going Home

After a two year loan to the United States, Michelangelo's David is being returned to Italy.



His visit here was sponsored by:




Sadly he was here a bit too long

Happy Birthday Hunny

Demotivational Monday

Because the weekend is over and Mondays are just horrendous

Demotivational Monday

Because the weekend is over and Mondays are just horrendous

Demotivational Monday

Because the weekend is over and Mondays are just horrendous

American Idol 2010

I'll spare you the detailed blow by blow.

In someways the results show was better because we didn't have the group lip sync. We did get the group Ford video which as far as those things go was pretty good last night.

I good have done without the Idolettes designing a paint job for a Ford Fiesta (they still make that car?) but Fox has to pay Simon's huge salary somehow.

David Cook was fine as entertainment (is it just me or is his hair thicker? Hair Club for Men? Rogaine?) and Orianthi was tolerable (in a leather-clad Barbie doll sorta way) BUT the 3rd rate Lady Gaga wannabe Kesha (spelled Ke$ha - she is so clever) was a total nightmare. As bad as Lady Gaga is at least she has talent. Kesha wouldn't have made it into the Top 24 if she was an Idol contestant. I would have rather them done the group lip sync.

Any who after a winnowing down the Idolettes to the bottom 3 vote getters, we are left with Paige, Lacey and Tim on the Stemware of Shame. Tim is the first to be told he is safe. Tim goes into is "I can't believe I am safe shocked routine". Does he practice it in front of the mirror? Another victory for VFTW.

Alas it's Lacey who is going home. She sings one more time but the judges decide not to use their Save Card on her. Sadly its not Paige since Lacey was one of my favorites this year.

American Idol 2010

It’s Stones night on Idol

Michael - “Miss You” – hey good voice for Michael but I don’t like the arrangement or the dancing he’s doing. Gokey from last year danced better than Big Mike. Ok it’s cheesy and corny but I give him credit for trying not to be boring like most of the performers. Of course RanEllara are lusting all over him since he is one of the Chosen Ones. Simon says it on straight but dis’ his dancing. Simon and Seabiscuit have a bit of a cat fight to see who is Queen Bee. Grade B-

Didi – “Play with Fire” – our Brook White wannabe is singing one of my more favorite Stone’s song. She’s singing a very depressed version of the song. And her facial expressions are kinda creeping me out, like she wants to slash my tires or throat. That being said I like her voice. RanEllara like her, the three of them appear to be in a good mood tonight. Or maybe they realize they have marginal talent this year and need to talk it up. Simon likes her and thinks she’s getting better and can do even better. Grade B

Casey – “All Over Now” – Casey is brining a bit of country blues tonight with is electric guitar. He really plays a nice guitar and would song great in a Bar Band. RanEllara loves him and Ellen throws in a sly switch-hitter joke. Of course the Cougar is all over him. Ok it was good but chill babe or Ryan is going to throw some cold water on you. Simon likes it but says it wasn’t incredible. Grade A-

Lacey – “Ruby Tuesday” – Lacey is looking cute and somewhat more comfortable on stage tonight. She has such a distinctive voice, in a good way, but it’s a very soft voice. I liked her version and it was something I could listen to again. Not credit but good enough to keep her around. RanEllara are so-so on her tonight. And the only judge that matters says she performs like an actress, too planned and thought out. Grade B-

4 down and no train wrecks yet. Andrew, Kate and Tim are up next so that should be corrected soon.

Andrew – “Gimme Shelter” – this is so not doing it for me. Sorry Andy. It’s not the worst he has ever been but its not good either. His vocals are average and his dancing bad and his facial expressions are even worse. Randy says it was pitchy everywhere. Right on Bro! Ellen is high again this week. Kara didn’t have a connection with it. Simon thinks he tried hard but it wasn’t quite there and throws in a plug for him. Well Andrew was one of the Chosen Ones at one time, hard for Simon to let go. Grade D+

Katie – “Wild Horses” – ok she is supposed to be going younger, yet they have her in an antique dress and old lady jewelry. What gives? And then she chooses a slow somewhat sad song. And she does a boring performance of it. Might be time to start packing, unless Paige smells up the joint. RanEllAra are ok with it but not thrilled. Simon liked the first half of the song. Grade C but she will be safe because they talked her up. Grade D

Tim – “Under My Thumb” – Tim Tim Tim I am really not sure of this song choice for you. Tim has pulled out his guitar for tongihts show. Maybe he can set it on fire after this horrible performance. Tim your only hope is if VFTW selects you again. This is the only performance where I literally laughed out loud. He is the worst of the night. But Tim has been living on borrowed time since barely squeaking into the Top 24 a month ago. RanEllara don’t like but give him some credit for changing it up. Simon is not down with it. Grade D-

Siobhan – “Paint it Black” – ok girl let’s get it done. She is on the stair ala Adam Lambert. She starts the song of very softy and then starts to kick it up and channels the aforementioned Mr. Lambert. She gets crazy but doesn’t lose control. Finally someone who didn’t play it safe. Thanks Siobhan. Randy Loves it. Ellen Loves it. Kara sound like me, yuck. Simon also loves it and praises it and calls her the best of the night. Well said Sir Simon. Grade A

Lee – Beast of Burden” – Lee is my favorite dude this year so I have high hopes. I think he should have kept the hat on, he looked cooler with it. I really like Lee’s voice, the arrangement is ok. Not great but credit to him for changing it up. Good enough to stay around. Randy pulls out the Dope card, he gets paid each time he says it. Ellen says it was a bit lacking. Kara says he is growing it each week and getting better. Simon likes Lee but says he doesn’t shine. Simon wants him to have more confidence because he’s good. Grade B+

Paige – “Honky Tonk Woman” – Paige why this song? I love this song. Why not be un-PC and pick Brown Sugar? That would-be great and I might actually like you. This is one of Paige’s better performances. Not great but good for Paige. The outfit is silly though. The judges all like it ok. Grade B

Aaron – “Angie” – A 16 year old singing Angie?! I don’t know man. I’m not feeling it from him. Way too old a song for him. His voice is fine but this song does not fit the young lad. He’s rocking a new Ellen-like hairdo. RanEllara love him. Simon thinks it’s a great song choice, Simon is high tonight. Grade B-

Crystal – “You Can't Always Get What You Want” – One of my fav Stone songs. It started off a bit weak but then she got in to it and rocked it. My only issue is that she’s the same each week, real good, but the same. RanEllara are fans but it’s not her best night. Simon says Siobhan was better tonight. Grade A-

Worst of the night and could be going home: Tim, Katie, Andrew and Lacey are all candidates. Though I hope Lacey makes it.

Buy, Buy American Pie

Demotivational Monday

Because the weekend is over and Mondays are just horrendous

Today's Workouts

Time of Day: 5:30am
Weather: rain and 50
Distance: 15.15 miles
Time: 2:06:28
Pace: 8:21
Running Shoes: Asics DS Trainer 14
Back Pain: 2
Comments: The Plan called for 15 miles with 12 miles at goal marathon pace (8:15). Actual run: 3 mile warm-up then 12 miles at an 8:10 pace - fastest mile 8:01, slowest mile 8:24

American Idol 2010

Is this the worst 60 minutes on TV? Why do I watch it? So I can complain? I mean I could just go online in an hour and find out in about 30 painless seconds who the 4 are that were kicked off. Go figure, guess I just like pain and suffering during Lent.

First we start with a painful picture of Randy in a bikini and then right into the equally painful Group Sing. These are almost universally bad and tonight is no exception. Crystal Bowersox, to her everlasting credit, looks like she is barely participating and would rather be anywhere else. Do song they are singing is "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Buble. There singing is actually pretty good, the song not so much.

We get made official what we already knew, that next week the Top 12 will be singing Rolling Stones’ songs.

Didi is Top 12 stuff. No Surprise there and she is sent over to The Stemware of Safety.

Siobhan “The Official Contestant of SCD” is safe

Katelyn and Paige are brought up and told one will be gone, please be Paige! OH NO its Katelyn?!?! Are you kidding me? Can anyone say race quota? This show is so fixed at times. And Simon totally knew who was getting booted, which goes against what we are told. They will stoop at nothing to make the judges look smart. Curse you VFTW! They certainly had to have had a hand in Paige staying.

So was that the first of 2 shockers that SeaWeed promised us? Well yea it was a shocker alright.

Lee, Tim, Todrick and Casey are hauled up on stage and made to endure Seacrest’s telling them how they got here. Like we all don’t know.

Casey=Safe

Tim=Safe which is actually cool cause Todrick should be gone. Those teen girls must really like Tim’s bangs and 6-pacl abs cause dude cannot sing. Seacrest drags it out by talking slower than a stroke victim. Spit it out son. And YES its Todrick the Thief who is heading home and hopefully to jail, or at least obedience school.

Todrick sings his song again and shows about 25 million people why he’s going home and why he should never have been in the Top 24 to start.

Two of last year’s contestants, Scott “blind dude” Macintyre and Matt “3rd rate Justin Timberlake” Giraud are singing at pianos. They are doing Bill Joel’s “Tell Her About it”. Matt is pretty good tonight.

Now back to the girls, oh and the guys. Mixing it up tonight.

Crystal is sent to the space age stemware of safety.

Big Mike joins her in safety.

Lacey of the pretty eyes=safe.

After being made to squirm and probably pee himself a bit, Aaron is safe.

Ok we’ve got Alex and Andrew left. Who is going? I would say Andrew is the worst of the two. Unbelievable. Andrew the two-bit Gokey is staying and Andrew is going? Ugh. Another quato filled. Siobhan seems to agree with me as she is crying. Maybe her and Alex are BFF’s. And Alex is singing “Trouble” once again and proving once again that he is better than Andrew.

So one spot left. It will be either Katie or Lilly. Now normally I would assume its Katie going home but after Paige and Andrew getting to stay, not to mention Aaron, I just don’t know. Holy Mother of Pearl it’s Lilly that is kicked-off. This is getting silly stupid this year.

Can you say WORST SEASON EVER

Today's Workout

Time of Day: 11:30am
Weather: partly-sunny and 55
Distance: 6.06 miles
Time: 52:56
Pace: 8:44
Running Shoes: Zoot Ultra's
Back Pain: 1
Comments: First 3.5 miles run with The Donk. Next 2.5 miles by myself. Guess The Donk couldn't hang with the Big Dog.

American Idol 2010

8 dudes

Squeezing 8 contestants into an hour last night and tonight is awesome. Very little time for the worthless judges to yap a lot. Randy is tolerable in the way that your slightly crazy uncle is, as long as he doesn’t stay to long and leaves your toothbrush alone and stays out of your underwear draw. Simon is about the same as always but has seemed to have checked out and be thinking about his new show and the extra millions he’s gonna rake in – gotta pay for that $750,000 engagement ring he bought. But Kara and Ellen! Heaven help us if we have to put up with those two next year without a Simon. Is there anyone more annoying and full of herself than Kara? She’s the conceited girl in high school who thought she was part of the cool clique but was really just a mouthy loser who everyone laughed behind her back, and in front of her. After last year’s bikini-baring during the finales, what could she possibly do this year to look the bigger fool? Stay tuned. And Ellen, not only does she know nothing about music and has resorted to parroting the other judges, she’s not even funny. You would think she could at least do funny.

Here’s to hoping the guys will turn around the snooze-fest that was last night. Let’s pick it up guys and do something special.

Sea (and Michael) are rocking the dark undertaker suit tonight. Tonight they play up the Kara/Simon touchy-feely angle, only slightly less disturbing then the Ellen/Simon grope session tonight.

Lee “Sleepy” Dewyze- “Fireflies” by Owl City – ok here is what I like about Lee, he’s got great stage presence and he looks the part. His voice is serviceable. Not great but good enough. The judges like it enough too. He should be safe. Grade B

Alex “Mullet Boy” Lambert – “Trouble” by Ray Lamontagne – he sounds very close to the original, but not in a good way. More like he is mimicking his voice instead of doing it is own way. Not the way to go Alex. Relax dude and be yourself. The Dyke is high tonight, just great. There goes the PG rating for the show. Cougar is also high and pushing the PG rating. Simon tells him to chill out and picture Randy in a bikini. Come on Simon, not right after dinner. Grade C

Tim “Zac Efron 2.0” Urban – “Ha” by Jeff Buckley – Tim may be the worst contestant to ever get into the Top 16. I can only guess that the girls are voting for his bangs and abs in droves. I must say when the song selections for tonight leaked out I feared for Tim. But this isn’t nearly the train wreck I thought it would be. Its not great, he doesn’t have the range for this song but for Tim it was ok. Randy thinks it was ok. Ellen runs up on stage and hugs Tim for some reason. Kara says he might have put himself back in the contest. Kara must have seen Tim’s ab pictures and wants to keep the play-toy around awhile longer. Simon too likes it. All the judges are high tonight. It wasn’t that good. Grade B-

Andrew “Danny Gokey 2.0” Garcia – “Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera – Ugh this is bad and boring. Dude needs to go back home and get a job. The singing thing ain’t working and the “stay at home dad” thing is lame too. Get a job. Maybe if he got that stupid neck tattoo removed he could get a job at somewhere other than a fast-food establishment. Randy basically says it blowed. And Ellen, Kara and Simon make it a consensus. Grade D-

Casey “Kara’s Toy” James – “You’ll Think of Me” by Keith Urban. Country, I loathe country music. So I shall refrain from commenting on Casey tonight. Other than to say that he still needs to shower. Randy calls I a safe choice and needs to go for it more. Well safe will get him into the Top 12. Ellen liked it. Kara is back on the Casey Train, ok then. Simon liked it enough but it wasn’t real memorable. Grade B

Aaron “Archie 2.0” Kelly – “I’m Already There” by Lonestar – what is this? Country night? Please people. Go over to the Country Music Channel. (no offense to MomtoFiveMinnies). Put me to sleep. Randy liked it and Ellen didn’t, huh? Kara says it was too old for him. Simon calls Kara’s comments rubbish. You go Simon. Grade D+

Todrick “The Thief” Hall – “Somebody to Love” by Queen – Oh this has such potential to be a major train wreck. And once again Todrick hasn’t disappointed. He may be the worse than Tim. It’s like listening to a cat being neutered with a weed-whacker. RanEllAra are totally high tonight. That was horrible. Simon likes ok and says it may have saved him. I guess the judges are just trying to make their decision to put him in the Top 24 look justified. Grade is D- for the thief.

Michael “Tiny” Lynche – “Woman’s Work” by Maxwell – Oh how I can’t stand Mike. That abandoner of his wife during labor. Jeez this is boring. Ok it picked up a bit towards the end. But he really needs to quite moving around. He looks like a dorky puppet. Dude is palying the new baby card more than Danny Gokey played the dead wife card last year. Randy and Ellen wet themselves praising it. Kara wets her cheeks with what look like fake tears. Simon loves it too. I told you they were all high tonight. Its been obviously for months now that Michael is one of the judge chosen ones. Grade B-

So who is gone? Aaron, Andrew, Tim and Todrick. Two of those guys I would guess.