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We had teacher conference today for Matthew in Ms. Classen's room. She has a really cool frog.

Were you?

Last night, the night before fathers day, I told Zachary to go put on his pajamas and he busted out with this ensemble. I of course immediately started to cry, so Matthew asked me why I was crying. I told him because I miss my dad. He said "but the other day, at Andrew's graduation party, your dad was there."

His hair was perfect

Posted on facebook today (Fathers Day) by J. Zevon, who also misses his dad very much!

Leap Day

Google had this cool Google doodle in honor of leap day and Rossini's birthday.

Big 7-0!

Happy birthday Dad. 

It's amazing how much things have changed just in the last three years.  You would be amazed at how much closer we are to having your machine!

A first

We have satellite radio in the truck and it is awesome. I keep thinking maybe we should cut back somewhere and that would be a likely area, but I just don't want to. So, recently I was on a 70's channel kick but I had to switch back to the coffee house because every time Andy Gibb's "Love is Like Oxygen" came on, I would have a mild panic attack because I didn't have a tape recorder on which to hit 'Play/Record'. But while I was on channel 7, I finally heard the actual song "Basketball Jones". I don't know how I made it 41 years without ever hearing it, but all of a sudden, there it was. And it sounded EXACTLY the way dad used to sing it. I always thought he was singing it funny because, well, that's what he did, but no, that's how it really sounds! I could not believe my ears!

There was some of it magic, some of it tragic, but he had a good life all the way.

For Mother's Day we went to Disney World. That was an accident. But it actually turned out to be a really good one. Throughout the flight when the boys (any of the three) would act up, I could just say "Mother's Day!!" and it would actually work! After we got there we went to the pool and swam for a long time, then had a late dinner. While we were in the food court area, the 'ambience' music started playing 'He Went to Paris'. Can you believe it? It was the Jimmy Buffett version, but still. (We were at the Caribbean Beach resort). Being at Disney World brought back lots of good memories - that night we got to see the fireworks as we walked back to our room. When we went on Pirates of the Caribbean, I made sure to look out for the one who looks like Uncle George. We rode Winnie the Pooh and in my mind Robert was getting us through. It was awesome seeing it all again through the eyes of my little boys. I think Dad would be proud. I can't believe it's been three years.

p.s. We missed Country Bear Jamboree; we'll save that for next time... but how could I forget Splash Mountain with Brer Bear and Brer Fox, and the frogs, and also too Mike Fink's Riverboats!

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"Today is Granddad's birthday".

"Who is Granddad?"

"My dad."

"Oh. Is he having his party in Heaven?"

"Yup!"

Love you Dad!

If only we had known about this a few weeks ago!!

OMG why does this amuse me so much! I know Dad is getting a good chuckle out of it too!

The below is the actual text from Cremation Solutions (italics are mine)...

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Scattering Urn Machine

We know that scattering the old-fashioned way from a nondescript bag (or Dixie Cup? ~slk) is not dignified or memorable. The Release urn machine will make the scattering of your loved ones ashes a reverent and awe inspiring event. The scared ceremony of scattering ashes is one of the most memorable final acts of love you will experience. The last good-bye to your loved one should be heartfelt. Release Urn offers you, family and friends a reverent event with our controlled scattering system. It allows for multiple start/stop sessions for about two minutes of steady controlled scattering. If desired so you may visit those special outdoor locations you all enjoyed and frequented together. This automated urn has been engineered and perfected to provide a breathtaking scattering ceremony.

We have made it as easy as possible to use the Release scattering urn. Once you place your order you may mail all the ashes to Cremation Solutions. We recommend shipping via USPS (Registered US Mail) This is the safest of all shipping methods. Once we receive the ashes we are very careful and have a tracking system in place, so you can be assured that there in never any chance of ashes being intermingled. We prepare the ashes and load the machine for you. You will receive the machine and it will be ready to go. A heavy duty carrying case is included so you can safely transport the scattering urn to the scattering location.

When your finished you may simply ship the Release Scattering Urn back to Cremation Solutions. The rental fee allows you to use the urn for two weeks. If you wish to purchase the Release urn you have that option. The urn is very easy to use and comes with everything you need. For a more formal scattering ceremony you may wish to also rent the elevated scattering platform.

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All this for a mere $495 to rent or $3495 to purchase! Be sure to watch the video of the machine in action at cremationsolutions.com. Here you can also peruse their selection of cremation jewelry (turn your loved one into a diamond!), cremation art (the ashes are right in the picture!), cremation globes, birdhouse scattering urns, or teddy bears with a special hole in which to stick your loved one's remains! The options are endless!






(Does this have the makings of a Saturday Night Live skit or what?!)

Happy Father's Day Dad

Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us.
He said "Daddy's don't just love their children every now and then;
It's a love without end, Amen."

Dad, if you were here, I would give you this fritter. Check out this fritter, this fritter is huuuge, Tiny E!

This fritter is a mill!



But since you aren't here, I ate it. It was really good. :)

Dad would be proud!

Zachary has amassed quite a collection of wood in the back of my truck. Lol!


I recently bought "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates" for Zachary. He watched it three times straight, repeatedly asking "why does Mike Fink have a big belly?" My answer? "Because he's a ringtail alligator!"

I read yesterday that Fess Parker had passed. He seemed like a good guy.

This morning on Toot & Puddle, they randomly said "Flip Flop & Fly!" I know that is the title of some song or album in Dad's collection...

Awesome.

This is a mural that was painted in one of the kid bedrooms of one of the model homes we looked at recently. It doesn't get much awesomer than this!

The Princess and the Frog

This movie has it all. Frogs. Dr John. A funny old voodoo lady who taught Zachary to say "Hush up!" A Cajun lightning bug and his true love Evangeline. I'm pretty sure I was the only one crying when the frogs were dancing to Zydeco.

HUMMMMM!

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Dad,
Happy birthday to you!

Yay!

Silly things

I haven't posted here in a while but that doesn't mean I have forgotten about Dad. It still comes and goes but is getting a little easier, I guess. Still, every now and then a whole bunch of things will remind me of him and make me either laugh or cry, or both. This was one of those weeks.

1. We have XM radio in our new truck so we've been listening to the Kids Choice Live channel on the way to and from school. Twice this week I've heard a song "Eat a Bowl of Cherries", which is just "Pick a Bale of Cotten" with a few words changed. "Oh, Lord I can eat a bowl of cherries, oh Lord I can eat a bowl a day. Me and my sister gonna eat a bowl of cherries" etc. Seriously? Then I wonder what percentage of kids has heard of or will ever hear of Leadbelly (mine have!), and then I wish I had Dad's machine.

2. I was driving through my neighborhood on the way home from work, and I saw a fithy car on which someone had inscribed "Do not wash. Test dirt." That one made me laugh!

3. Yesterday I was walking to the coffee pot at work and a man was walking toward me wearing the infamous blue Hawaiian shirt, I mean the exact one. Really, what are the odds? That one made me laugh and almost cry - I'm sure he thinks I'm a weirdo.

It's Fathers' Day again...

This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my dad - this is the night he drove to Austin from Corpus Christi to hear my wind ensemble concert, then drove back the same night so he could go to work the next day. After we ate at the old GM steakhouse on the drag! He logged a lot of miles going to our stuff...

Happy Frog Jumping Day!

Happy odd day!

Today is 5-7-9... having 3 consecutive odd numbers in the date happens only six times in a century.

Dad likes that kind of stuff. :)

Hey Cat... I like your styyyyle!