Jenna, Karl and Maya - to hereafter never be linked again

Wow. August. Who knew so much could happen while Dubya was on another vacation. For those playing catch-up, here's a spare few notes from just the last few days.



Jenna Bush is engaged. To this tool. So the surge is working.

Karl Rove left D.C. to spend more time screwing up his family's future.

And our darling Maya is diggin' her new digs. So my vacation from regular posting is over. Basically. Well, after we head down to Santa Barbara this weekend for a wedding. Maya's psyched to make a sandcastle on the beach. I'm psyched to take a break from unpacking boxes. And I hope y'all are psyched that the fall is right around the corner. Rock on.

A bridge back to a happier past...

For those paying attention, I've taken a few weeks off from regular posting. Miss me? No worries - we just bought a house and are in the process of moving with every intention of setting down some serious roots in our new neighborhood. Not that the unaddressed interim news hasn't had my attention - Gonzo's inexplicable flailing, the YouTube Dems debate and the upcoming GOP dodge of the same forum, Lindsay Lohan one-upping Britney and Paris, endless crapitutity from those dwindling loyal Bushies. But I must say that there's only one story on my radar today - that horrible bridge collapse in Minneapolis. I got my B.A. from the University of Minnesota. I walked or rode my bike across the Mississippi on what seems like every day I lived in Minneapolis. None of my friends still living back there were on the collapsed bridge at the moment of tragedy. Everyone's obviously still too stunned to be angry. But I guarantee you that stage is just around the corner. I will be posting info soon for those looking to investigate their own locale's infrastructure. Because, obviously, we can't trust our government to do it for us.

Hope your own survivor stories today revolve around hot dog eating contests. Rock on.

Before the sun rises too high on a day when Seattle almost hit 100 degrees, Maya struts in summery style.

Before the sun rises too high on a day when Seattle almost hit 100 degrees, Maya struts in summery style.
Originally uploaded by emaggie

"Go Brew Crew!"

"Go Brew Crew!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie

"Firestono!"

With the World in such a freefall spin, one thing I hope we all can agree on is that car repair is utter crap. We can get second opinions on anything that will cost us more than 50 bucks. But call bullshite on a mechanic and you're a communist. Essentially. This "can't we all get along" rant comes from the point of view of someone waiting all morning on a basic brake job. Advertised by Firestone as $190. Surreptiously upgraded to $303 with an extra year's warranty. On a brake job. Oh, and they thought that since my brake fluid was "contaminated" that I should spend another $85. Ahem. I'll pay $190, thank you very much. And I'll be sure to let y'all know hereafter what Firestone has to say about my communism.

Just so everyone ignores the impression that I'm alone in jousting with corporate windmills, you owe it to yourself to watch Michael Moore eviscerate Wolf Blitzer yesterday. We've not yet seen "Sicko" and I'm sorry about that fact given my willingness to promote the film. Yet Mr. Moore appears to be the only man in America currently able to secure "LIVE!" airtime to question the ridiculous charges leveled at him. It's a long clip, but entirely worth it. Please watch.



Hope you all find a pleasant moment to be outraged today. Rock on.

"After long deliberation with my closest advisers, I've decided that I should move on and clear some brush..."

I'm prepping to take some time off from blogging given the expected craziness of the upcoming month. But I simply can't sit idly by without offering my brief shot at the Scooter Libby commutation granted by Dubya. Plainly, no one's satisfied. Nutjob conservatives are bitching about their outrageous claim that he should have been pardoned. Everyone else can't understand why an "excessive" sentence translates to "no time served" in Dubya's view of assessing a felony conviction. Where I fall is firmly upon this point - Dubya screwed it up embarrassingly, once again. If he'd pardoned him sooner or later, it would be defensible. Wrong, but defensible. If Dubya had chosen any other course of action imaginable, it would be somehow defensible. Still wrong, but you get my point. So what Dubya chose was the utterly wrongest wrong in the whole panorama. He praises the prosecutor, stands by the jury's ruling, and then throws the whole process under the bus. That's Dubya. Always wrong, never in doubt. I can't wait for the "history will judge" wheels to start turning. Oh wait...they've already begun doing so. Worst. President. Ever. Period.

Hope your own pre-Fourth of July deliberations deal entirely with beef versus fowl. Rock on.

"A Mighty Heart" is a minor effort

I'll admit going into the new Angelina Jolie flick, "A Mighty Heart", hoping for a stunner. Instead, it was much smaller and much less engaging than I'd expected. My rating - a bland C-plus. Jolie is wonderful - passionate, controlled, with a flawless accent and complete command of the screen. Some of the surrounding cast is also quite good, although Dan Futterman as the doomed Daniel Pearl is at best a cardboard cutout who seems to have gotten the job because he looks like Pearl's clone. But this is one to wait to rent. Which is really too bad because it will probably disappear from public view with little more than a whisper of respect. This tragic story deserves much more attention. It just feels way too early to have gone after this story on film.

We head back to Seattle this evening after a wonderful week in Santa Barbara. The weather has been unparalleled in it's beauty. Warm, dry, clear days stacked up one after another. But like much of the country this time of year, drought is leading to the threat of a tough fire season. Last night after a artful, killer meal at Emilio's (my sentimental favorite restaurant here for a long list of reasons), we went back to my in-laws house just in time to catch the moonrise. A wildfire many miles away filled the air with a burnt smell and cast the just past full moon with the most stunning bright orange glow. I can't recall ever seeing anything like it. It looked like Mars, surrounded by a halo of ochre clouds. How sad it is to appreciate a view due to forest fires in the unseen distance. Yet how hauntingly beautiful it was.

Hope your own views are beautifully guilt-free. Rock on.

It ain't no Jane Austen.

I saw "Live Free or Die Hard" yesterday afternoon. Summer movies don't get much more cliched than seeing Bruce Willis get the crap kicked out of him for a few hours. My rating - a strangely satisfying B-minus. Bruce is entirely Bruce. Justin Long (the guy who plays the Mac in those ubiquitous Mac vs. PC commercials) is great as the hacker sidekick. Everyone else is better than adequate. The set-up of a "fire sale" attack on the U.S. and subsequent machinations was written by a clown car full of studio writers. Oddly enough, it works. Unlike the utterly bland "Ocean's Thirteen", this bit of summer sequel fluff is engaging and just smart enough. If the weather turns insanely hot and you need an escape, this flick accompanied by air-conditioning and an open mind will do you right. I predict you'll be as entertained as I was.

Hope your own suspension of disbelief is easily attained. Rock on.

Maya deals with the swarm.

Maya deals with the swarm.
Originally uploaded by emaggie

In the Santa Barbara Natural History Musuem's butterfly realm, Maya blended in as best she could. Note the eternal protection of Milwaukee Brewerism.

Freakium Orangium Donteatmyfaceium

Freakium Orangium Donteatmyfaceium
Originally uploaded by emaggie

The visual manisfestation of a Princeton grad's butterfly love.

The visual manisfestation of a Princeton grad's butterfly love.
Originally uploaded by emaggie

Goth bug. With a funky bluish sheen.

Goth bug. With a funky bluish sheen.
Originally uploaded by emaggie

George and Brad should get serious again. And refund my $9.

We've not had much time to catch summer movies, what with all the Paris Hilton news soaking up our attention (Free at last!). So we're excitedly playing catch up. Here are two quickie reviews for your consideration of the canon.

"Knocked Up" has gotten some of the best reviews of the summer. No surprise - it's consistently funny and undeniably sweet. Utterly unbelievable, though. And with the exception of the already famous "crowning" birth scene, the world's lustful boys never get so much as a nipple glance from the ravishing Katherine Heigl. Seth Rogan is the most surprising and deservingly ascendant star in the bizness since Woody Allen, Paul Rudd and the gang improvise with pitch-perfect style, and everyone seems very human. Still, my rating is a relatively solid B. Here's the first case where a nipple might have earned an undeserved higher grade since my creepy 8th grade shop class.

"Ocean's Thirteen" has also gotten decent reviews. Which stuns me. It is such a slog - at least an hour longer than need be. Everyone looks bored. There's no chemistry. My rating - a disappointed D. You're better off flipping through "People" magazine if you're looking for sexy stars looking bored. If you loved "Ocean's Eleven", you should hate this movie. Gawd forbid anyone cares enough to make the inevitably set up sequel.

Hope your own multiplex is filled with exciting options today. Rock on.

Maya's "Caddyshack" series from Santa Barbara - "Can I play through?"

Maya's "Caddyshack" series from Santa Barbara - "This is a putter!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie

We're enjoying a summer getaway with family. Maya, especially. Sunday night at the club where her 'rents got married way back in '01 was a special treat. Hope you enjoy the pics as much as Maya enjoyed the games. Rock on.

"Noonan!"

"Noonan!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie

Aunt Katie helps direct the action.

"Ahhh! One more set?"

"Ahhh! One more set?"
Originally uploaded by emaggie

This is what a hot dog belch looks like.

This is what a hot dog fart looks like.
Originally uploaded by emaggie

Yea, but it's not like he was wearing Fonzie's jacket or wiping Cheetos crumbs into Archie Bunker's chair...

For those of us that admire the Smithsonian as an American treasure trove, Lawrence "Biggie Compensation" Small is a perfect storm of unrivaled hubris, a criminal insularity and undeniable assholery. To be fair. Think I'm pushing it? Well, let's just let the soon to be released report speak for itself. If you're not offended by what it lays out for abuse under his tenure, you shouldn't be spending time reading blogs because you're obviously rich enough to have people like me made into sashimi.

Brew Crew fans I'm sure are feeling pretty stoked this morning. After a woeful May and being on the receiving end of a no-hitter a week ago in Detroit, they been winning games and taking names like the Milwaukee Brewers the entire nation came to love way back in April. I'll keep y'all posted. But I strongly suggest paying attention while there's still room on the bus for all comers. You can sit by me - I promise.

Hope your own compensation package allows for unlimited paid vacation, $150K in annual housing stipends, cash to entertain in your own house, and unquestioned expenses approved only by you. Rock on.

Wanna bet?

Michael Bloomberg today filed the papers necessary to quit the Republican Party. In other words, he's running for President in '08. Consider him Ross Perot with much more money and much less crazy. I'm sure every single candidate in the race is freaking out. Even Mitt "Today I Believe This With All My Heart, I Think" Romney. Billionaire without constraints trumps millionaire raising money mainly from Mormons. Even in Utah.

Hope your own third party is picking up the kegs at the moment. Rock on.

After days of silence, this is all I come up with?

Did you forget to mark your calendars like me? The Surge is over. So we've won and now everyone can come home from Iraq. Right?

Hope your own troop movements aren't similarly broadcast today. Rock on.

Was it a turd or just a candy bar?

Since everyone else is doing so, I'd like to weigh in briefly on last night's "The Sopranos" finale. I watched it with my in-laws, neither of whom watched the series, which was a perfect looking glass to borrow as I tried to briefly identify and sum up the cavalcade of characters. Too many questions remain for those that were sucked into the vortex of critical acclaim surrounding this bloated mix of storylines. Admittedly, I'm one of those that showed up late for the party and didn't drink enough of the Kool-Aid to become truly cultish about it all. But the non-ending ending was for me...perfect. There was no way to complete this over-exposed highwire act that would please the whole crowd. So David Chase chose to please no one. Or mostly no one. For those in the know - once the character Phil Leotardo (played by the utterly excellent Frank Vincent) got whacked and his skull was astonishingly shmooshed by his slow-rolling SUV, I was satisfied. Metaphors abounded, high and lowbrow references were certainly everywhere, and I expect everyone has a reaction. That's more than any writer working this milieu could hope for. I, for one, beg all interested parties to not buy into the inevitable temptation to follow things up with a movie or return visits on HBO. Leave it alone. But, of course, take the canoli.

Hope your own jukebox has at least one "Journey" tune cued up today. Rock on.

"Slide this way, Mommy."

"Slide this way, Mommy."
Originally uploaded by emaggie

Before we head to Santa Barbara for a quick weekend, I thought we should dump a few cute shots on everyone. All quotes are directly transcribed from Maya's actual reactions. Sort of. Rock on.

"You had me at 'what's that smell?'."

"You had me at 'what's that smell?'."
Originally uploaded by emaggie

"Listen up, Nadal. You can have your clay, but I challenge you to beat me on grass. Dood."

"Listen up, Nadal. You can have your clay, but I challenge you to beat me on grass. Dood."
Originally uploaded by emaggie

Ah, meat.

There are meltdowns. There are catastrophic meltdowns. And then there's Paris. And, of course, then there's O.J. At least she didn't kill anybody. Hope you all face nothing worse than house arrest this weekend. Rock on.

Ripped from the next Farrelly Brothers script

Many hope every day for just a teensy bit of good newsiness. Today, I found it in the form of a seemingly true story from seemingly real Paw Paw, Michigan. Outside Kalamazoo. Seems this fellow in a wheelchair got wedged into the grill of a semi and taken for quite a ride. He's fine. Hilariously. The Detroit Freep writer (Amber Hunt) did the best job I've seen thus far with plenty of funny flourishes. But this story writes itself. Well worth a Friday step away from the collective null set that constitutes the news of the day.

Hope you stay unwedged all weekend. Rock on.

"Does Scooter Libby deserve to go to jail?" and/or "When did the Cold War actually end?"

The sentence just came in for Scooter. 30 months - the low end of the prosecutor's recommendation. Still, I. Lewis Libby is officially bummed. Yet another just dessert, some would say. But while this is going down, Dubya's peeing in everybody's soup just prior to the G8 by re-igniting Cold War-esque rhetoric in response to Pooty Poot's rope-a-dope routine. If I were running CNN's GOP Debate writing today, I'd make sure that both Scooter and Putin make an appearance this evening. Sadly, I expect neither to be mentioned.

If there's one anti-war vet I truly respect, it's Adam Kokesh. He may be an attention hog. Or maybe he's not ready for prime time. But the way he's been treated by this Administration's military and the way he's responded...well, this guy's a stud. I think we'll all be seeing a great deal more of him in the near to long-term future. I expect that will be a good thing.

Maya surprised us with a revelation this past weekend. We were just joshin' around - Sarah, Maya and me. And the question came up for Maya - "who's Jesus?" Please bear in mind, the dude's not been mentioned herein thus far. But Maya does spend her weekday mornings with the Lutherans. So how did Maya respond? "Jesus loves me." You could have decked me with a feather. Hearing her spout unjustifiable profanity at a formal dinner party was more of what I expected to be surprised by with this kid. I guess it goes to show that you just never know.

Hope all your own sentences are suspended today. Rock on.

"Corn on the cob? Not when I'm done with you."

"Corn on the cob? Not when I'm done with you."
Originally uploaded by emaggie

"ART!"

"ART!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie

Hang onto your toasters

Here's my vote for the worst wedding to have gone to all year. The goofy looking dude is the one that knowingly flew all over with TB - Andrew Speaker. Everyone's all over this as of ten seconds ago. I wonder how many late gifters are going to hold out even longer.

Hope you get the test for free today. Rock on.

"I don't know 'bout you, Pooty Poot, but I'm half-expectin' Sean Connery and a thin Alec Baldwin to surface any time now..."

Today's non-headline being overcovered is that Fred "Please ignore most of the reviews" Thompson is readying a hat to toss into the GOP quicksand. Or as some prefer - the search for a slightly farther down yonder exit strategy. Take your pick. I just wonder what's his rush. He's from show bizness, fer chrissakes. Don't rush the opening. He could wait out this circular firing squad 'til September and still be a darling. Sure, he's shooting for an official announcement on the Fourth of July. As if the enemy won't know exactly when and where to attack on that date certain. Hasn't he learned anything from watching old Tom Clancy crap? I mean, c'mon Freddy - you were in some of that crap. You owned that crap. Yawn. Speaking of that holiday week - Putin and Dubya are going to meet in Maine for talks. Doesn't THAT sound like it was ripped from the pages of a lesser Clancy plot. Fred would be wise to join my bet that everything else is news scraps that entire week.

Mitt "My wife was hot!" Romney just took a good hard shot to those pearly whites with a HuffPost headline and very loose logical connection. All because the "360Million but hey who's counting" Mitt offered not to take a Presidential salary. AttaBoy, Mitt. Actually he plans to donate it to charity. To no doubt list as an itemized deduction. Still, it's not like he's buying companies to go all Gordon Gecko on them. This time. Now we'll see how his organization's hitters respond.

I spent a healthy portion of Memorial Day weekend with my brother, Jake. We met up where he is for the summer - Corvallis, OR. The 73rd most interesting place in the State (for Wisconsin, it would be Merrill). Corvallis's motto that's on bits of everything is "Enhancing Community Livability". Seriously. So we headed for Portland, which is such a funny smart city. Best of all sorts of very fun stuff - I got us some scalped tix to see Arcade Fire in a crazy cool venue. Luckiest scalp job in my personal history. My rating - solid A. The ten of them (!) throw a wall of art school rock at you, fused with all sorts of cool influences and years of music nerd training and crazy theatrics and brilliant staging to make it all somehow bigger than rock and roll. It's just fun to listen to and watch in truly rudimentary concert-loving form. The crowd was gregariously hilarious. Arcade Fire could have played longer. Who cares. If you get a chance, check them out. Especially live. You'll be impressed.

Hope your own day's staging would work as well in a football stadium as in an intimate cafe. Rock on.

Maya gets an early start on her Memorial Day weekend picnic schedule.

Maya gets an early start on her Memorial Day weekend picnic schedule.
Originally uploaded by emaggie

A few pics follow from our first picnic of the summer season. Hope y'all enjoy the holiday weekend. Rock on.

Say "cheese sandwich"

Say "cheese sandwich"
Originally uploaded by emaggie

Nothing says "summer's here" quite like that first outdoor grape popsicle.

Nothing says "summer's here" quite like that first outdoor grape popsicle.
Originally uploaded by emaggie

"C'mon Daddy - just act natural and forget that I've got a camera."

"C'mon Daddy - just act natural and forget that I've got a camera."
Originally uploaded by emaggie

"Since I know Sweeps Month's almost over, I thought y'all might want some suggestions for what the kids should watch this summer."

Dubya's press conference this morning was both stunning and utterly the same ol' story. He's losing it. Or really lost it ages ago and now we're just seeing echoes. Expect endless parsing of his ranting non sequiters. And, more interestingly, his bizarre, threatening folksiness. A couple for your consideration - he told two reporters (NBC's David Gregory and the NYTimes' Jim Rutenberg) that al Qaeda are a "threat to your kids." Plus, he called the 9/11 hijackers "19 kids" that killed 3000 Americans. Just to call bullshite on that "19 kids" chestnut - Mohammed Atta was 33. One of the others on that flight was 38. You may think I'm fixated on a tiny, absurd statement from a man who strings together almost nothing but the same. But I see this as an essential insight into how Dubya thinks.

Hope your own kids don't get a healthy dose of fear served up in their direction today. Rock on.

Sucks to be a Monica

Couple quick hard bankable shots for your consideration. Sorry to have been incommunacado for a few days.

I've not been watching Monica Goodling's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. But I'll catch up so you don't have to. The very most I can say thus far is that she's sure got purdy hair. As far as either the Constitution or her worthiness for the job she ran into the ground go, she makes me throw up in my own mouth a little. Once again the defense of yet another loyal Bushie for anything they've ever done directly is that they didn't actually do it. She'll get another job, probably immediately, for some soulless, misogynistic law firm that just wants to brag about hiring the latest Fawn Hall. Personally, sexy testimony ain't been the same since Valerie Plame sauntered into and out of the spotlight. But as far as the blowjob from this Monica goes - we all could do so, so much better.

So the Dems in Congress appear to have blinked. John Edwards benefits the most from their retreat on an Iraq withdrawl timeline - say what you surely will about that guy, but he's got the best political instincts I see walkin' and talkin' these days. Oh, and Hillary suffers the most. Everyone else just takes a high hard one to the karmic temple with the eventual, devolving result of funding this disaster without principle.

Speaking of karma - is anyone even paying attention to the fact that our military just announced another 9 combat deaths? In one day. That's at least 80 this month, following 104 last month. Sorry to mention it. It's just, ya know, the truth.

On much more interesting ground, Maya's cranking along really well as we head into the summer. Uncle Jake and Aunt Sarah were just here for a visit during which we took Maya too among other Seattle events the Norwegian Constitution Day Parade (May 17th, or "Syttende Mai" as they call it here in Ballard). On the way to which, by the way, we found our latest lost camera (in the glove compartment - I didn't realize Maya had a key). Jake gets the inadvertent credit. You'll soon get the benefit from an array of new shots. I get to change my lost/broken lifetime digital camera total back to two. So we all win.

Hope your own Constitutions are fully ratified today. Rock on.

Maya asks for recommendations at Sonic Boom from Uncle Jake, the most knowledgeable music geek around.

Maya asks for recommendations at Sonic Boom from Uncle Jake, the most knowledgeable music geek around.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

And you thought Mrs. Paul's Fishsticks were full of crap...

Wolfie's almost out. Screw that prediction - he's gone and forever tarnished. The ink's just not dried yet on that "liberator". Which leads me to bet that Gonzo's also headed on a greased skid toward the exit as an unceremonious document dump Friday afternoon. The astonishingly candid James Comey testimony yesterday finally cooked his goose. Remember - you heard it here first.

I'm one of what I assume to be a few paltry dozen Americans not working for a doomed campaign to have watched last night's GOP Debate in its entirety. Then I took a shower. Even if you're one of those Bushie trollers out there waiting to pounce on my honest opinion, I'll call it straight. These are the worst Presidential candidates on either side - in toto - of my generation of duopolistic options. But MAN how do you follow the act currently on stage (translation: those loyal Bushies) if you're these doofuses? There were so many ugly moments of homophobia, fearmongering, and outright assholery that it doesn't even pay to recap. If you've got a fave, let me know. Personally, Ron "Not Mrs." Paul's strikes me as the only wingnut with balls in that cluster. Not that it will do anything for him.

Hope all the ridiculously hypothetical questions you get today feature how much ice cream sundae you'll be able to eat. Rock on.

Falwell croaks, McCain panders

There was like 15 minutes back in early 2000 when I thought John McCain could actually be a man of his word. All that "Straight Talk(?)" and unconventional posturing. But that's as over as the career of Yahoo Serious. Today's DeadFalwell Condolences Lottery seals that deal. McCain was first out of the gates. That lead won't last, especially since there's a GOP LameGang o' 10 debate in South Carolina this evening. Please remember people - Jerry Falwell was the one to blame 9/11 on homosexuality and abortion. Anyone lining up to honor his memory should be reminded just how short their own appears to be.

For those that care to notice, every single day provides new stink in the Gonzo follies. Yesterday, it was "Number 2" Patrick McNulty throwing in the towel at Justice out of shame or, if you're a complete moron, his claim that college tuition costs made him walk. Today, it's "Former Number 2" James Comey laying out the hospital bedside efforts by Gonzo and Andrew "Don't Blame Me, I'm Just a Dooshbag" Card to get Ashcroft to sign off on the obviously illegal NSA wiretapping program way back in the day. So for tomorrow I offer the following prediction - Monica "Can I Please Get a New Stock Photo?" Goodling will strip for Jesus and donate her dirty singles to Gonzo's defense fund.

Hope your own underlings haven't been secretly plotting your downfall since Day 1. Rock on.

Our Mother's Day morning at the Ballard Farmer's Market.

A Mother's Day morning at the Ballard Market.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya checks out a bluegrass quartet from the perfect seat.

Maya checks out a Ballard Farmer's Market bluegrass quartet from the perfect seat.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Is that a stain in your pants or is it just October?

Certain things just plain hurt to admit. For me, it's that I find Larry the Cable Guy to be truly funny. And that I'm afraid of Alec Baldwin. Yet for the Bushies, there's no pain because there's no admission. Ever. Well, in the case of one Monica "Did I Mention That I Graduated From REGENT University?" Goodling, the pain of admission has been eleviated. Or, more appropriately, she'll be forced to testify about all the greasy machinations she participated in while helping to steer the firings of those eight, no wait...on second thought, nine US Attorneys. A federal judge today made it so. I expect absolutely zero satisfaction from this mess. But if it peels back even just a yogurt foil top worth of exposure into the Bushies and their political machine, it's worth it.

Dick "Where's My Banner?" Cheney threatened Iran today from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Repeat - Dick "In His Own Last Throes" Cheney threatened Iran today from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Even dead blind people could see the utter contempt for public reaction both here and abroad in doing so. There was a time when I believed Dick believed his shtick. Now I know it's just dumb, cornered, fully-exposed, hammer's-comin'-down-and-damn-the-torpedoes hubris.

Best silly Milwaukee Brewers fan site seen thus far - "Pee Your Pants for the Brewers!" I think I'm number 700 or so on the list. And you can bet your tighty-whiteys that I'll be drinking gallons of Hawaiian Punch and Pabst for the ascribed task when the Brew Crew actually completes the quest. Confused? Click through and sign up. Please. Thank you.

Hope your own embarrassing banners merely say "Hang in There - It's Friday!" Rock on.

"I don't recall this 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' of which you speak."

Tough day before the mics for those loyal Bushies. Alberto "I don't believe that's an accurate statement" Gonzales was the uncornerable snake up front. To think the Bushies even lied repeatedly about the NUMBER of attorney firings just overloads everyone's circuits. No wonder so many people lapse back into "American Idol" blather. Which reminds me that Seattle's own Blake may sing the national anthem before a Mariners-Yankees game this week since he snuck into the last 3 last night. Leikisha had talent, but up 'til now Blake was my boy. But now I just think he's the love child of the original "Star Search" cutey waiting to get very old very quickly, Sam Harris.



The Milwaukee Brewers are still on complete fire. They won 9 of 10 at home against a cheeseparade of NL Central mates. Now they head out for a long roadtrip against some fun folk. Pay attention, America. This is your new favorite team.

Bill Richardson kicked this ad's ass.

He's got a slim shot. But he's always been one of my faves. I remember from '04 people joking that the way you knew if Richardson was running for office was if he'd slimmed down noticeably recently. He's not Cate Blanchette thin. Still, don't count this amalgam candidate out if the campaign season ship gets a rockin'.

Hope your own album covers don't come back to haunt to you today. Rock on.

"C'mon, Queenie. None of us are getting any younger heh heh heh."

Two quick visual moments from the here and now. First, the best evidence yet that every single one of us would be a bad bet against a grizzly bear.



And only the most recent example of Dubya's fumbling embrace of tradition. In this case, playing the part of the cad. Just like ol' times.

Rush, the Magic Pillhead

Like many people, I'm not that into "The Sopranos" as it sputters to the finish. Some moments are nonetheless stunning. Like that of the Asian mental patient that beat up Uncle Joey, played with sharpness and perfect timing by Ken Leung. You may recognize him from some good character work and the expected fact that roles for Asian actors must be limited in today's Hollywood. Sadly, the truly misinformed have made too much of the fact that he looks quite like the Virginia Tech killer. Or at least that's what I learned from a fascinating little piece by Jeff Yang in the SFComical today. Leung's response is so articulate and rational that it deserves a looksie even if you don't watch TV.

Rush "Doctor Shopper" Limbaugh is trying yet again to fan his own flames with a truly tasteless anti-Barack Obama song parody. Then somehow he's spun it into a backhanded snark at the Clintons. Yawn. Anything that inflatable doosh says is some form of baiting and we all should beware of paying attention to him. Yet I find it interesting how blowhards are at long last getting miffed after getting tagged pretty hard by the media watchdog groups that have cropped up in response to the loyal Bushies. Media Matters lays out Rush's misplaced rage on this particular day. For those that care, this one's worth a few minutes of outrage. Or just know that Rush can still confound logic with his black-and-white hatred.

Hope your head is ditto free today. Rock on.

Ooh that Freddie...

The GOP field for Prez is pretty hard to like. The storylines are all predictably lame. Romney's shown more spit and polish than I expected. Guiliani's playing the bombthrower. The margins (Tancredo, Gilmore, Ron "Actually Two First Names" Paul) are weirder than usual. Yet in summation, dull dull dull. I'm not betting on Fred "Aces: Iron Eagle III" Thompson livening things up. Still, can't hurt. Especially if you check out his latest homestate Sunday newsy profile.

More importantly, the Brewers are so hot it's largely surreal. They are finding all sorts of ways to win games. Hot hitting, great pitching, strong bullpen. Ned "Huge Nicknamer Guy" Yost wanted a hot start and got exactly what had been predicted. Prince Fielder is scary. JJ Hardy is hitting like a 'roidhead. Everybody contributes. I'm telling y'all - this team is the real deal. Me so happy.

Hope your own profiles track down only the kids from high school that thought you were like totally cool. Rock on.

Three Cheers for Our Back-up Catchers!

Calling all sports fans - the Milwaukee Brewers are on fire. Best record in baseball. The last time they were in first place by 4 games, I was less than two weeks away from my high school graduation. So like forever. Their pitching is wonderful. They can light it up with all their young bats. I'll keep y'all posted, but keep an eye out for them. And I smell a Bob Uecker trend just begging to explode.

I didn't have the heart to mark yesterday's awful anniversary for the nation. But many others took the time to nail it completely.


Hope your team owns first place today. Rock on.

"A few cups of imaginary joe and I'm good to go all day."

"A few cups of imaginary joe and I'm good to go all day."
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

We took a pile of pics when we were back East. Good times were had by all. Here's a few of my faves.

Story time with Maya's new friends Baxter and Aviva.

Story time with Maya's new friends Baxter and Aviva.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya spots what everyone hopes was a Snickers bar.

Maya spots what everyone hopes was a Snickers bar.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"And the biggest insult was that my 'slam dunk' reference dealt almost entirely with Georgetown's shot at the Final Four, which I forecast perfectly."

We've returned to Vermont for a few days and already it feels like a place we never left. Friends are so apt to make you feel that way. Expect pics and plenty of shtick about said trip in the days ahead. But for the time being, I'm fascinated and enthused by the snippet of the sure to be jawdropping interview George "Is this Medal of Freedom redeemable for anything?" Tenet has given to "60 Minutes" to be aired on Sunday. Call it just one more brick in the wall being built to house the eventual universal condemnation of the Bushies. Or just call it compelling as hell TV from an obviously pissed lifetime civil servant. Unless you work at CBS, you haven't seen the whole spiel. As if that matters. Watch it regardless. Or just check back here early next week to get my full frontal take on Tenet's foggy bottom line.

Hope your own sugaring season is still in full swing. Rock on.

Which is harder to fully grasp - the cynical politics of the Bushies or a 100-gallon tank full of bathtub toys?

For those Dems that were worried that their newfound power wouldn't be used to stick enough fingers in the eyes of Bushies, you got a doublepoke today. The House Oversight Committee approved a subpoena for Condi "I'm sort of still here" Rice to chat about, oh ya know, lying our way into the War in Iraq. And the House Judiciary Committee granted immunity to Monica "I'm supposedly long gone" Goodling and also chose to subpoena her to testify about her role in the firing of the 8 U.S. Attorneys. This comes on the heels of the announced investigation into Karl "I don't work for you" Rove and his political operation within the White House that might be in violation of the Hatch Act. Not to mention the undeniably compelling testimony yesterday by Kevin Tillman and Jessica Lynch about the Pentagon's cynical manipulation of real suffering by our military. You can't swing a lame duck without skidding though a new mess left by those unlovable loyal Bushies. This is what a gathering storm looks like. Like it or not.

Two quickie Beantown reviews - the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is a newish, coolish building with a relatively small amount of gallery space. I imagine the theatre is pretty impressive for the sorts of dance/film/kitten juggling events I see on the upcoming calendar. Go for the architecture and bring a sandwich to enjoy out back looking toward the harbor. But if you're going for a punch in the gut mix of contemporary art, expect to be somewhat disappointed. My rating - an overly critical C-plus. If you've got kids, the even newer Boston Children's Museum is a neccessary stop along the same area of waterfront. When we went this morning, Maya was melting down like Chernobyl before we even got inside. She nonetheless quickly got fired up by all the hands-on diversity. Then she got herself soaked to the gills by the "Boats Afloat" room. So I'd suggest all other parents plan better than we did and bring along a change of clothes for probably the whole famn damily. No matter - we'll be back. My rating - an incomplete but strong B-plus, since we didn't get to see everything.

Hope your own style is matched by equal parts substance today. Rock on.

Maya lets Mrs. Mallard lead the way

Maya lets Mrs. Mallard lead the way
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

After a ride on a Swan Boat around the Boston Public Garden, Maya took to the "Make Way For Ducklings" statues like a duck to (insert obvious cliche` here).

Checking in with the Class of '23

Checking in with the Class of '23
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Technically, Amos is '24 and Cassie (not pictured) is '25. But you get the idea, I'm sure.

Five college roomies do what they can to pull together another generation added to the group picture.

Five college roomies do what they can to pull together another generation added to the group picture.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya soaks in the luxury of her own seat on a flight to Boston. As did we.

Maya soaks in the luxury of her own seat on a flight to Boston. As did we.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Doin' the Cambridge shuffle

Since we figured that the burly Nor'Easter that ruffled skirts and toppled maple syrup collecting pots across New England was so last week, we're in Boston soaking up the sun. Actually, it's partly a worktrip for Sarah, with some extra time taken for catching up with friends and a quickie visit to Vermont, the land of Maya's fabled yet unblogged conception. Glorious, soaring thoughts come from days like this. You can almost bite off a hunk of the youthful, informed optimism in the air and chew on it for days. We left this general neighborhood of the World almost 3 years ago. I'll be bold and claim that it feels distinctly familiar, even though I never actually lived in Cambridge/Boston. I don't exactly have my finger on the pulse of any new must-linger spots in and around Harvard Square, near where we're staying. So I go with what I remember - Darwin's Ltd. is a necessity (where I'm currently perched). But all you really need to do on a day like this is set your iPod on shuffle and wander amidst the crowds on and around campus. Or just listen to the crowds wherein for every 9/11 conspiracy whackjob or overbearing busker, there are 100-fold others being young, smarty-pantsish, or just plain damn glad to be here.

Hope your own Sunday afternoon strolls take you down a road you didn't even realize you missed. Rock on.

"Thanks for teeing one up for me, Daddy. Watch your five hole."

"Thanks for teeing one up for me, Daddy. Watch your five hole."
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya bends it like Beckham. And with my new camera, I try to shoot it straight. Hope you have your own angle. Rock on.

"If it pleases the Chairman, I'd like to request more time to tighten the straps a bit."

Watching Gonzo get pummelled is almost porn. He's floundering so terribly I can see why all the leaks said that he was floundering terribly. It's just a few hours in, some kernal of cathartic brilliance still might be possible. And I'm not above assuming we'll get some other distracting pseudo-good news dumped by those loyal Bushies. Who, by the way, jumped the shark back when Dubya tabbed Harriet Miers as his Supremes pick.

Hope you've got a better excuse than "I don't recall" today. Rock on.

What can you say.

I expect we're all at a collective half mast while trying to process what happened yesterday at Virginia Tech. I will say that I find anyone talking about defending our unmitigated right to bear arms the ultimate archevil-politico-shmoe. But much more importantly - I join everyone in remorse.

Hope we all find out how to better defend ourselves without arming up. Rock on.

Dick Cheney - a truly "ridiculous notion"

Dick Cheney on "Face the Nation" yesterday chilled me to the bone. His creepy saccharine "oh, back in the day" glad handing of Bob Shieffer only worsened the tone. For all the minions of conservative dooshbags trolling blogs to flame on...I'm just saying he's an entirely frightening man with far, far too much power. Watch the interview. Tell everyone you know to also do so. The future he envisions for this country is deeply disturbing. Beeyatch.

For those "Sopranos" fans to which I'm sorta associated know what I mean, I must weigh in with a moment of deep appreciation. Little Carmine is for me a favorite. His fancy-pantsy flourishes can smell a bit too much like "ACTING!" But the scene in last night's episode at the golf course with Tony - undeniably wonderful. Ray Abruzzo is hereby cast in my next movie. Babe.

We lost our camera recently. Or rather, I lost our camera. But let's not play the blame game. Nonetheless, dang. So it might be bit before everyone sees how frickin' cute Maya is these days. Aunties Becca and Katie were in town for a family fest this weekend and Maya had ridiculous amounts o' fun. Maya's went to her first concert - "Dan Zanes and Friends" at the Moore Theatre Saturday afternoon. Dinner at Carmelita on Phinney Ridge Saturday - big veggiehead ratings somewhere between a B and an A from everyone. My rating - solid B. Partly undeservedly harsh since the wait we encountered was merely due to the fact that vegetarians are obviously painful table lingerers. Know what I mean? Great people, but MAN can they veg out after a meal.

Hope your own darkest visions for the world are limited to massive amounts of chocolate today. Rock on.

Rudy? Fuggeddaboutit.

In my own personal version of Hell, Peggy Noonan shows up half-wasted in a haltertop on all the late night talk shows. And they never shut off her mike. Never, NEVER, do I find her insightful. Snarky, yes. Insightful, no chance. Until now. Thankfully, I only need to eat this salty crow insofar as the Republican field for '08 is concerned. Her kernal of brilliance is that McCain is at least trying to present himself as someone with a longview - disasterously wrong, as it may be - while Rudy's a poseur and an utterly ridiculous candidate. Peel the onion like Noonan has and you'll realize that the GOP field is all stink, no veggie. So to speak.

Brewers got rained out in St. Louie last night. But they were soooo ready to play.

Hope you hit for the cycle today. Rock on.

The Longshot Flameout on my List - Simon Cowell

I don't know about y'all, but I definitely missed the money put on Don Imus in the high profile race to the exit pool. Gonzo has certainly always been the odds on favorite. And now Paul "Greet Me As a Liberator" Wolfowitz is getting heavy action for his latest round of screw-ups at the World Bank. But Imus? HE's the new Michael Richards? Sure, he's a cantankerous crank without a single proper cliche` mixed in with all the white man bluster. He's a stupid, ex-druggie-drunkie DJ, with an occasional gift for gab. HE's done over one particularly ugly soundbite. I only hope that this changes the playing field somewhat. Just imagine: Glenn Beck, Hannity, Rush, O'Reilly, Malkin, Coulter - the whole horrid bunch and their supporting minions risking truly losing jobs for sexist, racist, homophobic, or just plain moronic remarks. So long as advertisers continue tolerating FOX, they've always got a safe house. Maybe not as safe as last week, though.

For those of us paying attention, the New Brew Crew is in St. Louie this weekend for a rematch of the 1982 World Series. Harvey's Wallbangers are sorely missed by a few of us (I think I saw "Stormin'" Gorman Thomas sleeping at a bus stop a week ago). But if you care about young teams with a dang good shot at surprising a bunch of peoples, Milwaukee's worth a looksie.

One bit of trivia for everyone to share amongst themselves this weekend. My wife's recent birthday allowed me to focus on the static and realize that she shares her birthday with boatloads of famous people. You know those audio buttons we all hear on the radio or in the background of our daily media - "And today William Shakespeare would have been 417, but would need to split his cake with American Idol Kelly Clarkson, who turns 22." On the other hand, my birthday is shared by a listful of losers. Jan Michael Vincent is my date's notable name. That's just sad. "Airwolf" was ruinous dreck.

Hope your own 80s flashbacks include a World Series victory today. Rock on.

A clear day's view toward Mt. Baker from the American Camp on San Juan Island.

A clear day's view toward Mt. Baker from the American Camp on San Juan Island.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

A few pics from our vacation follow. Hope your own images are crystal clear. Rock on.

The sun going down over the San Juan Islands, as seen from the ferry to Friday Harbor.

The sun going down over the San Juan Islands, as seen from the ferry to Friday Harbor.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"The Raven and the First Men" from UBC's Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. Mondo impressive.

"The Raven and the First Men" from UBC's Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. Very impressive.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya and Nanna as we headed out on vacation.

Maya and Nanna as we headed out on vacation.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Getting to know some more of the neighborhood...

We're back from a short but fabulous vacation to a few of the choicest spots in the beautiful Northwest. Oddly enough, we left Maya here in Seattle in the enthusiastic care of her Nanna and Poppy. So Sarah and I got to play like teenagers with a stolen credit card and wide-eyed grins for a handful of days. In that light, I'll offer a few recommendations.

We caught "Blades of Glory" in Vancouver on our first night. That might sound a bit cheesy, but it was perfectly timed. If you can do so, see this movie in a theatre packed with Canadian teenagers. The mere fact that even a Canadian toddler gets a bawdy Zamboni joke is reason enough. Hilarious cast, ridiculous production design, entirely enjoyable goofballin'. My rating - a solid B.

On the other end of the cultural scale, we checked out the impressive Museum of Anthropology on the University of British Columbia's campus. The "First Nations" of what is now British Columbia produced fascinating art. The MOA's in the midst of a major expansion, so a rating would be unfair at this time. But I do highly recommend it.

One restaurant worth mentioning is Le Hermitage on Robson Street - masterful French country cuisine accompanied by casually elegant service. Yada yada yada. But the real treat was seeing the couple that had walked in just prior to us get engaged at the end of their meal. On one knee, ring in a box, tearful acceptance - the whole romantic shebang. Neither Sarah nor I have seen such a moment for another couple before. And I don't expect to have the chance again. Yet that one vicariously thrilling moment will forever ink in this restaurant on our rock solid "oh yea, worth it" list.

After a few days in Vancouver, we headed south and caught a ferry out to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. It's just before the start of the high season, so the Island was largely devoid of too many people, um, like us. Which is nice. We went for morning runs, walked along the trails in both the "American" and "British" camps (from the infamous Pig War era of the 19th Century), and had some seriously disappointing overpriced meals at both the Friday Harbor House (our B&B/hotel) and McMillan's Dining Room in the Roche Harbor marina. Regardless, we'll be back, even if not to those particular restaurants. Riding the ferry through the San Juans in and of itself is reason enough to go.

And so with greater focus, we return to life here. Iraq's a quagmire with yet another summer right around the corner, Dubya's starting his 63rd Crawford ranch vacation putting the total number of days spent there comfortably over 400 during his trainwreck Presidency, the widely-beloved Milwaukee Brewers impressively took 2 of 3 from the Dodgers to open an entirely hopeful season, Maya's apparently found a new love in our absence (gardening), and the temp in Seattle's forecast to maybe hit 70 today. Take the incredibly bad with the hopeful goodness, I guess.

Hope your own Congressional testimony isn't fraught with legal jeopardy today. Rock on.

Maya serves up her Final Four jumpball.

Maya serves up her Final Four jumpball.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Spring's in swing here in Seattle. As much as one can call March in Seattle Spring. Nonetheless, Maya's loving the flowers and getting us outside with alarming regularity. Hope your own longjohns were shed ages ago. Rock on.

"Look - outside candy!"

"Look - outside candy!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya more closely checks out this year's crop of purple.

Maya more closely checks out this year's crop of purple.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"If it pleases the Chairman, I'd like to request a break to change my shorts for the first time."

Before I offer a few quick thoughts on Gonzo's mess over at the (In)Justice Department, the following Karl Rove clip deserve a quick mention. This guy can't even deliver a scripted joke, much less a legacy for Dubya that doesn't start with mention of Iraq. If you want to throw up in your own mouth just a little, here's the finger for your gag reflex.



Kyle Sampson's getting the knobby end of the bat right about now in front of the Senate's Judiciary Committee. As far as political theatre goes, this is burlesque. The doods over at TalkingPoints Memo are providing the best blow-by-blows that I've seen, especially since they've been way out front on this story from the beginning. After just a handful of questions, Sampson's already complicated Gonzo's future testimony hugely. My lockbox prediction - "You Can Call Me Al" Gonzales will be out within a week. On a related level of almost indigestible irony, it doesn't seem that we'll have a chance to see what sort of legal mind Pat Robertson's "law" (wink wink) "school" (nudge nudge) arms a young Bushie with since Monica "(insert your own Lewinsky joke here)" Goodling is taking the Fifth to avoid testifying. Just pile her on the mountain of felonious lackey roadkill in this scandal. And for those Bushie apologists that say this is a political fishing expedition I offer just one counter - with bait like this, who needs to go fishin'.

Hope your own limit is caught early on. Rock on.

"Popsicles rocksickle."

"Popsicles rocksickle."
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

The butterfly balloon only slightly distracts from the fact that Maya now often chooses her own outfits.

The butterfly balloon only slightly distracts from the fact that Maya now often chooses her own outfits.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya just took a hunk out of either a ripe strawberry or a squirrel's heart. Both of which she loves.

Maya just took a hunk out of either a ripe strawberry or a squirrel's heart. Both of which she loves.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

So wait...do we now need updates on the health of every other candidate's spouse?

John Edwards just confused the crap out of me. Politico.com blew the lead with the entirely wrong leak that he was getting out of the race. And then his people manipulated the crap out of the story by pumping the announcement. This is BALLS, people. Can't wait to see where it heads.

I'll offer one Edwards story, with a brief editorial. I saw him in the Student Center on Dartmouth's campus when I was working for Dean in the week leading up to the New Hampshire Primary in '04. He was an hour late. Lame. The people running the show were making excuses to everyone, and I remember one particularly beautiful advance staffer distracting every single reporter in range. Frickin' smart advance work...but that's another story. Eventually, John came on. And SLAYED the crowd. Everyone there left on board. I saw every other candidate in the field that Primary lead-up. John was the best. But that's maybe what is so scary. This guy has known some tragedy. And this guy has an incredibly smart, tough lawyer as a wife (translation: Clinton echo to undercut Hillary). I'd say don't count John out. He smart. And crafty.

Al Gore's got the good press. But Barbara Boxer has balls. The way she smacked down James Inhofe was stronger than anything anyone's offered that doosh to date. Please do yourself a favor and watch it.

Hope all your campaigns continue unabated. Rock on.

"Just when I thought I was out..."

While a hearty majority of the nation is probably debating whether "Dancing With the Stars" will have another vaguely creepy Emmitt Smith character this time around, Alberto "Call me Al" Gonzales continues to simmer in a salty broth. That turkey's almost cooked. My money's on the fact that he'll be compelled to testify before Congress and even the most loyal Bushie has no idea where that might lead. But I must admit that I'm more fixated on Harriet "Greatest Counsel Ever!" Miers. Can you just imagine the Constitutional crisis we'd be facing if she'd not been yanked back from that insanely misplaced nomination to the Supremes? 'Cause ya know the last Congress would have rubber-stamped her when push came to shove. And she'd been involved - pre-nomination, mind you - in the idea of selectively purging the Judicial Branch of folks unwilling to play ball with the hardcore Bushies. Holy. Moly. Even though she's been put back to pasture in Dallas, "Heckuva Job!" Harriet's getting yanked back in "Godfather III"-style (translation: horribly unworthy, unworkable final chapter). I can't see how the White House will be able to quash a Congressional supeona since she's already on the outside - resigned last year to "spend more time with her (selected cover story)." She'll have her C-SPAN moment. Tough timing to have just had the lusciously lucid Valerie Plame before the Members. Don't expect Tony Blankley to make any jokes about the color of Harriet's "roots" as he appallingly did on last week's "Left, Right and Center". Speaking of which - Tony Blankley is the biggest doosh in the entire medicine cabinet of Conservative apologists. My wife, I believe, thinks it's Tom DeLay, based on his "Morning Edition" interview this morning - much dooshiness was to be beheld, no doubt. Regardless, let me know if you've got a nomination for this game.

Hope your own emails are selectively deleted forever and ever when you see fit wink wink nudge nudge. Rock on.

"Could Ms. Plame please repeat that last bit about 'under cover operations'...and just a little slower this time?"

The two stories that have my attention today are obvious yet still surprising. Foremost, Alberto "The President calls me Al" Gonzalez is finally catching the heck he should've received years ago. I simply believe that he's on his way out. Dubya will need to cut bait on Justice and Gonzo's the designated chump there to keep the taint from running all the way uphill. I always thought he was a greasy loyal-to-a-fault Bushie. Now we get to see for real just how comfortable he is lying repeatedly. Not a pretty sight.

But in terms of prettiness, Valerie Plame is pretty much off the charts. I just caught a bit of the opening of her appearance before Henry Waxman's House Government Reform Committee. All the prior photos haven't done her justice. I'm sure she'll be all over the place for the next few newsy cycles. Rawrr.

Hope your own March Madness is easily treated with proper medication. Rock on.

Nothing helps Maya get truly better than some quality playground time.

Nothing helps Maya get truly better than some quality playground time.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Proof positive that Maya's mended. Hope your own prognosis is similarly on the upswing. Rock on.

Maya re-imagines her own birth. Sort of.

Maya re-imagines her own birth. Sort of.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"What's a kid gotta do to get a racquet around here?"

"What's a kid gotta do to get a racquet around here?"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Newt and Joe, showing off their moral compasses.

Two insultingly ridiculous stories caught my eye recently. Number one, Newt "Cancer Divorce" Gingrich was cheating on wife Number Two with lucky future Number Three while he was leading charge for impeachment of Clinton. Them's some massive hypocritical cajones on ol' Newt. But I dearly love having him in the race for the GOP Nomination.

Secondly, Joe "I hold the balance of the Senate in my watertight arsehole" Lieberman took cash for his re-election bid from the big money behind the Swift Boat Vets. I'm not surprised. Just appalled.

In better news, Maya's pretty much back on the job after her pink eye adventure. Can't say that I'll miss dealing with her waking up temporarily blinded by crusted shut eyes. I suppose she'd concur.

Hope all your own senses are ungooped, so long as you need them today. Rock on.

"Daddy, do pink socks go with Pink Eye?

"Daddy, do pink socks go with Pink Eye?
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

We should have known the wheels were about to come off when Maya pleaded to wear her previously-Kryptonite-like Halloween costume.

We should have known the wheels were about to come off when Maya pleaded to wear her previously-Kryptonite-like Halloween costume.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

No longer desperately seeking a Bird, a Sheep, and an Elephant.

Everyone's stumbling over themselves to snark that Scooter's guilty, minimum security shower stall with body gel style. Sucks for that guy to have at some point sold his soul to the Devil, I suppose. This really piles on another historic bad newzy run for the Bushies. I can't imagine that this story diminishes before the end of June when Scooter get sentenced. My early bet is that even with time off for being a rat, he still does 5 years. But he could get 25. However thinly you slice it, the outcome is a big ouch.

Maya's really got the gunk all up in her lit'l grill. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an insidious punk of an affliction. Pesky eye boogers everywhere. Most parents know, I'm sure. Since you can't really efficiently test whether it's bacterial or viral, antibiotics sound as surefire as taking Dick Cheney to a friendly trap shoot where your kids are throwing the clay pigeons. So we're riding it out, enjoying the company of a friend passing through on a book tour, and letting Maya write the stage directions. One of which is worth mentioning, as a recommendation for the youngins. Namely, "Jack's Big Music Show" within the Nickelodeon universe of cable channels. We all dig the show since the music is diverse and the shtick with the puppets is so well done. Maya got obsessively connected to one episode. Which we mistakenly deleted a month ago. Oopsie. Everytime we've allowed Maya to watch TV since, she's asked for this episode of "Jack's" by saying "bird, sheep and elephant". With a thick San Francisco/Seattle two-year-old accent, but that's beside the point. Which is that today that episode of "Jack's" replayed. Not really sure if Maya can see eveything through the sludge. But she was still happy as an elephant with a trunkful of water when we watched it this morning. Karma seems to be on our side. Which is nice.

Hope your own TiVo finds you a longlost love today. Rock on.

Just a bit better than gettin' the stink eye...

Daycare's a scary petri dish, especially in the winter months. Maya's most recent extraction from the mix - pink eye. It started out looking like something flu-ish. Then her eyes got mucked up starting yesterday. Kid needs a steam room. But she's doing aiight. We get to hang and catch up, while I wait for my own infection to arrive. Speaking of which, two personal ratings need a small drumroll with just a little snare.

"Pan's Labyrinth" is fabulous. My rating is a solid A. The cast is flawless and the magic realism is like one of those trips into the crazed suite at the end of the hallway in your college freshman dorm where you knew you'd see most everything. Some may cringe often in the "Labyrinth". There are heaps and heaps of gruesome scenes. Nonetheless, I believe even many of the grossed-out will watch this movie for years and continue to find new details in the mix. Go. You'll enjoy it, I promise.

In the burgeoning field of Iraq War journalistic bombshells, The Walter Reed Hospital scandal and the general malaise in the VA System that simply MUST be headed toward pending scandal is compelling. But I believe that Bob Woodruff's ABC docu-newsie-trip back to Iraq plus his David Letterman appearance was the biggest gutcheck in the most recent "surge" of media insight. Woodruff will become only more impressive as time goes by. Good luck sure didn't hurt. Most importantly, the money to get everything repaired. Still, I give Bob Woodruff's return to the stage another solid A.

Before Maya got to fullblown ickiness, I got to play Seattle tour guide with a college roommate and his wife here for a conference from Madison. If you had any sort of damage to your property or collective soul this weekend - blame it on this rollicking conference full of drunken radiology folks. We did some of what I was sure had been outlawed - the big throwdowns sponsored by drug companies. Like a six-hour open bar at a Coyote Ugly-like jazz bar ("88 Keys" in Pioneer Square deserves in the best of circumstances a snarky C-minus). And a top o' the Space Needle party. Luckily, I could also corral this friend, Mike, to visit a few dives and drive all over the damn place in the afternoons. Our only failure was my inability to re-find the original Soundgarden out in Magnuson Park. You'd think I'd know my own damn park, ya know. Regardless, it was great to see them and to get yet another chance to show off what the City means to me.

Hope your own tours take you both off and on the beaten path, with footwear to match. Rock on.