Sim Life

Lights and Heights

Mark — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:03:19 +0000

I spent most of Saturday heading back and forth to Wal-Mart and heading up and down the ladder to accomplish what you see here — I’m actually quite proud of it, though I did end up using nearly every extension cord we have in the house that wasn’t already in use (and a few that were). Timothy was desperate to get up on the roof with me. I told him he could when he was 10–we’ll see how he likes that one :) Nearly fell off about 4 different times–but it was mostly a “wooooaaaaoaoaaaaoooooooah…. okay.. keep it together… all better” kind of feeling. Shhhh–don’t tell Andrea.

We decorated inside too. We finally cleaned up and straightend a fair amount of our living space (don’t look in our bedroom, though!). The kiddos had a great time in decorating the Christmas tree and we really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere after that. This year is definitely the most fun we’ve had as a family during the holiday time. I think the kids will be really into it. I hope that they remember the Reason for the Season and that we communicate that well to them.

It’s about having stuff and getting things, right?

Cozy Christmas Candy Cane Corner

Mark — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:04:57 +0000

Final Result: Best House on the Street

Mark — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:03:43 +0000

(for now)

The House Decor

Mark — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:34:22 +0000

The Great Dictator

Mark — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:08:16 +0000

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

My brother-in-law’s favorite film of all time.

"Skateboarding!"

Mark — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:48:51 +0000

Elf/Gnome/Princess

Mark — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:21:14 +0000

First Lyric Game

Mark — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:59:33 +0000

Step 1: Put your music player on shuffle.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 22 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing.
Step 3: Strike through the songs when someone guesses both artist and track correctly.
Step 4: For those who are guessing — looking the lyrics up on a search engine is CHEATING!
Step 5: If you like the game post your own

We were standing on a cliff above the ocean
Come on baby leave some change behind
Are you gonna live your life wondering, standing in the back, looking around?
El viento de la noche gira en el cielo
And to love a god and to fear the flame…
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, engines pumping and thumping in time
In the morning I was losing my head and reading too much and losing my head and I was…
The queen of light took her bow and then she turned to gold
War is overdue, the time has come for you
Can’t believe that I did it again, wake me up from this nightmare
Some say now suffer all the children and walk away a savior
Goodnight, to every little hour that you sleep tight, may it hold you through the winter…
Somebody’s Heine is crowding my icebox
What’s a matter Mary Jane?
G****mn this dusty room, this hazy afternoon
What if this day lasts forever, is tomorrow all I want?
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s gonna break…
There gonna clean up your looks with all the lies in the books to make a citizen out of you
I wanna be by myself, sometimes I do. I don’t wanna be left behind, but sometimes I’m left by you.
I get home from work and you’re still standing in your dressing gown, Well what am I to do?
It’s not yet 6, the sun’s not up, father take away this cup.
I stand on the bloodfield, shell shocked and guilty.

I confess that I had to look up the spelling on #4 and I had to skip the original #8 because it was “The Holly and the Ivy” (an instrumental) from Behold! The Lamb of God which is a TRULY excellent album if you have not heard it. It is beautiful musically and incredible as a story.

Thanks to Emily DeLoach for posting hers. Very cool idea.

Ahhhh! A Spider Got Me!

Mark — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:27:18 +0000

Paw-Paw: King of Fun, Random Things

Mark — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:52:25 +0000

Love My Mattie

Mark — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:52:06 +0000

Meeting People is Easy

Mark — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:59:16 +0000

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

OK Computer was one of my favorite albums of the 90s. This documentary was shown in pieces back in 1999 when I was in college and I just found it again. It still fascinates me.

Simon Says Make A Funny Face!

Mark — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:28:43 +0000

Loving Sports Movies without Loving Sports.

Mark — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:20:15 +0000

So, I’m not a big sports guy, but I absolutly love sports movies. When I watch sports, it is *always* more interesting when you know about the story behind the team. The record they’re trying to break, the kid that’s trying to make it, the team that’s the underdog.

Yeah, most of them are cliche and predictable. But the good ones still tug at your heartstrings as you watch men actually bonding with one another… like women seem to over Sense and Sensibility and Steel Magnolias.

My favorites are Hoosiers and Rudy. They are classic. When I think of Gene Hackman’s character saying “I love you guys” to the team after a year when he pushed every one of them–it gives me chills. They had to be questioning him left and right, he was showing them love. When I see all of the guys drop their jerseys toward the end of Rudy, I tear up a little.

Gotta love a good sports movie. Rudy is available online for free at hulu now. Go check it out. Make sure you are good at pretending there’s something in your eye at about an hour and a half in.

Funky Chicken Dog Bucket Holes

Mark — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:39:47 +0000

Chris Johnson is my favorite programming buddy. The first reason is because he is really *stinkin* smart. The second reason, though is because he tells funny little stories about his life.

This one cracked me up.

He said his dad used to say a certain string of words when he was frustrated that sounded like they could be bad, but weren’t. He realized how bad they sounded when Chris said it in front of him one day.

“Funky chicken dog bucket holes!”

Chris said that when he was trying to “cut back” he’d leave off “holes.”