And yet another director gets into the act

This one is from Audrey. It's like living in a house full of Harryhousens.

The title is Shellos meet Angry Birds.

And now with 80% more plot!

Tristan's second foray into Zhu Zhu pet animation. Apparently the little hamsters are devious little weasels.

Tristan's First Animated Movie!

The Pilgrims were Fankful

If there's a better turkey in a thanksgiving pageant, I would like to see it.

The Hatch Movie

Has a Webkinz critter ever shown so much soul? I would like to nominate Hatch for an Academy Award.

The kids and I made this two years ago on a rainy March morning. The youtube file seems to be corrupted, so I thought I would post it here.

Tase the Rally Squirrel!

I hate squirrels!

Tristan Reviews "Despicable Me"

TRISTAN'S MOVIE REVIEW

What is the title of the movie?

Despicable Me

Who were the characters in this movie?

Gru, Vector, three girls

What was the story the movie told?

Gru wanted to steal the moon, but the girls did things and treated him like a dad.

Did you like this movie?

Yes

Why did you like this movie or not?

Because there’s a sequel and it was hilarious.

What was the best part?

When he tried to steal the moon by everything was going wrong

Was there a part you did not like? What was it?

I liked every part of this movie.

Was the movie funny, or serious, or scary?

It was funny.

A damn fine cup of coffee

When Hurricane Irene passed through, I knew I would be stuck at home for a while, so I took up a project I've been wanting to do since 1991: a repeat viewing of Twin Peaks. It is, of course, well worth the time, even for the second season where studio heads were forcing David Lynch to make creative changes left and right. Most of it has stood the test of time extraordinarily well, especially the mystical/supernatural elements that were so influential in top-shelf TV since then. Lynch's use of musical and visual themes are as engaging as they were twenty years ago. Some subplots and elements and subplots ("Invitation to Love," "Andy and Dick compete to be the father of Lucy's child" and "Nadine goes back to high school" all spring to mind. But Agent Cooper remains one of the most charismatic screen heroes of all time, in my book. Maybe someday he will find his way out of the Black Lodge...


If Kyle MacLachlan is not available, I understand another actor is ready to take his place...

Oh, come on, Irene!

This is about as bad as hurricane Irene got in our neighborhood. Fortunately, the city was through last week clearing dead limbs, so we were spared that problem. Most of the high winds tracked east of the storm, pummeling Jersey. I think the storm was just scared of Philadelphia.

Note the poor little squirrel running on the wire!

Zhu Zhu Pets for Dinner

As those who follow the Family Rabuck know, Zhu Zhu pets are everywhere. Well, it was only a matter of time before we began cooking the little buggers. Funny, they taste like avocados...

Glorious Fourth

Once again, we celebrated the Fourth at the Water Tower Rec center in Chestnut Hill. Pony rides, bounce houses, and a playground. What's not to like?







We went to see fireworks in Conshohocken. It took forever for the sun to go down, but the kids loved their first real fireworks show!

Tadpole huntin'

We have the good fortune to live near Pastorius Park, a branch of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park system. Last Sunday, the kids used buckets to catch dozens of tadpoles, which did not, despite protests, become household pets. They were released back into the wild.

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

An Adventure

The kids had been bugging me for an adventure, without grownups. They packed a bag with supplies, including snacks, stuffed animals, and games. Then, while mom shopped at King of Prussia Mall, I took them to Valley Forge National Park. Armed with a map, they followed a trail while Dad followed at a discrete distance. We met up at the artillery park.

Zoozapalooza

Tristan's class had a field trip to the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown yesterday. Daddy's favorite part was the zep from Lou's he had for lunch. Tristan was partial to the playground...

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

He learned how far he could jump relative to other animals.

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

And a goat told him several juicy secrets.

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Here's a little bit of the controlled chaos that is a kindergarten field trip. The Ancillae teachers all deserve medals IMO.

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

This peacock tried to make Tristan his girlfriend by doing its sexy dance for him.

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Tristan preferred the colorful display of the butterfly.

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

EP Zoo is home to a flock of about 10,000 turkey vultures. Look alive, kids!

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Best Anything Anywhere

Charles Barkley once said "I am not a role model." And in response, about a million journalists, teachers, and parents smacked their heads. Of course, you're a role model, Sir Charles. Once you're in the public eye, you're expected to set a good example.

So when a sports figure actually goes out of their way to help others, they deserve praise for living up to their obligations.

I'm speaking, of course, of the Phillie Phanatic.Yesterday, my wife ran the Broad Street Ten-Miler, which was pretty darn impressive on its own. My kids and I participated in the One Mile Fun Run. Tristan bounced along gleefully, looking kind of like Tigger on uppers. Audrey's asthma got the better of her, and after a half a mile she slowed to a walk. She asked to quit, but I tried to keep her walking to the finish line. Finally, about a hundred yards from the finish line, I asked if she could try running, so at least she could finish on a positive not. She would have none of it.

Then a big fuzzy green hand reached out to her. Taking Audrey by the hand, the Phanatic ran with Audrey, who suddenly found it in her to accelerate to a sprint. Grinning broadly and flanked by her two big doofuses, she raced across the finish line and I swore she could have run another mile. Both kids received a medal for their efforts, and they were extremely proud. So was I.

Thanks, big guy! I don't need a magazine to tell me that you're the best mascot in sports. You're more like the best anything anywhere.

The Bunny Trail

The Triumph of the Egg

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Almost there...

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Alice looks like the Cat that ate the Easter Bunny

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

They're cute, but not for long (hence the blur)

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Audrey inspects the bunny swag

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Audrey's Dia de los Muertos poster was featured in a show...

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

The hunt goes on.

From Mad Doctorly Ruminations

Thirty minutes, forty-five seconds...

...is how long it took me to finish my first 5K race. That's a little faster than I do it on the treadmill, but the hurtin' is a whole lot worse. Before the race my brother, former cross-country runner, told me "Running is a stupid sport." It's like they cut out the competetion middleman and go straight for the pain.

Ow.

Up and Down. Yeah, Up and Down. And Down.

One of my all-time favorite Sesame Street bits. Herry and Cookie rock.

Pasta all'Audrey

My daughter cooked dinner last night: penne with ham and asparagus. She used a sharp knife to chop the ingredients, then cooked them and mixed them together with olive oil, salt, pepper, and an Audrey-sized mound of parmesean cheese (aka "turning cheese"). She was extraordinarily proud.

So was I, once I recovered from helping her guide the knife. To my credit, she finished the meal with the same number of fingers as when she started.

You know how they say most accidents occur in the kitchen? After being knife-stabilizer, I think most heart attacks occur there, too.

Spit Take

Things few fathers want to hear their sons say, #1:

"Daddy, I want to be like Elton John when I grow up. he has really nice clothes."

The Wit and Wisdom of Betty Crocker

From the 1961 edition of Betty Crocker's New Picture Cook Book:

"Timesaving tips:...Stir contents of 1 pkg. dehydrated onion soup mix into 2 cups commercial sour cream." p. 54 A classic is born!

"The thoughtful wife has a simple beverage (cold in the summer, hot in the winter) ready for her weary husband when he comes home at night..." p. 57

"For the man who comes to dinner: CAKES" p. 143

"Czars and princesses and chefs are the stars of the drama of dessert, with explorers, patriots, and opera stars appearing in lesser roles. Let's watch some of the action: Handsome Marco Polo, having visited Chinese sugar mills, is back home in Italy, encouraging the refining of sugar, dessert's all-important ingredient." p. 213

"With a foreign flavor: Beef Curry, Sukiyaki, Chili con Carne." p. 265 (note this comprises all "foreign entrees in the book, except for Chicken Curry, Eggs Foo Yung, and Chicken Chow Mein)

"Scrapple: Meat-filled and meat-flavored crispy fried mush" p. 277

First post

Mmmmm....yup.

I'm creating this blog to post things that seem out of place on my other blog, which is becoming increasingly games-oriented. Not that gamers in general don't want to hear cute stories about my kids. Who wouldn't?