Feeling The Models

Still having internet trouble, but I'll try to knock this out while I seem to be getting through.

If you're just stopping by for the first time this week, please see the post below regarding a stray dog that has taken up residence in our front yard.

We can't keep her but we don't want her to die. If you know of a friendly home, please let us know.

The dog is really cramping Riley's style. Earlier in the week, we had resumed the garage breakfast picnic which actually gets Riley to eat and helps him learn lots of words like "Slow down jacka$$" and "Look it's Tweedle Dumb and Tweedler Dumb."


(though the dog is friendly, we're trying to keep her out of the garage, mostly because she doesn't want to leave once in.)


Making signs, calling shelters and trying to get the dog to find its old home took up most of our Saturday. But we did have a chance to go and test drive a van that we'll likely be buying in the next 6-8 months or so.

After realizing that we would have to buy a $300 ticket for Riley to fly to Orlando, we decided to would be better to drive, but that driving would require a new vehicle.

So, to save $300, we're going to spend $XX,000. Makes sense doesn't it?
We got Riley to consent to the test drive by telling him it was a "Disney World van"


For at least a year, we have know that a mini-van is the most practical choice for her next car, but Joan refused to relinquish her self identification as being "young" and "cool." That is until the 2011 Toyota Siennas came out. we headed down to Musson Patout so see the color we want in person. We know know exactly what we want and are just waiting until the timing is right financially to pull the trigger.




But if the 2011 Odysseys look good when they come out, then we're back to square one. Unfortunately though, their preview pics are pretty bad, so it looks like our decision is made for us.


So, for your entertainment purposes, that leaves just Sunday.


In honor of Dr. Uncle Paul's birthday and in order to give Riley some face time with his long lost Nanny, we headed down to NO to check out the last weekend of the Disney animation exhibit at the Museum of Art.





I can tell you it was a certifiably great idea, judging by the fact that EVERYONE else in Louisiana was there except for you. (yes, I do mean you.)
The exhibit looked pretty cool, but was really crowded and Riley needed a nap after traffic stretched our drive an extra 45 minutes.


After the museum we at at Theo's Pizza near the corner of Carrolton and Canal.
Riley wasn't in a pizza mood, but proudly demonstrated his ever evolving yogurt eating skills.





The place seems pretty hip and instead of a number identifying your table, you sport a placard with a hip cult figure. We happened to be Christopher Walken.





The food was pretty good, but Riley was much more impressed by the beautiful day outside and the sights of New Orleans






He took special delight in his massacre of, literally, micrograms of ants who dared to scurry about his sidewalk domain.




(using an 2 inch long pointed stick to smash ants, his kill rate accuracy was on par with Bobby Hebert's pronunciation accuracy after a Saints win)



He also found it hilarious to tell me that he had ants in his mouth.


(his new trick is talking with his tongue out like the Melissa Stevenson song Love To Move)


Our plan was to then head to the Audubon zoo. This weekend was Soul Fest. We were hoping to catch Rebirth and maybe a little soul food.

Unfortunately, it looked like everyone in Louisiana (except you) was at the zoo too.(though you were "axt" for by the monkeys, tigers and elephants)

We were still a half mile from the zoo and people were parking on the side of the road and walking. Definite no go with two nap deficient 2 year olds.


Instead we made the oh so undesirable compromise of going to Creole Creamery and contributing to the local economy, and the general decline of our own health.



(despite appearance, he didn't paint that)


As I've posted before, this place does mini scoop samplers and with a menu like this, it is hard to choose just a few.




The hit of the day, for the women folk, was the Lavender and Honey, while the mens were more impressed by the Guinness Cherry Stout which actually tasted like cherry and beer ice cream. Quite cool.

Riley showed us how it looks to live life like no one is looking at you, while Caroline, knowing that people were looking, tried to camouflage herself with ice cream.






That's about it aside from these shots of Riley's new Buzz Lightyear pajamas in honor of the re-release of the first two Toy Story movies.

To Infinity and Beyond







PS- In addition to recommendations of where to send the stray dog, we're also taking pro and con advice on Toyota salesmen/dealerships. Thanks.

Temporary Solution

Got in late last night and having crappy internet this morning.
hopefully a real post will come this evening.

But in the meantime:

Friday evening an adult female, fat dog, looking to be a yellow lab mix took up residence on our doorstep and will not leave.
She has no tags and no microchip implant.
i've walked her all around the neighborhood and she hasn't gone toward any home. I have signs up in our 'hood and those around us.
The local no kill options seem to all be full.

Anyone have any suggestions or want a dog?
She's very friendly and soft, and was clean.
If we dont hear something in the next few days, we may have to do what we don't want to do and take her to the parish pound which is a pretty bad place to be a stray adult dog.

Plugging Away

Week 101 of Riley's life is in the books and we can call it a success (but not quite as successful as 101 spotted dogs may be)

and fyi, by successful, I mean no future ward of the state randomly kicked my kid in the face. We aim high.

But I'm going to stay away from the anger this week. There's a couple of products/sites I want to point out and don't want them associated with my violent wishes.

Not much to report from the weekdays, so I won't.


Saturday though, we, well... did what we normally do.

Since the weather was pretty nice, we dusted off the Jeep and headed to Johnson's, where we were joined by Shane, Tara and Eli.

They too have suffered a tragic, unexpected loss this year, so it was nice to get to see them and just hang out in a normal (read: non-hospital or funeral) setting. And, of course, we talked Disney, since I just booked our December trip this week.

Riley and Eli stayed occupied for a while because Eli's parents, unlike Riley's, have the foresight to bring toys.





But they eventually found their way to Riley's favorite area, the gravel.

If Johnson's would just fence in that area so that we don't have to pay attention to our kid, the place would be perfect. :)





Finally, in a "game" designed to get Riley closer to a state of nap-readiness, I tested how far he was willing to run to fetch a ball.
Considering his short inseam, I'd say, to scale, he did close to a half marathon.






To live up to our promise that he would get to feed ducks, we headed over to Girard Park where there was not a parking spot to be found.
We then, being the spontaneous, flexible, random people that we are famous for being, headed to Veterans Park where the ducks are pitiful and gross (ok, the live ducks are pitiful. the dead ducks are gross.)

But ONE was hungry, so we partially lived up to the representation that he would feed duckS







Post duck letdown, Mommy and Daddy tried to get the yard/flower bed at least half a chance at looking good this year.
We also broke out the Cozy Coupe that we bought before Christmas.

I'm pretty handy but that thing was such a huge pain to put together. They put 4 inch screws in spaces only 6 inches wide and just generally make things way harder than they need to be.

Then after at least an hour of fighting this chunk of plastic, Riley climbed in, and he's almost too tall for it. He's middle of the pack height-wise for a kid who is almost 2, and his legs are too long for it. He can barely move it without hitting wheels or pinning his feet.





But he really likes the siren sounds that came with the fire & rescue package.



and the fact that it is hard to use will hopefully push him toward his birthday present, a Strider Bike.


We finished off the evening with Wall-E on Blu-ray on our "new" Tv in our new entertainment center from Cajun Closets. Visually stunning.




Long time readers may remember that Cajun Closets put in the closet in Riley's room, which has been incredibly practical, and I think we're going to love the entertainment center just as much.

It turned out looking really nice. It's actually almost too nice for the rest of our house.





We've got nice lighting across the top shelf





But, best of all, we have tons of storage.





And, like everything you read here, this thing is deep. (24 inches to be exact)
That has allowed us to have decorations toward the front, with baskets full of DVD's, cd's, and accessories partially hidden toward the back.





Then, because we custom designed the system, we've got enough space to later accommodate a 70 inch TV. Werd up!


I really can't stress how happy we've been with their products. A few of our friends have also used them and have been really happy.

Look to your right for the link to the Cajun Closets website when you need a closet, entertainment center or any other organizational solution.
My cousin Erin does their sales, so tell her you heard about them here.
It probably wont get you anything, but maybe it will get me something (kickbacks rock, I would expect)



The second product to plug is this cool hard plastic popcorn tub they are selling at Target for $1 right now. Nothing special, but a neat idea for that cheap.




and finally, I would direct your attention to the links on the right and a new blog on the list, The Tanory Tantrum.

The blog is actually written by someone I went to school with 15+ years ago. I was directed to it recently, by a mutual friend, and liked it immediately.

If you like CajunBabyWallace, you should really like The Tanory Tantrum.
Same basic theme- cute kid with a smart-ass dad, but Bobby is consistently funny.
Check it out.

(when I reach my self imposed contractual obligation of keeping this up until Riley's second birthday, which is only a few weeks away, I don't want to leave you out in the cold.)

Wishing You all the Worst , Kid!

So, dearest followers, a post here means that our desktop pc is back up and running, thanks to the skills of Paul and some scavenged Frankenstein parts (Thank you, Aunt Connie!).

Below this pos,t you should find a make up post from last week.

Double the pleasure? Double the fun? (sorry, no sets of twin models)

The week was pretty slow.
We spent a couple of evenings finishing up our entertainment center, which came out awesome.
I'm going to wait to post about that next week though, because of the tone that this post takes later. Don't want to drag any good company down with that.


Wednesday, I went to the doctor who, after extensive interrogation, stuck to the theory that any problems I'm having are caused by my gall bladder, and that the way to fix it is to cut it out. He agreed though, that it may be wise to wait it out to see what my symptoms will be and if they are bearable.

Pain once or twice a month with a gall bladder may be preferable to the risks of permanent bathroom related side effects that come with its removal.

Regardless (not irregardless), I'll be seeing a GI doc for a full work up and getting a gauge on what, if any, problems I'll continue to have.


Friday was Caroline's 2nd birthday, and since her Mommy is laid up with the sickness right now, the birthday girl and her Daddy headed in to town and hung out here.

Saturday, we headed to the Cajundome for Riley's first stage show, Curious George Live.
We had really good seats because we bought early.
But, judging by the fact that no one was there, we probably could have held out and still been ok.





Riley was initially freaked out by the loud music, but settled in once he saw George.

He spent the second act feeding my Mom popcorn, but he never caused trouble.

After the show, everyone came back here, where we were joined by Caroline's Granny Jill, for Caroline's birthday cake.





Caroline has recently learned to blow her nose, which made for some interesting, very earnest attempt at candle extinguishment.





but eventually the fire was cleared, non-nasally, and the cousins partook.





This morning, we headed to the Zoo of Acadiana, where Mr. Cool was laid back and ready for the day.





He wasn't impressed by the llamas' ability to open the chute door on their feed machine, but the adults were. (we're easy)




We were prepared for the playground to be the highlight of the day, as usual.





(Warning: Hatred and anger directed toward a minor follows)

Unfortunately, after a few minutes, some white trash POS kid named Jace (I'll remember your face) thought it would be fun to walk up to Riley (who was playing on his knees) and just start kicking him in the face. Riley started screaming, Joan told the kid to stop and his grandparents walked over and just stood there watching, never saying anything to us or the kid.

My blood is boiling again just thinking about it.

Of course, kids are going to do bad things, but without correction, they'll just keep doing it.

Those grandparents will be so proud when their sweet little Jace is in prison in 16 years getting treated like Derek Vinyard.

But aside from that particular hope for their future, I would also wish them the same fate that Jimmy Pop so eloquently expressed on the lead track from the Hooray for Boobies album (Look it up)

Why?

Well, I think Chapelle expressed that best in his "Popcopy" sketch (all these references should keep you busy and make up for the lack of content here)


Now that I've re-ruined my day, I'm going to wrap this up.

But I'll remember that kid's face, and in 16 years, when he's certifiably an adult, I'm gonna wheel my walker over to him and get all Jules-style Ezekiel 25:17 on that punk.
(I'm sure I'll be using a walker by 46. that's pretty old)


Regulars- you know I'm usually a pretty nice guy (on paper), so to say those things, I've gotta be really mad.
So, do me a favor.
Next time you see a kid named Jace, kick him in the face, just in case.
(ok maybe that suggestion was out of place)