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)

Last Week (if now was a week ago)

As stated above, this is a make up post.

I promise you, if i had been able to do it on time, it would have been great, but with the passage of a week, my memories of good one liners have faded and now you're stuck with this.

so (assuming the tense of presently being in the past) it was Mardi Gras week, a week I used to really like when I was a kid.

I'm fortunate enough to have a great colleague who lives along the parade route, which means we don't have to fight for space, bathrooms, etc, or have much contact with the general public, thus making it worth the trip.


Tuesday started pretty cold, and Riley had his first experience wearing gloves, which he tolerated because of their officially licensed Saints emblems.






Riley was tolerant of the parade, but his interest was waning until we met up with another colleague and his daughter, Bayley, who is 10 days older than Riley.
Last year she could walk well and he couldn't, so their interaction was limited.
This year though, they seemed to hit it off.






But we need to teach him that it's not nice to bounce ball off of people's heads.
(unless it is us doing it to him, then it's good family fun)





Gavin has joined the crew here this week and Riley is trying to help him fit in.
Riley wants to play, but doesn't quite understand that an 8 week old really has no use for a tool set.





Thursday night, Eli and I headed over to the armpit for a Sevendust show at the Varsity.
As usual, these guys are one of the best live shows around, and as long as they keep touring I will keep buying tickets (despite not really listening to their last three or four albums)






On Saturday, we headed back to the armpit for a trip to the zoo with Caroline's crew.





The BR zoo has a pretty nice playground, but it is usually crowded.
We got there right at opening time though, and headed straight to the toys, where we had the place to ourselves for at least a half hour.

Caroline had fun showing us how to half grasp concepts, such as the proper placement of sunglasses, without consideration for size.





Riley was less than thrilled with the prairie dog tunnels






and his favorite part of the petting zoo was washing his hands afterward. That boy ain't right.





Paul played with our long lens (formerly his) and got to satisfy his inner spy.






Riley, despite being in the darkened reptile/fish house, insisted that his future was so brilliant that sunglasses were necessary.
(that just doesn't have a ring to it)





To close out the trip, as he gripped the last thread of his awake-ity, we took a spin on the train.





Back in Lafayette, the kids showed of Paul's really cool, (non-saints) Fleur d'ecrevisse shirt design.






On random notes, one of the best food deals in town is the Royal Panda buffet to go. Cheaper than dining in, and you can get up to 10 pieces of sushi. Add one roll and you've got a great meal for two for $15.





and between second hand Rock Band and Celebrity Rehab, Riley has taken an interest in being the Man in the Box.




That's about all of the fun times for this week. If you only come here for cheery, stop here and we'll see ya next week.


If you're still around, what I left our was part of our Saturday that wasn't fun.

Sadly, some family members lost a daughter this week, a good way into the pregnancy.
Saturday afternoon was the small funeral service, as she was far enough along that arrangements were necessary.
Even though I've seen it a couple of times before, a shoe box size coffin is always heartbreaking.


On a similarly emotional note, Sevendust has a memorial song, written for one of their friends killed in a car accident, entitled Angel's Son. The song took on even more meaning for them when the lead singer's brother was murdered a few years ago.

The song got them their most mainstream success, and they always play it.
I've seen it 3 or 4 times and Lajon always cried, but I never connected with the song.

Given the events of the last couple of months, at this week's show, I heard the song as if for the first time, and it really connected.



(Sorry if you tube is blocked for you. I didn't know where else to post it with that size file.)

if you are interested in the song, check out the two alternate videos on YouTube. I found the hospital one a few days after we lost my dad, and it was damn hard to watch.

bad timing

'twas a busy week.

mardi gras, sevendust concert, medical news, baton rouge zoo, and a very sad funeral.

then, after i dumped all of this week's photos, our desktop pc crapped out.

that means you get nothing.
sorry. hopefully it'll be back up next week.