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Friday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri May 29, 2009 at 11:21:12 AM EST
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I've never liked to stay at motels with ground level rooms and big windows that you enter from the outside.

Here's another reason not to stay at one: In Colorado Springs early this morning a deer charged through the window of a motel room, and went wild inside. The hotel guest had the foresight (and courage) to get him into the bathroom and then lock the door.

The panicked deer destroyed the toilet and flooded the room. The man says he's a maintenance worker for the hotel, so he'll have to repair the damage himself.

The deer was tranquilized and removed.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Friday Open Thread | 54 comments (54 topical)

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    kids (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri May 29, 2009 at 11:38:38 AM EST
    I have been chronicling some of the more humorous events with my children and this site was kind enough to post an unedited version of a journal entry.  It is a long read but cute if anyone is interested.  Make sure you leave a comment, that means you kdog and sarc...

    http://nwitimes.com/parent/?p=1391

    Classic. (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri May 29, 2009 at 01:11:10 PM EST
    Got a big ol' grin on my face!

    Parent
    A fun story (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by KeysDan on Fri May 29, 2009 at 01:15:25 PM EST
    great children and dad.

    Parent
    many many thanks (none / 0) (#10)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri May 29, 2009 at 01:17:38 PM EST
    the better ones will follow.  I started with a weak piece and the others are in a holding pattern and i expect to have release soon....

    Parent
    Well penned sir... (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by kdog on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:38:16 PM EST
    I enjoyed your parenting tale very much...you've got word skills man.  Worlds away from the typical night at casa de kdog, to be sure:)

    I think soy ice cream is worse torture than a little hairwashing at bathtime though...those poor beautiful kids:)

    Parent

    Thanks for the laugh. (none / 0) (#13)
    by vml68 on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:18:01 PM EST
    I don't have any children but have been helping my brother care for my two young neices this past year. I had no idea bath time could be so traumatic( especially for me!)until then.

    Parent
    thank you (none / 0) (#16)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:24:20 PM EST
    in a couple of weeks i am hoping to run a public restroom piece.  Quite vivid and gross but much funnier and put together better.

    Parent
    oh dear (none / 0) (#19)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:32:19 PM EST
    I have no children only neighbors.  I have a dog and the 4 year old in the  next yard loves him.  LOVES him.

    at least once a day after throwing everything else he can lay his hands on over the fence to the dog he takes off his clothes and throws them over the fence to the dog.  the dog dutifully retrieves every item and makes a pile that I then toss back over the fence.

    Parent

    my two boys always want to be nekkid (none / 0) (#20)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:37:51 PM EST
    I don't mind so much but my wife and daughter have always had it up to HERE with testosterone.  

    It is so good to hear I am not alone, I only wish you lived next door, sounds like I could have the kids distracted for extended periods!

    Parent

    hours (none / 0) (#22)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:42:07 PM EST
    if the kid is outside and the dog is not I suddenly here the kid shrieking "DOGGIE!!!!!"

    Parent
    John, if I had not read that you live (none / 0) (#28)
    by vml68 on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:54:23 PM EST
    in Chicago, I would swear that your boys are influencing my nieces. They too love to be "nekkid". I can deal with that in the house but not when I am driving them somewhere and they suddenly feel the need to take off all their clothes. There are times that I think I drive the whole way watching them in the rearview mirror.

    Parent
    lol (none / 0) (#30)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:00:00 PM EST
    why is that so funny to me?  I just burst out laughing in the office and everyone thinks I need to go home.  I have not had the problem in the car YET and I am very grateful!

    Parent
    I used to hope that someday when I had kids that (none / 0) (#37)
    by vml68 on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:23:20 PM EST
    I would have boys. For some reason I thought they would be easier to raise, probably because my brother was such a good kid and I was the "what are we going to do with her" child.
    Then one of my best friends had four boys. After babysitting them and also watching her trying to keep up with them, I figured maybe I should hope for girls. Now after caring for my neices, I am wondering if I have the courage, fortitude, patience to raise children of my own.... :-)!

    P.S- That same friend still gives me grief because during one babysitting session, I let the boys play with their b**gers....in my defense, it was the only thing that kept them entertained long enough for me to catch a few minutes rest.

    Parent

    Aunt/Uncle... (none / 0) (#42)
    by kdog on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:51:05 PM EST
    is the best job ain't it?...all the fun and none of the responsibility.  

    The thought of being responsible for 18 years min. of food, clothes, shelter, medical care, education, etc. scares the living daylights outta me...I like being responsible for filling only one belly:)

    Parent

    we use the spanish word (none / 0) (#53)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 06:10:20 PM EST
    mochos (not sure of the spelling) and every time my adult son is over (he is half p.r.) or his mom, they are completely grossed out at the word and the boys have no idear as to why...

    I set up obstacle courses in the living room and give them challenges, they usually go for 60 minutes non-stop...

    Parent

    Barely controlled chaos (none / 0) (#17)
    by ruffian on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:26:20 PM EST
    I love it! Very good job.

    Parent
    I meant to tell you that I read (none / 0) (#50)
    by Anne on Fri May 29, 2009 at 08:08:07 PM EST
    your bathtime story earlier today and found myself smiling as I remembered bathtime when my girls were little ones like yours.

    Except that I used to call it "hydrotherapy," because it seemed to leach all the rambunctiousness and crankiness out of them at the end of the day, and by the time they were finished, their blonde curls dried and their teeth brushed, it was an easy fall into bed for storytime and sweet dreams.

    As for shampoos...I used to tell them I was giving them a scalp massage - for some reason that made them feel really special - and the "no more tears" shampoo really did seem to work.  

    Bubble baths with them making beards and fancy hairdos out of the bubbles was always fun - I think the time my older one, who could not have been more than about 5 - made herself a bubble beard and then announced in an artificially deep voice, "I'm Marty Stouffer...and this is Wild America," almost made me wet my pants I laughed so hard.  Don't know if Marty is still on the TV, but when the girls were little, they loved his nature show.

    Those were the days...I guess the next time I get to have the bathtime experience will be with grandchildren...

    Thanks for the funny walk down memory lane!

    Parent

    thanks for sharing anne (none / 0) (#54)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 06:12:19 PM EST
    you write better than i do, care to be an editor?  I have about 25000 words that need serious clean up  :)

    Parent
    suo-sher (5.00 / 0) (#9)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri May 29, 2009 at 01:16:07 PM EST
    thank you. Not my best piece and unedited, I have 15 others much higher quality and edited but have been talking to another publication and need to end that before i can release...

    Can't wait to see the next installment! (none / 0) (#41)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:46:02 PM EST


    Parent
    Bloggers on the Bus (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Pol C on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:20:57 PM EST
    I got my copy a week or so ago, and I think it's a very disappointing book. There don't seem to be many meaty reviews of it out there, so I wrote one of my own. It can be read here. I'd love some feedback.

    Your POV is not unfair (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:30:15 PM EST
    The procedural counterpoint is that books with footnotes don't sell, though I prefer them myself.  Substantively, some people really like narrative by profile, and others like it by event. As someone trained in history, I prefer narrative by timeline and category.

    But your complaint that he misses big parts of the story is what's most troubling.

    Parent

    That is the most complete review (none / 0) (#24)
    by ruffian on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:47:40 PM EST
    I have seen. The sense I got from other sources was that the profiles and ideas of the bloggers were the most interesting part of the book, and your review pretty much confirms that, and points out the limitations of even that much.

    I've been on the fence about reading it - from what you say, I am not going to rush out and get it. I agree with you in hoping it does not discourage anyone else from writing a more complete story.

    Parent

    'interesting' is the wrong word (none / 0) (#26)
    by ruffian on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:51:05 PM EST
    I should have said 'best written' or something like that! The whole story is interesting, I continue to hope for a well researched telling.

    I'm with you guys - I like footnotes, and maps when applicable (btw)!  

    Parent

    Thanks for the comments (none / 0) (#52)
    by Pol C on Sat May 30, 2009 at 08:37:14 AM EST
    I appreciate them.

    Parent
    i love nature (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Dadler on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:18:06 PM EST
    This is one of the oddest fish you will ever see.  Tf not number one on the list. Macropinna Microstoma.

    Very cool! (none / 0) (#38)
    by nycstray on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:24:56 PM EST
    Looks like a Disney creation to me {grin}

    Parent
    Pittsburgh will host the world economic G-20 (none / 0) (#1)
    by ding7777 on Fri May 29, 2009 at 11:34:24 AM EST
    summit on Sept. 24-25. Local announcement.

    I wonder (none / 0) (#3)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri May 29, 2009 at 11:41:41 AM EST
    if the Clintons list Dick Morris as a dependent on their tax returns?

    The Incredible Shrinking Clintons
    By Dick Morris

    Peggy Noonan (none / 0) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri May 29, 2009 at 11:48:05 AM EST
    she never disappoints:

    She is of course a brilliant political pick--Hispanic when Republicans have trouble with Hispanics, a woman when they've had trouble with women. Her background (public housing, Newyorican, Catholic school, Princeton, prominence) is as moving as Clarence Thomas's, and that is moving indeed. Politically she's like a beautiful doll containing a canister of poison gas: Break her and you die.

    Funny (5.00 / 4) (#5)
    by Socraticsilence on Fri May 29, 2009 at 12:11:33 PM EST
    about Thomas- its like his background somehow ended once he graduated law school- because "touching" takes on a wholly different conotation post-grad.

    Parent
    Trigger-happy... (none / 0) (#6)
    by desertswine on Fri May 29, 2009 at 12:34:18 PM EST
    New York cop shoots, kills, another cop.

    White copper on Black copper... (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:37:00 PM EST
    that kinda explains it.

    Parent
    Obviously we need a... (none / 0) (#11)
    by cwolf on Fri May 29, 2009 at 01:21:39 PM EST
    Renegade Deer Czar at the Federal Cabinet level.

    Phil Spector (none / 0) (#12)
    by jbindc on Fri May 29, 2009 at 01:53:47 PM EST
    sentenced to 19 years to life

    Lakers v. Nuggets, game 6 (none / 0) (#14)
    by Dadler on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:19:12 PM EST
    Predictions?

    As a Forum Blue & Gold fan to the bone, logic tells me we're looking at a game 7.  But if Odom can stay strong, if Bynum can give us a little more, hell if he can give us ANYthing, then i think we might be able to take it tonight.

    Just glad LeBron beat the Magic last night.  And in the fourth quarter he was playing one on five, and he won.  Crazy.  I'm just glad the Magic won't be too well rested when they come to LA for game one of the finals.

    A safe prediction... (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:45:35 PM EST
    the officials will have more impact on the outcome than they should.

    Parent
    it's the nba, dog (none / 0) (#34)
    by Dadler on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:13:10 PM EST
    and that stands for "never bet against".  the house always wins.

    you know what i mean?  

    although i do think the league would prefer kobe v. lebron in the finals, it doesn't look like that's gonna happen.

    gentlemen, swallow, er, start your whistles.  

    Parent

    I'm sure... (none / 0) (#40)
    by kdog on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:37:49 PM EST
    Ralph Nader will be on top of any new shenanigans...not that anybody wants to listen:)

    Parent
    Oy. They really went (none / 0) (#25)
    by nycstray on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:47:41 PM EST
    there

    I'm speechless. really. (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by ruffian on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:52:48 PM EST


    Parent
    Is this guy for real? (none / 0) (#29)
    by vml68 on Fri May 29, 2009 at 02:58:51 PM EST
    I have a strong urge to do some serious damage to something/somebody.

    Parent
    I have a strong urge for a drink. (none / 0) (#32)
    by nycstray on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:02:39 PM EST
    Like ruffian above, I'm speechless. I'm sure later I may think of plenty to say, but then again, what can you say to this sh!t?!

    Parent
    He's a convicted felon whose claim to fame (none / 0) (#33)
    by andgarden on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:06:54 PM EST
    is being a Nixon goon.

    Parent
    I remember the Nixon years (none / 0) (#35)
    by nycstray on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:16:38 PM EST
    for me, it doesn't change what he said or where he said it (on the radio). There are many men that agree with that sentiment. It's still in play in many offices across the country. This is what we put up with day in and day out amoung other things. They hinted this sh!t about Hillary also, and they weren't all convicted felons. And it wasn't isolated to the extremist right.

    Parent
    By convicted felon G. Gordon Liddy (none / 0) (#31)
    by andgarden on Fri May 29, 2009 at 03:01:37 PM EST
    Think he learned to talk like that in prison?

    Parent
    Oh, we know the boyz were thinking it (none / 0) (#47)
    by Cream City on Fri May 29, 2009 at 04:57:30 PM EST
    in their own incredibly uninformed way.  I have to point out again that it's the "or something," unquote, that they ought to fear -- as she likely is post-menopausal . . . which means that while Liddy and the like are dealing with declining testosterone, hers is heading up.  

    Hahahaha.  I think I'm going to think of Sotomayor as Towanda!  Readers of Fried Green Tomatoes will understand. :-)

    Parent

    My niece named her cat (none / 0) (#49)
    by nycstray on Fri May 29, 2009 at 05:15:16 PM EST
    Towanda when she was a little girl. Said cat ended up living most of her life with my mom. They had an, ahem, interesting relationship. My mom always got a kick out of the name though :)

    Parent
    Now, drat, why didn't I name my cat (none / 0) (#51)
    by Cream City on Fri May 29, 2009 at 09:23:11 PM EST
    that?  Perfect for a liberated fe . . . line. :-)

    Parent
    this makes me nervous (none / 0) (#43)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri May 29, 2009 at 04:06:13 PM EST
    A prominent pro-life Catholic says he will be quietly rooting for Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be confirmed to the Supreme Court and said she may even be an improvement over retiring Justice David H. Souter - as both sides of the abortion issue try to discern her position.

    William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said Judge Sotomayor's record has more bright spots than conservative Catholics can reasonably expect to get from an appointee of President Obama.

    There are liberal blogs that show (none / 0) (#46)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri May 29, 2009 at 04:35:13 PM EST
    a great deal of concern over the Sotomayor choice. I'm keeping my opinion open while I read everything available on her.

    Parent
    take note (none / 0) (#44)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri May 29, 2009 at 04:09:41 PM EST
    Gawker: Mancow's waterboarding was a hoax; Mancow: No, it wasn't; Update: Mancow on Olby again tonight

    british press (none / 0) (#45)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri May 29, 2009 at 04:21:06 PM EST
    responds to Glibbs

    Robert Gibbs' completely unwarranted rant against the British press is an absolute disgrace, and the President should disown his views. An unreserved apology by Gibbs is also in order.

    For all its talk of "raising America's standing" in the world after the Bush years, the Obama administration is doing a spectacularly bad job of reaching out to its allies. Unfortunately this is the new face of America's public diplomacy, which will only serve to alienate public opinion across the Atlantic. Congratulations Gibbs - you've just made an enemy out of the entire British media, quite an achievement for the man in charge of selling the President's message.

    ---

    yesterday on Tweety his "big number" was the number of knee slappers Glibbs has launched from the podium since he started.  in case you are interested its 600.

    so glad the white house press corpse is having fun.
    arent you?

    What's with the anti-Brit attitude (none / 0) (#48)
    by Cream City on Fri May 29, 2009 at 05:00:31 PM EST
    in this White House, anyway?  From the first week, when Obama dissed the Brits about the Churchill bust, and then with the weird treatment of Gordon Brown. . . .  Heck, I'm still ticked at the Brits for what they did 800 years ago, but I don't understand what they did to Obama (who is, after all, of English descent).

    Parent
    Friday Open Thread | 54 comments (54 topical)

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