He's a Hunter

A bird mysteriously flew into our glass front door Sunday, knocking itself out.  A moment later Katie opened the door to go outside and The Dog pounced.  Before we knew it he was trotting around the front yard, dead bird in mouth.

Ballet Recital

The recital for MM's summer ballet class was last Friday.  Bobbins made this great video.




http://youtu.be/mKAIoAtEQ8M 

 

Saturday

Stopped at Safeway with the girls on the way to swim at the condo, picking up food for lunch and dinner.  We got in line to check out, then were called over to an open line by a cashier.  The girls stayed in the original line, playing with something.  I started to unload our cart and whistled for the girls to come over.  MM did, but no JoJo.  I hurried to keep unloading and told MM to get her sister.  A minute went by and it was too quiet, so I walked out of the check-out aisle to find them.  I could only see MM.  At this point I started to get worried and walked along the main aisle.  A guy noticed me and asked if I was looking for a little blonde girl in a purple t-shirt.  I said yeah and he said he just saw her running out the door.  I rushed over and sure enough, there she was, standing outside on the curb looking for us.  She must've thought we'd left without her.  Scared the crap out of me.  It was a good teaching moment, I suppose, and reminder that JoJo's la-la land has an unfunny downside.  Another check in my nomination for Father of the Year.

Later, we were all at the park practicing softball (Katie organized a team and we're playing at Kiwanis Park in Tempe).  Three young brothers were playing baseball across the way when one hit the ball right at the other's head.  I saw the one collapse while the hitter said "Oh Shit!" and told the youngest to go get their mom.  After a bit I figured I better go over there as an adult.  The poor guy had an enormous shiner and some blood coming out of his nose but otherwise was breathing okay and not dizzy.  We waited for his mom, and I told him he was tough for not crying.  They went to urgent care.

On the way home it was storming quite heavily to the south, with massive loads of lightning and heavy rains.  The girls and I decided that it was Francis, Baby 4, and God playing by turning on and off the lights in heaven.

Tempe Aquarium

Last week Bobbins took the girls and Nathaniel (neighbor kid she's watching) to the Sea Life Aquarium in Tempe.

 

 

 

Putting Around the House

Last Sunday the girls woke up from naps and we needed something to do. It was way too hot to go outside.  I grabbed my putter and the girls' and set up some cup "holes" around the house.  We had fun putting around, and MM even made a long one.  It was a good 20 min's of fun.


Video   (http://youtu.be/r_OFiXBLOao)

 

Equality of Use

Provocative "Sex on Campus" article in the New York Times on Sunday.  Not surprisingly, the piece skews toward wealthy white elites in choosing the campus and co-ed's of the University of Pennsylvania.  Despite its biases, it's a well-written and honest sketch of common attitudes about sex amongst college-age Americans.  It's a scary picture.  The author extolls the fact that young women now act like men in the sexual marketplace:  quick easy hook-up's over real relationships, hook-up buddies over boyfriends.  This is cause for celebration from a feminist standpoint in achieving equality of the sexes.  As the title and photo suggest, now she can do it too.

What's most disturbing to me isn't the equality, although that's a problem too, as women are the ones who should regulate sexuality (basically keep men in check), not de-regulate it into a contact-sport-like free-for-all.  What's really disturbing is the dehumanizing quality of these interactions.  People are getting together and in many cases engaging in the most intimate act between two people simply for personal pleasure.  The other person is not an object of love or affection but of animalistic desire.  The other person is more or less an object to be used to feel good.  Love and by extension sex should be about giving of yourself.  But in the norms discussed in the article, it's all about taking for yourself with minimal regard for the other.  Quite a sad perversion of what it can be.

And do the women at Penn really enjoy the sex?  Men, of course, do, and have few qualms about it (generally speaking, of course).  Do the women really enjoy being used in this manner, even if they're also the users themselves?  How is this situation fulfilling for women at all?

JoJo Self-Portrait

Watermelon on the 4th

On the large patio of The Compound.


About 10am, we snuck into the Courtyard Marriott pool nearby and swam for a couple hours.  For dinner we BBQ'd some sausages, peppers, and onions.  Just before 9 we climbed on the roof of the carport and watched a few of the fireworks shows.  We could see the one over Tempe Town Lake best, although the one in central Scottsdale wasn't too bad.  Bobbins claimed she could see one out toward Mesa.

Cool Fort

Bobbins and the girls and The Dog spent last week at "The Compound" caring for Bobbins' dad, who was in a rough spot.  I went out there a couple nights to provide moral support and be with my fam.  One night while walking The Dog, we came across a cool fort in the wash south of The Compound.

So Far, So Good

This little guy, whom the girls call "Baby Moses," is about nine weeks.



Keep in mind, the so-called "sweeping anti-abortion" bill passed in Texas this week restricts the procedure to 20 weeks...


St. Gerard Majella, pray for us.

MM at VBS

MM did a week-long Vacation Bible School at St. Joan of Arc, including a visit from Padre Pio (photo on right).  She had a blast and learned a lot.  And yes Nana T, she's pretty much ready for school, although the School of Mama isn't ready to let her go yet, nor is the School of Daddy ready to pay.

 

Swim Day

This last weekend we had a fun couple hours swimming in the neighbors' pool.  Even Bobbins got in.  MM's earache be damned.  Bobbins of course took some videos and made quite a funny video.  (http://youtu.be/o09CPi3oiPM)

 

Happy 4th!

Sure ain't the country the Founders established in '76.  Nevertheless, Happy Independence Day.  May God bless America.

Taking After Dad

Girl after my own heart.



Thanks to Nana T to getting the subscription.  She loves when Highlights for Kids comes in the mail.

JoJo's 3rd

JoJo recently had her third birthday, and on the actual day, we threw a little party for her with family and friends.  Bobbins made it a candy themed party and did up some nice decorations in addition to a delicious cake and oreo pops.  I survived the 115 degree heat to grill up some dogs and chicken.