What Would Mommy Do?

2009-01-29T13:44:00.001-07:00

2009-01-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

/Users/Jim/Desktop/B Day 2009.jpg

Vote!

2008-09-10T11:48:00.001-07:00

Here are some more fine choices.

First day of school!

2008-08-18T09:34:00.005-07:00

The middle pic is last years first day of school photo. Same shoes, same socks, same shorts, different shirt. In the first pic he has the same freckles on his nose that my Dad had when he was a kid.

Las Vegas part 2

2008-08-08T16:27:00.003-07:00

LasVegas part 1

2008-08-08T16:16:00.003-07:00

This place is awsome! Audrey has her own bed too.

A few other hard to find toys

2008-07-21T08:40:00.001-07:00

Greatest toy ever!

2008-07-18T14:16:00.001-07:00

Here is just a little toy I came across that I would pay big bucks for.

Happy #%*#@'n Bastille Day!

2008-07-14T11:30:00.003-07:00

Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is called Fête Nationale ("National Celebration"), in official parlance, or more commonly quatorze juillet ("14 July"). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern French nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution.

For me it means something worse. Much, much worse.

To make a long story short, eight years ago my Dad died. He was pretty freakin' cool and a ton of people came to pay their respects. One of these people was someone I went to high school with and I have NEVER liked this person. This person showed up at my Moms house with their spouse to hang out with the family for a while. We were all around the kitchen table talking, when suddenly one by one my family started to leave the room until I was the only one left in the room with this person. Not wanting to be rude, by shooting this person in the face with a shotgun, I stayed and kept IT company. When IT realized that the conversation was not going to continue, the words 'Happy Bastille Day', came bursting from IT's mouth in a sick attempt to keep the conversation going. Thankfully for me I had a funeral to go to so I had an excuse to leave.
I think tonight I will celebrate Bastille Day by sticking an Ice pick in my ear so I never have to hear those words again.

Just something I like to do in my spare time

2008-07-10T10:23:00.001-07:00

Stop Motion Spaghetti Cooking - Watch more free videos

2008-07-10T10:05:00.002-07:00

I'm a Ferrari 360 Modena!

You've got it all. Power, passion, precision, and style. You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental. Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

The first city I lived in on my mission to Italy was Modena.

No one is well.

2008-07-02T09:51:00.003-07:00

Joey's tonsils are the size of orange slices and wants nothing but Gatorade. He helped me put up the flag even though it was painful. Audrey was picking stuff off the floor when she did a face plant into her highchair. Nothing a Banana can't fix.

While you were at work...

2008-07-01T09:27:00.003-07:00

Audrey brought me a book and said, 'bkkk' and later she made her way into the bathroom to play in the sink.

May the force be with you.

2008-06-27T15:46:00.003-07:00

Joey met some of his greatest foes today. He even went at it with Darth Vader.

2008-06-10T11:49:00.001-07:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Good Show

2008-05-22T21:21:00.001-07:00

Don't send a lame eCard.
Try JibJab Sendables!

Year of the Rat.

2008-02-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

I keep writing monkey on all my checks!

$100.00 Christmas tree

2007-12-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

The story is apparently marginal at best so I will only humor you all with the photo of our trophy tree.

First day of school, first day of school!

2007-09-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

All went well until I said goodbye. Once I was out of sight I think he did ok. It was harder on me than it was on him.

2007-09-10T17:40:00.001-07:00

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155316042/bclid1155075693/bctid1178164874

Don't waste your whole day on this.

2007-08-30T12:46:00.001-07:00

Star Wars Lego's Rule!

2007-08-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

2007-08-28T09:26:00.001-07:00

newport cont.

2007-08-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Joey and Nicko had a blast together.

newport cont.

2007-08-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

newport cont.

2007-08-20T10:14:00.001-07:00

Ruby's on the pier. A fisherman almost hooked Audrey and Amber. The hooks stuck in the fabric on the stroller.

newport cont.

2007-08-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

In this last pic. you can see the old beach house in the background. It was sad to see it with other people in it. These first ones are from San Juan Capastrano.

newport cont.

2007-08-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

newport cont.

2007-08-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Newport cont.

2007-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Newport cont.

2007-08-20T09:53:00.001-07:00

A day at 'Rogers Garden's' is always a day well spent. Audrey's legwarmers were a big hit.

Newport '07

2007-08-20T09:46:00.001-07:00

This last pic is at a new Italian restaruant called 'Sabatinos'. It was awsome! We ate there for the first three days of our trip. This night the owner (standing) gave Joey a hat and then they posed for a shot with the old man singing Italian classics.

34% for me

2007-08-10T14:28:00.001-07:00

34%

Mingle² - Dating Site

How much are you worth?

2007-08-10T14:23:00.001-07:00

$4290.00

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

Che bell bambini!

2007-08-01T20:13:00.001-07:00

The one nice day in an Arizona summer.

2007-08-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Stormtrooper Countdown

2007-07-26T08:42:00.002-07:00

Commercial 7-6-07

2007-07-06T14:49:00.001-07:00

Thanks Kristy for the help!

Dennis Farina

2007-06-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

We went to PV mall today and while we were looking at the puppies in the window, Actor Dennis Farina walked up next to us and admired the little bitch in the window. Wow! What a day.

Baseball!

2007-06-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

We went to the d-backs game last night with Pa, but these pics are from the last time we went. Joey loved it.

Nemo was not at the Zoo.

2007-06-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

We went to the Zoo today in search of Nemo but all we found was a yellow submarine. (I think it used to be an Oscar Mayer weiner mobile). It was not a bad little show but waiting in the sun for it to start (for 45 minutes) was not fun.

Blueberry

2007-06-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Audrey loved her first swim party at Aunt Jo's.

For Cami.

2007-06-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is what should go on your wall in the living room or bedroom. I am going to put it on Joeys wall.

Lesser moments in spanish extra credit.

2007-05-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

Señorita Pulliam,

Hola. Cómo está usted? Estoy bien. Except for the fact that I'm failing your class.

You said I needed to demonstrate that I've learned something from your class in order to pass. I plan to do that in this e-mail, but first a few apologies.

I know that I've been no aquí to your class more often than you'd like. Let my perfect attendance these last two weeks serve as my apology.

I'm also sorry for calling all Spanish people "Mexicans." There are many types of Spanish people that aren't Mexicans. Brazil, for instance, is a very large nation of non-Mexican Hispanics. Brazil is not, as I have said once or twice, "the boob of South America." Even if it does resemble a breast. Lastly, not all Mexicans are illegals. Except maybe Alberto Gonzales—but for a different reason.

I understand that adding an o to the end of an English word doesn't necessarily make the corresponding Spanish word. I only did it for laughos from the chicas. :)

I realize that my overuse of the words "cerveza," "piña colada," and "sexo" is, as you said, "remarkably childish." In my defense, they are real Spanish words, and describing my life without those words would be dishonest.

I hope this extra credit will demonstrate to you that I've learned a lot of español. I remember that you mentioned that your favorite author is Gabriel García Márquez, and that the one about cholera is your most favorite. So I've translated the first part from Spanish without looking at the American one.

He remembered that love was like foul-smelling nuts. The juvenile Dr. Urbino noticed the nut smell when he entered a dark house not urgently like he used to. Jeremiah of Saint Love, a warrior refugee from an anthill, a child in a photograph, a sad winner of many games, had exited scary memories of gold that smelled like poison.

He found the corpse with a blanket on it on a bed where the corpse was sleeping, and next to it was a chair with poison. A big black dog with crutches was dead and tied to the bed.

Now I understand why you like it so much! I'll definitely have to finish it when I have a chance. Did the dog kill the guy? No, don't tell me. Did the dog use poison? Or maybe the dog fed the owner some really old nuts that he knew would kill him, but then, in the struggle, the dog accidentally ate one of the nuts. Sounds like a thriller!

Adiós,
Tu estudiante y amigo Chris

Listen to the 'Piano Man' first.

2007-05-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

A NOTE PLACED IN
THE PAY ENVELOPE OF
BILLY "THE PIANO MAN" JOEL.

- - - -

Hi, Billy,

It's hard to find time to talk at the club since I'm busy managing the place and you're at the piano. And we need to talk. I've occasionally given you a nervous smile hoping it would initiate a conversation, but that hasn't worked out. I'm hoping that by writing my thoughts down, you'll have a chance to read this when you're at home or something.

I think you should sing songs. Actual songs. Because you don't sing any at all right now. You've been playing at my club for three months, and though you're a fine musician and an acceptable vocalist, these things you perform are just not songs in the traditional sense. They're streams of observations about what the people in the club are doing, punctuated by the occasional "la la la, de de da da" when it's clear you've run out of things to say. It's just a continuous stream of musical small talk lasting up to five hours. How about "Stormy Weather" or "Yesterday" or something? Hell, "Feelings." Anything. Do you need sheet music? I have some at home.

Frankly, this has been bothering me since you started, but I figured since we get a regular crowd shuffling in on Saturdays when you play, why rock the boat? But this past Saturday I couldn't help notice that there was a lot of tension in the room. As you know, it was actually a pretty good crowd that night, customers who wanted to forget about life for a while by having some drinks and hearing some music. John the bartender provided the booze, so they looked to you for the songs. But instead they just heard their own sad lives echoed back to them. That nice old man wanted to hear something from his childhood but couldn't remember the tune all the way. It would have been great if you had at least guessed at one before loudly rephrasing his confusion in rhyming verse before firing off more "la la la, de de da da" lines. That old man—a regular customer, by the way—was so humiliated that he ended up performing a sexual act on his cocktail. Of course, I don't need to tell you that. You put that in the song, too. You had to be a big shot, didn't you?

Billy, that kind of thing is why people kept yelling at you all night. "Sing us a song, piano man! Sing us a song tonight!" they shouted. But instead of doing so, you simply shouted their words back to them and added a line about how you were making them feel all right. Which you weren't. You were making them mad. People aren't just in the mood for a melody, they're in the mood for a legitimate composition.

They were annoyed, too, because the observations were cruel. Davy often discusses his plans for when he gets out of the Navy (it's a steady paycheck but the rhyming-name thing annoys the hell out of him), but to hear you speculate that he would be there for life was a crushing blow. Again, why the public humiliation? And our businessmen were irate about your description of them getting "stoned." Do you not know the difference between drunk and stoned? Hint: One is acceptable businessman behavior, the other's illegal. But even if you were to say they were getting drunk, that still would not be OK. As a matter of fact, just don't sing about the businessmen. They're nice guys and good tippers. I guess I do owe you some thanks, however, for singing about the drink called Loneliness. That's a terrible name for a drink. I'm renaming it Banana Mambo. More festive.

As to our waitress's efforts to get a graduate degree in political science or Paul's attempt at pioneering the literary genre of real-estate fiction, Crap, Billy, leave them alone.

Looking back on that Saturday night, I'm actually surprised that with all your observational nonsong music, you didn't notice the acrimony you were creating. The smile faded from John the bartender's face, yes, but he wasn't giving you free drinks, he was throwing empty beer bottles at you. He wasn't playing jokes or lighting your smokes, either, he was literally trying to set you on fire. The only thing you got right was having him say, "Bill, I believe this is killing me." It was killing all of us. But still you would not sing songs. I got so desperate I poured a beer on your microphone and shoved huge wads of bread in your tip jar, thinking it would get your attention. "Man, what are you doing here?!" I shouted. But instead of stopping, you just sang it all back to me. I mean, I'm sorry I lost my cool and all, but heck, what is your problem, Billy?

So for next week: Please sing some actual songs. That's what you were hired to do. You're the freaking piano man.

Thanks,

Anthony Cacciatore
Manager

McDonald's Fortune Cookie

2007-05-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

"Today is your lucky day. Receive free 0.5 cl beverage."

Of course today is my lucky day: I'm receiving a free 0.5 cl beverage. Is this lazy fortunetelling on McDonald's part? I submit that it is, for they knew I was going to have a great day because they already knew I had a free soda coming.

Sometimes McDonald's is alright.

Stolen from another blog!

2007-05-22T22:19:00.001-07:00

It's May Day!!

Every May 1, I remember the year that I was six years old, and was in Cambridge, England with my father. He woke me very early that May morning, and we hurried through the mist, from my grandmother's enormous old house, down behind the university colleges, to the banks of the Cam.

There stood a large group of people, at the centre of which were the strangest looking group of men I had ever seen. They were dressed all in white, their shirts adorned with brightly coloured ribbons, and strands of jingle-bells tied round their legs. The ancient, bearded "ring-leader" of the group shouted a greeting, and a tiny squeeze-box began to play...

The Cambridge Morris Men sprung to life. It was one of the most strangely memorable points of my childhood-- standing there with my Dad, shivering in the cool morning dampness as the sun rose, watching the dancers leap and spin to the music. During some dances, they waved huge white handkerchiefs. In others, they weilded large wooden staffs, which they clapped together. All the while, everyone was whooping and cheering and singing, just for the sheer pleasure of being alive in Springtime.

"Awake, awake, my pretty prithy maid,
come out your drowsy dream,
And step into your dairy hold,
and fetch me a bowl of cream.
If not a bowl of cream, my dear,
a cup of meade to cheer,
For the Lord knows we shall meet again,
to go Maying another year.
A branch of May I brought you here,
while at your keep I stand,
'Tis but a sprout all budded out,
by the power of Our Lord's hand.
My song is done and I must be gone,
no longer may I stay,
God bless you all, the great and small,
and send you a joyous May."

2007-05-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

This is my fav. pic. of me & my sis.

Father & Son Campout II

2007-05-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

More fun!

Father & Son Campout

2007-05-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

This was our first F&S campout. It was great.

The Amazing Joseph!

2007-04-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

You may recall the elephant he found in his spilled cereal milk. Well today he found a frog, and then he made one with his toys. He is amazing!

2007-04-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Joey & friends in Vegas

2007-04-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

Joey met some new friends in Vegas.

Viva Las Vegas

2007-04-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

Some of the recent fun going on in Vegas.

Seeing double

2007-04-12T15:13:00.001-07:00

Last years Video.

2007-04-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

spring Break.

2007-04-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

Spring Break.

2007-04-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

Spring Break.

2007-04-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

It looks like I am peeing in the fountain!=)

Spring Break.

2007-04-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Spring Break.

2007-04-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

Spring Break.

2007-04-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

Joke #1

2007-03-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

To help my sister in her latest endeavor, (The biggest looser) I will try to post one fat joke each day to keep her motivated. Todays joke is: Yo momma’s so fat her bellybutton doesn't have lint it has sweaters.

Audrey

2007-02-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

She looks like a little turtle with her neck stretched out like that.

Ch ch ch changes...

2007-02-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

Joey is obviously distraught.

Audrey

2007-02-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

Googoo

2007-02-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Joey and Audrey May
8Lbs. 1oz.

Now Playing

2007-02-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

Don't leave the gun, and take the canoli.

Getting to know me.

2007-02-12T20:27:00.001-07:00

What time did you get up this morning? 6:30 a.m. to wake up Amber (in Joey's bed) Then I went back to bed till 7:30 a.m.
What do you prefer diamonds or pearls? This survey must be for women.
What was the last film you saw at the theater ? Santa Clause 3. (Two thumbs down)
What is your favorite TV show? Andy Griffith or M*A*S*H
What did you have for breakfast? Safeway brand Strawberry soda and some BubbleYum.
What is your favorite cuisine? Mexican
What foods do you dislike? It depends.
Your favorite potato chip? French Fries from McD's
What is your favorite CD at the moment? I live in the new millienium. I now purchase iTunes one at a time.
What kind of car do you drive? 1951 Porsche 356
What is your favorite sandwich? One I don't have to eat.
What characteristics do you despise in people? Physically ugly people.
Favorite items of clothing? Nike cushoned jogging socks.
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Italy or Switzerland
What color is your bathroom? Baby blue & Maroon ( They did not discover color coordination until after 1940, the year our home was built)
Favorite brand of clothing? Nike or Banana Republic
Where would you want to retire to? You assume I have a job to retire from.
Favorite time of day? NAP TIME, because it is my nap time too!!
Where were you born? Phoenix, AZ
Favorite Sports to watch? Fishing
What laundry detergent do you use? Cold Water Tide.
Are you a morning person or night owl? Night owl, I only dream about being a morning person
What size shoe do you wear? 8 1/2
Favorite Animal? Baby Kangaroo's (Joey)
Any news you'd like to share with everyone? Sometimes I pee in my backyard to kill weeds.
What did you want to be when you were little? Big. I still want that.
Favorite candy bar? Mars bar
What are your favorite childhood memories? Picking up a turd with my bare hands after it fell out of my diaper.
What color socks are you wearing? Black nike cushoned running socks. Sometimes white too.
Nickname: Jim, Jimmy, Jimbo, Jimbob, Toi,
Piercing? None of your business.
Eye color? BR
Ever been to Africa? No
Ever been toilet papered? Yes
Ever loved someone so much it made you cry? What am I a robot?
Ever been in a car accident? Yes
Favorite Ice Cream? RockyRoad
Favorite flower? Plumeria
Warner Brothers or Disney? WB
Favorite fast food restaurant? McDo
What color is your bedroom carpet? Light tan
How many times did you take your drivers test? Just once
Before this one, from whom did you get your last email? Donnald Trump
Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Restoration Hardware
Bed time? 11:30pm
What music are you listening to right now? Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow
What is your favorite color? Silver
Lake, Ocean or River? Pacific Ocean
How many tattoos do you have? Documents are Sealed
Which came first the chicken or the egg? You can't have sex with an egg.
What materialistic thing would you ask for if you had one wish to make? Bill Gates' PIN number & checking account

New logo

2007-02-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

The latest!

2007-02-06T22:07:00.001-07:00

Here are some new pics to keep certain people from crying about my lack of enthusiasim for blogging. This last one is my fave. Joey spilled some milk, and as I moaned, he said 'But Dad it's an elephant!'

Russo & Steele

2007-01-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

A few pics from the maddness.

Top 10 '06

2007-01-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

10. Russo & Steele 'Gig'
9. Graduated from ASU (Again)
8. Got my dream job!
7. Amber is going to have a little girl!
6. Started jogging.
5. Went to Disneyland
4. Stopped jogging.
3. Lost my dream job.
2. Finally came to terms with living in our 812sq. ft. home for eternity.
1. New Years trip to Pinetop with Amber & Joey!

This is my list of good things. I do have one thing on the unfortunate list.
1. Goodbye Papa Pete.

Joe & Coop

2006-12-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

Cooper came over yesterday and I was amazed at how well Joe got along with him. No fighting until the end. The other pic is Joe at the Zoo eating a $5.50 hot dog. I could not bring myself to buy two so I just watched him eat his. The bad part was I don't really like hotdogs but he made it look so good.

An only child.

2006-12-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is what Joey does with stickers. Their sole purpose is to be stuck on someone, and it is usually him.
That was yesterday. Today he is just trying to be cute. He does a pretty good job of it too.

Joe, Joe, Joe, How do you like me? How do you like me?

2006-12-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

Geico Commercial

2006-12-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

You know that commercial with the cave man in the airport? Well I love that song so I downloaded it. The other day it was on and Joe automatically folds his arms in disgust like the caveman does in the commercial. I about died. The other shots are of an early gift for Amber and Joe with K. Kringle.

2006-12-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pics. Enjoy. He built this castle all by himself and then promptly destroyed it. The lolly pop was a souvineer from Disneyland.

Joe's Feet

2006-12-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Amber loves Joe's feet so I took these photos for her to look at when she is at work.

Joe and Amber on Mark Twain River Boat

2006-12-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.zefrank.com/xmas/

Go to this site and have fun.

Christmas memories

2006-12-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have been hoping to make some memorable experiences for Joe this year. It is his last Christmas as an only child. Here are some good times. The first one is at Ma Christs' house frosting cookies. It was sweet until he picked his nose and sneezed. He gets most of the cookies. The next one is us decorating our sorry little IKEA tree. Our house is so small we dont want to attempt a big tree. Last night I made Hot Chocolate and whipped cream from scratch, and we drank it while we watched 'Santa Clause is coming to town'. I love claymation at Christmas.

Disneyland 2006

2006-12-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Some shots from our trip to DL in October. It is all Joe talks about.

Joey to the World.

2006-12-04T09:40:00.001-07:00

Just thought I would let the world see my boy.

Christmas decor

2006-11-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

The hot item in our neighborhood is the giant inflatable snow globe, which is edging out the giant inflatable Santa. We always run about two or three years behind the trends so this is the first year that we have an inflatable Santa, and he's not anchored right, so he keeps falling over. Much of the time he's lying on his back, as though he's been hitting the eggnog a little too hard. But he keeps right on smiling and waving at the sky. Because that is the Spirit of Christmas. When Amber saw him for the first time she thought he looked like he was doing the 'Hail Hitler' rather than waving. Here is a link to an early Christmas gift.

http://www.waxhoff.com/

Another %$#@'n day in this *&%$'n place

2006-11-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some cool pics of what we do at work.