Omelette!

This morning I was in King's Canyon walking on the treadmill, checking out some new areas of a park that I've actually never been to before.  Mist Falls - pretty fun trail.  Some day it would be nice to go, if that can ever happen.  Meanwhile, there was a nice surprise when I came up to the dining area: Maddie had made breakfast!  Yes, Maddie made an omelette for herself and one for me too, complete with cheese and ham and bacon in there. 

It was really good!  Great job, Maddie!  So beyond that, it was a fairly quiet day here at the house winding down the month of May.  Maddie was at Star Dew Valley quite a bit, white I was at King's Canyon.  Mom was doing some work outside in the garden, getting some mulch down and replanting a few things.  

Lots of things getting done at KidPak, writing for "Tropical Freeze" in particular.  We have one more message to write, and the devotional is moving forward.  The skit this weekend will have to be a little different, as there are sicknesses going about.  Strep throat for one.  And another mystery illness that's been leaving doctors a bit confused and possibly even pointless.  Which is to say, the only thing that can be treated are the symptoms, which of course is largely stuff you can get without a prescription.  Fortunately, our household is safe at the moment.  I think Mom and I already had this bug earlier this year, so we should be vaccinated for a time.  Anyway, we're still putting together a "Plan B" for this weekend.

Meanwhile, tonight was a monster edition of taekwondo, with Maddie spending a few hours with black belt class, leadership class, and then training more with Team Edge.  It's a lot of taekwondo.  I sit at my perch here, typing away at a window as I watch my daughter kick people.  She's having fun.  She loves this group of friends. 

Tonight's programming was more "Monk," as we got home a bit later.  We're in season eight now, so we're approaching the finish line on this series.  We also squeezed in some more "Tropical Freeze," the video game, moving forward to defeat that large snow owl!  The game is challenging, but we're making it through.  

We read tonight before bed, more from bounty hunters again, this time Boba Fett.  The short story we read featured a conversation between him and his buddies, Bossk and Dengar.  Of course, we know that's a friendly rivalry.  A job's a job, and whoever gets that target will get a substantial reward.  Or so Darth Vader says.  

Anyway, we said our prayers after that.  It was a good day today.  The national news is still shaking the foundations of our government, a challenge that needs to be addressed, the argument being who's to stop other politicized local judicial systems from doing what's been done now that this precedent has been set.  To quote Dr. Malcolm, they were so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn't stop to think if they should.  

We'll sleep well tonight.  Maddie in particular, as she worked pretty hard tonight at taekwondo.

ULTRON: "Clearly you've never made an omelette."

You can see here above that Ultron knows how to make an omelette.  But now so does Maddie!  And she knows you have to crack a few eggs.  Maddie and Mom were in the kitchen with some culinary classes today, and tomorrow's the final exam where she makes an omelette or two for breakfast for all of us!

Mom's been doing a good bit of garden work today, and of course there's stuff at KidPak as we move forward with Tropical Freeze.  I wrote a few devotional entries today, and actually a pretty good message for Thursday, so just one more message to go.  The theme of "Tropical Freeze" is a fun one - little references to the whole idea pop up here and there.  Phineas and Ferry's "S'winter," SSX Tricky's Aloha Ice Jam, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze.  Even the last Ghostbusters movie, although not as many palm trees in that.  But there are other things that keep showing up.  I'm nearly halfway done with that devotional - Maddie and Mom were helping with some ideas, brainstorming and coming up with things to help out.  

Maddie was walking in Gatlinburg this morning, virtually of course.  I've been in King's Canyon, one of the National Parks I've never been to.  I've been in Sequoia - fun fact:  the word "Sequoia" features all five vowels!  Anyway, we're marching forward.  But carefully if we're in the woods, because the tiny webs are starting to appear again.  Forget hurricane season.  Juro spider season is slowly creeping in on us. Those little monsters!

Tonight we were watching "Kindergarten Cop" with Maddie, who hasn't seen this before.  She did her internship with kindergarteners, so I thought it would be fun to watch this old flick.  She was laughing here and there.  And I was remembering all those lines from Detective John Kimble.  Funny stuff.  Anyway, it was a fun movie.  We read afterwards, digging into another story from the bounty hunters in "The Empire Strikes Back," part of "From a Certain Point of View."  And we said our prayers after that, taking the Plush Entourage down the hall to get tucked in for a good night's rest.

We'll sleep okay tonight.  In national news, a shameful thing has been going on in our country, a precedent that will no doubt bring us down a path of further shame.  We're an embarrassment to the world.  We hope that things will get better, and I suppose that's all we can do. 

Tour de Wednesday

 

Maddie had a great time at FCY tonight, enjoying the service that featured a lot of Youth "taking over" by leading worship or speaking or leading games.  There was a talent contest there, and of course there was free ice cream there.  I fell victim to the ice cream truck again.  It has a mysterious call, and I must answer!  Maddie did too. 

It was lot of traveling today, a sort of Tour de Wednesday.  Maddie was with me as we traveled a good bit, going from appointment to appointment.

We started the day out at the chiropractor, and that was fun.  It was an earlier visit, and Mom got to try some electromagnet therapy that will hopefully help long term.  But we got our adjustments fairly quickly.  We usually play the Star Wars alphabet game there, naming characters that have name that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order.  But it was so quick today we didn't have time to get through the whole alphabet.  In fact, we were at Fennec Shand when it was time to go in for adjustments.  It's always good to see Doc Williams.  We were marveling at the fact that Maddie is going to be a senior next year, just remembering all the times she was here as a little giggle factor on the chiropractor bed.

Afterwards, we went over to the church for some work.  Maddie was with me as we went to the office.  Camille hasn't been doing so well this month.  She's sick again, and this afternoon she left to go to the doctor again.  She's missed the last two Sundays.  It turns out she has bronchitis again, and in fact cracked a rib from coughing so hard last night.  We had this same virus earlier, and it is vaguely reminiscent of the one we had in 2020, you know the one.  Anyway, one of Camille's reactions is breaking out on her skin.  She's in a bad way.  This one just keeps going on and on... it used to be in the good ol' days you had a virus a good solid three days of misery, and then you were on the mend.  Not anymore!

Anyway, we still got some things done at the office.  I finished up the "Hang 10" series with one last skit.  We started making the devotional arrangements for the "Tropical Freeze" booklet too.  Oh, and I got the "Castaway Cove" material sent out to everyone - lots of booklets and writings!

The reason Maddie was with me was that we left early to go over to Edge.  Maddie now has a practice on Wednesdays, one for roughly an hour.  I sat and worked here on the laptop while Maddie did her practice with the team.  They're doing better and better again.  Working out the kinks!

We got home for a little bit to see Mom, but of course were off to church after that.  After FCY, we were at home watching a few episodes of "Monk" again.  Maddie just loves this show.  We read tonight, and we said our prayers afterwards, and that was that for a great Wednesday.

Maddie's Day Off

Maddie was on the treadmill today, and that makes two of us.  She was walking in Vietnam, and she enjoyed it.  She told me the distance she went and the calories she burned, rather proud of her accomplishment.  She'll be back on this thing, but she's wanting to make sure she gets in some cardio this summer on her days away from Edge.  I was on the program too, going through a group of videos where comedians walk alongside you, making wry observations and jokes.  It's been fun.  These aren't the usual athletes, but it's been fun to take a break and laugh.

I was back at work today, and we got some things done for Sunday, getting started with our new script for Sunday, the big finish to our "Hang 10" series.  We're also finishing up the writing for our "Castaway Cove" puppet series.  We wanted to write a series that would be easier to film and edit, and the end result was an ongoing story where some paper bag puppets get stuck on an island as castaways.  We stole some of the jokes from Gilligan, of course, with a few of us watching that old show for "research."  We'll have to use a Wilson the volleyball at one point, I hope.  We'll film these paper bag puppets on Thursday - should be fun!

 

By the way, we did get that number from the IRS, and so we have an appointment with the bank on Monday that should clear some things up.  Hopefully!

Another thing we did was get Maddie's Senior photography appointment set up.  What a racket!  They take advantage of you so much.  Maddie's going to enjoy this though.  She's set up for make-up, hair and all kinds of stuff as she's doing a photo session further down.  Oh yeah, and there's Senior pictures in there somewhere too, I guess.  You know, the ones with the cap and gown?  My my.  Hard to believe we're here already.

So we watched "Madagascar" again, the first movie in the series, the one that started it all.  Maddie forgot about a lot of this one, as did all of us.  We were laughing again at certain bits, and the penguins of course.  The reference to "Planet of the Apes" had Maddie cracking up.

The weather outside has been dry now, finally a little stretch without rain.  We had put some weedkiller down on the front lawn, running the cart over the whole area and letting the little pellets come down on the grass.  It may take a few applications, but we must win this battle!  Mom is working on the back deck, and doing a good bit of straightening around one of the sides, working on clearing bushes, branches, and putting down some mulch too.  

It's been a good day.  Another quiet summer day.  Maddie didn't have much going on today, although she was working on her online drawing application she has with her device.  We're watching New York right now, which of course is now synonymous with corruption.  What they are doing to a former President is embarrassing.  It's also helping him tremendously in the current election.  Which is crazy.  An opposition party controls a local court system and uses the judicial system to affect a national election.  Pathetic.

Anyway, we said our prayers tonight, this after reading.  It's been a fun day.  We've got some things tomorrow, so we got to bed on time tonight.

Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day, and here we are kicking off summer again with the unofficial start of the season.  It was a quiet day - we finally got a fix on that air conditioning by clearing out the condensation pipes.  This is a random thing to bring up, but for the last few weeks since we've gotten a new AC unit, I've been up in the attic with a large squirt gun, sucking up water out of a drainage pan, then squirting that into a rubber trash can.  Then taking the half-full trash can down the precarious ladder steps and dumping that into the bathtub.  The AC has continued working, but it cuts off if that water level gets too high.  We cleared that out pretty well, and I think we'll have a cooler summer as a result.  

We all slept in - no things to do today on the calendar.  In fact, we stayed home pretty much.  Maddie didn't have any classes tonight because of the holiday, and so we were home tonight watching episodes of "Monk" again, racing through season seven.  It's been good.  We're sitting there with our ice cream watching murder mysteries and bits of comic mayhem. 

We were on the treadmill today.  I say "we" because Maddie is starting up on that.  She'll probably begin with a trail in Vietnam, I think.  Meanwhile, I've been walking some trails in Yosemite.  The Yosemite Falls trail is something I really, really want to do some day.  It's just gorgeous with amazing views.  I really miss going out west.

Maddie and I were doing some games today, including "Tropical Freeze," which of course is for "research."  It's been fun, and quite challenging!  I actually did some work today, sitting out on the front porch and proofing the "Castaway Cove" booklet for KidPak's upcoming series.  Should be good!  We're doing more research in that direction by watching episodes of "Gilligan's Island" too.  Great, great stuff.  These old shows are so much fun.

We got some good news from the IRS finally, getting a number we've been waiting for.  Finally the government is doing something it's expected to do.  That only took eight months.  Great job.

It's been a quiet day though.  We were reading tonight, starting up one of the longer short stories in this book about the bounty hunter Bossk, who is fortunately not politically correct in any way.  At least that's the way he's written, which is to say he's written like he used to be written about:  a rough-around-the-edges bounty hunter with a fuzzy moral code, but perhaps with some heart within that makes you cheer on the rascally scoundrel.  That sort of thing.  Bossk is a great character.  We'll have to keep reading this story though, as it is a longer one.

We said our prayers tonight, and closed out a quiet Memorial Day.  It was nice though. 

Lilo & Stitch

 Lilo & Stitch were here at "KidPak Adventures:  Hang 10" this morning, which you can see above.  Stitch was misbehaving somewhat.  Okay, a lot, as evidenced by the squirt gun.  He interrupted hula dance lessons, and then later on the surf instructor's class as well. 

He even uttered the horrifying phrase on stage, "Meega Nala Kweesta!"  Yes, in front of everyone!  Clearly, he has some badness level issues to work through, and that was part of our skit this morning.  Stitch is from a movie that features a good bit of surfing, so it only made sense to include it in our "Hang 10" series.  Plus, it went well with this morning's bottom line, "We are Family."  It's basically Ohana, which of course means family, and when you think that word, generally you think of Lilo & Stitch.  Mom thought this idea up while we were driving up to Tennessee, and I thought it was a good one.  We had the costumes, so why not?

Anyway, it was fun.  The kids liked it, and plus there was Nerdo with the squirt gun as usual.  It was a solid morning at Kidpak.

The rest of the day wasn't too much.  We had a rotisserie chicken, and a nice meal for lunch.  Afterwards, a bit of exercise on the treadmill.  Maddie was shown the ropes on the treadmill, and might actually start using it soon enough.  We played some "Tropical Freeze," and we were listening to a few vinyl records today from "Lilo & Stitch" as well as "Teen Beach Movie."  

Tonight's programming was "Monk," a marathon of sorts with three episodes in a row, just barreling through season seven now.  Afterwards, we were reading from another short story "From a Certain Point of View," this one involving a character we know nothing about named Rae Sloane, who apparently works for the Empire, and... well, she seems okay as a character.  Apparently she's a big deal later on in these new books that I haven't gotten around to yet... I dunno.  I mean, sure. Whatever.  

Sorry folks.  She's just never going to be as cool as Grand Admiral Thrawn.  Also, fun fact - where the heck did she come from?  In the first three movies, there weren't any women that were seen serving with the Empire.  Now don't start yelling at me.  This isn't a knock on women, because I'm sure there are plenty of very talented women that can take an organization of that caliber to the next level.  It's just that the Empire apparently has no use for women amongst their officer decks or elsewhere.  My evidence of this is as such:  watch the first three movies, Episodes IV-VI.

Of course, one could argue that this might be one of the primary reasons for its downfall, right?  The Empire is a bad organization, and they offer job opportunities to the wrong people.  Like Admiral Ozzel.  

The point is, suddenly the expanded universe novels are all about introducing female characters to the Empire, because girls can be villains too.  Fine, whatever.  So now I suppose we're supposed to imagine that in fact there were many, many female workers all over those star destroyers.  They just apparently ran and hid whenever George Lucas' camera panned by.

I'll just say this:  when they started the sequel movies, they eliminated the expanded universe material and made it "legends" so they could have a clean start.  Yes, I'll agree some things were pretty weird with the expanded universe.  But in an even shorter time, somehow the official canon has actually made things even weirder.

I think my rant is over.  And so is the day.  We said our prayers, and got to sleep at a good time.  It's Memorial Day tomorrow, the somewhat official starting weekend of the summer season.

That Poor Ice Cream Man

We had taekwondo practice this morning with Team Edge, and I was there to watch Maddie at the team train a good bit.  They're getting better and better with each run-through.  As they say, "Practice makes permanent."  I was writing scripts and working on graphics for tomorrow's service.  Being on vacation meant just doing the work a little later on, which is to say, "today."  So today I was getting the rest of a brief skit for tomorrow written, one about "Lilo & Stitch."  It was Mom's idea this week, and it makes sense as our service is about family, and about three of those Ten Commandments.  So here it is below, the latest skit for tomorrow.  Maddie's going to be portraying "Lilo," as Nerdo does the role of "Stitch."  Should be fairly simple and fun!

*************

KidPak Adventures:  Hang 10

We are Family

 

CUE TRACK:  1 WAVES OF SERENITY (stop at 1:52, and loop)

 

CUE SLIDE:  SHORELINE

 

PROPS: 

1. An inflatable surfboard for Daniel to carry in
2. Squirt gun for Nerdo
   
   

BIG KAHUNA is in place, seated on set with large sombrero over his head to hide who he is.  SURFING STUDENTS walk out to sit on either side of stage, as if getting ready for a presentation.

 

NARRATOR:             This is a story of a friend we all know,

                                    But before we can meet him, let’s all meet Lilo

 

DAWN, EMMA, VICTORIA and MADDIE enter STAGE RIGHT

 

NARRATOR:             She’s come here today. You can tell at a glance

                                    she’s learning how to do a new hula dance!

 

CUE TRACK:  2 ISLAND BREEZE 2

DAWN and EMMA lead MADDIE and VICTORIA in a hula dance (they continue until interrupted by NERDO).

 

NARRATOR              Lilo was happy, dancing the hula, her wish!

                                    And she thought all was well, thanks to Pudge the fish.

 

CUE SLIDE:  PUDGE THE FISH

NARRATOR:             She oddly thinks this fish controls the weather

                                    So she gave him a sandwich made of …peanut butter?

MADDIE:                   It’s true.

NARRATOR:             Lilo thinks all is well thanks to this odd sandwich.
                                    But what she did not count on, was her new friend named Stitch.

CUE SLIDE:  SHORELINE

NERDO enters in a STITCH ONESIE, carrying a squirt gun and spraying EMMA, DAWN, VICTORIA and AUDIENCE.

CUE TRACK:  3 DEVIL IN DISGUISE (start at 1:43)

EMMA, DAWN and VICTORIA stomp their feet in frustration.

CUE TRACK:  1 WAVES OF SERENITY (stop at 1:52, and loop)

 

NARRATOR:             Nerdo, stop that you crazy head!

NERDO abruptly stops.  DAWN and EMMA are seething.

 

DAWN:               Thus far you have been adrift in the sheltered harbor of my patience.

EMMA:          (gesturing to NERDO) Next time we see that dog, we want to see him a model citizen.  MODEL. CITIZEN.  Capisce?

MADDIE salutes.

 

EMMA, DAWN and VICTORIA march off, raising their fists at NERDO in anger, and just in a fowl mood.

NERDO sees MADDIE staring at him.

 

NARRATOR:             Lilo was disappointed at all of this madness

                                    She then showed Stitch a chart: his Level of Badness

CUE SLIDE:  STITCH LEVEL OF BADNESS 1

MADDIE points out screen to NERDO.

 

NARRATOR:             This is your badness level.  Can you see with your eyes?

                                    It’s unusually high for someone of your size

 

MADDIE drags NERDO off STAGE RIGHT

CUE SLIDE:  SHORELINE

NARRATOR:             Stitch came in with a squirt gun and made everyone wetter!

She wanted to fix that.  A rabbit would behave better.

DANIEL leads SURFING STUDENTS out STAGE LEFT, they line up across stage as if surfing.  DANIEL looks as if he is surfing, and STUDENTS imitate him.

 

NARRATOR:             While she tried to show Stitch how to act as he should

                                    Daniel taught surf lessons...  

 

DANIEL:                    (pointing at student) …Hey, that’s pretty good!

 

NARRATOR:             He treats others as cousins, as kind as can be

                                    Because we’re all Ohana, and that means family

 

NARRATOR:             Wherever you’re from, Daniel uses a kind voice.
                                    You might be from outer space…

 

DANIEL:                    Where I hear the surfing’s choice!

DANIEL switches position from surfboard from one to another, and rest of cast follows.

NARRATOR:             They stood on their surfboards, and practiced a switch…

                                    But then he returned.  Oh yes, it was Stitch!

NERDO enters in a STITCH ONESIE, carrying a squirt gun and spraying DANIEL and SURFING STUDENTS.  And a little of the audience.

CUE TRACK:  3 DEVIL IN DISGUISE (start at 1:43)

DANIEL and SURFING STUDENTS stomp their feet in frustration.

NARRATOR:   What in the name of the United Intergalactic Federation is going on here?

 

NERDO abruptly stops.

MADDIE enters STAGE RIGHT

CUE TRACK:  1 WAVES OF SERENITY (stop at 1:52, and loop)

 

NARRATOR:             Yes, Lilo should have gotten a rabbit.  It’s true.

                                    Of course it would probably be stinky like you!

CUE SOUND EFFECT:  RUDE NOISE

CUE SLIDE:  STITCH LEVEL OF BADNESS 2

 

MADDIE shows NERDO the screen.

NARRATOR:             Stitch was a source of such frustration
                                    Gantu was right. He was an abomination.

NARRATOR:             What do you have to say for yourself?

 

NERDO:                     Meega,nala kwishta!

DANIEL and SURFING STUDENTS gasp and cry out in terror, running off STAGE RIGHT.  MADDIE reaches down at STAGE RIGHT to pick up BIBLE.

CUE SLIDE:  STITCH LEVEL OF BADNESS 3 (FULL)

 

NARRATOR:             Oh, my!  

MADDIE reaches for BIBLE at STAGE RIGHT

NARRATOR:             Yes there was a line that Stitch had just crossed

                                    But Lilo could tell her little friend was lost.

NERDO:                     I’m lost!

NARRATOR:             So she got her Bible, and then she did share

                                    A message she read in the Bible right there.  

 

MADDIE:                   In everything, do to others what you

would want everyone to do unto you.

CUE SLIDE:  SHORELINE

NERDO looks suddenly thoughtful and then exits STAGE RIGHT.  

NARRATOR:             Ten Commandments tell us all… to show some love

                                    Because we are family.  And Ohana is love.  

ENTIRE CAST (EXCEPT NERDO) returns to surround MADDIE.

NARRATOR:             And then everyone showed up, still quite upset

                                    They had words for Lilo, and her weird little pet.

NERDO returns, and CAST is understandably nervous about him.

NARRATOR:             But as they approached, there was a slight hitch

                                    For who should jump in there?  Yes.  It was Stitch!

 

NERDO enters STAGE RIGHT with flower leis

 

NARRATOR:             But this time he had no squirt gun to raise

                                    Instead he presented them each with flower leis!

 

NERDO begins to put flower leis on different cast members.

 

DAWN:                      Why thank you! 

DANIEL:                    How nice?

 

NARRATOR:             Said Daniel and Dawn

EMMA:                      Thank you for this flower lei you’ve put on!

 

NARRATOR:             For Stitch wanted to try. That was most gratifying

For they all knew now, that at least he was trying.

 

DAWN:                      But why?

 

NARRATOR:             Dawn asked this with curiosity.

                                    At which point, Stitch told them

 

NERDO:                     We are family!

 

NARRATOR:             Yes, we are Ohana.  We’re family, it’s true

                                    So treat others with kindness.  Now our story… is through.

 

CAST waves goodbye and exits STAGE RIGHT as LIGHTS FADE, although NERDO just might grab that squirt gun for one final volley into the audience…

 **********

We did a bit of unpacking today, and back to the treadmill and the routines of back home.  Rain came early, and it's been wet lately.  That's okay - we had our fun this week.  We did some "Tropical Freeze" and then watched a few episodes of "Monk," including a Christmas themed episode.  How appropriate given the place we stayed at all week.  We did a lot of housework today, vacuuming and getting cobwebs off of corners and so forth.  Mom was living in the laundry room, doing a lot of catching up there.  We had a squirrel visitor, but he didn't stick around enough - he got the hint when we scared him off.  Maddie and I were reading tonight, visiting with the Empire again.  We probably should have been with "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," but we forgot it was Towel Day until it was too late - probably due to being a bit tired..  We'll catch it next year!  Can't do every single holiday all the time.

 

I picked up some ice cream on the way home.  We got some mint chocolate chip ice cream in honor of this guy here: 

Little is known about Ice Cream Man, except that he frequently doesn't get to enjoy his ice cream due to various intergalactic incidents in the Lilo & Stitch universe.  Apparently he's in pretty much every episode.  It's a great running gag.  I'm sure someone has kept a tally somewhere of the amount of ice cream this poor guy has not been able to eat due to all the incidents and accidents.  We're cheering for him though.  This is the kind of guy they'd write a "From a Certain Point of View" story about.  It would probably feature him going to an ice cream factory, and he's about to get a free sample and then the place is destroyed by a tsunami caused by Gansu's crashing ship, one where this guy has a choice between a getting to safety on a floating piece of driftwood or actually reaching out to grab a tub of green mint ice cream floating by.  The story ends there, letting the reader choose what happens next, but given that we see this guy so often, it's assumed he chose to just keep on hoping that some day he'll get his ice cream.  We hope that too.  Lilo needs to do something about this - she has a big heart.

Anyway, we read tonight, and then we were off to sleep.  We're doing a skit tomorrow, and it should be fun!  We said our prayers, and took the Plush Entourage down the hall to get tucked in for a good night's rest.