27 Sneezes in 120 seconds.

First, the 3-year-old was sick. Then, just as her fever broke, her 4-year-old brother got sick. Today, their mom and dad (me!) started feeling crummy.

Ugh.

I can't speak for the rest of the family, but I'm nursing my stuffy head tonight with beer.

Wish me luck.

Today (Tuesday) was supposed to be my day off, but I went in anyway. My next day off isn't until next Wednesday. Here's hoping Beer and Lack of Sleep! is the new best way to get over what ails ya.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Star Wars according to a 3-year-old

Katie Couric, Nashville Skyline, and a Troublesome Button

Wherein she says to her executive producer, "I'm just layin' a little Jewish guilt on ya, bro."

Q: What do these songs have in common?

1. “Innuendo” (Queen )
2. “Bullet The Blue Sky” – Live (U2)
3. “Synchronicity II” (Police)
4. “For What It’s Worth” (Buffalo Springfield)
5. “Welcome To The Machine” (Pink Floyd)
6. “Red Rain” (Peter Gabriel)
7. “Neon Knights” (Black Sabbath)
8. “Almost Cut My Hair” (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
9. “Heaven On Their Minds” (Jesus Christ Superstar)
10. “For The Love Of Money” (The O’Jays)
11. “Odissea” (Carlo Marrale & Cheope)

A: They're all on Queensryche's newest release, entitled Take Cover.

Thanks to Barbara at Layla's Classic Rock Faves for sharing the news.

For everyone who thought that "Silent Lucidity" was a new Pink Floyd song when it first came out (Michael Kamen's involvement would be the reason), enjoy their rendition of Floyd's "Welcome To The Machine."

Also, I'm chomping at the bit to hear their take on U2's "Bullet The Blue Sky." Now...Geoff Tate sings The O'Jays? I suppose I'm somewhat intrigued.

The Latest Fashion?

There Used To Be A Barn Here

My Stoic Teen

After The Storm, Surveying The Damage

She would have totally loved Letterman's old "Uma-Oprah joke.

For fun, the kids and I like to read the New York Times. Well, mainly we just look at the photos and play "I Spy."

Last week:

Ari: Who's this person?

Me: Her name is Condi.

Ari: And who's this?

Me: His name is Kofi.

Ari: Condi-Kofi-Condi-Kofi. (giggling) That's so funny, Daddy.

A Heroic Deed

Girl saves siblings as fire destroys house

This blog's phone lines are now open.

Although this blog doesn't quite have the traffic of Grand Central station (more likely the traffic of a remote stop in BFE, but with only the finest, prettiest, and smartest of travelers, of course), I've added a button to my sidebar for a Google-owned company called GrandCentral. See the button that says CALL ME? That's the one.

Apparently, not that I can think of a single reason why I need it but it does intrigue me a bit, readers can click the button, enter their number (privately if they like) and leave me a voicemail message from their phone. I can then listen to the message via an online inbox. (It can also be sent directly to my phone, but I'm not choosing that option just yet.) Click here for a better description of the service. And call and say hi if you like.

I can't believe I forgot to watch them today.

Every year, I reserve the right to claim the television as all mine maybe five or six times. One of my faves has always been the Independent Spirit Awards. You know my life has been out of whack for me to have forgotten all about it this year.

Thankfully, it'll be re-broadcast a few times Sunday as well.

• 2:00 AM
• 9:00 AM
• 1:10 PM

One ticket for the 9 AM showing, please.

I look forward to looking back to these days with a smile.

Methinks Sisyphus, he of the eternal struggle involving boulder and hill, wouldn't trade his weary days for mine.

I continue to punch the clock, but the hours and their associated monies don't make the bills like they used to. It's that time of year when the kiddos take turns with fevers and flu and my beautiful wife and I take turns cutting our workdays short to stay home with the cute but runny-nosed crumb-snatchers. The good news is that we save a bit on daycare costs. The bad news is that bosses like employees who are always on time and dependable. So far, our bosses are cool, but my worried head is never too sure.

Those of you with grown children are welcome to remind me that it gets much, much easier with time. (Feel free to lie if you must.)

In other news, I had the pleasure of meeting a local hero of mine last night. With even as little as a handshake and a hello, she made a dull work night very nice for me.

Also, a friend who helped get me started on my path to a very cool job last year stopped in last night. In the end, I didn't get that job, but I still remember the whole experience as awesome and positive. I've got nothing but LUV for the good people at Southwest Airlines and I recommend them to anyone who is looking for a fun and rewarding career. I just may try it again sometime myself. (Note to self: Memorize, memorize, memorize those PAs.)

Anyway, call it venting, whining, or just killing time on a blog. Here's hoping I can figure out how to make a bit more money for my family this year. Everything else is good. Maybe Sisyphus would be lucky to be me after all.

I'd better have good stuff to say when I get back to doing this blog thing from my living room.

Normal midnight ruminations should resume in a week or less. For better or worse.

Gosh, I've missed being online from places other than at work or at the library.

In Which Webbspun goes to Germany and Brings Us These Videos

Visiting Eremitage in Bayreuth, Germany

Riding the Train in Germany