That is a question that was probably on the minds of some of the parents at my nephews bounce-house birthday party as I again showed that I am a eight year old. Chasing kids and being chased for a couple of hours. I did show some restraint. I did not go Thunder Dome which the parents would have probably frowned on. But who I am kidding those kids would have beaten the crap out of me and taken my lunch money.
That reminds me, if I had only know as a younger man the racket that is kids parties. I would have gone into that. I would be rolling in the money, well after I had settle those cases involving shooting kids out of a cannon. Sure it would have been bad, but not WKRP dropping turkeys from a helicopter bad. So let us never speak of it again.
Afterwards we did make it to UCLA, sadly and probably thankfully we could not go to Culver City, stupid traffic. But going to Pauley was a blast. You are sitting in history. You look up and you see those banners, it is quite impressive. Speaking of impressive, the Bruins held a ceremony they held at halftime to celebrate the 1967 National Championship team. I know not very interesting to most, but I am a very simple man. A man easily entertained by sports and shinny objects.
Afterwards wandered through Westwood, it had to be a good day since we found parking within 5 minutes.
Sunday was the end of the nephew birthday festival with dinner at my Mom's. It is always fun hanging with the nephews and the family, well almost the whole family. It is a long story and I may one day tell you fine people, but I am not ready to. Let me say because of some family dynamics it makes these celebrations not as fun.
I did not catch much of the Oscars, pissed that our man Dan did not win for Babel, but was happy to see that Forest Whitaker win. It made me wonder, what would have happened if Sean Penn had been up for an Oscar as well. Would he have finally told Forest that he wrecked his bitchin Trans Am because he was blasted, or would he go on and lie that it was the rival high school who trashed his car. So I must ask, did I miss much?
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
2/23/07
Well I am off to fight traffic and start the weekend. Got a full social calender this weekend. Well actually my nephew does and I just show up.
Saturday it is Bounce House time, and Uncle Boski gets chased by 8 year old's. Thankfully they will not have torches and clubs like I have experinced in the past.
After that, the Better Half and I are going to Pauley Pavilion to watch UCLA vs. Stanford. I have never been and I have always wanted to go. All these years and I have never gone to this Sports shrine. Afterwards we may fit in some wandering through Westwood.
But before the game, we will be stopping up in Culver City. The Better Half wants to go to Serfas which is a kitchen wonderland, you name it they have it. It is always fun wandering through the aisles. Sadly, I have a feeling I will not be with my wife at that point, since I will be camped out side of the NFL Network Studios, crying. I will be groveling at the door asking for some NFL Combine scraps. In short not a pretty sight. Again I present my shame for all to mock.
Sunday it will be day two of the festival of my nephew with a party at Casa de Mom. Which should be a nice time.
So now I am off, please take some caulk and spare tires before you go.
I am not a Christmas sweater wearing (unless it is really aardvark, then I could be persuaded), put lights on the house, and pound monster egg nog, made with lighter fluid kind of guy. I will put on the Christmas tunes, watch "A Christmas Story", and go admire other peoples decorated homes. Usually I can feel festive after Turkey Day, but this year I just have not been really gung-ho about the upcoming holidays. If I can't get myself motivated for Boxing Day then what is the point? Hell I caught myself almost forgetting about Bowl week. Bowl Week people!
I am a long way from my youth when it was a count down to Christmas, now I am just trying to get to the next day.
I am a long way from my youth when it was a count down to Christmas, now I am just trying to get to the next day.
The thing that sucks about it is that this will most likely be the last Christmas we may spend at the show palace of the Placentia Riviera, Casa de Boski. My Mom has gotten to the point where the house is just too big and would like something smaller. At first when she kicked the idea around it made be sad, the Boski clan has been in P-town (as the kids say these days) for 43 years! Back when there were actually oranges in Orange County. I had the thought in my head that the house was always going to be there. It was not till recently, that I now finally feel that the home I am in now is my really my home. Even though I will probably cry like a big baby the day she moves out, I am going to be okay with it. Mostly because it what she wants and two her next door neighbors suck ass. I can't wait for her to move away from the dirt bike revving, multiple monster truck driving (which they park in front of my Mom's), giant boat storing, horrendously painted remodeled home, that blots out the sun, hillbilly neighbors. Look if you are someone who owns those items, hey have at it. It is your choice and your money to, but I am simple man. A man who feels that boats belong in water. So go put the boat in some. Dirt bikes need to driven on dirt and far, far away from me, and not up and down the street. I really do not need to hear how loud you are. No matter how much you rev it, you are still not cool.
While we are speaking of motorcycles you can just trash them all. I know one person paralyzed riding. One dead from riding, so I am not a fan. And I was not too crazy about having a brother ride (he has since quit). Hey I can appreciate the design and engineering, but after that I am tuning you out.
So where does this all fit in with the holidays. Well the one holiday I always loved was Christmas at the house. The seven of us, other friends and family stopping over was the best. Even back when on Christmas morning it was a free for all to get ready at dawn to make the early Mass. It was seven people two bathrooms cage match. Loser leaves town! Then after church it was off to breakfast, hey who is up for Denny's?
So where does this all fit in with the holidays. Well the one holiday I always loved was Christmas at the house. The seven of us, other friends and family stopping over was the best. Even back when on Christmas morning it was a free for all to get ready at dawn to make the early Mass. It was seven people two bathrooms cage match. Loser leaves town! Then after church it was off to breakfast, hey who is up for Denny's?
Oh those Christmas breakfasts. One of my favorite Christmas breakfasts memories was the year we watched a table across from us getting their Christmas drunk on at 9:00 AM. Hey nothing goes with a Grand Slam like Bud Light. Hey, I want to party with you cowboy! I do also remember when I was younger that as soon as we were done with breakfast I would be confused. Why are we still here? Why aren't we in the car speeding toward home? Sadly I would be tortured by my parents having another half a cup of coffee. To which my thoughts turned to,
"Mom, Dad don't you know there are gifts at the house that need to be opened, now!"
Thankfully I never got to that point, but the wait when I was young was intolerable. Later I was able to get through it by talking about sports with my dad and brothers. Thanks sports, thanks for being there when I needed you.
"Mom, Dad don't you know there are gifts at the house that need to be opened, now!"
Thankfully I never got to that point, but the wait when I was young was intolerable. Later I was able to get through it by talking about sports with my dad and brothers. Thanks sports, thanks for being there when I needed you.
The Boski ranch would be decked out, well mostly the living room where the tree and gifts where. But it was nice and cozy, you know those Southern Californian Winters where always brutal.
But when we got back to the house then it was Boski family salute to capitalism, everyone got gifts from everyone, even the pets would toss in from time to time. At first when I was able to get gifts for people, I had to do the best with what I had. Allowance and birthday cash (no blowing it on PacMan or penny candy, rats!) In fact, I am still reminded of the year that I got everyone's gift from the Sears Automotive Department. Look those car waste bins and travel mugs where the right call and I stand by them, even today. Oh and I so remember the glee from the some of the gifts my family got me, (Inserted but true sappy statement - None of those gifts beat the love and support I have received and still get - now let us return to our nonsense) I still remember the late 70's and early 80's when the family so clutched up with the gifts.
Lets take a look at some of those:
1977 - SuperJoe Christmas - the family got me the Super Joe Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey. Those things were awesome, especially the football one. Lining up for a 45 yard field goal wind at my back. When it was all of a sudden. Bang! I would slam down on the kicker's head and the football flew toward the goalpost. It's good! Then it would hit the pool cue rack and skid away. The others were good, but too cumbersome, the Football one was just right.
But when we got back to the house then it was Boski family salute to capitalism, everyone got gifts from everyone, even the pets would toss in from time to time. At first when I was able to get gifts for people, I had to do the best with what I had. Allowance and birthday cash (no blowing it on PacMan or penny candy, rats!) In fact, I am still reminded of the year that I got everyone's gift from the Sears Automotive Department. Look those car waste bins and travel mugs where the right call and I stand by them, even today. Oh and I so remember the glee from the some of the gifts my family got me, (Inserted but true sappy statement - None of those gifts beat the love and support I have received and still get - now let us return to our nonsense) I still remember the late 70's and early 80's when the family so clutched up with the gifts.
Lets take a look at some of those:
1977 - SuperJoe Christmas - the family got me the Super Joe Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey. Those things were awesome, especially the football one. Lining up for a 45 yard field goal wind at my back. When it was all of a sudden. Bang! I would slam down on the kicker's head and the football flew toward the goalpost. It's good! Then it would hit the pool cue rack and skid away. The others were good, but too cumbersome, the Football one was just right.
The year was 1978, and I got my first batch of Star Wars figures. I got the starter set o' figures. Which I think the first 14 figures. Which was cool, and somehow within 5 minutes of getting them out of the box almost all their little weapons disappeared. Along with that I also go the X-Wing and Tie-Fighter. Man did I think I was so freaking cool.
1979 - The Death Star - Not only did it menace the Rebellion, it menaced my father as he tried to assemble it. Oh that did not go well. Let me side bar here. When my father put things together they always seemed to have parts left over. The things worked, they may have been off or maybe listing to one side but they worked. I will spend some time in the future talking about some of my Dad's engineering feats. But oh man, that Death Star had him on the ropes.
1981 - I think you have all seen the TV as or the You Tube of the kid going nuts over his gift. Well that is almost where I was when I got the Millennium Falcon. My girlish glee almost reached the level that my family took to find the object. Let's say if they had the kind of manhunt for this toy for Hoffa, they would have found him in about 20 minutes. My family had friends and co-workers looking in three counties. In fact, I know it was a serious search when I found out my father was on the look out for it. Anytime my father had to go Christmas shopping before December 24th then you know it was serious.
1982 - A bike. Yeah!
1984 - Atari 2600 - The only gift I knew I was getting as a kid ahead of time. I was never one to snoop to see what I was getting, but one day I was in my brothers room, listening to his albums when I looked at his closet which was open and not by me. When I spotted Ice Hockey from Activison. After that I played real cool. Again I did not seek it out, it was out in the open. Sure the 2600 was not as cool as Colecovison or intelligent as the Intelivision, but it still rocked in it's own way. Oh many a day wasted playing that hockey game, along, with Defender, Real Sports Baseball, Pitfall and Ms. PacMan.
After that I still had great Christmas hauls, but they were different from the ones as a kid, when it was still cool to get toys. Even though I still got excited as an a adult when I got the PS2. Looking back at some of those I think, "wow, if I had just kept that Star Wars stuff in the box and never touched them I would be blogging to you on a solid gold blog. But the hell with that, that stuff was meant to be used, sadly none of it survived, or it was given away. The only survivor was the memories, oh the memories.
Now things are much different at the Boski's. Now it is the nephews who have taken up the mantle of getting the cool stuff on Christmas. We have also changed Christmas Day routine, since we are spread out a little more. Now The Better Half and I go with my Mom and Sis to Mass Christmas Eve, crash at Mom's. We have the family over the next morning to have breakfast and then we open the gifts. After that we nap and wait for family friend to come over hang out and watch football. Hey what is the spread on the Blue/Grey game? A plan that should have been instituted a couple years sooner, but not too soon. I did enjoy those hectic Christmas mornings. Another memory coming back is the Christmas morning about 10 years ago I was saved from sleeping in by the Grinch. Thankfully I had gone to sleep with the stereo on and thankfully my ears perked up in the morning hearing Boris Karloff. Which helped me get out of bed and get everyone else up since we were all running late for Mass at dawn.
Well I have gone on long enough with this, but I do feel more Chirstmasy now than I did when I started this entry, which seems about three weeks ago. Again I have been so very blessed and not because of the bitchin hauls I had, but because of the people in my life behind those gifts.
12/13/06
Was it really 35 years ago on a rainy Monday morning that I showed up?
35 is one of the milestone dates. I don't dread getting older, the only problem I have is just my knees seem to be more like 70, well maybe 75. I think back on 30 and I think wow. 2001, I had just been laid off, second time that year, a week before my birthday. Which was really nice since we were struggling to make the mortgage. So I felt totally lost at the time, and feeling like a complete loser. But I was a loser who could run 3 to 5 miles.
No real festivities today since it is a busy day for me at the old hospital. I have a dumb meeting that I have to attend, which keeps me from fleeing the hospital for lunch. I don't have really anything planned other than dinner with the wife. But Sunday was my time with the family and that is when I so scored (too bad the Broncos didn't Sunday):
Family Guy Season 3 and 4 (Freaking Sweet!)
Chicks Sporting Good Gift Card (Mmmmm UnderArmor)
Del Taco Gift Certificates (A long story)
Madden 07, (A total shock)
An Autographed Champ Bailey Football (Nice!)
2005 White Sox World Series DVD Set (I can and probably will play these over and over again)
God bless their hearts and god bless birthdays close to Christmas.
So add that with Friday at the Park, and that makes for a great weekend.
11/6/06
As if it is not busy enough at work, the weekend kept me hopping.
Friday - Took our oldest nephew out again for more high school football. Which is not unusual, but the last time I was at the venue to watch football was 1994. I watched a football game at The Big A. That is right the high school team she supports plays can play their games at this site, mine you would be lucky to fill the Titan Room at the Sizzler in Fullerton. This game was televised! This game was bordering on Texas high school football. The team they played is also the other powerhouse Catholic School in the county. So out seats were close to where my dad's old Rams season seats were. My wife looked at me funny when I yelled "they are holding Reggie Doss" (Good luck to any of you who can figure out that reference). It was fun expect the bad guys won in overtime. They had not beaten their rival since she was in high school. I can empathize with her, the high school that was the main rival for my high school has been beaten by us since Reagan's first term. Let me tell you, the day we do, I am getting a TV because I am going looting.
Saturday - Running around helping out the Better Half. She was showing a ceramic piece at a show in the Coastal Table. So it was about getting the piece wrapped up, transfer, getting the stand, museum wax. After all of that and after a quick jaunt to the Costco, we spent the majority of the day standing. From around 4:30 PM till 9:00 PM. The time was mostly about talking to other artists and visitors. Some was just standing, but we had to spend some time keeping people from leaving their drinking on the stand, or toughing the art. Let me say their was woman in her 70's who was coming close not making it to her 80's.
Sunday - When I arose my wonderful wife had the inspired idea to see Borat. In a word, awesome. I was both howling in laughter, all the while being incredibly uncomfortable at what I was watching. At the end, I expected that when I walked out that I was going to be in hell, because their were things I laughed at that I felt I should not have. This movie surpassed my expectations. Mr. Cohen, you sir are a genius. So kudos to you.
He had one shot at this and he made the most of it. This is a movie you can't make a sequel of. You could try, but you would have something that would finally make Caddyshack II feel better about it's self. This was leaps and bounds funnier than his Ali G movie. Which was funny and I am surprised it was not released here, but it may have been too British centric for an American audience, but what do I know? This movie will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Andy Kaufman is truly dead. This is what I feel that Andy really wanted to do.
Borat is our generations incredibly disturbed de Tocqueville.
Afterwards I spent the afternoon watching football at a bar that did not have DirectTV, so I had to watch Chargers vs Browns, as my Broncos exacted some revenge for last years AFC Championship debacle.
So it was busy but very pleasant weekend. Well I have to get back to it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
