Merry Christmas

Early Halloween Photos

Avery is going to be a fish for her first Halloween.

She tried to eat the candy.

Creepy.

Trying to take it off.

Just Another Picture With A Little (or lot of) Text

A sentimental post. Well, Avery is almost nine months and she is becoming quite the handful. Crawling really well, pulling up on everything, and trying to stand. Today, I picked her up at daycare and after she saw me until we got in the car she was more excited and happy than I have ever seen her. She just looked at me the whole time and laughed loudly and bounced up and down. Its a really good feeling knowing that you mean that much to somebody. With all her growing up, she is becoming a lot more fun than the fragile little infant that she used to be (even though I do miss that stage) and I am becoming her number one playmate.

I bought her Christmas present today. Its a Live Elmo doll and its not quite as cool as I thought it would be. When it moves it makes a loud robot sound that I find a little scary. But, still, its pretty cool. You can see a video of it here: YouTube - Elmo Live — New Elmo Robotic Toy, NY Toy Fair. The "mad scientist" helper was a tad bit creepy, wasn't he? 

This past weekend Utility Al, Utility Katie, Mother Allison and me almost got trampled leaving the Mississippi State Fair. Well, not really ALMOST but it was scary at first but it mainly made me mad that it kept us from getting to our car sooner so I could go to bed. Thanks Matt for making us go to the fair late so we almost got killed. I'll still get you a cookie cake eventually just because I'm a great friend.

The answer to the last trivia: "This rifle can shoot a flea off a dog's back at five hundred yards, Tannen! And its aimed straight for your head!"

This week's trivia: On average, how long does it take a fingernail or toenail to grow from base to tip?

I think I'm about out of daily fight memories so I'll come up with another less violent one. Since this is kind of sentimental post then I will post about the first time I met Smokey. I was in the fourth grade and had been bugging my parents for a dog of my own for at least two years. They said I could get one for my 10th birthday (which was three months away). And then one day in May when my dad got home, he asked me to come look in the passenger window of the car. I looked down and there was a 2 month old border collie puppy looking up at me with her tail wagging. One night in the middle of a thunderstorm at the camp my dad works at she had come up to the door of a worker's home and barked at the door. Someone must have thrown her out. Since they don't allow dogs down there, my dad decided to take her to see me to see if I wanted her. Of course, I immediately fell in love with her and when I took her out of the car, she was so excited that she peed all over me and the concrete. That night (even though I really didn't want to) my dad made me leave her at home while we went to wednesday night church. On the way to church I decided on a name. Smokey. When we FINALLY got home I called out for her and couldn't find her. I looked everywhere. She was gone. We went around the entire neighborhood door to door and looked all through the woods behind my house but couldn't find her. I didn't sleep that night and I'm pretty sure my dad didn't either. I had to sit through school the entire next day thinking that I would never see my dog again but when I got home my mom told me that she got a call from a woman who thinks she found her. We walked across a busy road behind my house to a small white house and in the yard I saw her. I called out to her and she ran to me, jumped up on me, and licked me all over my face. From that point on, for the next fourteen years, she was my best friend.

Just A Picture

Anniversary Accomplished, Birthday Imminent

Anybody watch the Olympics last night? I didn't. I'm sick of them, I could handle a few weeks of the meaningless competitions but how much longer is this going to drag on? I just checked, the closing ceremony is on the 24th. Awesome birthday present, the first day without nonstop beach volleyball.

For our Anniversary I got Allison's wedding ring resized and saudered to her engagement ring and I also told her she could pick out a new piece of furniture (which she hasn't done yet). We ate at the new Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. It was good....... and expensive. When we first got to our table the waiter presented us with either a bottle of sparkling water or a bottle of mineral water. Later we realized that we had to pay for the weird water, six bucks. We were country come to town. Total bill: $145. It was good, but not THAT good.

Yesterday I came home from work to find one of my comic book ripped to shreds on the floor. The night before we came home to find torn up kleenex everywhere. Now that Avery can crawl, she crawls to things that she can tear up. Its like having a puppy. Last night, she was playing with me and grabbed onto my eyelid and pulled it.

My birthday is coming up in four days. I get the day off from work. I'm just going to sit at home and do absolutely nothing all day. I'm excited.

The answer to the last entries trivia is: Lou Caruthers

Todays Trivia: In Back to the Future 3, what did Doc say that his rifle could do before he told Buford it was aimed straight for his head?

Daily (Fight with Michael) Memory: Another altercation that I had with Michael was when I was in the sixth grade. After lunch, when most of the class was in our classroom (except for our incompetent teacher) Michael was walking to his desk and there was a girl in his way. He told her "move" and she said that she wouldn't move if he was going to be mean. So he grabbed her arm and pushed her. I got out of my desk, walked up to him, and pushed him into a tall stack of desks and chairs against the wall that all came crashing down on top of him. They pinned him down so when the teacher finally came in, she had to help him get out.

Anniversary Imminent

Tomorrow marks the two year anniversary of when I first got the ole ball and chain attached to me. I got a pretty big bonus check the other day and I told Allison that she could use it all to buy some furniture or whatever for her anniversary present. I regret saying it now because I keep selfishly thinking of what I could buy with it. Oh well. No telling what shes going to get me, probably nothing (just like last year).

I don't want a dirty diaper for my birthday. Stupid poll.

The other day I was trying to empty all the crud from the vacuum cleaner and I ended up spilling all of the dust and hair on the floor. I shouted "WHAT THE HECK?" Allison was holding Avery next to me and Avery smiled and said "GA BA GA HECK!" I swear thats what she said. It freaked me out. Shes too young to be emulating me. Allison proceeded to get mad and gave me a lecture about watching my mouth around her.

The answer to last weeks trivia: "Emmett Brown Committed" (Good job Prin!)
Bonus trivia answer: "Emmett Brown Commended" (Prin failed.)

This weeks Trivia: What was the name (first and last) of the owner of the diner where Marty first met his younger dad (in 1955)?

Daily (Fight) Memory: In the sixth grade, there was this big kid named Michael that was a jerk to pretty much everybody. Remember, he was a big guy and I was a scrawny, skinny, lanky guy. I had a friend that was physically handicapped and one day in the gym Michael picked on him. After my friend told him to stop, Michael pushed him down. I walked up, got in his face and told him to back off or he'd be sorry. He then pushed me and took off running across the basketball court. I chased after him, caught up to him, and drop kicked him. He fell and made a huge loud echoing thud when he hit the wooden floor. That wasn't enough to teach him a lesson. There are many more Michael stories to tell in the coming posts.

8-8-08

Today is 8-8-08. That only happens once every bajillion years.

I just got back from lunch with Allison. We went to Mugshots (a hamburger restaurant). She ordered an appetizer for a meal and I ordered the peanut butter burger with crunchy peanut butter. I've always wondered how it was and today I finally got the guts to order it. The first bite was pretty weird tasting but it grew on me by the end. Don't know if I would order it again but it wasn't a terrible experience.

Answer to last post's trivia: Black, Green, Yellow, Red. In that order. Prin was close.

Trivia: In Back to the Future 2. On the newspaper that Doc finds in bad 1985, what does the headline say about him? Bonus: When they change history, what does the newspaper change to say about him?

Daily (Put Matt In His Place) Memory
Well since Matt was so nice in his comment, I guess I should go ahead and tell a little story about the closest I ever got to being in a fight with him. When I roomed with Matt at State, all we had to sit on in front of the TV were these two fold up chairs. Once, someone else (don't remember who) and me were sitting in these chairs. Matt came in and I guess called the dorm phone with his cell phone. He then answered the phone and said it was for me. I got up, grabbed the phone and said hello, there was nobody there. I turned around and saw Matt sitting in my chair. He tricked me. I walked over and calmly told him to get up. I grabbed his arm and pulled him up. I guess since there were other people in our room he wanted to show out so he tried to twist my arm and wrestle me down to the floor. His plan didn't go so well because I reversed his hold on me and twisted his arm until he finally said "All Right! All Right!" Then the guys in our room started laughing and one of them said "Ha Ha! I bet thats how it always happens, Matt starts something and Robert finishes it." I got my chair back too.

Post 18

I didn't post yesterday. Sorry, I wasn't particularly busy, I just didn't want to.

Let me search my brain and see what has occurred in the last two days........ not much. I found out I've lost a little over five pounds in the past week but I bet I will gain it back and then some soon.

My birthday is coming up in the next few weeks as you can see from the poll. I keep quizzing Allison on what she's going to get me and she says I have to go shopping with her. I doubt she will get me anything. Last year for our Anniversary (the 19th) I got her a diamond necklace and a trip to the beach. What did I get? Nothing. A week later (the 25th) was my birthday and what did I get? Nothing. She said her laziness was caused by her pregnancy, I think it was caused by the fact that she doesn't love me. She did end up feeling so bad about it that she got me an iPhone so....... I guess I'm over it.

A few days ago I was on my back porch with my BB gun and I saw a wasp flying around. I wondered if I could shoot it. First and second shots got close but didn't hit it. It then flew towards the back of our yard (about 25 feet away), I shot and it dropped to the ground. I was proud of myself.

Answer to last trivia: Clark JOSEPH Kent

Trivia: In Back to the Future III, what four colors of smoke came out of the train's smoke stack at the end?

Daily (Fight) Memory:
In the fifth grade, a boy in my class named Franco always picked on my friend, Jake. Franco's backstory: He had a square head, came from a foreign country, and his dad was the cook at a strip club. Once, he wouldn't quit picking on Jake so I walked up, kindly got in his face, and told him to back off. He then proceeded to shove me so I got very angry. I kicked him...somewhere and then pushed him and he fell into a bush that had saw briers all in it. The briers ripped his shirt and skin up pretty badly and it was noticeably very hard for him to get out of it. He never bothered Jake again.

Twosday

Last night before Allison got home Avery crawled to me. This was the first recorded occurrence of her actually crawling. Until now the best she could do was semi-crawl while she drug her face (that sounds worse than it was). But yeah, she crawled for me first and Allison missed it. When she finally got home, I tried to get Avery to crawl again but she just wouldn't do it. Once she sees her mama all she wants is to be held and be fed. She needs her mom for food and love. She just needs me for entertainment.

I blackened some fish last night for supper but it just wasn't as good as it is on the grill. Why do most meats taste the best grilled?

I don't think I've talked about it on here but whoever reads this blog needs to go see The Dark Knight. Its very good. One of my favorite movies of all time.

Answer to last post's trivia: On the episode the contest, it seemed like George won but in the last episode when they thought their plane was going to crash, George confessed to Jerry that he cheated so technically Jerry won.

Trivia: What is Clark Kent's middle name?

Daily (Fight) Memory:
When I was in the third grade there was a boy in my class who annoyed me every day. His name was Kevin. One day he asked me if I wanted a piece of gum and I said yeah so when I reached for it, he punched me and busted my lip for no reason at all. I got so angry that I tackled him and repeatedly punched him in the chest. He then pushed me off of him and tried to run away. Utility Al will find this similar to what I did a few years later but thats another memory for another post. As he was running away, I looked down and saw a little piece of petrified wood on the ground (I guess someone had been to the petrified forest and dropped it), so I picked it up and in desperation threw it in his direction. It hit him squarely in the small of his back and he dropped to the ground. I almost got suspended for that one but I talked my way out of it. Kevin wasn't so lucky. When I got home, I told my mom what happened and she was very angry with me for fighting. My dad was proud.

Every Other Day Of The Week Is Fine

Long, detailed, boring, weekend recap: Friday night, stayed home with the family and watched some Lost on DVD. This proved to be a little tough to do since Avery has learned how to blabber REALLY loudly. All we heard the whole time we were trying to watch was BLA DA DA DA!!!! BUH BUH MUH GA GA DA DAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! Saturday, we went to the mall. This was not very fun at all but it was amusing watching people look at Avery. She likes sitting in the big kid stroller (which looks funny considering she's only six months old). Also, I think her ability to hold her own bottle while she sits in the stroller makes it look a little strange too. Then we went out to eat at Schimmel's (a nice restaurant that is one of the few places in Mississippi that has a revolving door) with the Grubb's's's (the inlaws) for Allison's mom's birthday. My food was okay but the portion was tiny. It was a ripoff. Sunday was good, all we did was stay at home, we went walking, I grilled a tenderloin, and we watched Blade Runner (which we didn't like very much). Not a bad weekend.

Answer to last post's Trivia: Isosceles Kramer

Trivia: On Seinfeld, who really won "The Contest" and was master of his/her domain?

Daily Memory: When I was in the second grade, there was this kid in my class who's name was Kyle. He was a spoiled little jerk who always tried to boss everyone around. One day on the playground he was sitting on the tire swing and I walked by. He didn't ask me to push him, he commanded me. I quickly told him no and he said that if I didn't do it that he would tell our teacher that I punched him and I would get in trouble. So I said, "fine Kyle, I'll push you." I walked up to the swing, grabbed the chain in one hand and with the other I punched him as hard as I could right in his gut. He cried his little pansy eyes out and ran and told the teacher and I got in trouble. I figured there was no way I was going to let him boss me around and if he was going to lie and tell the teacher anyway that I hit him, I might as well not let that punch go to waste.

Consecutively

Well, I just was starting to write this post and was talking about how bad its storming outside and right when I wrote "I hope the power doesn't go out" and the power went out. Weird.

Anyway....... why is there no good television on in the summer? Do TV executives think nobody watches TV once their kids get out of school? I mean the best thing on last night was Last Comic Standing and I don't even like it that much. Reality TV is horrible. Whatever happened to shows that were actually written that had actors and a plot? Now they're even making Family Feud and The Price Is Right primetime tv. I sound like an old man.

Well I figured out that I don't really weigh 190, I weigh 180. I had the scale on the carpet and for some reason that made it register higher. I wonder how much I would lose if I started taking laxatives all the time...

I took Avery to daycare this morning and saw that it was costume day for all the bigger kids. Most of them were wearing Incredibles or Princess costumes but there was one girl that was wearing a little mermaid bathing suit and a pink supergirl cape. I thought that was funny, I guess her parents let her pick out her costume.

The answer to last trivia: "The sauce you can have but the secret, she's a mine!"

Todays Trivia: On Seinfeld, If Kramer ever had kids what did he say he would name his child?

Daily Memory:
When I was in the fifth grade, my whole grade was playing on the playground after we got back from a field trip. I dont remember where we went but for some reason I was dressed nice in a polo shirt and khaki pants. I was playing on one of those wooden playhouses on stilts, you know, the ones that have platforms, a swinging bridge, a slide, and monkey bars? I decided to jump off of it and I heard a loud *RIIIP* noise and noticed that my feet never hit the ground. Then I noticed the cool breeze..... To my utter horror, I realized that a nail was sticking up on the wood that had caught not only my pants but ALSO my underwear and ripped a big hole so my butt (somehow unscathed) was on display for all to see while I was hanging there. Thank goodness, only one little girl saw what happened because I quickly got down and tied my coat around my waist.

Post Titles Are Too Hard To Think Of

Since someone is a quitter (Mr. Dees), I now feel obligated to entertain all of blog world with the excitement of my life on a more regular basis. After all, my mom did used to tell me that "the Magees aren't quitters." I hated it when she said that. Fair warning though before we embark on this semi-daily journey: it will be very very boring.

I'm getting fat. Growing up I was always incredibly skinny, I could eat anything I wanted to and my crazy metabolism would just take care of it for me. Well something happened in the past few years. Six years ago I weighed around 145 lbs. and I now weigh right under 190. Since Mother Allison is still trying to lose some of her left-over baby weight, we figured we would go on a diet. Diets suck, we've only been on it for about three days and I hate it. There's no reason to live anymore. For lunch I used to eat a chili-cheese burger, cheddar peppers with ranch dipping sauce, mini fried apple pies with caramel dipping sauce, and a large coke. Yesterday for lunch I ate a grilled chicken sandwich with nothing on it, fruit, and a water. Now I'm always hungry.

Avery went to the doctor yesterday and got her shots. She is almost 28 inches long which means only 5 percent of girls her age are taller than her. I don't know why but I'm proud of the fact that I have a giant viking sized baby. Avery just learned how to reach for people to hold her. She reaches out for me the most for some reason.

Last entry's trivia answer was: Cochran, The bonus answer: Hermes

Today's trivia: On Saved by the Bell, what was the slogan for Screech's spaghetti sauce?

Daily Memory:
When I was in the sixth grade, my mom, my sister, and I got rear ended and our car got stuck on some train tracks. We heard a train coming so we jumped out. We watched as the train slammed into our car and threw it about fifty or so yards into some trees. My mom and sister screamed and cried. I thought it was awesome.

Happy Late Birthday Utility Al

it's starting

The Beginning

An Actual New Post

Wow, here I am. I didnt think I would ever post again but my fans demanded it (all two of them). Its been three months since I posted last and as you can see, Avery has grown a good bit. She'll be six months old in a week. She now talks gibberish, can almost crawl, can almost sit up by herself, reaches for everything, still has trouble growing much hair, and is incredibly spoiled. She cries and whines whenever shes left alone. We've created a monster. I shouldve posted a picture of myself at her age to show how much she looks like me at that age. I was actually a cute kid until I hit puberty and then I got all awkward and ugly. This weekend we are getting her baptized. I'm a little worried about that situation because shes a little older than kids usually are when they get baptized. It will probably be a disaster but I'm sure I will look back at it and laugh.

Hmm.... What else has happened since the last post...... We bought a new car. An 08 Accord, a family sedan. This is the first time I've ever had to make car payments and it sucks. Daycare + Insurance + Food + House Payment + Car Payment + etc= nothing, well I guess it equals depression.

Beach Trip 2008 occurred also. I wanted to call it "The Squeaky Fifth Wheel Gets The Grease Trip 2008" but Matt got another person to go so that ended that. Mother Allison had to leave Daughter Avery for the first time but she made it through okay. The water in the gulf was brown, stinky, and freezing cold but the condo was awesome and we had a good time. Utility Al buried Matt in the sand. I think Mother Allison took a picture of it, I need to find it and put it in the next blog post.

The asnwer to the post before the last post's trivia from three and a half months ago was armadillo (if I remember correctly).

This post's trivia: On Full House, Uncle Jesse's last name was changed to Katsopolis. What was his original last name?
Bonus: Jesse was his nickname, what was his given first name?

The Get Outta Here Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree...

Some Pictures I took tonight:

Before Looking at Dad:

After Looking at Dad:

Return from my Sabbatical

Well here I am world. I'm back from blogcation. The last time I posted was when my daughter was two days old. Now she is 10 weeks old. A lot can happen in two and a half months.

Quick recap:
1) My kid got older (she can smile when smiled at and can hold her head up now).
2) My wife got thinner.
3) I got fatter (stress).
4) We moved into our new house.
5) Mother Allison went back to work (weekend nights) leaving me alone with the baby for the first time.
6) Number 5 was a disaster.
7) My older sister has actually started to seriously date someone (she's 27 and this is her first BF).
8) My grandmother has been battling cancer.
9) My dog that I've had since I was nine passed away.
10) On April 3rd my wife walked in our room after I just woke up with a pregnancy test and said she was pregnant. Then she said "April fool's!" .......It was APRIL 3rd!

I think I'm going to start posting semi-regularly now (at least post pictures with a little text). Considering that no more than three people will ever read my blog I guess I'll mainly just be posting for my own benefit. You know, for me to look back at my online journal with pictures, etc.

Oh yeah, I used to post trivia. One animal besides humans can contract leprosy. Name the animal.

Last entry's answer is garbage (Mr. Fusion).

Avery Ruth

7 lbs. 21 Inches

You Are My Density

So.......I used to post once a week, but it seems the last time I blogged was a month and a half ago....yikes. Maybe this post will be the start of a trend of new posts. Maybe. Honestly, at this point I think this blog is nothing more than a journal for me to go back and read for my own pleasure at some point in the future (since nobody else reads it because of my negligent posting).

Well my life has been incredibly hectic lately. Update on the baby situation: Mother Allison is at home on "modified bed rest" since her job was too strenuous for a 8.5 month pregnant girl to withstand (shes a nurse who works(ed) 12 hour shifts). We went to the doctor last week and found out that she is dilated and effaced a good bit (I actually know what those words mean since I'm a soon to be daddy). This means that the baby could come at any moment now but in case it doesnt we are penciled in to have it induced on Feb. 4th. Needless to say, I'm freaking out.

Update on the house situation: Everything is done except for sod, electric meter, and final cleanup/walkthrough. So now its become a race of sorts to close the loan and move into the new house before the baby's born. I'm excited to see who will win.

Has anybody seen Cloverfield? Mother Allison and I went this past weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Utility Al to see it. I was really let down by it and I think everybody in the theater but me got motion sickness from watching it. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it.

The answer to the last posts trivia question was: Gary

This Weeks Trivia: What fuels the flux capacitor in Back to the Future II and III?