The Sleepy Superpower awakes

"The U.S. is on the move again around the globe, and it's about time"

What makes a person attractive?

Virtual beauty [Via Randomize]

Fiesta Texas

Just got back from spending two days in San Antonio. We stayed at the Radisson near Sea World and went to Fiesta Texas on monday and tuesday. I kept trying to talk Cassidy into going on the Superman roller-coaster with me; half kidding because I knew it was too big a ride for her. I don't like spinning rides, they make me queasy but the Superman ride was long and smooth and I thought I could handle it. Well, after riding the kid's "swing" ride, with Cassidy, and not enjoying it that much, I can assuredly say my roller coaster riding days are probably over.

The kids had a great time. The second day we spent most of the day at the water-park.

Cassidy really liked the Rockville High show. David liked the Chinese Acrobats show.

Jane rode the Poltergeist while I took the kids to "Scooby Doo Ghostblasters...The Mystery of the Haunted Mansion"

Why we invaded Iraq & other political hot potatoes

Found great analysis of political issues, in particular the war against Iraq, at USS Clueless [via JoeUser] Here is an example:

And though we are in the habit of watching our government closely, and trying to understand what it does, so as to try to advise it, in times of crisis our leaders must keep secrets from our enemies, and that means they must keep secrets from us, too. For us as citizens, then, it becomes necessary to pick leaders and then trust them to lead, and accept that they will do things which they cannot explain. We must trust them, and understand that they cannot trust us. All we can do is to hope we've picked well. History will tell those of us who survive whether we did.

I myself have always believed an elected official should be a statesman and do what he think best as opposed to a representative and follow his constituents demands.

Update Aug 4, 2003: The War over the War

BuyMusic.com review

User's bad experience with BuyMusic.com [Via W6]

Special Forces Letter From Iraq

What's really going on in Iraq today

Computer Games

Shockwave.com has always been one of my favorite sites. I've gone to it to download PhotoJam, my favorite slideshow application. The latest free download of Shockwave doesn't let you add your own MP3 files to the slideshow so I keep an older version around. I love InkLink. There are tons of really good games for kids that you can play online. I try to steer them towards the mind games. David loves Cannon. I play Bookworm with Cassidy. They both like Bounce. Check it out and visit often because they are always adding new games.

Laundry

Busy Mom says she hates children's socks.  I say why stop with socks?  I've tried helping Jane fold clothes. I'd rather install a ceiling fan.  I have no trouble with my clothes. Maybe it's because it's my clothes; I suspect it's because I'm a bland wardrobe deprived Dad.  I basically have 5 piles: Tee-shirts, socks, underwear, pants, misc shirts. But throw in women's clothes and three small kids and it's mayhem.  For Kristen, who is two and a half, and probably has 12 pair of flip-flops alone (thank goodness they don't need laundering), she would probably require 76 different piles of clothes.  No two articles of clothing appear to be the same.  Nothing lies flat and each is tiny and resists attempts to fold it neatly. Maybe we need disposable clothes for kids too young to fold their own clothes.  You open up a matching set, you wear it, you throw it away.  Needless to say, I don't fold clothes often. I'm better suited to simply carrying the laundry basket of dirty/folded clothes up and down our stairs.

Granite Beach Water Park

Last year while our agent was hosting an open house for us, we took a drive through Cedar Park, past the North Shore, around to Marble Falls and back home. We came across the Lake LBJ Yacht Club at Granite Beach in Marble Falls. Worth going back to visit.

Dave Barry: The princess diaries of a mad househusband

Jet Skiing

A neighbor asked if I wanted to go jet skiing with him this weekend. Of course I did! It's only the second time I've ever done it, the first time was on the smaller standup jetski. We put in at Quinlan Park Road Dock. It's just down from the Lake Pointe Day dock. Also right next to Caslano a very cool looking private community with 2-12 acre lots with lake-front property. We traveled down the lake all the way to the 360 bridge and then returned. I would love to do it again with Jane and the kids. I think they would have a blast. We'll have to find out if we can rent somewhere.

What to pack for your vacation...

Don't forget to pack your plastic vampire teeth

David's bunk beds arrived yesterday. More than just a bed, it's a fort and big toy.
It's got built in drawers and a desk. Nice.

Landscaping

Well we finally won the battle and got approval for my backyard landscaping plan. One of my neighbors has been uncooperative to the point of having his lawyer send a letter to me and the chairman of the architectural committee laying out his concerns. His concerns were without merit and based on misunderstandings. At the meeting on Monday he showed up with his lawyer and real-estate agent. I was actually glad his lawyer was there. He seemed reasonable and saw my plan for what it was. Without him, there may not have been any common sense coming from that camp. The started work yesterday and the work should be done in about three weeks. There were last minute meetings with Barringer Landscaping to get the retaining wall and walled playscape layout just right for maximum use. Anyway, got a a chance to practice my Spanish yesterday. I always enjoy getting to know the Latinos that usually show up to do our various home improvement work (painting, yard, landscaping). I always have a certain affinity for them and try to make them feel as comfortable as possible.

Room Moms Gone Wild

I've been busy on two other blogs this week. I've written a quick work history over on my technical blog and I've setup a new weblog on Blogger for friends of ours; mostly the moms in the group. You can find it here. Room Moms Gone Wild is an open weblog and you just have to be invited to be able to contribute to it. Just send an email to us if you're interested.

Google Holes

How Google works and doesn't work

Priceline.com

Ordering through Priceline is hit or miss. It's like paying for a meal without knowing what it is. It might be what you like, it might not. We had luck the first time and got a two night stay at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort for $79 a night; a steal. That place is awesome for a family vacation and you never have to leave the premises. This year we tried to duplicate our experience but instead got matched up with the Radisson Resort Hill Country San Antonio which sounds like a nice Hotel, but resort? The "resort activity" that is required by Priceline's definition of a Resort is that there is a major attraction nearby (Sea World). So I guess any hotel in San Antonio with the right extra amenities can claim Resort status since there are "Major Attractions" near by. If you're one that would order solely based on the description "Chef's Special", then Priceline might be for you. We'll think twice about using Priceline again.

Spy

Tooo funny

Why the rhythm method often fails
[Via Being Daddy]

Personal improvement Top 50

Great stuff at Tom Peter's site on personal improvement
In particular, checkout the top 50 list from the Brand You 50 Book
[Via John Porcaro July 9, 2003]

Men's hairpieces and web design
A long piece about making money from visitors to your site. Part I is interesting, however, in a social sense.

Gun-toting first lady

"How the 2nd Amendment has supported the 1st and 14th Amendments"
[Via W6 Daily]

For Love or Money

Yes I'm somewhat of a Reality TV junkie. Not all of them, mind you. But I enjoy Survivor, Last Comic Standing, Fear Factor, For Love or Money.

Did anyone else feel sorry for Rob last night on For Love or Money? The girl he picked had all the control. The odds are against meeting someone compatible enough to want to marry on one of those shows (last Bachelerette installment excepted) and even more so that would pass up a gauranteed 1 Million dollars over the uncertainty of a relationship. I think Erin and Robb had a chance together had they met outside of the show but they were both somewhat guarded and were holding back lest they be hurt by the other.

Though I don't blame Erin for her decision, I"m actually amazed that she is going for double-or-nothing in another round where she is now the object of 15 bachelor's attention who are oblivious to the first setup. She is very attractive, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the guys chose her over the money. We'll see.

Mosquito Repellants

Weaponry to battle mosquitoes
From Gizmodo
Update (7/9/03): Mosquito repellent cell phone

four inch creepy mutant

Reads top to bottom. BTW, she's right, I do have too much time.

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Kleymeyer
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 2:13 PM
To: Jane
Subject: four inch creepy mutant

I could have almost written this post don't you think?
four inch creepy mutant

--------
From: Jane Kleymeyer
Subject: RE: four inch creepy mutant

you people have way too much time on your hands, or in your hair,
whichever comes first.

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Kleymeyer
Subject: RE: four inch creepy mutant

What are YOU doing reading an email titled 'four inch creepy mutant'?
Pot calling the kettle black ?
---------
From: Jane Kleymeyer
Subject: RE: four inch creepy mutant

As i was passing thru the kitchen WHILE making the bed in the guest room,
taking paint upstairs, moving furniture getting ready to paint, putting
clothes away, picking up the front room, getting kristen a snack, talking to
the dentist on the phone, cooking chicken to put in a casserole, getting
Kristen ANOTHER snack, peeing, and chopping vegtables I HAPPENED to notice
an email from my amazing and very cute husband who at this moment is
mutant-free. So there you go - - Mr. Kettle!!!

Don't like the recent Supreme Court Decision upholding affirmitive action in the Michigan Law School case?
Check out this ariticle [via Philip Greenspun]