Fifth disease

We think Graham has this. Chandler had it a few weeks ago, and of course, Graham HAS to do everything his brother does. I'm pretty sure he has a sunburn too, which makes for an itchy Grammy. He hasn't been sleeping much the last few days and Karla and I having been taking turns staying up with him. While he's up, he has been playing with trains and cars and having a lot of fun. That's great, I just wish it wasn't at three in the morning.

Feeling suburban? I am. I have a neighbor who has decided for the last two years to let his lawn go. Why? I am not sure. He spends about 10 hours a day drinking him some Bud Light in that very lawn. Anyway, his creeping charlie and dandelions have invaded my yard, which was pretty much weed free a week ago. They invaded and then conquered it. It is ridiculous. I am going to buy some nasty stuff to spray on my and (covertly) his yard. I also started (only started, it will take a long time) to clean the garage. That task infuriates me, because it is always a mess and unwielding to conform to my OCD tendencies. Oh well, then on to spray the fence. Yikes.

Chandler had the day off of school, a fact that neither Karla or I had any idea about. Man, we rock as parents! Talk about being informed! Chandler and his friend Katelynn, gave us that nugget of info last night.

Going to Florida? I will believe it when I see it. We are going in June and taking Izzy with us. We are going to try to hit Disney and MGM for, yep you guessed it, Star Wars Weekends! What a shock! It should be fun, but we haven't decided number of days or our schedule yet.

Enough of this! I have to go and do some dishes. Yippee!!!
Peace, love and laserdiscs,
Mark

Dear Santa

You know what would be nice? To not be sick for 3 months of the year. I know people have it much worse, so this is for them too. I'm asking for a break from the gallons of vomit, the streams of diarrhea and the endless fevers and headaches associated with this immediate family. Yucky. Enough already.

You know this is April right? Hello, what is with the snow on my car this morning? It is darn right cold out there.

Slayer is coming this weekend for a tour of the glorious campus and to see the Normal upheaval. For any ISU alum who hasn't visited in a couple of years, it will be a shock. Come back in 18 months and you won't believe your eyes. They have torn down or rehabbed or refaced 75% of the buildings downtown (excuse me UPTOWN, whatever). They are building 3 new high tech structures for shopping, dining and living. They tore out the Abe's Carmelcorn caboose and are starting on a new roundabout. There are several new restaurants and many more on the way. I could talk about this all day but I have work to do so go to http://www.normal.org/Uptown/index.asp and check it out for yourself. Prepare to be amazed!

Well, maybe not amazed, but slightly interested.

I am gone!

Appa Plush vs. Hunt for Grievous

Back in December (look at Appa Plush blog post from December 2006), I tried in vain to find an Appa plush doll for the boys. Still no luck and Nickelodeon has no solution either. If you go to the Nick site, the message page is TEMPORARILY out of stock. And by temporarily that means FOREVER. I sent them an email for more info and they sent me back the standard form they send to everyone. Sorry, we have many products and we restock new products every day! Keep visiting!

I also had this same experience with a Star Wars battlepack that has been TEMPORARILY out of stock since last SEPTEMBER. Ask ToysRUs about it. Almost the same form as Nick, please check back, as we restock daily. NO, YOU DON'T.

Google either of these two things:
Appa Plush
Hunt for Grievous
Everyone is looking for them or selling them (for 5 to 10 times their price).
If you had bought 10 of each of these you would have spent about $400. If you sold them today you could get $1000-$2500. These aren't limited or collector items. They are toys that were released less than a year ago. It isn't Beanie Babies or Cabbage Patch Dolls fanfare either. I don't understand it. Some wisenheimer(sp?) was selling 75+ Hunt for Grievous sets on eBay back in November for $60 each. Can anyone say store manager?

Anyway, if anyone wants to trade or sell them to me for a REASONABLE price, I would appreciate it. Chandler gets HforG and Graham will get Appa. Even though Chandler will want one too.

I won't need these until Christmas, so maybe I will get lucky. Ha Ha.
Oh yeah, Mattel make the Katara action figure for Avatar. That is annoying and very unPC to not make girl action figures. Fire your CEO now!

Bleck!