The Great Tomato Incident (2009)

So Jamie Lou got some great gifts from her sister Kerry's family (Kerry, Tom, Peter, and James). They were upside down tomato hangers. I have since come to learn that pretty much anything can and will grow upside down.

But I digress....


So earlier with brother Zac's help we basically built a cross in my back yard where is gets full sun. And it is a very nice cross, nice enough Thad may even want to burn it! (a little Dubuque humor for everyone there.... I am in no way implying that Thad burns crosses. But I have built a cross in my backyard, and he is from Dubuque.)



Zac and I were proud. we had made a tomato hanger thingy, with no plans or help from anyone. soon though I saw the error of my ways. While the top of the arms of the tomato hanger was tall enough once you hung the basket with its chain it was much lower than I had anticipated. as you can see on the left here, the tomato plant is already almost on the ground. See being a first time upside down fruit grower I really didn't know at all what to expect.

This is why I consider myself to be adaptable, I don't let it bother me when things go bad, I just drink a few beers and ignore the problem. If that doesn't fix it, I'll venture out into the world and see if there is any inspiration to be had out there. If that doesn't fix it, then it must not be too big of a problem and we will own the issue and make it a plus (see our yellow counter top as proof).




So once day while out working on my uncle Joe's pool with Zac I see he too has some unside down hangers, but his are on his deck with pipe holding it up in the air **idea forms here**



While I have no deck to run pipe up on, I do have a great tomato crucifix in my backyard I can use. So off the the Home Depot (only one trip to the hardware store for maybe the first time in my life, maybe because I drew up what I needed and stuck to the plan).







below are the results of my fix. I ended up getting 2 extra 90's to keep the 200# circles holding up the hangers from falling off the end. All in all a pretty good project, and I think the tomatoes will be good as there are already blooms all over both plants. You can see in the last picture how much lift was actually attained:

Golfing....

Went Golfing with my buddy Paul this morning. Cant' see where the fairway starts? NO PROBLEM, you have a scorecard with a picture. Can't see the ball once you hit it? NO PROBLEM, you know the general direction it went. Sort of. Can't take carts off the cart path? NO PROBLEM, you can walk. oh, yeah..... I think they call it a dense fog advisory.

We played The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk at 6:20 this morning. Maybe one of the more memorable rounds I have had in the last few years. The Legacy is hard enough when you can see where you are hitting. There were some pars made though be tween us, so that is pretty amazing.

so enjoy this camera phone shot:

Things I learned from the movie The Hangover

yaaaaarrrrrr there be spoilers down below, so proceed with caution. Ye have been warned.


Mike, Jamie Lou and I went to the movie last week and we had a dashingly good time. We laughed, we cried, we came together closer as a group.

Actually, we just laughed.

So with all that here are some things I learned from watching The Hangover.

I learned that tigers like pepper, but hate cinnamon.

I learned that even though you may find Mike Tyson sweet, the guy that got punched by him might still find him a mean man.

I learned that they may have given out rings at the holocaust.

I learned that if you find a baby you should name him Carlos.

I learned that a wolf pack of four will wander the desert searching for strippers and cocaine.

I learned it is funny because he is fat.

I learned that next weekend is no good because the Jonas Brothers are in town.

I learned that counting cards, like masturbating on a plane, isn't illegal, just frowned upon.

I learned that since 9/11 that both counting cards and masturbating is probably illegal. Thanks Bin Laden!

I learned that some drug dealers don't know the difference between ecstasy and roofies.

I learned that better names for toofies inclue dropsies and floorsies.

I learned that if you friends call you Dr Faggot, your girlfriend will too.

I learned that Zach GalifianaKis shouldn't be within 200 feet of a school...or a Chuck-E-Cheese.

I learned that leaving a phone message is cool, but leaving a text is gay.

I learned that if you dare an insecure dentist to tear out his own tooth, he'll do it.

I also learned that will make him look like a nerdy hillbilly.

I learned that in fact, what ever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Even if you destroy your future father-in-law's classic car.

And lastly, I learned that if you marry a hooker while blacked out from drugs and alcohol it is probably better that that woman at home. As she is a heartless woman that had sex with a bartender on a cruise ship.

Sad little Prissy

A DECREE:
Prissy Poopy Pants is henceforth to be known as Pirate Prissy Poopy Pants.

She got glaucoma a while back in her right eye and with in a matter of weeks went completely blind in it. So the poor little girl on Thursday had it taken out. She doesn't really seem to mind one bit. Running up the stairs, eating, snapping at Moses Pee-Body. All is pretty ok in her world, other than she is now sans one eye.

The left eye us still good, well as good as an old person's eye can be. After she was dropped off I asked if Jamie Lou confirmed which eye was to be removed and she said "they know". She was right they did know. so no terrible stories of the wrong eye getting removed in this post. So other than a little leaking post operation, I think she is going to getting along good as new in a few days.

Her left side is still pretty good.


left eye good, right eye gone. They put mesh behind the lid to that the eye wouldn't 'sag' in.


See all the pirate needs is an eye-patch and a pirate hat:



Close up of the left eye.

Ella's Birthday

Well, a few weeks back it was little Niece Ella's 2nd birthday.

Lets see, I got to swing, fly a kite, eat hot dogs, have dirt cake, get presents..... wait the presents were Ella's but the rest was all me.

So it was the Christensen and the Doak clans, taking over the park for an afternoon.

Zac and Dani sure do have a nice kid.

Here are a few memories, oh and happy birthday Ella.......

Boss Shirt, Boss

My brother informed me that once he was reading out on shirt woot (the shirt division of woot) that if you ever see someone in a Woot shirt you should tell them "Boss shirt, boss."

A week and a half ago I logged on to woot, and saw it was 3 random t-shirts for $18.00 shipped. For a fat guy like me to be able to get three XXXL t-shirt for 18 bucks it is worth the gamble of not knowing just what you might receive.

So without further delay I present to you my 3 random bags of crap shirts. I look forward to reading your favorites, I know I have mine.



This one could be called "Butter Face" but I think it is more about forcing and attitude adjustment on people. Usually I am the one in need, but being the jerk I am I think everyone else in the world should change. Happiness meter of this crap for me? Like the color, like what it says. 8 out of 10



Ah, the Ad Counsil* trying to beat down a terrible, yet treatable desiese. Scurvy! This shirt not only is spreading a message, but will be great on National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Happiness meter of this crap for me? A specialty shirt, oh but it will be worn. 6 out of 10




Last, but certainly not least is my new paper doll shirt. It is amazing that sometimes no matter how close we are we don't always know what is going on with the person just a few feet down the way. Like George Benard Shaw once said, "The problem with communication ... is the illusion that it has been accomplished." you know maybe the one on the left heard, "I'm on fire." But that could have more than one meaning as maybe the one on the right is a great basketball player. Happiness meter of this crap for me? Not my favorite color, but I do look good in itand I really like what it says. 7 out of 10


*Ad Counsil did not actual make this shirt

Posts to look forward to from me..... Things I learned from the new Star Trek movie...... the grass in the back yard project..... Ella's party...... and much much more....

so please feel free to leave comments, they are like the fuel that makes this old boy want to get up and go.