Poem of the Day: "Our Own" by Margaret E. Sangster

I know it's re-post from another entry but, really, how many of you read that far before? Anyway, I think it's a great little piece.

Our Own
BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER.

If I had known, in the morning,
How wearily all the day
The words unkind would trouble my mind
That I said when you went away,
I had been more careful, darling,
Nor given you needless pain;
But—we vex our own with look and tone
We might never take back again.

For though in the quiet evening
You may give me the kiss of peace,
Yet it well might be that never for me
The pain of the heart should cease;
How many go forth at morning
Who never come home at night,
And hearts have broken for harsh words spoken
That sorrow can ne'er set right.

We have careful thought for the stranger,
And smiles for the sometime guest,
But oft for our own the bitter tone,
Though we love our own the best.
Ah, lip with the curve impatient,
Ah, brow with the shade of scorn,
'T were a cruel fate were the night too late
To undue the work of morn.

WoW Does Time Fly

So I got the new World of Warcraft expansion for myself for early Christmas. It's a great looking game and a really good time. My younger brother plays, as you may remember, and we love chatting about life while we slay pretend ghouls.

I was doing OK on balancing my playing time since the release until Thanksgiving weekend hit. Normally, I spend an hour a night playing while I watch reality TV with Amelia as she Facebooks. On the weekend that climbs to 2 hours a day. But this weekend all Hell broke loose. I think I spent a total of 4 hours in the game on Thanksgiving, 3.5 hours on Friday, 3 hours on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. My playing time went down as my guilt went up. I had planned on putting up our lights and raking leaves on Friday or Saturday but crap weather, Amelia running errands, me being home alone with the kids and discovering after stepping on a scale that I am fatter than I have ever been created an insatiable desire to WoW.

I did try to balance my time throughout this long weekend though. Last night Amelia and I watched "Hancock" together. It was the first time in a while that we just snuggled and watched (without our laptops). I helped Aidan with his Wolf badge requirements. Bella and I read and played a lot. I wrestled with both kids (their new favorite pastime) every night. I performed my church calling. I fluffed the fake branches and put up the lights on the tree. I did loads upon loads of dishes. I fed the pets. And, even though I don't like our new cat as much as the rest of the family, I am the only one who cleans the litter box.

I hope to get to those leaves and lights this weekend.

Video Highlight: Urban Legend Tribute

I love scary stories, urban legends and slasher movies. And my wife and I made a music video that is a tribute to all three.

Amelia and I were happy to work together to plan, shoot, make-out and stay up late to make this thing come together. Amelia came up with the song, concept and costumes, of course. We shot it by ourselves using available light and stacks of books, chairs, tool boxes and the hood of our car for a tripod. I then quickly had to learn how to use iMovie and edit it together. For what it is, I think it's fun and perfect for Halloween. Enjoy? Watch it and tell me if you get it. (Lyrics posted below the video window.)



This is not the first time -- you tried to get away
This is not a party -- where people know your name
This is not a classroom -- with teacher at the board
This is not a cat show -- with prizes at the door

Chorus
Go -- don't you go
Won't you stay with me one more day
If we get through one more night
If we get through one more night

This is not a horse race -- where winners beat the time
This is not a funeral -- with mourners in a line
This is not a sitcom -- where everything's alright
This is not a prison -- with terror through the night.

Chorus, etc.

Happy Halloween, readers!

Video Highlight: What's Darth Vader's Favorite Treat?

My daughter made this joke up one day. We asked her to tell it again here. She's four and already way more funny than I.

Art Class

Bella is painting this afternoon. First she wanted me to pose. I couldn't hold still enough for her. Then she looks at me and says, "I'm painting you as a Japanese person. And I'm a Japanese girl. A long time ago you were a Japanese person."

Now she is making me pose like this:



And this:


Here is the finished product:


Discuss.

Monday Joke: Birds

I figure if I can't think of something to confess, I'll put a joke here. This week it's my 3 year-old daughter Bella's turn to share some comedy. Enjoy.

Bella: Daddy, I have a joke.

Me: OK, let's hear it.

Bella: Why did the bird fly down into the water?

Me: I don't know, why?

Bella: Because it wanted to be a fish.

Happy Monday.

An Exercise in Hilarity or Animal Cruelty: Pug Vader

Amelia says, "And ... this is what you get for peeing on my kid's bed."