Adam Thomas, RPH

In Your Eyes                                                                        

Robert C. Bradshaw is a dude with very similar interests to mine.  In fact, we have so much in common we’re practically the same person.  Only I’m better looking.  And funnier.  And … .  You get the idea.

Anyway, he asked if I could spotlight his latest writing endeavor.  Well, it’s more of a ‘blast from the past’, if you will.  He wrote AND self-published his book in paperback close to twenty years ago.  Recently, he decided to go the e-publishing route and went exclusively with KDP – Kindle Direct Publishing.  In  Your  Eyes  is  a love story. Ugh! Since it’s so close to Valentine’s Day, I’m thinkin’ this might make a good present.  Hint. Hint.

So, here it is.  By the way, he asked if I ask all who buy/read it to be patient, tolerant, forgiving… .  Since it’s such the dinosaur, when the book converted to the Kindle format it got like way messed.  The words are wonderful, trust me.  They just need to be medicated to fix a few obsessive-compulsive text issues that occurred in translation.  If only that could work for some of those pharmacy customers… .  But let’s not go there right now.

Click the ‘title’ link to the left of the jacket.  It’s a great read!

Actually, I’m referring to Board Games, of course.  Remember those things that  you played when you were younger BEFORE Candy Crush Save Pinky? Yes, they still make them AND people still play them.  Well, we do.  But then, we can be a bit odd at times.

Since there have been like 5 million snow days this season and the temperature hasn’t reached 20 degrees, our family continues to search for ways to beat the ‘cabin fever’.  You know it’s bad when your teenage son says, “this is a bit ridiculous,” when the topic of another snow day comes up.  “We should be in school.”  I realize I should’ve recorded that statement for posterity sake, but I didn’t.  Oh, well.

Back to the board games.

Our staple go-to game is Scattergories.  It’s faster paced and fun.  We can get a solid three rounds in before the fighting begins or the attention spans wane.  For our family, that’s great.  Unfortunately, the task  is still too much for my youngest to tackle alone.  So, she pairs up with me.  I love it, of course.  However, she feels ‘left out’.  By the way, my wife gets upset that I don’t turn the paper over and use the back.  I like number-lined, factory issued paper.  Imagine that.

Sorry is another option.  It’s a bit longer, but  still well-paced.   On the plus side, it’s great to listen to your spouse and children actually apologize.  Granted, it’s required.  Still, that one little word is wonderful to hear. On the flip side, it’s only a four player game.  We have five.

The other night we actually played The Game of LIFE.  Ugh, I hate that game.  You can make all the generalizations you want, I don’t care.  It’s long and boring.  Besides, I’m living it.  Why on earth do I want to PLAY it in my spare time?  Get married – Have children – Mid-life crisis – start new career.  Wow.   I should play that every night!  Did I say my wife was the banker?  That was fun. Insert sarcastic tone.  For me, the only plus side was that I landed on ‘write best-seller collect $80,000’.   And, I picked the LIFE title card – Write Great American Novel -$150,000. Now, if  real life  only imitated the board game LIFE, my new career would start AND my Mid-life crisis would be over.

We haven’t played Monopoly in a while.  No idea why.  Just don’t think about it.  I do like the different kinds of Monopoly games though.  Traverse City has it’s own version – Cherryopoly.

Lastly, you can never underestimate Scrabble.  It’s a fine game.  Though with five players that game can be a bit … cramped?!

That’s it for the board game commentary.  I wouldn’t want anyone to get bored with my post.

I hit a ‘mogul patch’ on the glorious trail map that is my life.  Translation – I had to bail on Vail – the destination for the annual ski trip.  Very disappointing! Shit happens, though.  There’s always next year.  And, believe me, there will be NEXT YEAR.  Besides, I’ve got a spatula I need to reclaim.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaEU_A405zA

Carve it up, boys!

Just got higher – and legalized.

In the November 2013 issue of SKI, Michael Behar wrote the article Sky-High Vacations? RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL IN COLORADO. IS THAT GOOD NEWS FOR SKI ESORTS?

He briefly described how this ruling will affect ‘the ski town’, which towns will ban the sale to protect the ‘family friendly’ image, and pointed out the restrictions – I use that term loosely – on sales. The majority of resorts operate on U.S. Forest Service land – government property.   Since marijuana use is illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act, those resorts must comply accordingly.  For those that aren’t, I’ve highlighted some quite humorous ‘restrictions’ regarding marijuana sales from Behar’s article .

WAITING FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR

• How the legalization of marijuana in Colorado will be instituted remains hazy, … .  Here are a few ‘high’ points from the state:
• The first retail stores are expected to open in early January 2014.  You must be 21 to purchase.
• Visitors are limited to a quarter-ounce per single purchase – possession up to an ounce is legal.
• Pot must be sold in child-resistant , opaque packaging.
• Consumption is prohibited in the stores.
• New driving-while-impaired blood-level limits for marijuana have been instituted by the state of Colorado.

Wow, so much to say, so little blog time.  First of all, I love the fact that it must be sold in child-resistant, opaque packaging.  Unfortunately for some, it just might get confused with an actual prescription.  We would never want that.  Especially if it was, say, hydrocodone.  That has recreational and accidental overdose written all over it, eh? Don’t even get me started on the ‘driving-while-impaired’ bullet point.  Oh, yeah, I’m sure that 21 years of age thing will really work, too.

The article made mention of … “smelling a lot more of it on the chairlift”.  Not to be prudish, but I’m not sure if that’s something I want when I go out West.  What ever happened to enjoying the smell of the mountain air?  I know I live in Northern Michigan.  The air is pretty clean here, but still … .  I don’t know.  I really think I would alter my travel plans if this thing ever got out of hand.  At work I’m surrounded by fucking idiots that use syringes, hydrocodone AND Adderall for anything BUT ‘medicinal’ purposes.  You think I want to be around these morons when I’m on vacation?  Maybe I am prudish.   When it comes to my free time, though, I want to be prudish.

One last article quote – “Imaginative entrepreneurs are going to turn this into an industry like wine tourism in California.”

Interesting?!

No, this isn’t another post about my house or Carrie Underwood’s rendition of the beloved musical.  Though the last Winter Storm produced enough snow drifts to physically narrow my drive.  As for the latter,  I never saw the scandalous event and have no idea what the commotion was about.  What I’m referring to is my Denon CD player.  It was part of  ‘the stereo system’ purchased over twenty years ago. My first big purchase as a college graduate.  I bought a car immediately, of course.  It was needed to get to and from the job.  The stereo system, however, was the luxury item that validated my transition from starving college student status.  I’ve enjoyed it ever since.  And, yes, I still buy CD’s.

During our Christmas party last year -2012, my trusty CD player just stopped dead.  So dead that the cartridge holding six discs wouldn’t even disengage.  It didn’t disrupt the party and I really didn’t think about it afterward.  A few months later, we changed things up in the house and moved the electronics into the basement.   Spring came and went.  Summer was even busier; then school.  Before we knew it we were looking for that certain  Amy Grant Christmas CD.  Never guess where it was – yep stuck inside the player.

I contacted the only place to fix such devices here in Traverse.  Within a week or so the discs were out AND Amy Grant was once again serenading us with her lovely voice.  By the way, I’ve never been a Christian Rock fan, but Amy Grant’s Christmas albums are amazingly wonderful.

One last funny, self-mocking tidbit.  When I dropped off the CD Player, I was a bit embarrassed that I waited as long as I had to service the device.  “July would’ve been the perfect time to fix it, of course.  But, no, I waited until the last minute.  I make fun of people that do this kind of shit.”  All the technician could do was nod and smile awkwardly.

Now,  I can listen to music in the house that I  want to listen to.  Remember I have children -our tastes are quite different.  I’ve rediscovered some favorites.  One I choose to spotlight at this particular moment.

John Boswell is an incredible pianist.  Unfortunately, I think he broke into the recording scene at the same time as Jim Brickman and never  received the recognition he deserved.  As far as I’m concerned, every Jim Brickman album sounds the same.  Not with Boswell.  Yes, there is a certain theme or similarity between songs on each individual album.  This is the case with most recording artists.  However, the albums sound very different.  My favorite of his is   Kindred Spirits.  However a sampling of that was unavailable.  Well there was one song available to select, but the background still was a bit … weird.  Instead I included a link to a collection of his songs.  If you just put it on background, then you don’t have to have his ‘face’ staring back at you; kinda creepy.  I realize there are ways to make it work but with my limited computer skills and lack of … interest to better myself, that’s all I’s gots to offer.  Just hit the damn link and listen. It’s really good.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wvw7garHI

Enjoy!

According to the Random House Dictionary that is the official definition for the word claustrophobia.  I’m sure everyone knew that and has probably experienced a bout of it sometime in their life.  My experience happened gradually over the last few months.

Lately, my house has been feeling small and cramped and, yes, claustrophobic.  Think all you want about my emotional state.  Hell, I have.  Trust me, though, I’m fine.  As far as the house, it definitely needs a psychological evaluation if not a total makeover.  It’s a modest house – two-story Cape Cod and an unfinished, quite messy basement.  Of course finishing that would add extra much needed living space, but that just ain’t in the budget.   So, since everything else has remained constant over the last few years, why this not abnormal (sorry about the double-negative) fear?

I blame my children, of course.

Or, more appropriately, the fact that my children are growing up.  Yes, this is all good; everything progressing as it should.  But,holy shit! How and  when did this happen?

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but if not, my daughter plays hockey.  Recently she had her sport/team picture taken.  When deciding on which package to purchase, she requested a set of trading cards; just like the ‘pros’.  We agreed.  They’re way cool and very fun.

So, anyway, she brought them home from practice and showed the family.  When I looked at her stats on the back, I totally freaked.  To see that your baby-babe is now over 5’6” and an adult weight -if I posted her true weight she would kill me.  Well, like I said before, when the hell did this happen? By the way, she has a size 10 shoe.  And she’s not even done growing.

Not only that, but my son now towers over me.  He even wore a sweater of mine on Christmas.  Sometimes, we can’t even see that there’s actually a third child in the mix.

I told you it wasn’t me.  When I realized what this all meant, I really wondered if I was, in fact, fine.

I know, I know.  It’s not like I’m the only parent to experience this.  Hell, in a few short years the kids will be off to college and the house will be big again.  Let’s not go there right now.  How about I just wear boxer more often and call it a day?

I know I posted an abbreviated version of this last year.  It was so well received, that I decided to include the entire list this time around.  The original title was Christmas Carols for the Mentally Ill, but that bothered me because Ill  looked like the Roman Numeral III.  I actually searched for versions I and II to see how the lists were different then realized that I, myself, was ‘challenged’.  That right there should have it’s own Christmas Carol.

Schizophrenia — Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality Disorder — We Three Kings Disoriented Are

Dementia — I Think I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic — Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

Manic — Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and . . .

Paranoid — Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

Borderline Personality Disorder — Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

Personality Disorder — You Better Watch Out, I’m Gonna Cry, I’m Gonna Pout, Maybe I’ll Tell You Why

Attention Deficit Disorder — Silent Night, Holy OOOOOOOOh look at the Froggy, can I have chocolate, why is France so far away?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell …

*author unknown

PS – my daughter got that Snow Day she wanted

it’s only the beginning of December.

In the last week there’s been at least five, if not more, Winter Weather Advisories.  One was actually a Gale Force Wind Advisory.  I’m not 100% sure what that is, but I’m thinkin’ it’s bad.  All I know is that it was damn cold and really windy.   My kids were, and continue to be, extremely disappointed none of these advisories resulted in a snow day.

“But I need a break,” my daughter insisted when I countered that Christmas vacation was less than two weeks away.  Yeah, well so do I, kid.

So, she did what every other Traverse City Public School child did before bed countless days in a row – threw ice cubes down in the toilet, slept with a spoon under her pillow, and wore her pajama bottoms inside out.  Yes, it’s harmless and fun.  However consoling  them the next morning when school ISN’T cancelled does tend to make a parenting challenging.

Oh, I forgot to mention there is now a Snow Day Calculator ( www.snowdaycalculator.com ).  All you do is plug in your zip code, number of snow days this year, and type of school.  The accuracy is astounding. (note- sarcasm)  Since no snow days have been used yet, the probability of a snow day is increased, of course  – like to 99%.  Try rationalizing that to an already excitable child. Certain ‘technologies’ just set you up for disappointment and  failure.

The Weather Channel is having a field day with this early winter blast thing.  I still can’t stand that whole naming winter storms.  In case you are wondering, Electra is the last storm. Apparently it’s the ‘Witches Brew of Winter’  Like I said last year, it’s just dumb.

However with Christmas just weeks away the snow is wonderful.  It just wish it wasn’t so cold so fast.  The wind chill is like -10 degrees.  That’s brutal.  Did I say this is only December?

Well, it could be way worse.  Take Redfield, New York – 50 inches of snow in just 24 hours.  That’s crazy.

Also, it gives me a reason to include this clip.

http://movieclips.com/c6BL-elf-movie-snowball-fight/