Dave Mancuso dot Com

Tonight I spent a great deal of time calling nine different stores for this Igloo thermoelectric cooler in vain–they were all sold out. I then find the cooler in the KMart two miles from my house (for much less than the price at the web link above).

Now I just hope it fits in my van.

🙂

If you ever have the time, go to the urban legends website Snopes.com. I think the main page looks a bit obtuse at first, but poke around and you’ll find some amazing stuff on urban legends and hoaxes.

My brother Joe is on his way to Tokyo as I write this. He spent the last few days in Seattle.

Of course, only this could happen to my brother Joe: he called me from the border yesterday because he decided to go to British Columbia, Canada, for lunch. That would make 4 countries he’ll have visited on his trip: Peru, Bolivia, Canada, and Japan.

He’s visited the US too, of course, but his home in Guam is technically a US territory, so he didn’t really leave the country to get here (or live there).

Also, Joe called me from the SEATAC airport today–his flight was overbooked, so he volunteered to be bumped form the flight. You know the drill–get bumped, then get a free pass on the airlines good for one year, right?

Not with Joe. He didn’t get bumped, but instead got a first class seat to Tokyo for his trouble.

Only Joe Mancuso.

Or Joe Way–he pulls this kind of stuff all the time too. Disgusting, isn’t it?

🙂

This is a rule I’ve learned by painful, painful experience (did I mention painful?):

When buying anything, be ready to walk away from the sale in an instant, right up to signing on the dotted line, especially if you really want it.

Often, this rule applies even after signing the dotted line.

I put this in because I’m looking at purchasing something this month, and I need to resharpen the edge on my mental “sword”…

While watching Cosmic Voyage, a film about the universe and the microverse, shown in IMAX theaters last year:

Five Year Old Alyssa: Wow, this isn’t as boring anymore. It’s actually getting interesting.

Four Year Old Drew: Yeah.

Alyssa: Look Drew, thunder! Cool.

Drew: Yeah.

Alyssa: See, Drew? God makes thunder, not Kevin.

Drew: No–Kevin makes thunder.

Alyssa: You’re wrong. See right there on the screen? God makes thunder!

Drew: God makes thunder…AND Kevin makes thunder.

Alyssa: Whatever.

Later, at end of movie:

Alyssa: Wow. If that’s a ride, then I want to go on it.

My friends Joe and Laura (not my brother Joe–this is a different guy) moved away today to North Carolina with their two little ones. Sad times for me, although I’m glad for them–new jobs, close to family, nice place to live.

My psyche is wired a bit differently from most people–I may not see someone for ten years and then connect like no time has passed at all. I usually don’t miss people because they’re often in my thoughts (and heck, the Internet keeps people only microseconds away). This time is different. I guess I’m getting old (or middle-aged, at least). Good luck, Joe and Laura–may the wind be always at your back.

My brother Joe has returned from South America and is now in Seattle for a short stopover on his way home to Guam. I hope he comes back next summer.

Despite the picture of Joe in South America below, most of his trip was in freezing weather at very high altitudes. Joe hiked up to Machu Picchu and also crossed over into Bolivia for a short time.

Ummm, Denise corrected me about Drew’s comment–I’d apparently heard wrong. Drew said the woman was a hot chick because she had a red bra, not a red ball.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, he’s only four. On the other hand, at least he’s showing a healthy interest in girls (I think). Of course, he kept asking Mommy today if she had a bra on–he seems to have a bra fixation. I’m not which way to take that.

I’m also not sure how to take the fact that he keeps wearing his dragon costume from Halloween several times a month. The costume is now over two years old. The legs now only go to his knees.

I guess part of raising kids is being at a puzzled loss.

🙂

Dad, Joe and me, and little Drew. Taken on June 21, 2003:

With the family at McDonald’s:

Drew: Daddy, the lady on the TV. Is she a hot chick?

Denise and I exchange raised eyebrows.

Me: Uh–I didn’t see her, Drew. What do you think? Was she a hot chick?

Drew: Yeah. She had a red ball.

Later:

Drew: Daddy?

Me: Yes, Drew?

Drew (pointing to the Happy Meal box illustrations): Look at the monkey, Daddy!

Me: Yep–cool monkey, Drew.

Drew: Daddy, he’s got a heart butt!

Sure enough, AIAI the Super Monkey’s hindquarters were heartshaped. My Drew, the detailed observer…