Your Spouse Vs. The Step-Kid(s)…can’t we all just get along?

This is by no means a professional perspective or advice, Im just a father of a blended family of 3 children, one of which is my own. But more often than not Im suprised by tales of others who have so much conflict with their step-children or “spouses kids” that I felt a need to sprinkle your ears with a bit of wyrd wisdom. All I have to go off of is my personal past experiences and my beliefs on parenting and my uncanny ability of problem solving.

The Dark Path of Losing a Child

It’s been on numerous occassions very difficult to deal or even cope with the loss of a child. Further more it can cause severe regression and depression within a marriage. The closed off communication, the bitterness building, the spite, the “why me!” It’s all there, never ending spiral down. When you think you’ve reached the bottom, there is always tomorrow to get lower than before. You start to question your sanity, your parenting abilities, your views on “god”.

Being a stay-at-home dad, while still living by the 9 Noble Virtues.

Having been layed-off from a company I had vested over 6 years of my life, without proper severance pay or unemployment check opportunites, provided tribulation, depression, financial hardship, sacrifice and personal growth. Being forced to be home bound and switch roles as “provider” with my wife was a hard pill to have to swallow. But what I soon had to realize, that what I’m providing is truly invaluable to my kids & to my family.

U.S. government won’t be building a Death Star

White House responds to Death Star petition: No

It’s a shame, the government will pour in billions of dollars to line their pocket books, yet they won’t build a Death Star! What a waste, hmmm maybe I’ll petition they building the following:
Castle GreySkull
My Little Pony Ranch
GummyBear Tree House
The Avengers HQ
Echo Base
Mount Doom

Or how about they do, affordable healthcare and tax celebrities, fix the correctional system and put some money into our public school system and parks/recreation.

The Superior Spider-Man #1 Review (Spoilers)

And so, as the fates at hand drew it and so it was done. Our dearly beloved Peter Parker, rest his spidey soul, is no more. And so Marvel Now rings in a new hero to don the mantle of our previous Web Head and is, shall we say as the title implies, SUPERIOR in everyway. So as this first issue slams into comic book stores across the nation comic book fans/collectors alike will either step-up to the occassion of a new era of a New Spider-Man or they will allow their loyalties die with Peter Parker and mourn his loss in the Marvel Universe.
Me on the other hand, am a believer in change, in new beginnings, in giving someone else a chance at greatness.

Let’s talk Pingu!

So some of you might be wondering, “What’s a Pingu?”, and that would be an easy answer, a Penguin. The rather harder question is “What the (expletive) are they saying?”, then you’d be on too something. Here’s a little background on “Pingu”.

My friend Garlic, oh how I love you!

(Its Raining Garlic Painting – Sandy Collier) Garlic, mmm when do I begin? Well firstly Garlic Cures, yes It’s true, Fresh garlic has many active constituents including alliin, allicin, alliinase and unique sulfur compounds. Allicin and the sulfur compounds of garlic are the ingredients primarily responsible for garlic’s potency as an antibiotic, anti-viral and a fungicide and for its use in treating high blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, and for helping to prevent certain types of cancer, as well as its use as an immune stimulant. Allicin is a strong antibiotic agent produced when the alliin and alliinase are merged together, as happens when a fresh garlic clove is crushed or chewed. Garlic origin is from Asia and was also used by the Egyptians and Greeks. When added to your diet it increases the vitality and protect against parasites. The bulbs of the garlic plant are presented in groups of six to twelve teeth coated with a thin film that forms the head. Its leaves are white with a sheath embracing the stem. It also has a large number of white and red flowers. Its flowers, six stamens, bloom in spring and summer. Its fruit is small and shaped capsule. Garlic also contains sulphide glycoside enzyme, Alum, vitamins A, B1, B2, C and niacin. Its sulfurous substance is transported by the blood and permeates all organs and tissues of the body. These substances are eliminated via the kidneys, bronchi, lungs and skin. Garlic has a lot of healing properties, among which are: to combat anemia and to prevent constipation, improve liver function, lower blood pressure and facilitate blood flow. As an antiseptic and antibiotic, because of its high sulfur content, is used to combat fungi, and inhibits salmonella poison bites by mosquitoes, bees and scorpions. Furthermore, garlic increases the body’s defenses by increasing the production of white blood cells. At home remedies can be prepared with garlic, which is more beneficial if consumed raw because when cooking it loses some of its properties. Here are 10 home remedies with garlic: 1.) For ear pain: use two crushed garlic, boil, strain and apply a few drops warm. 2.) To sleep: to sleep; eat salad with garlic at night. 3.) Against warts and spots on the skin: Apply the garlic directly onto the skin to clear spots, especially those caused by acne. Its topical use also removes warts. 4.) For rheumatism: Rub the peeled garlic over the sore and swollen joints. This choice leads to a rather anti-inflammatory action and reduces pain. 5.) To lower blood pressure: People with high blood pressure can take a garlic clove fasting party. To avoid irritating the stomach lining, it is recommended chopping the garlic clove and swallows every bit as if they were pills. You can also prepare a syrup with two heads of peeled garlic. Must be mixed with sugar, and a glass of water. To lower the pressure should take 2 tablespoons a day. 6.) To restore virility: Combine the garlic with wheat germ oil and cayenne. You can also rub garlic in the area of the lumbar spine. 7.) Against pertussis: Spread garlic in the chest and back to soften the cough and relieve airway. To prevent flu and allergies, garlic mixed with honey and lemon. 8.) For muscle aches: Eating garlic tones the muscles. Prepare a paste of a head of garlic and crushed rub it on the affected area. You can also compress and prepare a place for the entire night on the sore area. 9.) Smoking cessation: Take a couple of raw garlic on an empty stomach, two with lemon juice before lunch and before dinner the other two. 10.) Hair loss: You can prevent it by rubbing the scalp with a mix of 1 teaspoon of garlic juice, 8 oz. of rosemary tea, 1 tablespoon of honey and lemon juice. So there you have it some mystical ways garlic can make your life better. If you search the web you can find these as well as many other great home remedies for use with garlic. Personally I’ll order any food at a restraunt with “garlic” in the name. I add 3-4 cloves of garlic to any store bought canned soup or spaghetti sauce. I love it, feel free to add your best receipt or home remedy using garlicas the main ingredient. I’d love to try some out. Garlic for me is one of those “can’t live without” type of foods. When feeling sick I’ll mince up a few cloves, add lemon, honey and water and take “garlic shots”, it cures, keeps the wife away, but it does cure you. I guess that can be a multiple use there…Wife nagging you, eat garlic, kids won’t leave you alone and they keep hanging all over you, eat garlic, your boss is asking you to stay late at work, eat garlic, your classmate you don’t really like is assigned to do a project with you, eat garlic, vampires? No problem, eat garlic. Whatever use you find garlic useful for, garlic is in fact the right friend for the job. DISCLAIMER: I’m offering information and my opinions, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by me. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history. Nursing women should avoid using garlic as it alters the taste of milk and produces pain in the stomach and intestines infant child. People who suffer from headaches should also avoid using garlic.

A Garbage Pal Kid with a Foul Mouth!

So, shortly after a few re-reads, some tweeks and changes to some of my posts, I took it upon myself to remove the (Expletive) from them. Though if you knew me, I’d be an individual with a colorful vocabulary that matched my colorfully stained skin. However, I’d like my blogs to be enjoyed by the masses and not just pirates, drop-outs, convicts, and other Garbage Pal Kids. Not trying to disrespect any other individuals that may have a limited vocabulary from the list. Now I know, It’s a “free speech” kind of world and that I should have the right/freedom to curse as I see fit, but this world does have a lot of judgmental individuals and people who will literally refuse to listen/read anything you have to say if your vocabulary gets too far into the garbage. So, I’ll attempt to “appease” the masses of inter-nets and my fellow readers. Your welcome you ungrateful mutha’(expletive)! Oh, and forgive the lack of spell-check on my blogs for now, I plan on a re-do once I get a PC in the house. In the mean time I’m working on a qwerty keyboard on my phone and predictive text has a mind of its own. So forgive me, or don’t I really don’t give a (Expletive).

Board Game Review: The King of Tokyo

So as the creative brains of the operation, I try to establish family fun activities to entertain my family. Methods outside of the conventions of television and the Plantation 3. Some times the activity is a win, others not so much. However, there are times were my ideas and games I bring to the table are a huge success. This, is one of those times.
Richard Garfield has done a fantastic job with “King of Tokyo” It’s put out by “iello” games (http://www.iellogames.com/)
2-6 players
Ages 8+
30 min games

The game is easy to learn, yet hard to master. It’s lite on rules and not complicated to follow, think “yatzee” in regards to gameplay. The components are Fantastics and work wonders for this game. I won’t go to far into the actual games turn of events or actual rule sets. But It’s a basic Monster Vs. Monster to see who is…(Dun Dun Dunn) the KING OF TOKYO!
This is just a straight forward review on my personal opinion and views of playablility for kids and adults alike.
I’ll use a grading system for the key areas of interest in a board game:
Graphics & Art = A
Materials & Quality = A
Ease of Play = A
Fun Factor for Kids = A
Fun Factor for Adults = A
Replayablity = A

Obviously overall the game is great and a must buy if your a “Family Game Night” type of family. If your looking for easy, quick 15-30 min games then go for it. They also have a expansion, I unfortunately don’t have it but plan on getting it in the future, based on what it does and how it expands the game I’d say it’ll make an already stellar game “Epic!”.

Buffilo Wild Wings Review

So, attempting my second go stuffing my face with some chicken wings. I bought into the hype and set out to test these bad boys myself. I’ve only done take-out do to the convenience and the responses I’ve read of the horrible reviews of customer service and how the inside wait times exceeding the general publics expectations.
I can’t say I have a favorite flavoring, but they do have a nice variety you can choose from, varying in hottness. I’ve tried (from weakest to hottest)
Parmesan Garlic
Asian Zing
Caribbean Jerk
Thai Curry
Mango Habanero
You can also tell they don’t cook the wings in their sauce, rather they just coat/smother them in it. The quality of wings are mid-grade, I mean they aren’t as small as say store bought wings you’d get in bulk bags in the frozen section. They are mediocre in size, a few of them in both trials had bones that had been shattered and jutting out from the meat. Not cool & very poor on the presentation as far as Im concerned. In regards to the kids meals, It’s crap, and Im speaking on behalf of the $5 kids burger & $5 mini corn dogs. As Im pretty sure McDonald’s $.99 double cheese burger is like the Donald Trump of burgers compared to the thin, smashed dog food they pass as meat at Buffalo Wild Wings (B.W.W.), they don’t have lettuce, or tomato or even pickles. Just bread and meat and a piece of cheese. And they pour in a 1/2 pound of mini fries. So if you want your kid to have starch for dinner then It’s a grade A in that category. The mini corn dogs are a joke, your local market can definitely provide a better selection and quality. So my suggestion, save your $5 and take your kid to a commercialized food processing plant such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Carls JR, or whatever burger joint you have and feed them like royalty. Hel at least McDonald’s offers apple slices with their kids meals, you won’t find a piece of fruit or vegetables with B.W.W. The other food items my wife tried were forgetable and “blah”, so again no need to write an extensive review on over priced food.
Now I’ve seen the mixed reviews of this place saying It’s “the best wings ever” and a “must go to” on some critics forums/posts. I just don’t get it and with trying it two times with take-out from an over crowded establishment who even on a Tuesday night had us waiting 30 extra mins for our take out order even though we called it in over an hour in advance. This experience was all too familiar when we had this happen “both” times. This time they also managed to mess up our order of pepper poppers for fried pickles. So I’d honestly say this place is over rated and not worth the hype. I’m sure It’s a hoot to go too with the gang to watch a sports game and toss back some beers, at that point Im sure you won’t pay attention to the wait and after a few pints you won’t care if bone shrapnel is tearing through your gumline. But for sitting at the kitchen table with the family to enjoy some good take out… I’d honestly have to say I’d rather eat McDonald’s ground chicken carcasses processed into what they call “Nuggets”, than pay for overpriced chicken grenades.
So on a five star ratings system I’d have to say:

**
One cause I didn’t die of food born illness…
And the second because they do have a nice variety of flavors.

That’s it, that’s all they have going for them…
Feel free to add any questions, comments or concerns about this establishment, I’d love to hear how your experiences were with B.W.W.