Bitter Sweet End

Four years ago I was introduced to what has become one of my most favorite television shows.  Tonight that show will air its final episode and leave the air waves forever.  The story of our nerdy friend "Chuck" is coming to a close.  For those who sadly do not know, "Chuck" is a show about an average Joe who accidentally gets a super computer uploaded into his brain.  This super computer allows him instant access to the CIA data base and also allows him to perform amazing feats of strength like Kung Fu and throwing ninja stars.  Its kind of like that scene in "The Matrix" when  Keanu Reeves exclaims "Dude, I know Kung Fu".  he may or may not have said "dude", but I have trouble picturing him speak without a few superfluous "dudes" thrown in. 

Anyway, I love that the show is so unrealistic and campy but it is still a lot of fun and done very well.  The story line catches you right from the beginning.  It has the whole "will they/won't they" story line about Chuck and his CIA handler Sarah as far as wondering if they will ever get together.  I won't spoil it for the many of you who have never watched the show, but just trust me, it's really good.

And that is the unfortunate part.  So many people have never watched "Chuck".  Every season the show has been on the precipice of cancellation but the small yet dedicated fan base have always rallied to get the show to come back.  This year, the show has finally decided to bring the season to a close on it's own terms.  This will allow them to finish up story lines and hopefully wrap everything up in a nice happy bow.  This is much more preferred than a mid season cancellation where everything is hastily brought to a conclusion. 

I'm a little bit behind and have been trying to play catch-up on my DVR.  So I probably will not get to watch tonight's episode live, but will definitely get to it very soon.  I believe we have 6 episodes to watch over the course of the weekend before we can watch the finale. 

It's bitter sweet to see the show go.  I'm happy they are bringing the show to a conclusion because it just feels right and like its time.  On the other hand, I'm so sad to see it go.  It's the first show that Breanne and I called "our show".  I believe that we have watched every episode together so to see it go will be sad.  We will have to find a new show for the two of us to watch.  This show is what spurred her to call me "Captain Awesome".  I had no idea what she was talking about until I discovered that there was a character on this show that they jokingly called "Captain Awesome".  When we were dating, she would tell her friends about me and from those stories, they nicknamed me "Captain Awesome" or simply "The Captain" for short.  I was very flattered, because I'm not quite as awesome as Devin is in the show.... but I'm close.  (not really).

Chuck is a show that never takes itself too seriously.  It teaches us that being a nerd is not a bad thing.  It celebrates the bonds between best friends, husband/wife, brother/sister, and coworkers.  It gives us all hope that even a nerd can end up with an impossibly hot woman.

So here's to you Chuck Bartowski!  Thank you for 4 years of fun.  I have enjoyed every moment.

Slacker

So for the three of you that actually read my blog, I'm sorry.  I have been quite the slacker as of late.  I've been super busy, but the real problem is that nothing super exciting or funny has happened to me.  At least nothing that I have felt was super blog-worthy.  So I haven't really had much of anything to write about.  Here are a few topics I've considered but never quite worked up the motivation to type it out.

I've considered ranting about politics, but I don't feel like starting arguments with people.  I just don't have the energy.  I'm actually quite informed on the issues and have firm opinions on many different matters but have absolutely zero desire to debate them.  Because in the end, I just don't feel like it matters.  Four years from now someone else will be in office and try and undo everything that was just done.  Then we blame the president for everything that's wrong with the world.  Its exhausting.  Life on earth is way too short to get too emotionally involved in politics so I do my best to not do so.  That means not stirring the pot.

I could talk about fatherhood and how ridiculously cute my little girl is.  Although the cuteness starts to wear out when your child begins to throw temper tantrums.  We had to implement the very first "time out".  Julia and I were having standoff over a bite of peas when the tantrums and fits began.  Threats were issued... "take a bite or you will go to time out".  And fits ensued so we went to time out.  Being the very first time out ever, we had yet to establish an official time out spot.  I found a random corner in the hallway and told her to stand there for 1 minute.  She proceeded to stand there, quite happily I might add, and talk about reindeer and baby dolls, and whatever else came to mind for the entire minute.  It was not a single bit traumatizing for her.  Once time out was over we tried to eat the peas again and she threw another fit.  So this time we tried time out in her crib.  This did the trick because the "end of the world" crying began.  The last bite of peas was eaten and all was well with the world.  Now when she plays with her baby dolls she puts them in their crib and says they are in "time out" and they are "crying".  What have we created!

I suppose I could also be blogging about the anxiety of second child that is on the way.  Although I can't really say that I have had much anxiety yet.  I am still happily in denial about the whole thing.  I still don't really feel like it is real yet, despite the fact that we are almost exactly 1/3 of the way there.  Maybe once we start actually making a place in our house for this little one or when we actually know if it is a boy or a girl then it will start to feel more real.  But until then, I will stave off any anxiety that may be on the way. 

Finally, I could blog about the incredible season that the St. Louis Blues are having!  They are currently in 3rd place in the entire league and are only 2 points behind the first place team.    The central division is crazy this year and three of the top four teams (Blues, Blackhawks, Redwings) in the entire NHL are from there.  I am so bummed that I have yet to attend a game this year and definitely need to get on that.  It makes me also regret cancelling our cable because I am now unable to watch any games at home. 

I suppose if I worked really hard at it I could come up with things to blog about on a more regular basis, but I just haven't really felt the compulsion.  Are people really interested in my "almost interesting but not quite" stories?  I don't really think so.  I will try my best quit being a slacker but will make no promises.

Hooligans and their Malicious Mischief

I have often talked about how when I am old I am going to be that guy that sits on my front porch and shakes his fist at the hooligans that pass by.  Yelling at them to get a hair cut and get off my lawn.  I may have to bump up this time line a little bit and start sitting on my front porch about 40 years earlier than I am currently anticipating. 

Last night at around 8pm a group of hooligans decided that it would be a great idea drive through several neighborhoods and shoot at houses with their paintball guns.  Now I'm assuming these were young hooligans, but I cannot be 100% certain.  They may also have been "ruffians" or "ne'er do wells". We woke up this morning to find two yellow splotches of paint on our house.  One one the garage door and one on the front door.  4 other houses around us were also hit. 

I called the police to make a report and it sounds like several neighborhoods were hit.  Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot that can be done about it.  It's so frustrating!  Maybe they can post this on our local Crime Stoppers page and a friend of theirs will rat them out in hopes for a cash reward!  I can only hope.  If the cops do catch them, I think they should have to come to each of the houses and scrub the paint off under each homeowners supervision.  I may or may not carry a bull whip as an incentive to keep working.  A guy can dream can't he?

I just don't understand the fun in driving around and vandalizing other peoples property.  I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that I am not 17 years old, but it just doesn't make sense to me.  I was 17 once before and it wasn't something that I would have found all that entertaining when I was that age either.  Don't these kids have homework or something to be working on?  Or probation service hours to finish up?  They seriously need to find something better to do with their time!

So my next question is this.... is paint ball paint easy to remove?  I haven't tried yet.  Anyone have any suggestions on what might work best?  Technically, this would be covered under my homeowners policy but its certainly not something I would pursue.  It's not even close to my deductible amount.  However, it is worth noting that the type of loss that it would be filed under always makes me laugh.  There are 16 categories of claims that are covered under homeowners insurance called "Named Perils".  This incident in particular would be filed under "Malicious Mischief".  I'm not sure why, but this always makes me laugh. 

Anyway... take notice you delinquent punks.  I'm watching you!  Vigilante justice is coming!  Ok, so not really.  I like to think that I can put on a cape and kick some tail, Batman style, but lets be honest.  That's not going to happen.

However, I will shake my fist at you with so much fury that it will strike fear to your very core!