tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17140776439920912162011-10-22T07:18:00.018-04:00Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-65231539326044855542011-01-21T15:37:00.000-05:002011-01-21T15:37:17.647-05:00

Most of you who have met Spirit, met her in her twilight years when she was a crotchety old lady.  She couldn't go more than 10 minutes without uttering one of her trademark sarcastic yowls.  If we left her alone for more than 8 hours, she would make us pay in the form of little regurgitation presents that she left in the most strategic places.  She was the proverbial old maid, having outlasted

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-83557131168234145922011-01-14T14:17:00.000-05:002011-01-14T14:17:49.721-05:00

Just finished Greg Rucka's latest Queen & Country novel The Last Run.  What a great read!  Picked it up Wednesday night and haven't been able to put it down.  As all of his Q&C books, this novel centers around Tara Chace, a Minder (Special Operations Officer) in the employ of the SIS, England's version of the CIA. As the title hints at, Tara is thinking about retiring as a Minder, but as Rucka

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-51461279947998230642010-11-12T08:40:00.000-05:002010-11-12T08:40:11.637-05:00

Last year between September 2009 and May 2010, I lost about 65 pounds following the Weight Watchers plan.  I hit a plateau and found my weight loss stagnating.  I knew that dieting alone wasn't going to cut it anymore.  I needed to exercise.  One would think spring and summer time would be the best time to exercise.  Longer days, warmer weather.  Activities one could join.  Sports to play.  For

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-50853361598104398302010-08-31T21:36:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.721-04:00

Today was Gigi's last day with us.  The plan was to meet my ex-wife Melissa at the airport at 10:50 and hand her off.  I have been advocating that Gigi is getting to the point that she could fly solo as long as it was a direct flight.  Melissa has been dead set against this.This morning, as I was running around trying to organize things for my mom who was watching Lex & Loki, the phone rang.  It

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-45363675358622492432010-08-17T19:08:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.724-04:00

I'm home this week with the kids. Our daycare provider is on vacation and thus so am I. We also decided to not put my oldest, Gigi, in summer camp this week. Handling all three of the kids can be a challenge, but I had a plan. Kim took yesterday off and we all went school shopping. We made a day of it and had a great time. My plan for today was to have my mom come out and join the kids and

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-35542275547064886602010-07-13T09:05:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.728-04:00

My wife recently recommended several books to me. The first one, Bringing Up Geeks by Marybeth Hicks talks about how you can raise Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids (hence GEEKS). The book is broken up into 10 chapters; each chapter focusing on a different potential aspects of your future geek's personality.  There are chapters for raising brainiacs, team players, an uncommon kid, a 

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-76620509212072383812010-06-09T09:57:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.730-04:00

Yes it can!

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-77770615501316857492010-05-12T19:44:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.731-04:00

In elementary school, I was tested and found to be "gifted and talented".  Not sure exactly what the criteria was, but it revolved around IQ scores, creativity, teacher input and an interview.  As a result, I was placed in the DELVE program (I cannot recall what the anagram stands for) and encouraged to explore my full academic potential.  One of the ways was to make learning a year round

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-89223072545183648302010-05-11T09:49:00.000-04:002010-09-28T08:35:40.562-04:00

One innovation that the 80's brought to comics was the limited series.  The first limited series, World of Krypton, was released by DC in 1979 to coincide with the theatrical release of Superman.  Series starring Batman (Untold Legend of the Batman) and the Green Lantern Corps (Tales of the Green Lantern Corps) followed.  Based on the success of those series, the 80's saw an explosion of limited

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-41594388587099313242010-05-04T19:36:00.000-04:002010-09-28T08:35:40.566-04:00

The 1985 mini-series Squadron Supreme featured a team of heroes very similar to the Justice League.  The similarities stretched from team names, heroes and villains.  Here is a list:Squadron Supreme / DC comics counterpartTeamsGolden Agency of America / Justice Society of AmericaInstitute of Evil / Society of Super VillainsNighthawk & The Redeemers / Batman & The OutsidersOriginal membersHyperion

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-8365246768022405582010-04-23T18:12:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.734-04:00

A summer camp for teen sci-fi and fantasy authors where they create a shared world setting.  This is so cool.  I had run a website on GeoCities in the early 90's that was a shared world fantasy setting called Hadelphia.I really hope this program is still around when my kids are old enough... 

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-69411500887217179712010-04-23T16:25:00.000-04:002010-09-28T08:35:40.573-04:00

As I mentioned previously, I was a Marvel Zombie when I first got into comic books.  In thinking back, I don't recall a specific reason it took me almost 3 years before I picked up a DC book.  Was it exposure to the Super Friends cartoon and I assumed that the comics were too childish?  Was it a case of branding?  Make Mine Marvel?  I honestly can't recall a reason. I do remember my first though.

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-44718170788269887262010-04-20T14:04:00.000-04:002010-09-28T08:35:40.577-04:00

My love affair with comic books started when I traded a bag of shooters for G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #2 during the summer of 1982.  I read it that sunny afternoon and within minutes of finishing it, I was on my bike riding to the Dairy Mart 1/2 mile away where my friend said he bought it.  I walked into the convenience store and there it was- a circular wire rack of comic books.  I remember

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-30053592493231689742010-04-20T13:57:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.736-04:00

Yes we can! At least, we are learning to. One of the skills that my father neglected to teach me was how to do anything with tools. Just ask my my mom about my aborted attempts to fix a shower head or install a screen on the back door. My only official learned experience with tools was 7th grade shop class and to be honest, I was much more comfortable in Home Economics. I truly hope my

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-22862124024303127212010-04-09T16:17:00.000-04:002010-04-09T16:17:52.263-04:00

We've all played the game before, no not necessarily this one. The momentary exchange when you're confused about whether or not a celebrity is Dead Or Alive. "Did you hear X is going to be in that new movie?" "Isn't he dead?" "No, I'm pretty sure he's alive." Let's play a quick round. Kirk Douglas. Harry Morgan. Herman Wouk. Tom Clancy. Tom Clancy's writing career. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive.

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-80355242616724272162010-04-09T08:08:00.001-04:002010-04-09T09:58:00.717-04:00

I am continually amazed when I open my Facebook page and find friend requests from people with whom I went to high school. As I am now, I was a geek in high school. Unfortunately, being a geek wasn't as cool in the 80s as it is now (unless you looked like Val Kilmer in Weird Science Real Genius, but that wasn't happening-I was more a cross between Crispin Glover from Back to the Future and John

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-52907220710953406482010-04-06T16:19:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.738-04:00

I have decided that one of the things I hope to accomplish with this blog is to produce a list of rules, laws, and/or commandments to raising the next generation.  You don't have to follow them, but I hope they make you think about your parenting style.Today was Lex's first trip to the dentist.  I was very nervous about how it was going to go.  I remember nothing pleasant about my visits to the

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-86925825817339222632010-04-05T22:34:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.741-04:00

Late Saturday night, the Easter Bunny paid a visit to us.  EB (as his friends call him) hopped on through Worcester and left three baskets here for the kids.  Gigi's basket remains unopened until she arrives in June, but Lex & Loki made short work of their baskets.  Easter grass is still strewn around the house and the kids have thoroughly enjoyed their gifts.  Lex got a new cartridge for his

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-34499030676574252472010-04-02T20:45:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.745-04:00

Having tweeted all day I honestly don't see the appeal outside of helping my swiss cheese brain remember stuff.  I'll probably not tweet again unless some significant occurs.  Like "OMG there's a UFO n da street.  Alienz r 4nic8ng w/the neighbor's dawg." significant.But I promised an annotated version of my tweets, so here we go:And we're up and running. Laundry and dishes both in their magic

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-15131297435892165232010-04-02T08:55:00.000-04:002010-04-02T08:55:16.360-04:00

Wednesday saw the arrival of 3 books I was eagerly anticipating.  Some time ago, I had sent off my complete run of Blue Beetle (1986-1988) along with his DC debut from Secret Origins #2 to be professionally bound into two hardcover volumes.  Library Binding, a company based in Texas that I found about from Collected Comics Library, did a great job.  Incidentally, if you're a fan of comic books in

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-84349403949308368412010-04-01T20:14:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.747-04:00

Easter is 3 days away and tomorrow the kids and I will venture out to get milk, eggs and fish for our 100-mile Easter celebration. We have a lot to accomplish and I want to share the fun and excitement of our hunt. I will be tweeting our escapades on my Twitter account: So point your tweet-thang at whoknowswhynot. I'll also be posting an annotated version tomorrow night right here.

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-32766794664071389352010-03-30T17:13:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.752-04:00

A tip of the hat to Cute Fan Girl  who already blogged on this topic, but I needed to put my thoughts out there. My relationship with my dad is tortured at best.  I am the only of 3 blood children who speak to him.  Both my brother and sister severed ties with him over 10 years ago.  We have never had what one would call a healthy relationship with our father.  In hindsight, I can see that my dad

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-28281137091164182492010-03-29T20:35:00.000-04:002010-10-01T20:13:00.755-04:00

Santa Claus.  The Easter Bunny.  The Tooth Fairy.  Dads who parent. Mass media would have you think they're all fairy tales. NORAD tracks Santa. The Easter Bunny will be hopping across the world this weekend.  The Tooth Fairy got some screen time in Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.  But Dads who parent?  Nada. Parenting magazine until just recently went as far as stating their magazine covers "What

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-39817358621860376692010-02-01T19:15:00.001-05:002010-02-01T19:16:44.019-05:00

As January disappears down the highway known as 2010, I thought it would be good to look back and see how my resolutions are faring: 1) Continue losing weight.  Doing pretty good here.  Down 7 more pounds for the month of January. 2) Exercise.  Haven't really done much in the way of exercise.  Couple nights of Wii Sports Resort. 3) Read more.  Finished one book (Star Wars: Death Trooper) and

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-1841390292777571902010-01-14T23:04:00.001-05:002010-01-14T23:05:26.538-05:00

Just finished my first book of 2010.  Walking through the library last week, a Star Wars novel caught my eye.  Having read every single Star Wars novel (including the Young Adult titles) published between 1978 and early 2001, I considered myself a huge fan of the Star Wars novels.  What happened in 2001, you ask?  That was when the first novel set in the prequels was released. It was with some

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-3093204255875888282010-01-08T21:31:00.001-05:002010-01-08T21:31:44.327-05:00

Ate too much pizza today. Did Wii Fit Plus tonight. Hope they balance out. Need to get motivated and write something. Maybe tomorrow.

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-9241195687060633932010-01-05T18:04:00.000-05:002010-01-05T18:04:19.422-05:00

Spent a couple hours this afternoon getting reacquainted with my genealogy research.  It's been many months since I spent anytime researching.  I have traced my paternal family line (the Gendreau name) all the way back to France in the 1500's.  I was very fortunate in that I personally traced my line back to Quebec in the late 1700's and then made the acquaintance of a professional researcher who

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-6625459549749910642010-01-03T10:39:00.002-05:002010-01-03T10:50:12.595-05:00

Sometime ago, my wife joined Weight Watchers and I decided to tag along as support.  I don't actually go to the meetings, just follow along at home.  I have found the program to be amazingly helpful.  It forces me to take a look at exactly what is going into my body.  Based on your age, weight, gender and activity level you are given a point threshold.  My point total right now is 34 points a day

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-64491468043157879942010-01-01T19:59:00.001-05:002010-01-01T19:59:30.609-05:00

Dear John (yes, it's going to be that type of letter), I know we've been seeing each other off and on for 18 years, but I'm sorry to say the thrill is gone.  I think back to those heady first days of our relationship.  The Firm swept me off my feet; then A Time To Kill.  You had me by the time I finished Pelican Brief. You published a book and I was there.  Working in the book industry, I got

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-85776582810265592212009-12-29T21:07:00.000-05:002009-12-29T21:07:49.142-05:00

Today, I culled my comic book pull list to two titles.  Stuff of Legend and Blackest Night.  Henceforth, I will be waiting for the trade.  I have created a Google calendar to track what books are coming out when.  As long as I keep it to one trade a week, it should work out.

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-6432638535030956252009-12-28T21:26:00.000-05:002009-12-28T21:26:55.238-05:00

Found a chronology of Blue Beetle appearances. This is going to make my resolution so much easier.  Oddly, I feel like I own half of these in collected form already. The list (titles I own are crossed out): Secret Origins Vol. 2 #2 (May 1986): "Echoes of Future Past!" Blue Beetle #2 (August 1967): "The End is a Beginning" [Flashback] Captain Atom #83/2 (November 1966): [No Title] Captain Atom

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714077643992091216.post-3975219274633026322009-12-27T12:29:00.001-05:002009-12-27T18:17:45.693-05:00

With the quick approach of the 2nd decade of the 21st century, I have decided that 2010 is to be a very productive year.  The last 5 years of the Aughts have been the single best 5 years of my life.  I'm happy.  I'm madly in love.  I have 3 wonderful children.  I have an amazing job.  I am losing weight. I want to build off the last 5 years and have decided to come up with 10 resolutions for the

Mad Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558470223691623173noreply@blogger.com2