March Madness

Welcome back, Readers.

Winter's frigid hold on mid-Michigan was broken this month, with several weeks of warmer weather giving us a much-needed break from the snowy doldrums we'd been subjected to for two, solid months. Temperatures broke back up into more tolerable levels, with it averaging in the 50s all month, and sometimes reaching into the low-70s for a couple days (thanks again, Global Warming.) Aside from some frigid high-30s temperatures during the last week of the month, when I was on Spring Break, this month was pretty great (at least compared to the previous three months.)

. . . now all we have to do is survive these last two months of school/work before the .

I'll leave you now to peruse this month's installment of pics and video. Enjoy.

Abby's orchestra at MHS performed at the annual Festival EARLY in the morning following Alayna's performance, and while we all thought they sounded great, apparently the judges didn't think so. They scored II's for their performances, with a I (the highest mark you can get) in sight-reading. Abby took it in stride, though, so we were spared one of her trademark ragefests.

You're gonna get a ton of Abby selfies this month, folks - that seems to be all she takes pics of on her phone these days.

The evening after Abby's Festival performance, Kris and the Real Housewives of Midland went out to dinner and then to the Midland Center for the Arts for a comedy show. While they were away, me, Erik, and Lonnie met over at Mitch's to have a low-key evening of cards and drinks (I went with a Black and Tan myself, seeing how we're in March now.)

The Moms at Midland Center for the Arts.

The next evening, the Larsons hosted a party for the Academy Awards. Kris and I drove over at the party's start time (around 5pm), but our girls weren't finished getting ready yet (of course) so they drove over separately about an hour later.

The Larsons asked if I'd whip up a display board for them so people could keep track of everyone's picks for the Oscars. There's this app called Bracketology which works just like Fantasy Football - you pick a movie for each category (Best Picture, Best Director, etc. etc.), and are given points based on your correct guesses. I came up with a grid that allowed everyone to write in their picks with designated colors to make it easier to keep track of.

Upstairs in the Larson kids' room, the girls hung out with the Larsons' new dog, Nico.

Lots of food on hand. As usual.

Mees, Courtney, Danielle, and Kris write in their choices.

Lori and Ryan check their picks.

The finished board, which Morgan and I taped up on the wall of his living room (within easy viewing of the TV.) My picks, in case you were curious, are in grey ink at the top of each category.

The viewing kicks off.

I was smart and took the following day (Monday) off of work - I wasn't about to stay up 'til 11pm on a frickin' school night. No sir.

Erik, Mitch, Ryan and Cory in the kitchen.

As each winner was announced, we marked it on the board to keep track of.

No one gets into Oscar Season as much as my wife. It's her SuperBowl.

By the end of the night, it was just us, the Larsons and Johnsons. Kris ended up placing 2nd in this year's tournament (I forget who won, sorry - definitely wasn't me.)

I'm beyond professional.

Second weekend of the month saw Kris' niece, Victoria, dropping her son, Julian, off so we could watch him for her while she was away for a work thing. Now, as you know, Kris and I have raised a couple of kids ourselves. . .  but the last time we had to watch 3-year-olds, we were, like, in our early 30's.

He's probably the most polite toddler I've ever seen - he didn't know my name at first so he kept calling me 'sir,' would say 'no thank you' instead of just 'no' (like the feral offspring Kris and I raised), etc. Even so, keeping up with a three-year-old was ROUGH for a couple 40-somethings.

After a morning around the house, we ran Julian up to the Midland Mall for the annual ComicCon the city hosts (which draws a packed house and makes the mall look like malls looked in the late '80s.) We had told Vic about our plans before she dropped him off, so she made sure to pack him his favorite Spider Man costume. When we got to the mall, the place was packed with costumed nerds enthusiasts and people-watching lovers (like Kris and I.) It soon became clear that Julian wasn't going to be satisfied just by walking around and people-watching, so I found some of those coin-operated moving vehicles for him.

Lame.

Alayna, Amelia, and some other chick that she's friends with (I don't know that one) in Barnes and Noble, getting coffees (Kris took a pic through the store window, hence the glare.)

Kris got a few pics of Julian in front of the Ghostbusters car (I have no idea how they get vehicles inside the mall - I don't think I've ever seen an entrance big enough to accommodate a full-size car, but they gotta have one - remember back in the day when you could enter in those contests and win a car by signing up for more information about a timeshare or life insurance policy?)

(He doesn't have a license.)

SpiderMan and Harley Quinn.

Yes, this happened. There were a TON of furries around (what in the actual f***), but to Julian they were just giant stuffed animals. He kept running up to them and giving them hugs, and at one point Kris was able to get a pic of him with one. No idea what kind of demented pervert is behind this god-awful get-up.

So, you probably don't remember this, but about a decade ago I flew home from Florida to Michigan to visit with my grandmas (who, coincidentally, were both in bad health at the time and we thought this would be the last time I'd see either one of them. . . fortunately it wasn't.) While visiting Midland, I spent a morning driving around and hitting up stores around town, and popped over to the now-extinct, local comic book store to pick up a couple easy-readers for Alayna and Abby (who were six and four at the time, thereabouts.) I had picked up this Frozen comic for Abby, and at the time paid like $5 for it. Based on the current sticker price, I should've just held on to the damn thing. . .

After an hour or so at the mall - which included a full 30-minute session in the mall's little kid playground - Julian was pretty much spent. We tried buying some time at the Barnes and Noble, where he could read little kid books and play with the available toys, and that bought us another twenty minutes. It was approaching nap time, though, so we went home and put on Finding Nemo (his choice, I hate that movie) on the basement projector. The kid didn't fall asleep, but it placated him until Victoria's boyfriend showed up to pick him up.

More selfies from Abby's phone. . .

So Abby has been 'talking' to this boy (also a freshman) from Dow High for a couple weeks, and one Friday towards the middle of the month they decided to schedule a hangout down by the Tridge.

I guess it's 'official' now. World, meet Peter (more commonly referred to around these parts as 'PeterMan.')

My half-sleeve from January was featured on my studio's Instagram feed recently.

Sooo glad I was born a dude and don't have to waste so much time and energy (and money) on crap like this.

Our usual walking partners - the Johnsons - had some family obligations to attend to one weekday, but the weather was so nice out Kris and I decided to walk anyway (when we walk with them we usually walk about 5 miles around the neighborhood.) This time we decided to take the dogs with us, something we usually don't do because Samson is a total pain the ass to walk. The Colliers just so happened to be up at Chestnut Hill Elementary with their new puppy (from the same litter as the Bos' new puppy, if you can believe that), so we met them up there and walked out dogs around the block (their new dog couldn't do much more than that before exhausting itself.)

Our dogs were curious about the new dog for, like, two minutes, then quickly lost interest. The puppy seriously wanted to pay with the older dogs, but they weren't having it. . . even Samson, who's borderline retarded.

After leaving the Colliers, Kris and I walked for about an hour around the neighborhood (almost three miles.) Samson always starts out on walks tugging at his leash, but after an hour of adventuring around the neighborhood, his leash was starting to get quite a bit of slack in it.

By the time we turned back onto our road and were closing in our house, Kris was practically dragging him down the sidewalk.

Flowers from PeterMan.

Kris and Abby went out to another play this month, out at the Midland Center for the Arts. Dear Evan Hanson is some play that they turned into a Netflix movie, and the girls are all big fans of it. As always, I had zero interest in checking this out.

Kris' boss' wife, Melanie, and her daughter went along with them. Kind of a mini- New York City reunion. 

Alayna must've taken this pic of Abby in the bleachers (with Ella, of course) at some Midland High School assembly. . .

BP tipped me off to this website that was clearancing out some of Weta Workshop's Lord of the Rings statues. Like I've said before, Weta did all of the art, costumes, armory, prop, and set design for the legendary movies, and these statues that I've been amassing for the last few years are all based on the actors' likeness. Super nerdy? For sure, 100%. But I'm far past the age where I give a shit anymore. . .

I own about a dozen of these things already, and have all of the main characters - now I'm just snagging additional ones (at the current price point, it'd be stupid not to.)

These are all destined for the Captain's Quarters - no chance in Hell Kris would allow these to be displayed anywhere else in the house.

Kris got a huge kick out of watching me open these. She's just jealous I love these statues more than her.

White wizards flanking one of my office Alexas.

One Friday evening, Kris and I went over to the Larson residence (with a few pizzas) in order to have a low-key hang out, just the four of us (it had been years since we've gotten one-on-one with them.)

Trying to finish off my remaining Black and Tans stock, leftover from St. Patrick's Day.

Danielle had to get creative with this margarita concoction, running out of Sprite and having to swap in a beer for carbonation's sake.

Abby came over with us to hang out with the Larson kids', and took this selfie at some point.

The next morning, lounging around on the living room couch with the dogs.

So my Grandpa Chinery turned 93 this year, and Mom had an idea for a gift for him. She dropped off blank puzzle pieces to each of our houses, with each family member getting two blank pieces. We then had to decorate these as we wanted, and then she would put them all together and give Grandpa the finished product at his birthday thingy. Our Hough family misunderstood the assignment, and just designed our pieces with stuff that represented us: Alayna drew the treble clef with a rose on top (a tattoo she desperately wants to get), Abby did a close up pic of a cello body and then some flowers, Kris drew an elephant and some books, and I drew a collage of crap (the Lord of the Rings characters walking in front of a Ghanaian flag, a sword, a record player, the Masonic Square & Compass, etc.) My brothers and their families varies theirs up a bit, but I'll let you try and figure out who did what.

Mom recycled a bunch of my brother Chris' old dinosaur-themed birthday party decor/accessories for Grandpa's party. Not like he's going to care and/or notice.

Chris' fam wasn't in attendance today - Nora had puked about a half an hour before the party's start time, so his whole family bowed out.

Kids are obviously way more excited about the cake than Grandpa is. (Note my punk-ass nephew thinking he's awesome wearing my hat around.)

Mom's held on to some of these dinosaur decorations since the '80s. Never know when the need will arise to break these things out again, I guess.

Not sure how it happens, but EVERY DAMN TIME I get together with relatives I somehow end up being the Entertainment Committee. . .

Grandpa checks out his puzzle.

Later that day, once we got home, I was digging around for my birth certificate in the fire safe (I need it to apply for a REAL ID from the Michigan Secretary of State for our upcoming flight to Florida in June.) Anyway, while I was rummaging around in there, I found Kris' and noticed that my buddy Rob's dad just so happened to be the officiating administrator on duty at the time Kris was born. Small world indeed.

This boy that Alayna has been 'talking to' lately offered to install these LED lights in her car for her. Took about two hours and he didn't charge her anything (probably 'cause they're in the 'talking' phase, which is a thing now with teens), and it turned out pretty awesome. 

Whenever we cut Samson's nails (which requires two adults and must be done in a bathtub filled with water so he's more docile), he spends an hour or so in his crate dealing with his trauma.

Abby's new boyfriend, Peterman, caught on our front door Ring. Him and Abby had an afternoon movie date in the basement one day towards the end of the month.

Selfie on the couch in the basement. Kris found multiple excuses to head down there throughout the course of his visit (laundry, basement fridge, office, you name it.)

These LED lights are pretty frickin' cool. I could be talked into something like this for my car.

The Gruesome Twosome.

Abby and Harper randomly 'twinned' at school one day, wearing the exact same outfit completely by accident (both are wearing the exclusive hoodies that were available at Pom Regionals.)

Made it on BrassCat's Facebook page. Practically famous around here these days. . .

Selfies like this appear on Abby's phone all the time. Probably taken for Peterman. . .

Abby's report card reminds of the Arrested Development episode where everyone keeps telling Michael, "I heard about the A- . . .") 

Artsy picture with energy drinks. Teenage girls are soooooo deep.

This is how I prefer to drink my wine. I'm a man of sophisticated taste, folks.

Cello practice in the living room. 'Cause why would you practice in your bedroom with the door shut?

One night Kris and I went over to the Collier's place for a low-key evening of drinks with the Johnsons and Mitch (Kelli is hilt-deep in tax season, as an accountant, and we don't see her again until like early May or so.)

Wouldn't be a dad hangout with breaking into some bourbon. . .

My all-time favorite.

Meanwhile, back at home, Abby was on dog-sitting duty over at the Angelotti's house. She always crashes in their guest bedroom, where she has three more-than-willing bed companions on hand.

Back at the Collier's, Ryan and Mees attempt to trim their elusive cat's nails.

(Abby sent us this towards the end of the night.)

Mees releases their new puppy from her crate (it's hyperactive as f*** so they keep it locked down when folks are over.)

Mitch, as you'll recall, has a puppy from the same litter.

(Not sure what's happening here.)

Had a pretty crazy storm one weekend evening. At least our house didn't lose power (a lot of other folks' did.)

Kris takes Abby out for some practice behind the wheel. She'll be starting Driver's Training next month, so she's been needing to get some time drive time in beforehand.

Deer spotted in the neighboring woods. Hate these f***ers.

After a couple of weeks of 'talking,' Alayna's new interest - Sebastian - came over to watch a movie in the basement. This being the same guy that worked on her car for over two hours for free. So we started off the month with two single daughters and now both have boyfriends. So that's cool. . .

- Brian