McHenry County Blog

The fuzzy cat that can’t get enough of scratching under his chin is five years old.

Naturally, there had to be pictures.

"Camera Dad got an acceptable posed shot on my paw print blanket."

"I had been hiding in the basement. I tricked Cat Mom into lookling upstairs. I'm thinking, 'This better be good.'"

"Hey, Cat Mom. What have you got for me?"

"Cat Mom wants some loving. I want presies. Cat Dad yells, 'No," as I try to help groom Cat Mom's hair."

"I smell catnip."

"I am not going to wear that stupid shiny hat."

"Interesting toy, Cat Boy. But I don't like the pink color. I'm a boy!"

"OK. I'll play with the new toy, but the catnip inside smells stale."

Someone in my family turned 50 a while ago.

Fifty years old.

I took this photo as the candles were being blown out.

Our newly-21 year nephew Joey wore this tee shirt to his family birthday part at Wonder Lake last Sunday.

It says,

As you can see, he is holding a bottle of beer.

Our newly-21 year nephew Joey wore this tee shirt to his family birthday part at Wonder Lake last Sunday.

It says,

As you can see, he is holding a bottle of beer.

This year, no candidate graced my son’s birthday party.

Two years ago, Constitution Party candidate for governor Randy Stufflebeam found me at Lakewood’s Gate 7 Beach. I took him and his parents home for eats (Italian wives always have more than enough food for a party) and the political folks got treated to his pitch.

No such luck this year.

The adults had to provide their own conversation topics.

Or watch the splendid display of a gymnast on the trampoline next to the Moon Walk.

In any event, I got an email from Stufflebeam outlining the Constitution Party’s candidates, which include northern Kane County’s Chad Koppie for U.S. Senator, and I though I would share it with you.

Sometime right before the fall election, there may be a small article explaining “those other guys on the ballot.”

You know, the Libertarians, etc.

If you read this, you’ll be that far ahead of the Left Stream media curve with another of the “etc.’s.”

Sufflebeam also provides a glimpse of what people are thinking in Bond County, which is southwest of Springfield. I went to the same county fair in 1982 when I was the Republican candidate for State Comptroller.

Here’s the letter:

Dear Constitutionalists,

Many Constitution Party members were out this past weekend attending the various events throughout the state letting people know that the Constitution Party of Illinois will have Chuck Baldwin, Darrell Castle and Chad Koppie on the ballot, statewide, in this November’s elections.

I took the opportunity to attend the Bond County Fair on Saturday. As some of you know, my parents live in Greenville (the heart of Bond County) and we stayed there after retiring from the Marine Corps while looking for a job. It was a real treat to see so many of the people that I got to know during my stay there. It was also a privilege and an honor to meet so many that said to me, “I wrote in your name for Governor.”

Just a side note - The veterans of Bond County did an awesome job with the veterans’ memorial which included the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. It nearly overwhelms me every time I see all the names which represent the lives given. The phrase, “Freedom is not free” rang loudly in my mind. I don’t know how many acres were dedicated to the memorial, but it was big enough that they were offering tractor rides to and from the memorial.

One of the things that I did not expect was the poignant confirmation of the prediction that I made over a year ago about the nation doing the same thing Illinois did two years ago, when the Republican and Democrat parties offered candidates that so many citizens had to hold their nose to vote for. Out of the many, many people that I talked to last Saturday, only one person indicated their enthusiastic support of their candidate. Everyone else complained about who they were left having to vote for, which allowed me to introduce them to the Constitution Party of Illinois’ candidate that WILL BE ON THE BALLOT that they can vote for without having to hold their nose.

The sad thing is that I found so many of them letting fear drive their lives — the fear of the other candidate being elected. It didn’t matter if the person was Republican or Democrat, the answer was the same, “I’ve got to vote for McCain to keep Obama from winning” or “I’ve got to vote for Obama to keep McCain from winning.” We heard exactly the same reasoning here in Illinois two years ago. I had one person specifically tell me in 2006, “Randy, I know you are the person who should be governor. However, I have to vote for Topinka to keep Blagojevich from winning.” Just one question, “How well did that work out for him????” For those of you who don’t live in Illinois, Blagojevich won the election.

While at the fair on Saturday, I repeated the story of “The Wrong Lizard” many, many times to people who told me they were going to have to vote for the “lesser of two evils” to keep the other guy from winning. In April of 2006, Paul Mitchell (who writes a blog called, “Thoughts of a Regular Guy“) wrote an article called, “The Wrong Lizard.”

The story is of a Democratic Planet which is inhabited by humans and lizards. However, in this democracy, humans are ruled by Lizards. Why???? It’s because humans keep voting for lizards because they are afraid that the “wrong lizard” will win. Sound familiar?? We live in a democratic nation which is inhabited by liberals and conservatives. You decide which one is human or lizard. How long are we going to keep the lizards in power?

To the press release that I sent out last week, I received the following response:

“You may divert a few votes from the Republican and thereby help elect a man who has absolutely NO respect for the Constitution. But I have grandchildren who I don’t want living under a new fascist regime under Hussein Obama so I’ll be voting for McCain. WE can recover from McCain but not from Obama and Dem congress.”

First of all, the person should look up the difference between socialism and fascism. Because, in my opinion, that’s the true choice we have between the two candidates. Again, I’ll let you decide which one is which, but if you really want to know, ask me and I’ll tell you what I think, but for now, I’ll save that for another message.

I sent the following excerpts in response:

“This persistent voting for the lesser of two evils is exactly why this country continues to head down in to the abyss.”

“You want to know why this whole idea of recovery from McCain is a joke and a pipe dream? It’s because in 4 years, you’ll be using this very same excuse as to why you need to vote for the next lesser of two evils.”

“By the way, we are also diverting votes away from the Democrats as well.”

It is a never ending cycle. How many of you remember the Kerry/Bush elections of 2004? I heard the same thing then. With this practice of voting for the lesser of two evils, we will never recover. This country will continue to head towards the cliff, whether at a hundred miles an hour or fifty. The only way to recover, as I told this person in the same message, “is to stop exercising the very definition of insanity by doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results.”

You have to start voting FOR someone, instead of voting AGAINST someone in order for this insanity to stop.

The Constitution Party of Illinois has three candidates state wide for whom you can cast your vote FOR:

• Chuck Baldwin – President
• Darrell Castle – Vice President
• Chad Koppie – U.S. Senator

Locally, the Constitution Party of Illinois has three candidates that can be voted FOR in their local communities and districts.

• Brad Carter – 18th Congressional District
• Charles Broy – Tazewell County Board, 3rd District
• Tim Pearcy – Massac County Commissioner

I know every single one of these men personally and know them all to be men of courage and constitutional commitment. If you ever wanted to break out of the “lesser of two evils” cycle, now is the time! The Constitution Party of Illinois is on the ballot and you CAN VOTE FOR these candidates. Further, you won’t be voting alone. The Constitution Party is on the ballot in almost all the other states as well. The Constitution Party is the third largest political party in the nation and is the number one largest third party, by voter registration.

Yours in Liberty,

Randall C. Stufflebeam

Chairman, Constitution Party of Illinois

www.ConstitutionPartyIL.com

Chairman-CPIL@cp-il.com

= = = = =
You can see what Randy Sufflebeam (seen with balloons in background two years ago talking to politically-interested 9th birthday party participants) missed by not showing up at my son’s 11th birthday.

There were the gifted gymnast doing flips on the trampoline, snow cones, Keely Cat, who couldn’t figure out why he was left to guard the Lego candy bowl, opening gifts, crafts, the Moon Walk and, had he stayed late enough, hulu hoops lighting up the night. Of course, there was plenty of food left over. And, don’t forget about those Lego-shaped cakes, the topic of the first birthday story.

Is my wife a party planner or what?

This year, no candidate graced my son’s birthday party.

Two years ago, Constitution Party candidate for governor Randy Stufflebeam found me at Lakewood’s Gate 7 Beach. I took him and his parents home for eats (Italian wives always have more than enough food for a party) and the political folks got treated to his pitch.

No such luck this year.

The adults had to provide their own conversation topics.

Or watch the splendid display of a gymnast on the trampoline next to the Moon Walk.

In any event, I got an email from Stufflebeam outlining the Constitution Party’s candidates, which include northern Kane County’s Chad Koppie for U.S. Senator, and I though I would share it with you.

Sometime right before the fall election, there may be a small article explaining “those other guys on the ballot.”

You know, the Libertarians, etc.

If you read this, you’ll be that far ahead of the Left Stream media curve with another of the “etc.’s.”

Sufflebeam also provides a glimpse of what people are thinking in Bond County, which is southwest of Springfield. I went to the same county fair in 1982 when I was the Republican candidate for State Comptroller.

Here’s the letter:

Dear Constitutionalists,

Many Constitution Party members were out this past weekend attending the various events throughout the state letting people know that the Constitution Party of Illinois will have Chuck Baldwin, Darrell Castle and Chad Koppie on the ballot, statewide, in this November’s elections.

I took the opportunity to attend the Bond County Fair on Saturday. As some of you know, my parents live in Greenville (the heart of Bond County) and we stayed there after retiring from the Marine Corps while looking for a job. It was a real treat to see so many of the people that I got to know during my stay there. It was also a privilege and an honor to meet so many that said to me, “I wrote in your name for Governor.”

Just a side note - The veterans of Bond County did an awesome job with the veterans’ memorial which included the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. It nearly overwhelms me every time I see all the names which represent the lives given. The phrase, “Freedom is not free” rang loudly in my mind. I don’t know how many acres were dedicated to the memorial, but it was big enough that they were offering tractor rides to and from the memorial.

One of the things that I did not expect was the poignant confirmation of the prediction that I made over a year ago about the nation doing the same thing Illinois did two years ago, when the Republican and Democrat parties offered candidates that so many citizens had to hold their nose to vote for. Out of the many, many people that I talked to last Saturday, only one person indicated their enthusiastic support of their candidate. Everyone else complained about who they were left having to vote for, which allowed me to introduce them to the Constitution Party of Illinois’ candidate that WILL BE ON THE BALLOT that they can vote for without having to hold their nose.

The sad thing is that I found so many of them letting fear drive their lives — the fear of the other candidate being elected. It didn’t matter if the person was Republican or Democrat, the answer was the same, “I’ve got to vote for McCain to keep Obama from winning” or “I’ve got to vote for Obama to keep McCain from winning.” We heard exactly the same reasoning here in Illinois two years ago. I had one person specifically tell me in 2006, “Randy, I know you are the person who should be governor. However, I have to vote for Topinka to keep Blagojevich from winning.” Just one question, “How well did that work out for him????” For those of you who don’t live in Illinois, Blagojevich won the election.

While at the fair on Saturday, I repeated the story of “The Wrong Lizard” many, many times to people who told me they were going to have to vote for the “lesser of two evils” to keep the other guy from winning. In April of 2006, Paul Mitchell (who writes a blog called, “Thoughts of a Regular Guy“) wrote an article called, “The Wrong Lizard.”

The story is of a Democratic Planet which is inhabited by humans and lizards. However, in this democracy, humans are ruled by Lizards. Why???? It’s because humans keep voting for lizards because they are afraid that the “wrong lizard” will win. Sound familiar?? We live in a democratic nation which is inhabited by liberals and conservatives. You decide which one is human or lizard. How long are we going to keep the lizards in power?

To the press release that I sent out last week, I received the following response:

“You may divert a few votes from the Republican and thereby help elect a man who has absolutely NO respect for the Constitution. But I have grandchildren who I don’t want living under a new fascist regime under Hussein Obama so I’ll be voting for McCain. WE can recover from McCain but not from Obama and Dem congress.”

First of all, the person should look up the difference between socialism and fascism. Because, in my opinion, that’s the true choice we have between the two candidates. Again, I’ll let you decide which one is which, but if you really want to know, ask me and I’ll tell you what I think, but for now, I’ll save that for another message.

I sent the following excerpts in response:

“This persistent voting for the lesser of two evils is exactly why this country continues to head down in to the abyss.”

“You want to know why this whole idea of recovery from McCain is a joke and a pipe dream? It’s because in 4 years, you’ll be using this very same excuse as to why you need to vote for the next lesser of two evils.”

“By the way, we are also diverting votes away from the Democrats as well.”

It is a never ending cycle. How many of you remember the Kerry/Bush elections of 2004? I heard the same thing then. With this practice of voting for the lesser of two evils, we will never recover. This country will continue to head towards the cliff, whether at a hundred miles an hour or fifty. The only way to recover, as I told this person in the same message, “is to stop exercising the very definition of insanity by doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results.”

You have to start voting FOR someone, instead of voting AGAINST someone in order for this insanity to stop.

The Constitution Party of Illinois has three candidates state wide for whom you can cast your vote FOR:

• Chuck Baldwin – President
• Darrell Castle – Vice President
• Chad Koppie – U.S. Senator

Locally, the Constitution Party of Illinois has three candidates that can be voted FOR in their local communities and districts.

• Brad Carter – 18th Congressional District
• Charles Broy – Tazewell County Board, 3rd District
• Tim Pearcy – Massac County Commissioner

I know every single one of these men personally and know them all to be men of courage and constitutional commitment. If you ever wanted to break out of the “lesser of two evils” cycle, now is the time! The Constitution Party of Illinois is on the ballot and you CAN VOTE FOR these candidates. Further, you won’t be voting alone. The Constitution Party is on the ballot in almost all the other states as well. The Constitution Party is the third largest political party in the nation and is the number one largest third party, by voter registration.

Yours in Liberty,

Randall C. Stufflebeam

Chairman, Constitution Party of Illinois

www.ConstitutionPartyIL.com

Chairman-CPIL@cp-il.com

= = = = =
You can see what Randy Sufflebeam (seen with balloons in background two years ago talking to politically-interested 9th birthday party participants) missed by not showing up at my son’s 11th birthday.

There were the gifted gymnast doing flips on the trampoline, snow cones, Keely Cat, who couldn’t figure out why he was left to guard the Lego candy bowl, opening gifts, crafts, the Moon Walk and, had he stayed late enough, hulu hoops lighting up the night. Of course, there was plenty of food left over. And, don’t forget about those Lego-shaped cakes, the topic of the first birthday story.

Is my wife a party planner or what?

My son’s school friend and neighbor Mila had her birthday celebration at a location that was not typical for kids.

It wasn’t at Pump It Up, Chuck E. Cheese or any other place you would expect.

And, it wasn’t in Crystal Lake. It was in Palatine.

It was at newly opened Japanese restaurant–Mister Sumo’s–in the shopping center on Route 14 where the road makes it big bend.

It’s next to the Dollar Tree, which is next to CitiCorp on the southeastern end of the mall. At the opposite end of the mall is where Hobby Lobby is located–on the mall’s northwestern end.

A bit hard to find, but worth the effort.

Actually, the restaurant is called

“I’m never had more fun in my life,” Mila’s younger brother Mateo said.

“I never want to leave.”

I’ll bet owner Seung Kim, otherwise known as “Mr. Sumo,” didn’t know he had a children’s attraction.

And, I’ll bet most parents don’t realize that this Japanese restaurant, in the style of Benihana, complete with huge frying surface at every table, would hold their children’s attention so completely.

The chefs do their thing with their spatulas, flipping them first, then an egg that ends up in his hat, they an unbroken egg shell that end up aimed at Mateo.

Even the dishes full of fried rice were flipped before delivery to the young patrons.

And, of course, there were pyrotechnics.

And, the open flames were what brought us from Crystal Lake to Palatine.

Mila’s and Mateo’s grandfather is Crystal Laker Marty Walter, owner of Walter Alarm.

If you own a business that needs an expert with providing fire retardant equipment and alarms, plus dealing with local government officials, Marty is the man to call.

His work for Mister Sumo stimulated the birthday party celebration.

They obviously get along pretty well.

The kids loved the onion rings which turned first into a fire spouting volcano, then into one spewing forth lava.

I like onions about as much as my father liked celery (not at all), which he though my mother put into every meal she prepared.

I have a similar suspicion about my wife. I pick them out of one of our favorite salads, which is really quite good…without the onions.

But these onions tasted good.

I wish I hadn’t given so many of them to my wife before I tasted one.

They didn’t taste like onions at all.

My wife had scallops.

I had swordfish. (Although Marty treated, I noticed that the swordfish was less than $20. Prices ranged up from there.)

My son settled for fried rice, which included the egg that landed on the chef’s hat.

It was just like being a little kid again.

Only, it was the chef cutting up my fish, instead of my mother or father.

After the opening of presents came dessert, pineapples cut so they looked like baskets with the sweet part of the pineapple easy to extract.

Again, cut up.

The staff sang a birthday song. Not, “Happy Birthday to you,” for which royalties would have to be paid. A different one like Rain Forest Cafe.

Then, Mister Sumo entered with his staff banging on a big gong.

It was loud.

It delighted the kids.

Even more delight followed when Mr. Sumo held the gong and let the kids hit it.

Some were gentle.

Some were not.

When it was behind my wife, she was holding her ears.

Too close I guess.

An unexpected, but great place to hold a birthday party.

= = = = =
All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

My son’s school friend and neighbor Mila had her birthday celebration at a location that was not typical for kids.

It wasn’t at Pump It Up, Chuck E. Cheese or any other place you would expect.

And, it wasn’t in Crystal Lake. It was in Palatine.

It was at newly opened Japanese restaurant–Mister Sumo’s–in the shopping center on Route 14 where the road makes it big bend.

It’s next to the Dollar Tree, which is next to CitiCorp on the southeastern end of the mall. At the opposite end of the mall is where Hobby Lobby is located–on the mall’s northwestern end.

A bit hard to find, but worth the effort.

Actually, the restaurant is called

“I’m never had more fun in my life,” Mila’s younger brother Mateo said.

“I never want to leave.”

I’ll bet owner Seung Kim, otherwise known as “Mr. Sumo,” didn’t know he had a children’s attraction.

And, I’ll bet most parents don’t realize that this Japanese restaurant, in the style of Benihana, complete with huge frying surface at every table, would hold their children’s attention so completely.

The chefs do their thing with their spatulas, flipping them first, then an egg that ends up in his hat, they an unbroken egg shell that end up aimed at Mateo.

Even the dishes full of fried rice were flipped before delivery to the young patrons.

And, of course, there were pyrotechnics.

And, the open flames were what brought us from Crystal Lake to Palatine.

Mila’s and Mateo’s grandfather is Crystal Laker Marty Walter, owner of Walter Alarm.

If you own a business that needs an expert with providing fire retardant equipment and alarms, plus dealing with local government officials, Marty is the man to call.

His work for Mister Sumo stimulated the birthday party celebration.

They obviously get along pretty well.

The kids loved the onion rings which turned first into a fire spouting volcano, then into one spewing forth lava.

I like onions about as much as my father liked celery (not at all), which he though my mother put into every meal she prepared.

I have a similar suspicion about my wife. I pick them out of one of our favorite salads, which is really quite good…without the onions.

But these onions tasted good.

I wish I hadn’t given so many of them to my wife before I tasted one.

They didn’t taste like onions at all.

My wife had scallops.

I had swordfish. (Although Marty treated, I noticed that the swordfish was less than $20. Prices ranged up from there.)

My son settled for fried rice, which included the egg that landed on the chef’s hat.

It was just like being a little kid again.

Only, it was the chef cutting up my fish, instead of my mother or father.

After the opening of presents came dessert, pineapples cut so they looked like baskets with the sweet part of the pineapple easy to extract.

Again, cut up.

The staff sang a birthday song. Not, “Happy Birthday to you,” for which royalties would have to be paid. A different one like Rain Forest Cafe.

Then, Mister Sumo entered with his staff banging on a big gong.

It was loud.

It delighted the kids.

Even more delight followed when Mr. Sumo held the gong and let the kids hit it.

Some were gentle.

Some were not.

When it was behind my wife, she was holding her ears.

Too close I guess.

An unexpected, but great place to hold a birthday party.

= = = = =
All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

I went to bed late last night.

How late?

Yesterday morning, I first typed the first sentence: “I went to late bed last night.”

Why did I think I had to transfer and edit one gigabyte of photos taken for my son’s birthday party?

Over 200 pictures from the cat holding a balloon that greeted party goers to the collapse Moon Walk from Ed’s Rentals.

Then as I was reading the Chicago Sun-Times and eating my oatmeal in a very late breakfast, I saw this article about how birthday parties have gotten more, shall I say, elaborate.

That is not the case in our family.

They have been elaborate for ten years.

So, I didn’t have to read the article.

Since we live within walking distance of Crystal Lake, we usually offer the option of going swimming in addition to any other activities, if they stick around long enough.

One year a convoy of us drove all the way to Glencoe for a party at The Grove, its nature center.

Last year it was just “Party!”

Chuck E. Cheese was enjoyed by the 9-year olds, who would soon find themselves “too big” to go there.

After our son selects a theme, my wife goes into action. In the past, the birthday parties have been the following:

1. # 1
2. Race Car
3. Construction
4. Train
5. Bugs
6. Jungle
7. Ocean
8. Lab/Germs
9. Party!
10. Cats

When he was six, he was really interested in fish, for instance. He would see some deep-sea fish on TV or a video and insist that I make him one.

Now, I’m not much of a craft Daddy, but I did figure out how to make three-dimensional fish out of paper. You should see my angler fish. Some are still dangling from the place they were hung.

This year, the theme was cats.

But, you’ve guessed that from the cookies decorated with cats already.

I guess that was in honor of our now one-year old cat, Keely of McHenry County Republican Cat Tax fame (infamy, if you were on the losing side).

After the kids started arriving, Keely retreated to his rabid bat hunting perch. He looks pretty dejected, doesn’t he?

I married an Italian.

She is totally organized.

I have my list of things to do at these birthday parties, but, once they start, I just go with the flow.

Without fear of being contradicted, I can tell you that Italian families always have more food than those attending can eat.

We order Italian beef, mostaccioli and chicken.

Last year or the year before I suggested pizza. I knew I would prefer it and I thought the kids might, too.

So, pizza came first–for the kids’ part of the party. By then, I was hungry, having not eaten since breakfast.

So were the kids, having jumped around in the Moon Walk to the point where medically alert bride brought out ice cooled wet wash clothes to cool their brows.

The main dishes arrived after the adults came.

And, as usual, there was more than enough.

As soon as everyone left—about nine—my son was working on the Star Wars Trade Federation Mobile Troop Transport. He finished it by 12:10 the day after.

And, before that he finished General Grievous’ Star Fighter.

As you can guess, my son told everyone that he wanted Star Wars Legos.

The next morning arrived.

The Moon Walk was deflated in the back yard.

When the truck from Ed’s Rentals arrived to pick up the Moon Walk, Keely cat leaped to the window sill of the bedroom.

He had been trained well to look out of those McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors.

Fortunately, this was a false alarm.

But when facing a threat, it is well to stay in training.

And, no, the tee shirt is not mine.

I am not that brave.

I went to bed late last night.

How late?

Yesterday morning, I first typed the first sentence: “I went to late bed last night.”

Why did I think I had to transfer and edit one gigabyte of photos taken for my son’s birthday party?

Over 200 pictures from the cat holding a balloon that greeted party goers to the collapse Moon Walk from Ed’s Rentals.

Then as I was reading the Chicago Sun-Times and eating my oatmeal in a very late breakfast, I saw this article about how birthday parties have gotten more, shall I say, elaborate.

That is not the case in our family.

They have been elaborate for ten years.

So, I didn’t have to read the article.

Since we live within walking distance of Crystal Lake, we usually offer the option of going swimming in addition to any other activities, if they stick around long enough.

One year a convoy of us drove all the way to Glencoe for a party at The Grove, its nature center.

Last year it was just “Party!”

Chuck E. Cheese was enjoyed by the 9-year olds, who would soon find themselves “too big” to go there.

After our son selects a theme, my wife goes into action. In the past, the birthday parties have been the following:

1. # 1
2. Race Car
3. Construction
4. Train
5. Bugs
6. Jungle
7. Ocean
8. Lab/Germs
9. Party!
10. Cats

When he was six, he was really interested in fish, for instance. He would see some deep-sea fish on TV or a video and insist that I make him one.

Now, I’m not much of a craft Daddy, but I did figure out how to make three-dimensional fish out of paper. You should see my angler fish. Some are still dangling from the place they were hung.

This year, the theme was cats.

But, you’ve guessed that from the cookies decorated with cats already.

I guess that was in honor of our now one-year old cat, Keely of McHenry County Republican Cat Tax fame (infamy, if you were on the losing side).

After the kids started arriving, Keely retreated to his rabid bat hunting perch. He looks pretty dejected, doesn’t he?

I married an Italian.

She is totally organized.

I have my list of things to do at these birthday parties, but, once they start, I just go with the flow.

Without fear of being contradicted, I can tell you that Italian families always have more food than those attending can eat.

We order Italian beef, mostaccioli and chicken.

Last year or the year before I suggested pizza. I knew I would prefer it and I thought the kids might, too.

So, pizza came first–for the kids’ part of the party. By then, I was hungry, having not eaten since breakfast.

So were the kids, having jumped around in the Moon Walk to the point where medically alert bride brought out ice cooled wet wash clothes to cool their brows.

The main dishes arrived after the adults came.

And, as usual, there was more than enough.

As soon as everyone left—about nine—my son was working on the Star Wars Trade Federation Mobile Troop Transport. He finished it by 12:10 the day after.

And, before that he finished General Grievous’ Star Fighter.

As you can guess, my son told everyone that he wanted Star Wars Legos.

The next morning arrived.

The Moon Walk was deflated in the back yard.

When the truck from Ed’s Rentals arrived to pick up the Moon Walk, Keely cat leaped to the window sill of the bedroom.

He had been trained well to look out of those McHenry County Republican Cat Tax Collectors.

Fortunately, this was a false alarm.

But when facing a threat, it is well to stay in training.

And, no, the tee shirt is not mine.

I am not that brave.