"TOKYO —

A woman leaped from an 11-story Tokyo apartment Wednesday in an apparent suicide, striking and seriously injuring a passer-by, a news report said Wednesday.

The unidentified woman, who appeared to be in her 30s or 40s, appeared to have jumped from the building onto a busy Tokyo street and was declared dead at the scene, Kyodo News agency reported.

She hit a 47-year-old male pedestrian who suffered a brain injury, the report said.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police said they could not immediately confirm the report.

Japan has one of the industrial world's highest suicide rates, with more than 32,000 people taking their own lives in 2006."

May I never have a day as bad as having someone traveling at terminal velocity landing on me.

..to lecture someone against doing something and in lecturing perform the action that you are lecturing against?

Just curious.

So, out of nowhere Tessa started telling Knock Knock jokes tonight. They are a bit lacking on the punchline, but hey you can't expect everything. She is only 2 after all.

"Knock-knock"

"Who's there?"

"Boo-hoo"

"Boo-hoo who?"

:::Fits of Laughter:::

"Knock-knock"

"Who's there?"

" 'puter"

"Computer who?"

:::More Fits of Laughter:::

It went on like this for about five minutes, give or take, before she decided to move on to something else. I have no idea where it came from, but it made me smile. In the end, she was having fun and that is what I really care about.

What type of Fae are you?

I called it back when Kurt Angle jumped ship. Monty Brown has come to ECW. I expect that, in the next six months (give or take a couple), that we will see more wrestlers jumping to WWE. I am really expecting that Samoa Joe will be one of them. Mostly for the reason that Kurt Angle has been promised the title, meaning that Samoa Joe is getting screwed over again when it comes to the TNA title.

Nearly three weeks, maybe more, since last I posted. I would actually know if I had gone to check my journal before posting this, but I really didn't care that much. The point is, I am posting now, so the fact that I haven't posted for some time is irrelevant. Maybe posting is irrelevant. Maybe I should not post at five in the morning, but instead be in bed sleeping. Yeah, probably, but I'm not. Sleep has been uncomfortable of late. Between the bed frame breaking (resulting in the mattress being on the floor) and my beautiful little girl enforcing her claim to as much bed space as she so chooses I have not had a very good nights rest of late anyway. Between that, my head not being right of late (which could be a symptom of the poor sleep), and being a little stressed I have been making some poor choices lately. Not major life choices, just little things, like going to bed a reasonable hour. Not that it is completely in my control all the time. Tessa has been up really late as well, though that hasn't really been the case the past couple of nights (at least not tonight) so I can't claim that as an excuse at this moment.

So, less then optimal sleeping conditions combined with Final Fantasy VII and some really good episodes (do radio shows have episodes?) of Coast to Coast AM and this has become common for me to be up this late. Really doesn't seem to matter when I wake either. I could go to bed now, be up in 4 hours and still be up to 5 AM tomorrow. I need to fix this. Starting tonight, in bed by 1 the latest with a goal of midnight.

One highlight in my life of late. Bonsai. I have always wanted to seriously do bonsai. This year, for my birthday, I got a small boxwood tree, properly potted up for bonsai. Annie got me this lovely gift and it is wonderful. She bought me one years ago (in the year that must not be named) and it died. I think it was killed by the negativeness in our lives at the time. That and, though I wanted one, I don't think that I was properly capable of understanding bonsai back then. I have heard from several sources on the topic that growing and training bonsai is like raising a child. It takes patience, love, focus, and time. I understand what that means now. This is a wonderful gift, though I have already let a little fear creep in that I might do something wrong. Maybe prune it to much. Not enough light or water. Whatever it is that I am going to do wrong and the little boxwood will die and that will somehow mean that I am a failure as a parent. Told you my head hasn't been right lately.

OK, enough about me. I know why people read my posts. Tessa updates. Lucky for you I have some.

Let's start with Tessa and her love of bubbles. Seeing her face light up when playing with bubbles makes me remember and long for the days past of childhood innocence. While at Target the other day she was so good, and Target had already set out some of there warm weather toys, I decided to pick her up a thing of bubbles. Well, while I was in the isle I noticed they had the bubble maker I had been thinking about getting her. Something that she could use whenever without needing to rely on mommy and daddy not doing things like cleaning the house, cooking dinner, etc., etc., etc. This is what I we bought her http://www.funrise.com/detail.aspx?id=32448. Her eye lit up and she got the biggest grin when she first saw this thing shoot it's column of bubbles up into the air. Very quickly half of the living room was filled with bubbles and she was dancing around this thing like it was the idol of some ancient Mesopotamian god of jovial pleasures. When I finally got her to turn the thing off the sound of popping bubbles was very much like an amplified bowel of Rice Crispies just after you poured the milk in. So much fun for so little money. When the weather gets warmer I am looking forward to hooking the oscillating fan up so it can spread the bubbles even more.

Today, or should I say yesterday, while sitting in our bedroom Tessa brought Angela one of her maxi-pads (or, as Tessa calls them...Mommy Diapers for her Butt Butt). For Christmas Tessa got some real panties. Not Diapers, Pull-Ups, or even trainer panties. Real panties designed for the potty trained. (Now to tie those two statements together...keep your pants on). Well, she wasn't bring the maxi-pad for Mommy's butt butt, no, she wanted the maxi-pad placed in one of her new panties so she could wear them LIKE mommy does. Finding this humorous we decided it was OK to oblige her in this (she had already pulled the tabs off so it was no good to Annie anymore anyways). She was ecstatic. She danced around the room laughing and giggling (something that has become a pleasurable past-time for her of late).

I lay there talking with Annie as Tessa giggled and time passed. After said time had passed Tessa came over to hand something to me. I know had little pebbles of poop in my hand. It goes to figure that the time she is wearing panties with a maxi-pad is when she is going to poop. It also figures that my loving, considerate, and helpful daughter would pick up the poop and hand it to me. A little shocked, a lot amused, and - of course - laying at an odd angle I know found myself needing to get off the bed with poop in my hand. Luckily there was an empty plastic bag nearby so I had a place for the poop to go.

Well, it is even later now then when I started (stupid linear time) so I am going to end here and finally drag myself upstairs knowing that I am probably going to get frustrated observances on my late bed time from my lovely wife. I don't blame her. This late stuff has to stop. Good night (or morning as the case may be).

It is about two hours until Christmas Eve dawns upon my little spot on this planet. I am still up for the same reason I have been up at this time nearly every night for the month or so...because my daughter is. My lovely daughter who brings great joy and warmth into my life. My lovely daughter who will see me in an asylum or the grave before my time.

Her bottle was empty and she wanted tea. So, as I had tea already cooling in a cup, I would give her some of my own. As I poured in into her bottle she ran off to the kitchen. I call for her to come back and get her tea to which she replies," Ouch, hot...ouch, hot....ouch, ouch, hot...hot, ouch, hot". And back into the living room comes my lovely daughter with the pot of hot water that I had perked less than an hour ago, spilling it as she goes. By the time it gets to me there is less than a cup left of the six cups that had been remaining. She hands me the pot, looks up at me, smiles, and says," I did it Daddy".

Through my shock I manage to get out," Yes you did sweetheart".

"Daddy, I did it!"

She was so proud of herself that I couldn't bring myself to be angry or upset. Just shocked and suprised and a little amused.

She is trying to grow up so fast. She wants to cook, bake, take care of mommy when mommy is sick and having a hard time breathing (she has taught herself to prepare Annie's nebulizer almost all by herself through observing Annie doing it), if someone looks sad she will ask you "what's wrong?" and then tell you "It'll be ok.", she wants to know where babies come from already, she tries to clean the house (and is better at it then I am, maybe I will learn something) when she isn't tearing it apart, she's only two and she is comprehending things so fast. I know by next Christmas I am going to need to start buying special "Santa Wrapping Paper" that she doesn't see or by four she will probably have it figured out that Santa is more a spirit of the day then a physical entity that breaks into your house and leaves you gifts.

I love her so much. As much as it makes me want to cry to think of her growing up to quickly, everything she does is because she wants to do things with Annie and I. She enjoys being family. She may understand what being a family is better than I do and I am happy to say she is teaching me more everyday.

It is now 20 after 4 and my daughter has brought me some juice. A Winter Lager brewed by Samuel Adams. She also brought me a Boston Lager, but I try to keep my two fisting to St. Patricks Day. Besides, I am getting the impression she is convinced the Boston Lager is for her though she hasn't really complained that I haven't opened it yet. She is back in the kitchen now and I expect another juice is on its way. A Cranberry Lambic this time.

I don't buy beer often and I am glad about that (Black Lager this time). I have had this case since before Thanksgiving and, as you can tell, it still has a good amount of the bottles left.

If this is what tomorrow is going to be like, getting presents under the tree is going to be difficult at best.

For a joyous time of year that is supposed to bring with it the beautful and pristine white blankets of snow, houses decorated with lights and other novelties, this Christmas feels to be falling on the short side of Merry.

Is it just the course of things that the childish glee should fade from us as we grow into adulthood? Maybe I am just letting the past week and all the various tragedies that have come along with it color my persepective. It is not like it has been all horrible. Some of the situations seem oddly balanced in a way. Could be that I have never had so much tragedy strike so close to home during this time. I don't know.

There has been some good during the past few days. Not only did my daughter gleefully rock out to the video for "Rock the Casbah", but she also started composing her own songs (ok, so she was spinning in circles singing "everybody dance" over and over again, but close enough in my book), as well as still just amazing Annie and I with her levels of comprehension.

I guess I should try concentrating on these moments more instead of the nearly overwhelming sadness that seems to be rushing down the way.

It is two days (and an hour) until christmas and I am looking forward to seeing my daughter as she comes down to find presents under the christmas tree. That is what I will try to focus on. That is what I have to remember the holidays are about. That sense of wild enthusiasm that is in the hearts of all children.

In 1998 at 7pm(ish) on December 19th I married the most wonderful woman I have ever known. A few taboos had been crossed in doing so. Primarily, I hadn't met her father and ,there for, hadn't asked his permission to marry his daughter.

Through the years that followed I talked with him on the phone a few times, mostly to be told that I am doing a good job and that I had better keep it up. It wouldn't be until last year that I would finally meet my father in-law. I am honored to say that I developed with him the kind of relationship that any man should want with their father in-law. Respect and the ability to go out into the desert with firearms and know I was coming back alive.

I am sad to say that I will not be able to develop that relationship any further as at 9:40 am eastern standard time my father in-law passed away. I envy him in a way. He lived his life the way he chose to. He was beholden to no one and he died as a happy man. If I can claim to be close to this when my time comes I will hold myself up as a lucky man.

More than just my lost chance to build a stronger relationship with my father in-law I am saddened for my wife's loss and the fact that my children will never really get to know their grandpa Dale. The love for his grandchildren was palpable and undeniable. He was a good man and though he is no longer with us in body I know that he will always be with us in spirit.

Rest in Peace Dale Wing (March 8th 1946 - December 18th 2006), you are loved and you are missed and you will always be with us in our hearts.

It is 3AM and my daughter just came downstairs, wide awake, with mommies lipstick all around her mouth. For a two year old it isn't a bad job really. None on her cheeks or anyother part of her face, just the lips and the surrounding area. Obviously, Mommy fell asleep first to night and I am having everything I had worked for in getting my sleeping pattern fixed thrown to the way side.

I am ok with this though, as she is now sitting on my lap watching Back to the Future. Life is doing just fine.

It's just to much not to share. It's like, um, it needs to be experienced to truly be understood. http://youtube.com/watch?v=SeKFJpVsgG0

Entertainers come and entertainers go, some will always be remembered. Sometimes you don't know their name, but you always know their face, and every performance is something worth watching. For those who haven't heard the great Peter Boyle has passed away at the age of 71.

Be it from his roles in such classic films as "Young Frankenstein", "Yellowbeard", or "Johnny Dangerously" to his more recent works in "The Santa Claus" films and, of course, "Everybody Loves Raymond" I'd have to say it is hard to find someone out there who hasn't seen at least one of his performances and even fewer that didn't know of him from at least word of mouth.

It is a rare talent that can make such claims and his is a talent that shall surely be missed.

Rest in Peace Peter Boyle (10/18/1935 - 12/12/2006), and to your family and friends my heart felt condolences.

and I should be in bed as I have to wake up in three hours to drive two hours to stamford so that Annie can swap out her computer so that I can turn around and drive us two hours back without falling sleep at the wheel and killing us all. So, you are probably asking yourself," Self, why the hell is he still awake with all of this hanging over his head"? Well, the answer is that Tessa decided to get my heart thumping by getting into Tea Tree Oil. I could smell it on her breath. Tea Tree Oil can make a person sick and can potentially be lethal. It has been a little over an hour since this occured and she has shown no signs of ingestion so we should be in the clear. Could be why I am finally starting to feel sleep. With this written I feel a little clearer in my head, so I am going to log off and try to finally go to sleep.

I couldn't help myself...I just, it was, well, ummm, not sure what to say about this. It's just, um, yeah

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6RiG9lq84o8

I didn't know that Greg the Bunny was actually making new episodeson IFC.

Please, for the love of all things sensible, stop writing Fanfiction.

If you have no talent stealing someone elses characters and world setting is most likely not going to help that. If you do have talent, please stop wasting said talent on someone elses creations. Spend some time developing your own characters and your own world. You should feel a lot better about your work when it really is your work.

Now, to you sick-o's out there that think it is clever and somehow sexy and/or acceptable to write these abominations of literature with plot devices that include such dreck as Hermione sexually invovled with anyone while still a pre or young teen or, worse, things like the Sprouse twins in an preteen incestual realtionship really need help. Help that might be available on the couch of a good therapist or in pill form from one of the Big-pharm companies, but most likely through chemical sterilization or at the end of a barrel.

and it is good. It is more than good. It is great. It is possably the best damn Bond movie ever. It had everything you would want in a movie (except nudity if that matters...which it apparently does to some people). It had action. It had drama. It had romance. It had gadgets, but instead of laser bowties it had cool realistic gadgets. It was just a fine, fine piece of film. It was as fine a piece of film as has been put out this year and many others. I would be willing to pay the incredibly stupid and ridiculous prices that are expected for non-matinee showings. Such a fine movie.