BilikFamily.com

Wii - I mentioned a few entries ago that I don't plan on buying Nintendo's upcoming game console, the Wii, when it comes out "just in time for the holidays". While that's still true, there is one remote loophole. Since ATI Santa Clara did the Wii's graphic subsystem, ATI will be distributing some undisclosed number of Wii's to employees via a lottery system. So naturally I did put my name into the lottery. I told the girls about it but told them not to get their hopes up. I don't want to hear prayers that end in "and please, God, let papa win the Nintendo lottery at work". But it doesn't mean that they might not be thinking it.

Anniversary - Happy Anniversary wishes to Alyssa and Tom who also hit the magic number of 17 years today. Seventeen years, each with five kidlets, all blondes, all keeping us on our toes. When I was in grade school and high school, I never imagined I'd have that much in common with Tom. Nor do I bet Alyssa thought she's have that much in common with Michelle back in those days at St. Mary of the Woods (circa 1988).

Movie - Late this the morning Michelle asked me about A Prairie Home Companion. She asked if I stayed up for the whole thing. "Yes, I did," I answered. "Was it as awful as the first several minutes?" "Yep!" She went on to say that if a movie can't grab you within the first fifteen minutes, it's usually best to just cut your losses and go to bed. I was a fool to keep hoping that it would get better... that at some point there'd actually be … a plot or a climax.

Errands - About mid-afternoon Claire's friend, Shannon, came over to play and have a sleepover. Michelle and I took all the kids to Target so that Claire could shop for a birthday present for her friend, Shauna. I took the boys down the various toy aisles to keep them busy. After going to Target we took the whole gang to Chili's for dinner. As seems to be becoming a pattern, they sat us at two adjacent booths, since they didn't have a large enough table available for all of us. Michelle and I sat with Michael and Timothy. That seemed to keep the evil synergy from forming. Daniel sat with the girls (by his own request, I might add). Perhaps he just wanted to sit with "the big kids".

Grandma - By chance I called Grandma K (my grandma) this morning to catch up on River Grove events. I was surprised to learn that she, too, will be out mid next week to visit New Hampshire. I think this is the first time that she will be out at the same time as my folks. We plan to spend at least one night all together (sans children) for a quiet dinner at The Mile Away. I'd also like to attempt a large family breakfast at Parker's Maple Barn, if we can manage the chaos. (5 kids, 2 parents, 2 grandparents, and a great-grandparent)