My marriage ended ten years ago. That’s a decade of post-divorce dating experience under my belt! What was dating like ten years ago? And what’s it like now? Today, Dad’s House is guest posting over at The Real World: Venus vs. Mars. Ride a love rocket on over for a look at: A Decade of Dating, How Things Have Changed Then come back and help me figure out what to do with the next ten years of my life. If you liked this decade of divorce dating post, you might also enjoy: Sexy and Funny Dating Stories Internet dating – sadly, I’m a bit of an expert (Funny Post) Do…
Dads
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Dad's House
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A Decade of Divorced Dating!
6 Nov 2009 | 5:07 am -
Drunk Texting Marriage Proposal
5 Nov 2009 | 3:13 amI go on a lot of bad dates. At least those are the ones I tend to blog about. Sill, proof does exist that not all of my first dates suck. A woman I recently went on two dates with texted me at 2am. She texted: Sleelunb??? I texted: Huh? What’s up? She texted: I’m drunk!!! Gotta love a drunk text at two in the morning. I texted: Do you need a ride someplace? She texted: No. I’m home. And sad!!!! I texted: Why sad? She texted: Will u marry me? I texted: Ha. U r drunk She texted: I need u to marry me or I have to go back to Peru! Nothing like a foreign national looking for a green card… -
Sorry My Son Kicked Your Son’s Ass
4 Nov 2009 | 3:30 amIt’s wrestling season in the middle school, and I watched a meet last night. My teen son quickly pinned his opponent. So fast, in fact, he looked up at the ref, wondering when the call would come. That one moment of lost focus was all it took for his opponent to waggle free – for a second. My son pinned him again, and this time the ref called it. I think the entire match took less than a minute. A little while later, I was chatting with a mom who had a boy on the team. She had only been to one other match – one last year where a boy broke his arm in the first few minutes of the… -
From Sizzle to Fizzle Before the Second Date
3 Nov 2009 | 2:15 amI had a rockin’ date this past summer. I saw a woman in a wine bar, tried to chat her up, failed miserably – but then got her number a week later from a friend of hers who it turns out I knew. Apparently, he did some serious wingman post-op triage and talked me up to her when I wasn’t around. She told him to have me call her, and call her I did. She and I had a cocktail date at one of my favorite upscale restaurants. The mood there is cozy, the lighting dim, the drinks stiff (the bartenders know me, ahem). We had a lot in common, and the conversation flowed. All in all, a great first… -
Crashing a Parents Party on Halloween
2 Nov 2009 | 2:13 amMy teen son decided to trick-or-treat this Halloween with a new group of friends. He’s in eighth grade and they’re in seventh, and I didn’t know any of these kids. When I dropped my son off, I made sure to go up to the house and meet the parents. What do you know, there was a Halloween party going on. I know it’s a fairly common tradition for families to get together on Halloween, the parents socializing and downing drinks while the kids run around the neighborhood getting candy. While I’ve been to some adults-only Halloween parties since my divorce, I’d never been invited to a…
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Dad-O-Matic
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What To Do With Leftover Halloween Candy
6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amPhoto credit i eated a cookie (candy drawer) via Flickr I find myself in the beginning of November with a slight problem. I have a ton of candy and I am on a diet. I asked around the office and I am not the only one. Some of you might have tried to eat all of it and can’t bring yourself to do it. Maybe your kids have separated out all the “good stuff.” Perhaps, not enough trick or treaters showed up. Here are a couple ways to get rid of the candy. You could cook or bake with it. Check out this 5 Yummy Recipes. Take it work. I took a bunch of candy (mainly… -
New Mobile App Helps Parents Track Where KidsEatFree!
3 Nov 2009 | 1:31 pmKidsEatFree offers an extremely useful service that tracks all of the places where kids eat free (hence the name). Parents just enter their zipcode and a list of all those establishments will be generated in seconds. The good news is that you can actually access this service via your mobile device thanks to their new free app for the iPhone & Android models. Right now, you can access lists generated for several big cities. However, this does not mean you can’t use their service if your city isn’t listed. You can still enter your zip code and see which places offer free grub… -
The Gang’s All Hair! Grow A ‘Stache For Charity Cash!
1 Nov 2009 | 10:10 amToday is November 1, and I just had a close shave. No, I didn’t avoid an accident. I actually had a close shave… with a razor and some shaving cream, and at least for my upper lip, that will be my last close shave this month. November is “Movember,” with the “Mo” standing for “Moustache.” As a writer for Dad-O-Matic I have been interested in supporting a charity that is focused on Men’s health issues. I am pleased to say, “hair it is!” Movember can “help change the face of men’s health” by raising money… -
This One is for the Dads … Two stories
30 Oct 2009 | 8:02 pmI was going to post a story here to share with your kids, but I posted the only kid’s story II have had published that is scary last year…in case you missed that you can find Cat Candles Here: CAT CANDLES If you are in the mood to have someone tell you a story… I just posted a podcast of a story on my own website. That story involves fatherhood – and some deep issues. It goes too far, as many horror stories do, but without any real graphic content…and I think it’s pretty powerful. I also think dads, in particular, will appreciate it… That… -
Stop Carving Boring Pumpkins
30 Oct 2009 | 12:46 pmSince tomorrow is Halloween, and it’s a Saturday, a lot of you will be carving your pumpkins. Please, don’t carve a boring one. We’re Dad-o-matic dads. We don’t carve boring pumpkins. You may think it is difficult to carve a cool pumpkin, but it’s not. Like most things, all you need are the right set of tools, and the instructions. Today, it’s really easy to find both. You can usually pick up a pumpkin carving kit like this one at your grocery store. I like the Pumpkin Masters one (No FTC, I wasn’t compensated to say that), but any…
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Dorky Dad
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Night of the Zombie Dork
1 Nov 2009 | 5:21 amHere's how I spent my Halloween: By walking slowly and stiffly, with a distant look on my face, groaning and grunting and scaring my boy.Did I dress like a zombie? (BRRAAAAAIINS!) Hardly. I threw my back out.(Excuse me now while I curse like a sailor and yell.)I'd like to say that I threw my back out while valiantly defending my family from a gang of thieves or an army of black-clad ninjas; or that I was hoisting a piano upstairs by myself. The sad reality is that I hurt my back sitting down, which I still don't understand, because I sit down dozens of times every day. I'm an EXPERT at… -
Dorky Dad and the Fondue of Death
25 Oct 2009 | 7:57 pmThis weekend we went to a giant fondue party. I'd never been to one before, but apparently it involves a bunch of people getting together and eating small portions of food dipped in sauces. And then everybody hits McDonald's on their way home because there's no way you can get enough small pieces of bread to make a full meal.Truthfully, it was a lot of fun, even with the presence of about 5 million distractions in the form of loud, rambunctious school-aged children and at least one baby (mine). But amidst the whining and crying I found myself at the fondue table, where I took my handy fondue… -
Parenting at 35,000 feet
18 Oct 2009 | 8:15 pmThe Wife and I decided our lives were too easy, so late last week we loaded our borderline-hyperactive 5-year-old and our teething, ear-infection-prone infant into a plane packed with travelers and flew four hours to California.Yes, I did this voluntarily, but only two things would drain my brain of enough mental capacity to enable me to make such a decision: A funeral or a wedding. Fortunately, it was the latter that prompted this particular trip.I've said repeatedly on this blog that I hate flying, and though I've flown enough in recent years that I'm no longer crawling the walls whenever… -
A Sonnet For Feminine Cheese Sticks
8 Oct 2009 | 8:31 pmIn honor of National Poetry Day, which by the time many of you read this will be long past, I've composed the following sonnet. A poorly written, badly rhymed sonnet that will probably make Bill Shakespeare's ghost scream in agony before it searches me out and rips the laptop from my arms and tosses it out the window.YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.I'VE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE A POET.BUT THAT'S NOT STOPPING ME. BAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!OK. On with the poem. And off with the caps lock button.A local shopping mall today we wentBecause we still had some dollars unspentLet us go all! We said,… -
Holding On To Summer
5 Oct 2009 | 9:25 pmIt's cold here, which shouldn't be surprising because I live in Minnesota and if Minnesota is known for anything it's cold -- which I had been reminded of about 50,000 times in the month before I returned to the frozen north three years ago from South Carolina.(Seriously: If I had a nickel for every time I heard the phrase "Minnesota? You know it's cold up there." I'd have a healthy amount of cash. It'd all be in coins, but cash nevertheless. My boy would never want for nickels to put down those, uh ... wells where the coins spin down a drain. What the heck do you call those things,…
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DadCentric
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Dear School System
5 Nov 2009 | 7:02 pmAs my twin daughters begin the long, slow descent from the gentle arms of pre-K into the savage maw of Kindergarten and the infinite abyss of public school education that lies beyond, I hereby request that the following items be... -
Catacombs and the Forbidden City - A DadCentric Book Review
4 Nov 2009 | 3:02 pmYou know how I feel about the books and the action and the mystery and the stuff. I'm for it. I'm always looking for the next Encyclopedia Brown to come along. Maybe a Three Investigators. Hey, it could happen. That's... -
Post-Halloween Reflections: In Defense of That One House
4 Nov 2009 | 7:30 amI don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t write this post. Ah, screw it. So Halloween is over for another year. Jack O’Lanterns are rotting on their porches. Hollow plastic pumpkins have been filled and emptied again. Costumes have been traded in... -
DadCentric Reviews: The Jimmies, "Trying Funny Stuff"
3 Nov 2009 | 5:24 pmStatement of Full Disclosure: the PR guy who works for the self-described "ridiculous and burgeoning rock band for kids" The Jimmies emailed me a few weeks back and asked me if I would like a copy of their new DVD/CD... -
The New Nissan Sedans - A DadCentric Review
3 Nov 2009 | 5:09 pmI spent a recent weekend hanging out at Nissan's San Diego headquarters driving fast and taking chances. I had to sign waivers. I think. The good people at Nissan flew me to San Diego, put me up at the W...
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Bill and Jill
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You’ve come a long way, baby
19 Oct 2009 | 10:50 pmBig FIVE! Happy Birthday, Beans! Liam: Day 1 Liam: Day 1,823 -
The Fast Lane
4 Oct 2009 | 6:17 pm -
Open Wide
29 Sep 2009 | 2:54 pmIn our house, the start of the school year also means the start of the plague-of-the-month club. And, as the boys are taught to do in preschool, they share! With everyone! After a week of preschool, Liam came home and collapsed onto the couch with his blanket and half-mast eyes. Bean’s eyes are his tell when he’s sick, puffy with smoky half-moons underneath. “I’m so sleepy, Mum-Mum.” He drifted off and awoke an hour later in a sobbing rage, furious at the fever that had snuck up on him. I dosed him with Tylenol and wrestled his fiery little body into bed, rubbing his ears until he… -
Preschool Hacker
27 Sep 2009 | 7:57 pmLooks like someone erased my ID this weekend and attempted to sign onto my laptop themselves, using completely made-up credentials. Let’s see if anything about the perpetrator’s identity can be gleaned from a closer examination of their bogus login information: boyliamboyLIAM I love the fact that the last ‘Liam’ is in all caps, like he was typing it. With. AUTHORITY! It implies confidence, as in “THIS is the name of someone who is about to play games on pbskids.org!” There’s no way to know exactly what he typed for his password, but it was probably… -
Orientation Days
24 Sep 2009 | 8:23 pmSo the two big boys are now in school, as seen below on each of their orientation days - getting into the car for Liam’s, and man-handling Sam’s umbrella stroller for Nate’s. In a statement that would undoubtedly warm the hearts of all overworked preschool teachers everywhere who do it for the simple reward of shaping and influencing young minds, Liam told us that he likes his new class better “because it has different toys”. He’ll actually tell you what he’s done that day if you ask him within the first 30 seconds of picking him up. After that, his…
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HONEA EXPRESS
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There's a Sad Sort of Clanging From the Clock in the Hall
5 Nov 2009 | 12:01 amAnd he found them not where they were supposed to be and doing the things they shouldn't. He had left them alone among the molehills and found them perched upon the mountains.They were laughing and full of fun and getting away with being young. They were silent and drained of joy and by all means busted.He was tired. There were long days behind him and long nights ahead. His back, it burned with exhausted muscle and it erupted with spasms of stress and it resorted to a door frame to keep it remotely upward.Ropes wind and they twirl and they roll nicely off the spool and one minute you're… -
No Tricks, Just Treats
2 Nov 2009 | 4:12 pmI would be remiss if I didn't share our Halloween memories with you. And I do not care to be remiss. No, not at all.The last one was a neighbor that had Muppet music blaring from his home. There was another neighbor, an attractive young mom, whose costume could best be described as SpongeBoob NoPants, but I was so appalled that I forgot to take a picture and then when I went back and banged on her door at 3am the cops said I had to go home. The nerve of some people.And now for a few favorites from Halloweens past:Here's hoping that you and yours had a good time and that your teeth don't rot… -
Ten Days Gone
20 Oct 2009 | 11:43 amFrom my office I can watch the leaves fall upon the deck and melt in pools of red and yellow. They do not fight it. They have served their purpose. They have accepted their fate. Theirs is to fall beneath a constant drizzle and breaths of mist and theirs is to mock me in their peacefulness. From my office I can see a grave sixteen years deep. My gaze tends to wander there. It lingers from time to time.The boys have been sick and sad and they are making messes and mischief of one kind and another. Theirs is in the now. Pain and joy are deep and fleeting. Mornings are met with smiles and dreams… -
Old Dogs and Falling Leaves
11 Oct 2009 | 9:10 amI opened the door and she was sitting there. She was young and full of mischief and energy. She ran strong and loud and I named her Harley. Harley Anne.Harley was the worst puppy I ever had. She ate shoes and toothbrushes, hoses and the wires inside the lawnmower. She dug holes and escaped yards. She was a whirlwind of destruction. Sweet, loving destruction.Harley was the best dog I ever had. She was a gentle giant and stood by me through the growing pains that got me here. Her love was constant and unflinching, even when it should not have been.She made me a better man. She taught me… -
Always Home & Always Cool
2 Oct 2009 | 12:01 amKevin of Always Home and Uncool has asked me to post this as part of his effort to raise awareness in the blogosphere of juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease his daughter was diagnosed with on this day seven years ago. The day also happens to be his wife's birthday. Thanks for sharing, Kevin.________________________Our pediatrician admitted it early on.The rash on our 2-year-old daughter's cheeks, joints and legs was something he'd never seen before.The next doctor wouldn't admit to not knowing.He rattled off the names of several skins conditions -- none of them seemingly worth his…
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Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life
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The Va. Governor's Race: I Knew We Would Lose.
6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amMuch is being said in the press over the clean sweep made by GOP candidates for Virginia's top three elective offices. Talking heads from many sides of the political spectrum are making noises about the portentous nature of this election, as if it were some weather gague for the 2010 mid-term congressional election. I have to say that although I was unsurprised about the outcome of the races in Virginia, I don't think that the GOP sweep here means as much to the Democratic Party on a national basis as much is it should spell disaster for the party here in the… -
The New York Yankees - World Champions
5 Nov 2009 | 1:57 amI don't suppose there is anything else to say. Well, I could say: "Welcome back to Yankee nation!", but that might seem like gloating. I suppose I could also say, with all respects to "The Scooter": Holy Cow! What would really be rude would be if I said "suckit" Sox fans! So I won't, but I'd like to! Congratulations, Yankees! You have made this boy from northern New Jersey who grew up on Yankee baseball, very happy. -
Inspiration from Facebook
4 Nov 2009 | 3:07 pmA friend of mine who is also a fellow parishioner at our church, posted something on Facebook today that was so fitting and so right, I decided that I wanted to post it myself. I won't credit her by name, because I am not sure she would appreciate it. Anyway, this lady said that she... "thinks that people that throw cigarette butts out the window are tools. That's right. Tools." Man, talk about brevity! Talk about getting right to the heart of the matter! She hit the ball completely out of the park with this short statement. I… -
Camouflage Barbie
3 Nov 2009 | 9:14 amIt is hard toimpossible to live where I live and not see and extraordinary number of military personnel. Living in such close proximity to the Pentagon, Marine Corps Base Quantico, and Fort Belvoir (among many others), you can't help but see folks of all of the armed forces, all of the time. Seeing as many military people as I do, and being a veteran myself, it is easy to spot the differences in military dress uniforms or service uniforms at a glance. The military branches being so different one from the other, you didn't have to think twice about the… -
Suburban Haiku
2 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amParents shout "Great try!" Refs make many crappy calls I'm a soccer dad
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Cheeky's Hideaway
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The Obligatory Halloween Pictures: 2009 Edition
2 Nov 2009 | 7:56 pmBehold, Fairy Princess Princess Butterfly Cinderella Butterfly Princess! -
THIS is Why those Damn Princesses Scare the Bejesus Out of Me
28 Oct 2009 | 1:34 pmI've mentioned my deep distrust of Disney--and its sub-context of feminine enslavement--before, but for those of you deaf to my pleas this should help bring some clarity to my concerns. Just one more reason to introduce Cheeky to Star Wars. At least THAT princess killed a Hutt. -
Like a Kelsey Grammar Show, And Unfortunately Just as Funny
22 Oct 2009 | 3:08 pmApparently you forget a few things when you live in a city apartment for a decade. Like what to do with all that shit in your yard that can't be mowed.Or how far away things are when you leave them upstairs.Or the importance of getting your garbage out on time.Or just how many bugs there are in the world.Everyone else on the planet has already figured this out. You've probably all got rakes and screen doors and a baseline knowledge of how to adjust your water temperature. We, on the other hand, curse that vile temptress Fate that would give us a house that requires cleaning and… -
It's Cure JM Day...what are YOU gonna do about it?
1 Oct 2009 | 10:01 pmMy boy, Kevin of Always Home and Uncool, has asked me to post this as part of his effort to raise awareness in the blogosphere of juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease his daughter was diagnosed with on this day seven years ago. The day also happens to be his wife's birthday. These are his thoughts, and I encourage you to offer your support to combat this disease. Our pediatrician admitted it early on. The rash on our 2-year-old daughter's cheeks, joints and legs was something he'd never seen before. The next doctor wouldn't admit to not… -
Stuffed!
28 Sep 2009 | 2:36 pmHoly crap, do we have a lot of stuff.I kept thinking this as the second day of our pack 'n' move dawned last week. The first day was an amazing feat of disassembly. Before I'd finished shaking hands with the movers our walls were stripped bare, and I had to keep moving around the apartment to keep from getting stuffed in a wardrobe box myself. At the end of the day I figured we were almost done and I could spend the afternoon laying under the trees at Shake Shack.But on Day Two I went downstairs to our storage room where the unwanted detritus of years of cohabitation had…
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Laid-Off Dad
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But for the grace
30 Oct 2009 | 6:27 amNow that my nose is back to the blogstone, I want to take this chance to tell you about a new and very special person in my life. A person who reminds me daily that I am never alone, and who stretches my capacity for compassion in an infuriating world. I'm talking, of course, of Eldun, my Extremely Loud, Demented Upstairs Neighbor. Eldun first came into my life about a month after I moved in. I paused at my front door and wondered if I had left my TV on. Which was odd, since the voices were in Spanish. Also, I didn't own a TV. After I got inside, I learned it was Eldun's TV, which… -
Brought to his keyboard by a wall of garbanzo beans
26 Oct 2009 | 7:08 pmDuring the first year after I moved out, my daily routine involved about 2.5 hours on the Carnevale de Filth that is New York's subway system. Up at my elevated platform before dawn, 45 minutes to work among the doddering coffee-sippers. Half an hour downtown, to her place for a couple hours of monkeyshines. Then an hour or so back to upstate Manhattan. Some days felt like an Epic Journey between the Arctic Circle and Buenos Aires, and attempting to write, or even jot down a few notes, was impossible. I was always so bone-tired that I spent most of my time listening to the first five… -
Billious
25 Aug 2009 | 8:50 amDear Bill: According to sites like this, a lot of people have a problem with the word "moist." I mostly don't understand the antipathy, because there are many situations when moist is better than not. Moist can lead to wet, which is a muchly desired status in the summertime. Plus, there's the onomatopoeia; "moist" is such a moist word. Like "squelch." And "Colmes." Every once in a while, however, the moistophobes have a legitimate beef. Saturday was one of those onces. Thanks to you. I'll grant you that this was largely a soup of my own…
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Rude Cactus
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The Weeklies #108
6 Nov 2009 | 3:25 amThe Weekly Coffee. Know what surprisingly doesn't suck? Starbuck's new instant coffee, Via. I bought it out of curiosity and was actually pretty impressed. It's not the best coffee ever but it ain't bad. The Weekly Time Waster. Water Werks. The Weekly iPhone App. Unblock Me (iTunes link). It's seriously addictive and you will, I guarantee, lose hours of your week trying to solve the puzzles and get to the next level. I'm on level 70 and have yet to get bored. While the app itself is only 99 cents, there's a free version if you want to give it a shot without forking out any cash. The Weekly… -
Holidays: Earlier Every Year
5 Nov 2009 | 3:41 amMia: Yay, Christmas is coming!! Me: Well, soonish. But there's lots of good stuff between now and Christmas. Mia: Like what? Me: Like Mommy's birthday and Thanksgiving and Daddy's birthday. Christmas is neat but there are lots of other fun and important days. Mia: Oh. Yeah. Now, I don't begrudge my daughter her love of Christmas. I remember, as a kid, loving Christmas with a similar passion, a passion that started sometime around September and went right up through the opening of the presents and subsequent playing. But time goes too fast. I don't want to stop my kids from loving Christmas… -
Handwriting On The Wall (If By Wall You Mean Internet)
4 Nov 2009 | 3:48 amBeth, my lovely and adoring wife, she of the smokin' hot ass, did this the other day and since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (and I have nothing else monstrously creative rattling around my brain that will simultaneously dazzle you and win me a Pulitzer), I figured I'd give it a shot. It's about my handwriting. See, I used to have decent handwriting. Now I just fool myself into thinking I do. I tell myself it's all angular and stylish and cool but really, deep in my heart of hearts, I know that I'm the only person who can read it and even that's iffy at best. Here it is. Judge… -
Zoinks!
3 Nov 2009 | 3:40 amOver the weekend, Owen put his first more-than-three-word sentence together. Don't get me wrong - Owen is a talkative kid. He started astounding us a few months ago with things like: Owen juice car cup please. Translation: I want juice in a cup with cars on it please. Open bar please. Translation: Please open this granola bar. Mia chair. Translation: I want to sit in Mia's chair. Out, shoes. Shoes! Shoes! Translation: I want to go outside so get my shoes. Dammit man, get me my fucking shoes. So we were all anxiously awaiting his first full, easily discernible sentence complete with all… -
Halloween 2009
2 Nov 2009 | 3:43 amThere are leaves on the ground, the evenings are cooler, the clocks are set back, the stores are playing Christmas music and the trick-or-treating is over for the year. I guess it's time to admit that it's fall. It all seemed to happen so fast. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Halloween. With the recent hospital stay, Halloween kinda snuck up on us. So we tried to compensate by preparing and decorating for Halloween on Saturday. On Saturday, Beth and I carved pumpkins. The kids were into it for the first five minutes but their enthusiasm waned when, on minute six, they realized the…
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MetroDad
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Listography: A Life in Lists
29 Oct 2009 | 5:51 pmI am an inherently lazy writer. Given the choice between curling up with a good book or sitting down at my computer, I will almost always choose the former over the latter. I'm also not very good at managing my free time. I've studied the habits of brilliantly successful people to see if there were some techniques that I might find helpful. Did you know that Buckminster Fuller averaged just two hours of sleep a night for two years and claimed he was more energetic and alert as a result? Or that Honore de Balzac ate dried coffee grounds to stimulate his imagination? Word is that… -
Halloween 2009 Opinion Poll
22 Oct 2009 | 7:20 pmAs you can probably guess, I'm not a big fan of political correctness.When I was in college at Berkeley, a group of political activists lobbied to officially change Columbus Day to "Indigenous People's Day," the argument being that Christopher Columbus was responsible for more calamity and destruction than progress and prosperity. The activists blamed Columbus for single-handedly colonizing the New World and destroying indigenous populations. I'm not sure but I think they also pinned acid rain, rush-hour traffic, and the Middle East on him too. Seriously? Give me a… -
Golden Handcuffs
20 Oct 2009 | 9:48 amSometimes I think being an overly self-aware insomniac book nerd is more trouble than it's worth.While reading in the wee hours of the morning, I recently came across passages in two books that made me pause and reflect on the path my life has taken. Don't get me wrong. I like to introspectively examine my life as much as the next person. At the same time, I believe that too much introspection can frequently become a masturbatory exercise in self-absorption. To tell you the truth, I often think it'd be better if I slept more and read less. Anyway, here are the two… -
The Peanut Turns Five!
6 Oct 2009 | 9:47 amDear Peanut, Happy 5th birthday! Although you're completely ecstatic about this day, I think my own excitement might actually trump your own. Why? Mainly because I no longer have to keep hearing, "Daddy, daddy, daddy! How many more days until I turn five?" Don't get me wrong, kiddo. It was cute for awhile but after 5,000 times in one month, I was starting to think about canceling Christmas (FYI, it's in about 80 days.)Five is an amazingly fun age, Peanut. You've really turned into a person now and it simultaneously enthralls and scares the crap out of me. On the one… -
A day in the life...
23 Sep 2009 | 7:35 pmEver since I announced my divorce on this site, I've been inundated with e-mails from readers.Most were empathetic notes of sympathy. Many were shared tales of sadness. Quite a few were messages of concern.However, a good chunk of them were from happily married dads simply inquiring, "HEY DUDE, WHAT'S IT LIKE?"Honestly?I hate to pop the proverbial bubble, my friends, but I get the impression that some of you were picturing my new life as a tropical storm of fancy NYC dinner parties, late nights at trendy lounges, and a steady rotation of leggy Swedish fashion…
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Child's Play x2 - A dad and his twins
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Way less than 6 degrees of separation
5 Nov 2009 | 10:41 pmThe year was 1993 and it was a beautiful spring day in New York City. Cherry trees were in blossom, snow was long gone, and the melodic sounds of birds chirping mixed nicely with the bellowing horns of cabs and the occasional “Fuck You AND your mother!” emanating from the bustling streets of the City. On this particular day, a Sunday, yours truly and his family are celebrating an amazing milestone. My graduation from college. At a couple of different times in my four years at Columbia, I feared I wouldn’t finish. But there I was, diploma in hand, with a very proud mother who… -
It’s been 38 years and I still haven’t figured out girls
2 Nov 2009 | 11:25 pmI’ve always wanted a little girl. I knew what I’d name her, that she’d hold my hand wherever we went and love her Daddy with all of her heart. I’d have a sweet little girl who was as delicate as a flower for me to nurture and protect. Four and a half years into parenthood later, I can tell you that all of that is true. Except the delicate part. My little girl is not the delicate flower I imagined. No, she’s got a mean stubborn streak that makes me smile when I think of her future husband who, at this very moment, is probably eating paste in pre-school, not… -
And to top it off, the anchor stole my kid’s chocolate milk
28 Oct 2009 | 10:32 pm“Tomorrow, you get to go be on television in your Halloween costume while drinking chocolate milk!” The kids laughed at the notion of being on TV as I broke the news to them of what we would be doing the following morning. Swee’Pea laughed and exclaimed how fun that would be. TheMonk smiled and agreed that it would, indeed, be fun to drink chocolate milk while dressed as a red Power Ranger. We were invited by a nice woman who I had befriended on Twitter. It just so happened she handled PR for the Got Milk ad campaign. We were invited, along with a couple of other kids -… -
Cancer Sucks
25 Oct 2009 | 10:33 pmA few weeks ago, a fellow Daddy Blogger, Hank from Shotgun Daddy, whom I have known for several years now, approached me about a story he felt warranted attention. The story was of Jalen, a handsome, bright, athletic young teen who just happens to be battling cancer. As I read about Jalen’s journey, my heart got caught in my throat and tears welled in my eyes. I pictured this brave boy battling this awful disease and felt so helpless knowing how scary this must be for him. You see, Jalen has seen this before. His 4 year old sister, Breanna, died of a brain tumor when Jalen was… -
The Week That Was - A Body Made for Radio
11 Oct 2009 | 11:17 pmIt started out like any other week. Monday morning was the usual struggle to get the kids back into our weekday morning routine. A certain girl didn’t like the socks I picked for her. A certain boy didn’t want to put his shoes on. A certain Daddy was under-caffeinated and rushing to get to work. Tuesday was more of the same. Nothing very exciting. Wednesday, however, got interesting. In a brief chat with Tania from Chicky Chicky Baby, we both got into a whining match about how much weight we’ve gained since BlogHer. My memory of the actual conversation is vague but I seem to…
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DadThing.com - A Dad Blog
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How Do You Know You Spend Too Much Time Playing Bejeweled Blitz On Facebook?
6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmBejweled Blitz So how do you know when you spend too much time playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook? Maybe you check the leader board while on break at work to make sure that no one has beaten your score! Could it be that you find yourself organizing the cans in your cabinets into groups of three? Do you dream up ways to sabotage that person’s computer who will always get 200,000 points every single week and you’re lucky to get 100, 000?! Or maybe…just maybe…a good sign would be your two year old, who only speaks the language of Nick Jr, running around the house saying,… -
More Of A Treat Than A Trick
5 Nov 2009 | 2:25 pmSo this year was a pretty fun one for Trick-Or-Treat! The past few years Ace could really give a crap. I think it was more of an inconvenience for him actually. He probably saw Trick-Or-Treat as just wearing some uncomfortable clothes…being made to walk (ride in the stroller or Dad’s arms) an insanely long distance…being surrounded by people with bad customes…and it was all for nothing! He didn’t even like candy! But, this year was a different story. I was so proud of him. We took off from Grandma’s house walking…yes actually walking this… -
DadThing Is Healthy Again!
30 Oct 2009 | 9:18 pmSo, yesterday Google reported DadThing as an attack site. Yeah, real viscious isn’t it! This is probably the third time in the past year that DadThing has been hacked. I’m getting pretty good at fixing it now. The first two times it was obvious. If you would view the HTML you would see an encrypted JavaScript being ran in the background. I had to remove this code from about 100 files throughout the WordPress core. But this last time I’m not real sure what Google considered malware. I removed all of the little widgets and chicklets to random sites that promise… -
DadThing Hacked!
30 Oct 2009 | 11:37 amHello loyal readers! It looks as though DadThing.com was hacked and is now being reported as an “Attack Site”! I have went through all of the code on the site and removed any suspicious code, widgets, and links. DadThing has been submitted for review to remove the label of Attack Site. I will post again, when the coast is clear! Thanks again for your patience! Jared -
Lands’ End’s Men’s SnowSystem Jacket
27 Oct 2009 | 7:24 amI recently got the opportunity to review the Lands’ End’s Men’s SnowSystem Jacket. With Winter on it’s way (and I needed a new coat anyways) I agreed to review it here on DadThing! I’ve owned quite a few jackets in my life time and am usually pretty rough on them. I have a Carhartt coat that I have been wearing for almost three years now because it is about the only thing that will take the abuse I will give it. However, it is not so great for the semi-cold weather…and it is heavy. That’s what I liked about the Land’s End jacket system It is a dual…
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DIYFATHER
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Dads at work - surprise your kids #2
5 Nov 2009 | 4:26 pmHere's an idea for suprising your children. Download the attached WORD DOCUMENT, replace "PETER" with your child's name and print out at work. Put it up on the door to your child's room over night and see what they say the next morning when they spot it. Enjoy -Stef ps.: If you haven't seen District 9 - go and see it. It's awesome (definitely not suitable for children under 16 I'd say though) -
Wife Approval Tip #5 - her illness, your opportunity
5 Nov 2009 | 12:37 amHaving your wife under the weather can be quite a chore, especially if you have to look after the kids as well. Fetch me this, go get me that, wipe my nose, scratch my feet – it can all get a little tiring. However, the wise Dadget-lovers amongst you will sense a fantabulous Dadget purchasing opportunity. A sick wife is a helpless wife, and any temporary illness is a perfect time to ask approval for the Dadget that would ordinarily be out of your reach. I especially recommend selecting the ‘drowsy’ variant of any medication so that she’ll be even more amenable to your request. BONUS… -
Guest blog - Michael Baron
3 Nov 2009 | 11:41 pmI’ve been writing nonfiction books for many years now, everything from parenting to politics. When I decided that I needed to write about fatherhood, however, I turned to fiction. I remember seeing a Jerry Seinfeld stand-up routine a while back where he talked about the difference between nonfiction and fiction. He said that bookstores should actually be divided between “truth” (nonfiction) and “lies” (fiction). With all due respect, I have to disagree. We’ve heard plenty of stories in recent years about writers embellishing their memoirs with all kinds of lies. And, for me,… -
A Dad's Point of View - Who Said Marriage Should be Work
2 Nov 2009 | 7:58 pmI recently learned some statistics that surprised me, but upon reflection they really made sense. What do you think the rate of divorce is between first, second, and third marriages? Think about it. I didn’t and came to the wrong conclusion. It’s pretty much agreed by most experts that first marriages end in divorce about 40-50% of the time. What surprised me is that the divorce rate increases with second marriages to something like 60% and more, while third marriages end in divorce at least 70% of the time. My first gut reaction was that we would have learned from prior mistakes, we’d… -
Dads get your money back - get cash for Baby Einstein DVDs
1 Nov 2009 | 9:54 pmDo you own any Baby Einstein DVDs or videos? If so and in case you haven't heard - hop on to the BE website and get a refund for your purchase price! The Walt Disney Co. (who owns the BE brand) announced last week that they would offer cash refunds for "Baby Einstein" videos/DVDs for toddlers in response to challenges about the legitimacy of claims that the products were educational. Apart from a cash refund you can also exchange DVDs for a "Baby Einstein" book or music CD, or receive 25 percent off another "Little Einstein" product. The offer expires March 4 so get in there right away! read…
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Doodaddy
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Tomorrow Cometh
3 Nov 2009 | 9:23 amI saw the future yesterday, and it was this: Share care. The friends down the block came over for an hour because mom had a quick school meeting. And there was no (well, not very much) drama. The kids are getting older — mine’s a solid three-and-a-halfer, the neighbors are 3 and 5. So sure, there’s snatching and hoarding (the long-suffering 5-year old has pretty much given up: if her brother wants something, she just hands it over wordlessly). But mostly it was eeeeeasy. Last year, same kids, I would have been running around, inventing activities and smashing allegiances (what is it… -
My Three Fridas
29 Oct 2009 | 10:56 amThe mystery of the Halloween costume is revealed: Fern (and Claudia, and my wife) are all dressing as Frida Kahlo. And before you ask (what everyone asks) whether “we” adults decided on that costume for her, let me just assure you that’s not the case: it was all her idea. Fern’s a nut for Frida and pretty much has always been. Now if she can just convince her friends (as she’s convinced) that Frida is one of the Disney princesses, we’ll be set. -
Weird Science
28 Oct 2009 | 2:02 pmMinor inferno at lunchtime today. It was completely my fault — I lost track of the time and Fern hadn’t eaten in three hours. She was running on empty, and beside herself, screaming something about not wanting to wear the dress that she really wanted to wear that she couldn’t wear. I tried logic, I tried bribery, I tried getting mad. I knew I needed to get food down her throat before she’d be happy. So I resorted to the ultimate tabletop distraction. “Fern. Do you want to mix vinegar and baking soda?” That bought me at least a break in the tantrum while she considered. “And… -
Kitchen Fail of the Week
27 Oct 2009 | 6:17 amEvery week, it seems, I perpetrate some new kitchen catastrophe, and this week’s entry is my pork-chicken-rice-egg-noodle casserole. She’s a way better cook. What the hell was I thinking? To be fair to myself, I was dead tired and not thinking that much, getting a cold and dealing with the kids’ late night persistent cough that just won’t end. And I was following a recipe, and that recipe did actually say to add a can of chicken and rice soup to the browned pork and noodles in a casserole dish. Ye gods! (By which I mean, Ye Food Network gods!) Why are there chunks of chicken and pork… -
Baby Skid Marks
26 Oct 2009 | 2:12 pmPity the second child, again. She’s been to the playground maybe a dozen times in her whole life, when at her age her sister was there at least three times a week. On the blacktop One thing I don’t miss, though, is rubber-tire laundry. San Francisco has been renovating its playgrounds for a decade or so, and all the new ones get the recycled tire surface. It’s durable, it’s probably not carcinogenic (what, what did you say? I couldn’t quite hear you), and it’s low-maintenance. It’s also dirty as hell. Today, Claudia got an independent run at the playground for longer than ever:…
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ED UNLOADED - Daddy Blogger who discovers Parenting
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Hilarious Commercial
6 Nov 2009 | 8:26 amI am still having my exams, so I decided to post some commercials! That way I don’t have to use up any of my brain power, and I can still keep all your guys entertained! I hope u bear with me during period, as I got lots of Greek to catch up on….still owe some of my readers a few posts…and give my views about Halloween… Getting back to this blog post: The commercial below is actually from Thailand, and despite the fact that u need to read the subtitles…the advertisements are really quite funny! So, if u are looking for some brain-dead entertainment…this is it! Technorati… -
Oprah Winfrey Flash Mob
5 Nov 2009 | 7:18 amHooray! I just finished 1 of my assignments, and as I was just relaxing, I happened to check out my colleagues website. Dawn introduced this flash mob which was done at Oprah Winfrey’s curtain raiser for her 24th season. The band leading the way were the Black Eyed Peas…but the interesting thing, was the number of people that she got involved in the project. The effect is actually quite impressive! Well, if u are Oprah Winfrey…u can pull a lot of things off!!! You can check it out in the video below! After that, I decided to google for some funny advertisements, as there… -
Mead Johnson at the Science Centre
4 Nov 2009 | 5:46 amThe kind folks at Singapore Science Centre and Mead Johnson Nutrition recently gave the Tay family, an experience of a lifetime!The kids were all excited, and Nadine was more than ready to get her photo taken to record the moment! In fact, Daddy has heard so much about the Omni theatre ever since he was young, and he was overjoyed that he could finally savour the OMNI experience for himself. As we entered the Omni Theatre, we realized that Mead Johnson’s collaboration with the Science Centre underscores their commitment to provide scientific-based solutions to help in supporting the brain… -
Ideas for Halloween Party
2 Nov 2009 | 8:25 pmLast Saturday Night, the Adults in ETzone gathered for our 1st Costume party. Joy made the backdrop for the party! Don’t you think she did a great job…She only had 3 hours, and she managed to decorate the whole function room with just simple black paper! It was fun, as all of us really enjoyed dressing up, and playing silly characters. These are a few of the colorful characters on display that night… Nicole had fun as well…She enjoyed putting on makeup! In fact, thanks to may, all of us had a free makeover to look the part like the character that we were playing. Besides the… -
Fun Halloween Costumes
1 Nov 2009 | 10:58 amHalloween has been catching on in Singapore, and this year we decided to organize our 1st Halloween Party.Basically, it was just a fun event for us to play “Dress Up” and have a party! We also had fun dressing up the kids in a Fun Halloween Costume! Nathan was dressed in a Thomas the Train character called James! We had a hard time getting him into the costume, as he was very reluctant to put on the fun costume we got from him. Mummy saw it at “Toys R Us”, and she could not resist getting one for himNicole was a Angel! We got her the “Wings”, while the magic wand and headgear was…
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First Time Dad
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Hello Dolly!!
13 Oct 2009 | 9:28 pmI want Emila’s cute handmade dolly because I secretly like playing with Dollies…wait that didn’t sound right. Seriously, I’d like to win it for my dear little daughter to love and cherish. She’s at that age where she hugs her favorite dollies to sleep every night. Audience cue ... Awwww (word count 50)Happy Birthday Emila –you’re really an extraordinarily gifted person who loves giving. May you have many happy and healthy years of success in all your endeavors. -
Malaysian Safari?
28 Aug 2009 | 3:37 pmRecently I posted about a trip to Bangkok and the fun time we had at the Bangkok Safari...well this has got nothing to do with it! LOL Last month the family went for a little restaurant hopping to celebrate our wedding anniversary and my birthday, which is only a day apart.No this is the first ime we've done this but I was pretty down then and wanted to just celebrate. hehehe A moment of peace...On the day eve of my birthday we went to Tony Roma's of course...my favourite joint (which reminds me that I haven't been there in a week because of that blasted flu). I'm not going to elobrate cause… -
Green Jeans
25 Aug 2009 | 10:25 pmMy good friend and fellow Genie Marzie is having another one of her fab contests over at her Mariuca's Perfume Gallery blog. This time it's in conjunction of her upcoming birthday and the prize is a mini Green Jean's Mens Perfume. I rememeber having a bottle of baby Blue Jeans a long long long time ago and I think I still have the can it came in somewhere around the house. Winning this Green Jeans perfume will bring back some memories considering the fact that wifey did own an awesome pair of green jeans before...er the denim kind that is heheOne of the rules of the contest is that I have to… -
Bangkok Safari
1 Aug 2009 | 3:26 pmAnother thing that we did on our recent trip to Bangkok that we have not done before was to go to on a Safari. Yes you read right a Safari! You see now that the little one is older and more demanding LOL we need to find stuff that is more entertaining for her. So instead of the usual shopping and stuff we have to find new and improved things to do.Now when I first heard about the Safari I too was skeptical but boy was I in for a pleasant surprise.There were birds and macaws of wonderful colours at Birdland. This picture was take by my little girl. There was a Sea World that had several… -
Bangkok by Night
17 Jul 2009 | 9:13 amOkay okay buddy...before you start getting any of those filty little ideas that only your perverted mind could have I want to state it loud and clear that it was a family night out in Bangkok! LOLMe messing with my new toy while the little one looks on as we wait for the cruise.On by recent working trip to Bangkok wifey and the little one tagged along. We were only there for a few days but we wanted to make the most of it since the last time we came the little one was only just starting to walk. That the ship in the background slowly coming to dock. Check out the beautiful background sky.We…
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Ransom Note Typography
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Move Your Home Folder Off Your SSD Boot Drive in OS X
6 Nov 2009 | 9:49 amSSD (Solid State Drives) are the future, kids. They are insanely fast, have no mechanical parts to wear out and run cooler than their platter based counterparts. The main problem with SSDs right now is that in order to get a decently sized drive, you have to sell off one or two of your kids just to pay for it. As of this second, the cheapest 256GB SSD at NewEgg is hovering at around $600. Ouch. Something in the “reasonable” price arena of less than $200 will only fetch you a 64GB drive. Plenty of room for the OS and a load of useful applications, but not a lot of wiggle room for… -
My Wise Investment
23 Oct 2009 | 3:49 pmMy Wise Investment Yesterday, one of my many fake Internet friends (Scott Simpson) made an offer on a house: Being the helpful (and shrewd) sort of person I am, I leapt into action. I sent him $2 via PayPal. Scott wrote back to thank me: You are a true friend. This just might put us over the top. Best. Paypal. Gag. Ever. But, like so many things in Scott’s life, he’s wrong about this. I wasn’t making a joke. There’s no gag here. I’m making an investment. Even in this freaky market, real estate is still a solid long term investment strategy. I whipped out my… -
Fish in the Sea
20 Apr 2009 | 3:59 pmThis is a bit from the “cutting room floor.” I wrote this, thinking I’d be able to squeeze it in to my novel thing-y somehow, but I just don’t think it’s going to work with my main character. So, yeah, I’m shoveling it out to my blog. It’s either this or a picture of me in a one of my new hats. You’re welcome. “Hey, buck up little camper! There are plenty of other fish in the sea.” “Oh, excellent, I pour out my soul and you shoot back a clichéd platitude.” “Yes, but just because it’s a cliché doesn’t make it untrue.” “Let me… -
Birdhouse Review, For Reals
13 Apr 2009 | 6:46 pmMy, my, those crazy kids over at Sandwich Dynamics have come a long way from the interesting beta I reviewed a couple months ago. My “official” review hasn’t posted on the iTunes App Store quite yet, but this is it, in case the powers that be at the Apple mother-ship end up rejecting my precious words: One Thing One of the reasons I really like this app is that is sets out to do ONE thing and do it well. Birdhouse is for WRITING and EDITING individual twitter posts before you send them out into the cold, cruel world. It does this with aplomb and with a minimum of muss and… -
New Glasses!
12 Mar 2009 | 9:59 pmNew Glasses!, originally uploaded by zuhl. I got new glasses last weekend. They’re growing on me. Which is actually kind of uncomfortable. You ever had a pair of glasses grow into your face? Painful.
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Daddy Brain
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People are Dying to be Heard: an Interview with Ben Merens
29 Oct 2009 | 12:11 pmBen Merens is a professional speaker and radio host. His radio show, At Issue with Ben Merens, is very popular because it examines a variety of topics that have relevance to our every-day lives. As a speaker, Ben’s message is gaining more and more attention because of its importance: people are dying to be heard. Ben was kind [...] -
Little Acts of Love, by Paul Peterson
28 Oct 2009 | 7:15 amI came across a wonderful article at one of my favorite blogs, paulpetersonlive.com. I was so moved by Paul’s message, I felt it was important to share with you: Last night our family took a friend of ours to Cracker Barrel for his 30th birthday. Our friend is from Honduras and speaks broken English (though he’s [...] -
Self-Publishing: An Interview with Peter Bowerman, Part 3
22 Oct 2009 | 11:00 pmWelcome to the conclusion of my interview with Peter Bowerman. If you missed them, Part 1 overviewed two of Peter’s books, while Part 2 began our Q & A about self-publishing. Peter is an award-wining author, veteran commercial freelancer and business coach. His books are informative and a joy to read. We pick up here on the topic of self-publishing… You [...] -
Self-Publishing: An Interview with Peter Bowerman, Part 2
22 Oct 2009 | 2:55 pmPeter Bowerman is an award-wining author, veteran commercial freelancer and business coach. He’s written two of my favorite books, which remarkably are not about being a dad! Peter’s books are about making a living by writing: specifically freelance copywriting (The Well-Fed Writer), and self-publishing (The Well-Fed Self Publisher). Part 1 of this series overviewed both books. [...] -
A Book Review & Interview: Peter Bowerman, The Well-Fed Writer
22 Oct 2009 | 9:50 amPeter Bowerman is an award-wining author, veteran commercial freelancer and business coach. He’s written two of my favorite books, which remarkably are not about being a dad! Peter’s books are about making a living by writing: specifically freelance copywriting (The Well-Fed Writer), and self-publishing (The Well-Fed Self Publisher). I’m highlighting Peter’s books because they might prove [...]
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Wired: GeekDad
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Have Yourself a Merry LEGO Christmas
6 Nov 2009 | 6:52 amPhoto by Jay Reed; used under CC license. We all know LEGO bricks are the best reusable toy building material in existence. So why, you may have wondered, aren’t there more holiday-themed ideas for decorating with them? What, aside from a life-size picture of Mr. Spock wearing a Santa hat (you know you’ve always wanted one), could possibly be a better geeky holiday accessory than a set of small holiday-themed LEGO builds? Now, you could of course put together some holiday-themed builds yourself. But we’re all busy, and sometimes it’s difficult to get the right… -
Technology and Your Local School: What to Donate and What NOT to Donate
6 Nov 2009 | 5:30 amDisclaimer: my wife, who is a high school teacher, came up with the idea for this article. As a fairly geeky person herself, my wife is often saddled with technology projects. Currently she is the Lead Teacher for the Information Technology Academy at her school. Her academy teaches students in Adobe Certification, Cisco Certification, Web 2.0, etc. Essentially they teach the kids everything they need in order to do my job. Well, I’ve got seniority, you little punks and I… Oh, sorry… Anyway, Mrs. Geek recently laid out for me her experience of being on the receiving end of… -
Teaching Your Kids To Be Programmers
6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 amProgramming 101 (image: desktopnexus.com) I’m always keen to get my kids into video gaming, although I’m not sure why. Perhaps because of this, I was really taken by a story told by a friend (@Pixelh8) who reviews games on Game People with me. He tells of how a simple programming language (MIT’s Processing) and a little bit of Dad time, turned his kids into budding programmers. I thought you’d like to hear about it to0… I like sharing my work projects with the kids and they are always more than inquisitive to find out what I am doing. After a long day out with… -
Mama 3 Cook’s Fun
6 Nov 2009 | 4:30 amCooking Mama 3 (image: mercurynews.com) Being married to a cook makes my ears perk up whenever I hear of a new cooking themed game. It’s fascinating to hear what she makes of them, but also a great way to rope her in for a bit of family gaming. Games Basement provided us a copy of Cooking Mama 3 DS recently, which turned out to be a real hit, so I thought I’d share our thoughts. If you’ve not experienced the Mama series before, maybe now’s the time. Cooking Mama 3 takes us back to the kitchen minigames on the Nintendo DS. 80 new recipes, additional ingredients and a… -
Wowwee Hoverpod Skims Over (Nearly) Everything
6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amImage: John Baichtal You know what a ducted fan hovercraft is — it hovers by shooting air down just strong enough to keep itself to keep itself off the ground. A second fan(s) pointing backwards propels the craft forward. There are toy hovercraft out there, but they tend to be gigantic, at least in toy terms — typically they’re about a foot long, weigh a pound or more and gobble a half-dozen batteries at a time. Enter the WowWee FlyTech Hoverpod, a hummingbird-light (11 grams!) styrofoam hovercraft that can fit in the palm of your hand. It packs a tiny plastic propeller…
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GreatDad.com
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The Holidays Are Here…Really!
5 Nov 2009 | 12:11 amTis the season to be shopping, or at least having your kids make their lists. How long should their lists be? That’s the first thing that needs addressing. -
How dads can help with breastfeeding
4 Nov 2009 | 12:29 amAt first glance breastfeeding may seem a woman’s domain, but a supportive father is incredibly important.Here are a few tips for dads who are anxious to get in the game -
Five minutes with Klay Hall and Sean Lurie
4 Nov 2009 | 12:09 amDirector Klay Hall and Producer Sean Lurie have worked on several children’s films. They talk about their experiences. -
Five Minutes with Walker Lamond
26 Oct 2009 | 11:44 pmWalker Lamond is the author of “Rules for My Unborn Son”. -
Five Pediatrician Wishes for a Healthy Preschooler
14 Oct 2009 | 3:25 amBack to school time usually coincides with health notices, increased awareness of lice, and for some, a reminder to get a flu shot.
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HeirApparent
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“Alas, Chilly Willy, I knew him well…”
4 Nov 2009 | 5:43 am -
The Great (Carved) Pumpkin
30 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am‘Tis the season of poorly constructed 300 thread count ghosts and cheap plastic goblin masks, of thoughtless overindulgence of candy corn and gummi worms, and of course, the creepy but warming orange glow of hundreds of hollowed gourds. Yes, it’s Halloween again, one of the more unique American holidays, a day filled with as intricate preparations and celebrations as any other non-governmental holiday warrants. In our particular case, this has included several previously documented trips to the pumpkin patch, a recent Mom’s group playdate of which I am only privy to a… -
“Well, this isn’t very exc…WHOA.”
28 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am -
Live and Let Diaper Vest
25 Oct 2009 | 4:00 amThis is a repost of my column on Dad Blogs, Armed And Fatherly, copied here as part of an ongoing effort to archive my various musings that biographers and/or Presidential librarians will probably someday want easy access to. This happens to be one of my favorites, and originally was posted June 7, 2009. Rain drizzled silently around him as he crouched outside the compound, weighing his options. He reached inside his DadGear Diaper Vest and pulled his smart phone out of the built-in cell pocket and studied the floor plans again. His mission was to get in, get the package, and get out… -
A Pile of Leaves (or Lies?)
22 Oct 2009 | 4:00 amAfter happily spending an afternoon amassing a pile of colorfully crackling dead leaves in our backyard, I watched with unabashed delight as my darling daughter ambled into view. She spotted the newly built bed of fall fun, and with her eyes wide with excitement, stumbled happily in its general direction and Fosbury-flopped into it, her face painted with smiles and the crisp autumn air pierced with her unbrided laughs of delight. My wife and I stood by, camera in hand, capturing every moment of this amazing time in our family. At least that’s how I like to recount the tale. In…
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gamingwithbaby.com | all your diapers are belong to us
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Because hospital baby pictures suck
6 Nov 2009 | 11:20 amDot, one month old. If you're reading this via RSS feed, you never know what could be missing on gamingwithbaby.com. -
My children. Their songs.
7 Oct 2009 | 7:54 pmThere is a power in music. It moves us. Inspires us. Empowers us. I lack the talent to express myself musically, as much as I want to. For no other reason than music can express feeling that mere words often lack. With Mac, the song came after the end: Butters, the song was settled early on (I even made a lousy video with it): And now, with Dot, the song I keep coming back to: These words and melodies are from people far more talented than I, but what they express is but the tiniest sampling of the love I have for my children. These songs, they belong to them. If you're reading this via RSS… -
September
30 Sep 2009 | 4:58 pmJust something to pass along on this last day of the month. Enjoy. If you're reading this via RSS feed, you never know what could be missing on gamingwithbaby.com. -
History repeats itself
18 Sep 2009 | 9:53 pmIn the final days of September 1976, a Californian (by way of Colorado) found herself traveling fifteen miles of blacktop to a hospital in north central Alabama. All the signs were there, the pain, the pressure, and that sixth sense that women develop in the waning days of pregnancy was screaming, "this is it." Confidently she told the mother of her husband, who at that very moment was thousands of miles away from his still new bride, that it was time to go. And so they raced to that pillar of hope, anxious and excited at what the coming moments would welcome. Together the woman from… -
Much adieu about... nothing?
17 Sep 2009 | 7:19 pmOr so it would seem. At 11am she called and said if these things don't get better then I'll get someone to bring me home so we can go to the hospital. Things didn't get better, but she stayed at work anyway. At 2:30pm she said she was on her way home. At 3:00pm she called the doctor. At 3:30pm she was admitted. And that is where we are now. Still. She was at 3cm and 70% and still is. The procardia has done nothing to stop her contractions, but she hasn't progress either. They have since taken us out of L&D and put us in antepartum for the night. It's now a game of hurry up and wait, a game I…
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spain dad, a baby blog
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Nesting
3 Nov 2009 | 7:15 amnest•ing in•stinctn. refers to an instinct or urge in pregnant animals to prepare a home for the upcoming newborn(s). It is found in a variety of animals (both mammals and birds) and can occur in human mothers as well.April stopped and set down the shopping bag in the middle of the sidewalk."You're going to have to carry this one too," she said with a sigh.Both of us watched a couple in the parking lot. She was pregnant and stood next to the car while he lifted their bags out of the grocery cart into the trunk. Eventually they both got into the car and sped away.We also had enough… -
Sending Kids to School in Spain (podcast)
28 Oct 2009 | 9:44 amHi, this is April, the mom from Spain Dad. Today I'm going to be interviewing Kelly, the dad from Spain Dad, about sending kids to school in Spain. We are far from experts on Spanish schooling or even sending kids to school in general, but we've experienced the whole process once now. We have a three-year-old daughter who started school in Spain this fall, so we thought we would share our experience with you. This interview is also available to listen to as a podcast. April: So, Kelly, first can you explain a little bit about Alleke's schooling situation. Kelly: We really had four options for… -
Stick People
25 Oct 2009 | 1:45 amAlleke drew people today for the first time.Happy and SadThe happy person is the one on top, and the sad person is the one on the bottom. April drew the body of the sad person.Boy and GirlThe boy is the one on the left. April drew the eyelashes, bodies and chair at Alleke's request. FamilyI guess Alleke thinks of us as a worm family. She's the colorful one in the middle, and of course, I'm always the big one. The lines are trees. -
Shaving Cream
21 Oct 2009 | 8:25 am -
How to Make Paper
12 Oct 2009 | 10:18 pmWatch How to Make Paper on Vimeo.
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Zoe's Dad
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Ed's Not Here--So Why Are You?
5 Nov 2009 | 7:07 amThere's a new post at Little m Long a. Just thought I'd leave a little note here for those of you who may not have had a chance to update the ways in which you follow the Life of Ed.You can check it out by following this link: I Think I'm Gonna Take a Personal Day. As always, thanks for stopping by. -
What Have You Done, Ray?
2 Nov 2009 | 5:00 amI read somewhere recently that the fastest way to kill a blog was to take a break. And while I certainly believe this to be an effective method having recently benefited from a short respite myself, I've done the adage one better.Change the name of your blog completely. In fact, change the name of the blog and move to a different blogging platform. It's the blogging equivalent of hari kari. Though I read what is actually involved in hari kari and this is not quite as disgusting. In the purest form, not only do you get to disembowel yourself but a buddy then gets… -
Toasts, Warm Wishes and a Collective Sigh of Relief
27 Oct 2009 | 9:32 pmA toast is in order.Celebration seems hardly an appropriate descriptor yet few other words feel adequate. We spent the past weekend celebrating the marriage of my wife's younger sister. She and her husband, my new brother-in-law (I've been calling him that for years) were married this past Saturday.The entire celebration was warm, genuine and truly unique, a testament to both of their personalities. And in a classic twist, the bride and groom were able to transfer any wedding apprehensions, tensions or nervousness completely away from them and directly onto those of us… -
Ball-DA-chee (I Think It's Italian for Best Seller)
27 Oct 2009 | 2:28 amDavid Baldacci has written 17 consecutive New York Times Best Sellers. He has sold books in over 80 countries in 45 languages with upwards of 90 million copies of his works currently in print. This once lawyer from Virginia turned murder/mystery novelist is a machine!David Baldacci sells books. Great books. Books filled with pages. Pages of suspense and mystery. His characters draw you in and leave you wanting more. Some less. So why, you may be asking yourselves, would David Baldacci need a lowly blogger such as myself singing praises for his newest… -
Southerners Don't Introspect----But We Will Watch a Movie
25 Oct 2009 | 5:21 pmI've learned precious little during the past three or so weeks of self-imposed down time. This should be of little surprise to anyone. I'm from the south and as a rule we are slow learners. It's our nature. I'd love to tell you that I used the time wisely, introspectively evaluating my life and circumstances and implementing little changes to make me a better person.But I'd be lying. I'm not that deep. Remember, I'm from the south and in addition to being a rather unhurried lot, we're we are also not given to much self analyzation or introspect. It's just not in…
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Tales From The Dad Side
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The SFSG Journals, Volume One
6 Nov 2009 | 3:40 amParanoid Android - RadioheadA couple of weeks ago, while searching for my school scrapbook, MTM also discovered a journal I kept in the fall of 1997 (three years before meeting her, when I was SciFi Single Guy - or SFSG - living in Montreal). As I am still in a weird place with my blogging right now (in other words, struggling to find post ideas), I thought I'd try posting some of it.Originally, I was going to transcribe it to text, but after confirming with MTM that my handwriting is (relatively) legible, I decided to scan the pages instead. I have redacted some identifying elements, but… -
The Baby Whisperer
5 Nov 2009 | 3:15 amGood Enough - EvanescenceI stepped out of the shower a couple of mornings ago, and I could hear him screaming. I didn't know if MTM was making him cry himself to sleep or if something worse was going on. After I got dressed and said my goodbyes to a Munchkin who should have been sleeping (but rarely seems to be when I'm heading to work), the light went on in his room: a sign that my presence was permitted (not permitted, but that it was OK for me to come in; sometimes I just leave it because MTM feels I get him wired up and he's less likely to fall back asleep).He was writhing in her arms… -
Spousal Language
4 Nov 2009 | 3:15 amSo They Say - Soul AttorneysMTM and I have lived together for over eight years now, and in that time we have developed our own language. A single word or a partial expression can often convey meaning beyond what most people will get. It has also proven invaluable when trying to hide things from a precocious junior kindergartener. What follows is a sampling of some of our more common ones.craptacularDefinition: of inferior quality and style quotient; typically refers to a decoration (also abbreviated to tacular now that "crap" is not something we want uttered to the teacher)Origin: Simpsons… -
No Idea
3 Nov 2009 | 3:15 amNot My Idea - Garbage"I've been thinking about scaling back," I said to MTM after the kids went to bed last night."On your blog?""Yeah.""Why?""Nights like tonight. I don't have anything pressing to write about, so I'm probably going to go downstairs and churn out something that I didn't need to post.""That's why I don't post to a schedule.""I know."* * *It would have been easy to just not post today; I could have taken the night "off" and done whatever. Instead, I combed through my archives and read over the various "post ideas" files sitting in… -
Scary
2 Nov 2009 | 3:15 amOne could read the title and, given the fact that this is my first post since Halloween, assume that today's post is about a spooky night we had trick-or-treating. One would be wrong.Scared - Three Days GraceOn Thursday night, as MTM and I were watching Grey's Anatomy, Munchkin started to cough - hard - and then she started to gag, and we both ran upstairs because Munchkin has a long and sordid past that involves coughing and vomit. She didn't get sick, but she ended up in bed with me that night after MTM went to nurse Buddy.She spent the better part of Friday on the couch watching Treehouse…
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Our Family of 4
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November
1 Nov 2009 | 4:09 amThere are a lot of things that come to mind when I think of November, my birthday, Jackson's birthday, Thanksgiving, the hope of snow, to name a few. November means something else to 3 MILLION Americans, Epilepsy Awareness Month. Just a few years ago, we never gave second thought to seizures or epilepsy. Sure, I knew a few people that had Epilepsy, but I didn't think much of it. Then came Kade. Kade was a great baby, with few issues. We noticed that he was having a hard time holding his head up on his own, but we were giving him time. We started asking his Dr about therapy to help gain some… -
Kade's Krewe
30 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pmWe will be participating in the Epilepsy Awareness Walk 2009. It is going to be held Dec 05, 2009 at Crestwood Mall. Please feel free to donate by clicking the donate button to the right. If you would like to walk with us just let me know.josh -
Fun at the Cards Game
7 May 2009 | 6:09 pmWe were able to go to the cardinals game Monday night. It was so much fun. We got everyone to go with us. Josh's parents and my parents got to go along with us. We got the all inclusive box seats. It was really nice! The food was good and there were tables we could keep Kade at the entire game. Jackson was able to run in and out and not bother too many people!! We all had a really good time!Kade has some exciting news.... he is now eating all real food! That is right no more baby food! He is enjoying the new flavors. He still has his sweet tooth though! He has taken a real liking to yogurt… -
We are still alive!!
14 Apr 2009 | 6:16 pmIt has been quite some time since we have posted anything on here. SORRY!!! We have all been very busy! Jackson is as crazy as ever! Whoever said terrible 2s were bad, hasn't met Jackson at 3 years old. He has sooo much energy! He is now playing soccer (by playing, I mean crying the whole time for now apparent reason while his team mates run around after the ball.) We are hoping this will get better as the weeks go on.Kade is doing well also. His seizures are still continuing, some days less than others. He is making slow progress with his physical therapy. He has lifted his head a few times… -
Happy Birthday Kade
9 Feb 2009 | 5:05 amSaturday was Kade's 1rst Birthday. We had scheduled a party for him on Sunday afternoon. Everything was going according to plan until 4am Sunday morning, Jackson woke up puking. We called everyone later in the morning warning of the sickness. We ended up just having family and celebrating. Kade really enjoyed the cake icing, and loved the balloons. He got cloths, a few toys, and some new stuffed animals.
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Amanamongmommies
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Two Days Off for the Kids
3 Nov 2009 | 7:58 pmPictures: Halloween Revisited. My Little Fireman… The Ninja Assassin Good For Nothing Packer Fan… The kids had a good time all be it VERY COLD TIME! The little guy loved his hat and was wearing the costume for hours after trick or treating. My oldest of course had to be a Packer Football player. Might have to leave him out of the will (LOL) The kids actually only trick or treated for about an hour and they were happy to be done. It was so cold they had no desire to stay out. November is National Adoption Month I added a little tag to the upper right hand part of my blog… -
November is Here…Really?
2 Nov 2009 | 7:58 pmPicture: Sitting with Stuffies… The little guy loves to pile up his stuffies up on the couch with him. There has even been times when he has piled so many you could hardly see him. It remids me of the scene in ET when he is in the closet. November is Here… Really? I am having a hard time with November being here already. Where did all the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were getting ready for summer. Sometimes time goes too slow and other times way too fast. Thanksgiving is around the corner, then Christmas and then the little guy turns TWO! Wow! Weight Loss… -
The Fun of Fall
26 Oct 2009 | 7:00 amDaily Picture: The Boys Play in the Leaf Pile Little guy running into the leaves. Middle guy throwing leaves at Mom. Oldest shaking the leaves out of the tree. The Fun of Fall With our tress finally getting bigger the boys had a blast playing in the leaves on a warm sunny Sunday. Growing up we had a lot of big trees around so the leaf piles we beyond huge. As a kid the leaves are fantastic, as an adult not so much. It had been cool and rainy for days when Sunday the sun was out and it was nice and warm. Not many more days left like this so we need to enjoy. The boys made the leaf pile… -
It seems like an impossible task
21 Oct 2009 | 8:46 pmPicture: The Silly Boys Today about an hour after 5yo came home from school he and his little brother cuddled up in my big chair and watched cartoon for a while. Little guy just woke up from his nap and 5yo was tired from school. Dad Home Well my dad will be home a week from the hospital tomorrow. He is doing well, but I have been unable to see him. The boys were sick with colds and then I got hit hard over the weekend and the Dr said I needed to stay away from him until at least Tuesday. Well today I still felt like a train wreck so I will probably not visit him until the weekend. … -
Extremely Busy Week
12 Oct 2009 | 11:59 amWell the past week has been extremely busy. My father went in for Triple Bypass last week and had some minor complications. I spent a bunch of my free time there. He is expected to recovery FULLY, just a little delayed. I have some exciting news and items going up this week as well. Look for me to be back at it soon.
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A Family Runs Through It
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Where's The Fire?
6 Nov 2009 | 12:01 amI still enjoy seeing the little Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars spread all over the house.It means they're being played with and loved.And my kids' imaginations are being stoked by a little piece of plastic and metal, like this yellow firetruck I found on the living room window sill.It does a father's heart good to see evidence of the magical wonderment of childhood play.Of course, I take it all back when I step on one in the middle of the night on my way to the bathroom.Then I curse the devilish things to hell where they belong. -
Life-Changing Music
4 Nov 2009 | 12:42 amAnother fun post from the archives. Back in 2005, in response to a challenge by Shotgun Daddy, I made a list of my ten "life-changing" albums:1. The Banana SplitsThe first album that I can remember owning. I still have it somewhere. There was nothing better than sitting my 5-year-old self down in front of the TV on Saturday morning and watching hour upon hour of mindless entertainment. Fleegle, Drooper, Bingo and Snorky were my favorites. The music was pure bubblegum pop.2. An Evening With John DenverThis was the only cassette tape my mom seemed to own, and we listened to it endlessly in her… -
Origins of Homeschooling
2 Nov 2009 | 12:57 amBrowsing back through my blog archives, I found a post from 2005 that reminded me why we started thinking about homeschooling in the first place.It was a conversation I had with my son, who was in the second grade at the time:Me: "Did you go to the library today?"Him: "Yes, I found a Bailey School Kids book!"Me: "Cool. You can read it tonight."Him: "No, I already read it."Me: "What? When?"Him: "Today, during my free time."Me: "Exactly how much free time do you have that you could read an 80-page chapter book in one afternoon?"Him: "Lots."Me: "And what is the teacher doing during all this free… -
Zombies In The Mist
30 Oct 2009 | 2:25 amThe zombies were out and about at Silverwood Theme Park. Or, Scarywood, as they've been calling it this month.Zombies gotta eat!There were evil scarecrows as well.The only escape was on the Midfright Express!You all have a safe and happy Halloween. Remember that kids are smarter than you think, so be very careful when raiding their candy bags later that night. -
Boarded Up
28 Oct 2009 | 1:39 amMy 8-year-old daughter announced that she wants a skateboard for Christmas.My response: "Absolutely not, never in a million years, just get over it."She already has a bike, a scooter, and a pair of roller skates.Enough is enough.Am I wrong?
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I have to wipe his what?
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Hot Dads Post Debut
3 Nov 2009 | 5:00 amHot Dads Post DebutMy first bonerfide Hot Dads post is up and ready to be scrutinized by the masses. I should let you know that it’s nearly as long as my psychology class essay at over 1,500 words. I would be doing my experiences an injustice if I were to cut them down to a mere few lines. Most of my posts are long, and I realize that may work against my blog. But I can’t bring myself -
Pregnancy Irrationalities
11 Oct 2009 | 11:04 pmPregnancy Irrationalities Lilly had become quite upset at me while standing at the checkout isle in the grocery store, for no apparent reason. Well, she had a reason, but it certainly didn’t warrant her tyrannical mental beating she bestowed upon me, the (near) innocent bystander. Perhaps I should have been a little more sensitive to her needs, but regardless, she went way overboard -
Farewell Summer Buns
24 Sep 2009 | 10:44 pmFarewell Summer BunsAhh summer. How we will miss you. We hang out at the beach checking out the waves….Chasing the tides…Burying our glasses in the sand….Getting my camera wet…We go sailing…And swim with the seals…Ahh yes, we will surely miss summer. There’s something for everyone to do at the beach. My boy frolicking in the sand, banging his shovel and buckets and getting buried.And -
Three dads walk into a class room…..
15 Sep 2009 | 10:45 pmThree dads walk into a class room…..“Okay, so we’re going to use some sign language with the songs. Hopefully near the end of the class season, the kids will pick up on the signs,” the instructor said as the classes first participation-required activity began. She shimmied her butt down into the child sized chair and continued with her explanation, “I’m sure some of you have been -
Meet The Neighbors Breasts
7 Sep 2009 | 8:22 pmMeet The Neighbors BreastsIt seems that once a week we meet someone else in our neighborhood. There are so many young kids within two blocks of my house, I haven’t even meet them all yet and I’ve counted a dozen so far. Many of them being under two. Yesterday we were terrorizing a neighbor’s cat when a guy came cruising down the sidewalk pushing his 19 month old boy.After chatting for a
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Joeprah - Stay at Home Dad on a Mission
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Happy Halloween
31 Oct 2009 | 10:25 amHappy Halloween from our family to yours! Feeling teased? Want more? I thought so. Go to Joeprah.com and become complete. -
Tyra Show and Book Drama
29 Oct 2009 | 8:12 pmThis post is designed to increase the tension leading up to our trip to NY and prolong the posts associated with the Tyra Show appearance*So, my publisher was supposed to send me a pre-production copy of the book so I could give it the final ‘thumbs... Feeling teased? Want more? I thought so. Go to Joeprah.com and become complete. -
Going to New York City!
27 Oct 2009 | 8:06 amJodi and I are going to be on the Tyra Banks show! Tomorrow we are taking a train ride from Penn Station in Baltimore up to New York for a 4:00 pm taping. We are thrilled. The show won’t air for a few weeks after the taping, but I will post details... Feeling teased? Want more? I thought so. Go to Joeprah.com and become complete. -
I review a Jacket because I'm Awesome
26 Oct 2009 | 7:57 pmSo, yeah, I was given a new winter coat from Lands' End and in return I agreed to review their product. Pretty much the definition of a win win relationship. I get warmth; they get a Joeprah review. Anyways, check out my review below--it's... Feeling teased? Want more? I thought so. Go to Joeprah.com and become complete. -
Joeprah's Book
4 Sep 2009 | 7:31 amGood people of the internet, I am looking for your help. I have finished writing a parenting book and I am trying to decide on a title. The book, a lot like my blog, is from the point of view of a stay-at-home-dad and entertaining as a mo. Below... Feeling teased? Want more? I thought so. Go to Joeprah.com and become complete.
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Memoirs of a Stay At Home Dad
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Check out the Awesome Videophone!
14 Oct 2010 | 9:31 amThis product is simply amazing, especially when you see children enjoying it! It is much, much easier to use than a webcam--who doesn't know how to use a phone!-- and will most likely save you money on your monthly phone bill!If you are interested in getting a videophone or cashing in on this awesome technology then check out my website: http://www.kenbruce.acnrep.com -
Rub My Back/Belly, Nonnie Here!, Thanks Nonnie for the New Word, I Want My Mommy, Icky Witch/Mean Old Lady, Halloween Store!
13 Oct 2009 | 10:48 pmMore soon... -
1st Week of Preschool, Cousin Vinnie's Party, Pasquales Bday Party, Maria(Meera), Sleeping Beauty(Sleeping Booty), Videophone!
19 Sep 2009 | 8:39 pmMore to come.... -
1st Day of Preschool, I Love You Daddy, Florida Vacation--Chaos!
3 Sep 2009 | 7:59 pmWe recently had Emma's preschool open house. It was cool to go see her school and be able to check out all the things that are there. Emma really liked the cars that they have and played with the cash register--ka-ching! We met her teacher again who is very nice, I think Emma likes her! That is a relief! I still can't help feeling nervous about her starting preschool even if it is only a couple -
Family Night at the Zoo, The Boys' Birthday Party, Indiana @ Mary's, Preschool Teacher Visits,1st Backpack
31 Aug 2009 | 8:45 pmA recent weekend proved to be extremely busy and fun for Emma. The following is a summary..Friday was Family Night at the Brookfield Zoo was a good time despite the rain! Emma, and Melissa and I for that matter, were entertained by the lions who were actually playing! A benefit of going to the Zoo in the evening is that the animals are wide awake and very active. The lions looked like kittens
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all that comes with it
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Pies and Soup and Cakes oh my!
6 Nov 2009 | 3:49 amIt seems that the Halloween pumpkin Evan and I carved has somehow contracted Single Parent Dad’s hideous body wasting disease. I think it must have happened when we took it down to his house last week. I think I may even been able to pinpoint the exact moment of infection: Thankfully I’m not worried about the health of any of the Hughes family as the disease is only transferred from vegetable to vegetable. But this pumpkin is certainly rotting at quite an extraordinary rate, far faster than Amy’s one. Even renowned pumpkin expert Professor Beryl Chicken says it’s… -
The List
5 Nov 2009 | 11:53 amLike many bloggers I have an on-the-go list to record potential post ideas for future use. I’m not convinced that this adds anything to the quality of what I spew out here, but it does sometimes give me something to write about when otherwise my mind is blank. Here’s a small extract from my list that hints at what you lucky people might be reading here at All That Comes With It over the next few weeks. Warning, contains spoilers: Hate having to pay for ketchup Pictures of muddy boots Dinner vs Lunch Pretty thrilling stuff eh? Perhaps this blog should come with caveat that it… -
NaMagPiMoGroMo
4 Nov 2009 | 1:23 pmThe month of November seems strangely suited to starting new projects. Maybe it’s the onset of cold weather and dark evenings that prompts people into generating ways by which to wile away the hours. This is the month traditionally associated with NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), where people from all over the blogoshere pledge to post an entry every single day of November. This used to be an all pervasive event on the internet, but since the organizers went a bit mad with power and announced that every month was NaBloPoMo it seems to have lost momentum somewhat. Off the top of… -
Hulk Elongated Man Lobo Punisher
3 Nov 2009 | 3:15 pmOn Monday I blogged about my inability to remember the NATO phonetic alphabet. In the comments section Steve from Life Begins joked: What you need to do is to invent your own phonetic alphabet based on comic book heroes. You’ll be fluent in minutes. Oh Steve, you really should be more careful what you suggest to me. So here it is, my own special phonetic alphabet created with a set of self imposed rules. The primary one being that I didn’t allow myself to look anything up, every superhero name had to come from memory. And there lies the problem, my memory is completely shot. Some… -
Pop pop pop pop pop
2 Nov 2009 | 11:04 amTrack list 1. Electric Car – They Might Be Giants 2. Monster Mash – Boris Pickett 3. Trying Vegetables – Joshua Rich 4. Purple People Eater – Barry Cryer 5. Older – They Might Be Giants 6. Popcorn – Barenaked Ladies Intro and outro (Casino Royal: Mexican Border Brass Ensemble) I’m very pleased to be able to present a special family focused episode of Radio All That Comes With It, with guest presenters from all corners of the globe (well, the English speaking bits anyway). All the tracks on this podcast are either kids or kid friendly songs, and…
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Cynical Dad
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Friday Night Earworm
6 Nov 2009 | 3:34 pmThis, my friends, is how to make a music video:And if you're reading this and the video has been pulled, it was for the latest single, You Know Me, by Robbie Williams. -
Man In Car
5 Nov 2009 | 7:25 pmRejected. Again.Maybe it was the repulsive stench of fear, desperation, and awkwardness that permeated through every pore of my body.Maybe it was the robotic spiel where I spit out a thousand words in ninety seconds without coming up for air.Maybe they watched me rehearse in my rearview mirror. A Comedy of Errors. Practicing my lines, smiling, laughing, acting confident. I look human. A total lie. The guy in the mirror is so much easier to talk to than the guy behind the counter.Every once in awhile, they throw me a bone. Maybe out of pity. Maybe I'm scaring the customers. Maybe they really… -
27
4 Nov 2009 | 7:33 pmIt's the top of the ninth and the Yankees are leading 7-3 over the Phillies. They are three outs away from their 27th Word Series title. Time to jump in and provide commentary!11:38 PM Personally, I thought it was a bad idea to bring Rivera in so early. They had a four-run lead. He didn't need to record the final five outs. Maybe Joe was trying to make sure Mariano would be named MVP?11:39 PM Rivera's set to face Francisco, Ruiz, and Rollins this inning.11:42 PM And they've brought in Matt Stairs to bat for Francisco.11:43 PM Line drive to Jeter. One away.11:43 PM Carlos Ruiz at the… -
Tweets Of The Week XIII
3 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pmYeah. That time again.So there's an online service that lets you rent books (like Netflix, only with books). Um... isn't this called a library? -- 10.30.09 I wish my kids were old enough to go to haunted houses. Or weren't afraid of haunted houses. -- 10.30.09 Dear Open Office, Why have I ignored your call for so long? Signed, Your new BFF, Chag -- 10.30.09 New neighbors gave out cheeseburgers to the adults as treats. And the wife was in a French maid costume. Best neighbors ever. -- 10.31.09 I'm sick of the girl who's in her pajamas but not going to bed. Go to college, go to hell. I don't… -
An Open Letter To Joe Girardi
2 Nov 2009 | 1:29 pmHey Joe--First of all, I've got to tell you I'm a lifelong Yankees fan. I also feel you've done a hell of a job managing the team and the different personalities this year. Hell, A-Rod alone must've caused more than a few gray hairs!Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, I've got to tell you that I feel you're making a B-I-G mistake tonight by starting A.J. Burnett on three days of rest. Burnett isn't the most consistent pitcher on your team; you never know what you're going to get when he takes the mound. I have three big concerns concerning tonight's game:Burnett is pitching on three…
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Poop and Boogies
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Man Challenge
6 Nov 2009 | 2:26 amPicture this:A woman struggles opening a mayonnaise jar, turns to her husband for assistance, he tries and tries but cannot get the lid to turn. It is such a simple task yet so difficult. She says, "Honey, let me run it under some hot water." He says, "No, I got it." He struggles some more, sweat beading on his forehead. She says, "Let me tap it with a knife." He says "NO. I said I got it." He keeps trying but the lid refuses to budge. A seemingly simple physical challenge is bringing his manhood into question. A man is supposed to be able to open jars. He places the jar on the counter to… -
Symptom
4 Nov 2009 | 11:20 amI was in the process/hell of shoveling 5 yards of mulch, last fall, when I started to feel tightness in my chest. I stopped to catch my breath and found that it was short. A minute later I threw a few more shovel-fulls into the wheelbarrow to top it off. I bent my knees, grabbed the long wooden handles and dead-lifted the weight of the wheelbarrow. As I steered the mulch toward the front garden the left, I felt a sharp pinch in my left shoulder. I lost my grip on the left handle and it dropped from my hand, the metal container crashed to the ground spilling its contents all over the yard. My… -
Monster Squad
1 Nov 2009 | 6:12 amI prefer scary Halloween costumes over the super hero or movie character variety. I was very happy when Maxfield said he wanted to be a skeleton. I was even happier when our friend Kristan lent us a skeleton costume. Wyatt, who wanted to be Iron Man, and then a robot, and then Wolverine, made me happy when finally decided he wanted to be a mummy. Lauren took an old bed sheet, tea-stained it,tore it into pieces and zip-boom-viola, a cheap mummy costume. Lauren decided she would recycle an old Frankenstein costume for Jackson. Our Halloween costumes were cheap and scary, kind of like a… -
Book Review, kind of
29 Oct 2009 | 4:25 pmI was 23 years old and I had just broken up with my girlfriend of a few years, when my roommate and friend, Rob, put on the song Murder of One by the Counting Crows. We got drunk on Rolling Rock at the local bar and listened to that CD all weekend. That song is a great song but, to me, it is even a better song because it reminds me a good time.Lauren and I started to watch the show Lost in the fall of 2004. Max, who was only six months old at that time had just started to sleep through the night around that same time. Lauren and I would put Max to bed and make Lost a TV "date night". Lost is… -
Inspiration and Intimidation
28 Oct 2009 | 6:53 amI have been in a funk.It all started when we took the kids to go see Where the Wild Things Are two weeks ago. Lauren said the movie (the emotional undertones) depressed her. I left the theater feeling inspired. Visually the movie is stunning and the characters are well developed with excellent acting. Seeing a film like that makes me want to create, to be a better storyteller, to be a better writer. Then I became intimidated because I know that I will never be able to tell a story like that.In the book and in the film there is the line “I’ll eat you up. I love you so.”Did you ever see…
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Mitch McDad's World
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Wouldn’t it have been nice if the H1N1 vaccine had been available before school started?
28 Oct 2009 | 6:39 amImportant health info for all of us, not just parents. Pass it along! fastervaccines.org -
Two Minutes Out Of Your Life Could Possibly Save Someone Else’s Life
14 Oct 2009 | 2:03 pmEmbedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video” mce_href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a> Notice they are using the new technique utilizing constant chest compressions without stopping for intermittent breaths to the victim. This article, For young mom, new CPR beat back death, addresses the subject. -
Denver Ink
8 Oct 2009 | 8:33 amGET OFF DADDY'S PRIVATE AREA! This morning I uttered the words, “get off Daddy’s private area!” at least 5 times. No, this command was not directed towards my wife—I’ll spare you any more details on that front. This command was directed towards my daughters after they jumped in bed with us this morning and decided to play Spiderman vs Green Goblin Death Battle. As any dad knows, small children must acquire some DNA that implants the inherent ability to know to use daddy’s package as a punching bag. If I had a nickel for every inadvertent knee, elbow, foot… -
Do They Scare Away Little Cocks?
4 Oct 2009 | 8:35 am“Do they scare away little cocks?” The conversation stopper uttered by my 4-year-old, Lulu, during our discussion on scarecrows yesterday. I’m absolutely sure there were no racial implications when she then mentioned that the aforementioned cocks happened to be black. Needless to say, MRS and I went to great pains to explain to Lulu that the birds intended to be frightened off by the hay-filled people on sticks were indeed black crows, not little black cocks—an important distinction, I think. I was planning on writing more on this subject, but MRS got all “Julia… -
Profane Brilliance
2 Oct 2009 | 9:23 amI happened upon this Louis CK clip today. What can I say? Dude’s strong. Not suitable for children or sensitive people.
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Creative-Type Dad
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Why I Hate Facebook
1 Nov 2009 | 10:45 pmCall it peer pressure, sheer curiosity, interest in the latest internet fad, or just wanting to stop those annoying emails of people wanting me to join Facebook; I finally bit the bullet and joined with my real name.And then yesterday I determined that I’ve had enough and terminated my account.I quickly came to the conclusion that I really don’t want an “update” when somebody is tired, tried a new food, hates their boss, met up with friends, hungry, kid has diarrhea, or when the dog just threw-up again. I don’t want to know everything they’re a fan of or when they just used crop… -
More CREATIVE and FREE Pumpkin Stencils!
20 Oct 2009 | 12:00 amIt's pumpkin carving season and what would Halloween by without a Lionel Richie, Colonel Sanders, or Gary Coleman Jack-O-Lantern? Pretty boring.This year was a tough one for my annual stencil making. My daughter was requesting a Princess and the Frog stencil - thanks to the commercials and billboards all around town for the upcoming movie. Oddly enough they don't make any pumpkin stencils for the new Princess so I created one for her.An oldie I've always wanted to try was Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Now after creating it, I don't know if it'll live up to the neighbors expectations. -
What To Do When There Are Monsters Attacking The House…
5 Oct 2009 | 7:15 amI’m not telling, I’m asking.According to my 4-year old monsters keep attacking our house every night and according to her the only way to keep them away is to stay up late, sleep in our bed, eat Root Beer floats, and watch cartoons.I think she’s lying because I do most of that already.Well maybe not all of that. Just replace cartoons with ‘Glee’ and the ‘new’ Melrose Place (don’t judge me.)Oddly enough this is the first time we’ve ever has to deal with nightmares. My daughter has never had any up to this point before, even, after that one incident we had awhile back with… -
Doodle Pages For Grown-Ups and Kids That Can’t Read
22 Sep 2009 | 12:30 amWhat started out as a great idea earlier in the summer has suddenly become quite a chore.My daughter has a collection of those so-called “Doodle Books”, you know the ones with those half drawn pictures that ask you to draw everything from food to how many teeth a hockey player has left in his mouth.These books have definitely run their course through my house. I’m now to the point of creating my very own…(click to download)"How much stash does Yo Gabba Gabba have left?""What did the Gnome set on fire?""Draw all the single ladies""Fill in Lionel Richie's Chest hair" -
The Kindergarten Myth
10 Sep 2009 | 12:45 pmNow that summer is sadly over, about half the kids in my daughter's preschool have gone off to the great "Kindergarten."I put it in quotes because from what my daughter has been telling me, it really has changed a lot from the days when I was a kid.An actual conversation--Daughter: Reece's last day was today...he's going to KINDERGARTEN in Antarctica!Me: Really? AntarcticaDaughter: YES! And his mommy and daddy buyed him a new car when he turned 5 and got married to Melena. She's going to KINDERGARTEN too!Me: Wow, Kindergarten, married, and a new car. At least they can get the married rate on…
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modern day dad
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FakeTV Burglar Deterrant Keeps The Fake TV Glowing
14 Oct 2009 | 10:48 amI've bought a lot of hair-brained electronic crap in my life, and so when I told my wife about FakeTV, she just assumed this was another one of those things. And while I can't say for sure that this thing fulfilled it's purpose (and I'm happy about that, believe me), even my wife had to agree that it's a pretty cool little device.The basic premise behind FakeTV is that burglars won't bother to break into a house that they know is occupied, and the number one way they can tell a house is occupied is the faint glow of a television being watched in the dark. The problem… -
Blogging at ABC 2009 - The All Baby & Child Product Expo
14 Sep 2009 | 10:44 pm2009 is year-two for me at the ABC Expo, and even though the economy is not what it was last year, you'd hardly know it from attending the show. There seems to be just as many booths and products as last year, and once again I'm trying to blog about all of them.Well, not all of them exactly. Just the products and companies that have something new or interesting to show. And even then there's absolutely no way I'm going to be able to get to everything. So if you're interested in what I'm writing about, go over to this page at Babble.com's gear blog Droolicious… -
Can We Please Stop Praising The Baby Dangler?
29 Jun 2009 | 12:14 pmEnough of the Michael Jackson tributes already. Almost every morning I turn on the Today Show on NBC, and today was the first morning since his death that the news has been at least fifty percent something other than Michael Jackson related. On Saturday morning I even switched over to a business show on Fox News (to get a break from the wall-to-wall "king of pop" coverage on NBC), and what do you suppose they were talking about? Michael Jackson's money.Sure, I loved (and love) Thriller as much as the next guy, and no one can deny he was the amazing performer everyone says he is. -
Tauntaun Sleeping Bag, Boy-rettes and a Pink Plastic Octomom Sculpture
17 Apr 2009 | 11:14 amEven though last week was my kid's spring break from school, I've managed to write about some pretty interesting stuff over at Babble in the last month or so. Some of my favorites are:The Tauntaun Sleeping Bag. The Empire Strikes Back's favorite beast of burden made into a kid's sleeping bag. And I thought they felt cozy on the outside.Boy-rettes. Alterna-hipster boys with long hair need something cool to keep their long hair out of their eyes. And while I know I shouldn't have a problem with this, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a part of me that this… -
Morrissey's New Dad Pose
26 Mar 2009 | 11:44 amCan someone tell me what exactly is going on with the album art to Morrissey's new album, Years of Refusal? As a childhood devotee of the Smiths (and fan of Morrissey's solo work), the idea of him with a baby is at worst weird and at best kind of funny. And while this was pretty much my initial reaction to the actual image, it got me thinking about whether or not there was some deeper meaning to the whole thing.Stereogum had a butterfly/caterpillar theory to it (revolving around the apparent jeweled butterfly and "caterpillar" on the baby's head and Morrissey's arm…
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Mommy Daddy Blog
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My Head. His Teeth.
5 Nov 2009 | 4:06 amHe’s been a Cranky McCrankers off and on for the last 3-4 days, randomly shrieking. He’s had a fever, no flu symptoms. His bottom canines have surfaced and they weren’t playing. And now all is well. This post was written October 28th, 2009. © Mommy Daddy Blog 2007-2009 My Head. His Teeth. Batman and BonesCamera Dump 10/21/09: And 1 In The YardCamera Dump 10/13/09: Just Hanging OutMy Pursuit of HappinessPhotos From Yesterday :-) -
It’s about time.
4 Nov 2009 | 1:14 amLast Wednesday, Boogie and I went to hang out with some friends at Michelle’s. It was our first time getting together with other moms and their kids with the exception of going on the General Mills trip. It felt like home; cozy kick your shoes off, help yourself to the fridge, let the kids roam free home. {more on flickr} Today, we’re doing it again. I’m looking forward to seeing Jaymi (thanks for the nudge), Michelle, Carrington, Sheryl, and Toni (if she stops by) again, catching up with Steph and meeting Jen for the first time. I’m glad to have them in this new… -
The Cirque du Soleil I Would Love To See
3 Nov 2009 | 11:06 amOne of my goals for next year is to participate in local events and entertainment. Boogie is older now and I think he’d really enjoy getting out and experiencing the whimsy. Banana Shpeel is coming here in Chicago and I’d love to go as a family. It is a hilarious unpredictable narrative fueled by eccentric dance and slapstick humor. Here’s a sneak peek: An unpredictable narrative describes our lives exactly and sometimes some humor is thrown in the mix. Surprisingly enough, most of these family friendly humorous moments deal with poop or gas. Take the time Boogie pooped on… -
I Heart Faces: Balloons
2 Nov 2009 | 8:58 pmI think I was called to participate in this challenge. When we took the trash to the curb tonight, we noticed a red balloon sitting on our trash can. We thought nothing of it. I just bumped up on this week’s I Heart Faces challenge and low and behold, a balloon challenge. I took this picture of Boogie and Greg at my cousin’s daughter’s 2nd birthday party back in August. It just may end up in our blog header. © Mommy Daddy Blog 2007-2009 I Heart Faces: Balloons Batman and BonesCamera Dump 10/21/09: And 1 In The YardCamera Dump 10/13/09: Just Hanging OutMy Pursuit of… -
Batman and Bones
31 Oct 2009 | 7:59 pmHalloween has made it’s appearance and now it is slowly fading away. So what did you guys do today? Boogie’s great grandmother took him to a party they had going on at her school (she’s a teacher) and he had a blast running around and helping with the candy. I’m hoping to get pictures from that. Right now I’m thinking about cracking open the pumpkin and baking the seeds, maybe even snuggling up for a movie. We’re now shopping around for next year’s Halloween costume so that we can luck up on a deal. This year it was either order a costume and pay…
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Parenting Message Boards - Parenting.com Community
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H1N1 shot @ 6months?
6 Nov 2009 | 7:47 pmI have a question about the H1N1 shot. My son will be 6 months old on the 26th and I'm pretty sure he will be getting the H1N1 shot at his 6 month appointment along with a series of other shots but I'm not sure if he should get it. My mother is a nurse and she says that the shot is not perfected yet and that she doesn't see the point in people getting it but I'm nervous about it. If it will help him then of course i want him to get it but i just don't know what to do. My sister has kids a little bit older and she doesn't know what she is doing either. Does anyone ave any advise? -
Coupon in Nov Issue of Parenting?
6 Nov 2009 | 7:03 pmWould anyone be willing to send me their 20% off coupon for Gymboree that's in this months issue of Parenting? -
Help me with my Parents Say blog!
6 Nov 2009 | 7:02 pmI started a new (kinda funny) blog: http://parentssay.blogspot.com/ It's based on the idea I had for a book called "parents say the strangest things" I know I'm not the only parent who has said "DO NOT PET THE DOG WITH A FORK!" or "I will not kiss your butt and make it feel better." My wife and I started writing down some of the crazy things we say. We kept a list on the fridge...and it took on a life of it's own. Yes, basically the book was written on a Whirlpool appliance! Back to the blog and how you can help. If you have any great (funny) stories you'd like… -
Sleep time - crying & throwing up
6 Nov 2009 | 5:48 pmI need some feedback! My daughter is 7 1/2 months. For the most part, she is a great sleeper -- takes a bottle and rocks to sleep, sleeps through the night, goes to bed at a decent time, etc. However, i've recently been trying to put her to bed before she's asleep for 2 reasons - trying to establish a better routine, and once in a while she will be cranky, overtired, or not want a bottle, and therefore will not go to sleep. However, here is my dilemma -- i have been trying the "let her cry in her crib for a couple minutes, go in and soothe her, extend the intervals between going in,… -
Role Models
6 Nov 2009 | 3:42 pmI believe that everyone has a type of role model in their life perhaps that is why people are seen to be great in the first place. The question then comes, what makes someone your role model. As for me I believe it is who they are and what they stand for weighed over what they have done. As for me, my role model is my uncle, the renowned entrepreneurial expert because I really do know who he is, I have seen his good works and furthermore he is real to me. Which seems to sum it up for me, role models who are bigger than life are often not real. Pick a role model you know.
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Writer Dad
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Help Our Children Write the Future!
6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amOur children will write the future. What they write will be largely up to us. Cindy and I have been working on our Children Write the Future site for a really… er, REALLY long time now. Setback after setback, it’s sat in our lab, patiently waiting for the time when it could have the attention it so deserves. One of our biggest desires is to build a high-quality online home where young writers and their parents can comfortably gather. Starting this coming Monday, Children Write the Future will publish a continuously evolving stream of content, five days a week. However, we both… -
The Genie in My Pocket
5 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am“Dammit!” I knew I should have pulled off sooner. According to my directions I’m still a few miles shy of the Kodak Theater. I’m late for the conference, lost, and the emergency light on my fuel gauge has been lit for ten minutes. I look left, then straight ahead, both directions showing nothing but a sea of stalled metal and red lights. I sigh, flick my blinker, then turn the steering wheel of the old Sienna right, cursing myself in every word I know in my native tongue, plus a few I know in others. I shouldn’t have left Long Beach without gassing up. I thought… -
So I Finally Got an iPhone…
4 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am“The iPhone is the most sophisticated, outlook-challenging piece of electronics to come along in years. It does so many things so well and all so pleasurably.” ~ David Pogue, US technology writer as Apple’s new iPhone hits US shelves June 2007. I’ve hedged on this post for a while. You see, I really don’t want to be that guy. I’m rather private about such things, and don’t think anyone needs to know what type of phone I slip in my pocket. One of the first things I did the day I got the phone was go into the settings so I could remove the little thingy… -
The Mothers and Fathers of Tomorrow
3 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amToday’s Deja Vuesday/old favorite takes us back to one year ago when some punk ass kid was outside my house uglifiying my corner more than it already was. In the year that’s passed, the neighborhood has continued its decay of comfortable apathy. It’s sad really; what could be one of the more romantic rows of our beautiful city, lined with vintage houses and hard working families has been mostly left to fester and rot. Hopefully the sun will shine brighter on this zip code on some once upon a someday. Enjoy! “Cindy, I need you!” I’m out the door before she can… -
Hall-Uhhh-Ween
2 Nov 2009 | 9:27 amI‘m so excited for a brand new Monday, a new week of opportunity to catch up after the duo of conferences and raging illness that chased them like an angry banshee. I’m much better now, but it’s been a while since I felt that beat. I normally think of sick as involving lots of liquids in plenty of places, but this was a different and rather dry sort of agony. I felt as though someone took my bones and replaced them with pain while an army of tiny spiders with fire for blood laid their eggs in the meat of my throat. I went to dinner with my friend Jimmy after the conference…
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Raising Eli & Zachary
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Been a few weeks…
30 Oct 2009 | 10:16 amI know, I have been bad, not much activity on RaisingEli for three weeks and it has all been due to a crazy busy schedule and some major changes upcoming in our lives. First and foremost Eli is doing very well, and has conquered his fear of the water. I owe a great debt of gratitude to his swim coach for making it all possible. Eli has gone from a scared little cat in the water to a swimming duck and it has been a really cool transition to see. Eli has also gone into a stage that is driving me absolutely crazy. He whines a lot, and is not listening. When corrected he cries and runs to mommy. -
Ring the Bell
9 Oct 2009 | 11:57 amAt Eli’s swimming class you get to ring the bell when you reach certain achievements in your program. It is a big deal and in the multiple lessons I have watched, I have never seen a kid ring it. Call my unlucky or something but with all the laughing, splashing, crying and temper tantrums it is just something I have missed. Last night, I get a phone call from my wife and she tells me Eli has something to say…. “Daddy! I rang the bell, and I jumped into the water all by myself!” Like music to my ears this was great news. Eli has always been scared of jumping in, and… -
A Few Great Toddler Games
7 Oct 2009 | 8:00 amEli received three new games recently and two of them are sure hits for every toddler. The first is a “Guess Who” which is a mystery game in which the players have to ask each other yes/no questions in order to narrow down the field of suspects until only one remains. This game is a logical thinking game that is awesome for the kiddies. Some examples of questions: Does the mystery person have blue eyes? If the answer is yes, the person flips down the players who have any color eyes other than blue…. etc etc. The second game is a listening game. The players separate into two… -
What does one “do” with a 2 week old?
6 Oct 2009 | 12:12 pmOk parents, what does one “do” with a two week old baby? All they do is eat, sleep, poop, pee on the wall or the unsuspecting parent or eat…wait did I say eat twice? Well there are a lot of things you can do, most importantly there are a lot of basic rules to follow: How many times per day do I feed my baby? I believe you feed on demand, but you have to understand the difference between the I am hungry cry, and the I am tired cry, and the I am bored cry. Only experience will teach you the difference. But in terms of how often? Breast feeding means every 1-3 hours. Bottle… -
The Peeing Fountain
5 Oct 2009 | 7:37 amZachary is getting me in trouble right from the start! Twice, yes twice I have been changing his diaper only to have him pee all over the place. The first time, it was my fault, I just simply was not covering him up in case the cold air caused him to pee, the second time I did have him covered but just didn’t account for the angle! The first time, Zach just urinated on the wall, the second time, he urinated all over himself. Not a good start to diaper changing! You would think I would remember all the tricks to the trade. Dad’s out there, if you have a boy, make sure you have the…
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REBEL DAD
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More on Donating Your Dadness to Science (and an Update)
2 Nov 2009 | 4:28 amAnother from the inbox:I am a graduate student at Indiana State University working on my thesis. I am interested in examining aspects of being a stay at home dad and was hoping that you could help me with data collection. I have created an online survey that I would like to post on your website.It's legit: check it out here.Also: looks like The Doctors found their guy: Dan Klass of Bitterest Pill fame has hinted that he'll be the guy who gets a visit from Brooke Burke ... -
On More Media Request: Any SoCal Dads Out There?
27 Oct 2009 | 7:32 amFrom my inbox:I work for a nationally syndicated CBS health and medical talk show, called “The Doctors”. ...My reason for reaching out to you involves an upcoming family show that we will be taping at our stage at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA on Thursday, November 5th, 2009. The theme of the show is Ask Our Doctors: Family Edition. The show will feature some very special guests, our new mommy correspondent, Brooke Burke, and three Sesame Street Characters—Oscar the Grouch, Zoe, and Prairie Dawn. Brooke Burke does a lot of work in the field for us and the next the she wants to… -
More Blogs!
20 Oct 2009 | 6:29 pmI'm still trying to make good on my promise to flag as many dadbloggers as possible ... here are some additional ones worth a click:A Dad's Heart (http://adadsheart.blogspot.com/): By Cameron Phillips, who I met in Omaha and who is working on a documentary about at-home dads for the CBC.The Hossman Chronicles (http://thehossmanfamily.blogspot.com/): Surf there *now* ... there are a couple of great posts on the convention.Big Friggen Hammer (http://www.bigfrigginhammer.com/)Dead Beat Daddy-O (http://deadbeatdaddy-o.blogspot.com/)For more on the At-Home Dad Convention, check out this post from… -
More Blogs (and Media!)
15 Oct 2009 | 8:16 amThanks to those who are continuing to send me blogs. I'll keep adding them. Among the new additions are:Being the Dad of Twins: http://daddymanoftwins.blogspot.com/. Robb was one of the forces behind the convention last week. For that reason alone you should be tuning in to his brand-new blog.The NYC dads group is at www.nycdadsgroup.com.The Diligent Dad: http://diligentdad.blogspot.com/.And, in the department of media-that-want-to-talk-to-*you*, this landed in my inbox:I'm writing an article for Working Mother magazine about the way that the recession has caused a role reversal in many… -
The Dad-o-Sphere Continues to Grow
13 Oct 2009 | 4:59 amThose of you who were in Omaha last weekend know that I made a presentation on blogging and assorted other ways to reach out via the Internet, and I made a bold promise, given my recent not-so-impressive history of updates: I'd flag -- within 48 hours -- any convention guy who started posting. I got in at 8 p.m. last night, so the clock is ticking. I also have a huge backlog of blogs I need to feature, so here is what is going to get integrated into the blogroll:Daddy Does the Dishes: http://daddoesthedishes.blogspot.com/. Check out the convention post. Good to have you online, Mike. And a…
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Rice Daddies
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from the K5 blog
4 Nov 2009 | 4:44 pmIt's time for parent-teacher conferences for New York City parents. This video was forwarded to me by a parent in my son's class. While not Asian specific, I felt it offered some common sense advice for maximizing the adult learning potential in just 10 minutes. I agree with the host. 10 minutes is not a lot of time but with a little preparation it might be just enough time.If you are interested, here's a list of other things you can do in 10 minutes from Associated Content:Ten Things You Can Do in 10 MinutesYou'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in just 10 minutes.Read More -
Kohn Head
27 Oct 2009 | 8:31 pmWhenever the subject of Asian parents and discipline comes up, I think of Russell Peters’ skit about his dad and spankings. BigWOWO posted a reaction to Alfie Kohn’s article on “unconditional parenting.” As Daniel Willingham aptly points out, Alfie Kohn “has made a virtual industry out of finding interesting and provocative insights” on education and child development. On the Britannica blog (Yes, the encyclopedia people), the comments to Kohn’s reaction to Willingham’s reaction to his work is the best indication of how successful he is at what he does. I don’t believe his… -
“Gwoye Fan”
18 Oct 2009 | 3:16 pmWhen you make fried rice, you use rice that’s been in the fridge overnight (“gwoye faan” in Cantonese). You don’t use fresh rice right out of the cooker. The other thing you don’t do when making fried rice is you don’t cook everything all together, all at once. I mean you can, but I’m pretty sure my Dad would give you his patented WTF-look. It’s not a look of anger or reproach. It’s more on the lines of “if you’re not going to do it right, please step out of my kitchen.” It’s been so long since I posted to Rice Daddies that it didn’t feel right to repost or… -
When Your Kid Says Too Much
15 Oct 2009 | 10:18 pmEmbedded video from CNN VideoThis is more of a Rice Boy post rather than a Rice Daddy post--since the dad is White--but I thought it raised some interesting parenting questions. So you've all heard about the boy who everyone thought was in the runaway balloon--authorities were scrambling in fear that a six year old boy was in a helium balloon that he had supposedly set aflight, and when the balloon landed, he wasn't there. It turned out that the little boy was hiding in the attic.So in the clip above, on Wolf Blitzer's show, the father asks the son why he was didn't come out of the attic when… -
Boy, Girl, Gay, Straight, I don't care...
17 Sep 2009 | 3:55 pmOur second child was born yesterday, and upon learning that it was a boy, one family friend responded, "Oh, as the father, you must be pretty excited to finally have a son!"I'm like, "What, do I look like some kind of meathead? I don't care if it's a boy, girl, gay or straight. As long as it's healthy and happy." (You can imagine how mortified my devoutly Catholic mother was to hear that.)"Don't you at least want someone who will carry on the family name?""First of all, it's just a name," I replied. "Secondly, that's not even our real name.""What's your real name, then?""I have no idea," I…
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Snowdeal
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the eric update - day 1946: odin enjoys a halloween sauna with friends!
31 Oct 2009 | 7:30 pmsince yesterday was trick-or-treat day around these parts, odin decided to celebrate halloween proper with a sauna with friends! they've had never had a real finnish sauna, where you can bath by dumping buckets of cold water over your head, so he had a great time showing them The Way of The Sauna. obviously, much more fun than gorging on candy! -
the eric update - day 1945: happy halloween from odin the ghost!
30 Oct 2009 | 8:54 pmfor reasons that weren't really fully explained, our little town celebrated halloween on on friday instead of saturday like most of the rest of the country. this year, odin decided that he wanted to be a very scary ghost, so together he and his mamma sewed a suitably scary costume which, inexplicably, also required a magic wand. before going out and trick-or-treating, he got to see some of the older kids at his school put on a version of the wizard of oz during the traditional "enchanted forest walk" ( every year the kids enact scenes from a story while younger kids walk through the forest ). -
wherein odin extols the virtues of organic valley eggnog and orange juice.
24 Oct 2009 | 6:39 pmwherein odin extols the virtues of organic valley eggnog and orange juice. from Eric C. Snowdeal III on Vimeo. last week when i mentioned that eggnog season had begun and that folks should try eggnog and organge juice, the response was the typical skeptical "raised eyebrow". then i remembered that last winter ( maybe around the new year ), odin and i shot a test video that was going to submitted to a promotion that organic valley was running where folks could upload videos on their vision for an organic breakfast. for odin, that vision includes eggnog and orange juice :-) so we shot this test… -
the eric update - day 1933: The Great Postcard Coincidence! or it really is a small world after all!
18 Oct 2009 | 6:15 pmsince resuming the postcard project, the postcards have started coming in, and we've already received postcards from glacier national park, the the rock and roll hall of fame, luxembourg, switzerland and france! and the very first card odin received after the postcard project came off hiatus was from the west quoddy head lighthouse in downeast maine, sent by everyone's favorite rural librarian geek and askmetafilter moderator, jessamyn west ( and here and heck, while you're at it, check out a recent interview with jessamyn ). odin particularly enjoys the postcard from west quoddy head because… -
hurray! it's eggnog season!
16 Oct 2009 | 6:09 pmit's the middle of october which means you should start seeing organic valley eggnog on the shelves soon. and while i'm admittedly biased, it's better than ever this year. if you've never tried our eggnog, go ahead and treat yourself and let me know what you think ( really! ). try mixing 2 parts eggnog to 1 part orange juice. seriously. no, seriously! you'll be surprised. in a good way. seriously! feel free to share your favorite eggnog concoction. i'll try them and post my favorites :-)
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sweet juniper!
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Bused
6 Nov 2009 | 8:51 amThe ride took almost an hour each way. One time I stayed on the school bus past my own stop to go to a friend's house and it went deeper into the country where it dropped off the farm girl we cruelly called Sarah Plain and Tall because she was. I can still picture her on the dirt shoulder looking up at the driver for permission to cross the road. The air out there smelled like manure. I knew -
The Sweet Juniper Compendium of Magical Creatures, Chpts. 2 and 3
30 Oct 2009 | 9:25 amFor months we'd heard rumors of a white, winged horse galloping in the winds above Detroit, but only recently did we spy her ourselves. We followed a trail of tiny, floating feathers and found her in an ancient temple high up in the mountains, where we also met her friend: a fierce and mighty Griffin cub (chick? chub?), guarding his cache of golden chocolate coins. Click here to see many -
Nuts
28 Oct 2009 | 10:49 pmI can tell the season has officially tipped from the purr of traffic on the highway when I open the back door; millions of honey locust leaves that absorbed that sound all summer now hide the grass, leaving the sidewalks so covered that a nearsighted man might confuse them for paths of gold. The tiny leaves slink under the door and stow away in cuffs, in the tread of boots and in between dog toes -
Four Rooms
23 Oct 2009 | 7:35 am -
21 Oct 2009 | 7:18 am
21 Oct 2009 | 7:18 amI got a great freelance job out of the blue the other day and spent that evening with a security guard hired by a Detroit neighborhood association to patrol its streets at night, responding to resident safety concerns because the police don't. When I meet him he is obviously wearing a bulletproof vest. After stories of crackheads stabbing him with screwdrivers and evicted tenants setting fires in
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Tom Drapeau's Blog
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Apple May Have Set The “Genius” Bar Too High
24 Oct 2009 | 12:49 pmFirst off, I’ve been a pretty loyal Apple consumer since 2001. I used the Apple IIC machines in school, Windows then Linux machines through the 90’s, then came back to the light. I’ve purchased a PowerMac, a Mac Pro, 3 iMacs (one for me), several iPods, an iPhone and now an iPhone 3GS. You could say I’ve drunk the Koolaid–I prefer cherry with lots of sugar. However, the service I’m seeing these days in the Apple retail stores is not what I would call exemplary. I think there are some good eggs in the Genius bar (one guy did a decent job on a HD problem my… -
How Do You Like Them Apples?
15 Oct 2009 | 4:11 pmI love apple picking. It was a yearly tradition growing up in central Massachusetts–picking, drinking of mulled cider, pumpkin carving and merriment. I just had the privilege of living that feeling vicariously through KidWonder last weekend, while visiting family. We went to Doe Orchards in Harvard, MA, my childhood haunt. Here are some pics, and don’t miss the video toward the bottom! The trees: The tools: The catch: Enjoying the fruits of his labor: Here is KidWonder in action: And finally, walking off, stage left, with his Pa: -
Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle… then Hold Still
15 Oct 2009 | 11:21 amIts been a while since we attended this event, another gem suggested to us by the Lollipop Moms meetup group. The Great Children’s Read, held at Columbia University, is in its third year and brings together books and celebrities to wow an audience largely 2 to 8 years old. We wiggled into the crowd of parents, strollers and mayhem just in time to see DJ Lance Rock, emcee of the popular kids program Yo Gabba Gabba, come on stage and lead the crowd in song and dance. KidWonder was a bit weirded out by the crowd, but was very excited to see DJ Lance and his favorite character, Brobee. -
Hold On! You Catch Him
4 Oct 2009 | 5:41 amI wanted to share two KidWonder anecdotes before we run out for yet another great kids event (pics to come). On our way out yesterday to the Mamaroneck Lollipop Fair (MomWonder will post the pics, I keep hogging that privilege), I had to gas up the car. On the back of the front passenger seat is an old purse strap MW uses to rig up her iPhone when KW wants to watch a movie–other times it just sits there, within his reach. I left the radio on while gassing up the car, and come back to realize he’s holding on to the straps for dear life! I say “What are you doing?” He… -
Mini-Golf Outing
2 Oct 2009 | 1:32 pmGreat fun was had by KidWonder and I when we visited the local mini-golf course. The proof (be sure to watch the video at the end):
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The Battle of Wills
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Recent Family Funnies
12 Oct 2009 | 7:12 pmLast week Amanda fixed homemade chili cheese fries. Right then and there I was prepared to renew our vows. However, after a few nights of experimental recipes, I am not quite as enthusiastic. Please advise. I recently received a note from a family member who admits to stalking me on Twitter. I have been researching social media for more than a year but I am not quite sure how to respond to that. We got 2 babysitters for a Foster Parent Thank You Dinner next weekend. Now we have been told by the children's home that we are expected to bring all the children. How is that a "Thank You?" Slam the… -
No Training Wheels - Part 2
3 Oct 2009 | 12:54 pmPsalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. The people who have suffered and sacrificed the most for me to be in school are Amanda and Jacob. They support me in so many ways. They encouarage me and play the role of coach, cheerleader and team player. If I had one regret, it is the amount of time I spend away from them. This is why Saturdays are cherished and the moments, even if they are brief, provide great joy. I have been blessed with an awesome family who loves God and values serving others. Today, in the beauty of God's creation I rejoiced in His… -
When There Is Only ONE Left
23 Sep 2009 | 5:28 pmParenting has its defining moments. Of course there are the times that bring you great joy but many times your definition comes from those awkward/painful situations. Like... When your child hurts themselves When someone is mean to your child When your child is sick When they are scared These moments are hard to erase from your memory. BUT nothing is worse than when you are home alone with an infant child and they deposit something worthy of a HAZMAT team in a limited capacity diaper. You have opened the diaper and folded it back, only to realize that there is only ONE wipe left in the… -
I Remember
21 Sep 2009 | 7:55 pmMore than a year has gone by. Life is much different than I ever imagined. Today, while studying for a test, my iPod shuffled to a song that sparked years of memories. Just wanted to say...I remember.Enjoy the Joy. -
Goodbye Training Wheels!
11 Sep 2009 | 3:53 pmOne of the things I have always looked forward to was teaching my children how to ride a bike. Some of my greatest memories as a kid were riding my bike. Today, I was able to live that dream. Jacob decided he wanted to ride like a big boy so we aired up the tires, took off the training wheels and began the process. As you can see, he still has a long way to go before shooting the hill in front of our house, but hey, you got to start somewhere!As I walked beside coaching and balancing him, I remembered when he learned to pedal a trike. I can recall the day he began to walk. Before that, he…
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The Busy Dad Blog
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I'm a Skate Punk. Was.
26 Oct 2009 | 8:37 amI recently bought Fury a skateboard. Last night I was showing him the finer points of an ollie. Well, explaining. The showing part didn't go so well. Because when you're 37 years old and haven't skated in 20 years, your skate tricks look less like this: And more like this: "Well Fury, I'm just old, that's all." "Tony Hawk is older than you and he's waaaay better." I should never have taken him to meet Tony Hawk. Well, at least you can read about it (and witness some real skating) on Fury's new review blog: Kid Test Labs Meets Tony Hawk -
Time to Bring the Heat: Tastemaker Challenge 2K10
21 Oct 2009 | 1:32 amBEFORE YOU READ THIS: If you only have a second and don't want to read this long post, just skip down to the video and rate it. I promise, you will NOT be disappointed (if you like cooking, Rocky, Karate Kid and/or lightsabers). When I was in 4th grade, I spent my summer vacation fighting boredom by playing a game called "Joe's Diner" with my sister. I was Joe, the proprietor of a diner that cooked anything to order. She was Joe, a regular customer (we weren't too original with names) who came in and ordered random stuff. She would ask me about my kids, order an omlette and I'd cook it. Then… -
Music Credits You'll Never See (alt title: Announcing KidTestLabs.com)
19 Oct 2009 | 8:40 amJay-Z, featuring BusyD I'm bad luck when it comes to collabo's. Remember sometime last year when Mr Lady and I kicked off our advice blog? Looking back, it kicked ass. It was fun, and we dished out great advice. But two people who never shut up about stuff just couldn't find the mojo to keep, well, talking. It lasted about a year. But considering the Wright Brothers' first attempt lasted 12 seconds, I'd argue we're still on the path to greatness. Around the same time, I teamed up Jeff Day, one brilliant author/MD and cartoonist to start a comics site called BusyDad Tales. It too rocked. But… -
7 years in, and he's already got me beat
7 Oct 2009 | 8:12 amd Wife has been having a pretty tough pregnancy. Everyone tells us that means it's probably a girl. This would usually be the part where I do a happy dance followed by a "Kid n Play" style grab one foot and hop through with the other, but seeing your spouse miserable and bed ridden kind of keeps you in check. Of course, I'm always there to offer advice: "I feel nauseous." "Maybe take a Pepcid?" And so is Fury: "I feel nauseous." "I wish my belly hurt too" (while rubbing mom's belly). "Why?" "So I can hurt with you." Son, I love you. But making me look bad on home court is not earning you any… -
A Few Good Causes
1 Oct 2009 | 10:02 pmThis blog gets decent traffic. And since I don't use it to make money advertising, I should at least use it for something productive. You know, aside from trying to persuade you that I'm wicked awesome like a ninja. Because that is a noble cause too. Almost as noble as these three: Cure JM This first cause is a post written by Kevin of Always Home and Uncool. He asked me to post this as part of his effort to raise awareness in the blogosphere for juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease his daughter was diagnosed with on this day seven years ago. The day also happens to be his wife's…
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The Hygiene Chronicles
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Type Casting
10 Oct 2009 | 6:57 amWe are out of town visiting friends and they have two girls that are Corey's age. The kids get along well and play all day long. Yesterday, Corey comes running in the room.Corey: "Daddy, I need to the Ninetendo DS."Me: "I think it is on the table in the family room. But you shouldn't be playing your DS when you are all playing together."Corey: "No, it's okay. We're playing house."Me: "I don't understand. Why do you need need the DS?"Corey: "I'm playing the daddy so I need to be on the computer."SIGH. -
A Word From Our Sponsors
30 Aug 2009 | 5:30 amLearning comes in many different forms. I love how inquisitive Corey is becoming. We no longer get the annoyingly vauge "but why?" questions. Instead, they are thoughtful and show a clear grasp of trying to solve problems. One of our favorite movies is Herbie Fully Loaded. I will always be partial to the first Herbie, but Michael Keaton and Matt Dillon are great. We have easily watched this movie 50 times. This weekend, Corey was watching the cars race around the track and asked, "How come that car says Home Depot on it?" Good question, I thought. I paused the movie and explained that… -
Life according to LucasFilms
22 Aug 2009 | 3:05 pmOur conversation in the car today...Corey: "How did Michael Jackson die?"Me: "He died in his sleep."Corey: "Was he sick?"Me: "He was taking some medications so he may not have been feeling well."(Pause) Corey: "But he died in his sleep?"Me: "Yep."Corey: "Cool. That's just like Yoda." -
Why I Love Viriginia
15 Aug 2009 | 9:04 amBecause you can buy your gun safe at Costco...right next to your Graco Pack-n-play and the Eddie Bauer car seat. -
The Rite of Passage
26 Jul 2009 | 9:16 amThis weekend, I finally succumbed to a tradition in parenting I thought just perhaps, the Good Lord would help me avoid: The Chuck E Cheese Party.Corey has been invited to a few in the past but his moms always took him to those. This year, for his 7th birthday party, he wanted to return the favor. It's like Vegas, Branson and Denny's all crammed into one germ-infested petri dish.It went smoother than I expected, but then again, my responsiblities consisted of showing up on time. The first hour was games, then 15 minutes of consuming as much pizza, cake, ice cream and soda as possible before…
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Thingamababy
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Teaching children to shut up
6 Nov 2009 | 2:16 amMy daughter’s kindergarten class received its H1N1 inoculation yesterday. Parents were invited to attend at the appointed time to help ease any fears. About one-third of the parents showed up and my daughter had no problems whatsoever. Oh, but things weren’t totally peachy. The parent(s) of at least one student declined the vaccination. A problem arose [...] -
Dolphin-attended water births
5 Nov 2009 | 9:28 amBehold a video clip of a dolphin-attended water birth from Le Premier Cri, a documentary about birthing experiences around the world. Sadly, I’m a product of the American monolingual education system. I’m unable to efficiently google for dolphin birthing centers located around the world. However, one such center exists in Hawaii and was profiled on the [...] -
Book Review: How Whales Walked into the Sea
3 Nov 2009 | 3:05 pmThe whole world is a family.” –My 5-year-old daughter on the beautiful message she gets from evolution, all of us derived from a common ancestor. I previously reviewed Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story, and while it was a good introduction to concepts behind evolution, it’s a bit esoteric for young children. I was lucky to [...] -
Winners: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
3 Nov 2009 | 10:10 amBehold the winners in the Meatball King Giveaway (Burger King and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Movie). Thank you to all who entered, sharing one of their favorite parenting websites with us. The winners: Amy H. from Indianapolis, Indiana — The Burger King gift pack shown at right consists of a huge popcorn container, Burger King [...] -
Winners: Hot Peas ‘N Butter
3 Nov 2009 | 10:02 amThree Thinga-readers in the Hot Peas ‘N Butter CD Giveaway have each won a copy of Best of the Bowl: Ingles Y Español. It’s the CD my daughter is currently enjoying (read my review). Thank you to everyone who participated and taught me something about Latin American music. The winners: Teresa from Sunnyvale, Calif. Francine from Sacramento, Calif. The [...]
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Xbox4NappyRash
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25
5 Nov 2009 | 12:52 pmThe wife squatter turned twenty five weeks old yesterday. By all accounts, it now weighs just short of 2lbs, or just under a kilo for those of you who are, well, Dutch.All the wee bugger’s organs are present and correct. I now have a fully qualified donor match! It’s kind of like having your own vegetable patch. I do jest of course, something I seemingly must explicitly express for those among us who’ve had transplants of their own of a humourous variety.Anyway, all the baby’s bits and pieces are in place, its skin doesn’t look like greaseproof paper anymore, and it even has wee… -
Absolutely flabulous
2 Nov 2009 | 4:31 amIt’s a boy. If you ‘carry low’, that is. It’s a girl if you carry high. That’s what they say isn’t it?What is it if you carry low and high depending on the day of the week?This kid just won’t sit still. From an upright position last week, it seems to have started to nosedive in an attempt to take up a more horizontal position. All of which is resulting in a distortion of ET’s belly.With the placenta behind the baby, all movements are being felt more pronounced, and even seen. On a couple of occasions ET’s gut looked like the cranium of a bald man who’d fallen head first… -
Smartarses
28 Oct 2009 | 8:44 amEveryone loves a cutting cliché and a juicy generalisation. The irritating thing about them is the fact that they often prove themselves to be true.From the moment you start trying to conceive up, right up until your kid is attempting to lure you into a retirement home with a trail of wurther's originals you get bombarded with them.While ‘just relax, it will happen’ was the runaway champion in the days of TTC, the days and months that follow becoming pregnant bring their own beauty.‘Just you wait until…’Who knew that at any given stage of pregnancy, nothing is as big, small, scary,… -
Snot and a wave
25 Oct 2009 | 11:02 pmThe saga rumbles on.Slowly and unsurely the baby’s room is taking some shape. That makes it sounds far more intricate than it really is, the reality being that it just needs some bloody painting.So Saturday morning that’s what I did, or attempted to do at least. By the time lunchtime had come around I had managed to scald myself on the radiator and roll paint onto the blinds.Neither of which I particularly advise or encourage, but I’m going to put those mishaps in the battle scar category.One more coat and the kid will have its own room decorated in a colour that can only be described… -
One sick prick
21 Oct 2009 | 10:53 pmThe letter has been on the kitchen table for weeks.It tells us that in 3 weeks or so, vaccinations will begin at our general practice for the H1N1 virus.The 'Swine flu', or delightfully accusatory 'Mexican flu' as they call it here, has been fodder for breaking news headlines in the UK and Ireland for months.Not so much here in Holland.The level of awareness is high, and the practical everyday precautions are promoted and supported. People are encouraged to stay home if they feel ill, which to be honest isn’t exactly a foreign concept to the Dutch anyway.Even with all this taken into…
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The Republic of T.
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Digest for November 6th
6 Nov 2009 | 10:13 amHere are some of the people writing about some of the stuff I wish I had time to write about, for November 6th from 00:01 to 13:11: The Underlying Reasons For The Shooting At Ft Hood – WATCH: GOP Blunders at Anti-Health Reform Rally – Fort Hood has enough victims already – Harm Reduction: The Anti-Drug – Editorial: The Republican Health Plan – Election 2009 – No Surprises – -
Digest for November 4th through November 5th
5 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pmHere are some of the people writing about some of the stuff I wish I had time to write about, for November 4th through November 5th: Andy Ostroy: A "Republican Renaissance?" Yeah, and I Hear the Mullet's Coming Back Too" – Conservatives still think you're already over-insured – Congressional Budget Office Thrashes Republican Health-Care Plan – Op-Ed Columnist: Unhealthy America – Conservative equals crazy – Will the Color Line Fade? – Same-Sex Marriage and Time – -
Don’t Know? Don’t Care? Or Don’t Care To Know?
5 Nov 2009 | 10:16 amHouse Republicans have presented a health care reform “plan” that doesn’t fix our broken health care system (but might make it worse), and (according to the CBO) doesn’t do much to fix the deficit conservatives say they’re so concerned about. So, is it a surprise that Rep. Steve King (R-IA) doesn’t know how many people in his district are uninsured? These are not hard questions. Congress is in the middle of hammering out health care reform legislation. Your party is finally getting around to presenting its idea of a health reform plan. Is it that he… -
What Do They Want?
4 Nov 2009 | 11:14 amFirst, it was Sen. Landerieu’s nonsense. Now we get this from Sen. Joe Lieberman. Enough is enough. When Democrats start parroting Republican talking points, they are showing us who they are. We need to treat accordingly. Especially when their take on health care reform is pretty much the same as the GOP’s, in terms of outcome. For the Republicans have finally come up with some semblance of a plan for health care reform. I’ll give them credit, though. I, among others, had derided them for failing to come up with anything. Steve Benen asks a question about the Republican… -
The Morning After
4 Nov 2009 | 9:19 amI’ve been kind of bogged down in other things during this most recent election, but I’ve been watching the news from Virginia, New Jersey, New York and — yes — Maine. I’m still mulling over Maine, and recovering from yet another election night when I went to bed hopeful and awoke to find those hopes dashed. I’ve been out of the marriage debate for the past year or so. The disappointment of proposition 8 coupled with the political minefield that was the post-mortem on that, and stepping on a few of those mines myself, I decided to disengage from the discussion for…
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Daddy Types
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DT Friday Freakout: Shocked, Shocked Edition
6 Nov 2009 | 11:14 amCalm, relaxing autumn weekend with the kid? Not if the publicizers of these stories from the worlds of science, medicine, education, safety, and parenting have anything to do with it: What better way to start the Friday Freakout than an interactive Stray Voltage Map, which shows you all the energized objects on the streets of New York City? You can zoom in from 1/4-mi. to your-kid's-armlength-scale in just a few clicks! [strayvoltagenyc.org via dt reader brent] Thinking of taking your kid to China? Wait, let me rephrase the question, Atlantic Magazine-style: "Thinking of filling up those… -
Struts RIP, Or They Shot Whorses, Didn't They?
6 Nov 2009 | 8:19 amIt started this summer, and so it has nothing to do with having kindergarten friends who take riding lessons. But otherwise, we are unable to account for the intensity of the kid's current horse-and-unicorn fixation. The one bright spot is that we won't have to worry about buying Struts Runway Magic Ponies, introduced by Playmates Toys in the Spring of 2008. Whether it was because of the immediate public uproar over the vapid, oversexualized, body image disorder-inducing My Slutty Little Pony knockoffs, or just because someone woke up to what a #$*%ing stupid and awful idea these were, by… -
Yeah, So, Damien Hirst's Sausage-in-a-Baby-Bottle Sculpture
5 Nov 2009 | 9:20 amThe funny thing is, I could look at Damien Hirst's bisected calf in formaldehyde while eating veal carpaccio. I could grind my own hamburger next to his installation withmaggots and a rotting cow's head. I could lose myself in the truly unexpected beauty of his massive paintings coated thick with the carcasses of a million dead flies. But for some reason, this new edition, Innocence Lost, a pork sausage submerged in a baby bottle filled with alcohol, just grosses me the hell out. It'd sure put me off the idea of having my son circumcised, though, I can tell you that. alternate reading update:… -
Must Credit Dadcentric!! Ford Announces Inflatable Seat Belts
5 Nov 2009 | 8:35 amJason Avant of Dadcentric is representin' for the dadblogging community at a lavish Ford Safety press event in the US Virgin Islands this weekend. Now that he's livetweeted the big news--inflatable rear seat belts!!--he has the entire weekend free to frolic on the beach with all the mombloggers, maybe take a boat over to Virgin Gorda for a day. Nicely played. CORRECTION: Apparently the event is not being held in US Virgin Islands. It is in Dearborn. Repeat, Dearborn, in the US Suburban Islands. Daddy Types regrets the error. -
Goodnight, Dead Turks: The Decemberists' Childrens' Book Is Finally At The Printer
5 Nov 2009 | 7:57 amI know that when fans read in Paste Oct '06 that The Decemberists' Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis would put out a children's book "about a talking cat who lives in turn-of-the-century Butte, Montana," many people stopped uploading greenscreen videos to YouTube and hustled to have a kid in time for the "mid-2007" release. And I also know that they've all been all, "Uh, I have this kid now, where's my book??" about it ever since. Fret not, because Carson revealed an illustration [dead Turks! in Butte!] last week on her blog, and said that the book, now titled, The Unfortunate Demise of Whitley…
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Nagoh
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New Ride
6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amDesmond got a new ride last weekend. Actually he got a few new rides. This is his car at Ya-Ya’s house. From what I am told he was very very excited about this new car. I have yet to see him drive it. I was also told he had a broken wheel, which was fixed by her neighbor. Desmond said “tankU” and drove on. Very sweet. he really does have great manners when he wants to. “YesSir” is also one he will say very well. His other new ride was a stroller, a “Maclaren”. Something Jackie has been dreaming about for 21 months. The stroller had before this new one… -
Mr. Fix it.
4 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amEverytime Desmond goes over to my moms he grabs his drill and proceeds to fixing the hinges on the doors. I am not sure where he got this. I think he picked this up from his papa. There has been a lot of teaking in the new house. I guess it has rubbed off some. He will tell you he will “fix it” and just drills away until he feels the issue has been resolved. Here he is fixing moms back door hinge. As you can see he has the diaper butt crack down, and the whole pose very well executed. Nice work buddy. -
Whass Datt?
2 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amYou are out of your mind if you think I am going to do an update for every single day of November! I will however do the best I can to flood you with updates this month. Part of these posts will be some major catch up, so I am just going to do the best I can! So lets talk about the title of today’s post. This is what Desmond asks about a million times a day, everything is “whass datt?” with the finger pointing in some general direction. Well Desmond, that’s a truck, or that’s a tree, or sky, cloud, bug, rock, tire, tv, stick, grass, and on and on and on. So… -
Firetruck Madness!
11 Sep 2009 | 12:17 pm -
Desmond loves his WeeNew
10 Sep 2009 | 8:00 amHis firetruck people! Gosh.
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D is for Dad
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A little too much grace
20 Oct 2009 | 7:29 pmWe say grace before every meal and go to church every Sunday. It’s so nice to see my little two year old getting into the proverbial “swing-of-things” in that regard. After church last Sunday I took the family to a local Chinese Buffet establishment. At the front door there is a little waterfall vignette with a moat around it. My daughter marched right up to the moat, dipped her right hand in the water, started making the sign of the cross, recited “paw, san, hoy spit, emen”, which in grown up speak stands for: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and The… -
Le Freak
30 Sep 2009 | 7:12 amI place little stock in Astrology and Zodiac signs but I do find it humorous though that they are uncannily spot on when it comes to describing most of my personality traits. According to the Roman Zodiac I am a Libra. It’s the Scales which symbolize Libra, and just like that balancing mechanism wants to stay even, Librans want to be on an even keel. I want to confess I have a sickness. I don’t know what it is called (probably OCD), but I do know it exists. I feel the need to have sets, pairs, or kits of things. Nothing makes me happier than a complete tool kit, with every single… -
We remember!
11 Sep 2009 | 12:35 pmOn Patriot Day, we cherish the memory of the thousands of innocent victims lost, extend our thoughts and prayers to their families, and honor the heroic men and women who risked and sacrificed their lives so others might survive. George W. Bush -
Warning Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!
27 Aug 2009 | 12:29 pmNot too long ago I posted about our Chicago vacation. This incident happened while we were at the Shedd Aquarium, and I had forgotten all about it until just a couple of days ago. It’s been on my mind ever since and I wanted to put "pen to paper" before I forgot about it again. It started out like any normal day at a major attraction. The lines into the building snaked around the facility’s grounds, the sun was beating down on us. Children complained, parents grumbled. Finally getting into the building was a treat. We paid our admission fee and blended into the crowd of… -
ROADTRIPPPP!!!
7 Aug 2009 | 1:27 pmROADTRIP! – No word in the English language makes me me shudder like this one. Smells, visions and memories from childhood come streaming back, making me want to curl up in a fetal position and rock back and forth violently while sucking my thumb when this word is uttered. I come from a large family, and cramming 7 kids and 2 adults in a 5 passenger Japanese car (don’t forget luggage) was a common occurrence for us. This was back in the day when child safety seats and seat belts had not yet been invented, or enforced. A little background: We lived in a podunk little backwoods town and…
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Dad2twins
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4 year old twin girls have no taste……
6 Nov 2009 | 10:40 amThe Tooth FairyThis is what happens when you let your girls choose your Halloween costume. They wanted me to be the tooth fairy. This is my version. (Note the bottle of whiskey to get me through the night of humiliation.) Oh well, there is always next year….. Tags: dad2twins, halloween costumes, The Tooth Fairy Related posts Thinking about Halloween already. (6) Our Halloween portrait – a little late. (1) Meet Thing 1 & Thing 2 aka The Farty Pants Twins. (5) -
Are you still there?
9 Oct 2009 | 6:09 pmI don’t deserve you. I’ve taken advantage of your readership. You toil away each day reading your favorite blogs. I once might have been one of them. So if you are still out there let me know so I can personally apologize to you for abandoning you to facebook. I am still here though and I have felt the need to be creative again, so watch out. To all of the strip club searchers who find there way to my blog because I once wrote about my buddy and his bachelor party in Reno. Thanks. You keep making me money on Google ads. Thanks for supporting a Dad of twin girls. Now DELURK! Tags:… -
Facebook has sucked the life out of this blog, but…….
15 Sep 2009 | 4:18 pmI’m still here and I am not going away. I promise I will post more soon. There sure is plenty to talk about. I mean, wassup with Kanye people? Must have been the Hennessy. Or his ego? Poor little Taylor Swift. She finally got her apology. Tags: dad2twins, facebook, Hennessy, Kanye West, Taylor Swift Related posts Do you use LinkedIn? (5) You must be kidding me…. (2) You know you want to hang with me. (1) -
Sing. Sing a song. Sing it loud. Sing it long.
2 Jun 2009 | 3:27 pmMy daughter, Kiera, has decided to sing us a song from her bed every morning before she gets up. Reese, gets up, goes to the bathroom and get’s into our bed for a snuggle. Shortly after Reese arrives the singing starts in Kiera’s bedroom. She sings and sings and sings. It’s really quite funny and sweet all at the same time. Reese thinks it’s silly. Tags: dad2twins, Farty Pants Twins, kids do the funniest things, singing, twins Related posts Xbox4nappyrash.com has acquired Dad2twins.com in a hostile takeover. (3) While I was away… (0) We dress to impress. (1) -
How to keep unwanted solicitors away….
22 May 2009 | 12:12 pmBlast this song when you see them coming down the street towards your house. It also works for the sellers of religion too! Warning: this song may offend you. I don’t really care though. Tags: scaring religion pushers, Scaring solicitors Related posts No related posts.
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Daddy Forever
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New DVD Releases for $10 at Amazon
6 Nov 2009 | 4:51 pmHoly cow! Looks like Amazon has already started discounting DVDs for the holidays. They have a bunch of new DVDs for $10: Star Trek Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Terminator Salvation Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Angels & Demons G-Force Julie & Julia My Sister’s Keeper Four Christmases Santa Buddies Find a Job : : Free Magazines : : Daddy Forever : : iZachy : : Embedded Star : : EDA Geek : : EDA Blog : : FPGA Blog© 2009 Online Destiny Ltd : : Daddy Forever is a trademark of Online Destiny Ltd -
Single Dad of Three
5 Nov 2009 | 12:01 amThank you for all your good wishes and prayers. Our family really appreciates it. I also want to thank Robert Nickell, the owner of DaddyScrubs.com. Nickell also owns a pharmaceutical company and has offered to sell the expensive anti-seizure med at cost. What a great guy! Sorry I have not been out in the blogosphere lately (I’ll be back soon). Things are really hectic around here. My wife and baby are essentially quarantined in the TV room. The baby isn’t contagious. We just want to minimize the risk of baby getting infected with something else while his immune system is down. -
Giveaway: Trip to New York, $1500 Shopping Spree, and 180 Magazines
3 Nov 2009 | 12:01 amI have two announcements today: MAGnificent Makeover Sweepstakes ($1,500 Shopping Spree in New York) Maghound Magazines Giveaway Monday was the first day of the MAGnificent Makeover Sweepstakes (sponsored by MAGHOUND and People StyleWatch). You can enter once each day (for a total of 44 entries). The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. The MAGnificent Makeover Sweepstakes will end on Tuesday, December 15, 2009. Here are the prizes: MAGnificent Makeover Sweepstakes Grand Prize Roundtrip airfare for two (winner and a guest) to… -
Oh Frak, Baby Has H1N1
2 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmThe good news is Little Disney came home about two hours ago. The bad news is he tested positive for H1N1 (just the kind of news dads and moms want to hear). After he recovers, we have to take him back for additional tests (MRI, EEG, etc). Apparently, seizures for six hours is about five hours, fifty-nine minutes too long for an infant. At least his CAT scan turned out OK and he can move both sides of his body now. BTW, the doctors think baby’s seizures were caused by his fever (103 degrees) and not as a direct result of the H1N1 virus. It appears our baby’s body does not tolerate… -
Life Sucks in the ICU
1 Nov 2009 | 7:24 pmA peaceful moment in the ICU after six hours of on and off seizures on Halloween Find a Job : : Free Magazines : : Daddy Forever : : iZachy : : Embedded Star : : EDA Geek : : EDA Blog : : FPGA Blog© 2009 Online Destiny Ltd : : Daddy Forever is a trademark of Online Destiny Ltd
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ANTI-RACIST PARENT
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Daddy Dialectic
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Write for rad dad zine's next issue: December 1st
4 Nov 2009 | 9:21 amWinter fast approaches. For my family it’s a time of contradictions. The time of holidays and visiting family. A time to question traditions, yet a time my kids begin compiling lengthy lists of things they want, they must have. Socially, it’s a time of rampant consumerism, of the spectacle of this capitalist culture at its most perverse. What are we to do as parents, as individuals? What do you do? For the next issue of rad dad tell us; consider winter in all its glory, in all its potential, the beauty of quietness, of hibernation, in the profound way it sets the stage for the coming… -
Election Night Shrinkage
28 Oct 2009 | 2:17 pmIn my book The Daddy Shift, I reported research that shows men’s testosterone levels rise and fall in response to what's happening in their lives and environment. Having a child lowers testosterone; so does losing a tennis match. Now comes a new study providing more evidence of a link between testosterone and social cues. The night to the 2008 presidential election, it seems there was a a dramatic drop in testosterone for men who voted for McCain or the Libertarian candidate, whoever that was. "In contrast, men who voted for the winner, Democrat Barack Obama, had stable testosterone levels… -
The Economics of Potty Training
27 Oct 2009 | 1:08 pmStickers as the Basic Unit of Exchange Value IntroductionPotty training, when you really think about it, is applied economics. Sure, I could make jokes about toxic assets and deposit banking, or diapers as a form of moral hazard, but what I'm talking about here is the creation of value, the function of currencies, and rational calculations of profit and loss. If the field of economics is to survive the ongoing market debacle, it will behoove the profession to get back to brass tacks, as it were, and ground such basic concepts of these in the behavior of real people, not computer models based… -
The Onion: How To Find A Masculine Halloween Costume For Your Effeminate Son
27 Oct 2009 | 8:38 amHow To Find A Masculine Halloween Costume For Your Effeminate Son -
Urban Butterflies
26 Oct 2009 | 10:00 amHere's a little video my friend Axel put together about our "Bees and Butterflies" group, which involved a group of almost 20 San Francisco families to explore the life-cycles of bees and butterflies, and to introduce basic ecological concepts to our kids. That's me in the goofy brown and green sweater, reading a customized version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar; that's my wife talking about the puppet show we did at our local farmers' market. Want to start your own neighborhood group? My pal Olivia Boler describes how we did it over at Shareable.net.
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JamesSpratt: A London Blog
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Physics
28 Oct 2009 | 6:15 amTerribly middle class I know but we had the decking done on the terrace the other week, didn’t we. One of the six muppets from Jim Henson’s workshop that came round to attempt to give us a level deck, instead decided to give me a lecture on the subject of physics. I’ve heard a lot of codswallop over the years but this guy was something special. Dave: Do you know physics? Me: I did a little bit at school. Dave: Well physics is in this building, in that building, in those buildings over there, physics is inside all of them. Me: Cuppa? -
Lone Star State
19 Oct 2009 | 6:15 amTwo weeks in Houston. These guys (yes, all Americans) have security issues. Walking into the airport we were warned over the tannoy that “Any inappropriate remarks or jokes at security may result in your arrest.” I love a red rag more than the next man so waited behind the yellow line, acting as sensibly as ever. The border security officer nodded for me to step forward. I did so, handed over my passport and glared at him like I meant business. He glared back at me. He meant business too. I glared harder. He glared harder. We both glared harder still. “What is your purpose… -
Frankie, Month 23
6 Oct 2009 | 8:28 amUp until the 18th September. Taken in Maidenhead, Cheltenham and Birmingham. Show as slideshow [View with PicLens] -
Frankie, Month 22
23 Sep 2009 | 3:11 pmOver a month old so will follow these up with month 23 soon after I get back from Texas. Spoke to her earlier, she was giggling away about nothing just before bedtime. The looney tune. Show as slideshow [View with PicLens] -
Coast Envy
12 Sep 2009 | 2:32 amThis blogs flagging a little. Obviously. I think I’ve mislaid what little writing ability I had, probably somewhere over the atlantic. For the record though, recently did two weeks working in Prague. Comment: Too many effing tourists stuffed into a small but beautiful city. Then did four days in Castries, St.Lucia. Saw very little of the place itself though. Did get to spend an hour on the beach in Barbados on the return however. A typical example of service in St.Lucia: Waiter: “Can I take your order?” Me: “Could you give us two minutes please?” 15 minutes…
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People in the Sun
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I've been meaning to tell you
1 Nov 2009 | 9:33 pmthat I started a blog recently. Well, it's been more than a year.Here's the story:I wanted to register a domain name, thinking I'd just start a niche blog and put some content, then see where I went from there. Maybe sell it. And even though it wasn't going to be a real blog like this one, I wanted to be able to update it every once in a while, so it had to be about something I knew a little about. I was a new father, so I thought I'd write about being a father. And if it wasn't going to be a real blog, then of course I didn't write about it here, because What's the point?So I started a blog… -
I'm not afraid of CUTE
22 Oct 2009 | 7:12 pmOn the one hand, What's the point of putting up a picture of my baby hugging another kid? See, I wanted to make this blog about... well, everything I say may sounds presumptuous... But even when writing about myself, I never intended this blog to be about me. Makes sense?When writing about my army days, I wanted to talk about the way soldiers don't really know what they're doing; about the way none of us do, even when we're given a large responsibility over life and death.When I talked about my dogs, I wanted to show Pit Bulls in a positive light, because these dogs are not just pretty faces. -
Caillou Makeover, Halo 3, and Teh Gay.
14 Oct 2009 | 9:40 pmAfter those last two posts, one where I made a big announcement and one that talked about pools of blood, I think I'm allowed to relax here. It's Wednesday, after all.If you go to this site, you can do a makeover! Here's Caillou:Here's Caillou with a Kate Gosselin.And a Katie Holmes.Rihanna.Anyway.Here's a video I found. This guy called his Halo 3 character Jesus Died LOL, which is a proof that he's a retard Jew faggot (RJF for short?):And another thing! Facebook quizzes. I understand if you're at work and you're waiting for the printer to finish getting your annual CGID/4B-B report out, so… -
My Jada Pinkett Smith Story
9 Oct 2009 | 9:22 pmSo this happened on Tuesday. It was getting late, and things around here were winding down. Honey was about to put the baby to sleep, then go upstairs. I was getting ready to go online and tell people they're stupid and racist. But Buddy was crying downstairs, so I went to check on him.It's not that rare that this crazy dog cries. He's very attached to his toy, and if anyone else accidentally touches it and makes it squeak, Buddy will grab it, lay it down on his cushion, and cry for hours. But I went to check, just to make sure.There was a puddle of blood on the kitchen floor. Buddy had gone… -
Year 3 of People in the Sun
1 Oct 2009 | 12:44 pm
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Savvy Daddy - For super dads everywhere
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Is football safe for kids?
26 Oct 2009 | 2:01 pmby Phil Stott About a month ago, my brother-in-law sent me a video of his four-year-old son's first touchdown in a flag football game. It's remarkable in several ways: first, that my nephew seems to understand the purpose of the game at such a young age-when he gets the ball in his own half of the field his first instinct is to head for the opposition end zone. Second: he understood that once he crossed the end zone line, he could stop running. And, third, he threw a proper football pass to the referee when returning the ball. A couple of weeks later, as if to prove it was no fluke, he did it… -
Magic for Dads & Kids
22 Oct 2009 | 10:57 amby Brian McGovern Searching for a fascinating hobby that you can share with your child? Looking for a hobby that can help your child develop social skills and may promote a strong desire to read? The hobby of magic can do wonders to promote an outgoing personality even among the shyest children. When a child learns how to impress other kids with amazing magic it gives them more self-confidence. As your child's desire to master magic grows you'll be happy to find that he or she will be eager to read books and magazines about the topic. There's always more to learn. The art of magic is a… -
Freaky Fortnight: Credit where it's due
20 Oct 2009 | 8:12 amby Phil Stott So last Friday saw one of the best things I've read about parenting recently come to a close: Slate's Freaky Fortnight feature. The basic premise of the feature was that a Slate editor, Michael Agger, would switch roles with his wife, Susan Burton, for two weeks. In short, she would do his job while he stayed home in Brooklyn and took care of the kids. Both then blogged about the experience, and also put regular updates on Twitter. Of the two, it's perhaps not surprising that I enjoyed Agger's posts more-mostly because I found them informative in many ways on the whole question… -
Staying positive in the job hunt
15 Oct 2009 | 9:57 amby Phil Stott So I've been keeping an eye on the bill working its way through the House (well...it's stalled at the time of writing) to extend unemployment benefit payments to people in States where the unemployment rate is above 8.5 percent. Unprecedented times calling for unprecedented measures, the bill would give long-term unemployed people in my home state of New York benefits for up to 99 weeks, according to the New York Times-provided they became unemployed no later than October 27, 2008. In order for that to happen, however, the bill needs to overcome Republican objections. While I'm… -
Having Kids vs. Overpopulation
12 Oct 2009 | 9:50 amby Phil Stott I had the great fortune to be able to attend the World Business Forum at Radio City Music Hall recently, and to hear speakers like President Bill Clinton, George Lucas (yup, that one), management guru Gary Hamel, and Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman all giving their views on where they think we're headed in coming years. While I could have listened to Clinton speak all day-and on any subject-the speaker who gave me most pause for thought was a guy called Jeffrey Sachs. Another economist-he advises President Obama, as it happens-he gave a speech titled "Economics for a…
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A Suitable Wardrobe
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Tasty
6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amThanks to Jesse Thorne at Put This On for introducing me to INVENTORY, perhaps the tastiest contemporary clothing scene I have so far encountered on the Web. Inventory has been working with a few smaller manufacturers, such as American tie maker Alexander Olch, to produce an edited selection of items for sale. My personal favorite is a brilliantly conceived pair of blue suede shoes with red brick -
New Pents
5 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amThe mail brought a new pair of mid-weight worsted flannel trousers the other day. Or pents, if you will. That is what the Neapolitan maker, Salvatore Ambrosi, calls them and, since his English is much better than my Italian, I am happy with that name. Dormeuil's worsted flannel is usually for spring and fall but our cool Bay temperatures should permit wear during much of the summer as well. Cream -
If This Is JFK It Must Be Tuesday
4 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amThe public face of tailoring is the thirty minutes that client and cutter spend together once or twice for each jacket or suit order. The rest of the year may be mostly introvert's work, but part of the cost of bespoke clothing is the measurement and fitting time, when the external face of the tailoring firm has the job of imparting confidence that the client will be getting the professional -
Buttoning Up
3 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amThe 6x2 overcoat, by which we mean a coat that has six buttons on the front with two of them functional like the camel colored version worn in the photo by HRH Prince Charles, is probably the most common double breasted style. Compared to coats with three or four working buttons it exposes more shirt front, so, despite the example set by the Prince, a scarf is desireable lest a stream of cold air -
The Brown Glen Check
2 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amHeavy tweed takes a few wearings for the shoulders and collar to settle in and until it does the jacket to this 15 ounce/450 gram suit will keep coming off the back of my neck. The weather is a little too warm for the full regalia, so here is the jacket during the break-in process. Brown glen check jacket with red overcheck worn with brown bluchers, gray flannel trousers, a blue royal oxford
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Nordquist Blog
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Left Scratching My Head At Barnes and Noble
3 Nov 2009 | 12:53 amI’ve been looking forward to the release of a book called “The Book of Basketball” by Bill Simmons. Simmons is one of my favorite columnists from ESPN. I considered pre-ordering the book on Amazon. But while I was in Bellevue this afternoon, I decided to swing by Barnes and Noble and buy the book. It wasn’t in stock. As I was about to leave, the Barnes and Noble employee asked if I’d like to be notified by email when the book arrived. Sure, why not. I gave him my email and he said, “That book is $30 in store.” “In store?” “Yes, in store price is $30. That means you… -
My Younger Brother
2 Nov 2009 | 2:09 amI’ve been thinking about my brother, Brandon, since I came across this post from Ben Talbert. I don’t know when he began beating me at sports, but it couldn’t have been long after I returned from Germany at age 21. Although I am seven year his senior, he was now taller and more muscular than I was. He was also a much better athlete. Tossing the football came easy to him. His arm had a natural motion while I couldn’t toss a spiral if my life depended on it. I enjoyed attending his games, especially his junior year when he was the starting quarterback. When the football season ended and… -
Halloween 2009 Carving
30 Oct 2009 | 11:52 pmWhat usually took a couple hours turned into a five hour carving marathon. Luca, Lincoln and Anna wanted to try their hand at pumpkin carving. What I didn’t anticipate was that carving was the sideshow. The kids really wanted to design their pumpkin. And design they did until black and purple Crayola marker covered their pumpkins. I didn’t dare ask how they knew where to cut. I gave each them a tiny pumpkin saw from one of our many carving kits and they went to town without cutting off any fingers. Most years, I carve a couple of pumpkins. Last year I waited until trick or treaters began… -
Leaves are Falling
26 Oct 2009 | 9:42 pm“Who wants to help pickup leaves?” *silence* “Who wants to help rake leaves?” *a few grumbles* “Who wants to JUMP in the leaves?” *MAD STAMPEDE* We have two huge trees that dump large colorful leaves all over our backyard. Each year we stuff about 25 Home Depot degradable bags full of leaves during October and November. But not before they’ve been raked into giant piles and jumped in. Or stuffed down a few shirts and pants. Or tossed into the air and blown over the fence into the neighbor’s yard. Oh ya, the kids enjoy playing in the leaves too. -
Strength in Few
22 Oct 2009 | 2:40 amLeft to their own devices, the kids will turn any room in the house into a blanket and cushion fort. I don’t mind it because it reminds me when I used to the do same thing with my parent’s brown and orange couch. When it was time to pickup, I used to call the kids together to explain how they needed to work together to clean the room. But, over time, I found the kids spent more time debating who would fold blankets or arrange cushions than cleaning. Each task required a mini-meeting, and each child felt he/she got the worst job. A simple task that should have taken 10 minutes took 30. And…
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Ramblings of a Single Dad
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One Year Ago Today: 11-4-08
4 Nov 2009 | 8:00 pm“If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”-President-ElectBarack Obama11/4/08I'm writing this on 11/5/08 with the intention of posting on 11/4/09. Alone in front of my TV, laptop open and logged into -
Wordless Wednesday: 11-04-09
3 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm -
National Adoption Month 2009
31 Oct 2009 | 9:04 pmNovember is National Adoption Month, when we have an opportunity to raise awareness of the children who are still waiting for forever families. In preparing for this post, I ran into a video on YouTube that I thought said it better than I ever could, and showed the changes taking these children into our hearts and homes can bring. I loved the before and after angle, and hope you enjoy it, too. -
Trick or Tweet
29 Oct 2009 | 7:37 pmYou may have noticed in the sidebar that I've opened another Twitter account specifically to feed into this blog. While I still tweet @getaroom, it's primarily targeted at the hospitality industry and people that love travel and hotels, and has, for the most part, become the account for the company that employs me.Tweets @RamblingDad will focus on parenting and adoption, and will become my " -
Wordless Wednesday: 10-28-09
27 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pmwww.jilltracy.com
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5ksandcabernets
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I've got to get out of the rabbit hole
2 Nov 2009 | 10:04 pmIn my new job, everyday I see stories that are shocking or sad or crazy: A father making less than $30,000/year somehow qualifying for a $150,000 mortgage; a senior citizen with perfect credit talked into emptying his retirement account to buy four investment properties in two weeks. And of course, by the time I see these files - stuffed with all the personal information of the borrower or co-borrower - the borrower is well on their way to losing their house.I see these train wrecks everyday. And the stories are fascinating. Sadly fascinating. And that's the problem. In my old job, as a… -
October 2009 mileage
1 Nov 2009 | 10:10 amI ended the month with a 16 mile run on Halloween. Got it done in 2:01. Because I took a lot of time off after my October 4 (Disastrous) Portland Marathon, October was my lowest mileage month since December.October mileage - 124.64 Time: 16 hours, 39 minutes, 53 secondsPace: 8:01 min/mile2009 mileage: 1,896.762009 pace: 8:07 min/mile -
So what...
25 Oct 2009 | 10:31 amI know it seems like I've dropped off the face of the (blogging) earth, but I have been adjusting to my new job investigating mortgage fraud and have been trying to fit how to run in my new schedule.And I have been running and in this colder weather, my runs have gone well, but so what... I ran 13 miles in 1:37 (7:30 pace) this morning, but so what... I don't even come close to that pace when I run marathons. I also averaged around 7:30 for an 8- and a 7-miler last week. But it's like, yeah yeah yeah, where is all this speed and endurance on Marathon Sunday? I don't know. -
I'm back....
19 Oct 2009 | 9:56 amI know it's been a while since I've blogged. For one thing, I just returned from Tempe, AZ after two weeks of the most intense training for my new job. Another thing, and more importantly, I just needed to re-charge my batteries. My blogging batteries. And my running batteries. Consider me recharged. It's hard to blog from work, so I'll have more later. But know this: I will not let that last marathon performance keep me down. I will beat the Marathon Monster. I have not blogged or read a blogpost since before the marathon, so forgive me if I have not visited… -
Portland Marathon Race Report: Stage fright and a small dose of redemption
5 Oct 2009 | 10:48 pmSo what happened? That's the big question that everybody has, right? I mean, how did 55 miles/week of training and 8 runs over 20 miles equal a 4:03 marathon on a flat course and in temperatures that were 25 to 30 degrees cooler than I normally trained in?How did my Portland marathon turn out 10 minutes slower than my Cowtown Marathon even though I was much more fit going into Portland?You got questions? I've got answers.1) I got stage fright.I totally freaked. I mean, in the beginning, my legs felt tight and they weren't firing right. The more I worried, the worse I felt. I was stressing so…
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Daddy`s Toolbox
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I’m Suffering From a Man Cold
2 Nov 2009 | 7:06 pmI always get a laugh out of watching this video from Man Stroke Woman, a British comedy show. And it’s perfect for this week, as I’ve come down with a “Man Cold” which is more like the flu. I’m all achy and running a low-grade fever. Nothing a few Advil can’t take care of. Anyway, the video says it all!! LOL. -
Daddy-Son Bonding – Taking My Son to Lunch
9 Oct 2009 | 9:52 pmWell what an awesome lunch I had today! No I wasn’t at a bar watching a sports game or out with my coworkers, instead I spent a nice hour taking my (almost) five year old son, LT, out to Pizzeria Uno’s. I had mentioned that I would like to grab lunch with him one day and this morning he asked me, “Daddy, when are you taking me to lunch?” “Well today is good!” I replied, LT smiled! So just before noon I left my office and did the 3-minute drive to his school (he’s in Pre-K). He was so anxious for me to arrive and when I got there he hopped up, ran… -
Enjoying His New Ride – Upgrading to a Booster Seat
13 Aug 2009 | 1:49 pmOk, today was my 4.5 year old son’s first ride in his new booster seat – drum roll…… …and he loved it! It was THUMBS UP! He thought it was the coolest thing to be able to have more mobility and move around, grab books from the seat next to him (easier) and he even managed to reach out and touch my arm and said, “Cool, Daddy! I can even touch your arm!” I did tell him that he should always keep his back against the seat while moving like he does on the school bus for his preschool field trips. He couldn’t wait to get to school and tell his one teacher, Miss Lori, all… -
Way To Go Buddy! My Son Is Learning How to Swim
8 Aug 2009 | 6:05 pmWay to go Buddy! I’m so proud of my son for becoming comfortable jumping into a swimming pool!! Of course, I still freak out when I see him do it and go underwater for 8 seconds. But it no longer seems to phase him. Today, both of our kids spent the morning and most of the afternoon over at my parent’s community pool while I did some work on my basement project and my wife did her things. I think it’s best this way since I tend to overreact to small things and get freaky when the kids don’t listen to me at the pool (or anywhere for that matter). I think if I was with… -
My Son Picked Up Inappropriate Words From Daycare
18 Apr 2009 | 8:25 pmTonight I am totally shocked and scared. My son has said a few words that just freaked me out. And these words were not “shit” and “fuck” — those would have been nice!!! What he said was “I’ll cut you in half” and “I’ll kill you” during his “no-nap, long-day-running-around meltdown” from 7:30-8pm tonight. And he was saying that directly at his sister since he wanted Mommy to put him to bed. My wife heard him say that an immediately asked him where he heard such words. His response, “[name removed] from Pre-K2…
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Danz Family
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Three Brothers
4 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmMary took it upon herself to try and herd cats today and...amazingly enough...got an awesome picture of the three boys, all of them looking at the camera! -
America the Beautiful
3 Nov 2009 | 9:39 pmWhile looking for some Thanksgiving pictures, Steve Chavez came upon DanzFamily.com and was inspired by the American Flag which waves proudly at the top of the page. After exchanging emails and directing him to the original iStockPhoto.com photo, he created the image above. Well done Steve! -
Happy Halloween 2009
31 Oct 2009 | 10:01 pmFor Halloween this year, Drew dressed as Commander Fox, Will dressed as Obi Wan Kenobi and Landon dressed as a pumpkin. Commander Fox and Obi Wan Kenobi. More after the jump... -
Pumpkin Town 2009
31 Oct 2009 | 9:54 pmBecause we didn't have enough going on today with the Tulsa Run this morning and Halloween this evening, we made our annual trip to Pumpkin Town in between. Will, Landon and Drew took a moment to pose with the fall scenery before heading out to enjoy the various activities. Landon saw it as an opportunity to catch up on some sleep. After pulling each other around, Will and Drew enjoyed a wagon ride together. Will and Drew shared the title of King of the World atop a hay bale stack. More after the jump... -
Tulsa Run 2009
31 Oct 2009 | 10:46 amDrew (right) has been training for the Tulsa Run at school every Wednesday with the Jefferson Milers. Today, Mama, Daddy, Will (left), Landon and Uncle David joined him for the 2k Fun Run! Daddy with Landon, Drew, Uncle David and Will before the race. The start of the 2009 Tulsa Run - Fun Run. Landon was exhausted after his 2k run and decided to take a nap on the walk back to the car. Action Sports International sent me this terrific proof pic of Drew, Landon and me. [Is it a violation of ASI's copyright to post this proof photo with their copyright intact and unaltered, on a non-commercial…
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Wat da Wat?
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Divine Restraint
18 Oct 2009 | 6:28 amIt’s difficult for a parent to watch his or her child suffer and not do anything about it. It is challenging for a person not to act when that person sees another person in danger or in need; even an animal will instinctively protect her young from danger. So help me understand this. Why would or how can God show so much restraint in the midst of all of the human suffering throughout history? -
His Moment
21 Jan 2009 | 11:17 amHistory has always shown that great Presidents become great because they define the times and not the other way around. Abraham Lincoln held the Union together. Franklin D. Roosevelt dug the country out of depression. John F. Kennedy prevented nuclear holocaust. Now, we will have the chance to watch history unfold. Will the two wars in the Middle East and the Recession on the verge of another Depression, define Barack Obama’s or will he control the course of history? Perhaps it’s not the daunting task that is ahead of him that I eagerly await for him to take his place among the… -
Deja Vu All Over Again
14 Jan 2009 | 12:03 pmSite Map Another winter wonderland in Chicago and another long adventurous travel to work, which could only mean plenty of time to ponder while avoiding pot holes and ditches. Driving through the treacherous city streets, I can’t help but think how maybe I’m trapped in a time warp, repeating the same eye gouging, wrist slitting commute. To keep sane, I began contemplating about things that I had no control over, like the vicious cycle that humanity seem to be imprisoned in. What if we are all stuck in a time warp where events and things constantly repeat themselves and the reason… -
Cell Phones and Relationships
9 Jan 2009 | 11:30 amCell phones have been an important part of our lives. Every year, there are new models or upgrades that saturate the market. When these new gadgets make their way to our hands, we act like little children during Christmas morning. The moment you get your new phone, you savagely open the box and eagerly put the sim card and battery on so that you can start experiencing the wonders of your new toy. You ooooohhhhhh and aaaaahhhh for every new feature that you discover. With gleaming eyes, you excitedly show it off to your friends, family, and co-workers, and of course they will get envious. To… -
Flick, Roll, Wipe
8 Jan 2009 | 8:59 amChicago has recently experienced ample amount of snow. Consequently, the white powdery mess, that seem to come down almost on cue during rush hour, has added an uncomfortable length to my morning and afternoon commute to and from work. The upside to this daily winter trek was the extended amount of time that I get to spend with my three school aged children, CJ, Smiley Face, and The Guy In The Middle. We’ve had many thought provoking and intriguing conversations during these snail paced voyages home. We’ve talked about life, God, relationships, superpowers, and SpongeBob. But this…
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Dad of Divas
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Book Review - Finding Purpose Beyong Our Pain
7 Nov 2009 | 3:42 amWithin this book, Drs. Paul Meier and David Henderson work hard to bring the reader beyond the surface to examine God's hand in the struggles that all of us deal with on a daily basis. They even challenge us to move beyond the pain to see what the underlying meaning behind the pain may be and what God has in store for all of us. In reading this book, I found that the book itself was an enjoyable read. While there are some areas that seemed to gloss over the meat that could lie within, overall, the book itself was thought provoking (like any good book should be) and made me think behind the… -
Project 365 (352/365) - Getting Into The Fall Season
6 Nov 2009 | 3:53 am------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New to the Divadom? Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com -
Book Review - The Grandparents Handbook
6 Nov 2009 | 3:40 amGrandparents are engaged and active in the lives of their grandkids and though it will be many years before I will have the opportunity to be considered a grandparent myself, I was asked to review this book for all of you (my readers) who might be grandparents or soon to be grandparents. This book is a treasure trove of ideas, recipes, and helpful hints about being a hip, as well as savvy grandparent today. It talks about pitfalls as well as areas where you can really help, and it helps you understand the differences between being a parent and a grandparent (it is more than just - we can give… -
Project 365 (351/365) - Fall Desolation
5 Nov 2009 | 4:02 am------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New to the Divadom? Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com -
Birkenstock - Walking With Support & Style
5 Nov 2009 | 3:56 amI was asked by Birkenstock recently to try out their new Boston line of clogs. I have never been a huge sandle wearer due to the fact that my feet tend to need more support (flat arches) and thus, most sandles tend to leave my ankles and legs hurting. So to be honest I did not know what to expect in trying out the Birkenstocks. I also did not know a lot about the company prior to getting these shipped to me. I had heard a lot of hype in the past about their products and knew people that had them and raved about them, but I had never owned a pair myself. Some of the things I learned while…
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HighTechDad Blog
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Sounding Out! Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U versus Parrot RKi8400 In-Dash Bluetooth Car Stereos
2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 amFor me, the season of giving came early. This summer I was contacted by two PR firms who wanted me to test out some new Bluetooth, phone enabled in-dash car stereo systems. Both requests for review were unsolicited and completely independent of each other. And since they both offered me the units for free including the installation, that was something I just couldn’t turn down. I did warn both of them that I would be doing not only a head-to-head comparison, but that it would be a balanced review, highlighting positives AND negatives. So let’s set the framework here. We have two… -
How to Pre-Populate Twitter Status Updates Via Links
22 Oct 2009 | 7:00 amWe all know that getting information out via Twitter is helpful to your brand or company, but what if you want to have your website or blog readers do it for you? Or perhaps you want to get a standard message out or include a keyword or two through the use of hashtags (#). The process for doing this is very easy, however I learned a little trick that you can use, especially if you want to use hashtags (which I solve at the end of this post). Simple Link The context is very simple. Let’s say the message you want to post is: “I learned how to pre-populate Twitter statuses at:… -
Help @HighTechDad Become the Next Living in HD Insider!
20 Oct 2009 | 8:06 amOn a whim a few weeks ago, I entered into a contest that sounded really cool. All that I had to do was record a video about why I would be the perfect Living in HD Insider and submit it. There were quite a few entries at the end of the submission period. A week later, I found out that I was one of the 10 finalists! First, please take 30 seconds and vote for me Then come back and read the rest of this post. In the video, you were supposed to answer the following questions in any format you desired: As a content creator, why do you believe you should win this customized suite? How would this… -
eBooks, Digital Readers and the Future of Printed Writing
19 Oct 2009 | 8:32 amI am honestly not sure that all books should be electronic. I’m a gadget guy but some part of me feels that if we make everything digital that one day someone will accidentally kick out the plug and EVERYTHING will be gone. I do see the convenience and the immediacy that an eBook provides. It’s similar to the evolution of music as well. When I grew up, the LP or record album was king. I had contests with my friends to see who could fill more wine boxes with albums. We tried to research and purchase the best turntable for the money, belt drive vs. direct drive, type of high-end… -
A “Wall Plug” To Go – HyperMac External Battery Juices up your MacBooks
15 Oct 2009 | 7:10 amBatteries don’t last long enough. While the technology is getting better, and they can pack more juice into smaller spaces, unfortunately, for most people like me, this is just still long enough. Macs are no different than PCs. Both run on batteries that use similar technology. Recently, with the MacBook Pro Unibody designs and MacBook Air, while Apple did increase the capacity of the battery, thus extending the battery life, they also made a design choice making the battery very difficult to replace (it is doable, mind you). What this means is that the average user probably won’t…
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Always Home and Uncool
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Why I Won't Sleep Much Halloween Night
29 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm"Hey, Dad! Wanna see my pictures from art class?" "That's an scary looking jack-o-lantern, Thing 2. But, uh, what's with the red under the eyes and mouth?" "That's blood! Oozing out!" "Uh, awesome, buddy. What else ya got there? That's a big one." "Yeah. I was the only one to do two pictures. Everyone else only did one. But I did TWO." "Cool looking witch silhouette in front of the moon, dude." "Yeah. Look down there ... "... That's a tombstone by the house!" "Nice touch, son... but, um, what's that over there? ... "... Is that a scarecrow? With a chainsaw?" "Yeah! He… -
Conditions May Be Slippery
28 Oct 2009 | 11:30 amThe autumn sky refused to wake this morning. Rain dripped then coldly plummeted and the wind scissored through the Northeastern trees, cutting leaves down in carnival-colored tears. I told the Things to pile in the minivan. No walking to school this A.M. The tires tried to accelerate up the driveway, but slipped and skidded on the motley blanket of New England fall. I warned the Things, as they sat seat-belted in the middle row. I warned them that no matter how quickly you need to get somewhere, sometimes you must be slow and cautious because even the most passive beauty can hide the… -
Lost in Translation
26 Oct 2009 | 12:16 pmWhen the Things were younger, we set the TVs in our house to display the closed captioning under the belief that this might help the runts learn to recognize words and spell while somewhat countering Zack and Cody's best efforts to turn their brains to mush. I cannot verify this method actually works, given Thing 1's struggles with reading and what happened this past weekend with Thing 2. My Love sat in the living room watching a movie and Thing 2, taking a break from his ambitious early compiling of his Christmas list (top item: "Everything Pokemon"), joined her. In one scene in the movie,… -
The Sex Vacuum
23 Oct 2009 | 9:27 amI'm firing the people who clean our house. Apparently, they're killing my sex life. The Wall Street Journal, known internationally as the Masters and Johnson of financial reporting and research, wrote this week about a study that finds the more housework husbands and wives do, the more likely they are to have sex. Sex with each other, I should note. Cybersex, actual physical affairs and going solo were not mentioned, so I can only assume that when one spouse scrubs the shower grout, even if it is with some Bon Ami, that the other spouse is the sole beneficiary of said scrubbing. After reading… -
Tuesday To Do List
20 Oct 2009 | 5:19 pm1. Eat vegetables even though you'd prefer a double chocolate doughnut. 2. Share a giggle with me as I tell the real story behind Gwen Thompson, the formerly homeless American Girl character that parent company Mattel is trying to pawn off on you at $95 a pop. It's over on DadCentric. You know, the place where the Wild Things are. 3. Go see Where the Wild Things Are. By yourself. It's a very good movie about both the reckless abandon, infinite imagination and awkwardness of childhood. Exuberant, dark, brilliant, sad, funny and quiet. We parents all need a refresher in that now and again. 4.
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LiteralDan
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Corporate intelligence, Vol. 10: We're number -1, we're number -1!
6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 amI'm filing this one in the No Press is Bad Press folder:While perusing the Web to find out if there was already a pitchfork-wielding mob I could join on the march to the Frankenstein's Castle of whoever makes those TVs at gas stations and grocery store lines, or if I'd just have to start my own, Google brought me to GSTV.com.GSTV stands for Gas Station TeleVision, which, as far as I can tell, is a company that supplies content for the TVs in gas stations and, presumably, other totally inappropriate locations.But the page to which I was pointed was not their splash page, designed to sell me on… -
Pretend it's still Halloween with me!
4 Nov 2009 | 2:00 amIn case you're breathing a sigh of relief that, after hours of painstakingly inspecting, and possibly dissecting, your children's Halloween candy, they were not near-victims of some dastardly neighborhood psychopath, I just thought I'd like to share with you the secret fact that No one has ever found an actual razor or pin or anything similar in a piece of Halloween candy from a stranger. Ever.This is decades-old madness, so people need to relax and be sensible. Teach your kids what skeevy-looking candy is, and that they should set it aside for you to dispose of. If need be, offer a per-piece… -
That was my trick, now here's the treat
2 Nov 2009 | 1:00 amWell, as I'm sure you noticed, this past week was a bust for posting-- Blogger was all messed up.Did I say Blogger? I meant The blogger.So, to try to make it up to you, I'll post some hypnotic pictures of the kids today, and some thoughts I'd wanted to include in a pre-Halloween post Wednesday. We can all pretend I'm really organized and planned it this way from the beginning.See the children, love the children, forgive their father.... and then give him all your candyyyyy......This scam's working so well, I'm gonna pull my patented Overreach Maneuver:Weren't my posts last week the most… -
Maybe Amelia Earhart simply unraveled?
22 Oct 2009 | 11:00 pmThis article made me laugh so hard, and for so long, I have to make sure you read the whole opening, so I'm going to reprint the first two paragraphs:Famed US aviator's hair actually 'piece of thread'An aviation museum in the US state of Ohio that believed it was displaying a hair sample from famed flyer Amelia Earhart made an unfortunate discovery, after DNA analysis revealed it to be a piece of thread."In a disappointing turn of events," as Cleveland's International Women's Air and Space Museum described it in a statement, the lock of "hair" in their possession since 1986 was revealed as… -
Developments at our house, Vol. 17
21 Oct 2009 | 1:00 amHere, at long last, is the latest list of recent developments around here:1. I discovered that whenever I'm reading an e-mail from my Work folder, Gmail's link above the message urges me to Go Back to "Work" and I can't help but feel that it's deliberately shaming me. Less often than it should be.2. I accidentally drifted off to sleep on the couch one morning while the kids were playing, and when I woke back up I had a snap bracelet on my harder-to-reach wrist, as well as various toys on and next to me, which indicates that I was either playing in my sleep or being played with in my sleep.
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Unraveling Life's Mysteries
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Global Warming?
As I write this at 5:30 wait, (damn time change), I mean 4:30 in the afternoon today the weather report is 77 degrees in Newport Beach. Yeah, 77 degrees on November 1st. What the hell? Living in Southern California, which I love by the way, has it's advantages. Clean air when ... -
A Day of Mourning…
Yes, we were the Boston Beaters we just couldn't be the Yankee Killers. This morning I've resigned myself to a little self pity on the 5-2 loss to the Yankees. I'll get over it. Really, I will. There is always next season and since these Angels have found a way ... -
What Curse?
I don't want to gloat, and yes Matt,it is very hard not to rub it in, but what curse? Since October of 1986 the Boston Red Sox have been the thorn in the side of my California, Anaheim, Los Angeles Angels. For those who missed it, or just don't give a ... -
Happy Birthday Rhonda…
Kevin of Always Home and Uncool has asked me to post this as part of his effort to raise awareness in the blogosphere of juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease his daughter was diagnosed with on this day seven years ago. The day also happens to be his wife's birthday. ... -
I’ve Been Busy…
No excuses. I've been really busy lately. No not a job. Well not a real job anyways. In fact my wife chuckles everytime I mention what I've been doing lately. I've been writing. Actually I've been writing my butt off lately. That's probably why I haven't been updating this blog ...
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Annoyingly Boring?
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Crossing The Border (277/365 v2.0)
6 Nov 2009 | 5:47 pmProject 365 // Day 277 v2.0 Never got considerably higher, but hitting three digits made my decision to call into work sick final. CDC guidelines use the 100 degree mark as a measuring stick. Spent the rest of Thursday and most of Friday hovering around 100, 101 or so. Within the last couple hours it’s eased off a bit more. All things considered I think I got off lucky. -
Baseball Cap & Shadows (276/365 v2.0)
5 Nov 2009 | 9:56 amProject 365 // Day 276 v2.0 I recently asked for input on ideas for a 20 photo project I could do. I received many solid suggestions – but still none have really grabbed me. Two of the suggestions were i) baseball caps and ii) shadows. I was standing in the kitchen yesterday afternoon and I saw my bulldogs cap on the floor in a spot where a shaft of sunlight was pouring in. I don’t think I will do either shadows or ball caps for my project, but it turned out to be a pretty cool shot. -
Structures (274 & 275/365 v2.0)
4 Nov 2009 | 9:09 amProject 365 // Day 274 v2.0 Project 365 // Day 275 v2.0 Still woefully uninspired. Still in need for a theme for a 20 shot set due Sunday. Also still trying to recapture the HDR mojo. I have rendered some really great HDR images in the past, but lately I haven’t been feeling it. It’s been very much on the miss side of hit or miss. The first image is a single image HDR, the second is three exposures. -
Halloween Weekend Catch-Up (271, 272 & 273/365 v2.0)
2 Nov 2009 | 10:42 amProject 365 // Day 271 v2.0 Donated a couple of photos to the High School Band fund raising cable TV auction. It’s covered by the backing of the frame, but maybe if the winner of the auction takes it out of the frame they will see that I signed the back of the print thanking them. I hope the pair of prints fetch a mint. Both for my ego, and for the band’s benefit! Project 365 // Day 272 v2.0 Halloween. Zebra roaming the plains in search of candy. More Halloween photos on my Flickr stream. Project 365 // Day 273 v2.0 Had a table at an arts and craft fair on Sunday. I sold five… -
Go Ask Your Mother (270/365 v2.0)
30 Oct 2009 | 7:36 pmProject 365 // Day 270 v2.0 I do believe that I am even less equipped to help with Music homework than I am Math homework. I joked with him that he shouldn’t be required to do the Music homework. He is after all just a drummer!
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One Dad's Life
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Why Does Toilet Paper Have to be so Confusing?
6 Nov 2009 | 5:31 amWhy is it so difficult to buy toilet paper? I'm not talking about actually finding and then obtaining the toilet paper, mind you. That's easy enough. I'm also not talking about any psychological issues with buying something as "private" as toilet paper. I don't have any problem with grabbing the MEGA super-value pack and walking around the store with it. I mean, really, think of the alternatives!I'm not even talking about picking a brand, though the claims on the rolls of toilet paper crack me up. Example: "A guaranteed clean!" Really? … -
Wordless Wednesday - Classic Truck
4 Nov 2009 | 5:18 amWhat is it about rusty old pickup trucks that make them such a popular photo subject? I don't know, either! However, I was still ensnared by this truck that literally FORCED me to take its picture!Taken at Eckert's Millstadt Farm, Millstadt, IL. with my trusty Nikon D60. Click on the picture for a bigger version. -
Halloween 2009
3 Nov 2009 | 5:17 amAs any self-respecting parent blogger with children still at home will tell you - there is a unspoken law somewhere that I'm sure clearly states that all parent bloggers MUST post their darling children in each year's Halloween costumes. I'm not about to break the law, so here's my post! Check it off my "to-do" list. As I'm certain that the only people interested in all of the pictures to come are either relatives, close friends, or possibly long-time "One Dad's Life" readers who are in no way creepy stalkers, despite disturbing statistics… -
Wordless Wednesday - Fall Harvest
28 Oct 2009 | 4:50 amThis past weekend, we took a little trip out to Eckert's Orchards in Millstadt, IL. Although I take a LOT of pictures, they are most often pictures of opportunity. This trip, however, I had a number of images in my mind that I wanted to create, all the way down to composition and color.Fortunately, the weather (and sky!) cooperated with my imagination, and conditions were just about perfect! Included here are three of my successful shots - at least they met my expectations and hopes. Of course, looking closely at them now I can think of things I'd do differently, but to the… -
Friday Photos - The Climatron, in Total
23 Oct 2009 | 6:12 amOne of the primary reasons I started this blog, was to provide a place to post some of my pictures. If you come here often, you know that just about my favorite place in all of St. Louis to take pictures is at The Missouri Botanical Garden. There is literally an endless supply of inspiring scenes!If my search on the website is accurate, I've frequently mentioned a structure on the grounds called "The Climatron." I've even posted a number of pictures that show glimpses of the cool exo-skeleton of the dome. However, it seems I've never given someone who is not…
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Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords
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Dads on an Uncertain Mission
31 Oct 2009 | 8:05 pmOctober 31, 2009 | 2009 Texas Book Festival | Austin TXSaving Your Children: Dads on an Uncertain Mission(l-r) Antonio Ruiz-Camacho (moderator), Rupert Isaacson, Michael Greenberg, Robert Rummel-HudsonWith Michael Greenberg, author of Hurry Down SunshineWith Rupert Isaacson, author of The Horse Boy -
Impermanence
30 Oct 2009 | 2:13 pmAmeliaOriginally uploaded by Citizen RobThis is the beginning of a busy weekend, beginning with an event tonight at Legacy Books here in Plano, after which we'll pile into Atomo (The Air-Conditioned Hellcar of the Apocalypse) and drive to Austin for the Texas Book Festival on Saturday and then a fun surprise for Schuyler on Sunday that I look forward to telling you about after it happens. (Oo, teaser.) As you may or may not have heard, tomorrow is Halloween, so if you're at the Book Festival, watch for the tiny Amelia Earhart. If there's more than one, go for the Amelia that's speaking… -
Flygirl
24 Oct 2009 | 2:03 pmSince we'll be in Austin on Halloween for the Texas Book Festival, here's one more reason for you to come. You'll get to meet Amelia Earhart. -
Wild Things
16 Oct 2009 | 3:27 pmSchuyler had a day off for parent-teacher conferences today, so Julie and I took the day off as well. After a brief and painless meeting, we went to see Where the Wild Things Are.And now I have a few thoughts on the film, which was not at all what I expected.I can't say that Schuyler loved it, not with the wild abandon she has loved other monster movies or kids' movies. She was fascinated, and she wanted to discuss it after, which is always a good sign, but I get the sense that she's still trying to decide how she feels about it. I certainly wouldn't describe Where the Wild Things Are as a… -
Schuyler's Halloween Preview
15 Oct 2009 | 5:20 amThe first (and most crucial) parts of Schuyler's Halloween costume arrived in the mail yesterday.When we began the whole "What do you want to be for Halloween?" dance this year, we assumed it was going to be the same "Fairies vs. Mermaids" struggle we go through every year. (Fairies! Mermaids! WHO WILL TRIUMPH?!?) Both present problems that go beyond just "Really? Again?" For example, good luck finding (or assembling) a fairy costume in which your sweet innocent child doesn't end up looking like some fetish-specializing hooker. And mermaids? No feet. Have fun hopping from door to door like…
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Velcrometer
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Happy Birthday Spooky Halloween Slide Show Magic Fun Time
4 Nov 2009 | 7:01 pmHappy Birthday Spooky Halloween Slide Show Magic Fun TimeGreetings! Captain Rex from Star Wars: The Clone Wars welcomes you to his fifth birthday/Halloween carnival extravaganza! Or I would, if that were one of the prerecorded phrases programmed into my helmet. Or if I could do an inexplicably Kiwi clone accent. Which I can't yet, because I'm just turned five this week.Walk this way! And tell me if I'm about to run into something!That's my dad. He looks good, doesn't he?Behold the terror of the haunted garage! It didn't make that many kids cry (not shown). And I promise none of them were me,… -
Cheap Flick
2 Nov 2009 | 8:41 pmCheap FlickThis is kind of embarrassing to admit, but I entered the Project Greenlight contest years ago. Not once, not twice, but three times. As you may or may not recall, the goal was to write a screenplay that could be produced for a million dollars or less. Back then I didn't understand how such a thing was even possible. But having recently seen Paranormal Activity, I've been thinking about how big movies with a five-figure budget come about, and what I know now that I didn't know then.Make people multitask. Professional camera operators are expensive. Professional movie actors are even… -
Party Time
28 Oct 2009 | 1:56 pmParty TimeAfter months of prep, stress, and work, the party finally came and went. Trash and I knew that the two hours we'd been working for all this time would fly by. And, in fact, it did.This is not to say that there weren't a few hitches. With thirty-odd kids coming, Trash would not be dissuaded from her insistence that there needed to be one thing to do for every 3-4 kids. At the same time. That comes out to like ten different things she wanted to have going on. I tried to tell her that long lines are the sign of a successful party, but since she refuses to wait in those kind of lines on… -
This Old Haunted House
26 Oct 2009 | 7:49 amThis Old Haunted HouseI've been putting off writing about the birthday party, probably because putting it on was such an undertaking that I fear the same will be true of an entry about it. But now I have to assume that since once the party was over I felt a lot better, that will apply to writing about it as well.First of all, it should be said that this was a group effort in every way. Trash drafted friends, parents, relatives, and neighbors to help make this happen, from having them provide food to putting them to work facilitating the activities. And writing about what went on from my point… -
Karma
23 Oct 2009 | 4:11 pmKarmaTrash again.What a week. Sorry for the delay on the update, but we had a wild rumpus around here last weekend, including a Halloween birthday party for M. Edium that included more than 35 kids and an almost equal number of adults, as well as a haunted house and semi-carnival in the back yard and a cemetery with creepy actors in the front yard. No, it isn’t something we routinely do and no, it will not happen again, but I will leave that story for M. Giant.Anyway, YOU GUYS! I can’t believe how many of you donated in M. Edium’s name. We spent a considerable amount of time looking…
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Attachment Parenting Blog: Raising Children with Love
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Fighting H1N1 with a cool soap dispenser
3 Nov 2009 | 9:24 pmI'm not a big fan of vaccinations. I think that it's one of the reasons that we're seeing more and more extreme allergies and auto-immune deficiency illnesses, a path that only seems to have one direction for us to travel: to a world where people are more and more sickly, more reliant on the vaccinations and big pharma medications. Probably makes me sound a bit paranoid. Ah well, can't be helped, I'm just being transparent. My kids have never been vaccinated for anything and they've had remarkably healthy childhoods and when they've gotten sick, they're returned to health quite quickly. -
Dad + daughter's hair: an inherent disaster?
27 Oct 2009 | 4:37 pmI'm lucky, I know. I'm a single dad to two girls, 12 and 5, and while it'd be a bit odd for the tween to be asking me for help with the latest hair style, it's a miracle that my 5yo daughter can do her own hair and never asks me for more than finding those darn hair bands. Most dads don't have it that easy, and there's little more intimidating than a little girl asking you to "do that pretty braid like mommy does" or "fix my hair for photo day". Turns out I'm not alone in my misigivings and angst in this area: a chap called Craig Lawrey contacted me a few weeks ago about a book he's written… -
Jif Peanut Butter is gluten-free, but ...
22 Oct 2009 | 8:53 amThe PR agency behind Jif peanut butter has a promotion where they're asking for the best recipes that include Jif peanut butter. Okay, not a bad idea. When I got a copy of the query I responded that to me the real question is the quality of the food: two of my three children are on gluten-free diets. To my surprise, they informed me that Jif actually is a gluten-free product. Now, before you say "well, yeah, it's peanuts and oil", you should know that just about all foods on the shelf now have the ambiguous "natural flavoring" and that's often where gluten is hiding, as an additive or… -
The economics of driving a taxi in Las Vegas
17 Oct 2009 | 9:12 amI'm in Las Vegas right now for the Blogworld and New Media Expo and took a cab, as I often do, cruising around from hotel to hotel, party to party. This time the driver, Frank, was in a talkative mood and revealed some very interesting information about the economics of being a cab driver here in Las Vegas. Wondering how these guys get paid? Turns out that one of their biggest sources of revenue is dropping fares off at strip clubs. In fact, there's a "price war" going on with the strip clubs here in Vegas and a cabbie can earn up to $100 per person for dropping people off at the door. They… -
For me, the Hilton Grand Vacation Club timeshare numbers didn't end up working
14 Oct 2009 | 10:59 amA pal of mine emailed me a few days ago asking: Do you have a hilton grand vacations hgvc timeshare? Which resort do you usually go to? Are you happy with it? We went back and forth in email, including me explaining some of the math behind time shares and why they're such a bad idea for most people (myself included, in hindsight) and so I thought I'd publish the back and forth here, add some additional comments, and invite you readers to add your own two cents and your experiences with timeshares, whether you jumped or not. Ready? Here we go... I responded: We paid $110,000 for a…
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Clark Kent's Lunchbox
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My Stepdad's Not Mean, He's Just Adjusting
6 Nov 2009 | 3:30 amMy wife and I were bored the other night and decided to pull out an old DVD (I suppose in a broader sense, DVD's in general are old these days). After 20 minutes of deliberation, we finally settled on Death to Smoochy staring Edward Norton, Robin Williams, Catherine Keneer, Jon Stewart and Danny DeVito (who also directed it). If you've never seen Smoochy, it's a dark, farcical comedy about the kids entertainment industry (but it's NOT a kids movie). In one of these scenes Norton sings the song, "My Stepdad's Not Mean, He's Just Adjusting," which I totally forgot about. Ash and I rolled on the… -
Halloween Geek Out
4 Nov 2009 | 7:03 amHere are a few pics of the girls from Halloween. In the morning we hit the comic book store a did a little Christmas shopping since wearing a costume got you a 25-30% discount. (kids make great coupons.) Yes, I know; the Clark outfit is a rerun, but the girls were begging me to wear it, so I obliged. And in the late afternoon we hit a Halloween festival put on by the local church. Loads of fun. However, I have to say, for as cool as the girls looked, their candy collecting efforts can only be described as "deplorable." -
Pride Comes After A Fall
2 Nov 2009 | 4:30 amLast week Ashley and I attended a fundraising event put on by the Young Professionals of Houston in support of city mayor, Bill White’s bid for the U.S. Senate. Our presence wasn’t due to our rampant political activism per se (I was surprised to learn that Mayor White was a Democrat, this after he’d already completed two terms as mayor.), but because of Ashley’s work in designing the invitations. In recent month’s Ashley has been doing more and more freelance work, growing a client base that now spans across the country. The increased demand, by her admission, is baffling, but not… -
Think You Know Incriminating? Yeah, I Wore These Costumes
30 Oct 2009 | 5:30 amI don't know why I'm doing this to myself, but hey, I ran these pics last Halloween so it's like I should still feel embarrassed right? Never mind. In the spirit of the season, and because I'm buried with several other writing projects at the moment, I'll cheat and run these again. Try not to laugh too hard.Yes, that's me at age 5 (maybe 4?), anyway, my mom was a heck of a seamstress and she took one of my dad's old uniforms (that's his beret) and hacked it down to my size. To add to the realism, she then smeared coffee grounds on my face giving me that rugged manly look (I was the first kid… -
The Chronicles of Nun-Ya
27 Oct 2009 | 6:48 amAre there times when it feels like your kids are being a bit too nosy? My stepdaughters seem to have a penchant for this, and it annoys me to no end. Mind you, we're not talking about their innocent and sincere curiosity to interpret the bigger world through inquiries as to the intent behind my actions. I'm perfectly willing to explain things such as how I managed to fix their broken Barbie party helicopter, or why I flipped the guy off at Wal Mart who failed to heed the stop sign as we attempted to negotiate the rigors of the crosswalk. No. Instead it's the questions loaded with the…
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Mocha Dad
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Hair Styling is No Job for Daddies
6 Nov 2009 | 11:30 amMy daughter, Nee, has absolutely no confidence in my ability to do her hair. Whenever I attempt to style it, she becomes more obnoxious than Rush Limbaugh. Recently, my wife, KayEm, had to run an errand and I thought I would surprise her by combing and styling Nee’s hair (even though, Nee prefers KayEm to do [...] -
Did You Hear the One About Underpants?
2 Nov 2009 | 1:51 pmMy 6-year-old son, N, is a master of the one-liner. He keeps my wife and me in stitches with his witty observations. He hasn’t realized that his wit and charm naturally draw people to him. He is convinced that telling jokes is his key to developing friendships. Unfortunately, he is no Chris Rock. Here is [...] -
Thank You for Helping me to Help Domestic Violence Victims
1 Nov 2009 | 2:10 pmI’d like to thank everyone who participated in my Comments for a Cause promotion to help domestic violence victims. Unfortunately, I was unable to reach my goal of $250.00 but I appreciate your comments and tweets nonetheless. They helped me to raise $145.20 to donate to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). During the month of [...] -
The Last Thing You Want to Do is Date Your Wife
30 Oct 2009 | 10:28 am“But we can still date, she says, like this is supposed to cushion the blow. I mean, I got married so I could stop dating, so I don’t see where ‘we can still date’ is a big incentive, since the last thing you want to do is date your wife…”– Billy Crystal as Harry Burns [...] -
The Live-in Boyfriend, The Monkey, and The Books
27 Oct 2009 | 9:34 amFor much of my life, we had no TV. When we finally got one, it was a tiny black and white set with a wire hanger antenna and broken knobs. Therefore, my main form of entertainment was reading. I loved going to the comic book store with my cousin. We’d spend hours perusing the boxes to [...]
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Parenting - The Dad Jam
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The Power of the Liquid Timer
2 Nov 2009 | 11:41 pmIf a timer is a parent’s best friend, a liquid timer is a parent’s best friend forever. Or life partner. I took a trip to Science World in Vancouver with the family today (Telus World of Science I should say – and a great place to go with the kids at that), and made the obligatory gift shop stop. While there, I happily learned that holders of yearly admission passes get a fifteen percent discount on everything in the shop. With this new found knowledge, I couldn’t leave empty handed. Come on, how can you pass up 15% off (even if everything in the store is 25%… -
I’m Still Alive
12 Oct 2009 | 12:33 pmThey make you laugh They make you cry, They make you smile They make you sigh. They are a joy They are a pain, They are your sunshine They are your rain. They give you hopes They give you fears, They’re full of smiles They’re full of tears. They’ll wake you up They’ll make you sleepy, They’ll make you happy They’ll make you weepy. They’re independent They need you there, They make you worry They make you care. They’re so small They’re so big, They make you shout They make you sing. They’re your kids They’re everything,… -
We didn’t inherit the Earth
20 Sep 2009 | 9:42 pmOne of the (many) things I love about my wife, is that she has taught me and our kids so much about caring for our Earth, and for others. I have learned through her that giving back to the Earth and others is the most fulfilling thing you can do in life, and I owe her the world for setting a wonderful example for our kids in this regard. When our kids see what we do (she does) to take care of the Earth and others, they want to do the same (you know, kids always want to be like their parents – until they reach puberty at least – which is why it is good to start when they’re… -
To force participation in hobbies, or not to force?
6 Sep 2009 | 11:09 pmFor your reading enjoyment, we are pleased to bring you a guest post from Keith Wilcox of almightydad.com. Keith is a stay at home dad and fellow dad blogger with lots of great wisdom and thoughts to impart, so I hope you give this a read and check out his site as well. To Force Participation in hobbies, or not to force? by Keith Wilcox of almightydad.com Each of my two boys has particular skills that make them good at certain hobbies. My youngest, Alan, is an excellent story teller; his imagination is off the charts, and he’s witty. Someday he could probably be a comedian or an actor… -
How to get your kids to do something – you do it too!
23 Aug 2009 | 1:59 pmI recently learned one of the best ways to get my toddle to do something is to simply do the thing that I want him to do. He is going through a bit of a phase right now where he wants to do whatever we do, so this works perfectly. If you are having troubles getting your toddler to listen to you, or to do something, try this out. Here are two examples that illustrate my point: Putting on pyjamas – after a long day, I was struggling to get Smarty Pants to put his pyjamas on after his bedtime bath. He insisted that he wanted to put shorts on. I had no idea why, but I was…
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The Dads Center
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Giving Myself Permission To Be Me; What makes you happy?
29 Oct 2009 | 6:14 amI've been in research mode, reflection mode and healing mode the past few weeks (well, months.) It's time for some changes in my life and I've been sorting through what they might be and what they might become. The forces of evil have been whipping about me and my family for the duration of the summer of 2009 with the force of a Katrina wind. Others have sought to bring ruin upon me and my household and I'm sure they're feeling very good about themselves and their worthless greed. May God have mercy on you. You'll need it. When I was younger, I wanted to be a novelist. But the… -
Product Bloggers Beware! New FTC disclosure requirements!
5 Oct 2009 | 10:02 amFinally, something from the FTC requiring the disclosure of information when one is blogging about a product in exchange for something from that company. From Mashable: FTC to Fine Bloggers up to $11,000 for Not Disclosing Payments October 5th, 2009 | by Adam OstrowBloggers now have up to 11,000 reasons to disclose when they are being paid to review products.The FTC has updated its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising for the first time since 1980, and among the changes, a requirement that “bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material… -
Engadget: 30% dropped iPhone calls normal; My solution is ...
2 Oct 2009 | 9:09 amI saw this piece on Engadet today and thought about the frustration I used to suffer driving down 635 here in Dallas and suffering the angst of another dropped call on my iPhone 3G. Well, the solution I learned from an Apple Genius was to simply turn the 3G function off unless I was doing something with a lot of data. Yes, I'm paying for 3G, but it was explained to me that AT&T had over extended its towers with the launch of the service. When I went back to EDGE on my phone for making phone calls, the problem went away almost completely. But here's the Engadget piece just in case… -
I fell in love at the Apple Store. Too funny
28 Sep 2009 | 8:02 amThis is funny. Get a Mac. Today. I know this feeling. My wife and I are both Macs. -
The Governator is also the Hotwaternator, Watch out kids
26 Sep 2009 | 12:09 pmKari and I have had a similar issue in our house. We also have four bathrooms and two water heaters, so you can imagine how fast hot water still disappears. Well, From the New York Times' Jennifer Steinhauer, comes this piece about the Governator. Schwarzenegger to Children: Hurry Up in There!By JENNIFER STEINHAUERPublished: September 25, 2009LOS ANGELES — In a new twist on an old saw trotted out by generations of parents who think their children have it easier, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken to monitoring his children’s water use by timing how long they spend in the shower.
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Luke, I Am Your Father
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The Hardy Boys
6 Nov 2009 | 8:44 pmThe promise came from Mrs. LIAYF. It was more of a bribe really."Lukas, eat all of your dinner and I'll give you a surprise". "I want a tattoo!" was his reply. Fair enough. It was a deal.And at that, the remainder of our 2-year-olds Friday night pizza was devoured without delay, followed by his mother bringing over a basket, filled with skin art booklets toddlers dream are made of. Sharks, Pirates, Trucks, and Firemen to name a few.Sticking with his recent fascination, Lukas choose a large firetruck to adorn his forearm. A wet washcloth and 30 seconds later and he was grinning from ear to… -
The Darndest Things
3 Nov 2009 | 6:26 pmHumorous things often come from the mouth of a 2-year-old. Thought I'd share a few recent quips from ours:"Man were Choo-Choo Train, Daddy!"(After hearing a Pavarotti clip on the radio this morning. Opera/Train Whistle. I make that same mistake all the time.)"That's Grandma Woo!" (Looking at an old HS Basketball photo and pointing at a team mate of mine. Er...not quite son. Note the Adams Apple.)"You almost too cool, daddy!"(I grinned at this one…that is until he repeated it and amended 'cool' to 'school')"Well…we did not go under it."(Duh! After being asked if he went over the bridge… -
A Real Treat
1 Nov 2009 | 9:41 pmThis year was the real deal. Lukas' first Halloween Trick-or-Treating. Yes, we did take him around the block when he was four months old but that was more to show him off in his cute penguin costume.Then last year we discovered what real Halloween horror was as our son was admitted to Seattle Children's Hospital with a serious staff infection. We were quarantined in our room for 36 hours over the holiday while the hospital confirmed the infection was not MRSA. It was the scariest Halloween Mrs. LIAYF and I ever experienced.Saturday night, however, was simply pure fun. Lukas was dressed to the… -
A Case of the Happy's
31 Oct 2009 | 6:02 amHappy! Happy! Yes, it's Halloween and we all have good reason to dress up, eat candy, and scare the crap out of people. However, here at Casa LIAYF we have even more reason to spread the cheer, smile, eat cake, sing, and most of all be happy.It's Mrs. LIAYF's Birthday!I would like to say I have some great surprise planned. That she will be getting more than a small birthday bag full of gifts and this lame heartfelt post. (Yes, that is the same image I used on last year's Halloween birthday post). But in reality both of us have been putting all of our resources into our basement remodel… -
Wordless Wednesday: Rejected Costume Edition
28 Oct 2009 | 1:05 pm
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Raging Dad
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WW: Running ’round the punkin patch
14 Oct 2009 | 10:08 pmSonny and Michael chasing each other in the hay maze. Connie watching the craziness of her brothers. Posted in wordless wednesday Tagged: kids, maze, pumpkin patch -
Clean, real clean. Like my conscience.
30 Sep 2009 | 10:26 pmIs anyone else fascinated with teaching your kids to say funny stuff, for your own amusement? Come on. You know you do it. A buddy of mine had it all set, so that when he would say to his daughter, “Stop!” she’d reply, “Hammer time.” Brilliant. When I got home from work yesterday, Raging Mom had taught Sonny to say this: Which is, of course, based on Deniro’s amazing improvised bit from “Taxi Driver”: I can’t even tell you how hard I laughed. At least I’m not the only one in this house who gets a kick out of this. Right after… -
The ocean breathes salty
16 Sep 2009 | 11:59 pmI have this sore spot inside my left nostril that just kills. Every year, when the summer’s warmth begins to fade and the cooler weather approaches, it opens up with a yawn as if eagerly greeting the day with a toothy smile. Just when I am ready to bid farewell to the smells of summer—charcoal and cut grass—and welcome the scents of rain and moss and the fireplace, that sore spot destroys the smooth intake of breath like a nose full of salt water. Photo by David Shankbone, courtesy Wikipedia. Each morning when I wake, the siren song of that sore spot calls to me and I am powerless… -
WW: Back to school again
9 Sep 2009 | 11:09 pmMichael and Sonny start their second year of preschool. Connie on her first day of first grade. Posted in wordless wednesday Tagged: back to school, first grade, preschool, school -
WW: In stitches
2 Sep 2009 | 9:32 amMichael fell into a gravestone, while visiting my dad's grave site in Minnesota. Four stitches and a black eye; pretty cool way to get a scar. Posted in wordless wednesday Tagged: cemetary, eye, injury, scar, stitches
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Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
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Life and Death and Writing it All Down
6 Nov 2009 | 11:26 pmIf you’re related to me, you may want to stop reading…or perhaps you should just start back at the beginning…For those of you who are a part of my online family, please (lie to me and) tell me you can relate. Too Much Information (TMI) I share everything here on this blog, more than I probably should. From the time I had to go to Urgent Care after a night of sex to the frustrations around my co-parenting challenges, my personal stories, along with all the emotions they stir, can be found here. I have nothing to hide. Why then, do the important people in my life feel as… -
Forever Families
5 Nov 2009 | 8:56 pmMy son is an only child. Since his father and I divorced, I have changed my mind, nearly a dozen times, about having a second or even third child. My biological clock is ticking, and yet, I know that there are thousands of children that need a permanent address and I don’t know if I could bring another child into this world when there are so many already waiting… My sister had her second child a few years ago, which prompted many questions from my son. I answered with age-appropriate and accurate information. Recently, he’s been telling me that he wants a baby brother or… -
How Thirsty Are You?
4 Nov 2009 | 11:17 amBy Steve Goodier Isn’t it wonderful when we get thirsty – not for water, but thirsty to chase a dream or to so something different? I think it is those people who crave something with an unquenchable thirst who, in the end, are likely to be most satisfied with their lives. Alan C. Elliott talks in his book, A Daily Dose of the American Dream, of a five-year study that was undertaken to discover what made some people extraordinarily successful. The study consisted of detailed research into the lives of 120 of the nation’s top artists, athletes, and scholars. He reports that… -
Come Together
2 Nov 2009 | 3:46 pmThe last few days have been pretty emotional for me. On Wednesday, my ex-husband and I met at Family Court for Mediation. Just before we were called in for our appointment, my boyfriend sent me a text from the airport. He should have been boarding a plane to San Diego, but instead, he was in line trying to get on another flight since his had been canceled. I felt helpless in so many ways. It was a bittersweet experience for me when, less than an hour later, my son’s father and I came to an agreement regarding custody of our nearly 6-year-old son. It was such a relief knowing that our… -
Today’s Scary Word
27 Oct 2009 | 10:37 amThe scary word for today, October 27, is “frightening.” Now head back over to the Indie Biz Chicks website to enter to win! One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Twitter Book, by Tim O’Reilly. Good luck! Happy Healthy Hip Parenting Peace Begins in the Home
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Dad's Workbench: A Dad Blog
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Davidson Orchard
23 Oct 2009 | 11:04 pmThe other weekend we went to Davidson Orchards with some of our friends. It was Family week and so there was lots to do and see. Unfortunately there was also a rain storm that weekend too. First there was piles and piles of pumpkins in the parking lot, on the side walks in bins and everywhere you went. There was every size available. We got my daughter Joy a tiny one. It was probably big enough to make a pumpkin pie the size of two or three tarts. My wife got a normal size one. There was a pumpkin carving contest with a dozen or so pumpkins. There were a couple of good ones but nothing to… -
Pumpkin Pie
10 Oct 2009 | 10:06 amThe best thing about Thanksgiving is mom’s homemade pumpkin pie. If Iwas a vegitarian the only things I would eat is pumpkin pie, zucchini pound cake, carrot cake, carrot muffins and borsch. It is a good thing I am not a vegitarian. Tomorrow my wife is making another pie. I think we need to schedual Thanksgiving a little more often through out the year. It wouldn’t hurt to be a little more thankful and have a little more pie. -
Little Cousin
6 Oct 2009 | 9:46 pmWe had my brother and his family over the other night, so here is a photo of my daughters little cousin. They are only about a year apart. My daughter was watching her and trying to play with her. It will be fun to see the two grow up and learn to play together. It is amazing how many changes babies go through. I remeber my daugher being at the same stages and all the excitment that comes with watching them grow. There is nothing more fun that getting together with family and having a big party. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Birthday’s when parents sit and talk and children run around… -
Full Of Bull
28 Sep 2009 | 9:14 pmHere is a bull statue with my new Canon 55mm F1.8 lens. After several months of shooting with only a 70-300mm lens my wife got me a 50mm lens for our Anniversary. I have to say I like it a lot. It beats my kit lenses for sure. It’s clear, crisp and I like having the apature. It will take some time to get used to as all I shot with before was zoom lenses. The zooms are nice for candid photos. I think getting those quick shots will be a little harder with this lens because I will have to move around more. With a zoom you can just stand there and be less of a distraction. On the other hand… -
Fresh Sardine…Real Fresh
23 Sep 2009 | 10:50 pmI just realized how rarely I have been posting in this blog. The plan was for a somewhat of a regular update of my life and family. I also noticed that I have a food category that rarely gets post. It is not that my life has been boring or that I don’t like food. It is that my little girl doesn’t let me get much sleep and work is so busy that at the end of the day I like to sit around and do mindless things. Which includes being a lazy dad that lays on the floor while my daughter crawls over me like a jungle gym. Anyways here is a update and a post for my food category. The other…
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mattdaddy.net
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Now that explains something…
5 Nov 2009 | 11:08 amFae’s been sick for a while, whether it be emotionally from trying to work with the right anxiety and depression meds, or side effects of them all, or sinus and flu the past week or so. This summer was a disaster, but thankfully the doc and Fae realized that certain kinds of drugs, SSRI’s, don’t work and just mess up her functions. Sept was so much better, and October was even moreso, having Fae back in spirit, if not in body. She’s been tired, and when she gets moving, gets winded and tired easily. So when we had to get a refill on one of her antibiotics, the… -
Maybe 4 hours
2 Nov 2009 | 6:46 amIf I was lucky. That’s the amount of sleep I got on Saturday night. So it’s 6pm on Halloween night, and Gilli’s first friend shows up. I”m already realizing this is going to be a long night because she’s a) afraid of our cats, b) never had a sleepover, and c) has never been trick or treating before. Yeah, I know, she’s 10. I’ll give the 1$ version instead of going into lots of details. They all got there, made buttons for their candy bags so they could tell who’s was who’s, went out trick or treating with my wife for about 2 hours… -
shoot me…Six 10 yr olds sleeping over?
31 Oct 2009 | 8:27 amDude, I am not looking forward to tonight. The girls are getting here around 6, going trick or treating for a while, coming back and sleeping over. All of them. Man, I hope someone decides not to sleep over:) Did I mention that there were SIX TEN YEAR OLDS?!?!?!? I think I’m getting a lot of saint points for this one. -
Aidan’s trip to Fairview Lake
28 Oct 2009 | 7:55 pmDictated by Aidan to Fae tonight: This was an extremely exciting trip for me, and it was emotionally stressful and took a whole lot of preparation, Knowing me, I get really anxious quickly and easily, but I had no anxiety at all during this trip. The first day, Dad and I drove over to the school. He got my bag in and left, and I got on the bus and drove to Fairview Lake, in Sussex County, NJ. When we got there, I unpacked and ate lunch with a couple of my friends. Our first activity was teambuilding, and we did really well getting all the challenges done. After that was a hike to the 3rd… -
Still my little girl
28 Oct 2009 | 6:54 amDear Peanut, Um, excuse me miss. Who told you that you were allowed to grow up? TEN? You’re not allowed to be TEN! I want a redo! No, I wouldn’t change a thing, not one little bit, I just want to relive it all over again because it’s been an amazing trip with you so far. This is you and me at around 3 weeks and 30 yrs respectively. I think I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do with two! Just to go on record, the hat was not my idea. The storyteller we had for your 3rd birthday was cool as hell, but that hat is a bit much. You do look way…
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Blogger Dad
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Swine Flu Madness – Make Your Own Choice
1 Nov 2009 | 9:41 pmI’ve been wanting to write about the swine flu before my entire family got it two weeks ago. You see, there’s lots of misinformation about the H1N1 vaccine that’s being thrown out there. And it seems that more than half the people I know have some pretty wild theories about the vaccine. None of which are based in fact, but that’s not surprising as the vaccine discussion has taken on a tone not of public safety, but rather a political one. Pundits are not your friends Yes, the talking heads on both the extreme right and oddly enough, some on the extreme left, are out there spreading… -
Whine Time
25 Oct 2009 | 11:54 pmThanks to everybody who wished my family well in the comments and via email. I’m glad to say, we’ve recovered from the swine flu. I’ve got a lingering cough and am still a bit tired, but otherwise, I’m feeling 100 times better than I was. Now, on with today’s post. My two year old son, E, is going through a whiney phase. When he doesn’t get his way, he goes from zero to 60 on the Tantrum Express in two seconds flat. It begins as an “eh” followed by a louder “eh” Followed by a constant barrage of increasingly louder “eh”s… -
Caution: This Post May Give You Swine Flu
20 Oct 2009 | 7:33 pmI’m wearing a full body biological suit while typing this, as I may have swine flu and I don’t want you to get it, too. My son was diagnosed with the swine flu on Sunday and while he is getting better (thankfully) I have a fever and am feeling like crap. I went to the doc today and got tested, though their test is taking a few days since I didn’t want to pay for the express version. However, I am being treated with Tamiflu and some other medicines. I’m hoping my wife doesn’t get it. So, in short, no real post today. Once I’m feeling better, I have two posts… -
Scary Product: Daddy and Me Book
15 Oct 2009 | 8:01 amSo a few of us are having a scary product contest in honor of Halloween (and stupid products) and while I am a judge and not eligible to win, that can’t stop me from playing along. Here’s my scary find from this week. A book from 1986 called Daddy and Me which apparently is one of the line of Super Chubby (go ahead, insert your own joke there) books. I bought this gem at the local dollar store, where oddly enough, not everything in the store is a dollar, but that’s another post for another time. Rather than simply post photos from the book, I decided to have some fun with… -
This One Goes Out To the Ones I Love
11 Oct 2009 | 10:20 pmRecently, I was packing my two year old son’s lunch for daycare. In addition to his food, I sent a note along. The note, which I wrote in crayon, said, “Mommy and Daddy Love You, E” It’s sad to think that one day he will likely reject such notes. Sadder still, how hard it is for me to accept or write such notes to anyone other than my son. As men, we’re taught to bury such blatant expressions of love. Taught that such expressions are feminine and in some cases, a sign of weakness. This is probably genetically passed down through the ages, the whole…
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Halftime Lessons
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Chasing The Sun
1 Nov 2009 | 7:27 pmAs I write this, I’m high above the vast monotony of Tennesee, racing the setting sun back to the family I have missed so much while I worked this week to keep my job. I’m fully aware how much of a pansy I sound like when I say that it has been a stressful, emotional week, and I am unbelievably happy to be on my way to a halloween party to re-unite with my wife, Superman and a Fairy. I did have some fun this week though…ate half my weight in sushi and concerned several friends with my ability to alternate coffee with vodka depending on the sun’s position in the sky. A… -
Today’s Gastrointestinal Tip.
19 Oct 2009 | 6:10 amThere are a grand total of ZERO circumstances that make chicken chili at 2am a good idea. Great people, a lot of laughs, too much to drink, and a terrible showing of impulse control with a spoon led to a painful following day, so please accept this tip as gospel. I’m gonna be tied up for the next couple of weeks, if you care. In our industry, when you start carrying a new drug, or in my case, when you keep your job and have to re-learn your drug for the THIRD time, the company sends you some brief night table reading. Then they put you in front of a firing squad and ask you to recite it… -
Survivor Guilt
15 Oct 2009 | 6:11 pmFair warning, this will not be the place for a laugh tonight. Just need to write some things down so I can try to put this day behind me, if that’s remotely possible. Today I narrowly avoided becoming one of the thousands of Pharmaceutical Representatives that have been, and continue to be laid off. It has been going on for years, and one could argue, as I have, that we created this mess ourselves. And today, my company reduced the salesforce that I have been a part of by half, or better. I’m sitting here tonight shellshocked, sad, with even other emotions I can’t seem to… -
Smoke and Mirrors…It’s Still Just Me.
13 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pmWelcome. Back. I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time. Leave Blogger, get a new look, do things kind of differently. I had some of the usual fears…losing readers by moving to WordPress, learning a whole new platform, etc. But in the end, I had some ideas about how I wanted to do all of this online thing that mattered more than that stuff. My wife quickly pointed out to me that she could barely tell the difference from my old layout…sigh…clearly she spends a lot of time reading me. I’ll be doing some other things differently. You may not even notice,… -
A Burrito For The Ages.
2 Oct 2009 | 9:49 amI was in love once. A crazy, reckless love that proved to be a blissfully emotional time in my life. She was spicy, fulfilling, and she made me feel like I was the only one in the world for her. And then one day, quite suddenly, she was gone. Her name was Burrito Zacatecas, and she disappeared. Her parents who owned a little Mexican restaurant in Bartonville moved away, you see, and she would never be mine again. The day I discovered that she was gone I sat and cried in the parking lot for far too long…until my wife and kids urged me to continue our search for dinner. And amidst my tears, I…
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Ask Mr. Dad
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All of Life’s Riches
3 Nov 2009 | 3:40 pmDear Mr. Dad: My wife and I are relatively well off and can give our kids whatever they want. But how can we be generous without spoiling them rotten? A: First of all, change your perspective: think in terms of giving them what they need instead of what they want. That said, if by “generous” you [...] -
Dropping Out of School is Not an Option
27 Oct 2009 | 6:43 pmDear Mr. Dad: Our 15-year-old son wants to quit school and get a job. He has struggled academically but we always assumed he’d graduate and go on to college. We’re trying hard to dissuade him from quitting, but he says he can always get a GED later. What can we do? A: Having been in exactly [...] -
Speak to Me, Baby
13 Oct 2009 | 10:21 amDear Mr. Dad: I can’t help but notice that some of the kids at my daughter’s daycare are way more verbal than she is. We read to her all the time and we’re a chatty family so what gives? Are these parents doing something we’re not? A: First things first: not all children develop language skills [...] -
What to Expect from a Step-Mom
8 Oct 2009 | 7:39 pmDear Mr. Dad: I’m divorced and have full custody of my daughter. I’ve been dating someone for about six months and we practically live together, but I don’t think she’s doing enough to help me out. She says that this is her first real relationship and wants to take things slow. She never offers to [...] -
Bonding with Adopted Baby
6 Oct 2009 | 9:35 amDear Mr. Dad: My spouse and I adopted a 14-month-old baby boy. What can I do as a working father to build and cement a strong bond, since we have missed the early stages? A: The best thing you can do now is read everything you can about child development. You need to know what’s been [...]
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Dad's 'Mac & Cheese'
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The Boo Flu
5 Nov 2009 | 5:55 pmSorry for the long delay between servings. I suffered from the convergence of a busy work week, some side projects, and a bad case of what I’m calling the ‘Boo Flu.’ I woke up on Halloween morning feeling hollowed out like a jack-o’-lantern, achy and numb all over like a zombie, with a rough, scratchy werewolf [...] -
Halloween Grab Bag
31 Oct 2009 | 11:54 amWhen Charlotte and Luke woke up this morning, Karen immediately asked them, “Guess what today is?” Charlotte’s excited response: “A school day!?” (Bless her heart.) “No, Charlotte – it’s Saturday,” noted Karen. “Here’s a hint, we dress up and go to the neighbors’ houses for candy.” When they caught on that it was Halloween, Luke decided to clue [...] -
Enter the Dragon, part 2
27 Oct 2009 | 5:48 pmWhen Karen suggested the idea of a dragon as a possible Halloween costume, Luke was all over it. Luke has always been very in touch with his inner-dragon. And Charlotte had already decided she wanted to be a princess, of course. So a medieval Halloween it will bee. (Pun intended – last year, we all dressed as [...] -
Head in the Trees…
25 Oct 2009 | 5:55 pmDuring this time of year, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about leaves and trees, largely because of the incredible number of leaves that cover our yard (and because New England foliage is truly glorious). But also because of a long held fascination with tree houses. In our local paper, there was recently a story [...] -
The Boy Who Cried Pooh…
22 Oct 2009 | 7:04 pmWhen Luke wants to delay the inevitable, such as leaving the house to go somewhere he doesn’t want to go, he often claims that he has a pooh in his diaper. It’s a simple yet effective tactic. I have to at least check to make sure I’m not forcing my beloved son to walk around with a diaper [...]
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FriendFeed - dadinfo
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Fathers Gain Respect From Experts (and Mothers) - NYTimes.com
3 Nov 2009 | 1:16 pmDad Info Fathers Gain Respect From Experts (and Mothers) - NYTimes.com - http://www.nytimes.com/2009... Tuesday from delicious - Comment - Like -
Making Room for Dad - Motherlode Blog - NYTimes.com
3 Nov 2009 | 9:53 amDad Info Making Room for Dad - Motherlode Blog - NYTimes.com - http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009... Tuesday from delicious - Comment - Like -
Men should be encouraged to be full-time fathers | Anushka Asthana | Comment is free | The Observer
25 Oct 2009 | 7:17 pmDad Info Men should be encouraged to be full-time fathers | Anushka Asthana | Comment is free | The Observer - http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment... October 25 from delicious - Comment - Like -
Why don't more dads work part-time? | Life and style | The Guardian
21 Oct 2009 | 1:22 amDad Info Why don't more dads work part-time? | Life and style | The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeand... October 21 from delicious - Comment - Like -
Working fathers want more time with their children too, says report | Life and style | The Guardian
20 Oct 2009 | 3:39 amDad Info Working fathers want more time with their children too, says report | Life and style | The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeand... October 20 from delicious - Comment - Like
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Makes Me Wanna Holler
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Empire City, My City
6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amIn New York,Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,There's nothing you can’t do,Now you’re in New York,These streets will make you feel brand new,The lights will inspire you,Lets here it for New York, New York, New York...It's the city that made me Man, Dad and Husband...Congrats to the New York Yankees! Enjoy your parade. Be safe out there New York.Subscribe to Makes Me Wanna Holler Follow Me On Twitter -
Tuesday Night Lights
4 Nov 2009 | 7:32 amLast week, after being handed their first defeat all season, my son claimed a W for his last football game of the season. Because the team had been previously undefeated, his coaches lobbied the school for a night game and got it...on a Tuesday. Last night the team won a decisive 28-14 victory and finished the year with a 6-1 record. I shot 115 photos. Half of them were a complete and utter disaster. I'm not even going to bore you how many stupid mistakes I was making with the Canon Rebel XT I was shooting with. I was fussing with it when my son snatched a Hail Mary pass out of the sky and… -
For The Love Of...Halloween
2 Nov 2009 | 11:16 amLast Thursday the wife went to New Orleans on a business trip that would keep her out of town until Sunday. She was pretty busted up about missing our daughter's first, definitively self-aware Halloween. I was too. It meant I was going to have to do everything by myself. As the Dad in this operation I take the pictures, I drive, I do the lifting (literally), I pick up the rear. I typically don't initiate activities and from what I understand many fathers don't. On the docket was a Halloween Party in my building, Trick-Or-Treating in my neighborhood and somehow figuring out how to keep my son… -
Basic & Simple Truth
30 Oct 2009 | 8:14 amNothing fancy, nothing with flourishes, nothing funny, nothing saucy nor any photos to write about today. I just have one simple thing to say: I love my wife. Luv ya, babe! Subscribe to Makes Me Wanna Holler Follow Me On Twitter -
Casting Shadows of Greatness
28 Oct 2009 | 12:06 pmCasting Shadows, originally uploaded by E.Payne. My son (#15) and his cronies on the sidelines at sunset near the end of another team victory.
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Dad Writings
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Health Insurance – A Love-Hate Relationship
28 Oct 2009 | 9:10 amHealth insurance. Some love it. Some hate it. Most love AND hate it. There are some that even say it is a love-hate relationship. I have one of these relationships; for me, marriage is much easier! The Need for Insurance You get sick; you go to your doctor or your local hospital for treatment. You may have some tests done or told to get some medicine. Now, how are you going to pay for it? You didn’t think it was free, did you? Of course not! This is where insurance comes into play. This is what you pay your insurance premiums for. There are some that can’t get health insurance. There is a… -
I Don’t Remember Toys Like Those When I Was Growing Up
11 Oct 2009 | 1:58 pmI grew up playing with toys like G.I. Joe, He-Man and Star Wars; I actually have a few of them in my closet. In those days, you were lucky to get the kung-fu grip on your action figures. Today, we have toys that can make a pre-school aged child into a fully functional bringer of hell itself. I don’t remember toys like those when I was growing up! Now I have two girls, so I don’t get to go down the toy isles that prepare children for the end of the world; however, from time to time my oldest will want something that is far beyond anything I could imagine at 5 years old. At 5 years and 4… -
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Review
11 Sep 2009 | 11:07 amAs I wrote before, I recently finished doing Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy treatments for my youngest daughter. The experience was wonderful and the personnel there were great. I want to thank everyone that helped out during this time. I have written a review of the experience on one of the sites that I write for. It details the experience and how I believe this treatment is something all Special Needs Parents should look at. You can find the article in the current issue of Parenting Special Needs Magazine. Here is the link to the article: http://parentingspecialneeds.org/article&article=166… -
Updated – Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
5 Jul 2009 | 7:07 pmIn a previous post, Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Time, I wrote on how we were starting a new treatment for my youngest daughter. The new treatment, Hyperbaric Oxygen, is not really new; it is something that has been around for years for treatments of wounds and more. After 4 weeks of treatment with this therapy, I am happy to say this therapy is working and we will be continuing treatments. Others and me are seeing improvements in cognitive, physical and other areas of my daughter’s progress. I do believe this treatment is the start of getting my child on the road to a much improved… -
Happy Father’s Day
22 Jun 2009 | 6:41 amSince I am a Dad and we celebrated Father’s Day yesterday, I want to wish all Dads and Grandfathers happy Father’s Day. I had a great day with my children along with going to my Dad’s house for the day. I hope all you Dads out there had a great day and you got to spend the day with your families.
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A Blogger and a Father
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A Quote by Annie Dillard
6 Nov 2009 | 7:26 pmYoung children have no sense of wonder. They bewilder well, but few things surprise them. All of it is new to young children, after all, and equally gratuitous. Their parents pause at the unnecessary beauty of an ice storm coating the trees; the children look for something to throw. The children who tape colorful fall laves to the schoolroom windows and walls are humoring the teacher.-- From An American ChildhoodI probably should add that as much as I love this quote, I'm not sure I agree with it. The examples of snow on the trees and dead leaves might be correct, but there are an equal… -
35. Ed
27 Oct 2009 | 11:23 pmZoë's DadWhile some dad blogs are a little obscure (for now), others, like Zoë's Dad, are familiar to every father or father-to-be who's ever looked at a blog. I'm not sure what it is that makes this one stand out, but my guess is that it's the ease with which Ed lets us into his world. You don't have to let your readers know everything about your life, but when you do say something, you need to be honest about it.Despite the name of the blog, there's more than parenting here. I always like to look at blogs and search for answers to my own questions, one of which is about the way my… -
A Short Post About Love
16 Oct 2009 | 10:41 pmJust wanted to mention that last week I wrote a guest post for the Baltimore Sun blog, Charm City Moms. If the controversy in the last post wasn't enough (I really didn't mean to be controversial), maybe a post about not loving my newborn son will do.The short version of the post--and I hope you read it there and comment either there or back here, or both--is that the one thing the classes and the books and well-meaning parents didn't tell me was that I might not fall in love with my baby.I think it's an important issue that should be talked about more, and whether or not my writing did any… -
My Neighbor Spanks Her Child
5 Oct 2009 | 10:01 pmSo we don't live in the best area in the world. Not even the best area in North-West Baltimore. This might be all the background you need to guess our neighbors' 2-year-old gets spanked a lot. A recent study showed a link between spanking and lower IQ, but really, there's a chicken-and-egg issue here. To be the kind of parent that spanks, you're probably not the kind of parent that spends too much time helping with homework later.And my 22-months-old son, 6-months-younger than his neighbor, is in love. He doesn't care that she pushes him away, and he doesn't care that her hair smells like… -
34. Daddy Forever
15 Sep 2009 | 11:00 pmDaddy Forever - dad blog by a geek dad bloggerThere are two important things I don't have in common with Daddy Forever. First, he has four kids. To me, at this point, with a single child exhausting me mentally and physically, there's no difference between having four kids and having 19 of them. The second thing that's so different about Daddy Forever is that he and his family seem really happy. Now don't get me wrong--I'm fine, thank you. But to be happy like that there must to be some external, environmental pre-conditions that would create the basis--Oh, they live in Portland... It makes…
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Pacing The Panic Room
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How Is LB?
5 Nov 2009 | 6:19 amThe Littlest Buddy is doing just fine and thanks for asking :) Tessa fell in love with the Littlest Buddy late last week, and now literally every single time he stands in front of her and does anything, she erupts into a laughing hysteria that we have never heard. The Littlest Buddy with almost no effort at all has won rights to who can make Tessa laugh the hardest. Prior to this discovery of how hilarious he is, he pretty much pretended she didn't exist. Within just the past 48 hours we have seen the two of them begin to bond. It feels so good. And just to keep things rolling and updated the… -
A Boob Break
4 Nov 2009 | 8:00 amWhat the Hell is this crap?!"We waited 4 months before Tessa got a taste of anything other than good old fashioned nutritious breast milk. After this test run, we give her a little of this oaty gruel once a day along with the boob milk. We weren't sure how she would react to the food and she surprised us with no reaction at all. Way to go little girl, new things are no big deal. All the Love in the Universe ~ Me -
It's Just a Hand And a Foot
4 Nov 2009 | 4:04 amIn the process of trying to turn things around during this shitty economy's shit storm and burst into the uber competitive photography world, I have especially been self conscious around my father in law when it comes to updating him on any good news or cool new jobs. It was just a month after Cole and I married that I lost a giant pile of work that we had been planning on getting us thru a good part of last year. I have been trying to get back to that same safe place ever since. So when I was asked to contribute to the Nov issue of Babytalk magazine I was happy to oblige, looked at it as a… -
Keeping it Candid (a wedding)
3 Nov 2009 | 10:26 amI have always been very shy about shooting a wedding for someone ever since I made an attempt a couple years back and screwed up royally. It was a dark time in my budding photography confidence. There is just something about the responsibility involved that terrifies me. To capture all that goes on within a few hours and make sure everyone is looking super awesome and perfect, and well... I just fall apart. Recently I did finally agree to shoot a wedding for a friend, only because they had another photographer in place to shoot all of the formal portraits and poses, and the list of things… -
Back Stage At A Hair Show
3 Nov 2009 | 8:00 amFrom time to time I get a call to do some shooting work for Redken and this past week they had a show in town, and I went in and shot the event for them. And I thought it might be interesting to show of some of the photos from the event here. One of my favorite things to do when I do work for them is to camp out in the model room and take candid behind the scenes photos of their back stage prep work. I truly love to shoot work of people in a moment focused and in action, and I always love the juxtaposition of the model in the chair completely oblivious to what is happening on top of her head,…
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OMG I'm A Daddy!
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Textless Tuesday
20 Oct 2009 | 10:36 amProbably won't win father of the year! -
Our strong lil' man...
12 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pmSix and 1/2 months ago if you would of told me my son would already be highly mobile I would of laughed.My child, at his last doctor's appointment, was 13 lbs and some change. That is smaller than some kids are born! But, he is a strong lil booger! Our little dude is already pulling up on things and wobbling around on his toes... with some assistance, of course. He moves really fast... we have to keep an extra special eye on him or he will run into another room! Okay not run, but... well, scramble on all fours.My wife, Laura, made a bet with me, not sure of the stakes yet, but made a bet that… -
Have you ever been to the ER with a child?
8 Oct 2009 | 9:53 amHave you ever been to an Emergency Room with a child?Now you may be wondering "why were you in the ER?" Well, we went on Sunday afternoon to pick out pumpkins, have a fun day with family and enjoy a nice, crispy fall day. On the way home our little man was uncharacteristically pissy. He basically whined and cried almost the entire way home. We chalked it up to he was not happy to be in his car seat for the hour 1/2 ride home.We come home and Mauldin seems to be really hot and on this 60 degree day there is no real reason for him to be hot to the touch. My brilliant and intuitive wife insists… -
Say Da-da, please!
2 Oct 2009 | 9:28 amMy son likes to crawl and roll... he is very mobile and can move from one side of the room to another in under 60 seconds. Hey, he is six months old and to someone who has never had a child before - this is pretty darn impressive.However impressed I am I have to admit I am slightly saddened that my child doesn't or hasn't said "dada" or "ma ma" yet."Mauldin, saaaaay da-da!""pbbsssthhhhht"Yes, if you can pronounce that, that is what our offspring can "say." My wife, Laura, and I think he knows how to say it because he produces a coy smile after we ask him to say our names. I guess he will say… -
Textless Tuesday
15 Sep 2009 | 9:34 am
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Natural Papa
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Calling All Bloggers: Blogcampaign 2009 against Child Pornography
6 Nov 2009 | 10:19 amIf you have a blog, please consider pledging to post about saying no to child pornography on November 20th, World Youth Day. As a father, I’m disgusted by the thought of these sick people searching for, and finding, child pornography on the web. And even more so by the thought of the kids that are forced into it by people that they trust: adults – parents even. Need some inspiration? Check out this video for ideas: According to the video, these search terms are used to find child pornography: “angels”, “lolitas”, “boylover”,… -
Zkano Organic Socks: Keeping Your Feet Green
5 Nov 2009 | 9:26 amI’m pretty conscious of the origin of clothing that I buy, and knowing that conventionally grown cotton uses more pesticides than any other crop, I’ll choose organic cotton every single time. I’ve tried a few organic cotton socks, and the quality of the sock itself wasn’t really up to snuff. When it comes to socks, they don’t get seen very much, but they make a big difference in the way you feel (try working all day in crappy uncomfortable socks). The quality has not been good until now, that is. The kind folks over at Zkano sent me a few pair of their organic… -
Name Those Breasts
4 Nov 2009 | 8:22 amThought you were going to see some boobs here, didn’t ya? Sorry to disappoint you, but this isn’t that type of blog… However, we are going to talk about breasts. There comes a time when we need to have a name to refer to the breasts, other than what we as single guys used – a name that our children will call them, and a name that we could use in ‘polite’ company. When we had our first child, we started calling the breasts ‘beeboos’ as a concession to me, because I wasn’t sure that ‘boobies’ would go over well with my parents,… -
New Dads Guide to Diapering; or, the Scoop on Poop
2 Nov 2009 | 10:53 amIf you’re an expecting dad, you may not know this yet, but it’s my duty to inform you: babies produce copious amounts of bodily fluids (and eventually solids). All day long. And you have to deal with it, one way or another. One of the laws of baby physics is that if it goes in, it must come back out. It doesn’t have to come back out the same way it went in, but it does have to come out. In this post, I thought I’d stick to addressing the lower half of the baby, as the messes that come from there tend to get your attention pretty fast… New Dads Guide to Diapering… -
It’s Not Called Permissive Parenting
29 Oct 2009 | 3:30 pmThe world is full of followers, but you’re not one of them. – JL Glass I once attended a seminar taught by JL Glass (he’s a very funny, charismatic speaker), and he mentioned that he tells his kids that. It got me to thinking about all of the messages we give our children, both verbally and through our actions, and how much of our parenting, good and bad, we inherited from our parents. Growing up, we may have thought that we would do things differently than our parents. By the time we become parents ourselves, we realize that our parents had reasons for the way that they did things.
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Dad Therapy
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Two Months with Direct TV
6 Nov 2009 | 2:22 pmWhen we moved to the burbs I got the OK from Courtney to get Direct TV for the Sunday Ticket. I was excited for all the football but worried about having to rely on a dish for our reception. When all was done and paid for, we got Sunday Ticket with five months of the top tier programming for free. It was a pricey first payment but monthly fees were right in line with what I was paying for Comcast in the city, plus sports package for NFL network plus HBO for True Blood and Entourage.Now it's two months later and if you take the Sunday Ticket out of the equation entirely Direct TV is just… -
New & Vintage Music Monday: Pelican, Cavity
2 Nov 2009 | 7:20 pmThis is a late Monday night update because today at work was crazy busy and Carter napped late so stayed up late. I'm watching the Falcons Saints game and updating my iTunes for about the 4th time. This week I definitely wanted to pimp out Pelican, one of my fave all-time bands period. Sure, they're a bit alt-metal, but it's good. To compliment a track from their brand new album which you can buy here, I dug up a track from a fave band from Miami, Cavity circa 1998. Not to slight Pelican in any way, but if you think this stuff hadn't been done before at a high level you were… -
Seven Years and Six Moves Later
28 Oct 2009 | 9:01 amIn case you haven't been following along, this is the third post in a series I’ve penned that are sponsored by Blue Shield of California. They wanted to hear stories from personal bloggers about moments in life that were unpredictable and turned out for the better even if they seemed to be anything but good to begin with.I've already talked about nannies and our housing adventures but I was at a loss with what to write for a third. That’s why I need to preface this by saying I never thought moving cross-country to move in with my girlfriend would turn out badly, I just… -
Have You Listened to Them Crooked Vultures, New Fang Yet? Click here.
26 Oct 2009 | 11:45 amIt may be heresy, but I think I am looking forward to the Them Crooked Vultures album coming out Nov. 17 than I was for Pearl Jam. OK, maybe after I heard the Pearl Jam record...but still, there is a lot to salivate over in the teaming of Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones. "New Fang" is the first single released today and embedded above via YouTube and there is a LOT of Led Zeppelin influence here. Other songs I've heard snippets of, have a harder, Queens of the Stone Age bent. Regardless, get here Nov. 17 get here! -
Dizzying Diaper Disposal
23 Oct 2009 | 9:48 amI've never had a viral video on the site before but if anything related to my family was to take the web by storm it would be Carter's newest love, throwing out his little sister's diapers. We've never seen the kid this excited and he's like this EVERY TIME. After he repeated the ritual for a second time Courtney said "You have to videotape this." So here it is. We've been meaning to get a second diaper pale since moving in but now we really don't see the need.
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Single Parent Dad
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Signing the homework diary
4 Nov 2009 | 12:01 pmMine was a pain in the backside throughout my schooling.I was generally pretty good, only ever doing the minimum, but it would be rare that I would rebel to the extent of not completing work set for outside school at all. But getting it signed, was just a robotic act I forgot to get round to.We were so busy with other stuff as a family, that it was never on my mind, that is until they asked for them first thing Monday morning. I find the fact that my 4 year-old son has a homework diary a tad ridiculous. I am not an exponent of bringing school work home.I am happy to be involved in what he has… -
What is value for money?
1 Nov 2009 | 2:08 pmWe have had an awesome week, and absolutely awesome half-term week. These last seven days were something I was so looking forward to, having lost my son to the misery of school since September. To the surprise of some (one), I did not compile a spreadsheet, nevertheless each day had an outline plan, and was jam packed with activities. We had various days out, varying in degrees of complexity and cost. The part wondrous Hughes family even came to visit, bringing pumpkins amongst their charms. For Halloween, an event I have pretty much ignored for the last 31 years, we got tickets for a… -
Most ridiculous urination award
27 Oct 2009 | 3:22 pmI am creating this ‘honour’, and also claiming it. If there are any parents that can better, or in fact, worsen any of the situations I am about to detail, I will gladly pass on this decoration, and take huge comfort in the fact that I am not the only person raising a child who likes to make toilets out of all sorts of things. It falls at my door, or teaching really, my toilet stop planning has often been a smidge laxed, not really instilling a protocol in the boy of using the toilet when it is convenient rather than at the very moment it becomes absolutely necessary. This has led to a… -
Doing things by halves
26 Oct 2009 | 9:30 amNo, I do not have a new job as an Easter egg puttogetherrer. I am typing about the school holidays. It is half-term week for us, which means my son is off, and we get to plan, and act out a load of joyous activities. I have just re-read a post I wrote at the end of this week last year, and discovered some fabulous similarities with it. Our relationship is really on a high at the moment, my son has been incredibly affectionate of late, and his behaviour has prompted a lot of positive tears from me over the last week or so. I find him great fun most of the time in all honesty, but at the… -
Toy Story Mania
25 Oct 2009 | 1:00 amWe were sent a copy of Toy Story Mania, a new game for the Nintendo Wii, for review. I do not actually own a Wii console, but my sister does, and I thought this game, being more child friendly, would be a handy addition for our visits – rather than my four year-old clambering to play non-age appropriate games every time we go. Essentially it is a shoot-em-up game, based on the very popular Toy Story characters. Play is based around a fairground type environment, playing all sorts of games, or stalls, where the physical style of the Wii controls give a feel for you actually being stood at…
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Cheese and Beans
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The results of the great October pleb fishing expedition
6 Nov 2009 | 1:13 pmOver the course of the last month, I have been investing a little more effort than normal into both writing hopefully interesting posts for my personal blog at Cheese and Beans, and marketing it – with the idea that I could look back after a month or so, and reflect. It’s an odd thing to do because I don’t have a huge narcissistic streak in me, but the availability of free tools to give easy data makes the task of reflection a lot easier than it might have been (read: I am lazy, and this is an easy post to write). Publishing the nitty gritty will probably be interesting to… -
Curiosity gets the better of me – Jupiter and it’s Moons…
6 Nov 2009 | 4:31 amYou know the photo I took the other night of Jupiter and it’s moons? Today curiousity finally got the better of me, and I installed a rather wonderful application called “Stellarium” on my netbook, to figure out which moon was which. Rolling back the clock to about the right time-frame that we were in the back garden, the magic box of tricks tells us the following (click on the pic for a bigger version via Flickr); From left to right, they are Callisto, Europa, Io, and Ganymede. It also occurs to me that I should have pointed out that the pictures from the telescope are of… -
Remember, remember, the 5th of November
5 Nov 2009 | 1:25 pmFor generations (the last 400 years in fact), English families have taught the rhyme to their children “Remember, Remember, the 5th of November”. The rest of the world has little or no idea that this marker in history exists, and given that I know many people from far flung places read my blog, I thought perhaps a post about this was timely. So what is significant about 5th November? Wikipedia tells us the following; Guy Fawkes, also known as Guido Fawkes; the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of Roman Catholic restorationists… -
Retro labels, decluttering, and giving stuff away
5 Nov 2009 | 5:22 amGiven that I wrote a rather philosophical post a few days ago about the attachment of labels to people, the irony has not escaped me that I bought a Dymo label machine this morning. It’s the classic sticky label machine we all remember from the late 1970s that punches letters into sticky plastic tape, which can then be fastened to any object you might care to imagine; plugs, drawers, folders – you name it. The label machine is part of a far bigger jigsaw; my other half’s attempts to begin de-cluttering our house. Since adopting the children a couple of years ago, our house… -
Geeking out with Ubuntu Netbook Remix
5 Nov 2009 | 2:12 amA couple of evenings ago I slotted a spare hard drive into my ASUS EEE 1000H netbook, and installed the latest build of Ubuntu Netbook Remix. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, Ubuntu Netbook Remix is a distribution of Linux purposely designed for small form factor computers. I was very, very impressed. Everything worked immediately. I didn’t have to configure anything. It is FREE! You can install thousands of application for it – and they are free too. Here are a few representative screenshots to give you an idea what it looks/works like; Desktop The Ubuntu Netbook…
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Hockeymandad
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Post Number 200
6 Nov 2009 | 5:47 pmAccording to my WordPress console, this is blog post number 200 for me. Kind of neat I guess so I’m going to take a page from Avitable and Finn and complete the Vanity Fair questionnaire. Some of the questions anyway. Mostly though, because I couldn’t think of anything else that would be worth hitting a bicentennial milestone, of sorts. What is your idea of perfect happiness? I would have to say there is no such thing, but there are some things that come close. Watching your child complete an achievement is a pretty amazing feeling of happiness. Also, when the Islanders, Mets,… -
Vote For Me!!!
3 Nov 2009 | 7:20 pmThat’s right, I’m pandering for votes. And since this is post #199, it can’t be nearly as good as my next one is supposed to be I guess. If I know you in the contest, I voted for you too. Also, I’m nominated in Personal so vote for me there too. Thanks. -
Father’s Day
1 Nov 2009 | 7:56 pm6 years exactly today since I found out I’d be a dad. I wrote about it last year, so I won’t go into the story again. Just that it was 6 years ago my life changed forever. Since the, every year gets better than the last. I am her best friend. I fear the power of the influence I have on her. I really don’t try to have such influence, but I just do. If I like it she loves it and we share great moments enjoying whatever it might be. It’s pure bliss and I am savoring every minute of it. I hope it’s still just like this even when the questions get harder. I hope I… -
Before I Forget
30 Oct 2009 | 8:58 pmSo today was the last of the daddy days week and lucky for me schools were closed as well. So, naturally, I took my kids to Epcot. Epcot at Disney World is generally not thought of as kid friendly but mine love it and they requested it over all the others. They, like me, love the ride in the big ball better known as Spaceship Earth. Also, they are huge fans of all the other great things found here. Not so much the food and wine festival happening now though. I didn’t get to try much at all, certainly no alcohol, but we’ll go back before it ends. Anyway, there was a couple of… -
Stay At Home Dad
29 Oct 2009 | 8:40 pmSo for this week, the wife was out gallivanting with her Aiming Low crew in Boston and New York. I am terribly jealous of her trip because those are 2 of my favorite cities to go and visit. I haven’t been back to Boston since I started eating seafood, so I’m anxious to return and gorge on the local fare. I am more jealous of the Manhattan part of the trip, or as I call it “the city.” I grew up on Long Island and don’t get back often enough. I still have the majority of my family living there so any excuse to visit them is always welcome. Being able to go to the…
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Gummy Lump Toys
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DOLLHOUSE Giveaway from GummyLump.com
3 Nov 2009 | 7:29 amWIN IT! Multi-level Wooden Dollhouse by Melissa & DougAccepting entries thru midnight November 22, 2009 Your child will love playing with this charming wooden dollhouse. It's decorated in purple and pink and features beautiful balconies and lovely, natural, wood trim accents.Any child will love to make this dollhouse home for her doll family. Standing just over 2 feet tall, it's the perfect size for preschool children! It includes19 pieces of hand-painted wooden furniture and the feature I just love is that the furniture actually works! All the drawers and doors open and close! There are… -
FREE Puzzle Storage Promotion
3 Nov 2009 | 7:25 amOFFER EXPIRES 11.08.09GummyLump.com: Toys That Make Sweet Memories -
Buy 3 Get 1 FREE on Melissa & Doug Art Supplies!
28 Oct 2009 | 10:24 amNo coupon necessary. Offer good thru 11.03.09.GummyLump.com: Toys That Make Sweet Memories -
Fear and Halloween
21 Oct 2009 | 9:51 am3 yr old Robbie comes running into the kitchen announcing, “Mommy, I want to be a pirate for Halloween and Katie (his 2 yr old sister) wants to be a princess.” They’re so excited!The day arrives to go get costumes. Robbie begins telling Katie all about Halloween night, “We’ll go out after dinner and come back with lots of candy!” Then mom hears Robbie whisper to Katie, “Be good in the store or you’ll lose your costume, okay!”As soon as they see the Halloween isle they both freeze in their tracks. Mom hears Katie say, “Go home!” Robbie says nothing. They both run up to… -
FREE Puzzle Promotion!
15 Oct 2009 | 12:06 pmNo coupon necessary. Put all Melissa & Doug puzzles in your shopping cart and free puzzle(s) will be automatically calculated. Need help? Call 1.800.807.8821 today!SHOP NOW!Offer expires 10.29.09GummyLump.com: Toys That Make Sweet Memories
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Out-Numbered
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Funeral For A Friend...
5 Nov 2009 | 5:00 amThere comes a time in every man’s life when he has an epiphany of self reflection. This moment usually comes without warning and is never kind. Like most of my peers, I’ve always carried myself with an air of invincibility. It’s hard not to laugh at your elders when you’re still frolicking around in a young man’s skin. There’s no remorse in goading the freshman when your plume is in full dress.But be careful…Youth is but another layer of skin, shed from the snake.Your time will come. It always does…And when it comes, it will be you who cries the tears of a clown.My time came… -
Where Were My Wild Things?
2 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am"It's easier to cry in the dark. No one sees you in the dark. Crying always reminds me that I still have feelings. They are just hiding in places that you can't see. They only come out in the dark."Me - November 1, 2009After her Soccer game, I took my daughter to see Spike Jonze's re-imagining of Where The Wild Things Are. We asked my Mother to join us. I'm not very familiar with the book.I'm sure I've read it but for some reason, it never stuck with me.My parents separated when I was 7. They got divorced when I was 9. I was in the third grade. I don't remember much of anything before that… -
I Am Not Bon Jovi...
29 Oct 2009 | 8:00 am5:45AM The Dream Machine chirps like a retarded bird. It annoys the living shit out of me. I want to beat the snot from its 25-year-old circuitry. I want to Jean-Claude Van Damme its Faux wood paneling and make it cry mercy but I refrain. Thanks for simply doing your job old friend. I appreciate you. 5:54AM AAAAHHHH! Holy Mother of Mary! I must have fallen back asleep. Damn you, dark mornings. You trap me in your cold abyss and leave me for dead. I curse you. Time to make the Donuts. I should grow a mustache and gain 80lbs. It seems to be my destiny. 6:03AM I press the same God Damn buttons… -
Ode To Plasma...
26 Oct 2009 | 4:00 amYou were lonely but not alone.Burning bright in a sea of glowing color.You were bigger than the others.A gentle giant.Don't look at me like that with your C-Span eyes.You had me at Hola.We have no room for you. Too much clutter. We already have two babies.Stop it! You know how I love Infomercials. That was a dirty trick.One Hundred weeks and free shipping? Who says you can't buy happiness?I want you. I need you. I feel dirty.We like the same things; Football, Hockey, Planet of the Apes.How will I tell my wife? She'll be jealous. I don't want to hurt her.I heard a rumor. Is it true you're… -
They Want To Know...
22 Oct 2009 | 6:00 amOne of the most daunting things about being the Father of two Daughters, is trying to decide how to teach them about a multitude of life's lessons. Not everything is a cut and dry explanation and I certainly don't have all the answers. In fact, there are certain questions that come up, that have me absolutely perplexed. When this happens, I feel helpless. I want my kids to feel empowered with knowledge. I want to be the one who provides them with that knowledge. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way.This is why it is important to have a multi-level, Fail Safe "System" in place for…
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Real Men Drive Minivans
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If only it could be this easy
6 Nov 2009 | 9:27 amOver the past month or so we have a new routine at our house and it involves some quality time on the potty for little man. No, he is the furthest thing from being trained, or even truly started for that matter, but that he may soon have an interest is encouraging. We have had a potty insert for the past few months and up until recently he hasn’t paid it much mind other than to pick it up and carry it around the house before bath time. A few weeks ago, however, my wife put the seat on the toilet to show him where it belongs. Almost immediately he wanted to be seated on it and we both… -
How he learned the ways of the force
5 Nov 2009 | 6:56 amAs we started thinking about what little man could be for Halloween this year we didn’t really have any preconceived notions, it just had to be something cool – as defined by me. The extent of last year’s costume was a onesie that said “this is my costume” because my wife was working and I’m not that into Halloween where I felt it was necessary to drag my six and a half month old out about town. This year, however, was a little different because he’s a walking, jibber jabbering malestrom of activity. Our neighborhood has an annual parade where the… -
The force is strong with him
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A little bisque is good for the soul
3 Nov 2009 | 5:59 amToday we have the first rec