A Family Runs Through It

Weekend Whatnot

2008-07-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

My mom's homemade huckleberry cheesecake.

Huckleberries are here. Or at least, that's what I've heard. It wouldn't be summer in Idaho without endless searching through the forests for those elusive little purple prizes. Huckleberries make everything taste better!

Our garden is pretty much a bust. Everyone was excited about planting it, but nobody wanted to maintain it. We will get some beans out of it in another month, and two pumpkin plants look healthy. Too bad we can't eat weeds. Those grow strong and tall.

Do you RSVP birthday party invitations? I sent out six invites to my daughter's birthday four days ago, but nobody has responded. I'm going to be optimistic and plan for six kids to show up. We might have a lot of leftover pizza and punch.

I can't believe I told someone, "I'll be glad when school starts." Most parents say that because they're tired of the kids underfoot all summer long. But for me it's because during the school year my mind is almost totally focused on homeschooling. I like feeling focused. This summer I'm all over the place, thinking about and working on a dozen different projects at the same time. I may actually get them all done before September, but it sometimes leaves me feeling muddled at the end of the day.

The whole family went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth, and it gets thumbs-up from everyone. Complete mindless fun, with a simple storyline, cute special effects, and harmless scares. You don't see a film like this without a kid in the seat next to you. It's for them, but the grown-ups should have a bit of fun with it too. Just remember to turn off your brain when the lights go down.

Daddy A Go Go has finally made his first video, and it's really cute:

All You Need Is Ringo

2008-07-23T02:52:00.000-07:00

I've been a Beatle fan since I was 13 and my mother took me to see Beatlemania ("Not the Beatles, But an Incredible Simulation!").

The very next day I raided my brother's record collection for the two Beatles albums he owned.

I was instantly hooked.

Ever since then I've been a bit of a fanatic about the Fab Four, hanging posters on my wall, reading every book about them, attending Beatles conventions (in my younger years), and obsessing over the details of the band that changed popular culture forever.

So, imagine my delight when I learned that Ringo Starr was heading to Spokane for one of his All-Starr concerts. It would be the first trip by a Beatle to the area. I couldn't miss this opportunity to see a legend perform.

And I certainly wasn't going to miss out on taking my kids, who have become Beatles fans themselves after repeated viewings of A Hard Day's Night and Yellow Submarine.

Imagine my disappointment to learn that Ringo's Spokane concert was at a casino that did not allow children in the theater.

Hmmmm... What to do? Dress them up in grown-up clothing and pass them off as Little People?

Thankfully, I found a better solution. The very next night, Ringo was performing in Woodinville, Washington, just outside of Seattle.

It would involve the extra cost of gas and a hotel room, but that was a small sacrifice to make for a Beatle.

The Saturday concert was incredible. It was at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, on a sloping lawn under clear skies. A perfect place to take the family for a concert of any kind. The weather was near perfect, and the lush grounds of the winery had us all in a relaxed state as we filed into the amphitheater.

When Ringo hit the stage, the crowd of over 4,000 was electrified. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Even my kids sensed the excitement and went wide-eyed at the sight of him. There he was, just thirty feet away, big as life, breathing the same air as us.

Ringo Starr, with Billy Squier and Gregg Bissonette, at Chateau Ste. Michelle, in Woodinville, Washington

Even if you're not a big Beatles fan, there's something about a legend like Ringo Starr that is magical. The man was part of the greatest band ever. His solo career has spanned music, TV, movies, art, and more.

Heck, he was Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine!

Ringo rocked right from the start with "It Don't Come Easy," "What Goes On," and "Memphis In Your Mind," then let his All-Starrs take a turn with their big hits.

Billy Squier blazed through "Lonely Is The Night" and "The Stroke," Edgar Winter had fists pumping with "Free Ride" and "Frankenstein," and Colin Hay brought a nostalgic teenage smile to my face with "Down Under" and "Who Can It Be Now."

I was genuinely surprised at how good these retro rockers sounded. Billy Squier, who I saw open for Queen in 1982 and hadn't heard anything from since, was a madman on the guitar, giving everybody's songs a modern bluesy touch. Hamish Stuart, on bass, bounced around the stage like a teenager. Edgar Winter impressed me the most, doing double duty on both keyboards and saxaphone.

All I can say is, old guys rock!

But it was Ringo who was the star of the show, with solo songs like "Photograph," "Choose Love," "Oh My My," and "Liverpool 8," and Beatles classics like "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Boys," and "Act Naturally."

The best moment of the entire night, for me and my kids, was an obvious one. The crowd was launched to their feet as Ringo sang the familiar words to a song that has been a part of my life since I was a toddler.

"In the town, where I was born, lived a man, who sailed to sea..."

For the next three minutes I was out of my body, singing "Yellow Submarine" at the top of my voice as Ringo conducted me and 4,000 other delirious people.

It's the only time my son hasn't tried to stop me from singing in public.

It was the best first rock concert I could imagine for my kids. The night was over two hours of peace and love, as Ringo likes to say, and the crowd reflected it.

If you ask my daughter what her favorite part of the concert was, she'd probably say, "When you bought me a Ben & Jerry's ice cream." But then her second favorite part would be when Ringo sang "With A Little Help From My Friends" and she knew most of the words.

I'm just thrilled that when my kids are older, they'll be able to say, "I saw a Beatle in concert!"

Actually, come to think of it, the 68-year-old Ringo looked so young and healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if my kids get to take their kids to a Ringo Starr concert in twenty years!

Walk This Way

2008-07-22T01:32:00.000-07:00

Eight hours after publishing the previous post about the high price of gas, what do I go and do?

Bundle the family into the car and drive 300 miles for a weekend getaway to Seattle!

But we had a very good reason, and his name was Ringo.

More on that later.

Right now I want to remind you that there are only four more days until Dad Walk 2008. It's this Saturday, the 26th. All you have to do is go walking with your kids on a trail, path, track, sidewalk, or whatever you can find to spend a little quality exercise time with your children.

Just be thankful you're not walking 78 miles in 6 days, like Dan and his friends, who set off tomorrow on their monumental journey for charity. They'll be averaging 13 miles each day for a very good cause -- The Joseph Salmon Trust.

Dan has raised, just on his own, over $5000 for the charity. But he'd like to raise a bit more, so go on over to his blog and read more about the Dales Walk.

You can donate any amount through PayPal. C'mon, I know you have an extra $10 in your pocket.

It's not often you hear about someone giving up a week of their life for charity. My hat's off to Dan not just for his unselfish efforts in creating this fundraiser, but for standing up as a role model to fathers everywhere.

If you believe in it, you can do it. Thanks, Dan, for reminding me of this.

The Dales Walk team will be on my mind during my own brief 2-mile walk with the kids on Saturday.

Walk proud, Dan!

Freedom Lost

2008-07-18T00:07:00.000-07:00

I've been somewhat oblivious to the rising gas prices this past year.

My attitude has been, "What am I going to do about it? We still have to put gas in our car."

Last winter, I had planned several long road trips for the spring and summer. Nothing was going to make me change those plans.

Besides, every time I filled up my gas tank, the price didn't seem that bad. It was always around $40.

That's because I haven't been letting the tank get less than a quarter full before filling it up again.

Last week the car was running on fumes and I finally experienced pump shock when the total price hit $65.

Wow, welcome to reality.

Now I start making sacrifices!

This will be our first summer in five years that we don't go on leisurely drives up into the mountains or down through the Palouse country. All of those little 100-mile road trips, exploring the backroads of North Idaho and Eastern Washington, will have to wait until next year.

We'll be walking and biking more, sticking close to home. All of a sudden the family car doesn't look like freedom.

Has the price of gas affected your travel plans?

Ten Years After

2008-07-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

This week I'm marking another anniversary. It's been ten years since my wife and I made the decision that I would stay home with the kids.

Ten years as a stay-at-home dad.

Or, as my in-laws have said, ten years of being a bum.

That's a decade of being involved in every aspect of my children's lives, from diaper changes to school work. Of course, that's also a decade of folding laundry, doing the dishes, planning meals, vacuuming, picking up endless clutter, cleaning toilets, and everything else that has to be done to keep a house from falling down on us.

The only thing I don't do is bring home a regular paycheck.

Other than that, I'm 100% responsible for every single aspect of the raising of my kids and the running of our household.

After all these years, I'm exhausted.

But happy. And extremely fulfilled.

It's a job I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

Three years ago I wrote a column for the San Diego Reader about being a stay-at-home dad. Here it is again, just as true now as it was back then:

Hi, I'm a stay-at-home dad. Now, before your eyes glaze over and you slowly back away, let me just tell you why I am one. Most boys don't spend their childhood dreaming of one day changing diapers, emptying dishwashers, washing pee-soaked bed sheets, kissing boo-boos, and learning to make chicken broccoli casserole. They want to be firemen, baseball stars, soldiers. As they get older, most men strive for career, status, and a lower golf handicap. Me, I had early dreams of a Hollywood career, collaborating with the likes of Spielberg, Lucas, and Coppola. Later, after grad school, there were visions of corporate ladders and hostile takeovers. But once my first child was born, everything changed, and my focus was placed squarely on the infant in my arms. Soon, my wife and I realized that one of us had to be home with him permanently. By financial default (my wife made more money than me), I was the lucky winner. At first I had no idea how to be a father. Not having one around as a kid, I had no male role models to look to other than the ones I'd seen on TV. So I thought, "What would Charles Ingalls do? Or John Walton? Mike Brady? How about Darren Stevens?!" Actually, I discovered a really good role model on TV in Fred Rogers. I listen to him most carefully still. He's not just talking to pre-schoolers when he smiles into the camera and doles out sage advice... He's talking to us grown-ups too when he says things like "You don't have to look like everybody else to be acceptable and to feel acceptable." I learn a little wisdom from The Neighborhood most every single day. Plus, it's fun to see how graham crackers and crayons are made.

So I found myself in this new role, and it didn't take long to discover that it's one of the most difficult, exhausting, emotionally-draining jobs in the world. It's also the most rewarding. I get paid with hugs, smiles, and the occasional funny quote from my kids, like when my son learned that some animals are herbivores and some are carnivores, so he figured, "Hey, Daddy, I'm a Candyvore!" I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing than to be my kids' dad. It's how I introduce myself to people when they ask what I do for a living. And it sure feels good to say that. I must be pretty good at my job, since just the other day my son said "When I grow up I want to be a daddy too!"

Taking on the role of Daddy meant giving up a few other things that once defined me, including a few friends who didn't understand why I was no longer sitting at a desk and earning an income. But I don't really miss the old life. This new one brings new adventures and challenges every single day. And I go out and solve the problems and figure out the challenges, every now and then seeking advice from the memory of some old TV show, like Little House on the Prairie when my daughter tells a fib, or The Brady Bunch when my son teases his sister.

I've long given up attempting to explain to people I meet what I do and why I do it. Most folks just don't understand. They're either confused, condescending, or highly critical. Surprisingly, stay-at-home moms are the worst, almost like I'm attempting to gain membership into their exclusive club. The moms don't accept me, the dads don't understand me. Luckily I meet enough welcoming parents, including other stay-at-home dads, who also realize that having one parent at home with the kids is the best way to raise them. Daycares are fine for single moms and dads who have no other support, but when a child has two parents in their lives it should have at least one of them as the daily caregiver.

So, I'm a stay-at-home dad. You don't have to be afraid. You don't have to feel sorry. I love what I'm doing (except for folding laundry) and, more importantly, I love my kids. Doing right by them is just about the only thing that's really important to me. Why would I want to do anything else?

A Family Bikes Through It

2008-07-14T11:05:00.001-07:00

We're unbelievably lucky to live in a place with so much natural beauty right outside our front door. Getting around in it just became so much easier.

Our city opened up a beautiful new biking/walking trail that runs for five miles along abandoned rail lines. It allows us to safely ride from our house all the way to our favorite beach at the lake in about twenty minutes.

I am so much more relaxed when I don't have to worry about the kids battling traffic.

Young Me, Now Me

2008-07-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Youngme/Nowme site?

It's where people find a picture of themselves when they were young, then try to recreate the same pose, background, props, etc. to make a "Then and Now" set of photos.

Some of the recreations are hilarious, especially the three brothers who donned grown-up Superman pajamas to match the ones they wore as children.

My kids loved the site so much, they made me join in the fun.

So, here I am, separated by a gap of 40 years...

Now it's your turn.

Dad Man Walking

2008-07-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Saturday, July 26th, is the very first International Dad Walk Day?

What is Dad Walk Day?

It's simply a day for all you dads to get out and walk with your kids. Walk, hike, stroll, shuffle. Whatever it takes to get out with your children for an hour or two.

It doesn't matter where you walk. Just that you go for a walk. With your kids.

Oh, and golf doesn't count. Neither does walking to the ice cream aisle at the grocery store.

So, at some time on Saturday, July 26th, celebrate Dad Walk Day by taking a walk with your kids.

Ten Commandments of Fatherhood

2008-07-07T00:47:00.000-07:00

In his 1998 book Tommy and Me, Ben Stein chronicles his feelings of frustration and joy of being a father. It's a short book, at 152 pages, and contains many insights into parenting that made me stop and think. I especially enjoyed his concluding chapter. Here it is (in abridged form):

Ben Stein's Ten Commandments of Fatherhood:

1. Time is of the essence. Spend large amounts of time with your child. Kids don't want "quality time"... They want you to be there all the time.

2. Share your strength with your child. Be an ally, not an adversary. Share with him stories of your own fears, failings, and anxieties and how you overcame them.

3. Do not expect your child to make up for your own losses when you were a child. Let your kids pursue their own hopes and dreams.

4. Look for the good in your child and praise it. Children are nurtured by praise as plants are nurtured by water. Deny it to them at their peril and yours. Children who are told that they can succeed in fact usually do succeed.

5. Do not allow your children to be rude. Being polite is a basic foundation of human interaction, and kids will not succeed in life if they're surly and disrespectful.

6. Patience is indispensable. Children's behavioral flaws cannot be corrected by flipping a switch. It takes a long time and a lot of patience to teach positive behaviors. If you are an impatient, demanding, short-fused dad, you will get that irritable, demanding kind of kid.

7. Teach your child and let him teach you. Children will tell you what they want and need. Dads get into trouble when they do not listen to their kids and dismiss their feelings as not important. Also, your child should get the benefit of your wisdom and experience about life, so tell him what you know about the world around you. Learn from your children and let them learn from you.

8. Value your child for what he is, not for what you think he should be. I want my son to know that whatever he becomes in the future, he is prized just for being my son, right now.

9. Raising a child is a job for Mom and Dad. Children with absent fathers are wounded for the balance of their lives. Dad should and must be in there pitching along with Mom, helping out as an equal partner in the tough job of raising children. The true heroes of our generation are at home with their kids.

10. Being a Daddy is priority number one. When you decide that your kids come before your sales quota or your poker-playing schedule or your overtime to make partner, then you will find that all of the other pieces of Daddyhood fall into place - teaching and learning, patience, looking for the good and praising it. When you put your kids first, you are far less alone in this world. What's more vital, so are they.

This post was originally published on June 13, 2005. Summer's a good time for reruns.

Better Get A Bucket

2008-07-05T17:51:00.001-07:00

How was your 4th of July?

Mine featured quite the colorful display of explosive projectiles.

Coming out of my mouth.

Yeah, I got slammed by a stomach bug early in the morning of the 4th. The same one had hit my wife and daughter earlier in the week, but not as violently as it hit me.

Apparently, it was saving its best for last.

I don't think I've ever vomited quite so ferociously before. I felt like Mr. Creosote, from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.

My little illness ruined plans for the day. Instead of lounging at the beach, enjoying a picnic dinner, then watching fireworks over the lake, we spent the holiday around the house.

That night, a couple dozen of our neighbors provided a dazzling display of illegal fireworks that made up for missing out on the lakeside show.

It wasn't the day I had hoped for, but at least we spent it together as a family. That's enough for me.

Divers and Skeeters

2008-07-02T23:03:00.000-07:00

It's a sure sign of summer.

The teenagers are jumping off the cliffs at the lake, and the mosquitoes are buzzing me in the backyard.

I can think of worse places to get a mosquito bite, but having three bites on the bottom of my left foot and two bites on the bottom of my right is about as aggravating (and itchy) as it can get.

My daughter keeps telling me "Don't scratch it!" but I (sounding like a 7-year-old) just reply, "But I can't help it!!"

As for the teenage cliff divers, Jeff's recent post reminded me of this photo I took back in June of 2005. This could be any summer day on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Hello Cruel World

2008-06-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

Parents play so many roles, but one of the most important is that of protector.

I still remember the feeling that came over me when we brought our first child home. Driving away from the hospital, I was on full alert, ready to defend my newborn son with every ounce of my being. I had our car surrounded with a psychic force field the seven miles it took to reach the safety of our house.

Those early years were easy. My job as protector was mostly physical -- making sure the house was baby proofed, or that my son didn't get carried away by eagles. The perceived dangers were clear.

But as he got older and started learning about the world around him, suddenly things got complicated.

When he was three years old an airplane flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. My wife and I couldn't help but watch TV coverage for days, but we didn't encourage my son to absorb any of it. "Go play," we'd tell him. I felt he just wasn't old enough to think about this kind of evil.

You don't sit a 3-year-old down and teach him about things like terrorism, rape, torture, and disease.

Eventually, though, they have to start understanding the harsh realities of life.

One of the saddest things about your children growing up is when they start to figure out that the world isn't a blissful paradise with smiling people living on candy mountains.

I just want these feelings to come slowly. Step by gradual step.

One day last month, my son took a big leap in his grasp of how cruel this world can be sometimes.

We were learning about Anne Frank, and how her family hid from the Nazis during the German occupation of the Netherlands. We read about the years of isolation, and then the betrayal and arrest of everyone in the hiding place.

At first, my son was mad that somebody had ratted them out. But then he asked me, "So what happened to Anne?"

I answered, "She was sent to a concentration camp."

"And?"

"And, she died there."

He looked up at me suddenly, and I could see it in his eyes, this sort of angry bewilderment. It was like he was thinking, "What the hell is wrong with us that we do these things to each other?!"

He thought about it for a minute, and then the understanding dawned. Yes, this is, was, and always will be a cruel world. Bad things happen sometimes.

I think he really truly gets that now.

As his protector through the years, I've slowly guided him toward these moments of wisdom. Because of that, I think he'll be better able to process the information and make good choices for himself.

But at the same time, I've given both my kids the chance to grow up with a foundation of hope and love, to know that the world is, first and foremost, a beautiful place with countless reasons to be happy and optimistic.

Even in our worst moments, I trust they will never forget that.

DVD Giveaway

2008-06-27T05:35:00.000-07:00

It was one of my favorite movies of 2007, and I have a brand-new DVD copy of it to give away.

Disney's Enchanted is a magical fairytale about a cartoon princess lost in New York City. I found it to be absolutely enchanting, especially the career-making performance of Amy Adams.

If you'd like to have Enchanted on DVD, just leave a comment on this post. I need picnic ideas for the 4th of July. What are some of your favorite quick summer recipes?

UPDATE: The DVD winner is Shadeslayer. Thanks to everyone for your picnic recipe ideas!

Memories Can't Wait

2008-06-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

The other day my son asked me about cereal and who invented it. I had the answer to that one, telling him about W.K. Kellogg and his accidental invention of corn flakes, which was the first popular "milk and cereal" combination to change the way Americans ate breakfast.

That reminded me of the cereals I used to enjoy as a kid. My favorites were Cocoa Puffs, Captain Crunch, Boo Berry, Sugar Smacks, and Honeycomb. And whatever had the best stuff to read on the back of the box.

And thinking of those cereals made me realize that there are certain memories that can't, and shouldn't, be re-visited. It only leads to disappointment. Yes, I've sampled some of those cereals recently. Hard to believe I used to get all "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" when I was 8 years old. These days the mere thought of eating chocolate first thing in the morning makes me want to reach for the Tums.

It's like that with memories. Many of them are best left as just memories.

I was so excited to buy H.R. Pufnstuf on DVD to watch with my kids. In fact, they did enjoy the series just as much as I did when I was a kid. But the grown-up me was aghast that the little kid me could actually sit through the show. Same with old kid faves of mine like Lidsville, Wacky Races, Gilligan's Island, and Land of the Lost. I don't have the patience for stories like that anymore, and my happy childhood memories have been tainted by my grown-up judgements and critiques.

It's the same with certain movies from the past. As a kid, I loved Disney films like The Cat From Outer Space and Escape To Witch Mountain. But my palate has become too refined for the ancient special effects of those years. My own memories have been replaced by the ones of my kids laughing and enjoying those movies, so it's not necessarily a bad thing to re-visit those old loves. My kids don't notice the strings and fake blue-screen effects just as I didn't notice them way back when.

The memories that I'm most uneasy about re-visiting involve friends and family. My favorite images of childhood include playing hide-and-seek with my cousins on my Grandma's farm, building cardboard box forts with my neighborhood pals, playing kickball on the playground in 2nd grade, and making silly home movies with my best friend in elementary school. In recent years, I've met up with some of those old friends and relatives. And, for the most part, my cherished memories of them have been completely demolished. In the worst case, an old friend from junior high who always used to make me laugh grew up to become a director of gay porn. Now there's something I really didn't want to know.

I think I'm going to leave most of my old memories alone. And go make some new ones with my kids.

This post was originally published on June 25, 2005. Summer is a good time for reruns!

America's Hidden History

2008-06-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

My son's interest in history turned into a passion after he saw the movie National Treasure.

It took him awhile to figure out that the screenwriter blurred the line between fact and fiction. It's fun to think there are secret symbols and treasure maps hidden in our monuments and historical documents.

In a way, though, there is treasure of a different kind contained in the countless fascinating stories that make up the history of our country.

Some of them are told in the new book America's Hidden History, by Kenneth C. Davis. He's the author of the phenomenal 1990 best-seller Don't Know Much About History, which presented the "big picture" of our nation's history in a fun and easy-to-read format.

His new book has a much narrower focus, telling six dramatic stories from the earliest days of America. Davis brings to light little-known facts about the first real Pilgrims, the less than idyllic relationship between the Puritans and Indians, and the war crimes of George Washington.

You know, basically all the stuff they never taught us in school.

Whether it was out of ignorance or fear, our educational leaders decided long ago that children can't handle the truth about history. So, all of our founding fathers became saintly heroes and early settlers lived in peace with the natives. Davis breaks many of these cherished myths with color and intrigue. And, most importantly, with facts about America's past.

This book is ideal for anyone with a love of history. Recommended for high school and up.

Check it out at your local bookseller, or at Amazon.

Tiger Attack

2008-06-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

While we were at Cat Tales on Sunday, we witnessed a white tiger viciously attacking a zookeeper.

I just hope my video will help with the investigation into this horrific incident.

WARNING: Video may contain spurting blood and flying body parts.

A Perfect 10

2008-06-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

It was Birthday Weekend for my son, who turned a decade old.

Hard to believe it's been ten years since that life-changing day when I became a father for the first time.

We've done so much, made so many memories, seen such tremendous changes, and yet the time seems to have flown by all too quickly.

Like it or not, birthdays wait for no one.

After my son announced that he didn't want a party with friends, we started planning a special weekend of festivities just for him. It included an afternoon on the lake, a viewing of Iron Man at the movie theater, and dinner at his favorite Italian restaurant.

That was just the first day.

The next day we made a special trip to Cat Tales Zoological Park to visit the big cats. My son loves felines of all sizes, so this was a big thrill for him. The highlight of the tour was when he got to feed raw meat to a Bengal tigress named Ceylon.

The other highlight of the day for my son was when I announced that his allowance would be doubled. I could see the dollar signs sparkling in his eyes as he started adding up his future earnings.

It was a memorable 10th birthday celebration. At first, some weeks ago, I was surprised that he didn't want a big party. But then I remembered that I gave up on large multi-friend parties when I was 11 or 12. There comes a time when you just want to share your birthdays with loved ones and close friends.

My son is 10, and it's yet another strong reminder that the clock is ticking. I have such a short time to make memories with him.

This weekend I think we made some good ones.

Where Were You In '82?

2008-06-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

Or, right-click here to download for later playback.

It's my second podcast! This time I venture back to 1982, a defining year of music for me. So many songs that make up the soundtrack to my life! From artists like XTC, Squeeze, Elvis Costello, Madness, Sparks, Split Enz, and Oingo Boingo.

Sit back and enjoy a trip through time as I play a few of my favorite songs from a long, long time ago. I hate to call them "oldies" because that would make me one too. To me, these songs still sound as fresh as the first time I heard them on the radio (or on MTV, which debuted in August of 1981).

I always feel safe playing this music for my kids, because I know the songs so well. Plus, there was a real sense of fun and melody in much of that era's new wave and pop. If there's one thing I've learned about what children want in music, it's something fun and melodic.

By the way, my short intro music is by Andy Partridge, a veteran of 1982 as the leader of XTC. The software I'm using to create my podcasts is Propaganda.

Let me know if you can't see the embedded flash player. I was using Odeo, but they seem to be having some trouble, so now I've switched to BlogAmp.

You're A Winner!

2008-06-17T22:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who left a comment in my big book giveaway. Over 150 of you left me some awesome book recommendations to check out. I wish you could all win.

But on with the announcement... The five winners of the book package are:

Nic
The Stickman
Mannequin
Tricia
Annie

If you left an email, I'll be contacting you. If not, you need to send your mailing address to me so I can forward it to the good people at Hachette Book Group. They're the ones shipping the books out (maybe they'll be in a giant box marked FRA-GEE-LAY).

Watch my blog next week for another fun, but much smaller, giveaway.

Cookie Monster

2008-06-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

How was your Father's Day?

I got a plate of cookies.

They were special because my son, without asking for help from anyone or even telling anyone what he was doing, got up and made double-chocolate chocolate chip cookies. He looked up the recipe in a cookbook, found all the ingredients in the pantry and cupboards, preheated the oven, and followed the instructions precisely.

The cookies were delicious!

The only thing he didn't do is clean up the mess in the kitchen.

But that's okay. He'll figure it out next time.

Weekend Whatnot

2008-06-13T03:50:00.000-07:00

My son has been waiting for this day since last summer. It's Friday the 13th, and I guess he's intrigued with the idea that bad things are supposed to happen today. He won't even realize the date unless I remind him. It's apparently very difficult for him to look at the calendar on the wall of his room right next to his door. I might have to stage a few "accidents" and see how long it takes him to get a clue.

We've been watching the old 70's series, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, on DVD. I find these shows incredibly dated and hokey, but the kids love them. Good time for me to take a nap.

All my kids want to do with their summer vacation so far is read and play computer games. They don't want to help me hang drywall in the basement. I heard something about "fun" and "do what I want" and "relaxation." I don't know what those words and phrases mean. Must be a kid thing.

Sunday is Father's Day. If you happen to end up at Outback Steakhouse for dinner, they're offering dads a chance to win a $100 gift card for later use. Plus, when you eat there on Sunday, you'll get a $10 coupon good during another visit.

If you're staying home and grilling something on the BBQ, pay a visit to Betty Crocker's Great Grilling site for tips, recipes, and coupons.

Dancing With The Star Wars Stars. My son, the Star Wars fanatic, loved this:

Father's Day Giveaway!

2008-06-11T05:45:00.000-07:00

It's my biggest giveaway ever, just in time for Father's Day!

The good people at Hachette Book Group USA are offering a set of 11 of their books, specifically selected for dads, to five of my readers.

In other words, your summer reading list is about to be filled.

Here's what they're going to send the winners:

1. The Whole Truth, by David Baldacci
2. Child 44, by Tom Smith
3. The Film Club, by David Gilmour
4. Living on the Black: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Remember, by John Feinstein
5. The Last Real Season, by Mike Shropshire
6. Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell
7. A Tale of Two Subs, by Jonathan McCullough
8. A Terrible Glory, by James Donovan
9. The Training Ground, by Martin Dugard
10. The Adventures of Slim & Howdy, by Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn
11. The Dudes' Guide To Pregnancy, by Bill Lloyd & Scott Finch

These 11 books are all extremely well-reviewed bestsellers from the past few months. From thrillers to sports to history to comedy, there are some awesome books included here.

If you're a dad who'd like to win a set, or if you're a mom who'd like to give them to your favorite dad, then all you have to do is leave a comment under this post. Tell me the last book you read and enjoyed.

Only one restriction... You must live in the USA or Canada.

Happy Father's Day!

This contest has ended. Thanks!

Let's Hear It For The Moms!

2008-06-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

After ten years of being a stay-at-home dad in a stay-at-home mom world, I'm used to it now.

I mean, ten years ago it made me flustered and angry.

But now I just have to laugh about it.

We were at an end-of-the-year homeschool picnic last week when one of the organizers started calling up the kids by grade so we could give them a round of applause.

After she finished up with the high schoolers and we clapped, she looked around and said, "And now, let's hear it for the moms who worked tirelessly all year to teach these wonderful children. Yay moms!"

And that was it. She thanked everyone for coming and told us all to have a good time.

I looked around to see if any other dads were thinking what I was thinking, but then I realized there weren't any other dads at the picnic.

And rather than get upset, I simply shook my head and chuckled.

Which made the moms move even further away, convinced now that I was crazier than they had assumed.

So, I gave myself a round of applause.

Quietly.

"Let's hear it for the dad! Yay dad!"

Are You Smarter Than A 4th Grader?

2008-06-06T01:40:00.000-07:00

My son finished his school year last Friday.

He ended his 4th grade career with a little quiz.

Okay, so maybe it was a big quiz. A really big quiz.

I went back through all the lessons, books, worksheets, and web sites that we've covered over the past year and came up with a hundred questions that every 4th grader should know.

The subjects covered are math, science, history, geography, literature, art, social sciences, and grammar.

My goal was to test his memory. Completely. Which means no multiple choice questions. It's all fill-in-the-blank. No hints. And no review!

Two examples:

What do you call rocks that have been changed by pressure or heat?

In which two hemispheres is Australia located?

What's that? You say you'd like to take the test yourself? See if you're smarter than a 4th grader?

Here you go:

Phil's 4th Grade Super Test Printable PDF

It took my son about an hour to complete, and he answered 89 questions correctly.

So, I'm very happy. He's very happy (and smart!). His knowledge and understanding of these subjects is a testament to the job we're doing with homeschooling.

If you take the test, I'll be interested in how you do. Give it to your kids, too. Have fun with it!

Here are the answers (no peeking beforehand):

Phil's 4th Grade Super Test ANSWERS Printable PDF

MetroDad and Me?

2008-06-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

It's long been a fact that you just can't compile a Top Ten list of daddy bloggers without including blogs like GeekDad, MetroDad, and DaddyTypes. They are among the major players of the parenting blog world.

So, imagine my surprise to find my little blog included with those three on Sampa's list of 10 Daddy Blogs You Should Read.

Somehow I slipped in there at #10.

Here's the list:

1. GeekDad
2. Sweet Juniper
3. Nordquist Blog
4. Creative Type Dad
5. Daddy Dialectic
6. Daddy Types
7. MetroDad
8. Mitch McDad
9. Thingamababy
10. A Family Runs Through It

Visit Sampa's post for links and reviews of these ten daddy blogs.