Gone, Mama, gone–part 2
Posted on March 6, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized
That’s right, Erin’s off on another adventure. She leaves Sunday for the great state of Oklahoma for a work-related conference; she’ll be gone until Friday afternoon. Despite what I said about people should confidence in a child’s father being able to care for him/her while the mother’s away, I will freely admit this next week is going to be very challenging for me. On top of not being anywhere near used to caring for Maggie on my own, I have a set of papers due back to my students on Tuesday and a significant project for a class I am taking due two days after Erin returns. In addition, things at work are not good. So, it’s going to be a bit tough and definitely one of those of those timeframes in which we sometimes find ourselves in which one’s mentality must be, ‘I will do what needs done the best I can and the rest will wait.’ That said, know that if you call to ‘check in on us,’ you will probably not get me on the phone nor a call back—-I’ll simply be too busy.
The good thing is Erin being able to not only get sometime away from a ton of responsibilities but getting out of this stupid little town of ours. It’ll be good for her.
I’m back!
Posted on February 25, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Hey everyone. Yellowstone and snowmobiling was awesome! I have put up photos and will continue to add more. If you click on the photos and scroll through there are more photos to view. I will also be putting up some video & more photos from my co-pilot, Denise, when I get them. She had a really awesome digital camera and got some great pictures! I did all the driving which meant that I couldn’t take a lot of pictures, so Denise did it for us.
Gone, Mama, gone
Posted on February 22, 2008 - Filed Under Outdoors, And your point is?, Travel, Parenting
Erin leaves tomorrow morning for a three day snowmobiling trip in Yellowstone National Park. I have been wanting her to get out and do something by herself for a long time; she finally listened to me. Hopefully, it is the first of many such adventures.
Word has reached me that some are more than a little concerned about my ability to care for Maggie while her Mama is out of town. Frankly, I am a little ‘butthurt’ (as my students would say) over this. I am her father; if I can’t care for her for a few days, something’s wrong. So, what are we going to do in Mama’s absence? Maggie and I haven’t yet fully decided but she’s pulling for going to Cabela’s to see the taxidermied animals and to help Papa shop for his next gun. Sounds like a plan to me. Maybe we’ll have lunch at Hooter’s and then go over to Victoria Secret Baby to get Maggie her first thong.
Upcoming milestone
Posted on February 21, 2008 - Filed Under The Daily Doodle, This site, Parenting
We will soon enter into a new era, that of the two year old. Other things about this are a whole lot more important but the thought occurred to me that some out there might want to know what Maggie wants for her birthday. To make it easy, I have put a link over to the right above the comments area which will direct you to her ‘wish list’ at powells.com. Powells is a book store which is not nearly as big as amazon (and perhaps not as cheap) but that’s precisely why we try to shop there for books (support of the smaller guy and all that). Anyway, if your thoughts turn toward purchasing her something, please go the book route rather than the traditional toys as many of the latter have no value whatsoever.
Kind of in line with this subject, you might want to listen to this about children’s play. As with most things on NPR, it’s very interesting and informative. The basic gist is, “Fewer opportunities for imaginative play means children learn less self-control and discipline.” The vast majority of toys out there do nothing to access or enrich a child’s imagination. Before you argue, listen to the piece; afterward, you may not disagree so much.
“Somewhere a senator sits in a leather chair/…The caribou we killed mean nothing to him/He took his money just like all the rest”*
Posted on February 16, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized
*Prairie Wind by Neil Young…enough said.
I don’t consider myself to be an overly emotional person, though I know that I am in my own way. What I mean is, I don’t get ‘weepy’ very often, especially when watching the 10 pm news. Well, I did tonight; here’s the backstory.
I am really looking forward to getting into fishing this summer; Erin even asked me if I wanted gear for my birthday. It’s pretty emotional for me, but I am not really sure why. Maybe it’s because my Dad and Uncle would take me when I was a kid and I miss not having a stronger connection with them, then or now. Perhaps it’s due to my fiery desire to get outdoors, previously manifested in my love for hiking and my venture into the world of hunting. Even this, though, is a mask for something else. I am searching for something—-some kind of meaning and groundedness—-and for whatever reason, I suspect I might find it outside (”Nature abhors a vacuum, and if I can only walk with sufficient carelessness I am sure to be filled” Henry David Thoreau). Anyway, there’s all of this existential stuff wrapped up in my outdoor pursuits; to make it worse, I want very much to make Maggie my prodigy in this regard. I want her to be not just exposed to nature but to become intimate with it as soon as her age will reasonably allow. (You may remember when we planted her tree, one of the most tangibly spiritual things we have done as it was an effort to literally connect her to the Earth. ) To this end, it is entirely my intention to couple these desires to fish and get Maggie into nature with Erin’s desire to camp as much as possible this spring, summer and fall. I have already envisioned the event: the three of us sitting beside the lake, catching a fish, skinning/filleting/cooking it over an open campfire and chowing down. That brings me to the weeping.
KTVB covered this story regarding the Nature Conservancy’s declaration that Silver Creek here in Idaho is polluted with mercury. Their study recommends children under 6 and pregnant women (no, Erin is not pregnant) eat very little of the trout caught there; even I shouldn’t eat too much of it. The central question behind my low feelings is, is there no end to what we will do in destroying this planet? Yes, Erin and I contribute to it as much as anyone else. But you know just as well as I do that Silver Creek is likely polluted because some corporation dumped their waste in it, only so they could increase their profits by not having to fork up the money required for legitimate disposal. And you know the really angering/depressing/demoralizing thing about it? All these people voted for Bush in ‘00 and ‘04 because they thought he was some kind of big Christian. Here’s the news, folks: Republicans don’t give a crap about the environment, a.k.a. ‘God’s creation.’ I ask you, what kind of Christian is that? If they have a decision to make that pits the environment against big business, you would do well to bet your very last dollar on business winning out. Yes, Democrats are guilty too but at least they offer the words which promise conservation and protection.
It isn’t just this particular news story which has gotten me thinking about this. If you listen, you can hear on a daily basis about all the horrible things we do. We are quickly getting to a point of no return. The really, REALLY sad thing about it is, we all play a part but we feel like we don’t. We don’t think we can make a difference. I don’t know—-maybe we don’t and can’t.
Being (slightly) involved
Posted on February 6, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized
In line with yesterday being ‘Super-duper Tuesday,’ I thought I would post about our recent flirting with the political process. Barack Obama came to Boise this past Saturday to speak at a rally of his. (If you would like to see what we did, watch the video here.) I have to admit–it was pretty exciting to see and hear, in person, the man who might be President. The event was held at the Taco Bell Arena at Boise State University. This venue is able to hold roughly 14,000 people; not only was it completely full, 2000 people were turned away. We arrived at about 7:45 in the morning and found the end of one of the VERY long lines. It was also cool because of taking Maggie along. That little girl has done more in her short life than I could have ever imagined. Just in case you’re curious, here are some thoughts from each of us regarding the rally and what Obama had to say:
Jason: I really appreciate a dreamer. I try very hard to live by the idea that shooting for the stars is a good way to live because, even if you fail, you stand a good chance to landing on the moon. I also can’t stand the fact that as people get older, they seem to lose some of their ability to dream (myself included). Obama is definitely a dreamer; another way of saying it might be that he does not allow perceived reality to drown out his principles. That said, there’s also the practical side of things. For example, Saturday he talked about implementing universal health care by the end of his first term. That’s a great idea but if he has to work with a Republican Congress, he has little hope of making it happen. Also, I do worry about his relatively low level of experience, although that might be good in the sense of not being indoctrinated into the traditional politician mindset. Finally, I don’t like the whole ‘rock star’ phenomenon. Politics should not be a popularity contest; the celebrity aspect of his candidacy really bothers me.
Erin: It was pretty cool. I got teary-eyed a couple of times when Obama talked about hope. Us Democrats are thirsting for it since most of us have felt pretty hopeless for the last 8 years. (In the last election, some of the folks I worked with actually had to leave work early because they were so upset that ‘W’ won.) I liked what Obama stands for, as well as Clinton, but I am still a bit heartbroken that Edwards left the Presidential Race.
Maggie: I don’t know what we were doing with all those people in that gigantic room but I sure enjoyed all the clapping and cheering! Democrats are cool!
Maggie update
Posted on January 30, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized
I thought I would write a post, after not doing so in a very long time, regarding Maggie’s development. I know many of the people who will read this have experienced all of this through the development of their own children and therefore, may find this just a bit boring. However, what they have also experienced is the immense pride and amazement brought on by the smallest accomplishment. Every parent should have the incredible pleasure of such experiences; missing them on a routine basis is very sad. That’s one of the reasons I have the highest degree of respect for people who fulfill public servant roles in our society; these jobs often take people away from their families for extended periods. Think about firefighters, who leave their local areas to fight huge wildfires (sometimes started by irresponsible pricks) hundreds of miles away; certain cops who must travel to complete long term investigations; the working poor, who often finds themselves away from home and family for months or years at a time so we can have our precious mushrooms, apples, or cheap furniture.
Wow, I can really get off on tangents, can’t I? Back to the point. Physically, she’s doing great–running faster all the time and, as the pictures we put up from Planet Kid in Boise indicate, climbing anything she sees that’s worth it. She’s still a skinny little thing but as she continues to age, she obviously puts on weight. She’s even–sort of–learning how to jump. Behaviorally, the big breakthrough, only a couple of days old, is her decision to begin potty training herself. Over the weekend, she requested we put her on the toilet and it hasn’t stopped since. Apparently, the teachers at school put her and the other kids up there every day, so that’s where Maggie’s initiative has come from, I’m sure. Although (here’s the bragging dad part), it should be pointed out that she weaned herself at 10 months.
A host of things on the mental level has been taking place, especially as manifested in her growing language ability. Once again, because of school, she has learned and often says, “Excuse me” when she needs to get around someone. In fact, last night she said, “Excuse me doggie. I blow my nose” on her way to the bathroom to get a tissue. It certainly wasn’t as clearly pronounced as an adult’s speech but because we’re used to her speech patterns, we could easily tell what she was saying. According to Erin’s mom, Maggie’s use of “I” this young is an indication of her high intelligence; I’m not sure how valid that opinion is given the bias which accompanies being a grandparent but we’ll give it to her anyway.
All positive changes and developments? As those of you with children will certainly guess, definitely not. One of the less positive or convenient changes is Maggie’s growing individuality. One of her favorite expressions is, “NO!!!” There are plenty of times she completes defies and disobeys us. I especially need to remind myself that growing up is a process and that she is just starting, so some of this strong-will is just her learning that she is a separate person and able to influence her environment and surroundings. Sounds good, right? Easier said than done.
Sometimes, growing up is hard
Posted on January 7, 2008 - Filed Under Outdoors, The Daily Doodle, Parenting
Maggie got her first fat lip this weekend. She fell down on the playground equipment and bounced her face off of it. Her Mama laughed at her when we returned home; supposedly, it’s a defense mechanism but I don’t believe it.
Please ignore the snot–it’s not the point of the picture.
“Why do I do the things I do?/Was I born this way or am I self made fool?/I shoot the lights and I curse the dark”
Posted on January 6, 2008 - Filed Under Whine with my cheese, And your point is?, Adult swim
It Ain’t Easy Being Me by Chris Knight. I don’t know when or where I discovered this guy but he is right up my current musical alley–incredibly poignant lyrics and that modern alt-country sound. Check out the video, especially if you have a high speed connection and/or read the lyrics.
These lyrics really match how I feel most days; yes, if self-pity was food, I would be morbidly obese. Anyway, the only reason I mention this is that I saw the video over on Twang Nation (which is an awesome site if you want to learn about some really authentic music being made out there today) and thought how cool it would be to put it here, but then youtube restricted access to it. So, you’re going to have to go over there if you want to watch it.
If you are interested…
Posted on January 6, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized
According to www.talkinpets.com these folks test their products on animals. What can be done about animal tests required by law?
Although animal testing of pharmaceuticals and certain chemicals is still mandated by law, the arguments against using animals in cosmetics testing are still valid when applied to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. These industries are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, respectively, and it is the responsibility of the companies that kill animals in order to bring their products to market to convince the regulatory agencies that there is a better way to determine product safety. PETA is actively working on this front by funding development and validation of non-animal test methods and providing input through our involvement on government advisory committees at both the national and international levels. Companies resist progress because the crude nature of animal tests allows them to market many products that might be determined to be too toxic if cell culture tests were used. Let companies know how you feel about this.
Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625; 609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.armhammer.com
tBic Corporation, 500 Bic Dr., Milford, CT 06460; 203-783-2000; www.bicworld.com
Boyle-Midway (Reckitt Benckiser), 2 Wickman Rd., Toronto, ON M8Z 5M5 Canada; 416-255-2300
Chesebrough-Ponds (Fabergé, Ponds, Vaseline), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 800-743-8640; www.pondssquad.com
Church & Dwight (Aim, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Brillo, Close-up, Lady’s Choice, Mentadent, Nair, Orange Glo International, Pearl Drops), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625; 609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.churchdwight.com
Clairol (Aussie, Daily Defense, Herbal Essences, Infusium 23, Procter & Gamble), 1 Blachley Rd., Stamford, CT 06922; 800-252-4765; www.clairol.com
Clorox (ArmorAll, Formula 409, Fresh Step, Glad, Liquid Plumber, Pine-Sol, Soft Scrub, S.O.S., Tilex), 1221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612; 510-271-7000; 800-227-1860; www.clorox.com
Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Hills Pet Nutrition, Mennen, Palmolive, SoftSoap, Speed Stick), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 212-310-2000; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com
Coty (Adidas, Calvin Klein, Davidoff, Glow, The Healing Garden, JOOP!, Jovan, Kenneth Cole, Lancaster, Marc Jacob, Rimmel, Stetson), 1325 Ave. of the Americas, 324th Fl., New York, NY 10019; 212-389-7000; www.coty.com
Cover Girl (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.covergirl.com
Del Laboratories (CornSilk, LaCross, Naturistics, New York Color, Sally Hansen), 178 EAB Plz., Uniondale, NY 11556; 516-844-2020; 800-952-5080; www.dellabs.com
Dial Corporation (Dry Idea, Purex, Renuzit, Right Guard, Soft & Dri), 15101 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 5028, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2199; 800-528-0849; www.dialcorp.com
Helene Curtis Industries (Salon Selectives, Thermasilk, Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 800-621-2013; www.helenecurtis.com
Johnson & Johnson (Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Listerine, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, Rembrandt, ROC), 1 Johnson & Johnson Plz., New Brunswick, NJ 08933; 732-524-0400; 800-526-3967; www.jnj.com
Lever Bros. (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com
L’Oréal U.S.A. (Biotherm, Cacharel, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Helena Rubinstein, Lancôme, Matrix Essentials, Maybelline, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Redken, Soft Sheen, Vichy), 575 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10017; 212-818-1500; www.lorealcosmetics.com
Max Factor (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.maxfactor.com
Mead, 10 W. Second St., #1, Dayton, OH 45402; 937-495-6323; www.meadweb.com
Melaleuca, 3910 S. Yellowstone Hwy., Idaho Falls, ID 83402-6003; 208-522-0700; www.melaleuca.com
Mennen Co. (Colgate-Palmolive), 191 E. Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960-3151; 973-631-9000; www.colgate.com
Neoteric Cosmetics, 4880 Havana St., Denver, CO 80239-0019; 303-373-4860
New Dana Perfumes, 470 Oakhill Rd., Crestwood Industrial Park, Mountaintop, PA 18707; 800-822-8547
Noxell (Procter & Gamble), 11050 York Rd., Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2098; 410-785-7300; 800-572-3232; www.pg.com
Olay Co./Oil of Olay (Procter & Gamble), P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201; 800-543-1745; www.oilofolay.com
tOral-B (Gillette Company), 600 Clipper Dr., Belmont, CA 94002-4119; 415-598-5000; www.oralb.com
Pantene (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 800-945-7768; www.pantene.com
Pfizer (BenGay, Desitin, Listerine, Lubriderm, Plax, Visine), 235 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017-5755; 212-573-2323; www.pfizer.com
Physique (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 800-214-8957; www.physique.com
Playtex Products (Banana Boat), 300 Nyala Farms Rd., Westport, CT 06880; 203-341-4000; www.playtex.com
Procter & Gamble Co. (Clairol, Cover Girl, Crest, Gillette, Giorgio, Iams, Max Factor, Physique, Tide), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com
Reckitt Benckiser (Easy Off, Lysol, Mop & Glo, Old English, Resolve, Spray ’N Wash, Veet, Woolite), 1655 Valley Rd., Wayne, NJ 07474-0943; 973-633-3600; 800-232-9665; www.reckittbenckiser.com
Richardson-Vicks (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com
Sally Hansen (Del Laboratories), 178 EAB Plz., Uniondale, NY 11556; 800-645-9888; www.sallyhansen.com
Schering-Plough (Bain de Soleil, Coppertone, Dr. Scholl’s), 1 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940-1000; 201-822-7000; 800-842-4090; www.sch-plough.com
S.C. Johnson (Drano, Edge, Fantastik, Glade, OFF!, Oust, Pledge, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Skintimate, Windex, Ziploc), 1525 Howe St., Racine, WI 53403; 800-494-4855; www.scjohnson.com
SoftSoap Enterprises (Colgate-Palmolive), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com
Suave (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-782-8301; www.suave.com
Unilever (Axe, Dove, Helene Curtis, Lever Bros., Suave), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com
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