Hero of The Week: Paul Newman

I know this seams like such an obvious and superficial choice for this weeks hero, but Paul Newman is one of the very few big celebrities that I could point to as an example of a great man in Hollywood. If I could choose one person to totally emulate it would be Paul Newman (Cary Grant is a close second). He was just so damn cool without even trying.

Of course there's all his philanthropic work too.

So this week, go pick up a copy of Cool Hand Luke, The Sting, or one of the other great movies he was in and tear into a pack of Newman-O's.

PM4K8

Bitter:Sweet





Santogold



The Mountain Goats

To Do List

An important tool to dealing with ADD is making lists. Unfortunately, the nature of ADD presents a multitude of roadblocks to the mere act of creating and using the list that you need to be anything other than a walking disaster. The production of a list of things I need to do, like fold laundry, vacuum, clean the kitchen, has many enemies in my world.

One is my stubbornness. "I know I need to get this stuff done. Why should I make a list?", I ask myself. I often ignore the obvious answer, "Because the list of things you know is the reset button on the old dusty Nintendo you call a brain. The cartridge is in there but its hard to beat the game if the screen constantly goes all staticy."

Another distraction from making a list is that having to make a list of obvious stuff feels a bit like I'm admitting defeat to my own stupidity. I can admit to my own stupidity. I just can't admit that it is winning.

Then there is the matter of remembering. If I remember to make a list I will probably forget everything that I need to put on it. Then I have to remember that I made a list and where that list is. Grocery lists are a nightmare for me. If I actually remember to make one, I get through about half of what we need before I get distracted and forget to finish it. Most of the time then the half-assed list sits on the counter while I have gotten both boys into the car and we are on the way. If I did managed to get the list into my pocket there is a very good chance it will stay there forgotten until I get home to realize that I forgot most everything on the list.

Ironically one of the big distractions to maintaining a list of what I need to do is the ongoing, constantly in flux, list in my head of what I want to do. This isn't me choosing to do what I want over what I need to do. This is random, most often unrealistic, ideas popping into my head punching the "you have an appointment at 10 am" part of my brain in the voice box. What are some of these synaptic bullies running around in my head right now?

• wanting to take Q to San Francisco to go to the new California Academy of Science.
• grandiose romantic date nights and/or gestures that I do not have the means nor the gumption to bring to fruition.
• getting St. Paul to build a park like this one.
  
• figuring out how to convince Google, the wonderful, thoughtful, and generous company that they are, to give this blogger one of the new Google phones for free.
• wanting to go to the Mixed Blood Theatre's Distracted.
• coming up with a post for the blog where I can mention a few totally unrelated things that I think are super cool.
  

For a good time call...

612-486-5800 and make dinner reservations at Nick and Eddie for your next date night. Nick and Eddie has very good food, a romantic ambiance, friendly waitstaff, and most importantly Absinthe.

After dinner, let the "little green fairy" guide you and your loved one over the bridge into the sculpture garden. Find an unoccupied spot of darkness (harder to find than you may think), duck into the shadows, and make-out like you were 16 again.

Movements

This weekend we moved Ozzi's crib out of our bedroom and into Q's room. Our "thinking" was that his insane, unrelenting screams at night were partly fueled by the fact that he could see us there in our bed. Maybe he wouldn't have the same expectations of Q to cave to his angry, sleep depriving persistance. Or maybe he just knew that he could make Q a screaming offer he couldn't refuse; to join him in braking Mama and Papa's wills, forcing us to move Ozzi to the comforts of our bed and K8's boob.

Our second attempt at getting Q to move out onto the field with his soccer coach and other kids was a success. Our first day of soccer did not go well. Q clung to my leg crying. We had to leave early. What a difference a week filled with kicking the ball around at home and at Mattocks Park, going to a big kid game, phone calls with Grandpa and Grandma, and promises of Izzy's Ice Cream at Java Train can make. He's certainly no Freddy Adu, but he went out there and gave it his easily distracted best. He may have even found himself a new girlfriend via a shared love for picking dandelions. Preschool Soccer could be one of the funniest things I've ever watched.

We've been moved to find food for Ozzi that is not only healthy but more adventurous in the flavor department than what we can find at Super Target or Mississippi Market. We found it at the Farmers Market. Sweet Cheeks Baby Food is all local and organic and Ozzi seems to love it...

especially the beets, though the movement in his diaper the next day is, well, Vikings Purple. If you're looking for baby food definitely check out Sweet Cheeks.

Hero of The Week: William Yuan

Another Hero of The Week found via GeekDad, 12-year-old William Yuan has developed a solar cell that uses both visible and UV light opening the door to more efficient and cheaper solar energy. 12 YEARS OLD!


If you know of someone that would be a good candidate for Hero of The Week please email me your suggestions at tapirspoop(at)gmail(dot)com.

PM4K8

Finally, a DATENIGHT!!

The Prodigal Son Returns

For the last few weeks I took a brake from blogging while I pondered whether I wanted to continue with it. My life and time on the internet seemed to be taking over more and more time that I should have been spending with the boys, K8, and my real life obligations. Then it turned out, during my little hiatus, I didn't actually get any more done. I just brooded and sulked instead of actively seeking out new adventures and discoveries for me to post about. So, I have returned... or the blog has returned... or, well, I'm not sure if the blog is my prodigal son or if I'm actually the one returning. Either way, here is a quick recap of what I didn't post over the last few weeks:

A good time was had at the lake. Q fell off the dock. K8, Grandpa Doug, and I went for an awesome helicopter ride.

From etc

Ozzi got a much needed haircut.

From etc

Q helped K8 and I celebrate 7 blissful years of marriage.

From etc

Q started preschool.

From etc

Ozzi continues the cycle of abuse at the hands of family furniture. Q still has a nice scar on his lip from his bout with the train table.

From etc

We discovered a farmer at the St. Paul Farmers Market with the best damn Honeycrisp Apples on the planet.

Siji Kids just launched their online store.

Pumpkin Girl's tiesie is featured on inhabitat.

Tiny Decor, a Minneapolis, child centered version of inhabitat, finally launched their online store.

Inhabitat launches Inhabitot, a New York version of Tiny Decor without the fantastic online store.