Tapirs Poop...

ON TO ADVENTURE

2009-05-27T19:35:00.002-05:00

On Saturday May 16th K8 and I had a date night planned. We had a babysitter coming to watch the boys so we could go out for sushi, K8 was finally willing to venture beyond the California Roll, then a slow walk around Lake of the Isles like we used to pre-kids. Before the babysitter arrived K8 happened to check her email and find an offer of employment from the United States Department of State.

K8's pursuit of a position in the Foreign Service started over a year ago as one of those things that you say "Why not? It doesn't hurt to try. It's not like I would actually get the job anyway." Well it looks like she got the job and we are in for the biggest change of our lives. While we bravely sampled uncooked creatures of the sea at Fuji-Ya we discussed all the changes and possibilities, fears and hopes, and the vast chasm of what we didn't know.

As we talked Q's voice began to ring louder and louder in my head. "On to adventure!", he would announce as he jumped off various surfaces. "On to adventure!", he proclaimed as he raced around the block on his big wheel. "On to adventure.", I replied to K8's questioning eyes filled with excitement and fear. "On to adventure!" Nothing like committing to upending your family's future over octopus, river eel, and Sake-tinis.

Since then there has been much research and daydreaming with small spurts of planning. By late July we will be living in Washington D.C. By mid August we will know where in the great wide world our government will be sending us. Until then it's not really worth stressing out over where we will be posted. We've got enough to occupy us with trying to sell our house and planning the move to DC.

Now that we've had some time to really come to terms with all this means to us and the boys, we are bursting with excitement... excitement and fear. Because leaving a life in a city you love filled with the best friends you could ever ask for, giving up close proximity to the family that is more important than you could ever express to them, and abandoning a standard of living provided by a sky-rocketing career that K8 worked so hard and long to achieve is scary, scary as fucking hell. But, as the saying goes, "Don't regret fear, fear regret."

so,

ON TO ADVENTURE!

Hot Wheels

2009-03-27T08:08:00.005-05:00

I'm sure everyone is already covering Tesla's new Model S, concentrating on it's 300 mile range, 45 minute charge time, quickly interchangeable battery, and it's sleek styling. That is all awesome, but what blew me away is their claim that it seats 7. Add in the storage in the hatchback and under the hood and you've got room for the kids and all the stuff that goes with them... in an electric car!

This is what a family car should be. No exhaust that you have to tell your kids to stay out of. No oil changes. Damn, I what this car. Well, I've got till 2011 to save up $50,000.

I wonder if Hot Wheels will make an orange version of this one to add to our collection.

...and it was still hot

2009-03-25T16:19:00.005-05:00

The popular children's classic Where The Wild Things Are + Dave Eggers + Spike Jonze =

I'm so excited to see this I can hardly contain myself.

Edit: If anyone knows where I can get this movie poster I will love them forever.

It's Kinda Funny

2009-03-19T07:30:00.003-05:00

It's kinda funny how I have a hard time spending more than $20 on a shirt for myself but it took all my willpower to not buy every one of the new Monster Republic shirts (about $40 each) for the boys at Siji Kids. Though they have some seriously great deals on last season's stuff, in store and online.

It's kinda funny how putting the word "the" in front of something can make it seam so much more severe. "Ozzi has croup." Ozzi has the croup." See?

It's kinda funny how Facebook can cause blog-killing neglect.

Three Infections and One Birthday

2009-03-11T15:31:00.002-05:00

We have a half eaten Chocolate Chocolate Cake from Cafe Latte on the kitchen counter, left over from K8's Birthday, begging me to add it to my already thick winter layer of all natural personal insulation. We have three separate prescriptions of Amoxicillin being administered at the prescribed regular intervals to all but me. We have Charlie Chaplin's The Kid in the DVD player reminding us of our nation's past and possible future. The house is a disaster of toys, clothing, and food shrapnel and I am without the gumption to remedy such overwhelming domestic intranquility. All gumption was exhausted the other day in meticulously, and lovingly, manufacturing the tiny 3D Q and O earrings out of origami paper. There is only one thing that can save me from this morose state of being. Beastie Boys. Loud, loud, Beastie Boys.

GE puts the whole smart grid world in your hands

2009-03-05T17:00:00.003-06:00

Some awesome internet magic that will totally impress your kids.

plugintothesmartgrid.com

The OC

2009-03-05T12:01:00.002-06:00

Wazzup kids! My supremely judicial home-girl, Sandra Day O'Connor, or as I call her Sandy D, is on da scene droppin' some old school civics knowledge on your new school IMing behinds.

OurCourts.org fools, check it!

What The.....

2009-02-25T08:26:00.003-06:00

The most bizarre thing you will most likely see today, the Barreleye Fish, Macropinna microstoma.

Quote of the Day

2009-02-25T08:08:00.003-06:00

Q and Ozzi are wrestling around, Ozzi goes bonk, and Ozzi starts to cry.

Q: "Sorry Ozzi."

He picks up a nearby toy and hands it to Ozzi.

Q: "Here's a little somethin' for your trouble."

Information Regurgitation

2009-02-19T09:41:00.004-06:00

A few more things found on the internets that I think are worth passing on.

A fun little paper whale art project via Swissmiss via Squared Eye
Geekdad's "It's a Good Time to be a Twin Cities Maker" post mentions several reasons but the one I think is really worth pointing out here is Make: Day at The Science Museum of Minnesota on March 14th.
Chalkboard paint on the walls is way cooler when it's in Mo Willems' house.

Indeed!

2009-02-18T15:43:00.000-06:00

Surf's Up

2009-02-16T15:07:00.003-06:00

Yet another tool for my quest to have my boys win the National Geography Bee someday.

Speaking Of MIT

2009-02-13T20:25:00.004-06:00

We've been updating/playing with Q's XO Laptop a lot over the last few days.

Q: "Who made my 'puter?"
Me: "It was designed by people at a university called MIT. It's a school where you learn how to create and invent super-cool new computers, robots, and stuff."
Q: "Can I go to school there?"
Me: "Absolutely. You work hard enough you can go where ever you want."

Then someday you can invent a new toy that is so awesome it makes a stay at home dad almost shit his pants when he watches the video of you showing it off at TED just like David Merrill did today.

Lazy Friday Link Dump

2009-02-13T08:01:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was Charles Darwin's 200th Birthday and all week GeekDad has been celebrating with all sorts of naturally selected posts about introducing young minds to the fascinating world of Evolution.

MIT Media Lab does it again with Topobo, a robot toy that is brilliant in its simplicity.

Leonardo's Basement makes me wish the boys would grow up even faster.

My Funny Valentine

2009-02-09T09:07:00.005-06:00

I am not a big fan of what Valentine's Day has become. I don't deplore romance or flowers or even the occasional tacky gift and I think it's good for us to have a day reserved to remind us to show a little love. My issue with Valentine's Day is the lazy consumerism of it all. IMHO Valentines Day is a holiday for simple handmade expressions. Flowers and chocolates are fine but apply a little creativity and personalization to it in some way. Valentine's Day was made for crayons, scissors, and glue sticks.

One year I made a "Vouchers Of Love" coupon book to go with a few bottles of K8's favorite wine. Another year I bought 50 Spider-Man valentines, wrote a different little note on each one, and hid them all over in K8's stuff. This year most of my handmade efforts have gone to Q's valentines for preschool.

Thank God for ArtScraps and small class sizes!

The one plan for K8 this year I will disclose is two tickets to Romeo & Juliet at The Children's Theatre Company.

Droppin' Science

2009-02-09T08:42:00.005-06:00

Q's ever-growing interest in the world around him is really beginning to play into my dorky hands. Not that I have an extensive scientific knowledge, I just love discovery and I seem to be passing that on to Q. He gets almost as excited as I do about discovering something new, even if it only holds his attention for 5 seconds before he runs off to something else.

After Q watched an episode of Curious George in which George did something similar, he told me he wanted to put nuts and seeds in some water, freeze it, and put it out for the squirrels to chip away at. Quite entertaining!

The Science Museum of Minnesota here in St. Paul has catered to our schedule and returned their Preschool Playdate to Monday mornings. Sweet. This will probably motivate us to finally add them to our stack of membership cards. Until then, they still offer Children's Museum members reciprocity during the Preschool Playdate. The new Water exhibit is pretty cool with the water vapor entrance being the highlight for Q.

From what I've seen on YouTube and a few blogs, A LOT of parents took advantage of the extreme cold over the past month or so with the throwing a cup of really hot water into the air to make an instant "cloud" trick. We did too. Q's Oh's and Ah's were worth the minor frostbite. We never did get bubbles to freeze though.

A parent of a preschooler is only as good as his tools... or is that a carpenter? I don't remember. Anyway, we've recently acquired a few useful "instruments of science". Both boys have been having a lot of fun playing with a small prism we got. Q has been begging for a magnifying lens for a few weeks now so I finally caved when he found one with two LEDs on it for less than $5 at the Science Museum. Now he spends many of Ozzi's nap times inspecting our small rock, fossil, shell, and coral collection we have to keep out of reach while Ozzi's awake. The best new tool of all is my new G1 phone. With mobile access to Wikipedia, YouTube, Google Maps, etc. there is no question that Q can ask that I can't answer right on the spot. Awesome!

Food Ingredient Decoder

2009-02-04T13:13:00.002-06:00

This food ingredient decoder from Kashi is a handy resource online to help you understand what all those ingredients in little Timmy's Fruit Loops are.

Raising Minnesota

2009-02-04T08:34:00.005-06:00

This past weekend Q and I made it out to Medicine Lake for the Art Shanty Project. Since then I've been pondering getting involved next year and trying to build an ice shack of my own. I have no idea what I would do but you know it would be kid oriented.

You still have a little bit of time to make it out onto the ice to check out the wackiness for yourself. It all ends Feb. 14.

Ouch

2009-02-02T12:43:00.003-06:00

It was a rough weekend. K8 spent the whole weekend with a nasty sinus headache that just wouldn't let go. Ouch.

Ozzi has a giant welt in the center of his forehead. It looks like the corner of the coffee table has converted him to Hinduism. Maybe Ganesha will make his new cold go away. Double ouch.

I have a wonderful little bruise across the bridge of my nose after being attacked by my ladder while trying to force it into a pile of snow and ice. Though considering the level of disregard for my personal safety while I attempted to remove the ice dams on our roof, I should consider myself lucky that's all I got, but still, ouch.

K8 has been doing a damn good job balancing a demanding career with getting in quality time with the boys. Yet Q, it seems, has entered a catholic mother phase in which he has taken it upon himself to break K8's will with guilt. I don't know how many times Q told K8 to, "Go to work for just a little bit then come home." All of my attempts to explain why mom has to go to work, that he's lucky to see her as much as he does, and that for many kids both parents go to work everyday are disregarded. The cliche "starving kids in Africa" speeches swim just below the surface. Then this morning Q and I have this conversation.
"Papa, Barack Obama lives in the White House?"
"Yep, now that he's president he lives in the White House."
"And he works in the White House too?"
"Yeah, his office is in the White House too."
He ponders this for a few seconds, making connections.
"Papa, I want MomMom to be president."
"Umm, No. No you don't."

OUCH!

"Mr. Mom" In The News

2009-01-29T09:38:00.006-06:00

Yesterday morning the Today Show did a little story about the current economic downturn boosting stay at home dad numbers. They do make a few good points specifically for those dads that have been laid off and a few good tips in general. But unfortunately they also, to a certain extent, implied that stay at home dads are "forced" into staying at home and that "Most dads don't know what they are doing."

The other thing that bothers me and most other stay at home dads is the common use of "Mr. Mom". Look, I understand that it was a popular movie and that it is often the only frame of reference for many people when it comes to SAHDs. What I don't understand is why the use of this term doesn't bother most women. Calling me "Mr. Mom" blatantly implies that caring for my children and maintaining a home is "woman's work". That shouldn't just bother me, it should offend most anyone. To put it another way; When the Today Show does a story on the rise of women filling CEO positions will they use "Playing Mrs. Dad" for the title?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Tapirs Poop Stuff

2009-01-28T14:20:00.002-06:00

Psst, psst, hey you. Yeah you. Come here. I got some great stuff here that I know you'll wanna buy. Cheap too. Check it out. I got Rolex. I got Louis Vuitton. I got Tapirs Poop!

That's right, the Tapirs Poop Online Store is up and running with all sorts of stuff featuring my amateurish attempts at design. Now go on, splurge! We're almost out of milk.

Arty Pants Revisited

2009-01-27T16:16:00.005-06:00

For those of you that have been reading this blog for a while you'll know we used to hit Arty Pants at The Walker on a very regular basis. Then Q started preschool which, along with Ozzi's nap, created a bit of a scheduling conflict. Well, today I decided we would go right after picking Q up from school and get there for the latter half. I'm really glad we did. Not only did we get to spend some much needed extra time out of the house but Ellen from Art with Ellen was running the activities in the Art Lab.

We took classes with Ellen about two years ago and she still remembered Q's name. ELLEN IS AMAZING. If you are looking for a class for your little one, sign them up for an Art with Ellen class. You will not be disappointed. I have never in my life met anyone that is that consistently happy and energetic while teaching children. If you don't believe me, go to Arty Pants on Feb. 10th or the 24th. She'll be there... and hopefully so will we, even if we're a bit late.

The Cradle Was Rocked

2009-01-25T21:38:00.003-06:00

Every year Rock The Cradle gets better... and more crowded. I really wish they did this more often. If it happened more regularly it would probably be a bit less like Mecca to us crazy cooped up Minnasnowda parents. All in all though, the changes they made from last year were drastic improvements and helped significantly in making the hoards of kids and their parents more manageable. The free photo booths were a big hit and using the big party room for alternating between story-time and Jeremy Messersmith was perfect.

What was even more perfect was that we got to talk to Jeremy before his first set and request Q's favorite Jeremy Messersmith song, Light Rail. Not only did he play it but he started of with it and gave Q a little shout-out at the end. Thanks Jeremy, you rock.. even if K8 was bummed you didn't play Welcome To Suburbia. Old McDonald probably played better to that crowd anyway.

Hangin' With Mo

2009-01-22T16:34:00.002-06:00

We managed to make it to the wonderful Wild Rumpus in time to see Mo Willems. He was AWESOME! If you have a chance, stop by the Red Balloon this Saturday at 10:30. We just might go there too. I wouldn't mind getting my copy of You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons signed.

SAHD Workout Video

2009-01-22T13:56:00.002-06:00

It's Electric

2009-01-20T22:45:00.001-06:00

Monday on PBS they ran a bit of a marathon of the new Electric Company. We caught the latter half having tuned in to catch our normal dose of Word Girl at 4pm. Q's disappointment for a lack of Word Girl was VERY short lived. The new Electric Company is great. Q was totally into it and I had fun watching for all the special guests, from Tiki Barber to Samantha Bee from The Daily Show.

Today, A New America Begins

2009-01-20T20:54:00.003-06:00

Today, YOUR America Begins!

Q & Ozzi,

Your mom and I have done our best to keep things around you as politically neutral as possible. It's important to us that you both grow up able to form your own informed opinions while able to respect the opinions of others.

Today, however, transcends politics. Today marks a beginning for your generation. A generation that will have a black man as your first memory of The President and no recollection of a day in which you couldn't just watch historic moments you missed because of preschool or nap-time by simply turning on a computer.

Get Naked

2009-01-19T21:06:00.003-06:00

Children's book author extraordinaire Mo Willems is on tour once again. This time he's promoting his hilarious new book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. He will be stopping by Wild Rumpus this Thursday, Jan. 22, at 3 pm. and Red Balloon on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 10:30 am.

The new book is fantastic and if you can find room, listening to Mo read his books to a shop full of kids is definitely worth the time. And while you're at it you may as well pick up Mo's latest Elephant and Piggy adventure, Are You Ready to Play Outside?.

Planet Earth

2009-01-16T14:56:00.004-06:00

We are encroaching a once a week average for zoo visits these days. Most often the Minnesota Zoo, but we do mix in the occasional stop at Como Zoo as well. Q has developed a passionate interest in the natural world and I'm guessing all our time at the zoo has something to do with that. That passion is even more prevalent now that he owns Planet Earth.

For Christmas Q was given the Planet Earth series on DVD (I swear to god, that was the first thing he said when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas. We had rented the series earlier in Nov.). While the boys were sick these last two weeks I got a little bit more willing to put in a movie while Q laid down on the couch. Every time I would ask what he wanted to watch, even suggesting Wall-E (I love Wall-E). Every time he would request a Planet Earth DVD. In fact, a lot of the time, he would request a specific episode. The caves one is his favorite he says. Is it weird for a now 4 year-old to prefer a documentary over cartoons?

Is it even weirder for a now 4 year-old to loudly cheer on the predators as they pursue their prey? "GO TIGER GO! GET THAT MONKEY!" What the hell? This is the same kid that offers his favorite stuffed animals to crying babies to make them feel better. He's even started acting out scenes from the show with his Little People animals.

You can totally tell he still felt like crap in that last picture. I'm glad that's over.

Baby it's cold outside!

2009-01-15T08:57:00.002-06:00

So here's a little something to pass the time: Build A Squid

Cabin Fever

2009-01-12T22:00:00.001-06:00

Tis the custom in my home
that after holidays
snot shall roam.

Every damn year we are blessed with spending the first half of January nursing runny noses and nasty coughs. That combined with the usual frigid temps this time of year, has once again brought me to the brink of insanity. We NEED to get out of the house... and from what I can tell there are a lot of other parents in the same boat sinking into the frigid waters of stir crazy. But, there are a few life rafts out there.

Get your Minnesota on! Forget Pond Hockey, THIS is what Minnesota winters are all about. The Sixth Annual Art Shanty Project on Medicine Lake in Plymouth brings creativity to the already rousing sport of ice-fishing. It's like Burning Man with snowsuits instead of nudity and PBR instead of LSD. This festival on ice runs from Jan. 17th to Feb. 14.
Rock The Cradle. Sunday, Jan. 25th. Fun. Fun. Fun... despite it being as packed as the State Fair on a nice day... just fewer pro-wrestling t-shirts.
If the kids are still sick and your actually giving a damn about the well-being of other children prevents you from venturing out into the public domain, might I suggest watching the new MAKE show on PBS with the kids then get out the tools and tinker the sniffles away.

About F'ing Time, Target

2009-01-11T21:47:00.005-06:00

While recently at our local Super Target not only did I find the all natural end cap in the toys department that Tiny Decor has mentioned, I also found they have started stocking BPA-free brand Boon.

This is great if for no other reason I can tell all the parents that ask where we got Ozzi's sippy cup that it's now at Target vs trying to list the various websites. This is definitely a step in the right direction for Target. Boon has some ingeniously designed products that have clearly put their customers, parents and kids, first.

Red Velvet Dinosaur Birthday Cake

2009-01-07T08:31:00.007-06:00

This is Q's Red Velvet Dinosaur Birthday Cake. It turned out awesome and tasted fantastic. K8 made it by herself the night before Q's Birthday. She did a great job and I quickly got over my missing out on the construction. At least I can say the idea of a Red Velvet Dinosaur Cake was mine.

Minnesota Parenting

2009-01-06T15:20:00.002-06:00

Today, Ozzi's nap time was interrupted by our neighbor working on his ice fishing auger. Such is the burden of the stay at home parent in the Great White North.

Lost and Found

2009-01-05T12:54:00.003-06:00

The beautiful children's book about friendship, Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers, has been adapted to a 30 minute animated film by STUDIOaka and broadcast over the Holidays on the UK's Channel 4. As far as I can tell from the trailer and comments from the Brits who had the pleasure of watching the whole thing, the stunningly gorgeous animation applied to the super touching story is an absolute masterpiece.

The DVD is scheduled for release March 23rd. I'm not sure if that includes the US or if it is just the UK... though I think I'd be willing to pay the extra shipping if I had too.

Another Word For Pirate Treasure...

2009-01-04T23:46:00.004-06:00

professor booty from tapirspoop on Vimeo.

A little recap of the past few weeks. Yes, I'm a dork.

Happy New Year!

Still Here.

2009-01-04T15:38:00.004-06:00

I know, I know, I know. I've been really neglecting the blog lately. Sorry. Between the boys' birthdays, Christmas, visits to family, visits from far away friends, New Years, and all the new toys, my god the toys, I've been kept pretty busy.

I've been working on a little video to recap it all, so stay tuned.

CPSIA WTF

2008-12-30T08:48:00.004-06:00

Looks like I need to eat my hat. Quite a while back I railed against the few politicians that voted against a bill meant to help prevent toys soaked in lead and arsenic from reaching our kids' mouths. Turns out the CPSIA went the way of so many bills passed this year. Good intentions paired with hysterical urgency created a bill that could kill the small independent toy manufacturers that have always been making safe toys and leave only the huge toy corporations that repeatedly put our kids at risk in business. The bill mandates testing that could cost toy makers up to $4000 PER TOY! So, take a minute out of your day and help vote for a change in the bill by clicking on the button below and/or write your politicians. I'll put the soapbox away as soon as I'm done eating.

Four Years Eve

2008-12-29T22:37:00.006-06:00

Q,

You are on the verge of your 4th birthday. You are entering an age of which I can recall moments in my own existence. This really freaks me out. It means I need to become the father that I want you to recall when you're my age. Maybe something like Liam Neeson in Love Actually. Conveniently your birthday comes along every year at the same time as New Years Resolutions.

These last four years with you have been a life altering blast. No one makes me laugh, work, or play harder. To simply say I love you would be a huge understatement. You are like water to me. I couldn't survive without you. Sure, I can be apart from you for a while, but dehydration gets pretty damn miserable.

Everyday you manage to say or do at least one thing that knocks my socks off. The other day you were sneaking some treats off the counter and feeding them to Ozzi because, "He was a really good boy today." Or when the Dr. asks if you are around anyone that smokes you say, "Grandpa does, but that's naughty." And then today you tell me, "I really like this song."

Though you continue to say you want to be a "Firefighter in Space" and I will always have my fingers crossed for a Doctor Without Borders, you are certainly showing promise in the engineering department.

You continue to be the most compassionate person this side of the Dalai Lama. You are almost always willing, if not eager, to share. You readily help care for your brother, little cousins, or any other baby you encounter. You tell you're mother and I to "Calm down." and "It's not a big deal." more often than we have to tell you. I hope you never loose that.

Q, Happy Birthday. I love you. You are as awesome as awesome gets... even if, or more likely because, you insist on making goofy-ass faces every time you know we are taking a picture of you.

Edit: Thanks to KristenMary for reminding me that there are ways to put Q's engineering skills to good vicarious karmic use some day.
Engineers Without Borders
Architecture For Humanity

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T07:31:00.000-06:00

I'm going to be away from the blog for a few days. So until then, Happy Holidays from DK, K8, Q, Ozzi, Cyclops Santa, and the rest of the gingerbread cookies that Q made for Santa.

I Am Daddy! Hear Me Roar!

2008-12-19T14:15:00.009-06:00

According to a new study from Montana State University, Stay At Home Dads aren't such a new phenomenon after all. Looks like the playground in Jurassic Park is filled with fathers.

A Montana State University study published in the Dec. 19 issue of Science says that males from three types of dinosaurs were sole care givers for their mate's eggs. They may even have had multiple mates and watched all their eggs at once.

"Scientists have long debated which care system, male-only or both parents, evolved first," Varricchio said. "The new research indicates that male-only care came first, evolving within the closest dinosaur ancestors of birds."

"Mr. Mom" THAT John Hagee!.. oh wait, I forgot, you don't believe in dinosaurs... or science.

Museum of Childhood

2008-12-14T14:13:00.002-06:00

This ad really makes me wish we were back in London.... that and the near absolute zero temperature outside my frosty windows.

The Year In Blur

2008-12-14T09:53:00.007-06:00

Ozzi,

The calender and your mother tell me a year has past since your early arrival ruined our plans for one last date night. Not that I'm bitter about that but it is a nice little story to hang over your head on occasion. Just like how, every once in a great while, I remind your mother that I turned down a date with Britney Murphy for her (don't tell her, but I'm endlessly glad I did).

You and your brother have sure made recalling this past year in detail near impossible. It's all a blur of no, stop, hold still, go to sleep, aaahhhh, and shit. And though the person who you will become is still a mystery I have learned a few things about you thus far.

You have my appetite and metabolism. You're only one but you have the caloric intake of a 16 year old.

You are a stubborn roaring belligerent bad-ass little force of nature.... just like your mom... and I love that!

You've earned yourself more nicknames than an average member of the Wu Tang Clan. Ozzi was the first. Then came Cuddlefish for your love of nuzzling and your ability to turn red at the drop of a very angry hat. Q, droppin' some robotic science, coined Ozbot and it stuck like glizzue fo' shizzue. Shortly after that you started training for Everest and I christened you Reinhold Messner.

Your big brother loves you more than I ever thought possible for a sibling and you seem to adore him even more than you do your own parents... and we're cool with that. Though there is the occasional conflict, I can already see that you two will always have each others' back... and that is more important to me than most anything else.

You are a smart, inquisitive, fast, and funny little dude... and I love you more than life itself.

Happy Birthday!

Hero of The Week: Random Lady at The Post Office

2008-12-11T12:56:00.003-06:00

Thank you. Thank you for taking time out of your day to offer to hold a very squirmy Ozzi so I could finish putting stamps on all my Christmas Cards. Unfortunately you came along at the end of the project, but thank you anyway. Your kind offer made my day.

Economic Stimulus Part Six

2008-12-08T14:42:00.002-06:00

I can't really do a review of a book I don't have yet, but from everything I've seen, Do Narwhals Have Blowholes? by Gibson Holub & Matt Cory has potential to join the all time favorites in my house.

Instead of weighing down this post with all my usual adjectives, here's a video of a recent reading by the author so you can see for yourself.

Hero of The Week: You?

2008-12-05T15:26:00.004-06:00

Toms Shoes

Kiva

Economic Stimulus Part 1+1+1+1+1

2008-12-05T09:08:00.002-06:00

Oodles of hand made crafts, art, and contests with celebrity judges. Need I say more? No Coast Craft-O-Rama this Sat. and Sun. at the Midtown Global Market.

Quote Of The Day

2008-12-05T08:21:00.005-06:00

K8: "What did you learn at preschool today, Q?"

Q: "I killed Baby Jesus."

On Tuesday, while I was volunteering at his preschool, I was a bit concerned when a teacher mentioned to the class of 3 year-olds that "Jesus died for our sins." I'm not quite ready to get into a DEATH conversation with Q yet. I just didn't realize that he would turn these teachings into Nine Inch Nails lyrics.

DK: "Oy vey!"

Economic Stimulus Part 4

2008-12-03T07:21:00.002-06:00

Through back channels and undisclosed high ranking sources within the North Pole, it has been reported that Santa may be hooking my boys up with a few of the most rockin' toy trucks I... er, Santa has ever gotten his hands on. Toxin free, made from recycled wood and plastic, battery free, kid powered lights and sounds, interchangeable characters, and durable, all at prices relatively comparable to Tonka. The Canadians at Sprig Toys could certainly teach Fisher Price a thing or two. Looks like Santa (and some Canadians) has been reading Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America too.

Banksy vs Thomas

2008-12-02T16:09:00.003-06:00

Alphabutt

2008-12-01T07:22:00.006-06:00

I may have to finally get those tattoos and start ironically drinking PBR to make up for my so seriously falling asleep at the hipster parenting wheel. Not only did I miss out on taking the boys to Kimya Dawson's family concert at the Cedar Cultural Center, I'm also just finding out that she's released a children's album wonderfully titled Alphabutt. Most popular for her contribution to the Juno Soundtrack, the former Moldy Peaches singer has a playful sing-a-long style that could charm kids even when the songs aren't meant for them specifically. Q certainly enjoyed her song I Like Giants when it was in heavy rotation on the Current. So a children's album just seems like the next logical step.

Economic Stimulus Part Drei

2008-11-26T08:55:00.006-06:00

For those of you NOT concerned about the impending financial doom, might I suggest digging 6,800 quid out from under your mattress to purchase one of 999 Audi Type-C pedal cars. Then rent a Santa costume so you can bestow this leather and oak trimmed aluminum beauty upon my children Christmas morning. Of course this is contingent on all 999 not being already earmarked for all the good little boys and girls in the U.A.E.

Maybe if The Big Three manufactured limited edition high-end replicas of their 1936 race cars they wouldn't have to be begging the government for bailout money.

Damn You Irony!

2008-11-21T12:37:00.004-06:00

I am convinced the boys are plotting against us. Worst yet, they are using what I post on this blog as fuel for their clever cruelty. "Sleepyhead ehe? Comparing me to a raver? We'll show them! Muuhahaha!"

In the middle of the night Ozzi is screaming like he's on fire. K8 and I betray our better judgment to bring him into our bed. Like roadies digging for all the green M&M's to fill a bowl in Mick Jagger's dressing room, we know we're just condoning the behavior, but, at 1 in the morning, we're not willing to endure the wrath incurred. We must have dropped a few red ones into the bowl. From 1 to 4 am Ozzi was screaming, laughing, crying, babbling, flailing, and playing like a belligerent drunk. Not drunk on alcohol, drunk on power. Power over his weak enabler parents. He bites his beautiful mother. He stage dives onto my head and gives me a face full of pee engorged diaper. "This isn't a fucking Daft Punk concert you cute crazy little shit, it's Mama and Papa's bed. It's not party time, it's sleeping time. Pleeeeaaaaaaase go to sleep. Please! AAAAAHHHHH!"

Whimpers from the other room warn us of the approach of the whining reinforcements that Ozzi has called in. Q's arrival to the battle in our bed, however, does not work out to Ozzi's favor. Emboldened by overcrowding and sleep deprivation, I gather Ozzi up and place him back in his crib. I return to our bed.... and Q. Q begins to lightly moan and stroke my hair like a teenager on ecstasy and Ozzi catches on fire again. The battle rages back and forth until eventually Q, realizing a wild and ruckus neighbor is more tolerable than a wild and ruckus bedfellow, returns to his own bed. K8 manages, with great effort, to cajole Ozzi to sleep just in time to miss the morning sun rise into our window.

Electric Kool-Aid Ozzi Test

2008-11-19T15:01:00.003-06:00

This song, Sleepyhead by Passion Pit, came on the Current today and Ozzi went joyfully bonkers.... better hide the glow sticks now!

Economic Stimulus Part Twee

2008-11-18T23:03:00.006-06:00

This past weekend K8 and I started, and almost finished, our xmas shopping for this year. While in the toy stores I couldn't help but notice all the really great toys available for kids older than my own. Of those, the toy that stood out the most is Totem.

Created by Kidsonroof out of Amsterdam, Totem, like most other construction toys, provides children with an opportunity to learn how to follow instructions or to build freely from their own imagination. In addition to each piece being made out of laminated recycled cardboard, they are also decorated with a variety of fantastic designs, symbols, and textures. From what I've seen Totem is a fantastic toy with endless possibilities.

Kidsonroof makes a few other ingeniously simple products worth checking out as well and even gives 5% of all profits to UNICEF. You gotta love the Dutch.

Quotes of the Day

2008-11-17T07:34:00.004-06:00

Q is building a "zoo" out of Duplos on the living room floor. Ozzi comes along and does his best Godzilla impression.

Q: "NOOO! PUT THAT BABY ON TRIAL!"

Our oldest may not be able to write his name yet but at least he's got a good grasp of the American Judicial System. "I'll be the Judge. You be the Jury.", he says banging on the table with a plastic hammer.

It really is amazing what kids pick up. The previous day we had this conversation while looking at a globe.

Q: "Which country is Africa?"
DK: "Africa is a continent, not a country."
K8, from the other room: "Good work Sarah Palin."
Q, pointing to Africa: "Sarah Palin lives in Africa?"
DK: "No. She lives in Alaska."
Q: "Where does John McCain live?"
DK: "Arizona."

And then there was this exchange in the bookstore last week when Q spotted a magazine with Obama on the cover.

Q: "MomMom, look! Obama!"
K8: "Yep."
Q: "He's smiling. Why is he smiling?"
DK: "Because he won the election."
Q: "You vote for him? I vote for him. Barack Obama's your friend? He your friend MomMom?"
K8: "We hope so."
Q, jumping up and down: "Barack Obama's MY friend TOO!"

The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Is The Playground

2008-11-14T08:29:00.004-06:00

I love being a stay at home dad but if we lived in Copenhagen I would definitely get a "real job" just so the boys could go to the Skanderborggade Day Care Centre. I especially love the incline scattered with beanbags.

PM4K8

2008-11-13T22:45:00.002-06:00

Tokyo Police Club

Keane

Hero of The Week: Karen Armstrong

2008-11-13T07:03:00.004-06:00

Karen Armstrong made a wish at the 2008 TED Conference, to create a Charter For Compassion. Her movement has begun with the Charter For Compassion website and an inspiring video that everyone should watch and then pass on.

here is her original TED speech,

Get Yo Green On

2008-11-12T22:43:00.005-06:00

If you're looking for something to do this weekend and have some environmentally conscious individuals on your holiday shopping list, might I suggest the Green Gift Fair at Midtown Global Market. There will be several vendors hocking their earth friendly wares and even some live music. Of course, all the usual shops and restaurants will be open for your enjoyment and perusing as well.

If you have a little one still on the baby food, make sure you stop by the Sweet Cheeks stand and talk to Lori.

And if you want to have the best damn flan this side of Zihuatanejo stop by La Sirena Gorda. Mmmmmmm, flan.

The Green Gift Fair is this Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10 am - 5 pm.

Thanks to Lori from Sweet Cheeks for the heads up on this one.

Recent Acquisitions

2008-11-12T07:56:00.006-06:00

Ever since our visit to the Library of Congress my passion for great original children's books has certainly been reinforced. Here are a few that we've discovered that we really enjoy.

I Will Make Miracles by Susie Morgenstern illustrated by Jiang Hong Chen. One of the most beautiful books we own, in both illustration, verse, and substance.

Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis. As utterly cute and perfectly simple as its predecessor, Not a Box.

Elephant Elephant: A Book of Opposites by Pittau & Gervais is a VERY unique and funny demonstration of opposites with the help of some misshapen, disfigured, and in one instance, anatomically correct elephants. Though some parents may find this book "inappropriate" I like to see it as an opportunity to explain certain unavoidable aspects of life.

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith is a comical introduction to the founding fathers from the illustrator of some of our favorite books, including Big Plans.

Economic Stimulus Package

2008-11-10T22:29:00.004-06:00

How much of the bailout billions is Santa going to get? I would imagine his heating bill alone has him on the verge of Chapter 11 unless he converted to geothermal with the Icelanders. Anywho, if he's not too strapped for cash, I'm hoping he can hook me Q up with some of the new Automoblox cars. Specifically the limited edition C9-S Berlinetta and the 3 pack of new mini's. I hear the auto industry could use the business.

Torturing Your Parents 101 with Professor Q

2008-11-09T21:50:00.006-06:00

Good morning class. For today's lesson we will be discussing how to scare the holy shit out of your parents using what the medical community calls Torticollis.

Step 1: wake up at 5:30 am.
Step 2: lay down on the floor beside your bed.
Step 3: grasp the back of your neck and start crying.
Step 4: when your parent(s) enters the room and tries to pick you up off the floor, scream.
Step 5: through your cries repeatedly say something to the effect of, "my neck's stuck." with panic in your eyes.
Step 6: let your parent(s) imagine all the horrifying scenarios resulting from a major neck injury.

These six easy steps will most likely result in a trip to the emergency room. The staff will then inform your parent(s) that what you have is Torticollis, a very common ailment for children between 2 and 5 years of age. As a bonus, you get to watch the relief that your parent(s) are feeling deflate when the doctor tells them that Torticollis can last anywhere from 1 hour to 4 days.

Milk it! As long as you continue to clutch your neck and wince at even the slightest movement, you can enjoy sitting on the couch undisturbed watching cartoons and eating junkfood.

Quentin of Solace

2008-11-07T14:21:00.004-06:00

K8 and I love James Bond movies so much that we already have a babysitter lined up for the 14th. So when I saw that Swatch has come out with 007 villain watches I damn near soiled myself. Some are definitely cooler than others and I'm a little bummed they only have villains. Though we'll continue to hope for ~~change~~ an official Q swatch watch, I think the Baron Samedi watch will suit our Q quite well for his very first watch. Q's Christmas list is getting longer everyday.

Googley Eyes

2008-11-05T23:49:00.003-06:00

I made two discoveries on the internets tonight:

1. I am a bum

2. My review of Big Plansis quoted on Bob Shea's website.

PM4K8

2008-11-03T22:43:00.003-06:00

Emiliana Torrini

Kraak & Smaak

Hero of The Week: Sybille Jagusch

2008-11-03T09:45:00.003-06:00

I'm finally back home with the boys in St. Paul. It was nice to get away for a few days. Not just for the uninterrupted sleep, but more for the joy I got from seeing Q giddily running to me with open arms at the airport. Even a sick little Ozzi gave me a big hug and smile when I picked him up. Time apart is always a great reminder of how great time together is.

This brief trip had a few other life lessons for me to learn. The greatest of these were taught by none other than the United States Library of Congress. We wandered into the LOC late in the afternoon. After spending several minutes straining our necks looking at the magnificent ceiling, we discovered a thick wall of glass preventing us from entering the main reading room. It seems so obvious now, I'm not quite sure why we thought this functioning research library would be open for all us visitors to just noisily wander in and out of. A little disappointed, we started to leave. At the last minute we ask the two gentlemen at an information desk just how one could get into the reading room.

"You need one of these cards.", they both say.
"Ok. What do you have to do to get one of those cards?"
Taking out a little LOC map, "You go to Reader Registration in the Madison Building and fill out a form."
We thank them and walk out into the sun blindingly reflecting off all the white marble.

- Lesson 1 : It never hurts to ask.

"We have time. Do you want to try and get the cards?"
"Yeah. Even if we don't use them to get into the reading room they would make a cool souvenir."
We head for the Madison Building. When we get there we are greeted by the friendliest administrators of bureaucracy on the planet. We fill out a couple of forms and within just a few minutes we have official Library of Congress Reader Identification Cards.

- Lesson 2 : Don't let a little bureaucracy stand in your way.

The final step in reader registration was letting an eagerly helpful government employee (that's not a joke. I'm totally serious.) help direct you to exactly where in the LOC you needed to go for your chosen topic of research. K8 picked out Children's Literature and once again this blog made itself useful, turning a blurted out fib of K8's into a totally legitimate reason for us to gain access to our nation's temple of knowledge. As soon as this lady heard K8 mention Children's Literature she went from a pleasant helpfulness to an exhilarated helpfulness. She explained to us that the woman running the Children's Literature Center, Sybille Jagusch, was the nicest woman we would ever meet. It was nearing the time that Sybille often left for the day so she called Sybille to confirm that she was still there, gave us directions to the department, and told us to hurry.

We hustled back over to the LOC. Entering through the back we followed the directions through small unmarked doors and up narrow spiraling staircases. Sybille was there waiting for us. "The nicest woman we would ever meet" falls seriously short of describing Sybille. She is the most perfect person for what she does. Wisdom of a sage and the excitement of a child.

She began with what I imagine is her normal spiel, explaining what she, the solitary proprietess of the Children's Literature Center, does. That, however, lasted less than a minute before she interrupted herself with,"Wait, wait, I've got to show you something! I'll be right back!" Springing up from her seat, running into another room and returning with a copy of a 19th century German paper play-globe. I have never in my life met anyone so excited and passionate about what they do for a living. We spent almost an hour with her that afternoon, though it certainly felt like less. She showed us some amazing acquisitions like the smallest children's book in the world. She told us some fantastic stories from her life with children's books. We talked about Minnesota, Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon, and our two boys back home. We told her about our favorite kid's books and she told us hers, Suho's White Horse: A Mongolian Legend. She was fascinating and appeared to be genuinely interested in us as well. Talking to Sybille was not only the highlight of our trip but a major insperation for the both of us.

Lesson 3 : Sometimes even the most flippant of ideas can lead you to a significant, meaningful experience.

Quote of the Day

2008-11-01T05:26:00.002-05:00

I'm "halfway" home from a quick little visit to Washington DC without the boys. Just K8 and I. I'll have another post or two about the trip later but had to quickly put up the funniest part of the trip. I was in the Natural History Museum near a life size model of the Iceman displayed with all his prehistoric tools and clothes. A group of 5 young kids walk up to the display.

kid: "This guy is a Hobo sapien. They call them Hobo sapiens because they don't live in houses."

I love kid logic.

Party Party Party

2008-10-27T10:18:00.003-05:00

We had a weekend full of parties. On Saturday we drove up to St. Cloud for a niece's 1st birthday then came back to St. Paul for a fantastic Halloween party with some friends. In between the parties K8 quickly redressed the boys to turn Q into a Rock Star and Ozzi into Chuck while I used this instructable to turn an everyday watermelon into a pale human brain. Mmmm, brains.

My geeky heart is all a flutter.

2008-10-24T12:14:00.004-05:00

THE. MOST. AWESOME. WOOD. BLOCKS. EVER! A Young Mad Scientist's First Alphabet Blocks are created by Xylocopa and was a stand out at Make Magazine's Austin Makers Faire.

I'm on the verge of dehydration from the amount of drooling I'm doing over these things. They are definitely going on my Christmas list this year (right under the G1 Phone). Don't think of this as a grown man wanting some baby toys, but instead, a patron of the arts wanting a masterpiece of geeky art in the form a child's plaything.

Look at what they've come up with for all the letters:
A - Appendages
B - Bioengineering
C - Caffeine
D - Dirigible
E - Experiment
F - Freeze ray
G - Goggles
H - Henchmen
I - Invention
J - Jargon
K - Potassium
L - Laser
M - Maniacal
N - Nanotechnology
O - Organs
P - Peasants (with Pitchforks)
Q - Quantum physics
R - Robot
S - Self-experimentation
T - Tentacles
U - Underground Lair
V - Virus
W - Wrench
X - X-Ray
Y - You, the Mad Scientist of Tomorrow
Z - Zombies

PM4K8

2008-10-24T08:19:00.002-05:00

Imagine for a moment Q, Ozzi, and I all spinning, bouncing, and dancing to this yesterday afternoon.

Then Q rocking out so hard to this that, I swear to god, he almost puked.

Now imagine what it looks like from other cars to see Q and I rocking out to this song in the car.

Hero(es) of The Week: Minnesota Dads At Home

2008-10-22T07:55:00.004-05:00

My level of involvement with MDAH has dwindled since I first joined up with them after Q was born. They are a fantastic group of guys that I wish our schedule would allow me to hang out more with. Looking at myself in the mirror, I wish I would have at least made time for the Friday morning run around Lake Calhoun.

Over the past few weeks this group of stay at home dads has really demonstrated what it means to lead by example and be an at home role model to their kids. One of the dads has been struck with some major medical issues and is, last I heard, in some level of coma. When the news of this tragedy broke to the group there was an immediate outpouring of prayers, offers, and planning to help the family in anyway they could. Today, the family's yard work is being done by an army of Stay at Home Dads. I think there are plans to finish some painting another day.

Finally

2008-10-21T07:32:00.003-05:00

I posted this video demonstrating the ABC3D book by Marion Bataille a while back when it was said to be available in some vague future. That future is now people. You can go to Amazon right now and get your copy of the coolest ABC book ever.

Modern Times

2008-10-20T14:37:00.003-05:00

One might argue that my not having a super-high-tech phone like the awesome new G1 (seriously Google, you and Tmobile have my address. How shameless do I have to get here?) would disqualify me from the title of "modern dad". Well, one might be right, but I'm trying. For example;

Q is getting quite familiar with computers and has his own XO Laptop,

the boys have their own ipod that even Ozzi is learning to operate,

and this weekend we went to a party hosted by someone we only knew via the internet. Our ~~internet~~ real life friend Pumpkin Girl put on a great party for the kids and the adults as well. She generously sent everyone home with her highly sought after handmade baby clothes available on etsy.

Q scored a rockin' guitar shirt.

Ozzi got his dirty little hands on one of the famous tiesies. All we need now is a pair of red baby Cons and Ozzi could be Chuck for Halloween.

Quote of the Day

2008-10-19T23:06:00.002-05:00

DK: "Q, what planet do we live on?"

Q: "Google Earth."

If that doesn't deserve a free G1 phone from Google, I don't know what does.

ppppa ch pa pa ch ika ika ika

2008-10-16T07:57:00.003-05:00

Here in the Twin Cities we have a seemingly endless supply of classes and activities for little kids. From art to ballroom dancing to music to Chinese, with just a little searching you can fill "_______ for kids" with most any subject that you want your child to get an early start on. Well, almost every subject. Despite Minneapolis/St. Paul being home to several music schools, I can not find a single Beatboxing for Kids class. What the hell yo? I thought the Minniapple was supposed to be all progressive and shit.

So MacPhail Center for Music, to help you get with the times I've compiled a short list of possible instructors for your new Beatboxing course:

Biz Markie, Nobody beats the Biz!

James Burchfield

Gregg Pattillo

or The Fat Boys might be looking for work these days.

The Nook is Dead. Long Live The Blue Door Pub.

2008-10-15T07:58:00.009-05:00

Ok, the Nook isn't dead, it's actually bursting with life and that's the problem. We're just blocks away and it is impossible to even get in the door. Well, a couple of ex-Groveland Tap guys have come to our rescue. They just opened up The Blue Door Pub and it is St. Paul Restaurant Heaven.

The Blue Door is a family friendly neighborhood pub with a real Cheers-like atmosphere. The staff is AWESOME friendly. A waitress turned one of the tv's to cartoons for Q as soon as we sat down. Even if there wasn't cartoons, Q would have still had the chalkboard wall to keep him occupied until the food came. In true "Small Paul" fashion we already know one of the waitresses from her days at Java Train. Like I said, family friendly.

The Food. Ohhh the food. Pub food perfection. They have successfully combined the Minnesota virtues of quality ingredients, inventiveness, and a little kitchiness (Spam bites and tater tots). They take the Twin Cities' favorite burger, the juicy lucy, to a new level using a veriety of cheeses and other ingredients to stuff the burgers. The deep fried green beans are a must-try that will go great with your Surly or Schlitz and if wine is more your speed, they have a nice selection as well.

Alas poor Nook, I knew the well.

Update: HOLY CHRIST ON A STICK! It looks like the word definitely got out. Friday it took over an hour to get a table for the 3.5 of us... and we showed up at 5:30. It didn't help that on a few occasions groups hanging at the bar that showed up after us saw a table clear off and jumped on it before the waitress could seat the people on the list. Maybe I should have grown a pair and did a little yelling but it really isn't in my nature.

PM4K8

2008-10-14T08:24:00.002-05:00

Adele

Bat for Lashes

Atmosphere

Shit.

2008-10-13T11:28:00.003-05:00

Ozzi just walked unaided for 5 feet. When Q hit milestones like this we celebrated. With Ozzi, we now see things like walking for what they are, advancements in trouble-making technology. These are just 15 more steps toward world domination.

Hero of The Week: Jay Walker

2008-10-13T08:45:00.005-05:00

As long as I can remember daydreaming has taken up a large portion of my time. These daydreams vary from crazy inventions (that wouldn't work) to ideas on helping the less fortunate (that I always forget) to fantasies of what I would do once one of those ideas made me a multi-billionaire (which will never happen). One of those fantasies that I have held onto since I was a kid is my dream home. Certainly the layout and features of the house in my head has changed over the years, but one critical aspect of the design has remained constant, the library. I have always dreamed of a home centered around a massive library that contained a motley collection of bizarre, remarkable, and historic books and artifacts.

This brings me to this weeks hero, Jay Walker. The man behind priceline.com has transplanted the library in my brain strait into his Connecticut home. His library, featured recently by Wired, houses one of the greastest collections in the world celebrating knowledge and inovation. I would sacrafice my finest goat to get an hour in that room. Of course, I'd have to leave the boys at home. Something tells me Jay wouldn't apreciate drool on his Engima machine.

From King James to James Bond, Chaucer to Sputnik, a personal library like no other.
Photo: Andrew Moore

Living The High Life

2008-10-11T14:55:00.002-05:00

One of the many joys of being a stay at home dad in St. Paul, going for a walk on a beautiful Fall Friday. If you're in St. Paul this weekend make sure you take a walk down Summit to enjoy the peek fall colors. There is a maple in front of the Governor's Mansion that has the most gorgeous combination of green, yellow, orange, red, and deep burgundy, all on one tree.

A Serious Question

2008-10-09T10:06:00.004-05:00

We've got potty-training pretty well licked at this point but could someone please tell me how you are supposed to teach a 3 year old how to effectively wipe his own ass? On a few occasions now he has taken it upon himself to do the paperwork on his own with a variety of less than desirable results.

PM4K8

2008-10-08T13:16:00.002-05:00

The Faint

Mates of State

We are Scientists

Internet Schooling

2008-10-06T10:13:00.003-05:00

The Alphabet

Geography

Math, Economics, and Contracts

Geometry

Hero of The Week: Dean Kamen

2008-10-05T21:39:00.003-05:00

After watching Iron Man over the weekend, Dean Kamen seams like a logical choice for this weeks hero. If there was someone flying around in a super high tech metal suit saving peoples lives, I'm pretty sure it would be Dean Kamen. I've been fascinated by Kamen ever since I saw him demoing the iBOT many years ago and then heard him say,"You have teenagers thinking they're going to make millions as NBA stars when that's not realistic for even 1 percent of them. Becoming a scientist or engineer is." Later I read an article (that I can't seem to find now) about his private island where his lab is deep underground, acessible only through an elevator in his house.

DIY Parenting or Raising MacGyver

2008-10-03T09:07:00.004-05:00

I've done the occasional dabbling in DIY projects like the playgarden and Q's robot costume but lately I've really started to re-catch the "hardware hacking" bug that I had as a kid. Spurred on by the short distance our dollars seem to be going these days and Q getting to an age where building stuff and basic science is almost as cool as Word Girl, I've found some fantastic resources and communities online.

The best DIY site I've found out there is Instructables.com. An open forum for everyone to post and use instructions on building most anything you can imagine.
Curbly and the Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories are two great DIY blogs that are either posting their own projects or pointing us all to the innovative ideas of others. Curbly is centered on design while EMSL registers a bit higher on the geek berometer.
ReadyMade and MAKE are DIY magazines that also have great websites. A subscription to either one of them will definitely be on my xmas list this year.

And then there is Bre Pettis. Bre is the Jesus of the modern DIY movement. Formerly with MAKE, Bre is now creating videos for Etsy, blogging, and doing 700 billion other things to bring all us hipsters into the hardware hacker fold.
Coolest of all, his pilot tv show, History Hackers, just aired on The History Channel. (If you're like us and don't have cable you can find a torrent file online if you look hard enough.) The show is AWESOME! It even held Q's attention and he's 3... and its not a cartoon. History Hackers manages to perfectly blend Mr. Wizard, Nova, and Mythbusters together with a DO try this at home theme. The show is very well produced but still maintains a genuiness. I think the reason HH captures the attention of both adults and children is Bre's honest excitement for what he is presenting. Bre's ability to translate something like Nikola Tesla's ideas to something palpable like turning your bike into an AC generator with a few basic household items makes HH one program that I will make a point to sit down and watch with Q (and ozzi provided the show gets picked up for multiple seasons).

Can I get an apple Red Bull with my apple cider, apple muffin, apple pie, apple donuts, apple...

2008-10-01T23:50:00.006-05:00

We met some friends at Pine Tree Apple Orchard today. Pine Tree is definitely kid friendly, but I think their core audience is more the 70+ crowd. At least, that was the most heavily represented demographic when we were there. The hay-free "hayride" was a fun little tour of the orchard with some nice views of the surrounding area from "the highest hill in the county" and there was plenty of room for the kids to run wild. The highlight for Q was the close proximity of the train that went by.

In the end, the visit felt a bit too much like a factory tour and not enough like a visit to a family farm. I'm not saying it was a waist of time. The kids still enjoyed themselves and that's pretty much the whole point. It just wasn't what I was expecting I guess. Maybe it was just the surrounding skyline of McMansions that put me off. Or maybe I'm just crabby from not getting any sleep the last few nights because Ozzi is fighting off a little ear infection. He was feeling much better today thankfully.

...and I still think my guy at the St. Paul Farmers Market has the best damn Honey Crisp Apples out there.

Hero of The Week: Paul Newman

2008-09-28T23:15:00.004-05:00

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

2008-09-26T08:09:00.002-05:00

Bitter:Sweet

Santogold

The Mountain Goats

To Do List

2008-09-25T13:59:00.006-05:00

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...

2008-09-23T22:51:00.003-05:00

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

2008-09-22T08:26:00.009-05:00

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

2008-09-21T22:55:00.007-05:00

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

2008-09-18T22:46:00.004-05:00

Finally, a DATENIGHT!!

The Prodigal Son Returns

2008-09-18T12:47:00.002-05:00

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.

SAHD's now have a theme song

2008-08-29T13:20:00.001-05:00

Children's Book Review: BIG PLANS by Bob Shea and Lane Smith

2008-08-29T09:32:00.003-05:00

You know you've got a good kids' book when you can't read it with a baby sleeping in the next room. This book demands to be read ALOUD. Just like the books Lane Smith did with John Scieszka, this book is hilarious, imaginative, and fun for both child and adult.

excerpt:

"PENNSYLVANIA! Build a rocket ship!"
"IDAHO! Make some space suits using the latest potato technology!"
"MISSOURI! Cheer up! You're bringing me down."
"The rest of you, mill about! MILL ABOUT, I say!"

And how can you resist a book that includes a trip to the moon in a rocket built by the Amish?

Big Plans on amazon.

Please sir, may I have some more

2008-08-28T07:02:00.004-05:00

I've mentioned FreeRice.com before but it just got even better. It has gone beyond the original vocab and added a whole new slew of subjects. Art, geography, math, chemistry, grammar, and second languages. Now I can train Q to be the dominant Geography Bee Champion he was born to be while helping provide rice to the hungry around the world.

The Office

2008-08-27T08:47:00.001-05:00

If this is what a "real job" was like, I would totally want one.

The Great Office War from Runawaybox on Vimeo.

An unfair advantage

2008-08-26T13:39:00.005-05:00

If the Minnesota State fair is a fair assessment of this fair state and nation, we're screwed! On the other hand, if the fair is an accurate sampling of the population at large, I am a much better looking individual, compared to the observed average, than my poor self-esteem allows me to believe. That same boost of confidence via the observed average fair-goer ends up being a bit of a trap for me. "I can totally have another deep fried candy bar. I have a long way to go before I look that bad."

Some other highlights of the fair:

Scoring an awesome Current t-shirt.

The best weather for the State Fair ever.

Crazy chickens.

Cooooooooookies!

Giant hunk of bacon on a stick. (to the right of the corndog)

The fine arts building. Awesome as always.

Our internet friend PumpkinGirl winning a crafty ribbon.

Watching Q go ape-shit watching the BMX and skateboard show. (ape-shitting not shown)

Some low points:

The couple that, at 9am, I could smell the booze on from 5 feet away in the livestock birthing building.

The 4H building slowly turning into the Nintendo Wii building. What the hell. 4H being dominated by video games is like the boy scouts being run by people that know nothing about outdoor survival.... oh wait.

We're screwed.