Category: Uncategorized

If you get the chance to take in the final installment of the Toy Story trilogy prepare to have your heartstrings pulled. In short, Pixar’s familiar gang of toys tries to reunite with their owner, Andy, before he goes off to college. Maybe it’s because we have kids, but I couldn’t help but think of our own two boys growing older and leaving their toys behind for college someday. I can still remember our oldest as a three year old standing for the whole 90 minutes in front of our coffee table to watch the original Toy Story. That was seven years ago. To think that he could be off to college in just another seven years hit me pretty hard today. It’s a good thing I was wearing 3D glasses.

Just when things seem to be going okay, life throws you a curveball… literally. At my son’s baseball practice on Sunday I agreed to don the mask and catch. Instead I managed to take a curveball off my right knee about twenty minutes into the scrimmage (that’s what the leggings are for, right?). After a good half hour of squatting my knee was pretty tender so I figured I’d ice it. Hopefully I’ll be back to normal in a few days. Never underestimate the healing powers of a frozen bag of Nestle Toll House Morsels.

Happy Father’s Day to all those dads out there! Hopefully you had the opportunity to honor him today in some way. I am very grateful to have the dad I have. He’s had a tremendous influence on my life and continues to be a positive role model for, not only me, but my sons as well. Thanks for all that you are, Dad!

Why is it that kids can’t admit when they’re tired and just go to sleep? The moment our kids’ attitudes and sensitivity increase we know the most probable cause is inadequate rest. What is unfortunate is having to convince them that they are tired when they are so irrational and irritable. It’s usually a painfully futile battle that ends in lengthy, over-dramatic meltdowns and subsequent punishments

If only parents had that special ability, like most stage hypnotists, to command their subjects to sleep with two fingers and a firm commanding voice. A bonus could be using the power of latent suggestion to get them to ‘fess up to any wrongs they’ve been guilty of whenever they hear the trigger word used in casual conversation. Parenting would not only be easier but slightly more entertaining.

Packing the vehicle before a camping trip is a bit of a science. Because we’re ‘tenters’ we don’t have the luxury of hitching our weekend behind our van, we have to squeeze it all in. It might seem simple but you always have to be conscious of what needs to come out first because, logically enough, it gets packed last. Trust me, there have been times where we’ve had to dig through sleeping bags and pillows for the tent.

Family camping is not exactly roughing it, so there is a fair amount of extra ‘stuff’ that makes the trek out with us. Like pioneers packing up the wagon, we prepare to venture out and stake our claim… for two days. I think the total time it takes us to pack and unpack for the weekend is almost greater than the amount of time camping… but you know what? It’s totally worth it.

Fan loyalties are a fickle thing. While catching a bit of the Twinkies game today we got to the heart of a minor fan issue. My eldest son, for whatever reason, wants nothing to do with any Minnesota team but instead claims every Chicago team. White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Cubs. It doesn’t matter, he’s with them all the way (I don’t think he even knows about the Blackhawks but I’m sure that would cement his sentiments). After his mother explained to him that his chances of going to Target Field to see the Twins play were much greater than hitting Chi-Town to watch his beloved Sox he slowly began to shift his alliance. After catching him cheering for Span tonight he quickly retorted, ‘Twins are my second favorite team.” Oh well, at least he’ll claim ’em now.

You’re likely never to witness your grass grow, but mowing it every week proves that it does. So it is with kids and growing pains. The yardstick may physically record their incremental spurts but the groans in the night are the indicators of such growth.

Last night our oldest awoke at least four times because he ‘ached’ so bad. I can vaguely remember those days and know how uncomfortable it can be. It’s bittersweet, but he just seems so young to be growing so quickly. The last time I measured him, he was stretching past five feet well on his way toward six. When that day comes it’ll be a new perspective for all of us. Somehow I doubt that when he matches my height he’ll begin to see things the way I do.

I wouldn’t trade our summer schedules for anything in the world, but I have to admit there are times where it gets kind of hectic. At least twice a summer our sons’ baseball schedules overlap making it impossible for both of us to be at each game. How do you choose without one of them feeling neglected? Flip a coin? Take turns?

It’s times like these where I’m extremely grateful to have only two kids. I truly feel for those with three or more. I don’t know how they do it.

My oldest son’s team, the Bismarck Marlins, took a bit of beating tonight. Unfortunately most of it was self-inflicted. He pitched two innings and did a pretty decent job. In his first inning he delivered three strikeouts in a row and then the next time he took the mound… something happened. He got inside his own head.

I know from experience that as soon as this happens he starts to ‘lose it’ and becomes more agitated. Instead of resetting and focusing he starts to think too much about what he’s doing instead of relying on what he’s been conditioned to do. If he can master the head games of baseball he’ll be one unstoppable player. I’m really proud of the job he does regardless of his performance because in the long run he’s learning how to overcome some pretty big mental hurdles in order to succeed with the physical ones.

It’s funny how archaic some services have become. I couldn’t help but notice one such service in the lobby opposite the elevators in our Denver motel: the shoe shine. Most of the time the elevated leather chairs served as a nice comfy locale for someone to chat on their cell phones but I did manage to witness an executive get his wingtips buffed out. I was immediately struck by how subservient this job is – just by matter of stance. The guy giving the shine can only be described as lowly. Even if the two were to trade spots, the giver is a servant to the receiver. It’s not like this is an unnecessary task, but it’s not often that you witness someone paying to publicly enslave another in this manner. Weird.