I do some of my best thinking in the shower. Those of you with children will likely appreciate that sentiment more than others. It is one of those places that offers a momentary refuge in which I can be alone and unencumbered by distractions.
Anyway, this morning I was thinking about how big my kids are getting and how exciting and overwhelming it was to become a father the first time. As the water cascaded over me I remembered a moment that I had forgotten about.
I had gone downstairs for a cup of coffee or something and was just heading back to the maternity ward when I passed a woman and a few others crying. They looked vaguely familiar and I remember thinking that I thought that I knew them from the Lamaze class.
As I walked past I heard whispers of conversation and I got the feeling that something had happened. She had been pregnant with twins and for some reason I took those whispers to mean that something had happened to one of her babies.
Now I never did get confirmation of that, it is not really something that you ask. But for a moment it really took my breath away because for the first time in my life I truly understood the joy that a child can bring and the fear that can come with being a parent.
So even though these wacky children sometimes make me want to scream, I never forget how lucky we really are. They are good kids.
D-Day
Today is D-Day. On June 6, 1944 the Invasion of Normandy began.
It is a time to remember and give thanks to the people who fought for us. There is no doubt that without their sacrifice and contribution the world would be a different place than it is today.
If you are familiar with Saving Private Ryan then you have seen Spielberg's dramatization of the moment.
Here are a few links and some videos that you can use to learn more about it.
Encyclopædia Britannica
US Army
It is a time to remember and give thanks to the people who fought for us. There is no doubt that without their sacrifice and contribution the world would be a different place than it is today.
If you are familiar with Saving Private Ryan then you have seen Spielberg's dramatization of the moment.
Here are a few links and some videos that you can use to learn more about it.
Encyclopædia Britannica
US Army
Bad Meals Aggravate Me
If I was still writing a weekly column you can be assured that food would be a relatively consistent topic. I love to eat, wouldn't cliaim to be an expert. You aren't going to label me as a gourmand or foodie but I have a decent palate.
In the old good old days when cash wasn't flowing straight into the coffers of private schools there was enough left over to enjoy nice meal at a restaurant that wasn't represented by creepy kings or clowns.
The chance to go out and have a good steak or enjoy great sushi once a month or even every couple of months was something that I really enjoyed. Ah, fond memories of my youth and days of fewer responsibilities. Someone hand me a skull so that I can do my bit from Hamlet, "alas poor Yorick, I knew him well."
And now back to food. For the three people who read this and know me in real life, a bad meal really irks me. It is not like everything has to be perfect. It would be great if every meal was exceptional, but that is just not reality. I get that, I understand it and I don't mind.
But a truly bad meal is something that just sets me off. On the grand scale of things, the great injustices of life this is truly trivial. But sometimes when you are really hungry the last thing you want is a meal that is bad.
So let me lay out what I consider a bad meal to be. There is the obvious choice of consuming food that makes you ill. That is a bad meal. However, it doesn't always start out that way. If you think about it I am sure that you can remember having eaten something that tasted good, but made you sick.
The truly bad meal is the one that you eat when you are starving but find to be bland, burned, dry, overcooked, undercooked or whatever other adjective you want to add. Think of eating a bar of soap or brussel sprouts and you'll get what I am talking about.
That is a bad meal. It leaves you feeling let down and discouraged. And now that I have vented about that you'll excuse me as I have to go get something to eat.
In the old good old days when cash wasn't flowing straight into the coffers of private schools there was enough left over to enjoy nice meal at a restaurant that wasn't represented by creepy kings or clowns.
The chance to go out and have a good steak or enjoy great sushi once a month or even every couple of months was something that I really enjoyed. Ah, fond memories of my youth and days of fewer responsibilities. Someone hand me a skull so that I can do my bit from Hamlet, "alas poor Yorick, I knew him well."
And now back to food. For the three people who read this and know me in real life, a bad meal really irks me. It is not like everything has to be perfect. It would be great if every meal was exceptional, but that is just not reality. I get that, I understand it and I don't mind.
But a truly bad meal is something that just sets me off. On the grand scale of things, the great injustices of life this is truly trivial. But sometimes when you are really hungry the last thing you want is a meal that is bad.
So let me lay out what I consider a bad meal to be. There is the obvious choice of consuming food that makes you ill. That is a bad meal. However, it doesn't always start out that way. If you think about it I am sure that you can remember having eaten something that tasted good, but made you sick.
The truly bad meal is the one that you eat when you are starving but find to be bland, burned, dry, overcooked, undercooked or whatever other adjective you want to add. Think of eating a bar of soap or brussel sprouts and you'll get what I am talking about.
That is a bad meal. It leaves you feeling let down and discouraged. And now that I have vented about that you'll excuse me as I have to go get something to eat.
How Many Blogs Do you Read?
I don't know about you but with the proliferation of all of the time saving devices I seem to have less time than I did before. In addition "real life" obligations have taken away a chunk of time that I used to have as well.
I just don't have time to read the way that I used to, or should I say that I don't seem to have time to read and comment as often as I'd like to.
Anyway, I am curious. How many blogs do you read and do you think that Twitter has had an impact upon that?
I just don't have time to read the way that I used to, or should I say that I don't seem to have time to read and comment as often as I'd like to.
Anyway, I am curious. How many blogs do you read and do you think that Twitter has had an impact upon that?
Danger in Kids Playground?
Well this isn't the sort of thing that you want to read about, especially since my kids school has this stuff.
SAN FRANCISCO - The federal government is reconsidering whether sports fields and playgrounds made from ground-up tires could harm children's health after some Environmental Protection Agency scientists raised concerns, documents show.
The EPA is concluding a limited study of air and surface samples at four fake-surface fields and playgrounds that use recycled tires — the same material used under the Obama family's new play set at the White House.
Although the EPA for years has endorsed recycled-rubber surfaces as a means of decreasing playground injuries, its own scientists now have pointed to research suggesting potential hazards from repeated exposure to bits of shredded tire that can contain carcinogens and other chemicals, according to internal EPA documents.
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