Lest We Forget...

It is strange for me, sometimes (not often)...realizing I too was once a kid. I was a pretty cool kid, tho, as far as my Mom was concerned...but boy oh boy, I sure liked to have fun. To escape my family abode and just be Free...

Yup, that was me:

The kid who could wear shorts better than than my BIG_JIM doll.


One who could spread my arms and fly higher than SUPERMAN
Race faster than EVEL_KNIEVEL

Jump higher than WILT_CHAMBERLAIN

Sling my NUNCHUCKSbetter than the likes of Bruce Lee

A kid who could pedal his bike faster than any SCHWINN commercial. (yeah, I even rode with the "look Mom, no hands" thing going on - broke my elbow once...that's another story).

My retorts were the best in the neighborhood...none of that I'm rubber your glue crap...uh uh. I came up with MUCH better comebacks...yeah? well, your a fartknocker! Dig it? Can't dig, not a dog! and...THAT IS SO BOSS, MAN! Or, the one I most cherish: "Why'd the monkey fall outta the tree?" CUZ HE WAS DEAD!

I was invincible.


Then I grew up.


WAIT!


STOP!


SCREECH! PUT ON THE BRAKES...did I actually say that?


I never grew up! Or rather, I have never admitted to growing up. I still believe in having as much fun as possible in life. I am still the silly jokester...always doing what I can for the better of humanity in the way of goofiness and smiles...I'm a doof and I wear that badge proudly... and my kid loves to mimic her Daddy being a goofball...


Alas, it seems, so many of us parents have forgotten what it was like...being a kid...a teenager...etc... We hear stories from neighbors and friends about how the kid took the car for a joyride (do they still call it that?)...and came home past curfew, only to be grounded. Um, OK, I realize that there were probably unsavory friends, alcohol or drugs involved...there may have been an accident...someone may have been hurt...but hey...NOT much different than when we were kids...or so I think.

Things are different today I suppose...or suppose not. The drugs and alcohol may be different than a generation ago...but still the same really. Just more choices now. Same ideas. Different years.

Bottom line, in my opinion, kids today are still looking for the rush...the high...the fun. Be it getting into trouble over a car, girlfriends/boyfriends , clothes, piercings, etc... Again, same ole stuff. Different years!

I want Bella to grow up, knowing she had a really fun childhood. I don't want her to miss out on anything she wants to experience. (NOT DRUGS) She is daring! Of course we will be there, all the way, to point her in the right direction, but know this. she will (and already is) making her own decisions in life.

I love to act silly with Bella. Act? OK OK, I AM silly with Bella. Hell, I am that way with everyone who comes into contact with me. I feel, Bella will appreciate later in life, that we were a fun family. That we did silly things together. We sing while driving...we scream at the top of our lungs to Lady GaGa...we dance around the isles in the grocery store...we "shake our groove things" while taking out the garbage...hell, in short, we have FUN!

Some people, (you know the type) will always come round and say we spoil our kid. That we will regret buying her the toys, the clothes, the SHOES (cant forget the shoes), the sunglasses, etc... That she will never understand limits and manners. When to be silent, or speak unless spoken too...(that one still escapes me today, as I Love to talk too - LOL!).

To them I say: BLAH BLAH BLAH. We don't judge other parents on how they raise their kids...nor do we expect to be judged. If it happens, keep it to yourself...we don't care...we are having a BLAST! I have said it many times before, but, I get to play with toys, run like a banshee throughout the house and giggle...sing at the tops of our lungs and have her bellowing...

"STOP DADDY, DON'T DO THAT DADDY"

...and OUR kid has amazing manners, is incredibly creative, intelligent, utilizes common sense, is very social, loves adults as she does children...although, she does tend to prefer hanging with the older folks...go figure......and has she SUPER COOL TOYS...not to mention, SUPER COOL Dads!

Eh, I gues i just never forgot that fearless feeling of being a kid!

...and a SUPER COOL Fatherhood Friday to all!. DAD-BLOGS

For cool columns, silly stories and great people!

Taking Flight

The other day, Bella and I were coming back from our daily morning ritual run: Starbucks. Upon driving into the driveway, we noticed, or rather Bella noticed, a Monarch Butterfly hanging upside down on a plant in front of our home.

We ventured over and I stuck out a finger. Amazingly, the little flier crawled right up ...no flying away!.... Needless to say, Bella was thrilled...she loves butterflies! As is evident in our home...Butterfly stickers adorn the windows, the coffee table...the counters...pretty much all over.

After a few moments, she mustered up the nerve to let it crawl on her little digit. The smiles following were infectious. Of course, when it decided to crawl a bit more than she was prepared for, it was like..."OK Daddy, OK, get it off now, I'm done"...(snicker).

DING! DUH! SMACK! Idea...GET THE CAMERA!

By the time the camera was in hand, Bella had decided she was no longer willing to hold the little creature. Funny thing though...the butterfly never fled. (Realizing later, and of course, it was right in front of me the entire time - it had just been "born"...it was hanging upside down to dry it's wings...the obliterated cocoon was right underneath...and I had missed it).

So, this is a pic of our brief, yet wondrous encounter. There are additional pics below, in the slide show.

Just Me...

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

...and a super Fatherhood Friday to all!. Don't forget to check out my buds, and bud-ettes over at DAD-BLOGS For cool columns, silly stories and great people!

GEEZ! 30 years! Seems like such a Long time...and yet...here I am. Father to a toddler, one who is gonna be 3 years old this month. Ya know, they say "Boy how time flies when you're having fun."

FUN?

Hell, fun was 30 years ago when I could go out all night and not worry about work the next day...going in with a hangover, looking like crud was the thing to do. We would all sit around and compare drunken stupor stories.

NOW?

Now, I have one half of a mixed drink, or one full beer and the only things I am comparing the next day are how crappy I slept. With a headache waking me every hour on the hour...and a tummy that kept twisting and turning. As for anyone to compare with? Say hello to my friendly mirror. Er, not so friendly anymore.

I remember thirty years ago, when I would head out to a late night breakfast, 3am, after dancing all night in a club (back then, yeah, it was a disco - deal!). Eating fries, burgers, hell, anything we could get our hands on that as cheap, fast, and alcohol absorbing. Denny's didn't love us so much back then. We were no doubt, the ones they would roll their eyes at when they saw coming.

CURRENT DAY?

I hafta eat three hours before I sleep, cuz of a diet/workout regimen I am on. Burgers and fries? Uh Uh. Turkey Burgers and Yam Fries...BLECH! Oh, and lest I forget, hafta take a swig of fiber stuff before eating....ya know, make sure it all goes well the next day.

LONG AGO:

I was an actor. A comedian. A Dancer. A Model....I appeared on stage and in movies, commercials and voice overs.

NOW:

Bella is my captive audience. I get to be as silly as I want, I get to play with toys, and bust a move all over the house...she laughs and joins in. Ah, and I should mention, I also got a crash course in how to paint a fidgety toddlers toenails..."Bella, c'mon, sit still...we are gonna have chocolate as soon as we're done"...yeah, it works ;-)

(Bella painting on here new table and chairs- and having a tea party)

SIGH!

At my expense, included are a few pics from my past (THANKS SANDY!) you may get a kick out of...Bella sure does. Every time she sees them, I hear: "Look, Daddy is being silly"...and/or: "Oh my goodness, Daddy has a Caterpillar on his face"...(my favorite).

So, for all the fun I had 30 years ago, I am sure making up for it now. Paying my dues? Dunno. But I do know this...(insert mushy sigh here)...I sure am loving being a Dad!

A NEW CHAPTER!

One I hope goes on longer than the 30 (45) years it has taken to get here ;-)

Enjoy the pics...NO SNIDE COMMENTS PLEASE! (oh, ok, go on...I deserve it :-)

( I hear you laughing Outnumbered, Mommy with a Penis and Weasel Momma)