One Dad's Life

From Now On, This Blog Will Be More Manly!

One of the interesting and unexpected side-effects of writing this blog on a regular basis is that I have started getting all kinds of interesting and exciting emails wanting me to promote this or that, give away this or that, appear on a TV show, etc. etc. etc.

To date, I have not accepted any of these very kind, and often somewhat amusing, offers.  I'm not exactly sure why that is.  Perhaps it's because I'm afraid that I would someday offer some amazing giveaway, like an all-expenses paid trip to Cancun, and THAT would be the day that no one responds.  Because, that happens...usually when I write what I think is really a pretty funny post.

Like last Friday, for example. (I am now accepting pity comments on last Friday's post, FWIW. I'll wait here.)  (update: It would appear that I didn't actually HAVE a Friday post.  However, the link points to the Thursday post, which is the one I was actually talking about!)

The other reason I have not yet accepted any of these offers is that I'm afraid that accepting product or other consideration for writing a sponsored post would sully the purity of my stories. Stories about dogs driving cars, pushing my desk into an elevator, and spreading toothpaste on my bagel to save time in the morning!

That is not to say that I wouldn't accept the right offer if it came along. Are you listening Nintendo, Dr. Pepper, Nikon, Gibson Guitars, Taylor Guitars, Fender, Mesa-Boogie, and Kurzweil Professional Keyboards?

Hello?  I can be bought!

The one thing I have done on a number of occasions is agree to magazine and online publication interviews. Why? Well, because basically, "to know me is to love me" as they say and I just don't think there is enough love in the world. Therefore, it makes sense that the more of ME in the world and the more people that "know" me, the more LOVE there will be in the world!  I'm a humanitarian like that. I'm here to help! Oh, you are so welcome!

The very coolest offer I received, and very nearly accepted (but couldn't due to schedule) was blogging about the St. Louis Home and Garden Show. This would have been very cool as they would have given me tickets to give away and other fun things, but then if you read paragraph number two (above) - you'll see that it might not have worked out...which would have been embarrassing.  Anyway, hopefully they contact me again next year! (Nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

So now that I've taken this long to brag explain how I get all these offers, I'll get to the primary story I wanted to tell.  A few days ago, I received yet another pretty standard email inquiring about my interest in promoting a certain online store.  It all seemed pretty normal (and unfortunately NOT one of the eight products mentioned above) until I got to the following line.  I will paraphrase, so as to save face for the obviously well-meaning individual that wrote to me.

"More than ever, we feel like the voice of the Mom Blogger fits our mission!"

Um, what?  "Mom Blogger?"  Apparently, I have NOT been clear about my gender and the point of view of this website! I just assumed that the site name of "One Dad's Life" as well as a contact email address that starts with "dadincharge" would drop a couple of subtle hints.  I guess I was too cleverly subtle. That happens sometimes. Theoretically, that's probably what happens when no one responds to posts like last Friday. I should start a "cleverly subtle" consulting firm so others could make use of this ability. I should rent out my excess brain power!  Or maybe I should just use it for something productive like learning how to feed myself without getting the food on my shirt...without bibs.  It's so good to have goals.

One time, I actually did write a guest post on a "Mom Blog" for "A Bun's Life", but that is the closest I've ever been to a Mom Blogger.  Well, I now know a TON of "Mom Bloggers" because St. Louis is the biggest small town you've ever seen and so of COURSE we've all met each other. So we've BEEN close. Me and the other "Mom Bloggers." I mean me and THE "Mom Bloggers."  Not the other "Mom Bloggers."  I'm not a Mom Blogger.  Although, with the number of times I just typed "Mom Blogger", Google is just going to send everyone directly to this blog that is looking for a "Mom Blogger."  I'd better put the tea on!

I think I can see a few additional areas where I went wrong.  I have frequently posted pictures of beautiful flowers.  Not manly.  I talk about my crazy children.  Not manly.  I take pictures of meals I've cooked. Not manly.  I've posted pictures of gigantic underwear!  Well, probably a touch more manly.  However, I'm still at 75% NOT manly according to this tally.

Clearly, this must be fixed.

So today, I think I'll head on out back and split some firewood with some of my lumberjack tools, maybe replace the engine in my car - for FUN, duct tape something together and maybe catch some stuff on fire. MANLY things.

Then I'll blog about it. See?  I'm NOT a "Mom Blogger."

Oh, and if some of eight companies listed above ever want to get together, I'll just wait here for my Mario Bros. themed Gibson Les Paul, which I will take lots of pictures of with my new Nikon D300 (hint, hint), while trying to make a dent in my year's supply of Diet Dr. Pepper!

Ah, life is good!

Audrey Caroline

There is not a new "One Dad's Life" post today, because I spent nearly all of last night reading this post, and then nearly the entire incredible story from the beginning about this family's baby, Audrey Caroline. Audrey had many medical problems and only lived for 2 hours and 14 minutes after her birth.

The story is filled with faith, joy, and an affirmation of life along with the sadness.

This post and video, as well as the remaining posts about her life, are worth your time! Go there now.

It will change your day.

Last Week's Surprise

Doing this whole "blogging thing" has resulted in a number of surprising events and opportunities for me. Among them is how I ended up meeting most of the bloggers I read on a regular basis and how readily you become friends. Of course, you already know so much about them when you meet! 

I've been approached by a reality TV show, if you can believe that (I said "no", for the record).

"One Dad's Life" was even featured in "The Riverfront Times", which is a local paper focused on entertainment and events in St. Louis.

There have also been numerous requests for product reviews on "One Dad's Life", which so far I've turned down as well...though haven't closed the door to doing that in the future.  I'm a natural skeptic, so doing a product review might have some interesting results for the manufacturers!

Then I received an email, which said in part:

"My name is Kristen Hare and I'm a freelance writer with the St. Louis Beacon. I'm working on a story about mom blogs and after finding your blog, thought dads should have their say, too."

Hmm, interesting.  The St. Louis Beacon is another local newspaper that is competing with the Post-Dispatch, and published only online.  Kristen and I exchanged a few emails and setup an interview time.  As it turns out, the interview was pleasant and I enjoyed it! 

Yesterday, the article was published.  You can find it here.  Don't be confused by the "Mom Blogger" title - I'm really in the article, and I really am a Dad!  The St. Louis Blogger's Guild is also mentioned in the article, and a couple of the people interviewed are members as well.  (For those of you who may not know, I am an active member of the St. Louis Blogger's Guild and also write a monthly post on "Parent Blogging" for the Guild.)

As for me, I wonder how much time from my allotted 15 minutes of fame this is taking up?

Shameless Circular Self-Promotion

If you look at much else on this website other than just the posts, you've probably noticed the little graphic on the right side that looks like this: This little badge indicates that I'm a member of the St. Louis Bloggers Guild.

As you might imagine, the St. Louis Bloggers Guild has a website that you can link to here.  The very important thing you need to take away from this reading session is that I, Gregg, proprietor of "One Dad's Life", have been interviewed and that interview is now available on the St. Louis Bloggers Guild website for a limited time! (click here for article!)

Well, actually it probably will be there forever, or at least until the first major server crash, but it will certainly be easier to find right now as the interview is prominently displayed at the top of the page!  I know, it's exciting!  Also, there is a "One Dad's Life" family portrait, which is rare enough, but even better, I think the picture manages to sum up "One Dad's Life" in a single photo.  Click on the picture for a better look.

I've been posting links to the interview all weekend long on Twitter, so just in case you missed all that narcissism, go ahead and click right here to read the article.  Also, and this is important, leave lots of nice comments under the interview so the bloggers guild continues to tolerate having me around...hanging out at the meetings and taking up space!  Interestingly, the point of the interview is to promote my website to those who don't know about "One Dad's Life", and also to learn why I joined the bloggers guild in the first place.  It's kind of funny, if you think about it. Here I am promoting the article that promotes this website to try and get you to come back here where I promote the website that has the article that promotes this website - which is where you started from.  It can make you dizzy!

BTW, if you are a local blogger, there has never been a better time to join the bloggers guild. We have a monthly meeting in the Historic Benton Park area, and have just completed our first major project: The Interplay/ Play:STL festival (look at the link on the right for more info on what you missed!).  This month, we will discuss the good and the bad about the first annual Interplay event, and begin making plans for the next year of blogging excitement! Go to the website for more information!

Thanks also to "motherofbun" from Midwestern Mommy who was nice enough to ask me if I'd be interested in being interviewed.  She did a very nice job, as you'll see. Click to read the article!

My First Blog Annibirthsary!

It's amazing to me that TODAY is the first "Annibirthsary" of "One Dad's Life."   For the time being, I'm calling it an "Annibirthsary", because I don't know whether to call this a Birthday, or an Anniversary. 

What's the protocol on this?

The real question is, how do you celebrate such a thing? Do you celebrate such a thing?

Originally, I planned a week-long event, where I'd do some "greatest hits" reliving moments from the past year.  Then, my wife went and won an award that I promised I wouldn't talk about anymore... but if you are curious and are one of the few people I couldn't locate to brag to this week, check out the Monday and Thursday posts. In any case, she ruined my week-long post plans!

Then, for a while, it looked like there was going to be a mini-blogger get-together here in St. Louis today.  I figured I'd bring a cake, or cup-cakes or something to celebrate.  However, the mini-get together (not of mini-bloggers, mind you...just a small get-together) didn't materialize, so I'm stuck looking for ideas, again.

So, right now, I'm sitting in my basement office, reminiscing about the past year of blogging. 

Originally, I started the blog thinking I could generate some interest in my photography.  I never did too much with the millions of pictures I took, and an online site seemed to be an answer for the "what to do with these pictures" question.  Strangely, it hasn't been until very recently that I just started posting pictures for the sake of the picture itself...as opposed to using a photo to illustrate a post.

In fact, almost immediately, I became hooked on the writing.  Then I got hooked on "funny" writing.  Except, as it turns out, I could never predict what people would find funny. 

My favorite comment ever about my blog was from my mom.  She told me this in person, and didn't leave it as a comment.  So, of course, I posted it!  She told me the following:

"I read your blog.  It was funny.  I actually laughed out loud.  You should be like this in real life!" - My Mom.  October 3rd, 2007.

If click the "Quote of the Day" tag on the left column, you can even find the quote yourself!  The funny thing is, I thought I was capturing my real life!  I pull much of the material from my kids.  I guess this makes me a "Daddy Blogger."  Early in the life of "One Dad's Life", my kids would say something goofy  interesting, or they would notice the look on my face and they'd say, "You aren't going to put this on your blog, are you?  DAD!!!!"  Of course, once their friends started reading it and laughing, they started BEGGING me to put things they did on the blog.  I think I'm making them famous at school, or something close to it.

Initially, I'd feel good if I'd get 15 people coming by and if I'd get one comment every few posts or so.  My normal day was maybe ten people.  Now, my traffic has grown A LOT, and sometimes I get comments within minutes of posting.  I find this amazing.

My first comment that was from someone I didn't know in "real" life, was from Reddyzoo.  It was SUCH a thrill!  I couldn't believe someone would be interested!  After a while, I started getting some "regulars."  The "regulars" have shifted somewhat over the year, but they are all special to me.  While it's naturally still a thrill to get a comment from someone new, it is the "regulars" I look forward to hearing from.  Your blog really starts becoming a little community!

One of these regulars is "abunslife."  She completely took me by surprise one week when she asked me to guest blog on her site while she was on vacation.  I never expected to blog on a "Mommy Blog" site!  I had my daughter "girlify" the post so I'd fit in better, and I spent a lot of time to make sure it was "just right."  It was a blast!

I was also excited when my blog somehow got listed in "The Riverfront Times" as "local blog of the week", and also when it was named in the "Alltop" blog directory.  It's out of control! If you write it, they will come, I suppose.

Speaking of community, this whole blogging thing actually got me to do something I would normally not do in a MILLION years.  I went out, on my own, and met a bunch of total strangers.  That's right, I joined the "St. Louis Bloggers Guild" and actually met some of the people that came by and visited the blog.  The weird thing is that after reading their blogs, you feel like you already know them.  The first time you meet, it's almost like you had just seen them the day before and you pick up right where you left off.  In all honesty, writing this blog and interacting with the St. Louis Bloggers has been a life-changing thing for me, and something I clearly needed to do!  Since I rarely post pictures of myself, when we went around the table and introduced ourselves I mentioned my name, which was met with some polite nods...but when I mentioned that I write "One Dad's Life", I could see many of the faces light up with recognition of the blog.  That was the single most ego-boosting moment of my year, and also the first moment I actually considered myself a writer.  I haven't missed a meeting since.

For the last 6 months or more, I've posted every single weekday, never missing a day.  That takes a lot of work, but it is also very satisfying and I look forward to writing MOST days. Some days, writers block just about kills me! It's staggering to me to think that this is my 215th post!  That's a lot of writing, people!

A person I must thank in this post is Dana over at Mamalogues.  I found her blog through her column in the Post-Dispatch online edition.  The funny thing is, I clicked on her link simply because she looked like someone I knew.  Of course, she didn't turn out to be that person but I became hooked on her writing.  It's kind of funny that I would click on a blog-link called "Mamalogues" - you know, not being a MOM and all - but it turned out to be a good choice!  She made me realize that writing about the silly and even frustrating things in your life could be a lot of fun, and that people would be interested because everyone goes through the same exact stuff.

Happily, when I met her in real life, it turns out she's just like her blog.  What you see is what you get!  The final straw that made me seriously consider starting this blog (when I clearly didn't have time to do so) was that I started commenting on her blog...and the comments got longer...and longer...and longer.  Eventually, I was starting to feel bad that I was hogging HER space, so I finally started my own blog.  The fact that my friends Mel and Deb also had blogs convinced me it would be a fun thing to try...and at least I'd have support! So on September 12th, 2007, I went down the rabbit-hole of blogging and haven't looked back.  Well, except for today. Today, I'm looking back but in the retrospective sort of way and not the regret way!

Finally, I have to thank my wacky family for providing material for "One Dad's Life" including my tremendous wife Dianne, and daughters Rebecca and Rachel.  Blogging, in the way that I've taken it on, consumes tremendous amounts of time.  They've been very supporting and understanding.  They also put up with my tedious narratives of what people said in comments and sometimes even the recitation of entire Twitter conversations!  If their eyes are glazing over out of boredom, I'm either too obtuse to notice, or they hide it well!

That's the somewhat long story of "One Dad's Life" - year one. I'm sure I left out some important memory or person, and I'll come back to them in the next week if I think of someone.  If you are curious as to how it all started, click here for a link to my very first post.

It's a good thing that my wife is the one that won the award this week, I'd never be able to make a succinct acceptance speech!

Thanks to all of my readers for making this so much fun!

How I Made it into the Riverfront Times

On Wednesday, July 16th, 2008, I, or more accurately "One Dad's Life", made it into The Riverfront Times (online edition) as "Unreal's Local Blog o' the Week."  Click here for proof. (scroll towards the bottom of the page)

Executive Summary on how I got there: I have no idea!

Here's my assumption on how this works:  Someone sent in my website, One Dad's Life, for possible inclusion in "Local Blog o' the Week."  (Whoever you are, thank you, thank you, thank you!)  The Riverfront Times then decided that since there was nothing else fit to print, or perhaps no other blog submissions, they would add a link to my blog and an excerpt from my June 30th post about taking my daughter Rebecca to the Rush concert.  

Now, you would think that for an honor such as this that some retired B-list celebrity would have delivered the announcement about my inclusion to me personally, but I didn't directly find out from the Riverfront Times.  No.  I found out because I was looking for people stealing my posts and putting them on their websites as their own. I found the Riverfront Times inclusion instead.  BTW, this post stealing happens a LOT I've discovered.  The Internet is a thieving, mean place! 

I had no idea how to handle this!  I mean, an actual large number of people read The Riverfront Times.  The first thing I did was turn to the incredible St. Louis Blogging community, where I asked the following question:

"Hey "One Dad's Life" got Unreal's "Local blog o' the Week" on the RFT site. Does this mean I'm famous?"

I received a good number of congratulatory statements, and a bit of expressed jealousy (tongue-in-cheek I'm thinking), but no real help on how to handle my potential new found fame.  Do I need a manager now? A personal secretary to screen my email? Should I start wearing dark sunglasses and non-descript baggy workout clothes in public?  Will my wife now become arm-candy, forced to wear glamorous designer dresses while appearing outwardly aloof and uninterested?  Will my number of twitter followers become frighteningly large?  Will I need to investigate tax-shelters in some off-shore bank?  I don't even have shoes that match my outfit!  (Oops, sorry, that last one seems to be a carry-over from writing for a "Mommy Blog" on Monday.)

This is so complicated.

So far, checking my blog records and statistics it looks like the total number of visitors that came to me via the Riverfront Times website is, um, well, ... zero. 

Well, I'm sure it's just a matter of time! 

Just think, you'll be able to say that you knew me "before I hit it big."  You lucky dog, you!

update: As Christy and Kathy mentioned, this is also in the print version.  I also got some emails from friends mentioning this...some who probably didn't even know about the blog!  I am going to have to get me one of this week's editions.

A Day in the Life - "One Dad's Life" Style

The other day, Dana over at Mamalogues had the brilliant idea to document her day - just the normal things you do each day - in a series of photos.  She invited the blogging community to join in and create a group on Flickr just for these photos.  The group name is "A Day in the Life."

Well, this was just the kick in the posterior that I needed to start working on my flickr.com website, so I uploaded a few pictures that I thought would fit her theme, and I was off!  Unfortunately, in retrospect, I think I kind of missed the point of her theme on Tuesday.   I picked up on the idea of "documenting moments you'd like to stretch out a little longer" and had selected a couple of photos that fit that idea.  However, when I gave it more thought, I realized that she probably intended the series of photos to represent one single day of your life.

So, for Wednesday I decided to start over and do just that.  Before I went to bed on Tuesday (technically that happened on Wednesday, too, but who's to quibble?) I set out our little Canon point and shoot camera to get ready for a day of photography...photography of the "ordinary."   The shot that is included in this post was the first shot of the day and my series.  When I woke up, I grabbed the camera and took this picture from the vantage point of where I first opened my eyes and what I saw.

I really like this picture!  The funny thing is that it is not technically a great picture, the focus is on the background rather than the intended foreground, but still it appeals to me.  Perhaps it is all about the rubber ducky.

It turned out to be a lot of fun working on this photo "assignment."  I plan to do it again, sometime.

To see my series of seventeen photos for Wednesday, June 18th, 2008, click here.

To see the series submitted by other members of this group, click here.

To get to my photo website on flickr, click here.

If you actually know me, or you write a blog I read, or you have commented on my blog, or you are one of my twitter contacts, send me a note with your flickr information and I will include you as a "friend",  which will allow you to see even more photographs as I begin organizing and uploading photos.   I have over 11,000 digital photos to work my way through, so a lot of material is coming your way!

Enjoy!

St. Louis Blogger featured in Post-Dispatch article

Bill Streeter, one of the St. Louis area bloggers and member of the St. Louis Bloggers Guild has a nice article about him and his blog work in the Post-Dispatch. 

Click here for the article. 

Click here for his website.

Too Much Information

Last night I was struggling to develop any one of my half-baked ideas into a full blown web post for the blog today.  It never happened.  Probably chronic lack of sleep combined with my complete addiction to playing with the photos from the new camera.  Usually, I would just post the half-baked idea, but in this case, I finally gave up on the post and put up a notice that I was on "hiatus" while working on getting stuff together for Flickr.  Which was true.  However, I was also bummed that I broke a two month record of weekday posts.

I wish I had done some blog reading last night, because it turns out that one of my most regular readers had saved me, and I didn't even know it.  A Bun's Life tagged me with this meme and would have saved the day had I been looking.  I wonder how many times that has happened in our lives...someone is there to save us or give us an opportunity if we just pay enough attention to notice!

Now that abunslife has kept my streak intact, here we go with the "Too Much Information" meme:

What was I doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago, our oldest daughter was 2 and, without exageration, was incredible.  She listened immediately, if you told her not to do something it never happened again, and she had COMPLETELY developed language and other cognitive skills.  I'm not kidding here, she would correct grammar at 18 months (and we have video to prove it) and was NEVER a problem other than the occassional tantrum.  My wife and I were chuck full of "We are the greatest parents ever!" bravado which lasted until my second daughter was born. Let's just say that perhaps my eldest daughter's accomplishments and demeanor had more to do with her than us.   Then she became a teen at age 7 and we were learning that our parenting skills and methods did not guarantee the same results with daughter #2!

We also had a single car, I worked very close to home, and we felt we were busy.  Looking back, it was a vacation!  I was working at the same place as now (their location just moved 20 miles further away!) and strangely enough I was working for someone who now works for me.  I have yet to decide which situation was better! 

Five Snacks I enjoy:

1. The classic Ruffles chips with sour cream and onion dip made with Lipton's soup mix.
2. Pretzels.
3. Nearly any flavor of ice cream.
4. Any salsa and chips, favorite store bought salsas: Pace Hot Picante & The Pineapple and Peach salsa at Target.  I've also been known to make some pretty killer salsas, including a mango and hot pepper salsa that rocked! 
5. Graham crackers with butter spread thickly on top.

Five things on my to-do list today: (I'm going to cheat a little and use tomorrow, I'm into Friday night relaxation now!)

1. Mow the lawn.  I cut it 7 days ago and I need to mow it even if I must outfit my mower with the Toro Snorkel accessory, and wear my bathing suit, flippers, and goggles.  Imagine a slightly pudgy (still in my "ideal" weight range, though!), pasty pale, balding 42 year old guy mowing his lawn like this.  I'll give you a minute.  It's OK to laugh.  I did.
2. Finish planting our annuals. The photo is the pile of trays so far.
3. Re-hang a large southwestern style panting in our living room.  We had it hanging for perhaps 10 years on nails in the plaster, but one pulled out several months ago.  I bought some expansion anchors to hold it better, but haven't put them in, yet.
4. Tackle more of the 15 years of paperwork and other clutter filling my home office.  I'd post a picture, but the horror could kill you.  Actually, I accomplished a lot memorial day weekend when the family was out of town, and need to somehow keep that momentum going.
5. Walk at least 4.5 miles...either Grant Trail, Forst Park / Zoo, or Missouri Botanical Gardens are likely locations.  If one of the latter two, I'll be taking pictures.
6. (There are more, but the meme says "5" so I'm actually stopping.)

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

First of all, I'm going to treat this questions as if I suddenly came into a lot of money, rather than the steady-state condition of living as a billionaire.  I believe that humans weren't designed to live lives of total leisure, so to ensure future happiness and satisfaction I would have to keep busy and productive.  I've actually given this idea some thought in my "What I'd Do If I Had a Summer Vacation"  post last week.  I think I'd start with #3 on that list: "Build an entire miniature village out of toothpicks on the dining room table."   I loved doing that when I was a kid and just don't seem to have the time these days.

Since I would now have more than just the summer, I would also work at Disney World in the off-season one year.  Maybe I'd be one of those roving photographers, or maybe, dare I say it,  A PIRATE!  ARGGGGHHHH!!!!  OK, I'd basically have to do that whole list. Looking back on it, it's pretty good!  But also, I'd buy another house somewhere along the east coast between Disney World and Washington D.C.  These are two of my favorite non-St. Louis places in the U.S.  I would also have a more elaborate garden, practice music more, and become a philanthropist.  I'd also continue to keep up on "One Dad's Life", of course, but from the back of a Winnebago that was constantly touring the country.  I'd also get my picture taken with Ronald McDonald.

Five jobs I have had:

1. Grass cutting.
2. Worked in gift shops and such at the St. Louis Zoo.
3. Disc Jockey. Yeah, it's as cool as you'd think, plus as poor-paying.  Still, my favorite job I ever had. I was upset to leave it!
4. Built Sound Systems, Fire Alarms systems, and Video systems for the construction industry.
5. Embedded Software Developer

Five of my bad habits:

1. I don't get near enough sleep.  I do this to get time to explore my interests.
2. Diet Dr. Pepper.  I could drink it continuously.
3. Irrational attachment to "things" once I have them.  I can resist buying nearly anything, except a great CD, but once I have it - even if someone gives it to me and it is junk - I can't let go.
4. Lately, I've tended toward being very negative and don't take credit for things that I have accomplished, instead I focus on what I haven't.  The blog is good "therapy" for this!
5. I'm too fashion conscious. Really. WAY too,...oh, I can't pull this off.  No one who actually has ever seen me will believe it!  I'm wearing the same glasses I had in high school.  My style is early thrift store.  I probably have socks older than my '94 Saturn.  I need to buy some stuff that doesn't have holes and isn't faded!

Five places I have lived:

1. St. Louis near Reavis and I-55.
2. St. Louis near Suson Park.
3. Rolla, MO (college!)
4. St. Louis near Butler Hill and I-55.
5. St. Louis at present location (over 15 years) just south of the city.

Lots of variety, huh?

Five more random things:

1. Although this blog is called "One Dad's Life", it is read nearly exclusively by MOMs, at least as far as can be told from emails and comments.  Of course, in a strange way, this is entirely reasonable since I got into the whole blogging thing due to blogs such as Mamalogues, Psycho with 6, and Counting My Blessings.  Each of these blogs is written by mothers  and frequently involve mother things. 
2. We have lived in the house my grandparents built (or had built) for over 15 years.  We are the third occupants.  My grandparents were first, a teacher at my daughter's school was second, and now us!
3. If we ever move, it will be in closer to downtown, ideally Lafayette Square, but that area is certainly out of our price range (real or imagined) now.   In fact, just add this item to the whole billionaire thing above.  If we come into a large amount of unexpected cash, it will most likely end up in an historic home.
4. Many of the names in my cell phone are not really the names of the people or places they actually call.  For example, my house is "My Castle" and my wife is "Hot Momma."   I'm dying to use "Marsupial" or "Carnivorous Turkey" (a phrase my friend Scott uses) as names.
5. I can take pictures at an incredible rate.  I took nearly 200 during the Erin Bode concert the other night at Missouri Botanical Gardens.  I took over 800 during 5 days at Disney and was limited mainly by the slow speed of our old point and shoot.  Our new camera can go 3 frames a second until the card is full, as long as you don't need to use the flash.  I figured I'd use this blog mainly to post pictures, but kind of got more on a humor route instead.  You never know where opportunity will take you!

Well, in addition to being tagged with this meme, I was supposed to be cheering up abunslife.   I'm not sure if this mini-biography of a totally ordinary life can do that, but I hope it has helped!  Above all, remember, "Life is Good!"

As far as passing the meme along, I don't have many regular readers, so I'm going to add two, in the hopes that ONE will pick up on this.  First, I am going to tag LisaS, an advocate for city-living and a mom, and Ron, who is actually a DAD, funny, thought-provoking and reveals great Christian truths all at the same time!

Have a great weekend.

You Didn't Want to Get To Work, Anyway...

I know that most people do not look forward to getting back into their normal Monday - Friday routine.  If this is the case with you, and you are looking for an excuse to delay the inevitable, then CLICK HERE!

Now I know that I just lost 50% of my readers, but if you are still here, or if you came back - and if you came back, I love you! - then if you CLICK HERE, you will get to the root site for the original link.

The entire website is an interesting experiment in ways to interact with some of the normally amazing Getty Images.

For a testimonial as to the tasty goodness of this site, I offer to you the following from my friend Tim.  Tim is funny, he should write his own blog, or I should hire him to provide ideas for mine. Hmmm.

"That reminds me of the vision I saw when I was hanging a picture over my toilet and slipped on the wet porcelain and hit my head.

Wait, that was the Flux Capacitor, which makes time travel possible. This is new." - Tim E.

Hey!  I just noticed for the first time that Tim's initials spell "Timmy."  Cool.

Authors note:  This is shaping up to be a stellar Monday so far. Every time I tried to insert the quote above, my HTML editor was crashing due to "malformed HTML."  The best part of this was that the editor was the one FORMING the malformed HTML.  I had to directly fix the code.  So, if this post is not up to the usual standards of grammatical excellence, IT'S BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO REDO THE WHOLE THING A COUPLE OF TIMES.  Each iteration lost something in the translation. ARGGHHHHH (and not the pirate-kind).