baseball on sunday?

While sitting in Sacrament meeting this morning, the Bishop admonished the members (more specifically the auxiliaries) that with the new meeting time there will be no meetings of any kind after Church on Sunday for the entire year. Fair enough with a 11 AM start time. He went on to say the same old things like turn off your TVs, your computers, your cell phones, etc. and to cook with your wife but mainly to spend time with your family. Then came something I'd never thought I'd hear. Pointing me out by name, he strongly urged me to play catch with my son during that time. What? Absolutely. Who am I to disagree with my appointed leader? I let my son know what the Bishop said and he looked at me with the same excitement as if he had just caught Santa coming down the chimney. So here I am, the rest of the day, looking forward to tossing the baseball around with him. I get home, get changed and say to my son, "Let's go play catch!"

What does he say ... "Nope, I don't want to."

WHAT?!? I was crushed. "But the Bishop said we had to," I said.

"I really don't know, Dad"

"Come on."

"OK, Dad."

With the wind blowing and the sun shining, we went out and played for a while. It brought me such joy. And knowing he will soon be playing competitively, I will be certain that this becomes a tradition with all of my children.

This was a great gift from the Bishop. Thank you.

bo diddley

I was going through all of the noteworthy people who died in 2008 when my son came in and sat on my lap. We came across a picture of Bo Diddley. I pointed out an observation that his guitar in the picture was rectangle.

He replied yes.

He further explained to me that Mr. Diddley made the guitar himself.

He also added that not only did he make it himself but out of the ever resourceful and acoustically guitar worthy ... cereal box.

After we finished going through all the photos, my son said all of the people who died are grey (black and white). He told me that he knows when we die we are still color but maybe that's when our pictures turn grey.

you lost what... where?

For weeks my son has been so excited because he was about to lose two of his front teeth. His first loose teeth and before Christmas. Just like the song. Well, maybe. He decided that he wanted to just let them fall out by themselves. Try as his mother and I might, he would cower and run away at the hint of us pulling them out. Pliers, string, anything ... Run away. Well he didn't lose them for Christmas. But he did lose one. However, he doesn't know where.

"It was here this morning," he said.

"Where?" I reply.

"In my mouth."

I saw it too and he never moved from the couch except to tell us it was gone. So there I am, on hands and knees examining each carpet fiber in the hope it fell out somewhere downstairs. Living room, family room, dining room, pantry, kitchen ... no where to be found.

We told him he was gonna swallow it. He kept saying, "no way it's as big as a Lego, I'd feel it." Truth be told his tooth was probably about half the size of a tic tac. This will definitely be something to remember. I have learned a valuable lesson ... next time I'll pull them out while he sleeps.

blaque magik tire cleaner

This morning while ironing my clothes and watching ESPN Sports Center a commercial about tire cleaner came on. Black Magic Titanium Tire Cleaner. A Barry White-like voice began to describe the product while a kaleidoscope background of tires and cars rotated around enough to feel like Timothy Leary was the director. Anyway, then scantily clad ladies start popping up dancing. I understand the fascination with cars and women but seriously, this has got to be the most ridiculous commercial I have seen in a while since Hootie pimped burgers for Burger King.

My son happened to be present for this unexpected surprise on the idiot box when I said that this was the most ridiculous commercial.

He replied, "Yep. But those girls really LOVE tires."

See the Blaque Magik commercial here and click on the "See the latest TV spot" link on the right side of the page.

when can i get a cell phone

As much as I embrace technology, I loathe it at the same time. Over the holidays my son asked, "When I get a cell phone?" I laughed out loud. You know, one of those deep guttural laughs that is almost uncontrollably sarcastic. Come on ... what's a 5 year old gonna do with a phone? "To call my friends," he just stated as a matter of fact.
Well, there you have it.

memory

You up for a game of Dora memory. My son, 5, will rule you!

but i'm scared

Though terrified about falling, my son, 5, rode his bike for the first time on Saturday without training wheels. Man...who knew how tiring that was going to be running up and down the street along side of him for 10 minutes.

in motion