Today is the Bomb (Pop)

Everyone prepare yourselves for purple lips and serious brain freeze; today is National Bomb Pop Day! Now personally, I don't know that there's a better symbol of childhood summers than the Bomb Pop (the Ninja Turtle ice cream bars with gumball eyes are a close second). And let's face it, it HAD to be from the Ice Cream Man; a Bomb Pop out of our own freezer just wasn't the same, and my Mom even suggesting the idea was just plain insulting. I can still recall those moments of being outside on a sweltering hot day, hearing that familiar bell, then full-on sprinting (which was still pretty slow given the fact that I was a 'husky' child) inside to have a rapid-fire argument conversation with the parents about getting change to buy ice cream. They caved most of the time, and moments later I would be outside, hurrying to enjoy a Bomb Pop before it melted and painted the driveway with blue, red and white droplets. And on that note, the classic three-color bomb pop is the only way to go; these new-fangled variations on the Bomb Pop that have different flavors and candy inside are just bollocks. (sorry, cranky old man moment)

My daughter has never had a Bomb Pop, but maybe today is the perfect day to introduce her to them. With a heat advisory today in Kansas City and the temperature potentially reaching 100 degrees, a Bomb Pop would be the perfect remedy to the scorching heat. And given the fact that my daughter devoured last weekend's frozen yogurt like some kind of starving predator (seriously, I was kind of worried I'd lose a finger), I have no doubt that she would fall in love with eating the Bomb Pop. Of course, with a Bomb Pop it's pretty inevitable that a disastrous mess will be produced, so it would have be one of those food items that I lovingly refer to as a 'diaper eater' (aka stripping down to nothing but a diaper to avoid permanently stained clothes).

So, if you happen to be at the grocery store today, pick up a box of Bomb Pops and share them with your family in celebration of this 'holiday'. Even better, if you hear that crescendoing 'ding' of the ice cream man heading your way, sprint outside with your wallet and enjoy the cool, tri-flavor goodness with your family outside. Granted, on a day like today, the thing may melt before you even get to the blue section, but it's all about the experience right?

As a little trivia side note, the Bomb Pop was invented right here in Kansas City in 1955!

Happy National Bomb Pop Day!

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Review and Giveaway: Doggie Doo

In an age where everything entertainment-related for kids seems to be found on an LCD screen, it's nice to have new products being introduced that take it back to the "old school" style of family games. And for me personally, it's even better when said game incorporates something hilarious and childish like picking up poop. Enter: Doggie Doo.

I'll admit, when I first saw the commercial for Doggie Doo, I was in shock. I thought there was no way that a game that involved scooping dog poop could be real. But in typical fashion, I quickly took to Google to do some research on the product and learned some interesting things. Doggie Doo was  originally introduced in Europe, where its popularity exploded. It was even nominated for 2010 Toy of the Year in the Netherlands. Due to it's popularity overseas, the manufacturer's (Goliath Games) decided to try their luck in the United States market. The game will officially be released nationally on August 1, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on the game ahead of time and review it.

My first surprise upon opening the package and examining the contents was that Doggie Doo doesn't require any batteries. I expected that the farting and pooping action was electronically assisted, but I was wrong. Again, this game goes old school and employs manual pumping to 'will' the doo out of the doggie.

I anticipated the doggie treats (which end up doubling as the poop) to have the consistency of Play-Doh, but when I opened the container, it was actually reminiscent of Nickelodeon's old 'Gak' product, if you remember that. It was sort of a slick feeling, yellowish green goo that made a loud farting noise when you press it into the container. As you get into the game, you realize that consistency is necessary in order to provide the awesome dog fart noises that precede the 'dump'.

Doggie Doo after releasing some back-end tension.

Setup is simple. It's as easy as connecting the 'leash' (aka pumping hose) to the dog, distributing shovels and getting out the treat goo, and you are ready to go. Also included is a treat mold, a 'feeding bone' (how you transport the goo into the dog's mouth) and a die, which dictates how many pumps of the leash you get on your turn.

The game process is simple. The dog is fed a treat, then players take turns rolling the die to see how many times they pump the leash. If the dog poops thanks to one of your pumps, you scoop the poop and add it to your 'collection'. This continues until a player has 3 pieces of 'dog mess' on their shovel and is declared the winner.

A close up of the radioactive Doggie Doo poop.

In the end, the game is short, sweet and very comical, especially the first time around. The simple rules and quick set up make it a perfect family game. It's definitely the type of game that is fun for the kids, while avoiding being completely mind-numbingly boring for adults. I honestly see this being the perfect game for younger kids who still have short attention spans, especially younger boys who will be enamored with the echoing, wet fart sounds. Though Ava is too young to actually play the game, she loved petting and kissing the doggie and of course pointing out the poop and exclaiming 'Poo poo?' So even if your child isn't quite to the game-playing age, Doggie Doo could still serve as a temporary diversion (with proper supervision, of course) with the doggie, bright colored poop and absurd farting noises. I also commented to my wife that I could see creative college students managing to make a drinking game out of this if they were bored (if anyone ever does that, you did NOT get the idea from me!).

Ava goes in for the kiss of approval.

I did have a couple minor qualms about the game, but nothing that would divert me from recommending it. The mold that is intended to produce the 'perfect' size treat isn't so perfect. It actually seemed like more often than not, we had to put a bit more into the dog in order to get it to move through to the backside properly. Fortunately, when the dog isn't farting, you basically know that nothing is happening, so you at least have a good indicator of something being stuck or if there isn't enough food inside. Also, be careful with the treat goo; I made the mistake of setting a chunk down on a piece of paper, and when I picked it up the goo had pulled the printing off of the paper. Keep the 'food' in the container as much as possible! And hopefully, Goliath Games will make replacement tubs of the food readily available for purchase, because I could see the stuff getting lost/misplaced/trashed frequently.

Overall, I was a big fan of Doggie Doo. Kids would definitely enjoy it, and I love that it's a diversion (albeit brief) from computers, iPods, etc. If the standard board game fare isn't for your family, I highly suggest giving Doggie Doo a try. Unique, simple and humorous; you can't ask much more from a family game, can you? Plus, if you're lucky, it will convince your kids that picking up dog poop is fun and you can get them to clean up the backyard!

Visit the Doggie Doo website for more information, plus find them on Facebook and Twitter.

__________________________

DOGGIE DOO GIVEAWAY!

Goliath Games agreed to provide one Doggie Doo Game (a $29.99 value) to a lucky winner in my giveaway. One of you will have the chance to own this game before it's even available to the public!

Required entry:

To get entered into the contest, you must Like the Doggie Doo Game Facebook page and follow Doggie Doo on Twitter. Once you've done so, leave a comment below with your Facebook and Twitter names, plus a way to contact you if you are the winner.

Additional entries (leave a comment for EACH additional action):

- Follow A Family of My Own on Twitter (1 entry)
- Like A Family of My Own on Facebook (1 entry)
- Watch the Doggie Doo Walks a Human video and tell me one of the places Doggie Doo visits (1 entry)
- Tell me what you would name your Doggie Doo (get creative!) (1 entry)
- Tweet about this giveaway, mentioning @AFOMOBlog, @doggiedoogame and linking to this post. Example:

"Enter by July 15 to win a @doggiedoogame in this #giveaway from @AFOMOBlog: http://bit.ly/mdS7nC"

Make sure to leave a comment below for each additional entry action, otherwise they will not be counted!

Deadline for entries is Friday, July 15, and I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 18.

Good luck!

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Wordless Wednesday - Buckethead

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A Toddler Divided

When it comes to toddlers, you might think that the biggest decisions they face in their youth are pretty inconsequential. Do I want blueberries or bananas for breakfast? Should I play with my Busy Ball Popper or gigantic stuffed bunny first? Which bathroom drawer should I empty out today? Should I poop in my diaper or wait until I'm in the bathtub and create havoc for everybody? Day-to-day life is pretty easy, without any groundbreaking choices existing. But my daughter has an incredibly important choice to make at some point in her younger years, that is simply bubbling and growing as each day passes: will she be a fan of the Kansas Jayhawks or the Nebraska Cornhuskers?

My dad is an avid KU fan. Amanda's dad is a hardcore Huskers fan. In less than 2 years, both have already made valiant efforts to sway Ava's sports loyalty to their side of the proverbial NCAA fence. From books to clothing to lessons on saying mascot names and other applicable phrases (Go Big Red, Rock Chalk, etc.), there has been no shortage of attempts to place a bug in my daughter's brain. We've got  a serious Grandpa sports allegiance battle on our hands, and it's hard to say how it will end.

This collection is just the beginning..

Right now, KU seems to have taken a slight lead in this race. Ava can say 'Jayhawk' (kind of, it comes out as 'cock' or 'caw-cock') and is able to identify them upon sight. And she does seem to have developed a bit of an affection for them. But, with her, I know that could change at any moment. It's entirely possible that one day she'll see Herbie Husker and decide to drop her Jayhawk crush like a bad habit. Neither Grandpa has any sort of guarantee that Ava will stay loyal to their side.

Of course, this is all just the beginning. Chances are, this isn't a battle that will end lightly or immediately. Whenever she grows out of her current KU and Nebraska clothes, they'll be quickly replaced. Sooner than later, she'll be reaching the age where she can go to her first sporting events, and I don't doubt that Kansas and Nebraska games will be thrown in the mix. I'm already envisioning Jayhawk and Herbie Halloween costumes being suggested. And in 16 years, Ava will have voices in either ear, telling her she should go to college in Lawrence and Lincoln.

So who will come out on top and earn Ava's allegiance? I have no idea, and I don't plan to push her either way. If she likes the Jayhawks, great. If she decides she wants to chant 'Husker Power', then so be it. And for all we know, she may decide to fool us all and decide to cheer on a completely random team. Maybe she'll start wearing green and cheering on the Oregon Ducks (she does love to say 'Quack quack' as it is). Hey, given her obsession with monkeys, she might decide to be a Pitt State fan based on mascot alone. Maybe I'll throw a wrench in things and start buying her a bunch of Creighton University (my alma mater) stuff in hopes that she'll decide to be a Bluejay fan (fat chance). And obviously, there's always the possibility that she will loathe sports and think we are all idiots for devoting so much time to athletics. Honestly, I'm kind of putting my money on that one. Regardless of what she ends up deciding, I'll support it.

As long as she doesn't decide to be a Missouri Tigers fan.

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My Dad Kryptonite, Revealed

I still remember the day I developed my aversion to snakes. I was in Tennessee, or Kentucky or some state in that general region. My parents had taken us on a God-forsaken trip to the South to see such attractions as Dollywood (yes, that would be an amusement park started by Dolly Parton) and stay in a cabin in the woods. That particular day, we were hiking up a mountain, when we stumbled across a large crowd stalled at one point on the path. There was a large rattlesnake coiled up in the middle of the trail, and everyone was frozen as the reptile shook its tail in warning.

Now, while this creature didn't bite me or anyone else in the group, it was still a moment that resonates with me today. As a kid, seeing a single animal put the brakes on a group of 20+ adults is a pretty significant sight. Clearly, they were afraid of this thing, so why shouldn't I be?

To this day, I still hate snakes. My encounters with them have been few and far between, but I still am repulsed at the idea of coming across one. Strangely, this fear doesn't translate to other 'creepy crawlies', so to speak. I take no issue with bugs or spiders (in fact, you can ask some of my old college friends about the day I ate a live spider after snatching it  mid-air), and even the small lizards that bound around my parents yard instill more fascination than fear inside of me.

My aversion was brought back full force the other day when I received a picture message from Amanda that showed a dead snake she found a mere 50 yards or so from our apartment. Oh crap. Just looking at a picture on my phone raised my heart rate and caused a string of curses to run through my mind. What if there were more? Is there a nest I need to set fire to? What if they sneak their way into the sewer system and bite my ass while I'm on the toilet?

The picture message that immediately weakened my powers.

This overly dramatic fear of snakes presents one big problem for me, though: I'm a dad. I'm not supposed to be afraid of anything.

All of us dads recognize the fact that, to our kids, we are veritable Supermen. We are there to protect, serve, and show courage in all perilous and scary situations. So what am I supposed to do if I'm ever with me daughter and happen to stumble across a snake? Well, I'll admit. I'm still going to act like a little pansy. Because snakes are my "Dad Kryptonite". And we all have our "Dad Kryptonite", that one major thing (or in some cases, many little things) that make us immediately drop our tough guy facade and show our weakness. I know I'm not alone. I took to Twitter in order to receive some support, and learned I'm not the only one. Other Dads noted their own forms of Kryptonite, including tornadoes and bugs.

As a comic book dweeb, I'm very much in tune to the fact that even the most powerful heroes and villains have their weaknesses. Heck, incarnations of the Green Lantern have had weaknesses to wood and the color yellow (a fear of snakes doesn't look so stupid now, huh?). As much as I never want to crack in front of my daughter, I know it's going to happen at some point. And since I know it's coming, all I can do is plan for it, and do my best to turn it into a teaching opportunity.

After all, fear is a funny thing. We aren't born with it. Hell, Ava has proven time and time again, through her daredevil climbing and diving escapades, that she came out of the womb with no fear or trepidation whatsoever. But as she's grown older, she's developed fears of her own, and lately I've been trying to help her overcome them. But as many times as I might tell her the vacuum cleaner is "nice" and give it kisses, or touch the doorstopper to show her that it's not going to pull my arms off, those fears still linger. They may be around for a long time, and that's okay. Being afraid of things is normal, regardless of how silly or meaningless other people might think it is. If, in 20 years, she still has a fear of doorstoppers, then so be it. She may earn herself a spot on some TLC reality show, but I won't judge her.

Dads, we may not want them to, but our kids will ultimately benefit from learning about our Dad Kryptonite. They need to know that even the toughest of heroes have things that they are afraid of and make their defenses come crashing down. While my daughter will be exposed to the 'human' side of my character, I know my powers of (almost) fearlessness, courage and super strength will remain intact. She'll just know to never dangle a snake in front of my face, or the consequences will be dire. And of course by dire, I mean I'll produce a deafening, high-pitched shriek and run for my life. Hey, but maybe then I can add super speed to my list of powers?

Chime in below, Dads; what is YOUR Dad Kryptonite?

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Help Wilderness Brewing Co. become a reality

As a craft beer enthusiast and a supporter of local businesses, I was intrigued when I first heard about Wilderness Brewing, a project from Kansas City locals Mike Reinhardt and Nate Watson. The two run the website Thank Heaven For Beer, and have been avid homebrewers for years.

The pair has decided to transform their hobby into a legitimate, money-making endeavor, but to start a fully functional brewery, there's one thing they need (and don't have): money.

Nate and Mike took to the Internet and decided to bring awareness and raise funds for their brewery using Kickstarter, an increasingly popular method of online fundraising for new small businesses and entrepreneurs. Their ultimate goal is to raise $40,000 by August 4. They've already raised $11,830 (as of 9:30 AM on Thursday, 6/23), which is great, but there is obviously a long way to go and they can use as much help as possible.

I can't say that I've met Nate and Mike, or had any of the beers that they created. But after watching their video on Kickstarter (which is also embedded below), I saw a true passion for what they are doing, and I have a lot of respect for that. Obviously, there's a special place in my heart for craft beer, so supporting a new, local microbrewery is a no brainer for me.

I highly suggest you go check out the Wilderness Brewing Kickstarter page. Check out the video, and if you can spare some money to pledge to this cause, you definitely should. Let's help these guys make their dreams a reality, and bring some new beer to Kansas City in the process!

You can also find Wilderness Brewing Co. on Facebook.

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You've Got A Friend In "ZeeZee"

Well, it's happened. Our daughter,  just shy of 19 months old, abandoned us for a friend.

Okay, maybe I'm being a little melodramatic. But when you're a first-time parent, sometimes little events can trigger a tidal wave of emotional response, especially when the event is completely indicative of your little one growing up and needing you even slightly less.

Saturday evening, we were all at a fish fry hosted by Nana and Papa D's (Grandma and Grandma on mom's side, for those who aren't in the know) neighbors. Included were a number of kids, including an adorable, friendly 5-year-old girl named Izzy. While 'big kids' can often be too busy with their own activities to notice somebody as little as Ava, Izzy immediately took to her and befriended her.

Now, Ava has had encounters with kids before, but it was all pretty inconsequential. What happened next, neither Amanda and I were prepared for. Ava trotted off with Izzy (who affectionately became known as "ZeeZee" to Ava), leaving us in the dust without looking back. The two proceeded to the yard and played Ring Around The Rosie, kicked a ball around and ate watermelon; and not once did Ava look for us, come running for us or show any concern about what Mom and Dad were up to.

Sure, this may not seem like a big deal to the average person. But we are talking about a little girl who spazzes out when her own grandparents come over and she thinks Mom or Dad are leaving. Yesterday she spent the majority of the day clinging to one of our legs in a daylong fit of separation anxiety.

These children had an unfortunate encounter with Medusa while playing Ring Around The Rosie.

So why the sudden change of heart? What kind of spell did this 5-year-old girl cast over Ava that made her drop us like a bad habit? While Ava played with Izzy, I'm sure Amanda and I both looked like sad little prairie dogs, constantly popping our heads up and looking over in the yard, hoping that at some point Ava would show some sort of need for us.

It's all kind of ironic. As frustrated as we may get on Ava's "extra clingy" days, we really would never want it to end. If she woke up one morning and suddenly showed complete independence and no need for either of us, I think our hearts would collectively shatter into a million pieces.

Her 'alone' playtime with "ZeeZee" was heartwarming. It was exciting. But it was frightening. While on the surface, it's just a toddler and a Kindergartner having innocent fun, in my mind it was like a flash forward to Ava being in Junior High and running out to go to a sleepover every chance she got. It was Ava turning 16, and realizing that with a driver's license (or friends who could drive), she wasn't as tethered to the house anymore. It was her leaving for an out-of-state college, coming back only when she was low on food or needed to do laundry. It was a spark that will inevitably contribute to a burning desire for independence that will only grow as she gets older.

Ava is still little, and obviously still needs us. But as she grows up and meets more Izzies, Susies, Lizzies and Julies (like that rhyme I spit?), that tendency to gravitate towards friendships (and away from Mom and Dad) will only increase. And of course, I want her to have friends. I just don't want her to ever forget that Mom and Dad will always be her best friends.  Hey, I'd like to think I can rock a pretty good game of Ring Around The Rosie too!

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Beats and Beer Friday

The weekend is upon us, which means it's that time again: BEATS AND BEER FRIDAY!

Forget the introduction, let's get right to the chase:

Beats: Kato - T.I.M.E. Vol. 3 Mixtape

Since I first heard Jarren Benton's "Justin Bieber", Kato (aka Christopher Ju) is quickly becoming one of my favorite hip-hop producers. He's got a sound that I can best describe as Southern Space Age. His collaboration with Benton led me to seek out more of his music, and the other day I came across his newest release, T.I.M.E. Volume 3.

The mixture features Kato's production accompanied by a number of fantastic artists (mostly Southern) both known and unknown. Jarren Benton, Elz Jenkins, Aleon Craft and Rittz are all included, and in my opinion, these are four of the top up and coming rappers in 2011. Also featured are West Coast artist Mistah FAB (Ghost Ride the whip, anyone?) and Kalenna from Diddy Dirty Money.

Because of my affinity towards Benton and Rittz, the first song I checked out from this mixtape was 'Billon Bucks', and it did not disappoint. If this song doesn't make you want to party, I don't know what will.

In my opinion, the absolute must listen to track on this mixture is Aleon Craft's "I Still Love Her" (listen below). The soul-sample fueled beat is laced perfectly with Aleon's skillful rhymes. This one has been on repeat a LOT.

If you're interested in checking out some songs from T.I.M.E. Volume 3 or download the mixtape, head over to Kato's bandcamp page. You can also find Kato on Twitter.



Beer: Boulevard Saison-Brett

Last week's "Beats" section featured a Kansas City hip-hop artist, so it's only fitting that this week I feature a Kansas City beer. Boulevard Saison-Brett, which is a member of the Limited Release Smokestack series produced by Boulevard, is regarded by many as Boulevard's best beer.

While I haven't had the fortune of trying it yet, I was sure to pick up a bottle when it was released on Kansas City shelves this week. Saisons/farmhouse ales have moved up my list of favorite beer styles over the past few months, and they are especially good beers for warm weather.

But of course, Saison-Brett has a distinguishing characteristic from most Saisons in that it is brewed with Brettanomyces, a wild yeast that can add new levels of complexity to beer. In general, it's not commonly used, but seems to be becoming more popular as breweries continue to experiment with their beer.

Saison-Brett has been given excellent ratings on BeerAdvocate (A) and RateBeer (99).

Boulevard and drinkers of this beer note that this can be cellared for a number of years and maintain it's complexity, but let's face it, I don't have that kind of patience. I'll be cracking open my Saison-Brett tonight, and probably enjoying it out on my patio.

If you spot Boulevard Saison-Brett in your local liquor store, make sure to grab a bottle, because it's a Limited Release and will likely go fast!

Learn more about Boulevard Brewing Company on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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7 Lessons Learned From My Dad

In the dad blogiverse, it seems to be a requisite to write a post about Father's Day. I've seen guides to the best Father's Day gifts, guides to the WORST Father's Day gifts, explanations of what fathers REALLY want on the holiday and much, much more. I'm hopping on the bandwagon and putting up a Father's Day post, but instead of focusing solely on my role as a father (Which I do most of the time on the blog anyway), I want to dedicate this post as an open letter to my dad. He's an amazing man, and all of my parenting methods (which I like to think are very good) are derived from the way he raised me.

So Dad, without a lengthy introduction, here's a list of 7 of the top moments/memories I shared with you that helped shape who I am today. Some are fun, some are sentimental, but they are all incredibly important and whether you know it or not, make me who I am today and have helped to mold me into the father I strive to be.

1) The success/hard work talk

This is the day in high school when you sat me down with the binder that contained the financial information for my college fund. You essentially summarized the fact that if I worked hard and busted my butt in high school and college, that I would earn scholarship to pay for my education and the money in my college fund would ultimately be mine after I graduated. At the time, it was probably the most sensible way for you to get the message across that hard work reaps its benefits. I was an egotistical teenager, though, so using the money as an 'ultimate reward' was an excellent way to illustrate the point. I'm proud to say I did earn a share of that college fund after graduation, and the overall message sticks with me today. I bust my ass at my job every day, knowing that even if I don't see an immediate reward, it will pay off in the long run.

2) Letting me taste your beer

What kid isn't curious about what their parents' beer tastes like? Heck, Ava already points and grabs at my beer glass, curious about this mysterious 'grown up drink'. But when I was a kid, and would have those random, occassional sips of MGD or Rolling Rock, I was repulsed. Why would anyone want this? Forget being a grown up, I'll stick with my Ecto Cooler and cream soda. Really, there was a lesson to be learned even in this small action: Don't be too eager to grow up. There's a reason that certain things are held exclusive to those older than you; it takes some aging, maturing and growing to be ready for them. From beer to relationships to money and everything in between, some things are just better after you've had some years of experience on this planet. And what do you know? Now I'm a beer fanatic, and I drink beers that you are taken aback by. Funny how that all came full circle..

3) Telling us you lost your job
I didn't believe you at first. I was a kid, and didn't really understand. I'm sorry for that. When you're a kid, you see your parents as invincible (especially a son towards his dad), and it was hard to grasp the idea of something so horrible happening to someone so seemingly strong and indestructible. But it happened. And when you told us that night at dinner, you handled it with tact and a respectable air of calmness. I don't doubt that you were screaming, crying and frustrated inside. But you didn't let it show. You knew that you couldn't upset us, and that to us, everything needed to be "alright", even if it really wasn't. At that moment in time, you were a shining example of humbleness and positivity while staring in the face of loss and disappointment. While I certainly don't hope I ever have to endure getting laid off, I hope that if it does happen, I handle it in the manner you did.

4) Steak N "Shake"

I know it's dumb. But I'll never forget your Steak N Shake joke. In case you forgot (which I doubt you have), it was nothing more than you saying the name of the restaurant, then dancing and gyrating your body as you said the word 'shake'. I have every intention of taking Ava to Steak N Shake at least once in her life so I can repeat this joke. Every corny joke I tell or silly thing I do when with my daughter, there's always going to be a shred of inspiration drawn from your Steak N "Shake".

5) Seeing you cry

The specific moment that has always stuck out in my mind is when we had to bury Sophie, the family dog. Dad, we were in a house full of emotionally-driven, sensitive women. I don't fault them for that by any means, but given the circumstances, I understood why you might have felt a need to be the 'strong' one during sadness or tragedy. But when Sophie passed away and we opted to bury her in the backyard, you broke down like I had never seen before. The vision of you lowering her down, then starting to sob as you scooped dirt back into the hole, will always stay with me. To some, the passing of a family pet might not mean much, but to our family, it was a big deal. Seeing you react the way you did and watching the tears run down your face implanted a permanent reminder in my brain that it's okay to cry, even when others might not think it's necessary or approriate. Nothing is wrong with showing emotion, even in situations when you may be the only one showing it. A constant tough guy facade is overrated and unhealthy.

6) Playing 'What's on the ceiling?'

How could I ever forget this game? You played this with Jill, me AND Libby. We are talking a 'homemade' game that stood up to over a decade's worth of use. You should be proud of yourself! But even more so, laying there and imagining what was on the ceiling was an incredible way to develop our imaginations and sense of creativity. Let's face it, nobody ever wanted to see the same thing on the ceiling twice. Dinosaurs, food, spaceships and more; nothing was off limits in 'What's on the ceiling?', and that's what made it so great. If I didn't have 'What's on the ceiling?', would I be as creative as I am today? I doubt it. To be especially corny, the world is my ceiling and I can create whatever I want.

7) When you told me I'm a great dad

There's not much else to say about this, other than it was a defining moment in my life. To hear you tell me that I'M a great dad is like Daniel-San having Mr. Miyagi tell him he's a karate master. I learned from the best, and to get a compliment on my parenting from my mentor is about as meaningful as it can get. I can only hope that as I grow as a father, that I live up to your example.

I hope to pass on the lessons I learned from you to Ava as she grows up: work hard and you will reap the benefits; don't be in a hurry to grow up; stay humble and hopeful in the face of adversity; always stay silly; don't be afraid to cry, even if others may not; always let your creativity and imagination grow; and when she has children, I'll remind her to always encourage and compliment them on the amazing job they are doing.

I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day, thank you for all of the lessons you've taught me, both directly and indirectly. And thank you for being such a great Grandpa. Now, I just have to hope that you read this!

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Review: Joey the Bunny Gets Lost

Move over Berenstain Bears, Cat in the Hat, Arthur and Amelia Bedelia; Joey the Bunny is hopping his way into the world of children's literature, and he is on a mission to simultaneously entertain and give back to those in need.

Joey the Bunny is a product of Big Bunny Workshop, which, in turn, is the brainchild of Jeff Maciejewski, Associate Professor of Advertising in Creighton University's School of Journalism. Jeff's motivations for creating Big Bunny Workshop were simple: to raise money and provide education to children in need. As an educator and father, Jeff believes education is vital for improving children's lives and ultimately eliminating poverty.

Big Bunny Workshop currently has one published book, Joey the Bunny Gets Lost, and a second on the way, Joey the Bunny Gives Back. 100% of the profits from these books go straight to charity. Yes, 100%. Every penny. And Joey the Bunny Gets Lost is conveniently available in paperback, Kindle and Nook versions. So for those of you with technologically advanced little ones, you can read this to them digitally as well!

Sales of the books support causes like Jardin de Amor (Garden of Love), which is an education project in the poverty-stricken village of Santa Maria de Jesus in Guatemala. project enrolls more than 100 children from 6-16 years of age, teaching them math, writing and science as well as allowing them to participate in play that is nearly impossible when not in school.

A parent teacher and a volunteer from England give a math lesson.

However, Jardin de Amor has reached capacity, and must turn away students unless it raises money to purchase extra land and build more space. That's where Joey the Bunny and Big Bunny Workshop come in.

I was under Jeff's tutelage at Creighton University, and know how much of a kind-hearted, dedicated person he is. When I first read about his new venture, I was in awe. It's a selfless endeavor, and I can't help but respect the fact that he's putting in so much work for the sole purpose of helping others.

Naturally, I jumped on the opportunity to purchase a book and contribute to this great cause. Plus, my daughter is absolutely nuts about having stories read to her, so as far as I'm concerned, there can never be enough new books in the house.

When I sat down with Ava to read Joey the Bunny Gets Lost for the first time, she immediately presented Joey with a kiss. As you know from my previous post, this her seal of approval, so I instantly knew we had a winner.

Ava showing concern for Joey's well being.

The story revolves around Joey getting lost, and his family trying to find him. I won't give away any spoilers, but we'll just say the book DOES have a happy ending. It was actually a very cute story, and has a nice lesson for preschool/Kindergarten age children. Ava is still too young to understand book concepts, but the artwork in the book did a great job of keeping her attention throughout.

We made it about halfway through before she decided to get up and momentarily pursue another activity. Now don't consider that a knock against the book; this is the girl that took 3 months to sit all the way through Goodnight Moon, so listening to half of a book in one sitting is actually excellent for her.

When she finally returned and we finished the story, Ava presented the entire bunny family with a second kiss, and proceeded to get up from my lap and move on with her life. For an 18-month-old, that's a pretty glowing review!

So Ava and I both give Joey the Bunny Gives Back a big thumbs (paws?) up. But really, with the incredible cause associated with the book, how can you not?

If you are interested in learning more about Big Bunny Workshop or purchasing Joey the Bunny Gets Lost, visit the Big Bunny Workshop blog. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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Learning from Lavern (a story of perseverance)

Who would have ever thought I'd be learning life lessons from a cat? For lack of better words, I HATE cats. I was scarred as a youth by my piano teacher's white, fluffy, hissing demon of a feline. And one of my dad's favorite jokes as I grew up was that cats were only good for one thing: grabbing them by the tail and swinging them into a lake (just a joke, keep yourselves at bay, PETA members). So, yeah; needless to say, I am not a cat person.

Imagine how shocked I was with myself when I read a news story last week about a cat and immediately felt inspired. Maybe even slightly teary-eyed (just slightly though, come on, I've got a reputation to uphold). Sure it was a story that was meant to invoke emotional response; your typical local news channel's dream 'human interest' story. But normally I roll my eyes and gag in reaction to these stories; this one had me smiling and drawing a lot of meaning from this cat's tale (I was really tempted to spell this 'tail').

The recent tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri caused a heartbreaking amount of destruction, essentially leveling the entire city. Homes were lost, businesses were destroyed, and sadly, many lives were lost during the catastrophe. As the residents collected themselves and started to rebuild their scattered lives, many went searching for their pets that had been displaced during the storm.

Terrla Cruse was one of those residents, and after being on the verge of giving up her search, decided to make a last ditch effort to find her lost cat, Lavern. Imagine her surprise, when on that last rescue attempt, Lavern was heard meowing underneath the rubble and they were able to pull her from the debris to safety. This cat had survived 16 DAYS in the Joplin wreckage. Although underweight and dehydrated, Lavern is expected to make a full recovery.

Lavern the cat is discovered in the Joplin debris.

Lavern the cat's story is an excellent metaphoric lesson in perseverance through hardship. Now before I get chastised for saying this about a cat when there are all kinds of 'human' perseverance stories out there, hear me out for a moment. When we're children, we learn volumes of life lessons through metaphors displayed in children's books, movies, etc. Colorful, fictional characters and animals are used to teach these lessons, presumably so the hardships aren't as 'humanized', and children can learn without being disturbed.

Maybe as adults, we still operate the same way and just don't like to admit it. To be horribly poetic for a moment, how often do we feel buried under the rubble? And when hardships and struggles hit us, how much more likely are we to wallow in sadness and frustration rather than pushing through and developing thick skin, knowing that if we maintain a determined mindset, we can see ourselves through to a positive outcome?

Between work, parenting, family, relationships and everything in between, life can sometimes be an onslaught of setbacks, hardship and conflict. Sometimes every aspect of our lives seems to be pelting us with challenges all at once, and it can be easy to throw up your hands and surrender. Instead, let's learn something from Lavern. Lavern was 13 years old, which places here somewhere around 75 in terms of cat years, according to the Cat Bible (wow, there's a source I never thought I'd cite). Are you going to let a geriatric cat prove itself to have a stronger sense of determination and diligence than you? Sure, your problems might not be solved in 16 days. Maybe not even 160. But if we push through and hang on to hope, there will be limitless cans of tuna and birds to harass at the end (sub your sources of happiness here).

The story of Lavern the cat is one that we as parents can use to help our younger children understand the concept of not giving up when things get difficult. But at the end of the day, we as parents, spouses, sons, daughters, siblings and friends can draw just as much of a lesson from that elderly, unwavering cat. To be overly trite, nobody ever said life is easy. And the choices we have to make in order to improve the less-than-perfect situations in our life aren't always easy. But there's something to be said for showing perseverance even when feeling trapped under the wreckage. If Lavern could communicate with us*, I'm sure she'd agree.

Yes, this post was corny. Get over it. I'll be reviewing a game that involves dog poop soon, so this shift in the AFOMO continuum should be balanced out again soon.

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*Million dollar idea: cat sign language system.

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Beats and Beer Friday

If you haven't already figured it out from the links in my header and the obscure references in my posts, I am both a beer and hip-hop nerd. When I'm not busy working or being a husband/dad, you can typically find me cracking open a craft beer while perusing the latest rap releases and pirating legally acquiring the best of what I hear.

So, as a break from the usual parent and family posts, I hope to make 'Beats and Beer Friday' a weekly post that talks about what I'm drinking and listening to. Hopefully it inspires some of you to go outside your comfort zone and try something new, whether it be in terms of a beverage, an album, or both.

Without further ado, my selections for this weekend are:

Beats: Tech N9ne - All 6's and 7's

Tech N9ne is an independent rapper hailing from Kansas City. He's been making music for a long, long time and as a KC native, I've been listening to him for almost as long. However, it's just been over the past few years where he's finally starting to get the recognition he deserves.

Tech has gained the status of being the "Number one independent hip-hop artist", and it's a well-deserved title. I honestly don't think this guy ever stops touring. It seems like he performs in KC at least 3-4 times a year on different tours. He's built an entire brand out of his Strange Music label, and has an avid group of fans that he lovingly refers to as 'Technicians'.

'All 6's and 7's' was just released Tuesday, and while I've given it a once over, I hope to fully dive into it this weekend. My first impression was that, while it isn't his best album, it's very good and would be a great 'gateway' album for the average music listener to get into his music. This album is distinctly different from his others in that he has features from a number of major hip-hop artists such as Lil' Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Twista,   Yelawolf and more. The songs on the album are a mix of dark, poppy, crude and introspective. A great mix of style that I believe allows even the most discriminating music fans to at find at least one song they enjoy.

Recommended tracks: Check out 'Worldwide Choppers' below, and if you want to hear more, you can listen to 'He's A Mental Giant' on 2DopeBoyz.

'All 6's and 7's' is available for purchase on iTunes as well as in Best Buy and other major retailers. You can find Tech N9ne on Twitter and Facebook.



Beer: Firestone Walker Double Jack

This weekend will be my first foray into trying Firestone Walker Double Jack, but before I even open the bottle, this beer already has a few things going for it.

1) I love IPAs, Double IPAs and Imperial IPAs
2) Every beer I've had from Firestone Walker thus far has been fantastic. Firestone Walker 14 and Abacus (which is now The Beer Formerly Known as Abacus) shot to the top of my favorite beers list and I can't wait to drink them again.
3) It has a rating of A- on BeerAdvocate and a 100 on Ratebeer.

So yeah, if I drink this beer and end up not liking it, I'll have to assume it was somehow tainted by a crafty miniature beer demon or my taste buds were the victim of some kind of sporadic medical anomaly, rendering them useless.

On their website, Firestone Walker lists Double Jack as being available in CA, NV, OR, WA, AZ, MO, Chicago, MA, NJ, NY, VA, PA, DC and MD. If you are in these areas, ask your local liquor store and I'm sure they can tell you if it's being carried currently.

Firestone Walker is based out of Paso Robles, CA, learn more about their beers by visiting their website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

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Sealed with a Kiss (or 500)

Kissing is weird. Really though, when you get down to it, it's a pretty bizarre concept. By slapping together our wet faceholes that are biologically engineered for breathing and eating, we are showing each other affection? Huh. And the acceptance of kissing goes through some odd phases. As a baby, you are essentially taught to kiss everything under the sun. Then as you enter junior high and high school, your parents treat kissing like a sexual gateway drug and tell you to keep your lips to yourself. But behind closed doors, you are tongue wrestling with everyone in sight; that is, until you find that special someone, and suddenly they become the only one you kiss. And then you have a child, become the one teaching the 'kiss everything' lessons, and it all starts over again in one strange, lip-smacking Circle of Life.

My daughter has now reached the point of being in a constant kissing frenzy. It started off as pecks for me and my wife. It gradually progressed to grandparents, then some of her favorite toys, then she learned to blow kisses. Now anything on this planet that exists in some state of matter is fair game when it comes to her affection. Here's a brief list of some of the things I've seen her kiss lately:

• Sidewalk chalk drawings

• Her clothing

• The horse emblem on my Polo shirts

• Bubbles

• Bath water

• Elmo Easter basket

• A box of Pita Chips

• Mirrors (she's a vain little girl)

• Countless pictures in books, and ALWAYS the ones of monkeys

Clearly, she doesn't have a lot of discretion as to where, who, or what she places her lips on. Or does she? Although it can be a little disgusting at times ("we do NOT put our mouth on the puppy's food bowl!"), for the most part it's extremely endearing. And the fact is, because she still hasn't mastered talking yet, kissing (always accompanied by a familiar, breathy "MAH!") is her way of simply saying "I think you're awesome!" to whomever/whatever is on the receiving end.  She can't look at me in the morning and say "This Abby Cadabby top would go great with those pink stretch pants", so instead she lays a wet one on it. She can't tell the dog "You know, I really appreciate how you tolerate me poking you in the eye and pulling your tail", so she buries her face dangerously close to his butt and gives him a smooch.

Seal knows a thing or two about kissing random objects.

She loves everything. And I love that she loves everything.

As nerdy and as trite as it sounds, that wonderment of a child is a beautiful thing to behold. There's an innocence to her kissing habits that brings a smile to my face. As someone who is typically a pessimist and spends too much time talking about the things I hate, seeing her show so much adoration towards so many different things helps defrost my jaded-by-adult-life heart. Life's too short to be angry about everything, and you don't have to be the drunk guy at the party to love everything around you. Quite frankly, the only things I've ever seen my daughter openly dislike are the vacuum cleaner and doorstoppers (we still haven't figured this one out), and that's only because she's convinced they're going to attack her.

After you read this, take a page from my daughter and spend a day focusing on all the things you think are awesome in your life. Now, I'm not advising you to go out and kiss everybody that does something nice for you. That stranger who lets you merge during rush hour might be a bit taken aback when you rush up to their car window with your lips puckered. Maybe we should all spend a day each week making a list of the things we think are great. In a time where the Internet is a harboring ground for complaining, anger, and grumbling, it's important for everybody to stop and refocus on the good things in life.

Call me a sap, call me corny. I'm just ready to start handing out kisses.

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Music 4 Jeremy's Cherubs JFrye Funfest

The 3rd Annual JFrye Funfest, hosted by Music 4 Jeremy's Cherubs, will take place on Saturday, June 18 from 11-3 PM at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (click for map) in Overland Park.

Entry is free (auction and food tickets can be purchased) and you can expect to find live music (of course), a silent auction/raffle, games for all ages and great food.

In case you are wondering why you should go to this event and support M4JC and their cause, here's a little background:

Music 4 Jeremy's Cherubs is an organization that will always hold a special place in my heart. The Overland Park, Kansas based charity continues the work started by Jeremy Frye, a talented musician and educator who lost his life to a brain tumor in 2008. M4JC works to bring music into the lives of children and youth everywhere, regardless of their (or their family's) socioeconomic status. By providing scholarships and donations of money and instruments, they ensure that young people everywhere experience the joy of music in their lives.

For those of you readers that don't know, my sister Jill (who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2000) passed away suddenly last August. After her passing, my family wanted to find a local organization with a cause that would have resonated with Jill in her life. When we discovered Music 4 Jeremy's Cherubs, we knew it would be the perfect organization to have memorial contributions made to in Jill's name. Jill was a talented and passionate pianist, and always showed a true love for music. I can remember riding with her as a kid, listening to everything from The Violent Femmes to Beethoven and hearing her explain why she liked it all.

So, this post is not only one promoting what is sure to be a fun family event for those in the Kansas City area, but also to raise awareness for a group that has a very special goal and will always be dear to me. Check out the flyer below and help Music 4 Jeremy's Cherubs fulfill their goal to "put music in the hands of children and a lifetime of love in their hearts."

Learn more about Music 4 Jeremy's Cherubs on their website or Facebook page.

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Review: Jumping Jax

One of the biggest challenges as a parent of a young child is keeping that child entertained for extended periods of time. Some days, it feels like my wife and I manage to read every one of Ava's books and play with every one of her toys, but then we look at the clock and only an hour has passed. This can be especially difficult for parents of kids that are under 3 or so, because there simply aren't many outside entertainment options (I refuse to be that parent that takes their 18 month old to the movie theater, please reference Brian Posehn's bit on movie ruiners).

So one day when I had taken a day off work and my wife was gone, I was on a mission to find something new for Ava and I to do. I recalled seeing a sign on my commute home for a place called 'Jumping Jax'. I had no idea what it was, but it had a cartoon kangaroo on it, so I felt it was at least safe to assume it was for kids. After a little research (God bless you, Google), I found out from their website that it was 'Southern Johnson County's premiere indoor inflatable play facility'. Quite frankly, I don't know of any other Southern Johnson County inflatable play facility's, so the 'premiere' label seems a bit excessive, but it seemed like an interesting place, so I decided to give it a shot.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Jumping Jax; my assumption was that it would be a sensory-overload, constant-lights-and-sounds-to-distract-your-ADD-riddled-children type of place. As I walked in though, I was surprised to see that it was a pretty plain and understated place. Beyond the gigantic inflatables, there's really not much to it other than some tables (for parties) and a room with couches, a TV and a soda machine (for parents desperate for some refuge).

For me, the first perk of this place was the price. Since Ava was under 2, she was only $4. Over 2 years old, the price doubles to $8 for the first child, $5 each after that. Judging by their Facebook page, they often have 2-for-1 open play deals, so be on the lookout for that. Parents are always free, which was a nice perk too. Since Ava was small, the front desk attendant noted that I was welcome to go with her as she explored the inflatables (which, as you'll read below, turned out to be easier said than done).

Ava scales to the summit, prepared to eat me alive if rations run out.

We walked into the first of two main rooms, and immediately I was worried that this wasn't going to work. Kids running around like maniacs everywhere, climbing up the inflatable stairs, launching down the slides, tearing through the obstacles, etc. And one thing I've learned in my first year and a half of parenting is that older kids can be real pricks (for lack of a better word) to smaller kids. I immediately morphed into defensive dad mode and moved cautiously towards the first inflatable. Ava had no idea what she was getting thrust into, and because of the way these inflatables are designed, I basically had to carry her up the 'stairs'. So this is where I issue my first caveat for Jumping Jax:

If your kid is under 2, this might not be a place you want to try. If your kid is under 2 and you are overweight or out of shape, this is DEFINITELY not a place you want to try. I consider myself to be in pretty good shape, and weigh about 175 pounds, and I had quite a bit of difficult trying to maneuver through these things while also making sure Ava was safe and could get up and down. Plus, many of  Throw in the bratty kids that fly through without any concern for others, and it can get a little sketchy. We stayed in this room for 20 minutes or so and decided to relocate to see if we could escape the loonies in the other room.

The second room had just cleared out from a party, so we had it all to ourselves, which was nice because it gave us a chance to explore on our own time without feeling rushed by chemically imbalanced children. Although it took her a while to warm up to it, Ava loved the bounce house. Of course, this is the child that enjoys spinning around until she's dizzy and falls over, so it doesn't surprise me that she was into it. The obstacle/slide inflatable in this room seemed to have even smaller tunnels than the first ones, so I felt like I was in some vinyl-smelling Alice in Wonderland moment. We spent some quality time in this room, but inevitably, the Children of the Corn stormed in and made it unpleasant for us. On that note, it was time to go, but after getting an hour and a half of entertainment for $4, I was fairly pleased.

The calm before the psycho-children storm.

Besides the crazy kids, there were a few other negatives about Jumping Jax that are worth noting:

For starters, besides the front desk attendant, I never saw a single employee in the rooms with the inflatables. I understand that the parents should be responsible for thir children, but to me it would make sense to at least have one person keeping an eye on the activity to aid in case of an injury, to answer questions, and just to help in general.

And on a similar note, since I didn't see any employees walking around, I never saw anything being cleaned. I am a bit of a germaphobe so maybe others aren't as concerned about that. But to me, when a bunch of sweaty, drooly kids are running and diving around on the same surfaces, cleaning should be a constant activity.

Finally, the place is well-polished in the front room, but in the inflatable rooms there didn't seem to be a lot of concern for upkeep. Holes in inflatables were patched with what seemed to just be duct tape and next to the bounce house there was a HUGE hole smashed into the wall. I'm sure the kids don't care, but as an anal, overanalytical parent, these are just things I noticed.

So, let's wrap this up with the big question; would I go back again? Yes, but not until Ava is older and can handle playing in the inflatables by herself. I came home with way too many vinyl burns to want to go back and have to venture into those things myself. Ava had a lot of fun though, and I think it would be even more fun for her if she was able to experience everything there to its fullest.

Interested in learning more about Jumping Jax? Check out their website or their Facebook page. It's important to note that they have specific open play periods, and there is NO open play on the weekends. They also keep their website updated with the dates where open play might be restricted to one room because of a party.

Finally, one more suggestion. If you are headed to Jumping Jax and need some music to get hyped up, this song only seems appropriate:

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Help Find Jamie Sheets (UPDATED)

UPDATE - 6/16/2011: Jamie Sheets has been found alive and safe!  The family has not released any details yet, but is expected to issue a statement in the near future.

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I will keep this post short and to the point, because ultimately, it's not about me or my thoughts; it's about helping someone in need and hoping for a positive outcome to a tragic situation.

On May 18, 2011, the daughter of my mother's friend went missing. 16-year-old Jamie Sheets was last seen in Merriam, Kansas, and has not been seen or heard from since. The first inclination is to believe that she is somewhere in the Kansas City area, but realistically, she could be anywhere.

This is a heartbreaking story for anybody to hear, and being a parent makes it hit so much closer to home. I can't imagine the pain Jamie's family is experiencing right now, and every day my thoughts and prayers are with them, hoping that this terrible scenario results in a positive outcome.

I've posted the flyer below that contains information about Jamie and methods of contact if you have any information. Please, if you know anything or even think you may have seen Jamie, don't hesitate to call or e-mail to offer your information. Let's bring Jamie home!

For further updates, you can also access the Missing Jamie Facebook page.

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Nuthin But An Aller-G Thang

I suppose I should preface this post with a brief apology for my temporary absence; my blog template never recovered after the Blogger crash, so I finally settled for migrating all of my content to a new template. Fortunately, I was able to salvage all posts and comments, so here we are with everything from before, just a slightly different look. Thanks for sticking around!

One of the things that is quickly forced down your throat as a new parent is the looming danger of allergies. The majority of these are food-focused, so there are no less than 9,385 rules about what you shouldn't feed your child before a certain age. Milk products, soy products, eggs, seafood, strawberries, nuts are all off limits, so all you new parents out there, make sure to avoid feeding your newborn any salmon omelet parfaits.

All kidding aside, we respected these warnings until Ava reached "the age", and were excited to have her try some new foods. Well, imagine our displeasure when she had a mild reaction to peanut butter. As someone who loves peanut butter so much I'd eat it out of a hobo's armpit, my initial reaction was disappointment that she may not be able to enjoy it. But then after a quick reality check, I realized that it's actually a much bigger deal than missing out on the occasional scoop of Jif. Peanut allergies can be deadly, and if severe enough, can force parents to carry around an EpiPen (basically a shot of adrenaline to deal with allergic reactions) at all times.

The monocle should have tipped us off that he was dangerous.

So it was a no-brainer to go get her tested. The brain-scratcher was her results.

The peanut allergy? It showed up as moderate. No EpiPen needed, but still no peanuts for her.

Minor surprise? She also had a mild allergy show up for egg whites. She may have inherited this problem from me; every time I eat scrambled eggs, it rains out of my butt for a good 12 hours.

The huge surprise? The peanut allergy wasn't her most severe. What was? DOGS.

This might not seem like much of an issue for the casual reader, but there's some important information to take into account here: We have two dogs. Two large dogs. Two large dogs that shed like there's no tomorrow. Two large dogs that shed like there's no tomorrow that our daughter LOVES.

My reaction to the news was nothing more than a single expletive. What can you say to that? Of course, immediate thoughts swirled through my head: What can we do to help it? Do we need to buy anything special? And of course, most importantly, do we have to get rid of the dogs?

The same concern had clearly run through my wife's head, because she asked the latter of the three and relayed the nurse's hilarious response:

"You don't have to get rid of them, but Ava needs to wash her hands every time she touches them, they shouldn't lick her and she can't bury her face in them."

OHHHH! So we don't have to get rid of them, we just have to build a clever series of tunnels throughout our apartment so Ava and the dogs can travel through it without seeing each other and being tempted to make any kind of contact. Well that makes sense! Thanks Nurse Ratched!

As someone who suffers from terrible allergies (seriously, I had so many allergens listed when I got skin tested, they might as well have just said 'THE OUTDOORS'), I was worried to say the least. I hated to get rid of the dogs. As much as they caused me grief and the occasional poop finger (damn holes in the plastic sacks), they are honorary members of the family. Plus, over the past few months, my daughter has grown to absolutely adore them. She loves to give them "loves" (aka burying her face in them...oops), and one of her favorite activities is to harass Tucker (the basset hound) until he scurries around like a puppy howling and nipping at our feet.  Hell, one of the first noises she learned was saying 'Fuf fuf' when we asked her what a puppy said. Dogs are her thing. Her steez. And she apparently has a biological aversion to them. Great.

So where does the allergy situation stand today?

The dogs are still here, and Ava hasn't had any sort of severe reaction. She takes Zyrtec every day, we bought an air purifier (my work-related knowledge of HEPA filters finally found a real world application), and we vacuum as much as possible to keep the hair out of the carpet. And believe me, there's a lot. Every time we vacuum, we probably fill the canister 3-4 times. All the black and white hair makes it look like we shaved the Bride of Frankstein's head into the trash can. Totally disgusting.

Quite frankly, the (supposedly) less severe  peanut allergy is the bigger pain in the ass. Do you have any idea how much stuff is made with, around, near or on the same conveyor belt as peanuts? I started to peel a banana the other day that had a warning about it being grown next to some peanuts. Okay, not really, but still..it's pretty absurd. Plus, we have to deprive her of the sheer joy of a peanut butter sandwich. It breaks my heart. And I don't care what you say, almond butter and cashew butter are not acceptable substitutes.

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