constructive nonconformist

BoMoms

From the proud husband department:

The bug is spreading. My wife is blogging. Her blog, weighty issues, is on the new boston.com BoMoms, a site “for moms in Boston and beyond.”

Science and Technology Television for a Seven Year Old

Television shows that my seven year old son enjoys that have science and technology content:

• MythBusters
• Fetch!
• Zula Patrol
• PEEP and the Big Wide World

The Apple iPhone will be a Raging Success

I think the Apple iPhone will be a Raging Success. Not because of Apple's hype. Not because of the Jobs RDF. But because it is advertised by its interface. Because the interface is straight out of science fiction. (That would be the happy shiny world of tomorrow type of science fiction, not the dark dystopian type.)

Most importantly I think the iPhone will be a success because my six year old son is excited about a phone.

"Daddy, it comes with pirates."

"Daddy, to make the picture big, you pinch out -- like this."

"Daddy, can we get one?"

(No. I'm not buying a $500 phone for myself let alone a six year old. But there will be enough people buying version 1.0 that Apple will be able to build an iPhone platform.)

Five Things You Don't Know About My Eyes

1. I’ve worn eye glasses since I was two.
2. Despite being so dependent on them, I don’t take very good care of my eye glasses.
3. I can’t wear contacts.
4. When I’m tired one of the muscles in the corner of one eye twitches. I don’t think the twitching is actually noticeable; but still, when it happens, I get a mental image of Herbert Lom as Chief Inspector Dreyfus.
5. Something that is noticeable and drives my wife crazy is that sometimes when I rub my eye, my eye ball squeaks.

Into the New Year

I have three major goals going forward: to be healthier, to provide better for my family, and to better nurture myself. In roughly that order. Although all three goals sustain each other.

Health comes first. When the airline oxygen mask drops from the overhead bin you need to put your own mask on first before you can help the person next to you.

Providing for the family isn’t limited to finances. Nurturing myself includes personal and professional development.

The changes start today. Not because it’s a new year. Not because today is special. But because today is today and the present is the best time to start.

And because my six year old son patted my belly and called me “fat daddy.”

Peeves, Small

• Text in a proportional font but using two spaces between sentences. (We have moved passed typewriters.)
• Pre-recorded election campaign phone calls. (Glad that’s over. (Until the next election season.))
• Whoever is letting their dog poop on my lawn and is not cleaning up.

Blogger's Block

I haven’t blogged for a while. Time and “blogger’s block” have been issues. But someone noticed and that’s encouraging. (Thanks for noticing.)

First my news. I’m back at work. Yay!

I won’t say where. It has been my policy to not identify my current or previous employers on my blog. My blog is a personal interest and the views and opinions expressed here are my own. It’s best not to create even a possibility for confusion about that.

I’ve never intended for this blog to be of the personal journal variety. That’s created a problem. What’s worthy of sharing in a blog post? And even if it’s worthy, is it too risky? I was sorely tempted to post about some of my job hunt experiences. For job seekers the market is improving but it’s still a buyer’s market. Sometimes when a buyer thinks they have all the power they can be — less than considerate. But whining about a bad experience won’t win points with the next prospective employer. And this blog may not be a journal but it is partly about self-marketing.

So what now? It’s time to just write and not worry about being worthy.

In Transition …

Not long ago my five year old son asked me “Daddy, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

His question has become more relevant. I have been laid off.

Elmo On Call

Fever. Nasal and sinus congestion. Headache. Cough.

I'm sick in bed. My 5 year old son brings his Elmo, his most treasured bed buddy, to me and tells me, "Daddy, Elmo will make you feel better."

Hello Jo

Link: Counting Sheep: Pink Snow.

We enjoyed the class but, I must admit, it was nice to be out as a couple without the kids. So the problems hardly troubled us.

I think I’ll try the churro recipe with my son.