Slip Sliding Away

That's me and Parker in the background sizing up the task-at-hand.
PJ: "You can do it dad!"
Me: "Why don't you try?"
PJ: "Because I'm a little girl and you're a big strong daddy."
Me: "Ya know, you're right. Foot surfin' across a slip-n-slide can't be that difficult. Right?"



Unfortunately...
As the saying goes..."gravity, it's not just a good idea, it's the law"


Damage assessment deemed manageable.

Mama Mia

Me and my mum 1971.

Based on the picture I am at my grandparents house in San Jose and I'm clinging to my mom because my grandma was approaching me with the intent of laying a big juicy kiss on my cheek that almost sucked up the right side of my face.

My mom has taught me a lot about parenthood. She's taught me about trust, hard work, and the all important tenet that parenting is a life-long task...er....adventure. And in that long adventure it's a good idea to own a Zippo.



When it comes examining our evolution as a culture, nothing is more compelling than ads from a by-gone era.

Getting Laura or my mom a new Zippo lighter for Mother's Day did not come to mind.

Maybe next year I can find a nice pink one.

Pizza Party!

Our County tennis team in the Corporate Games had a little luncheon celebrating our sweep in tennis (no thanks to me, I lost 8-1). When I mentioned this to Parker the day previous she got very excited. She smiled and kind of 'tremored' a little before excitedly stating "Dad, I am so there!".

"I don't recall inviting you Parker."

"Daaaad, you know how much I love pizza parties. Remember the one at your old work?"

"Yes, the one where it was me, you, your cabbage patch doll and a couple of old ladies sitting in a cold conference room eating lukewarm pizza?"

"Yeah, that was soooooo much fun."

Sure Parker, you can come along. It'll be fun."



She is so well-behaved around stangers. I love it.

Laura in 3's

Me and my big sis' Cyndi

I was tagged by Christie to share about myself and I am finally getting around to it. Here goes.

3 names I go by:
1. Mommy

2. La La

3. La La Babe

3 jobs I have had:

1. Order Management Supervisor

2. Server and bartender at Outback

3. Basketball referee

3 places I have lived:

1. San Francisco

2. Azusa

3. Castro Valley

3 fave drinks:
1. Cabernet Sauvignon

2. Water
3. Caramel Macchiato, extra shot of espresso, "but make it just barely sweet, only half a pump of caramel"

3 t.v. shows I watch:
1. So You Think You Can Dance

2. United States of Tara

3. Mad Men

3 places I have been:

1. Spain

2. Sweden

3. Germany

3 places I would like to visit:
1. Grand Canyon

2. Portugal

3. Hawaii (again)

3 fave retro TV shows:
1. Scooby Doo

2. Charlie's Angels

3. Brady Bunch

3 fave dishes:

1. Filet with wine reduction sauce

2. Blackened Salmon

3. The pasta dish with truffle sauce at Cafe Zack. I can't stop thinking about it.

3 things I am looking forward to:
1. Summer beach trips
2. Camping

3. Taking my girls to Hawaii, hopefully next summer

3 people I am tagging:

1. Will

2. Loren

3. Geoff

Words of Wisdom

I was at Macy's the other day doing a little shopping for my girls in the childrens department. At checkout, my girls were trying to climb up the counter to see what I was doing. Then they'd run over to the clothing rack and climb inside the clothes so that I couldn't see them. As I was finishing up and folding the receipt into my wallet, a woman behind me, about my mom's age, who had been observing us said to me,

"I remember those days of having young children. I felt like I had no time for myself and I always looked forward to a time when they were older so I could start having time for me again. But now when I look back on my life, those were truly the happiest times of my life. I just wanted to share that with you."

This was one of the first times I've received unsolicited advice/comments from strangers that I actually appreciated. And her comment was actually very helpful to me. Although I find myself regularly frustrated when I can't seem to get anything done because the girls always need something from me, it is so true that I am the happiest I've ever been in my life. I guess I've had this mental construct that true happiness doesn't include daily fits of frustration. But I'm letting go of that now.

Here are some other unsolicited comments I received from strangers that I did NOT appreciate:

• While traveling to Fargo by plane when Georgia was 5 weeks old , at the security checkpoint I lied and said my bottled water was for formula (this was the only way I could get my water onto the plane and I needed it desperately. I didn't trust the flight attendant could provide me the volume of water a nursing mother needs to drink). The woman who handed me back my bag said, "Breast milk is best" with a snotty look on her face.
  
• On that same trip, I decided to take a trip to the bathroom. I peeled Georgia's sweaty little body away from mine and headed to the toilet. Another passenger saw that she wasn't in a blanket and said,"Oh...she must be so cold!"

Project Camp Out – El Capitan April 30, 2010

It was Laura’s idea earlier this year for us to plan our first family camping trip. The Dahl family's tattered yet formidable 1976 Coleman Yorktown Tent Trailer was up for the task. The poor thing hadn't been awakened (opened up) since the early 90's.

This monumental occasion was not covered by any of the big networks or any element of the nefarious liberal mainstream media but “The Powers That Be” web log was there like a fly on the wall of a dirty shower stall to record the event in detail.

Most of the unpacking and setting up went quite smoothly.

The beach was only a five minute walk from camp.

The Georgia Transporter 2000

Parker in deep contemplation about the existential meaning behind the Scooby Doo episode she watched the day prior.

The Parker Powers Princess Power Trio played an impromptu camprground concert for the little gopher that kept sticking his head out of a hole. An encore was not requested by the audience.

Gerogia's melodramatic sobbing sessions are becoming legendary. She didn't get what she wanted so she walked away from us and cried/whined by herself. Usually she walks away and falls to the floor and buries her head and cries. Life just isn't fair.

The unveiling of the potty chair for Georgia. Although she is very excited about it, the mission proved to be unsuccessful.

Concerned look.

The little hippy.

In summary the trip was enjoyable for all of us except for the major allergic reaction I have to nature. Hopefully modern medicine will cure my ills. The one thing we all learned is that the next trip has to be longer.