surprise underneath his 5 year old pad was... well... a BALD spot. “Xaine what happened?” I inquired to which he responded “My hair just fell out” (K… knowing men are prone to an ever expanding forehead as we age, I’m fairly certain my boy is not experiencing an advanced form of localized male pattern baldness). So with a smirk and that anti lying look us parents have honed...I inquired once more, “Xaine what ‘REALLY’ happened?” This time the tale was a slightly different one. “Dadoo, I got my Silly Putty stuck in my hair” … “Oh dear Baboo, why did you not tell me? Did you think I would be upset?” “No, Dadoo… I wanted to be bigger so I tried getting it out myself… I rubbed it with a towel but it didn’t come out… so… I just cut it”. That’s my boy for you. While he now has a Mr. Clean marking and will be sporting a ‘TRUMP’ do for some time… He could honestly care less… in his eyes (and mine) he still looks like the stud he is and more importantly….he faced his problem with a resolution of his own independent design…
Monday, December 8, 2008
Not So 'Silly Putty'
As parents we raise children in a manner by which we hope that one day we’ve equipped our little babe’s with enough knowledge to safely and with confidence spread their wings and seek their independence. Never did I think my little man would start the flapping of his wings so early… Having observed Xaine resting his hand or scratching his head in the same location for some time I asked him to let me take a look. To my
surprise underneath his 5 year old pad was... well... a BALD spot. “Xaine what happened?” I inquired to which he responded “My hair just fell out” (K… knowing men are prone to an ever expanding forehead as we age, I’m fairly certain my boy is not experiencing an advanced form of localized male pattern baldness). So with a smirk and that anti lying look us parents have honed...I inquired once more, “Xaine what ‘REALLY’ happened?” This time the tale was a slightly different one. “Dadoo, I got my Silly Putty stuck in my hair” … “Oh dear Baboo, why did you not tell me? Did you think I would be upset?” “No, Dadoo… I wanted to be bigger so I tried getting it out myself… I rubbed it with a towel but it didn’t come out… so… I just cut it”. That’s my boy for you. While he now has a Mr. Clean marking and will be sporting a ‘TRUMP’ do for some time… He could honestly care less… in his eyes (and mine) he still looks like the stud he is and more importantly….he faced his problem with a resolution of his own independent design…
surprise underneath his 5 year old pad was... well... a BALD spot. “Xaine what happened?” I inquired to which he responded “My hair just fell out” (K… knowing men are prone to an ever expanding forehead as we age, I’m fairly certain my boy is not experiencing an advanced form of localized male pattern baldness). So with a smirk and that anti lying look us parents have honed...I inquired once more, “Xaine what ‘REALLY’ happened?” This time the tale was a slightly different one. “Dadoo, I got my Silly Putty stuck in my hair” … “Oh dear Baboo, why did you not tell me? Did you think I would be upset?” “No, Dadoo… I wanted to be bigger so I tried getting it out myself… I rubbed it with a towel but it didn’t come out… so… I just cut it”. That’s my boy for you. While he now has a Mr. Clean marking and will be sporting a ‘TRUMP’ do for some time… He could honestly care less… in his eyes (and mine) he still looks like the stud he is and more importantly….he faced his problem with a resolution of his own independent design…
Saturday, November 29, 2008
45 Pounder
Tis the time for giving THANKS so Xaine and I would like to immortalize in script those relationships which endured/strengthened through our recent endeavors, those who we thought we'd lost but who's paths have diverged with ours once more and those newly introduced on this our East Coast journey. Whether you have entered our lives for a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime... We cherish all memories of the past, those yet to come and lets not forget the NOW (i.e. Gobble Gobble Day)... Hav
ing accepted a gracious invitation of Holiday festivities we arrived with empty tummies and some Canned Cranberry Jelly. After some socializing, hor'derves sampling and one belt notch later Xaine and I decided to work some of our stuffing off by playing a little Hide n' Seek and Heelying around. Our waist lines had been somewhat restored just in time for us to follow the aroma of the main course which had penetrated our nostrils. As if magically transported to the kitchen we found ourselves before a feast for all saints. Living by the rule of having to try everything at least once we stuffed our guts till we co
uldn't get off our butts. (Mental note to either wear roomier denim or sweats next nosh fest). Needing once again to seek an activity to reduce the waist line, but fearing a sudden movement may projectile launch and injure our hosts/others with a bonsai button... we opted to stay put and entertain ourselves with the Sword Toothpicks at the table. Parry and defend 
and lunge and... impale my childs wrist (ok, not so much impale but a half inch bleeding scratch is totally a mood breaker) MEDIC...! Luckily our hostess had a ready supply of Jumbo Grande bandages. Avoiding the need for a transfusion by applying a sizable wrap and having almost Darth Vador'd my little Luke's arm I did what any guilt ridden father would do. Gave him one, two, three slices of Pumpkin pie with mounds of whipped cream (sugar free of course, I felt guilt but not crazy enough to load my boy up on that much edible crystalline substances)... Mmmmmm... All and all it was a very enjoyable and relaxing holiday. I'm Thankful for yet another happy memory to add to my growing collection... and not to speak for my boy but I bet Xaine is glad our Mashed Potato's, Olives and Turkey pan were not put to use. Beside, do you have any idea as to how long it would take to cook this 45 Pounder?
......................................................................................................
A moment of silence and the flickering of a flame in memory of those who where not with us physically but whom are never far from our hearts.
ing accepted a gracious invitation of Holiday festivities we arrived with empty tummies and some Canned Cranberry Jelly. After some socializing, hor'derves sampling and one belt notch later Xaine and I decided to work some of our stuffing off by playing a little Hide n' Seek and Heelying around. Our waist lines had been somewhat restored just in time for us to follow the aroma of the main course which had penetrated our nostrils. As if magically transported to the kitchen we found ourselves before a feast for all saints. Living by the rule of having to try everything at least once we stuffed our guts till we co
uldn't get off our butts. (Mental note to either wear roomier denim or sweats next nosh fest). Needing once again to seek an activity to reduce the waist line, but fearing a sudden movement may projectile launch and injure our hosts/others with a bonsai button... we opted to stay put and entertain ourselves with the Sword Toothpicks at the table. Parry and defend 
and lunge and... impale my childs wrist (ok, not so much impale but a half inch bleeding scratch is totally a mood breaker) MEDIC...! Luckily our hostess had a ready supply of Jumbo Grande bandages. Avoiding the need for a transfusion by applying a sizable wrap and having almost Darth Vador'd my little Luke's arm I did what any guilt ridden father would do. Gave him one, two, three slices of Pumpkin pie with mounds of whipped cream (sugar free of course, I felt guilt but not crazy enough to load my boy up on that much edible crystalline substances)... Mmmmmm... All and all it was a very enjoyable and relaxing holiday. I'm Thankful for yet another happy memory to add to my growing collection... and not to speak for my boy but I bet Xaine is glad our Mashed Potato's, Olives and Turkey pan were not put to use. Beside, do you have any idea as to how long it would take to cook this 45 Pounder? ......................................................................................................A moment of silence and the flickering of a flame in memory of those who where not with us physically but whom are never far from our hearts.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
White with One Orange Stripe
Not sure what you all do every Tuesday and Thursday between 5:45pm and 6:15pm ET... but I sure can confirm my location on each of these nights. I've been supporting my l
ittle man as he diligently practices at Pak's Karate Academy. I can't believe it has already been 3 months and I now find myself watching him at the Quarterly belt ranking test. This time around he not only tests before his fellow White Belts but also the Orange - Black Belts (all their family and friends) and if that is not enough eyes on my boy Master Nathans Master (Master Johnson) is also in attendance. (No pressure at all) Xaine as usual shows no wavering in his confidence of his abilities. He ever so energetically joins his testing group in showing all his technique around this rankings 3 One Step requirements:
1st One Step -
Front Foot Side Kick
Down Block
Punch
2nd One Step -
Back Foot Kick
High Block
Punch
3rd One Step -
Front Foot Side Kick
Back Foot Pivot Kick
Having completed the One Step portion of the testing it is time for him to break is 'First Board'.. yep.. my little man is going to break a board (Now what boy/man doesn't find board breaking to be TOTALLY AWESOME).. so with a few practice kicks......
With all boards having been taught to fear 5 year old feet a silence fills the room as the Masters review the scoring and determine who will progress in ranking.... Master Nathan takes the floor and calls out name.. after name ... till ... XAINE
Told you he was confident.. Not like you could miss that fact by the manner in which he leaves behind his 'White Belt' and struts up to receive his 'White with One Orange Stripe Belt'
ittle man as he diligently practices at Pak's Karate Academy. I can't believe it has already been 3 months and I now find myself watching him at the Quarterly belt ranking test. This time around he not only tests before his fellow White Belts but also the Orange - Black Belts (all their family and friends) and if that is not enough eyes on my boy Master Nathans Master (Master Johnson) is also in attendance. (No pressure at all) Xaine as usual shows no wavering in his confidence of his abilities. He ever so energetically joins his testing group in showing all his technique around this rankings 3 One Step requirements: 1st One Step -
Front Foot Side Kick
Down Block
Punch
2nd One Step -
Back Foot Kick
High Block
Punch
3rd One Step -
Front Foot Side Kick
Back Foot Pivot Kick
Having completed the One Step portion of the testing it is time for him to break is 'First Board'.. yep.. my little man is going to break a board (Now what boy/man doesn't find board breaking to be TOTALLY AWESOME).. so with a few practice kicks......
With all boards having been taught to fear 5 year old feet a silence fills the room as the Masters review the scoring and determine who will progress in ranking.... Master Nathan takes the floor and calls out name.. after name ... till ... XAINE
Told you he was confident.. Not like you could miss that fact by the manner in which he leaves behind his 'White Belt' and struts up to receive his 'White with One Orange Stripe Belt'
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Pocket Weight
Pockets weighed down with cash.. what to do? (surprisingly our plans on this Sunday did not involve a shopping spree) Rather we hit the road to Downtown for the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural FAIR. After a short drive with scenic detour (Yep, got us lost... but this time I was just a street vs. a State off ) we arrived. Having snagged a p
rime parking location ($5), passed through the metal detector with 'complementory' pat down ($0), entry passes acquired ($25 BOGO) and a booklet of 20 ride tickets ($25) we where ready for some good times. Traversing our way around the grounds to identify rides Xaine would brave we stumbled upon the Carrousel (6 tickets). Round and round...man, all that Merry Go Rounding sure created a fatigue. So we caught the 'Kan Du - Magic Show' while stuffed our fair ground faces with grease dripping Pizza and large soda 
($14). Well caffeinated we ventured over to 'Jump the Ultimate Dog Show'.. Frizbees flung, fur a flying and Xaine in his 'tall voice' exclaiming 'Floofpoof can do better then these dogs" it was time for an awkward retreat to find more entertainment. "Step right up" "Free, prize if you let the little guy try" "Everyone's a winner".. something about the gamers ranting is like a sirens call. With watchful eye I spy a water gun target shoot ($6) with only little kids on the triggers. Xaine on trigger 13 and I on 12 (WHAT? my inner child wanted to play.. no disadvantage to the other kids), Ding went the bell, water steamed, flashing s
tation 12 light... "We have a winner". Xaine pick your prize.. "Sorry kid, the giant 'Stewie' requires two wins" (like I'm not getting my little man that prize)...One more flash on station 12 ($6) and Xaine had STEWIE. So little to do so much blog space (strike that reverse it).. we whiplashed in the bumper cars (8 tickets), placed a trifecta at the 'Robinson's Racking Pigs' and 'Great American Duck Race', slid down the Potato sack slide (3 tickets), 
scurried through the extreme obstacle course (3 tickets) and nosh, nosh, noshed the whole day through: ice cream cone ($4), meat sticks ($10), and Funnel Cake ($8 and worth every penny). Relatively late, a tiered boy upon my shoulders (compensating for my much lighter pockets) and our newest Family Guy in hand.. we left the Flashing lights, Aromatic munchies, Intriguing entertainment and Rides. One can calculate the expense of our outing... but in my eyes it was just another "Priceless" day with my Baboo.
rime parking location ($5), passed through the metal detector with 'complementory' pat down ($0), entry passes acquired ($25 BOGO) and a booklet of 20 ride tickets ($25) we where ready for some good times. Traversing our way around the grounds to identify rides Xaine would brave we stumbled upon the Carrousel (6 tickets). Round and round...man, all that Merry Go Rounding sure created a fatigue. So we caught the 'Kan Du - Magic Show' while stuffed our fair ground faces with grease dripping Pizza and large soda 
($14). Well caffeinated we ventured over to 'Jump the Ultimate Dog Show'.. Frizbees flung, fur a flying and Xaine in his 'tall voice' exclaiming 'Floofpoof can do better then these dogs" it was time for an awkward retreat to find more entertainment. "Step right up" "Free, prize if you let the little guy try" "Everyone's a winner".. something about the gamers ranting is like a sirens call. With watchful eye I spy a water gun target shoot ($6) with only little kids on the triggers. Xaine on trigger 13 and I on 12 (WHAT? my inner child wanted to play.. no disadvantage to the other kids), Ding went the bell, water steamed, flashing s
tation 12 light... "We have a winner". Xaine pick your prize.. "Sorry kid, the giant 'Stewie' requires two wins" (like I'm not getting my little man that prize)...One more flash on station 12 ($6) and Xaine had STEWIE. So little to do so much blog space (strike that reverse it).. we whiplashed in the bumper cars (8 tickets), placed a trifecta at the 'Robinson's Racking Pigs' and 'Great American Duck Race', slid down the Potato sack slide (3 tickets), 
scurried through the extreme obstacle course (3 tickets) and nosh, nosh, noshed the whole day through: ice cream cone ($4), meat sticks ($10), and Funnel Cake ($8 and worth every penny). Relatively late, a tiered boy upon my shoulders (compensating for my much lighter pockets) and our newest Family Guy in hand.. we left the Flashing lights, Aromatic munchies, Intriguing entertainment and Rides. One can calculate the expense of our outing... but in my eyes it was just another "Priceless" day with my Baboo.
Friday, November 7, 2008
POLE Dancer
Yesterday evening as I walk the long halls of Greenland Pines Elementary to pick up Xaine I was greeted by one of the After School Program directors who says calmly “Mr. Evans, Xaine is fine…” (While somewhat reassuring, words like these still invoke a
surge of protective parental emotions) “What Happened?” I inquire. “Well, he has a good size bump … he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings and walked right into a POLE”. (Internal dialog “He walked into a POLE?”) Mere moments later my little man rounds the corner with an ice pack held to his newly acquired right brow bump. “My poor Baboo” I get down to his level, gave him a big hug and a magic kiss on his booboo… and then……
(Here is where you leap forward through time with us… feel free to insert at this point any special effect or theme music you desire)
Today, on one of the never ending conference calls in my daily schedule I notice a local number on my display. As the red light illuminates (indicating a message has been left) an unsettling feeling overtakes. So I drop my conference, access my mailbox and hear “Mr. Evans... this is Mrs. Sisbarro (Xaine’s Teacher) I need you to call me back…..” Wasting no time.JPG)
I return the call. Upon answering she says calmly “Mr. Evans, Xaine is fine…” (What is it with everyone thinking those words are so comforting?) “What Happened?” I inquire… “Well, he has a good size bump … he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings and walked right into a POLE”. (Um... anyone else having the same sense of déjà vu?) Unsure if I’m in a bad Groundhog Day remake I respond “I’m sorry… did you say he walked into a POLE … TODAY?” “Yes Mr. Evans…” was the response I received. So a short drive later I find myself picking up my right brow bump, newly left side forehead lump sporting, ever so observant… POLE Dancer.
Xaine, if the past two days are any foreshadowing as to the career you may be leaning towards… Please work on an awareness of your surrounding prior to shaking your Bonbon… (I’ll give you my change belt when you are older)
surge of protective parental emotions) “What Happened?” I inquire. “Well, he has a good size bump … he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings and walked right into a POLE”. (Internal dialog “He walked into a POLE?”) Mere moments later my little man rounds the corner with an ice pack held to his newly acquired right brow bump. “My poor Baboo” I get down to his level, gave him a big hug and a magic kiss on his booboo… and then…… (Here is where you leap forward through time with us… feel free to insert at this point any special effect or theme music you desire)
Today, on one of the never ending conference calls in my daily schedule I notice a local number on my display. As the red light illuminates (indicating a message has been left) an unsettling feeling overtakes. So I drop my conference, access my mailbox and hear “Mr. Evans... this is Mrs. Sisbarro (Xaine’s Teacher) I need you to call me back…..” Wasting no time
.JPG)
I return the call. Upon answering she says calmly “Mr. Evans, Xaine is fine…” (What is it with everyone thinking those words are so comforting?) “What Happened?” I inquire… “Well, he has a good size bump … he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings and walked right into a POLE”. (Um... anyone else having the same sense of déjà vu?) Unsure if I’m in a bad Groundhog Day remake I respond “I’m sorry… did you say he walked into a POLE … TODAY?” “Yes Mr. Evans…” was the response I received. So a short drive later I find myself picking up my right brow bump, newly left side forehead lump sporting, ever so observant… POLE Dancer.Xaine, if the past two days are any foreshadowing as to the career you may be leaning towards… Please work on an awareness of your surrounding prior to shaking your Bonbon… (I’ll give you my change belt when you are older)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)