A Conversation With Tyler

At the house:

Me: Tyler! Want to go to the store with me to buy some ice cream?
Tyler: Sure! Let me put my shoes on!

In the car on the way:

Me: So Tyler...We're going to go someplace special tomorrow.
Tyler: You mean today?
Me: No, tomorrow. We're gonna go someplace special tomorrow.
Tyler: Tomorrow is today.
Me: No. Listen. What's the sun doing right now? Going down?
Tyler: Yeah.
Me: Well, when the sun comes back up again it's tomorrow.
Tyler: And then we're going to the special place?
Me: Yes! After school.
Tyler: I want my Mommy...
Me: Mommy's going to go too, Tyler!
Tyler: What special place?
Me: It's a place called Orlando. We're going to visit one of Daddy's good friends.
Tyler: Tonight?
Me: No! Tomorrow...
Tyler: So we're going to Orlando now?
Me: No! We're going to get ice cream!!!!!!!!!!!

Look Out World...

...my wife's blogging now! After watching me keep up this incessant task, Erin has finally decided to try out the dynamic world of online journaling. Check her out here:



Erin Greenhalgh

I Heart Fishing

When I was growing up, fishing was a pasttime that my father and I attempted to share. I was always one who enjoyed rod and reel fishing, particularly freshwater fishing. I loved the peace and quiet and having the opportunity to experience nature, watching the waves lap against the shore or the edge of the boat. I liked keeping my eyes open for all varieties of wildlife that might make themselves seen and really just dug the time with my Dad. My Dad was more of a castnet kind of guy, particularly given his passion for mullet fishing. Sadly, this was something that I never really latched onto. I tried, and to this day if you asked me I could throw a net for you. My problem was seeing the fish. This was not an easy task and, well, to my father's great sadness, I just never quite caught on.

Well, as a short glance down the page will show, my son and I have taken up fishing. I'd forgotten how much I really enjoyed the experience of being outside, of watching my bobber (yes, we're fishing old-school!) float across the surface of that water, and especially of having my son beside me learning. Now Tyler's not necessarily clued in all that well, and he tends to have more fun casting, then handing the pole to me to do the actual fishing so he can down a popsicle or rummage through the tackle box. Either way, I love the time I get to spend with him.

And, tonight, my son caught his first legitimate fish. While we're referring to the pic below as Tyler's actual catch, tonight was the real deal. Granted, it happened sort of by accident, as Tyler was holding the pole for a rare second while I baited our other pole's hook but when the bobber dove under the surface of the water and I hollered for him to reel, Tyler drew in our whopper of the evening. I'm going to say it. I'm a proud papa. I love my son. He's an amazing kid who continues to teach me each and every day. This morning he reminded me that he loves me. I hope he remembers that when he's sixteen...

An Energy Crisis Averted

With the very real threat of global warming and the depletion of our natural resources looming over our heads, a frantic search has begun for environmentally friendly and sustainable energy sources. Some have long touted the value of harnessing the wind for power. Others still have supported the technology behind solar panels that capture the power of the sun. Others still have come forward as of late to speak highly of the value of fuels like ethanol and other such naturally-derived sources. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an announcement to make. Our search is over! Let the world rejoice! I have discovered a power that few can rival. Let me share it with you.

Just this past weekend, to celebrate my son Tyler's fifth birthday, we headed off to that local bastion of birthday bonanzas, none other than Chuck E. Cheese. While there, I sat and watched a hyperactive buzz of activity, as children, and mine among them, flitted here, there, and everywhere fueled simply by copious amounts of watered-down Sprite, cotton candy, and sub-par pizza. A small birthday cake also factored into the mix but the engine was at full speed long before it made it's arrival. And, as I sat there, cringing from the noise and anxiously awaiting the end of the coveted tokens, it came to me. Chuck E. Cheese, for all it's kitsch, is sitting on top of the cure for our energy woes. Consider the simple elements listed above to fuel the kids. Those are readily available and simple enough to provide. No problem there. And kids? Kids will always flock to establishments like the Chuck E. Cheese simply because it's really the place where a kid can be a kid. All that's left to do is to figure out a way to harness that mad crazy energy. Perhaps the innovators behind the film Monsters, Inc. have some input here?

Fishing in the Back Yard