The kids are seven for seven. Each of the past seven days one of them woke up between 2am and 4am in need of a few hours of parental attention. We just started our saturday and, with three hours of sleep, I’m exhausted. The kids? They announced they were tired and decided to doze off.… Read the rest
Happy New Year! My family celebrated New Year’s Eve with with good friends from California. All the parents and kids — exhausted from travel — fell asleep by 10:30pm. That resulted in one of the most refreshing and rested New Year’s Days I’ve had in a long time.… Read the rest
Do you remember your first sledding experience? We just took my daughter Celeste out for her first sledding adventure. Sled of choice? Costco’s foam boogie-board-like contraption. They sell for under $20 — and they’re lighter and faster than anything else.… Read the rest
About 30 years ago, my dad purchased a Wilesco toy steam roller — which is a real, miniature steam-powered steam roller. It’s incredibly authentic for a model, and it resembles a high-priced antique far more than a toy. It’s been sitting on my fireplace mantel for the past four years, and my four-year-old son and my dad prompted me to fire it up for the first time a few days ago.… Read the rest
With Thanksgiving here in America, turkey fryers are in seasonal vogue. I’m fascinated with those tipsy, flimsy contraptions, which combine a tall aluminum cauldron, gas-burner and basic metal stand.
The turkey fryer’s size, awkwardness, assembly, open flames, dangerous hot oil and primal nature tend to fascinate and lure men, while scaring off women.… Read the rest
