While trying to coax the Dreamingtree.org website into letting me have the Dave Matthews show from Wednesday night, this arrived in my email:

    If a dog were your teacher
These are some of the lessons you might learn...

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face
to be pure ecstasy

When it's in your best interest
practice obedience
Let others know when they've invaded your territory
Take naps and stretch before rising
Run romp and play daily

Thrive on attention and let people touch you
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do
On warm days stop to lie on your back on the grass
On hot days drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree
When you're happy dance around and wag your entire body

No matter how often you're scolded
don't buy into the guilt thing and pout
run right back and make friends

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm
Stop when you have had enough
Be loyal
Never pretend to be something you're not

If what you want lies buried
dig until you find it
When someone is having a bad day
be silent .....
...sit close by.

...and nuzzle them gently.

got his Father's Day present early.

I've written about my son before, but the daughters sometimes get shortshift and I apologize to them about that. Don't want to be accused of playing favorites. Anyhoo, since my separation and now divorce, every Friday involves all of em coming to my apartment at least for a night. This one was no different. We went swimming and did dinner and whatnot and generally hung out. It was pretty great.

Saturday, I told my sister's SO that I would come over and help him move some furniture for a yard sale he was having. Came back to the apartment and slowly me and the kids got the day going for real. We went over to the sale so the kids could see their aunt and pick out some stuff. After lunch we headed back to the pool. My son met a friend of his there and the invite was extended to go see Fantastic Four at the friends house. Who am I to say no to more "clobbering time."

It was me and the girls. It's been an educational dynamic for me. Sometimes they've been punching the clock, "When are we going home?" That sort of thing. Yesterday, it was what's for dinner and unspoken hanging out, with a little bit of laughing mixed in. Pretty great . I must be doing something right.

My dignity was taking a beating today. It was Father Son Day at my son's Tae Kwan Do studio. When your eight year old extends a personal invite, you can't say no. I acquitted myself fairly well. I got through it all and am reasonably sure I wasn't turning purple during the stretching exercises, it just felt like it.

I know the instructors were babying us, which is fine as they know who does the paying. Afterwards, we got some dinner and repaired to the pool, ipod boom box in tow. Said IPOD now contains the mix provided to us all by (e:Jenks)(thanks again!). There is a shallow circle where I was soaking and watching my son swim off the last of his energy for the day. I set the Jenks mix as the soundtrack, which got an approving nod from the lifeguard.

A trio of kids came down to swim and were shooting the shit. As they got in, they took note and one little twerp actually said "Hey, the old guy's got good tunes." I felt my own grey hair stab me like a dagger, turning me into one of the villians from Scooby Doo ("I'd play it louder if it wasn't for you meddlin kid!").

As my son and I were getting ready to leave, I couldn't resist. I got the question of "Hey Mister, who schooled ya on the tunes?" Without missing a beat, I replied "it was something a doctor prescribed for me."

Thanks Jenks, I got cred....for the moment

I wasn't ready to settle in earlier. I had a bite to eat and hopped in my rust bucket over to the water. I went over to Bird Island Pier and took an post dinner stroll. There's a little incline that slopes toward the water. A few neighborhood kids were falling into the water and there was one kid who took his BMX bike off the side, caught a little air and went right into the water. Now, the practical Dad side of me wants to say the obvious: "Are you out of your natural mind?" You could drown or lose your bike. It also looked kinda fun. A passing tour boat dropped a wave unexpectedly in my lap. I took that refreshing surprise as my cue to head out.

Journeyed over to the marina and caught a great view of the sunset and headed home, spiritually renewed, ready for what tomorrow may bring.

On a recent foray to Becker Farms, I found that there is actually a draw bridge up near Gasport. Here's how to take the picture from your driver seat


And this is what happens when your hand slips

The farm rooster was not amused by last year's father's day gift

Tastes like chicken