Costume Regret

By brian October 31, 2012Columns, Halloween

Because of another commitment, I didn’t get a chance to help out at our house during Trick or Treat night last week. This marked the second straight year I couldn’t check out what cool costumes the kids (and their parents) put together.

I realize my daughter will eventually outgrow trick-or-treating, but I feel better knowing I can live vicariously through the costumes of other people’s children.

I find this very important because it serves as a sort of therapy from a disastrous costume experience I had as a child.

Crabcake Confusion

By brian October 23, 2012America, Columns, Family, Food

To be honest, I got a little cocky. I can only blame myself.

My wife went away for a few days recently, leaving me in charge of everything – the house, the meals and our daughter. I had complete control.

In the days and weeks leading up to this time, Bridget and I giggled over having the freedom to not put a clip on a bag of cereal of chips, just daring the food to go a little bit stale. In other words, I showed my true maturity level.

When we had the house to ourselves, we didn’t go nearly as crazy as we may have intimated, but we certainly had a little bit of extra fun. We didn’t have many bags we could leave unclipped, but we turned the TV up a little louder than usual and had no regard for normal rules of when the day’s newspaper moved from the dining room table to the recycling pile.

Like you, I am amazed the police never showed up to calm us down.

Taking on a Challenge

By brian October 17, 2012Columns, Family

When things get bad, you pretty much have two options. You can either sit in the corner and complain or you can step up and make a difference. I like…

Fictional Worries

By brian October 12, 2012America, Columns

The kids just wanted to help their Dad. They thought if they surprised him by washing the car, he would appreciate their pluck and initiative.

They didn’t mean to leave the windows open. They never intended to fill the inside of the car with water and suds. The plan didn’t involve making things worse.

Their Dad didn’t mind. He shrugged it off and laughed because he just wanted to spend some time with his boys. My wife, however, was appalled at the lack of concern everyone involved had for the inside of the car.

The car wash scene appeared in a commercial, but that didn’t allay Maria’s concerns. Even though I assured her that the boys didn’t set up a camera and damage the car while secretly filming the scene which would later be turned into a television advertisement, she still had trouble accepting the scene.

This has turned into a recurring theme in our house. My wife’s good heartedness has extended to worrying about the fates of fictional characters.