The Final Countdown…

With Greta’s kindergarten starting next Monday, today marks the official beginning of our last full week together before “big girl” school starts. And while I’m very proud of the impossibly sweet, funny, intelligent young lady Greta has become over the past five years, part of me is dreading the many changes to come. I know we’ll always have plenty of time together but I also know that things change when kids go to school. I guess I’m just kinda bummed that the first great chapter of our wild and crazy time together is coming to an end.

With a few notable exceptions, I’ve been by Greta’s side almost every day since she was born and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world. I know it sounds corny, but, she’s been my favorite “production” of all. She has also been, quite literally, my life for the past five years.

And though I’m sad and happy and kind of terrified (especially of getting up early every day to get her to school on time! Yikes!) by the strange and winding road ahead of us, I’m looking forward to it as well. Every day with Greta is an adventure and no school schedule is gonna change that!

So, here’s to our last week of total freedom together, sweetie! Let’s get busy!

 

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Dove Men+Care’s “Call for Dads” TV Spot

Greta and I have been watching this sweet, beautifully produced TV spot from Dove Men+Care all week, and everytime we watch it, we cry. So, in honor of my upcoming fifth Father's Day as a dad this weekend, I figured I'd share this awesomeness with you guys as well.

Honestly, they had me at the title, but the fact that I know one of the dad's in the clip from my old Westside Dad's Meetup Group makes the clip that much more special. My buddy Trevor is the bald dude kissing his tow-headed little boy, Miles, near the middle of the commercial…you can't miss them. I think that's them in the insect costumes later on too. Either way, congrats, guys!

And to the rest of the weary, hard-working dads out there (stay-at-home and otherwise!) Happy Father's Day and enjoy the clip!

 

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Beating The Heat: Play-Doh Style!

Don’t know what the weather’s like where you’re at, but, it’s been a swampy mess down here and Greta and I have been literally melting in the heat. Proclaiming she was too hot to walk the other day, Greta actually crumpled to her knees and made me carry her to the car before ballet class.

The next day, she crawled to the back door to put her shoes on because “her feet stopped working.” and then yesterday it was so hot that it actually rained. Today too. And when I say rain, I’m not talking about deep, cleansing rain that makes the L.A. skyline all super blue. Nope. This was just enough rain to increase the swamp factor in the air and make your car looks like shit. Good times.

So, when the rain started today we decided to stay inside and color until it cooled down. And once it did, we hurried to the store to pick up something new and fun (and most importantly, cheap!) to play with. We only ventured as far as CVS, so, our options were kinda limited, but, today, luck was on our side. And somewhere between the kids crafts and fake Barbie dolls on the toy aisle, I found the perfect inside toy…the Play-Doh Fun Factory!

Longtime Play-Doh aficionados will remember the Fun Factory as the little hand pump machine with the plastic strips with different shaped holes in them. I don’t know if my brother and I ever actually owned one, but, man, did we love that thing when we were kids. Anyway, one of Greta’s friends has a vintage Fun Factory and we’ve been on the hunt for one for for weeks now.

Our only disappointment was that the 2013 edition of the Fun Factory doesn’t come with those cool little plastic scissors, but instead comes with a tiny knife. Weird huh? Other than that, the little pump still cranks out star-shaped snakes and long, curly Play-Doh hair with the best of em. So, hooray for indoor summer fun!

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Greta’s feet did start working again the other day. All I had to do was promise her a Hello Kitty popsicle and she was cured. Strange how that works, huh?

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Burbank, CA

Girls, girls, girls

Every once in a while, I stop and take a look at my life and realize that, with a few notable exceptions, my world is full of women. I have two moms — wait, that sounds wrong, not two moms in a lesbian couple kinda way, but, you know, my mom and my stepmom — a bunch of female friends and family and I live with two women…or, um, one woman and one toddler who just thinks and acts like she’s a grown-ass woman. Hell, even our cat is a girl.

Any way you look at it, I will always be outnumbered. And usually, that’s cool. I mean, I love women, girls, toddlers, whatever. In fact, I usually get along better with women than men. And anyone who knows me can tell you that I am definitely not Joe Macho Man, but, every so often, I do tend to feel a bit ganged up on.

I know what you’re thinking: “Oh, poor, Yeti. Ganged up on by a bunch of girls!” And I know it sounds stupid, but, sometimes I really wanna just, you know, take a piss in the forest or catch a fish with my bare hands and shit. OK, I don’t really wanna catch a fish with my bare hands, and, truth be told, I pee outside a lot. But, the point I’m trying to make here is that every once in a while, it would be great if all the ladies in my life (that includes you, Greta!) took a moment to appreciate me for all the good things I do and not harp on the bad. You know?

I’m not asking for a party or a parade or anything, but, just the chance to be who I am without anyone commenting on it. Hell, even just a big old bear hug and a smile would do. For instance, Greta told me the other day that I was the “Sweetest Dad she knew.” and then she hugged me really hard and that shit made my day. Of course, she changed her tune pretty quick when I told her she couldn’t eat her dinner in front of her little TV. But, for that moment, I was golden and it felt awesome.

So, ladies, if I seem grouchy or moody or out of sorts sometimes, it’s not because I don’t love you or appreciate all the good that you do (because I totally do!), I’m probably just feeling a wee bit outnumbered. So, you know, give a brother a break once in a while. I might love all kinds of truly girlie shit, but, deep down, I am not one of you. And if I wanna be my messy, sweaty, sleep-deprived self sometimes…let me. And if I ask for space to go duck hunting or whatever, well, let me do that too.

OK. That’s all I got. Thanks for listening and see ya at the next Barbie tea party in Greta’s room. Oh, and, for the record, the only thing I really hunt for are bargains. But, that still counts! So, Grrrr…leave me alone, I’m tracking some reasonably-priced Blu-Rays at Costco!