Home Schooling Life

So, this is home schooling life. Once a year, along with my lovely bride, I'm off to the New England Home Schooling Convention held in Worcester, MA. Worcester is one of those cities that is now greatly maligned, but at one point, especially around the turn of the 20th century, it was a hub of industry and finance for central MA. It's also the home town of the father of American Rocketry - Robert Goddard, and has a couple of the country's best schools (Holy Cross and WPI). There's ton's of great old architecture and happily, has a couple of nice places to eat.



We stay at the Crowne Plaza which (with the exception of this year) has been one of my favorite places to stay. Oh, sure, I've stayed at some really nice hotels over the years as I travel. Some $650 a night joints in NYC, some beautiful suites on the ocean in Florida. But, with the exception of those just for sheer luxury, I always enjoy the Crowne because the bed is great, there is free wi-fi in the rooms and in the lobby and I like their bathroom amenties. Of course, the best part about it is that my lovely wife is always with me. :-)



This year was interesting once again because we had a baby with us - Sophie's first convention. It always makes the convention more interesting trying to juggle the schedule of a nursing infant with seminar sessions and the need to hit the convention floor to find the latest in cutting edge learning systems. Hey, we really do put in some time trying to find the best curriculum for the learning style and interests of the kids! And yes, I'm a BIG believer in home schooling and the longer we do it the more benefits I find in doing it. Maybe that will be another post!



Anyway, it was a great convention this year, cooler because someone that I became friends with last convention - Senior Gamache of La Clase Divertida (the fun class) - got to host a session. We're using his stuff to teach the girls Spanish and they're loving it.



If you've got kids (primarily pre-teen) and you want a great curriculum then you should check his stuff out. Worth EVERY cent!

Of course, now I'm home (no time last night to do this! we were too busy finding a place to eat, which we did, Moe's Southwestern Grill - www.moes.com) and then I had to crash because we needed to get up and out to sessions in the morning. Ummm, but we really didn't get that done either! Sigh. Still, it was a great day. Lots of time to walk around in the center, lots of time to spend with my wifey. And, it was a day I didn't have to listen to my 3 year old (Chole) try to order the rest of us around. Yikes. She has a lot of great stuff inside her. A serious annointing. The tough part is getting through these years and raising her correctly so that she can be all the blessing she's supposed to be!

OK. Time for me to crash, church in the AM!

The Gift

I just got done watching Biography's show on Andre the Giant. Very cool. As a kid in the 60's and 70's watching Andre was amazing. And, of course like everyone, I loved him as the gentle giant in The Princess Bride. Andre was an effusive individual with a great talent to share, a big gift to make people smile. And, his opportunity ended at age 46 due to the condition that actually made him a giant.

Likewise, though at the same time totally unlike Andre, I've been told that I have a gift - and a big one - to share with the world. No, I'm not bragging, nor am I going to be immodest. It's something that's been said to me since I was young, not something that I just decided. No worries, I'm not the next psycho that has some group thinking they're catching space ships out of town. OK? But, I did want to mention it here.

A big difference between Andre and me is that Andre found out young what his gift was, and was able to pursue it. In me, I think I've always had an inkling, however I've been working on making me a better vessel to share the gift. It seems that until I'm ready mentally, emotionally and spiritually, I'll never see the full expression of my gifting. Oh, have I seen glimpses from time to time? Sure. But it's more like a baseball player that suddenly hits a towering 500 ft home run, then somehow returns to being a punch and judy doubles hitter. Or a basketball player (sorry for the sports analogies) that scores 50 points in a game, then suddenly drops back to scoring 18 pts on average.

But, still, the gift is there. And, I'm here still working it out. I'm excited that I'm getting closer to the day that the big breakthrough will happen, but of course thinking that hey! I'm not getting any younger here!

Having said that, here's my encouragement to you. I and I take solice in this as well. Zig Ziglar hit the big time when he was around 46 years old, about a year older than me. And he's not the only person to gain noteriety in a field, or "instant" success a bit later in life than these folks that hit the big time at 22 or something by founding an internet company. So, hang in there. Don't get discouraged. In fact, God even has his say in the book of Habbakuk where he says to wait on the vision because it will happen in due time.

Keep at it. Keep pushing. Keep growing. Don't stop. You NEVER know what's around the next corner. Don't let set backs keep you back. There is no one that hasn't hit obstacles in life. Push through them. Draw strength from those you love around you. Continue to pour out love. Stay single minded and rejoyce. It will happen. It will come to pass. Believe it to be true, not because I've said so, but because God has said it of you. Then let me know how it comes out, OK?

Peace!

South Beach for LA-LA Land

Well, I mentioned several posts back that I was FAT. Good news is that I'm now only fat. :-) And I feel so much better. I can actually almost get my top button buttoned! Which was needed because I can't go out and buy lots of new clothes right now.

I've been doing South Beach diet - which I didn't find terribly restrictive even in the first phase. Basically, I had to cut out all starchy carbs and hi glycemic index fruits and veggies. The worst part of that was not being able to have my oatmeal for breakfast. I really like having oatmeal with fresh fruit for breakfast. But... now in phase 2 I can again! Ye ha! Phase 2 is really pretty much how I used to eat when I was eating healthily anyway so this isn't really a stretch.

The hardest thing is not having a lot to drink. Alas, I love cola. I don't drink the regular stuff because of the high fructose corn syrup. Nasty stuff. Unfortunately, now with recent information on Sucralose (Splenda), we find that it is also just as nasty. So, there go my cola options. And, even if I were to go to Mexico and get the REAL Coca Cola made with cane sugar (which is SOOOOOOOOO much better) I still couldn't DRINK it because it has sugar. Sigh.

Of course, I can still drink as much water as I want. I can still have green tea. I use Stivia as a sweetener - which is really good, is all natural, doesn't cause your insulin to spike. Now in phase 2 I can also have real whole grain products (not the crappy stuff that you get in the grocery store that claims to be made from wheat that is nothing but whole wheat that is highly processed, colored and infused with high fructose corn syrup) and most of the fruits and veggies that I like.

OH YAH - LA. Looks like I'm going on a business trip to LA. So, it's a good thing that I'm on a diet. To be in the plastic surgery capital of the world and not be in decent shape would be awful. And even better, since I am working out again, I won't be terribly embarrased to wear a t-shirt. At least not too much ;-). But I'll be going out there a good bit over the next 2 months, so I'll be able to get down to fighting weight by the end I imagine.

To wrap, I guess I'm making some progress. I've lost at least an inch and a quarter off my waist. My face looks thinner (which I was really surprised at because usually at this weight I think it looks pretty chubby!) Most importantly, because of phase one I'm out of that terrible chocolate chip cookie craving that I was suffering from (what do Chips Ahoy put in those cookies? I swear, the stuff is the food version of crack), and I feel WAY better. So, we soldier on!

THIS is THE Day

This is it. This is the BIG one. THE holy day of holidays, the day which without - the other holy days and/or holidays wouldn't make a difference.

This is Easter - the day that Jesus, fully man and fully God, rose from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit and defeated death and hell. There it is: game, set and match.

Without this day, Christmas is just Saturnalia - the ancient Roman winter holiday where they gave gifts. Without this day nobody would have cared enough to note the life of an obscure Jewish Rabbi, born in an obscure town who actually claimed to forgive sins and have life in himself. Actually, they would have thought he was a lunatic... but, then this day happened.


So, my question to you reader is, do you know Him? This nondescript rabbi (he was said to have no form that would make him out of the ordinary - he wasn't a rock star looks wise) who healed the lame, gave the blind sight and even raised people from the dead. Do you know him? He's still alive. His life is imprinted across almost everything in our modern world. His message - LOVE - is the most progressive and most needed solution that our digital age desires.

This is the day. Easter. This is the day that Jesus set his stamp for all humanity to see. Tell you what, take a look at what he had to say. Don't just take the word of someone that doesn't know him or thinks they're too smart or rich or poor or miserable or WHATEVER about what he is like. Find out. Don't just look at the Christian church - they (including me) are just other people as flawed as yourself that have found out who HE is and are trying to allow his power to work through them. But, they're all just people who are taking it day by day. Find out about him. Read his book. Heck, just read a couple of chapters - and make them the ones that have all the red print in them - his words. Words of life. Words of liberty. Words of salvation - and who doesn't need to be saved from something?

This is the day, rejoice and be glad in it. JESUS is RISEN!

Life is Good

I'm sitting on my love seat next to my wife, who's just fallen asleep after nursing Sophie - who is also asleep on my wife's lap. My other three girls (10, 8, 3) are playing happily with a friend using a toy that my 8 year old just got as a gift for her birthday.

The sun is shining, I'm listening to my iPod, doing a once over on something I need to deliver tomorrow and getting ready to do a mini-multimedia thing for a friend while I'm taking notes for a podcast.

I have a job through this week, I've lost some weight, we have great friends. Man, God is good and so is life!

Yo! We've got a HOT one tonight!

OK. So, yo, check it out! Dog pound, we've got a hot one tonight! This is my friend Veronica (who I met at MacWorld Boston) last year. And I can say "I knew her when..."

Well, not only is she a hottie, she's got some good stuff in the video too! Check it out :)

http://reviews.cnet.com/4660-10165_7-6484023.html?tag=cnetfd.ld2

Mandisa - The Best Idol to Ever Go Home Early

And it isn't even a contest. I don't really think anyone in the audience even believed it.

There were the no talent Bucky and pretty boy Ace, along with everyone's favorite ditzy blond Kelly Pickler with their FAR less capable butts planted in chairs in safety. Out on stage stood two of the most talented singers in this year competition, and probably in the top ten of all the 5 seasons. And, at the announcement there was nothing but boos, for a moment, then you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone was stunned. The judges, the other contestants, the audience. It was WRONG.

This girl should have been in the top 5 and maybe top 3. She brought it every week, performed brilliantly and had vocals to match.

Fracking Vote for the Worst dot com should be blown up. The moron (forgive me for my vitriol by the way) over there is doing his best to screw up the competition because he believes that it's controlled by Fox. It's so obviously not! Look at the results of the past seasons, even the first one, where Tamyra Grey was voted off before the final three when most people expected it to be her and Kelly Clarkson at the final. DOLTS!

And yes, I'm PISSED. I'm a singer. When I sing I work at it, I put my best into it. Just like these people on the show. And this dinkweed over at Vote for the Worst as his little way of playing demi-god is screwing with these peoples lives. You know what, it's not just wrong, it's immoral. How about if we go to his boss and just talk smack to him before the next review. See if we can cost him what he wanted, like a raise or promotion. Think he'd be so smug? No. He'd be barking mad - and he should be. But at the same time, he's totally screwed people out of their dreams because of his site and little band of malcontents that figure if they're miserable they should make these people that have put their all into the competition miserable too. Well done you complete GIT.

Mandisa, I love you honey. I'm SURE that you have standing in the center of your God's will for you and it will work out to the good! Jer. 29:11

Microserfs = Waist of Time

OK. So the first and only book I ever finished reading (because I'm a completest), then walked to the trash can and threw out was The Bretheren, written by John Grisham. Not that it wasn't fairly well constructed, but it was completely useless.

The second was this one, Microserfs, which I didn't even really finish reading, I just skipped to the back to see if there was any interesting thread that I could pick up that might make it worth while to go back and finish for. NOTHING. A complete waist of my time.

I guess I'm fairly unusual in this. Seems that the author sold enough of these to get a deal for another book that he's releasing now called Jpod. Gracious, if it's this bad I'll use it before my next dentist appointment and save on the drugs. Great concept for this book, but OH, the writing was SOOOOO bad! And still, it could have been sooooo good. If you've seen the IT Crowd, imagine that, except for completely not funny or interesting. There you go. And there it went - straight back to the library. For once I was actually happy I DIDN'T buy a book.

The 2nd Useless Book of a Lifetime

Yup. I just got "done" reading it. I guess you could say I read it anyway. What a waste of paper. Seriously. Some poor tree had to die for this piece of crap to live. Unreal. I'll tell you what it was later today (just in case anyone really cares) when I'm not asleep (which I should be now at 1:50 am).

Geesh. What a waste!

American Idol vs. Nashville Star

"(speaking of the Dixie Chicks and their comment about being ashamed the President was from Texas to a Country Music fan base) you have to recognize your audience is Patriotic. Saying something like that to Country Music fans is like grabbing a bull horn, going to a trailer park and saying 'Wal-mart Sucks!'" - Larry the Cable Guy

And it's almost in really understanding those comments (not about the President, that's proving out to be pretty true, you just shouldn't be stupid enough to say it when you're out of the country) that you really understand the difference in the two competitions.

American Idol (which was pretty bad tonight - with the exception of Mandisa and Katharine McPhee, even Chris and Elliot didn't have great nights and while Paris displayed her great voice, her song choice and gyrations were better left for a more mature audience - not my 10 and 8 year old!) is a singing competition that requires performance and loves folks that connect. It brings in a more diverse crowd and tonight Simon actually ripped Chris and Mandisa for being self-indulgent in their song choices by going to their music choices (Creed-heavy rock? and Mary Mary-CCM/Gospel). There's a lot more sparkle and a lot more broad fan appeal required. You need to be able to reach across a wider spectrum, a diverse audience (possibly more cosmopolitan) and make the connection.

Nashville Star (which was pretty good tonight both vocally and performance wise) is more of a performance (to me) competition that requires vocals (and a few folks have great voices) by someone who can really resonate with a Country crowd.

It's the difference between the crowds that consider a quality day out shopping being Wal-Mart and Home Depot vs Target and Ikea. Anything wrong with either? I hope not, I've spent days doing both (though I prefer the latter). But, it's just different crowds. At Idol shows half the crowd doesn't know the songs (my wife and I certainly don't know the large majority of them), at Nashville Star the whole place is singing every word. It's the masses voting for someone that is going to pass from their memory within 12-18 months probably vs a community voting for someone that holds their sacred traditions and whom they're going to welcome into their homes and lives for the next 30 years or so.

They are both great competitions and I like watching them for different reasons. I think it's easier for me to pick the Nashville Star final three than the AI final three this year (though the final five will be: Mandisa, Chris, Katharine, Paris and Elliot), and I've probably got a better guess at the NS winner too. But boy are they different shows.

Of course, NS might be pulling at my heart strings because I used to live in the South and I miss a lot of the southern culture (trust me, if you haven't lived there you just don't get it. Boston might as well be a different planet.) and I REALLY miss the (a) warmth, and (b) barbecue! (that is PORK for all you damn Texans!) Still, they're different for sure. Why don't you check them both out and let me know what you think?

I Am FAT

I was going to start this post with a picture of disgusting fat. Unfortunately, I didn't want to take a picture of MY fat, and I couldn't find one that was just something like 20-30 lbs of chicken fat on a platter. And, would you belive that just typing "fat" in Google brings up semi-porno pictures? Well, I guess breast tissue is mostly fat. Gesh. And that's with the filters on.

Anyway, I'm doing this posting one time, one time only. This morning - especially because today I'm getting fit - I wanted to weigh myself and measure so I could have the high water mark to compare against for when I loose all the weight I need to so I can be healthy again. I got on the scale and it said - "Hey lard ass, this ain't a frieght scale!" When I looked down, of course having to move my head out so I could actually see my toes, I saw that I weighed in at a whopping 190 pounds! Holy crap! That is the MOST I have EVER weighed. EVER.

I know, some of you may be thinking "wow, is that it?" But I'm only 5'7 1/2". I like to be around 160 or so, 170 at the worst. At that weight I'm not Mr. ripped abs or anything, but you can still tell I have a shape. But 190? Oh MY WORD.

It was yesterday that pushed me over the top. I was at my mom's house and I was trying to do something and my stomach kept getting in the way. I was getting pretty ticked off. So, I decided that as of today (Monday morning), I was returning back to fitness. So you have to hear the kicker.

Virtually my entire life I've been a fitness and health buff. Sure, I love my chocolate, but it's always been in moderation (and besides, dark chocolate is good for your heart!). The reason why is because after loosing a decent amount of childhood blubber (more affectionately known as baby fat), and then watching my father have 4 heart attacks, have a stroke, get put on strict diets, take a gazillion pills a day - and watching my mom go on equally strict diet for high blood pressure and cholesteral, I decided that what happened to them was not going to happen to me. I wanted to live long, and live well. And, starting around age 16 or 17, I was Mr. Fitness. Ran cross country in college, in the gym 3-4 times a week. Sure, I put on some weight right after I got married, but soon after I was back down to my fighting weight again.

Anyway, the kicker. So today I'm talking to my wife and she's telling me that my mom was talking with her yesterday and saying that her (my mom's) doctor was mentioning to my mom that her kids need to be careful because of all her (and dad's) medical history. BOOM. There you go. The PERFECT reminder of why for the majority of the past 30 years I've been a bit of a health nut.

So, as always, today began the first day of the rest of my life. Which is good. I gained the weight this time for a unique reason, I'll say that. It was the first time I was just so comfortable with myself and my wife and my family, just so content that I didn't feel that manic need to work out. THIS is actually a good thing. However, now I have to remain content as I was but get back in shape so that I can keep playing with my kids!

So. Today, in this post I started by saying "I Am Fat," but now I end the post by saying "I Am FIT." It's one letter that makes a huge difference. I'm fit. I'm back to doing 100 hindu squats a day, back to doing 25 or so hindu pushups, back to doing a bridge, back to doing hand stand pushups, back to kicking butt in a 45 minute plyometric/yoga/cardio workout that tones and sculpts those abs baby!

I am daddy, hear me roar! I'm the rolling around on the ground, jumping up and down, crawling around, throwing kid up in the air fitness dynamo that my kids have always known me to be. I'm the fit and fabulous husband for my incredible wife. I'm the energetic, clear minded, quick witted business force that I was created to be.

I Am FIT.

OK, OK! You want to see why I'm busy and not posting?

Here she is, one Sophie Mae. This isn't THE best pic, but I have more! Just let me know and I'll post the links :)

I Am Blessed (Yah, again)

Hmmmm. Well I guess I could be writing this post about the fact that my wife has had our 4th baby - but I'll do a separate post for that. After all, that is a major blessing!

But, this post is about the firewire drive pictured with the post. Yes, a firewire drive. You see, this firewire drive just arrived at my door step - 2nd day delivery - sent from someone that I've never met in person and how has forbidden me to say anything! Well, I won't mention their name or any revealing data, but I am still going to say THANK YOU.

Yah, this is a 250 gig, 7200 rpm firewire drive AND enclosure. I'm not sure that this is the exact one - but you can see the basic configuration here.

How did this happen? Well, I was just chatting with this person the other day, asking a question about my iPod, mentioning that I was running out of storage space. So, this person told me about a special over at OWC (http://macsales.com) and I said, yah! wow. That's nice. But... I've been out of work for a bit and now that I've got a short gig we have other things that we're focused on paying ;-) No worries. I can make due, I was just juggling some things around, burning stuff to some DVDs. No problem! We chatted for a few more minutes then I had to run to hang with my chicks.

So, next morning I get a IM saying - hey, I just sent you a little gift. I thought, cool! That's sweet! Then the person told me WHAT it was. I was blown away. And really, left without the appropriate means to say thanks. And I just thought I was getting the drive - especially since I have an enclosure (being used for my current 80 gig backup - I just figured I was swapping it out).

Today, the package comes (a day or so sooner than I expected), and there is the complete package - including the enclosure as well! Holy Moley Batman!

So, thus the post. Amongst the embarrassing richness of blessings that I already have, including a new short gig, a new very healthy baby, a healthy wife and three other healthy daughters, a roof over our heads and food in the fridge - I now have a wonderful amount of storage so I can do full backups of all my critical systems. Geesh, God is good ain't he?

And so, to the un-named person, again thank you so much. I appreciate your kindness and generosity more than I can say!

The iPod (with Video) Life

So, I dropped of Halle at her sewing class and really did't feel like driving 12 minutes each way from my house just so I could have 15 minutes at my desk. What did I do? Why I watched the IT Crowd on my iPod with Video sitting in my BMW Mobile studios. Should I have done a podcast? Yeah, maybe, but I didn't want to. By the way , it was a great episode :-p

Why Can't I get a Cell Phone Like This?

Yah, why can't I? Why can't Sprint get something like this? I love being able to check my e-mail (via Gmail on the browser), I like being able to send text or IM if I want to. I don't want a word processor or anything else. So, I want a phone that has a keyboard. Is that so hard? See, this is why GSM phones are so cool, pop out the chip, put in yours and you're good to go. Damn. But I had to go sign up with Sprint again! ARGH.

Sigh. Well, it's something to look forward to when I need to have a new cell phone number :-)

The CORE - Part 2

So, why do I think this is a geek movie? Well, it's not just a technical geek movie, it's a science geek (OK, so maybe it junk science), computer geek, conspiracy theory geek movie. And, it's fun.

Plot? Pretty thin. Twists? One, kinda. Eye candy? Sure, the lead male and female are both attractive. Oddly, the males get way more naked than any female (ok, one guy takes off his shirt - but it is opposite of the way it typically done and YES! I'm grateful! Not because a guy takes off his shirt, but because a female doesn't!) Cool gadgets - yup. Improbable story? Completely. But, it was fun.

So, it's on FX again this week, set your Tivo!

l8r

My Geek Life -Part 2

So, I finally got to a keyboard. I probably would have posted more from my phone, but to be honest it takes forever to even type a sentence! It makes me long for a Treo 650 of my own to have. But, not really. I actually want something that's a hybrid of my phone and the functionality it has (so a very limited OS) and a full keyboard. Maybe that's more like a Sidekick or something?

Anyway, that's a topic for a different post.

So, I was in the "can" at church Sunday morning having arrived well before the time that we needed to be there for our sound check (for those of you not really familiar with me or the blog, both my wife and I are in the band at church) and, lo and behold I had to use the potty :-) Anyway. I'm sitting there on the throne I've got my iPod in my ears listening to some worship tunes getting ready for service and I'm reading my e-mail (read: Gmail) on my cell phone. I'm thinking, how geeky is this? Sure, the church has a wifi network and I could be using my PowerBook if I was out somewhere in the rest of the building, but I was in the bathroom for goodness sake!

So, there it is. I'm a connection geek. Electronics in my ears, checking e-mail on the phone WHILE I'm in the can at the church. Lord help me!

More to come!

The CORE

this Movie Is A Bit of a geeks dream.

--

My Geek Life

I'm sending this post from my phone. It's something I've thinking
about all day. Something only a technorati geek like me would worry
about. I'll tell you about it when I get back to a real keyboard. l8r,
Z.

--

You won't believe this!

So, I got this in the e-mail the other day.

Hi,
I read your blog about being a metrosexual dad and it was hilarious. I work for a television show on ABC that I think you might be perfect for. Please call me or send me your info and I will call you. I would love talk with you more about the show!
Best,
Nicole
Nicole Ford
Associate Casting Producer
RDF Media
New York, NY 10001
(212) 404-1470

ABC Television is looking for Metrosexual Dads!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this groundbreaking show. ABC television is looking metrosexual dads to be featured on an upcoming show. The show will give viewers a humorous glimpse into a day in the life of a metrosexual dad.
Families (two parents and at least one child at home) must live in the U.S.
Please send photos of family along with 2 contact phone numbers and a brief description of why this family should be picked to appear on ABC primetime show and have your story told.

To apply or get more information contact:
(TEL:) 212-404-1470
(EMAIL) nicole.ford@rdfusa.com

Contact Nicole if you thing you've got the metro-stuff to do it! Shanna and I can't be on the show because she's due in 2 weeks :-)



Vote for us at: Podcast Alley
Contact info:
e-mail: phillymac [at] gmail.com
voicemail: 206-202-W00T

Peace out!